The Mother of Kin and Keeper of Blood

•The Things We Do For Love•

~Leave Me Where The Light Pours Down Through The Trees Like Rain. Let It Wash Over Me Like A Flood, Let It Ease My Pain.~

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Everyone sat at the long table, Viserys called them together to eat. Rhaenyra sat with her children, Vaemrys sat beside viserys' empty seat and on the other side of his seat, sat alicent.

The family members all stood up as viserys was carried in, he was placed in his spot and everyone sat down. "How good it is...to see you all tonight...together.", Viserys said. He turned his head to look at Vaemrys and Daemon. Vaemrys didn't look down in shame, it wasn't delightful to see his daughter with Daemon but he was happy as long as she was.

"Prayer before we begin?", Alicent asked. "Yes", viserys answered. "May the mother smile down on this gathering with love. May the smith mend the bonds that have been broken for far too long and to Vaemon Velaryon, May the gods give him rest.", Alicent said. Vaemrys opened her eyes to look at Daemon and covered her smile. He couldn't hide his when he saw her look over. She gripped his hand under the table tightly as for them to calm themselves.

"This is an occasion for celebration, it seems. My grandsons, Aegar and Diserys will marry their cousins, baela and Rhaena, further strengthening the bond between our houses.", viserys said. Aegar looked at baela with a soft smile and she did the same to him. Diserys watched the two and looked at Rhaena, she seemed happy as well. One thing was stuck in his mind, why did viserys say Aegar and Baela were cousins? Did he not piece it together? Or did he choose to ignore it?

"A toast To the the young princes...and their betrothed", viserys said. "Here! here!", Daemon said with a smile and Began drinking. Vaemrys began drinking with a proud smile. Their sons are betrothed and everything will fall into place, according to plan.

"Well done, Diserys. You'll finally get to lie with a woman.", Aegon whispered. Diserys kept his eyes straight ahead and ignored him but baela turned her head as to warn aegon not to say such a thing again. "Let us toast as well Prince Diserys- Future Lord Of The Tides.", viserys said. Baela lifted her cup, "here,here", she said. "You'll be great", Rhaena said to Diserys.

Aegon leaned over to Diserys. "You do know how the act is done, I assume? At least in principle, where to put your cock and all that.", He said. Rhaena couldn't sit and let it happen. "Let it be, cousin.", she said. Aegar leaned back in his chair with his arms and hands on the arm rests. He watched  and listened to the conversion. "You can play the jester if you wish, but hold your tongue before my betrothed", aegon said, showing her what she really meant behind conscious words.

Viserys began to stand up with labored breaths. "It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table.The faces of most dear to me in all the world...yet grown so distant from each other...in the years past.", he said and looked between his two daughters then to his brother then Alicent and the rest. Vaemrys kept her head low and so did rhaenyra.

Viserys took of his half mask, revealing his full face to Vaemrys. She looked up at her father, his skin gray and tainted. His eye, rotted along with the right side of his face. "My own face...is no longer a handsome one...if indeed it ever was. But tonight,I wish you to see me as I am.", he said. "Not just a king...but your father.", he said and looked to his children. "Your Brother.", he said to Daemon. "Your husband...", he said to Alicent. He then looked at all his grandchildren, "and your grandsire. Who may not, it seems...walk for much longer among you.", he said, balancing himself.

"Let us no longer hold I'll feelings in our hearts. The crown cannot stand strong if the House of the Dragon remains divided. But set aside your grievances. If not for the sake of the crown...then for the sake of this old man who loves you all, so dearly.", he said and grew weak, he then sat back down carefully. Rhaenyra stood up with her cup in hand. "I wish to raise my cup to Her Grace, the Queen. I love my father but I must admit that no one had stood...more loyally by his side than his good wife.", she said. Vaemrys tensed up with a hatred she had never felt before. How many times will rhaenyra let Alicent stab her in the back? She knows who Alicent is and still compliments her at every turn but when it comes to her sister, she has nothing to say.

