Midnights // Aemond Targaryen // Aegon Targaryen (2)

2. Hypocrite

"First official order of business." Aegon declared. "I want to annul Aisha and Aemond's marriage."

"What?" Aemond spat.

"Aegon," Aisha tsked.

"Yes. I want-"

"You can't." Aemond shouted.

"I am the king." Aegon countered. "I can do what I like."

"Aegon," Aisha said bringing a hand to his cheek. "We have a war to fight if you want to keep your crown. I suggest we start with Rhaenyra and Daemon." Aegon stared back at her a moment longer before nodding.

"See, you would make a perfect queen." He whispered. Aisha took a step back and Aemond held her to him possessively. Aisha was carrying Aemonds child. Aisha was Aemonds wife. Who did Aegon think he was? The king. The king that ran away and hid when things got hard.

"Let us take them out, one by one." Aisha told them confidently. "Let them feel the power of the crown."

+

"Am I your prisoner?" Corlys spat.

"No." Rhaenyra assured but he was. Although Rhaenyra called herself queen, she didnt sit the throne, she didnt have enough allies but she had rage. Rage that fueled her.

"You don't get it do you?" Corlys remarked. "You and your power hungry cunt of a husband took and took with no repercussions for years!" Corlys shouted. "And now that someone is finally taking back the power, taking what you love and turning it to ash now you think it is wrong?"

"It is wrong!" Rhaenyra screamed back.

"Hypocrite."  Corlys corrected.

"I am the queen-"

"You and Daemon killed my son and eldest daughter and got to live your life happy and free." Corlys reminded her. "You didnt give a damn about them, then or now."

"Hold your tongue." Rhaenyra warned.

"Why? Is Daemon going to chop my head off like he did to my brother?" Corlys countered.

"I'm warning you Corlys."

"Hypocrite!"

"Coryls enough." Rhaenys barked back at her husband.

"And you!" Corlys went on. "After everything, everything-" His voice breaking as he looked over at her. Yes he was gone for years, yes he left, it was foolish and stupid but he did it all the same and now he scarcely recognized Rhaenys. She was that bitter girl that wanted a crown.

He remembered when she lost to Viserys. He remembered feeling that pain along with her, thinking her the rightful heir. But now he saw the truth in it. Rhaenys was still that bitter girl screaming that the world wasnt fair. Screaming that the crown was hers.

Corlys stared back at Rhaenys and wondered where it all went wrong. Aisha was their little miracle baby and brought them back together but after her powers developed it was as though Rhaenys took a step back from Aisha. Wanted her to hide it, to be normal. To pretend as though she were not special. Corlys had always embraced his daughters unique skills, loved when she discovered something new but Rhaenys started pushing her away. He didnt realize how much until now. Until he looked at Rhaenyra and Rhaenys, side by side. Rhaenys had chosen the enemy, the murderers of her own children over her last daughter. Rhaenys was ready to go to war against their daughter.

Had she forgotten what Rhaenyra did? what Daemon did? How much pain they all felt at the loss, how much Rhaenys hated both of them for a time. What happened? What happened to them, their family? Was Aisha the only one thinking, using her brain, remembering the pain they all went through...

"How did you fall so far from what once was?" Corly sneered at Rhaenys.

+

"Who do we have?" Aisha asked, commanding the room. Aemond was right, Aegon wasnt ready to be king. He didn't know what to do or say and that was Viserys and the council's fault for not training him.

"What houses stand with the crown and what houses stand with the usurper?" Aisha questioned. Alicent watched her from across the table. Aisha would have made a good queen. Kept a better leash on Aegon, perhaps she was wrong to pull them apart. But it was too late for all the what ifs running through her mind. They had a war to fight. To win.

"The golden company stands with the crown." Tyland Lannister assured.

"Borros Baratheon wants a prince for his daughter so he will not get that if we lose." Aemond remarked. "He is highly motivated."

"Admiral Sharako Lohar of Lys ravened, they set sail already to join us." Otto remarked.

"Old town as well is coming." Alicent agreed. "Daeron as well."

"Unwin Peake as well." Criston remarked.

"That is not enough." Aisha remarked. "Tully, Greyjoy, Blackwood, Dustin... what news of Stark and Arryn?"

"Arryn has blood with Rhaenyra... Aemma-"

"I know who her mother is." Aisha reminded them.

"Tully's have been know to stand by the Crown under the right amount of pressure." Otto remarked.

"And Stark?"

"Stark has always been a house of honor." Criston reminded her. "They will stay loyal to their vows."

"Vows of the father doesnt always pass along to the children." Aisha mused.

"For Starks though..."

"Winterfell is a moons ride, we strike before the Starks are close enough, weaken them before they have a chance to build up their armies." Aisha suggested.

"And our own?" Alicent countered.

"If we can get them on the seas I'm a one woman army." Aisha reminded them. "They won't stand a chance."

+++

Honestly so surprised at the number of people that wanted Aegon as endgame because y'all were team aemond for a long time. LONG Time. So I'm really conflicted with what I had planned.