All You Had To Do Was Stay // Aemond Targaryen// Jacaerys Velaryon

46. Didn't Recognize You

Drama Queen // Otto Hightower out now!

Daeron looked like a mad man. Alicent stared back at him as he cocked his head to the side. 

"Daeron?" Alicent approached him cautiously. 

"Do you love me?" his hair was going in all directions, his eyes were blood shot, Alicent thought he was drunk already. 

"Yes. Yes I love you." ALicent declared. 

"Are you sure?" 

"Yes, why would you think-"

"YOu sent me away." Daeron declared. "And then I came back and it was still Ara, Ara, Ara..." 

"Daeron-"

"You dont love me." 

"I do love you. I'm sorry if I didnt do as good a job at expressing that..." Alicent hugged him. "I will try to do better, be a better mum... can you let me try?" 

"I dont feel so good." Daeron murmured. 

"How much did you drink?"

"Aegon just kept..." Daeron began before he ran to the chamber pot and barfed. 

"AEGON!" Alicent shouted. "Erryk, get Aegon. He is going to babysit his brother since he got him drunk." Alicent moved to Daeron. "I love you, I love you so much... but and I hate to do this but I need to greet Rhaenyra and-" another groan of barf. "-so I'm going to check on them and then I'm all yours."

"O-" another gag. "-kay..." Daeron agreed. 

"I'm sorry honey... dont drink with Aegon." Alicent offered as she headed out. 

+

''He looks like a different person. I believe we should also consult Maester Gerardys. Perhaps if he could see the King, he'd suggest a different..."Rhaenyra began but the door opened and Alicent approached.

'Princess Rhaenyra. And Prince Daemon.'' Alicent remarked.

''Hm.' Daemon chuckled

''It has been so long since we were granted the joy of your presence.'' Alicent remarked.

''Indeed, Your Grace.'' Rhaenyra agreed

''Though not long enough to merit a greeting upon our arrival.'' Daemon added smugly

''I'm sure the Queen had pressing business, my love. What can either of us know of ruling a kingdom?'' Rhaenyra offered kindly.

''I do not rule, as you well know.'' Alicent told them ''My father and I are mere stewards of the King's will and wisdom.''

''And how exactly is that wisdom expressed... hm? In blinks and wheezes? I'd be surprised if he could remember his own name. Or if you could.'' Daemon remarked snidely.

+

The field smiled at Ara among the unearthly colors of wildflowers. The sunbeams dance in the warm summer breeze, glittering through the petals of every color imaginable. Ara breathed it all in as Aemond and Criston set up again. She heard the carriages, heard the bells, she felt Jace and Luke near. She needed to be centered, calm. 

Her gaze shifted to the forest, which had always fascinated her but today her mind wandered to the tree house. In the heart of the forest, she let her restless thoughts wander. The trees create a canopy of cool shadows over her mind, and Ara was surrounded by peacefulness and serenity. Another heavy breath, and she was brought back to the moment. Aemond's smile filled her line of sight. 

Her talk with Jace loomed over her but she had time, right now she was going to enjoy Aemond showing off for her. 

+

''King Viserys's condition has worsened since you saw him last.'' Alicent informed them honestly. 

''Hah.'' Daemon spat. " Get him out of the way and Aranyani's true father takes his place?" Alicent huffed a breath. 

''It subjects him to considerable pain.'' Alicent went on ''On the advice of the maesters...''

''Ah, the maesters. Of course. It is they who keep him... addled on milk of the poppy while the High towers warm his throne.'' Rhaenyra added stiffly and Alicent let out a hot breath

''Rhaenyra, if you would see him without it, almost blind with suffering.'' Alicent informed them

''Oh, Alicent, I have no doubt it was... an act of the purest mercy, but tell me, for the King's suffering, did the maesters also prescribe the removal of Targaryen heraldry and the installation in its stead of various statues and stars?'' Daemon agreed

''The emblems of the Seven serve only to guide us on an uncertain path. To remind us of a higher authority.... when his mind was... he used to tell the children stories about the stars.'' Alicent remarked. "I thought he would enjoy it."

''And on the morrow, which authority will sit in judgment of my son's claim on his own inheritance?'' Rhaenyra asked

''That would be mine... and the Hand's.'' Alicent agreed

'Ah." Daemon answered glaring back at her.

''But be assured, the Father is just and commands me to forget the accusations you have hurled in this room today. But best not Aranyani know, she is very protective of her family.''

+

''Smaller than I remember." Jace and Luke were walking the courtyard while the men were training. It had been years since they were last at kings landing.

''It looks exactly the same.' Luke countered

''Ah, Luke, come on.'' Jace said leading him around a smile on his face. ''See? I told you this would still be here." He picked up a sword, one of the old swords from when they were training as children.

''And you thought you could swing Criston's morning star.''

''And you almost took your own head off.'' Jace counted.  ''What's your problem?''

''Everyone's staring at us.'' Luke told him as his eyes shifted around

''Hyah!'' they heard the men dualling behind them. Ara felt their presence but refused to look away from Aemond and Criston as they dueled. 

''No one would question me being heir to Driftmark... if... if I looked more like Ser Laenor Velaryon than Ser Harwin Strong.'' Luke hissed

''It doesn't matter what they think.'' Jace reminded him, they heard a crowd cheering and a not so distant grunting they ran forward to get a better look as the crowd gasped. Aemonds sword whooshed through the air. Ara shirked her hands going to cover her mouth. 

"Take his head off!" Ara declared shaking her head but a smile on her face as Criston bowed to Aemond. 

"Well done, my Prince. You'll be winning tourneys in no time." Aemond smiled as the crowd applauded him.

''I don't give a shit about tourneys." Aemond remarked.

"Tourneys are silly." Ara agreed. "What did I say about not killing Criston?" She added teasingly as Aemond hugged her. He held her possessively to him when he saw Jace and Luke staring at him.

 ''Nephews... have you come to train?''

Ara spun around staring back at Jace and Luke. 

"Ara!" Luke declared running to her. 

"Hey!" Ara matched his excitement as she hugged him. 

"You look so different I almost didnt recognize you." Luke remarked. "You grew up."

"So did you." Ara informed him running a hand through his hair before looking at Jace. "Hey." She whispered. 

"Hi." Jace rasped. She was even more gorgeous, no longer the little girl he fell in love with but a woman grown. Ara moved past Luke and hugged Jace. Aemond stared back at them as Jace tried to retake his claim but he didnt realize that his claim was already forgone. 

"Welcome back."