The Fire That Burns Within US - Aemond Targaryen

A Failure

138 - Voltines

"Laenor-"

"My love, you know that you are not supposed to- what's wrong? Is everyone okay?" Laenor asks in a panic. Life in the free cities had taken a while to get used to, away from all the lavish perks that came with being married to Rhaernyra and the soon-to-be prince consort.

Laenor and Qarl had started a modest but extravagant life together in Essos; they had taken a page from Saera Targaryen and settled within the walls of Volantis. Life had gotten easier in the third year they had gotten to Volantis, both fully seen as locals rather than travellers, and their home was welcome to all. The two would host lavish parties with their two favourite things, drink and men.

Qarl had kept some ties back in Westeros, where Laenor had entirely cut ties, seeing how everyone but Rhaenyra and Daemon thought he was dead. Laenor didn't want to leave the children, specifically Visenya, but Daemon had made his two options clear: go or die. He would regret leaving Visenya till his last days, but he, like many others, had heard about the things she had done and her victories. Laenor could not be more proud of her, but he only wishes he could have been there for her, could tell her how proud he was.

Qarl had been able to receive letters, updating them both on what was happening with the house of the dragon and the usual drama that surrendered them. Laenor had only concerns about going back to Westeros to see Visenya get married; he was sure he could have stayed back and watched from afar. He had not been the happiest about the union between Visenya and Aemond, but he knew it was better than Visenya marrying Aegon or one of her brothers; he knew even from their young age that the two cared deeply for each other. A love he had only had for one.

Laenor had cried when he heard about Visenya giving birth to twins and even more so when he learned that she had named one after him. But after the happiness had died down, the guilt started to build. He knew how Visenya hadn't been able to deal with his faked death, and part of him wishes that Rhaernyra and Daemon had told her, but then he fears that she would hate him for leaving.

"You might want to take a seat," Qarl tells Laenor, but he stays standing, putting down his cup and giving Qarl a look. He disapproves of Qarl getting letters from the west, but he does enjoy hearing about the children.

"What is going on?" Laenor asks. He needs to ensure that his parents and the children he once called his own are safe.

"Word from Westeros, King's Landing to be specific," Qarl answers as he fiddles with the pages he had received; usually, the letter would be one page, maybe two, but this time around, the paper weighs heavy in his hands. He doesn't want to be the one to tell Laenor about what is happening, but he can't let him find out from someone else.

"I don't care-"

"Visenya has given birth to another son, Aenar. Purple eyes just like the twins," Qarl tells Laenor, leading with the good news first. He knows that Laenor would be happy for Visenya about having another child, a trueborn child.

Laenor smiles; he had been worried that Qarl would have bad news, but this is good news. He wishes he could leave Essos and meet her children, but that Daemon would allow him to get close enough to Visenya or her children. He knows that Deamon has probably taken his role of father figure for Visenya, just like he has done for his boys, and part of him is okay with that. Daemon is her true father, and since he isn't there, he would want her to have that kind of figure in her life.

"This is joyous news-"

"The king is dead," Qarl cuts Laenor off, watching the smile on his face drop. They both know what that means; everyone knows what that means. The king is dead, and Aegon will be forced to sit on the throne; Rhaenyra will not allow her birthright to slip through her fingers so that war will engulf Westeros.

"What?" Laenor asks as he slowly sits down; he needs to ensure that he has heard Qarl. Qarl moves to sit next to Laenor; he wants to lead with the happiest news and then get into the bad news.

"Died in his sleep," Qarl tells him, hoping that the quickness he has declared the news will make Laenor process it faster. He dreads what he will need to say to him next.

"Have they tried to take the throne?" Laenor asks. He wants to know just how bad it has gotten and if they will return to King's Landing.

"They have taken the throne, and your mother killed hundreds flying Meleys out through the floor of the dragonpit," Qarl tells Laenor, and he watches the smile form on his face at the mention of his mother. He knows that the following parts of the news will not be handled well. "Rhaenyra has also named herself Queen,"

"So they are going to war?" Laenor asks; even back when he was still living in King's Landing Rhaenyra hadn't expressed much effort to work up her armies for the inevitable future. He fears Rhaenyra might ask him to return to Westeros to aid her.

"And Visenya has broken off from Rhaenyra after she tried to kill Aenar," Qarl adds, and Laenor can't help but smile to himself before he realizes what Qarl had said.

"The babe?" Laenor asks to make sure he understands, and Qarl nods. Rhaenyra wouldn't kill Visenya's son. Even if they were half Aemond, she wouldn't hurt Visenya in that way just because Aemond had sided with his brother. Laenor refuses to believe this. "Rhaenyra wouldn't do that,"

"She would because a son for a son," Qarl tells Laenor; this seems the best way to tell him about Lucerys. Laenor takes in his words, a son for a son.

"One of the boys?" Laenor asks, and he doesn't want to think that it would be Jace, Luke, or Joffrey. Even if he has abandoned them, part of him still believes they are his sons somehow.

"Lucerys was killed by Aemond after a meeting at Storm's End," Qarl gently tells him, and Laenor keeps his eyes focus on his attention down at his feet. He could have stopped this if he had only stayed in Westeros and could have saved Luke. "I'm sorry, Laenor, but there is more news,"

"More? What else could have happened?" Laenor asks as he swallows the lump in his throat, he doesn't want to cry, but he has failed. He was selfish and chose to live the life he wanted instead of keeping the boys and Visenya safe. This is his fault.

"There was a battle at Rook's Rest; Lord Staunton asked Rhaenyra for aid, and your mother and Meleys were sent to help, but Aegon had also gone to aid the Greens," Qarl tells him, this had been the worst part of the letter, and Qarl knows Laenor well enough to know that he will not take this news very well. "I'm deeply sorry, Laenor,"

"My mother is dead?" Laenor asks in shock; he doesn't want to believe this has happened. He had let his mother think he was dead in her final moments. He would have gone back to Westerners and aided in support if they had gotten news before the war had broken out, but he had failed and let his mother die.

Laenor had failed not only as a father but also as a son. His mother had died thinking that she had outlived both of her children, yet Laenor had been the one to abdomen her. He let his desire over could be the most important thing, family. He had failed.  

Notes:

You thought I would give you guys an answer to whether or not Visenya is alive? No.  You have to wait a little bit.  Also, if you guys would like, I have a google form where you can give input about an-casts for Visenya and Ben, plus anything else you would like to tell me.  The link is on my conversations board on my profile, I would like to have your guys input!