The True and The Brave

𝔉𝔬𝔲𝔯: 𝔊𝔦𝔳𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔈𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔄𝔴𝔞𝔶

[AN: Sorry in advance. I know last chapter was...tough. Keep in mind these chapters until the fall of King's Landing were already planned. Just needed to be better put out for all of you. I wanted to stick to the books and not deviate the plot further. Aemm, just like Daemon has both a darker side and a light side to her, there is no madness or snapping behind her because she recognizes her own darkness, and she is fine with it. As is Aemond. For me atleast, Daemon, Aemond and Aemma are characters that had undergone severe trauma and hinderances, but they know themselves, they aren't pretending to be good and peaceful people when they are not. So just a little insight about how I feel about the characters. Now, onto this next chapter. Also quite a lot of people did not notice a big part of last chapter about Luke and Baela, I hoped it would've stand out, but for those of you who are not aware. Luke married Baela out of his own volition. This chapter is important and will set up much of what is to come.]

[No Ghost Reading!] (please)

Aemma would forsake her life if it meant her children get to live in this better world. For Aemond to be with them. She knew it deeply inside of her, that she was the one who was going to leave first. Had known that she would not make it past this great war intact. And those vows she had made Aemond. They all were swept away the second they took the crown. 

Aemma's eyes watched the pyre be lit for Rhaenys. She herself had carried her body back to Driftmark...had demanded Aemond to tell her everything. Even how she came to her death. Aemma could not find more tears to give, more sobs to encase the pain that wreaked her lungs. It was this dull ache. A reminder that she would lose everything to this war. Rhaenys, Jace and Rhaenyra being the people she had pocketed close to her heart. 

Her grandfather had not said anything. He watched as Aemma strapped Rhaenys's body gently, encasing her body with the linen provided by the silent sisters. He closed his eyes as Aemma placed her aventurine necklace on her. 

Aemond stood behind them as they lit the pyre. Baela was sobbing on Luke's tunic. Rhaena had this glaze over her eyes. As if calculating and plotting everything that she would to do Daeron. His little brother. And Corlys, he stood vigil besides Aemma, his hand holding hers as they spoke in their native tongue. 

My mother, Aemma had called her. He could not forgive himself. He left her. Left Aemma alone. Commanded her to be restraint. Had not counted on Meleys already being there with Rhaenys. Had not counted on Tessarion beastly figure looming over her. And yet he had stopped her from coming. And Aegon knew it too. He had planned it. 

There was a light that dimmed between them. And he did not know how to fix it. If he could even start to build it back, flaming like the pyre before him.

Aemma had left pushed him into that sand. Had left him there as she mourned for Rhaenys. Had not moved until Rhaena herself came to inspect what took their grandmother so long. He did not dare touch her...to feel disgusted with what he had done. With his misplaced protectiveness that had cost them Rhaenys. Oh gods. Rhaenys. 

The woman who believed him worthy of Aemma. Who raised her and gave her everything. He had selfishly ripped her away from Aemma. Too early. Too painfully. 

✬✧✬✧✬✧✬✧★✧✬✧✬✧✬✧✬

Aemma stood watching as the pyre turn into ash, the day broke into night. Yet she was still there. She could not will her limbs to move. She had failed to protect yet another person. Yet another person had left...how long until all of them left?