Eye of The Dragon, Aemond Targaryen

𝟏𝟎

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𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭.

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𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐍𝐘𝐑𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃 from talking with princess Rhaenys over the events that would take place tomorrow. She was agitated, she knew Princess Rhaenys thought she was complicit in the murder of Laenor, although it was never proven. She needed her to advocate for her son, it could save him. But the Princess made it clear that she was only there to advocate for herself. Rhaenyra understood this, but she was a stubborn woman and she would not put all her faith in the Gods, not when she could ensure his claim.

It was very late at night when Rhaenyra opened the door to her father's room. The rain scattered on the window as the castle was surrounded by sounds of loud thunder. King Viserys was laying in bed when his daughter took place next to him. Viserys had gotten weaker over the years, to the point where he could not leave his bed anymore. One side of his face was covered in a large bandage, covering his open wounds. It pained Rhaenyra to see her father like this. "Alicent?" He weakly asked. Rhaenyra's eyes were puffy from crying earlier. "No, it's Rhaenyra, father," she softly answered. "Rhaenyra," he breathed heavily. The thunder crashed in the sky, swallowing every bit of dry land whole. Rhaenyra took a deep breath. "The song of Ice and Fire, do you believe it to be true?" She asked. Viserys muttered under his breath. "Aegon's dream," he finally answered. Rhaenyra leaned over to her father and took his hands in hers. "You told me it was our duty to hold the realm united against a common foe." Tears started to sting in her eyes. "By naming me heir, you divided the realm," she continued. Viserys slowly turned his head her direction. Rhaenyra choked up, "I thought I wanted it." She lowered her head and sat back straight as she let her tears fall down her cheeks. "But the burden is a heavy one," she trembled. Her voice became softer as she whispered, "it's too heavy." Rhaenyra took a few deep breaths before letting her eyes fall back on her father. Viserys was looking at his daughter as he tried his best to form words. "My," he started. "My only child." Rhaenyra shook her head before leaning towards her father again. "If you wish me to bear it, then defend me," she stated, slightly panicked. "And my children," she added. Viserys closed his eyes before whispering back to her. "It's," was the only thing that left his mouth. The Princess covered her mouth with her hand as her father muttered incomprehensible words under his breath. Rhaenyra was always proud of having Viserys as her father. Even though their bond was tricky at times, she loved him. Rhaenyra silently sniffled next to her father, praying one last time.

Aelora had been up hours before sunrise. She had been with her Bronze Fury as he was the only one who could calm her down. He felt her emotions harder than any other person ever could. Her father once told her, "a dragon's bond with its rider is more powerful than sitting on the Iron Throne to rule the Seven Kingdoms". It's something so personal, it goes beyond the understanding of this world. Aelora had been reading him from a book she brought with her.

Se sīr se ñuqir ivestragī pōntāla ropagon mēre tolī jēda va se floor hen sombāzmion. 
(And so the ashes let themselves fall one more time on the floor of the castle.)
Se mōris.
(The End.)

Vermithor snorted, bouncing Aelora off his belly in the process. She chuckled, "what, you didn't like it?" He huffed in response. Aelora rolled her eyes. "You are unbelievable. It's literally the best book ever written." Vermithor turned his head away from Aelora to let her know that he was done with the conversation. The Princess shot him an annoyed look but the dragon wasn't interested in her temper tantrum. Aelora stood up and walked to his head. She lowered herself closer to him. "If you were a pig I'd roast you." The corner of Vermithor's mouth curled up. This must be very amusing to him, she thought. If this was anyone else talking to him like this, they would be burned alive. But Aelora was special, and he treasured her. She turned her back to Vermithor and in the distance she noticed a Knight walking her way. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out who it was. No one other than Criston Cole, with all of his smugness, was making his way to Aelora. This could either be really interesting, or he'd get fed to her dragon.

Criston didn't bow when he reached Aelora who had her arms crossed across her chest in defense. "Can I help you, Ser Crisp-," Aelora chuckled. "Sorry, habit. My apologies." The knight's eyes never looked down on her. She looked too much like her mother and that pissed him off more than anything in the whole world. For him, the girl who was standing here, was nothing but a reminder for him how Rhaenyra had broken his heart. And he was bitter. So unbelievably bitter. He cleared his throat. "You're needed inside, Princess." His eyes crossed over to Vermithor for a few times but the beast had already fallen asleep. "By whom?" Her brows furrowed. "Your mother," he simply spoke. She slowly nodded her head and pushed her book under her arms. Cole had turned his back to transfer the princess inside but he abruptly stopped in his tracks. Aelora's eyes had a look of curiosity playing in them, along with angst. She didn't know what he was capable of, or why. He gripped his sword with strength. Aelora's breath got stuck in her throat, ready to pull out Wicked Eye any moment. "Next time, make sure the door is all the way closed. Wouldn't want anyone to find out about your activities with the Prince now, would you?" Criston's lips pressed in a straight line as his venomous words reached Aelora's ears. He knows? Her mind began working and she remembered the one person they had forgotten about. Aegon. Aelora closed some distance between the two. "I do not know who told you of these lies, but they're not true." She laid emphasis on the not. He pulled his lips in a smirk. "Of course they are, Princess. I am just telling you to be very careful."

Aelora tilted her head a little to the side. "Is that a threat?" It is true that she had been waiting to duel the Knight, but not under these circumstances. If she were to duel him now, he would definitely keep moving his mouth around the place. He swiftly shook his head in response. "Of course not. Wouldn't want your whore of a mother to come after me." His head was slightly tilted backwards when his lips reached a smile. Aelora's veins fumed with fire as she tried to control her breathing. Control your temper. But Vermithor felt Aelora's anger and slowly began standing up. Criston's eyes widened at the sight of her Bronze Fury. Vermithor's steps shook the ground as he took his place behind Aelora, his head snaked next to hers. "I'd choose your next words very carefully." She then very quietly whispered to her dragon, "Kirimvose." (thank you)

She noticed he swallowed a few times as his eyes moved from hers to the dragon's and back in rapid speed. He knew he wasn't winning this. But he'd get her, one way or another. He wanted to hurt Rhaenyra more than anything, and she was his ticket.

But for now, Aelora 1; Crispin 0.

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