The True and The Brave

𝔉𝔦𝔳𝔢: 𝔖𝔱𝔦𝔩𝔩

[AN: I am so sorry for not updating. Frankly, there are no excuses for it. I have been working lately and I just kinda lost track of what I love to do. I am sorry for being extraordinarily negligent but do not worry, I hope this is a project I can finish up soon. As I told you, I will be adding just a few more chapters until the end of the book. I haven't fully written the end, but I do have the ideas set...So, let us get on with this, I promise I will try to make an ending fit for the progression of this story. If you've noticed, I have been planting seeds and theories all around that will come to fruition in the end.]

Aemma Velaryon, the Queen without a court had come to give herself for a cause bigger than herself. She had given everything for it, even if it brought forth misery and unparalleled pain. She was ready to wreak ruin and be a carry-on for chaos to whoever dared to try to help her. Only she was burdened by this knowledge, and she would not let anyone else take it from her shoulders. It had always been hers to carry. Not Aemond's or her children. 

She thought of those porcelain fingers, those dark amethyst eyes that she called her home, those delicate hands that grappled her world in their hold. The gleaming aventurine jewel, a piece of her in every glance of him. Her Aemond. That was why she was keen about him presenting himself to the people. Because he'd had to finish this war without her. And the hand she had been given was so cruel. At first, she endlessly cursed Viserys and her mother. But none of that was of use now. She was now in this predicament. 

She would not break. Only she could decide what broke her. Aemma closed her eyes as she unclasped the necklace she had faithfully brought for herself. If she could see close enough, the liquid would swivel and stir. Three jeweled droplets fit to contain the gateway to the afterlife. One was for her— if everything went awry. 

She had hoped the seeds she had planted had already started to topple and fall. She had incited this. First Daeron would be the one to fall. She once knew this gentle young man, a perfect mix of Aemond and Aegon. She still did not know how he had decided to support Aegon. Perhaps the power had blinded a once reasonable man. Perhaps it did not matter, it would only take Daemon to answer to her the pleas of Cregan Stark who had garrisoned the men deep inside the Riverlands until the wise moment to strike. A last plea for her and to ensure that Aemond sat on that iron throne. 

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Aemond Velaryon thought he had seen a perfect illusion of her. Had thought that perhaps those eyes that haunted him had already started to blame him for not finding her soon enough. His wife had been deemed missing for three days. He first explained to his son and daughter, Laenor and Alys. 

Laenor wanted to be on the search party. And as a father, he could not fathom losing more of his family. He would not. If it meant leaving this world so that they could live a shred of life not filled with war and chaos, he would. He would leave as soon as Aemma did, for he would be too lost without her. 

"My king, what would you advise us to do?", asked Boros Baratheon, his fleet along with the joint effort with Corlys Velaryon had the city protected and secured. Yet, they still had still to answer the desperate message they had received from the River lords. 

"It is obvious what he has to do if we do not squander the troops from the greens that are amassing in the Riverlands, may I remind you King Daemon rides Vhagar?", Joffrey exclaimed, his hands motioning to the dragon perched outside. 

"Seafyre...what if we unleash Seafyre and Seasmoke upon the usurper's army?", Lord Corlys shifted in his seat. He would not send his grandchild into war. Aemma would not sacrifice that. All but that.