The cloaked girl in white ● After The Dance

Chapter twenty-one

CHAPTER TWENTYONE

It saddened Vis to leave her mount, for it had been one hell of a first flight. She didn't know when she would be able to fly again, and she also knew that taking Sunfyre was only for that day.

She had thought about suggesting that if Aegon agreed to it, they could share. But she put that away quickly as she knew very well that a king could not share his dragon.

When they were leaving the keep, she turned around to look at Sunfyre once more. He looked back at her. It was heartbreaking to watch the keepers force both Sunfyre and Dreamfyre back into the caves of the pit.

She didn't like that they were kept locked away. Dragons should never be locked inside. Rather, roam freely like Vhagar. Vhagar couldn't be locked up because she was too big, of course. Aemond had reached for him lovers hand as they walked, letting his thumb brush over the skin.

"You did amazing, I'm so proud of you." He whispered to her.

For the rest of the walk back to the keep, Vis stayed silent. Mostly because she couldn't believe her eyes as they trailed through the streets. Houses were still burning, and people scattered burned alive along the sides of the pathways. Hundreds and hundreds of children running around screaming. Then she remembered Yara. She leaned against her lover as they made their way to the castle walls.

Aegon had not done as Aemond said: to thank her for coming to their aid. He had only dismissed himself and demanded a council meeting to start dealing with the damages and casualties.

"Before I left the keep, I found Yara dead." Aemond steps away from her slightly, staring at her.

"What?" He blurts out, looking forward again in the direction of his brother that is slowly getting further away from them.

"No, no, wait. She must have been hit by an explosion or dragonfire. She was badly burned." Vis is holding back her tears, leaning towards Aemond again who now wraps his arm around her shoulders.

"I will see that she is given a proper funeral." He promises as he gently leans down to kiss the hair on her head.

"A dragons funeral?" Vis asks, looking up at him. "I would, but it is not tradition that staff are given those." He sighs heavily, saying so.

"Aegon would never allow it." He continues.

As they enter through the main doors into the keep, Vis looks around. Bodies are still on the floor, now covered. She doesn't know if any of them might have been Yara.

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"Are we completely certain that Visenya is actually who she says she is?" The hand immediately asks Aegon the second they step into the council room in private.

Aegon has walked over to his seat at the end of the table before reaching one of the cups on the surface, pouring himself more wine as he actually needed to get drunk again.

"She is not the one claiming to be our cousin. Aemond did the test. He went over all the details, and they all match with the story, and what we know she says has been her life." Aegon mumbles as he downs the cup of wine in his hand.

"She stole Sunfyre. She should be punished." Otto steps closer towards the king, clearly annoyed that the girl had gotten away from her crime so easily. Aegon lets out a slight chuckle as he pours himself more wine.

"My brother will have your head before you even have time to open your mouth." Aegon adds, downing his cup again.

"She has him under some sort of witch spell, that's for sure. It makes him completely irrational." Aegon lifts his gaze to look at his hand, who is strutting back and forward on the floor.

"Your brother has always been irrational when it comes to the women he desires." The hand answers, making Aegons face light up.

"She doesn't know about Alys." Aegon stands up, almost yelling into the room.
"If she is told about Alys, maybe she will call off the engagement, and we can get rid of her that way?" Aegon, I'd talking to himself, plotting the plan in his drunken mind as he nods in agreement to his own thoughts.

"Making her hate him. It's a good plan, grandfather!" He turns to look at the hand that is sighing heavily.

"Are you doing this because you don't like her or because you like her a little too much, my king?" Otto was not dumb. He had observed the king trying to intimidate Vis for a few days now.

"My brother has no business with her. If she hates him, maybe she'll come running to me?" Aegons face has a sly smirk plastered on it.

"And when I'm done, then we'll get rid of her." He adds. "Or maybe I'll take her as my second wife. My current one is definitely not giving me heirs!" He yells into the room.

"You just said that the prince is under her spell, and you would prefer to replace him?"

Aegon doesn't respond. He knows the plan will probably blow up in his face, but he can't help but think of the possibilities it can land him. He wanted to take her away from Aemond the second he saw the chemistry they had. She had no business being with his cripple brother when she could have the king. 

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Y'all, don't forget: I love Aegon. He can be my emo princess all day long, but I need a villain lol.