Midnight Rain // Aemond Targaryen // Aegon II Targaryen (1)

19. Grieve

''Go to bed.' Rhaenyra insisted coming up to her children.

''But, Mother...'' Luke whined

''Go to bed.'' Rhaenyra said again.

''I'm going to bed, Aemma.'' Viserys remarked and Alicent stared at him a moment.

''Shall I see after Queen Alicent, Your Grace?'' making sure to annunciate Alicent.

''No, Ser Harrold. You have the night's watch, Ser Criston.'' Viserys told him

''Lord Commander.''

"Aisha?" Aemond questioned. She lifted her head from the water. "Are you... do you need anything?"

"I need the waters." Aisha told him. When Qual had come for Laenor Aisha dunked under the water and since she was able to hold her breath she avoided coming back inside.

"Could I stay with you?" Aemond questioned, Aisha nodded moving towards the shores, her legs covered as the waves crashing in, high tide growing. Silently Aemond grabbed her hand.

"Is Aegon really marrying Hela?" Aisha asked softly after a long moment.

"Yes." Aemond agreed. "Soon too." Aemond informed her. Aisha nodded slowly falling back into the sand.

"My brother wants me to go to dragonstone, my mother wants me to go to driftmark." Aisha informed him staring up at the stars.

"What do you want?" Aemond asked.

Aegon. She wanted Aegon. But she couldn't have him anymore.

"I think I want to stay at the capital... but without Laenor here... there is no place for me." Aisha informed him through a heavy sigh.

"I want you to stay." Aemond told her. "You could stay and..." Aemond knew he was two years younger than Aisha, he wasn't a dragon rider, he wasn't skilled like Aegon thought himself with the ladies but he knew he could treat Aisha right.

+

'Aisha?'' Aegon questioned hopefully Otto grabbed his grandson pulling him along, stumbling drunk. Aegon grunted as he was dragged along

''Get to bed.'' Otto hissed.

+

''She wanted to come home and he denied her.'' Rhaenys hissed that night

''Daemon did what he thought best.'' Corlys countered

''Daemon only ever does what is best for Daemon. Laena needed our maesters.'' Rhaenys spat

''The surgeons in Pentos are as well-trained as our maesters. You are looking to place blame for an act of the gods.'' Corlys corrected

''Mayhaps the gods have scorned us... for our insatiable pride.'' Rhaenys remarked softly as she let her ring clink to the ground.

''The crown was yours until those fools at the Great Council plucked it from your head. Is it such a terrible thing for your husband to wish to win it back?'' Corlys asked incredulously.

''Tonight of all nights, let us lay aside this falsehood. It is not justice for your wife that drives you. It is your own ambition.'' Rhaenys said bitterly.

''Tis desire for the throne, if not for yourself, then for the scions of your house.'' Corlys countered

''I gave up the idea of wearing a crown a generation ago. It is you, lord husband, who refuses to abandon this pursuit, even now, at the cost of our children.''

''What is this brief mortal life... if not the pursuit of legacy?'' Corlys countered through the wailing of the wind across the waters around them.

''Legacy may be why you live your life, Corlys. I want Driftmark to pass through Laena's line to Baela. To true Velaryon blood. Declare it now, while all are gathered here, and we will say that is how we will honor Laena's memory.''

''And disinherit our son? He will be the King Consort. His son will one day sit the Iron Throne. You would have me cast an even darker shadow over those little boys than already exists.'' Corlys spat. Their daughter was gone, yes but they still had a son, he would be king and his children would ascend to the throne as well. His hopes for Aisha and Aegon had plummeted when Alicent announced Aegon and Helaena's union.

''We are alone here, husband. You can speak the plain truth as we both know it: Rhaenyra's children are not of your blood. But Laena's are. They are her legacy.'' Rhaenys reminded him bitterly.

''History does not remember blood. It remembers names.'' Corlys reminded her.

+

''Laenor has been restless for years, but now, he will be useless. Or worse. Aisha, the sweet thing I worry that Alicent will get in her head. She loved Aegon. She lost them both and now... I worry her little spark will be gone too." Rhaenyra told daemon as they walked. "I know better than anyone that our marriage is a farce. But I at least make the effort to maintain appearances.'' Rhaenyra confided in Daemon.

"You have more to lose.'' Daemon reminded her

''Yes, well, that has been my lot since my father named me heir. We did try... to conceive a child. We performed our duty as best we could. But to no avail.'' Rhaenyra told him trying to make better of a bad situation. ''There was no joy in it. I found that elsewhere.'' Daemon smirked. ''It felt good to be desired.''

''Hm. I understand Ser Harwin was quite... devoted to you.'' Daemon offered gently.

''Yes, he was. And I trusted him.'' Rhaenyra agreed ''Should've forbidden Ser Harwin from returning to the River lands. Harren's curse is said to be as strong now as it was after the Conquest.'' Rhaenyra remarked as her heels dug into the sand.

''That's a ghost story, one Ser Otto and the Queen would gladly exploit.'' Daemon corrected

''I do not believe Alicent capable of cold murder.'' Rhaenyra told him with confidence.

''Mm. Each of us is capable of depravity. And more than you would believe.'' Daemon told her.

''I believe it of you.''

''If you're accusing me of some depravity, you'll need to be more specific.'' Daemon reminded her.

''I've been alone. You abandoned me.'' Rhaenyra shouted

''I spared you. You were a child.'' Daemon reminded her, she stopped walking and turned to him so she could see the look in his eyes.

''Yes. Yes, I was a child. And look at what my life became without you.'' Rhaenyra spat. ''Droll tragedy.''

''Oh, and I wonder what you think of mine by comparison?'' Daemon countered

''I know little of it. Did you love her?'' Rhaenyra questioned noticing how her uncle seemed timeless, ten years had passed and he was still so handsome.

''We were happy enough. Laena spoke often of Aisha and Laenor, wanting to come back to them.'' Daemon admitted. "But we were happy... enough."

''Well, that in itself is a great achievement. I am sorry.'' Rhaenyra said remembering that they were all together again to mourn Laena's death.

''Don't be. I am at least allowed to mourn my losses.'' Daemon reminded her and Rhaenyra brought a hand up to his face. ''Rhaenyra.'' Daemon warned

''I'm no longer a child. I want you.'' Rhaenyra begged her lips colliding with his. As they pulled at each others clothes, finding comfort in each others touch.