DARKSIDE // Aemond Targaryen

THIRTEEN

The journey back to King's Landing was a long and tiring one I could barely stay awake for. Dusk was rapidly approaching as the sun set, and I was worried Aemond and I would not make it home for dinner. Thankfully, we landed just as the sun disappeared beyond the sea, and we were able to clean up before dinner was served. The meal was tense; I knew the Queen could see the fresh wounds on Aemond and I's hands and lips–though I'm not sure she knew what it meant.

Helaena seemed to understand the meaning behind our wounds and gave me a subtly smile from across the table; I was happy to have her on my side. Aegon also spent most of the dinner staring between his brother and me, how my blue dress matched his blue eye patch. My grand-sire didn't seem to take notice of the tension in the air and was ecstatic about my return home with his son.

After dinner, in a less formal setting, Helaena and I managed to speak with each other while Aemond talked to his brother. "Are those wounds what I think they are?" She whispers, turning my hand over to look where I had cut my hand with dragonglass this morning.

I nod, and we both giggle like young girls. "Helaena! Come!" Aegon beckons her, and I watch as her face turns to one of sadness.

Before Helaena leaves, she whispers something to me, "blue turns red under the moon."

Aegon aggressively grabs his sister-wives hand and drags her away–I look on with a saddened heart as they leave. "Are you ready to leave?" Aemond asks, placing a hand on the small of my back as he watches his siblings go. I can't imagine the pain it brings him too.

"Aemond," the Queen speaks from behind, "may I have a word with Visenya, please?" She asks, hands held together tightly in front of her.

When we returned, I noticed that the Star of the Seven was being placed around the court; now the Queen wears the star around her neck.

Aemond looks at me, and I give him a sharp nod, dismissing him. Once Aemond is out of sight, the Queen aggressively grabs me by my shoulders and looks at me with terror. "Are you with child?" She almost screams in my face.

"Uh, no," I said, perplexed by her harsh and forward words.

Her face shrivels in disgust, "stay away from my son until your husband is man enough to put a babe inside your belly."

I look at her, horrified and confused. The Queen knew of what Aegon had been doing to me; she knew and did nothing to stop him. "How long have you known?" I ask, trying to hold my head high.

She shakes her head and lets out a chuckle, "since the day you had Moon Tea brought to the table," she sneers, "you're just like your mother."

My mind suddenly blurs with anger, "what?"

I know my brothers are bastards, and I might be too, but that doesn't mean a thing when my mother is next in line to the throne. She had raised all three of us to be the best we could be, and now Joffrey and my new brother Aegon will be raised to become great men, just as my brothers Jacerys and Lucerys are.

"Don't make my son for a fool, he will never claim your bastards as his own," she spat in my face before walking away.

In a moment of blind fury, I almost lung and attack the Queen; however, I am rooted in my spot. I am seething by the time I return to Aemond's chambers and find him drinking a cup of wine by the fire. He turns to look at me with a smile that quickly fades when he sees my face, "my dear, are you okay?"

He places his wine down, hurries over to me and takes my arms gently. I take a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh, hanging my head in defeat, "your mother called my mother a whore and named my siblings' bastards."