Burn me • Aemond Targaryen

Regent

Chapter Forty-Eight~ Regent

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Aemond and Rhaella flew their dragons back to kingslanding, acting as extra security for their brother who was protected by a carriage below.

The head of Lord Staunton was forced onto a spike and carried through the streets. But it was the butchered head of Meleys that made the people fall silent. It was a sorry sight, to see a once great beast only mounted by a princess, now dragged through the filthy streets by commoners. Some saw it as symbolic, the fall of the Targaryen dynasty. Others saw it as a warning, that King Aegon would kill even the most magnificent of beasts to ensure his rule.

History would remember this civil war as the dance of dragons.

Beast killing beast and Rider killing rider.
Brother against sister and Dragon against Dragon.

And now as Rhaella flew over the streets of her homeland she could see what this war truly stood for.

Nothing.

There was no righteousness in it, there was no tyrant to overthrow or an uprising from the people.

It was a war built on childhood scores and unsaid words. Only now it had been made personal and more would die in the name of nothing.

Because that would be all that was left.

"What has happened?!" Alicent yelled when she saw Aegon carried from the carriage. "What has happened to the king?!"

"He fought gallantly your grace." Cole told the dowager. "The blacks are a dragon and a rider down because of the king."

Lie. Yes Aegon had battled with Rhaenys, but it had been Rhaella's flame that killed the rider and Vhagars claws that had killed the dragon.

Yet somehow it had been Aegon who was injured, on the verge of death.

"Call for the Grand Maester!" Alicent commanded as Aegon was carried into the castle. "Aemond, how could you let this happen?!" She said to her son.

"How could Aemond let this happen?" Rhaella laughed. "How could you let this happen?" She said sharply to her mother. "You knew Aegon was not suited to this roll, and now because of you it may of cost him his life." Alicent looked blankly at her daughter. "Aegon has been mutilated by dragon flame yes, but make no mistake it was by your hand."

"Rhaella," Her mother started.

But she ignored her and looked down to the small by who clung to his grandmother's skirts. "Come Maelor, let us go and see your cousins." She smiled, taking the boys hand in her own, before glaring at her mother and leaving.

Aemond looked to his mother, and he saw through the shade of her brown eyes that she would continue on this path of denial. She had always blamed her children for things that were beyond their control in an attempt to deny her partaking in the matters. And even now, as Aemond stood before her as a man grown she still looked to him as a boy she could burden with the problems she created.

He didn't say anything when she looked at him, waiting for him to tell her that Rhaella did not mean what she said. But he wouldn't, his mother needed to hear the consequences of her own ambition. And Rhaella seemed to be the only one who would tell her. So he gave a single look of disappointment before he followed after his wife.

~

"They've been little devils." Finan breathed when he saw Rhaella enter the room. "Running rings around me." He held the young Princess Jaehaera'a hand.

Clarissa came from the back room, baby Aegor sleeping in her arms. "Don't listen to him, they've been wonderful." She smiled, handing the babe over to his mother.

Rhaella felt Aemonds presence behind her, and she leaned back into him with the baby in her hands. "Where are they?" She laughed as she took in Finan's tired eyes.

"That's the problem, they had me close me eyes and count to ten, then they disappeared!" He looked under the table. "They haven't left the room, we kept it locked like you instructed, but it's like they've vanished."

Clarissa laughed again and lifted the chest of toys, revealing Vaegon who was holding in a giggle as he lay within the chest. "He just can't play the game right can he?" She laughed, smiling down at Vaegon.

"Oh yeah? Then where's Elaena?" Finan pushed, refusing to admit that the Auburn haired woman was better at playing this little game than he was.

Clarissa smirked and rolled her eyes, then she walked over to the bay window and lifted one of the padded cushions, revealing a hollow space where the young princess was hiding. "She's right here."

Elaena jumped from her spot and ran to her father when she saw him, squealing when she lifted her up into the air and spun her around.

"You really wish for a man, who cannot find our five year old daughter, to be your sworn sword?" Aemond whispered to Rhaella.

"He's better at other things." Rhaella defended.

"We will summon you later." Aemond said, to Clarissa and Finan. "We have things to discuss."

Finan and Clarissa knew that what they needed to hear was not for the children's ears, so the two of them bowed their head to the Prince and Princess and said their goodbyes to the young children, leaving to scope out any more secrets and lies that infected the red keep.

"Go on." Aemond whisperd, stroking his daughters hair once he had placed her back on the ground. "See if we can find you." He smiled when Elaena took Maelors hand and ran off, shouting to Jaehaera and Vaegon to hide.

"What happens now?" Rhaella said to her husband, taking a seat by the fire.

"We pray for Aegons recovery." He replied.

"And he he does not?" Rhaella questioned, she knew what it would mean. "Maelor is too young to even form a proper sentence, let alone rule a kingdom."

Aemond pursed his lip, looking his wife in the eyes. "I suppose it will be left to me." He answered. "As regent at least, until Maelor is old enough."

Rhaella took a deep breath. Aemond as regent was not in her line of plans, declaring him king in Aegons's stead would make their family more of a target. "You cannot name yourself king." Rhaella muttered.

"What?" He replied. "That is the role of regent."

"No, the role of regent is to take over a job as a cover for somebody, you do not need to take the title king." She told him. "If they believe you have no intention of taking over the throne, then at least our children have lesson of a risk against them."

She was right. He went to reply again to her but a knock on the nursery door stopped him. "Cole?" He said when he saw the man. "Is there word on my brother"

"The council has been called to session." Cole told him. "Your presence has been requested." He said this to the both of them.

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