Blood Upon The Snow ||| Cregan Stark

eight

Of course, everyone had to be involved. Those guests still mingling, the King and Queen. The other aunt and uncle.

Alicent wouldn't even look at the children who'd been caught fighting with Aemond. She was too busy caring for her son.

Jacaerys, Jacaera, and Luke stood huddled together while Rhaena and Baela held one another. They were injured as well, Jacaera's face was throbbing and she would need care. But there was fear surrounding Aemond. If he would lose his eye.

Jacaera was terrified and hurt. No one had been able to find Rhaenyra or Laenor in the castle. They were alone with their parents to defend them, the same for Baela and Rhaena as they watched on from across the throne room.

"How could you allow such a thing to happen?" Viserys asked, stamping his cane on the ground. "I will have answers."

"The princes were supposed to be abed, my King," Harrold spoke first, giving one reason no one heard the fighting sooner.

"Who had the watch?" Viserys demanded, turning to Criston.

"The young Prince was attacked by his own cousins, Your Grace." He didn't answer the question.

"You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!" Viserys yelled, unfathomably angry about what they had allowed.

Jacaera jumped as Viserys yelled. She desperately wanted her mother there. To have some defence in that room.

"We're very sorry, Your Grace." It was the only defence Harrold could come up with.

"The Kingsguard have never had to defend princes from princes—" again, Criston tried to defend their lack of action.

"That is no answer!" Viserys yelled, getting up in Ser Criston's face.

"It will heal, will it not, Maester?" Alicent asked, desperation in her voice. She was on the verge of tears as she asked it.

It was the question, though. And everyone in the hall turned to hear the answer.

"The flesh will heal." The Maester began with the good news as Aemond grunted, clutching onto the chair as he placed another stitch. "But the eye is lost, Your Grace."

Alicent gasped and stood as devastation filled her. The information hit her like a physical blow. Her son lost an eye.  The King sighed and looked down, others in the hall murmured.

Luke froze beside Jacaera and she squeezed him. She paled, unsure what to think or do. What everyone else would think.

It had been out of self-defence.

The Queen then became angry. She approached her first son. "Where were you?" She demanded.

"Me?" Aegon asked, oblivious. Anger overtook Alicent and she slapped her son, many others looking as she did so. "Ow! What was that for?"

Despite the situation, it felt incredibly vindicating to see Alicent slap Aegon. Jacaera hoped she would get to do it one day.

"That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool." She still had a hand on him, almost shaking the boy to get him to understand.