Burn me • Aemond Targaryen

Escape

Chapter Seventy-Two~ Escape

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Rhaella needed to leave.
She needed out.

There was nothing here for her now. Nothing at all.

Jaehaera had been sent somewhere for protection, or to be a hostage. It didn't matter, either way she wasn't here.

Her mother had locked herself away, in a fit of rage and a flash of madness she had began tearing at her clothes and then at herself.

Rhaella had been the one to tell her, tell her that Helaena was dead.

Alicent had laughed at first, refusing to believe that this was anything other than a sick attempt at jest. But when she saw the truth bedded into Rhaella's eyes, mixed with a trace of heartache, she knew then that it was real. That her eldest daughter was gone.

And now she was cooped up in her chambers, screaming at her own reflection.

The night was black. Not even a star glistened in the sky. It made it easy to move through the castles shadows without being noticed.

Gabriel still slept soundly in her bed, cuddled up with her hound.

She had swore that she would keep him safe. She had failed once and she would not do so again.

"Gabriel." Rhaella whispered, shaking him awake. "Wake up."

"Lady?" Gabriel questioned, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Come now, get up." She said, standing and walking over to a chest in the corner. "Put these on." She threw some clothes on the bed, then she lifted a cloak. It had been Aerys' it was black with a grey fur trim around the hood. She held it close to her chest, smiling at the faint memory of him wearing it. But the time for reminiscing was not this moment. "Quickly now." She said handing him the cloak.

"What's happening?" He said pulling the shirt over his head.

The princess didn't even know herself. All she knew was that the blacks were slowly closing in on the greens, taking them all out one by one.

"We need to leave." She replied, pulling her own cloak around her shoulders.

"Where are we going?" Gabriel said, pulling the hood over his head.

She didn't know where Aemond was, and how she wished she did. But that was a hurdle she would have to over come later on, once she was out.

Dragonstone was most likely the best bet. If Larys had even listened to her and took Aegon there.

But that was a worry for the road. And the road would be what she would take.
Flying Vermithor through the sky would bring too much attention, she would come back for him.

"Just hurry up." Was all she said in return. She pulled a few things into a satchel, and then a few more into another. She hooked one around Gabriel's neck and then pulled him toward the door.

The hound on the bed whimpered when he saw they were leaving, They say animals know things, and he must've known they were leaving.

"We can't leave him on his own." Gabriel said looking up at Rhaella.

Rhaella sighed, nodding quickly. "Come on boy." She said, and the hound leapt from the bed and followed after them.

They moved quickly and swiftly, every time they passed someone Rhaella backed them all up against a wall, or behind a statue so that the shadows of the red keep would shield them from being discovered.

The night was on her side tonight it seemed. The guards were easy to pass, half of them drunk the other half paying no attention.

Once Rhaella reached the stable, she went for her horse. A black stallion, tall and stealthy.

Gabriel understood the situation and he went for the trading cart that was left in the yard, pulling it in and attaching it to the horse. He threw the bags in the back, and instructed the dog to jump in after him.

Once Rhaella had saddled the horse, she secured the back of the cart. "Keep low, with any look we will get out of here alive." She said, climbing a top of the horse.

She rode through the forests, strayed away from the path.

She didn't stop when the sun rose, and she didn't stop when it set. She didn't even know what way she was riding.

The woods were dark. Definitely somewhere a princess should not be, alone with a boy and a dog. She looked out for anything that could be a danger, but it was dead silent. Dangerously quiet. She felt as though she was being watched, and her head turned, looking for anything that might threaten their lives.

But then Rhaella saw something, something in the woods. that made her heartache in the best and worst way it possibly could.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Aemond was at a loss. There was nothing left to fight for anymore. Except Rhaella of course, but she was better of locked away in kings landing rather than him flying in on Vhagar and raining havoc down up on the keep. They would use her against him, she was his weakness and they would know that.

Unless she was already dead.

He knew nothing of Aegon, nothing of Helaena and nothing of his children or his mother and Grandfather. He was entirely in the dark.

The thought of her being dead, stolen from him, it hurt his heart. Hurt his souls, a soul already damned and the only thing that was keeping it sane may well of been dragged down to the hells.

He had returned to Harrenhall, the black army had marched on the estate and demanded he surrender to them. But he had left just before they arrived, and on his return he burned down the camp of men that had took their place outside the gates.

Vhagar resided in the forest surround the lands, covered by the woods.

And now he sat, letting the cold nip at his bare torso. The fire burned in the heath but it wasn't enough to warm him.

He wondered then if this was how their story was to end.

The last time he held Rhaella in his arms could've been the last and he had not even known it. It angered him, not knowing if that was the truth of it.

His dagger was gripped in his hands, and he twisted it as he stared into the fire, the wood on the arm of his chair chipping away at the point of the blade.

His food remained untouched, he hadn't even touched his wine. On the rare occasion he would leave to train in the yard, he would return after a short time, drown himself in his cups and sit here as he was now, tempted to fall into the flames of the heath in front of him.

A knock came from the door, and he rolled his eye and took a breath. "I said I wished to not be disturbed." He shouted.

"Forgive me your grace, but there's someone demanding to see you." It was one of the serving boys.

He felt his thoughts rush. Perhaps they were here to kill him. Perhaps he would let them.

He heard the shifting of feet, and the wooden door hit against the stone wall.

Then a breath.

"Aemond."

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