Vaemrys kept her head low. "She has tended to him with...unfailing devotion,love,and honor. And for thag, she has my gratitude...and my apology. ", rhaenyra said and sat down. "Your graciousness moves me deeply, princess.", Alicent said. Daemon leaned forward as did Vaemrys to see the woman's expression. "We are both Mothers...and we love our children.we have more in common than we sometimes allow. I raise my cup to you and to your house.", she said said. Alicent stood up and looked at Vaemrys, "you will make a fine queen.", she said.

Everyone drank from their cups. Vaemrys turned to Daemon who shrugged with a head tilt as to say, 'let her do as she pleases'.

Aegon stood up to fill his cup. "I...I Regret the disappointment you are soon to suffer. But if you ever wish to know what it is to be well satisfied, all you have to do is ask.", he said to Rhaena. Diserys stood up abruptly and slammed both hands on the table. "Diserys.", Rhaena said softly as to calm him.

Aemond stood up as well.  Vhaegon stared him down. Diserys picked up his cup and gave a tense forced smile, "to Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond. We have not seen each other in years, but I have fond memories of our shared youth. And as men, I hope we may yet be friends and Allies.  To you and your family's good Heath, dear uncles.", Diserys finished and everyone began to drink from their cups. Vaemrys didn't drink.

"To you as well", aegon said with distaste. "Beware the beast beneath the boards.", helaena whispered. Rhaegon looked up at her with wide eyes. "Well done, my boy.", viserys said. "I would like to toast to Baela and Rhaena. They'll be married soon. It isn't so bad. Mostly he just ignores you...except sometimes when he's drunk.", she said. Daemon began chuckling. Vaemrys sighed and leaned forward on the table. She was pretty hungry and the baby was kicking.

"Good", otto whispered in sarcasm. "Let us have some music." Viserys said. "Excuse me", Diserys said to Rhaena and stood up to go to helaena, offering her to dance.

Aemond looked at aegon. Vaemrys sat up and smiled at Daemon when he handed her a plate of food. She laughed brightly. Viserys looked at her with the warmest smile that he could muster. Otto and Alicent were having a good time as well. Aegar spoke playfully with Rhaegon and vhaegon. Aemma laughed with vaemron who was making silly faces at her. Daenys and Joffrey laughed together as well. Jace and Luke spending time with their cousins.

This made viserys feel like he had finally finished righting his wrongs. Having his loved ones together and in harmony. He began to fall weaker in his chair. The guards then lifted his chair to take him to his chambers.

Everyone stood up.

The new plates were coming in. a roasted pig was placed in front of Aemond. This caused Lucaerys laugh, It taunted him. Aemond slammed his hand down on the dinner table and stood up with his cup. "Final Tribute.", he said.

Vaemrys tightened her grip around the knife in her hand. "To The Health Of My Nephews: Jace...Luke...Diserys...Joffrey", aemond listed. "Each of them handsome, wise...strong". "Aemond", Alicent called. "Come...let us drain our cups to these Four...Strong Boys.", aemond smirked. Aegar sighed and stood up.

"I dare you to say that again.", Jace said with offense. "Why? 'Twas only a compliment. Do you not think yourself Strong?", Aemond asked. The two got closer and jace had punched him in the face. Diserys and Lucaerys tried to get up to fight as well but we're thrown down onto the table by Aegon. "Jace!", Rhaenyra yelled. "This is Enough!" Vaemrys screamed.

Aemond pushed jace down to the floor, Aegar quickly got in front of aemond and pushed him down. Rhaenyras children were held back, Vaemrys pushed Aegon away from her son. She grabbed her sons closer to her.

Vaemrys turned to daemon with anger upon her face.

"Why would you say such a thing before these people?" Alicent asked while she grabbed onto aemond. "I was merely expressing how proud I am of my family, Mother. Mm, Though it seems my nephews aren't quite as proud of theirs.", aemond spoke aloud and pulled away from Alicent.

Vaemrys turned to aemond with a scowl. "Wait wait". Daemon had Jace and Luke stop trying to fight by holding his hand up. Aegar was behind his father, in a stance as to protect his mother. "Go to your Quarters. All of you go, now.", rhaenyra said to all of the boys.

Daemon sighed and waited in silence, challenging aemond, who knew he couldn't win and left. Daemon looked at Vaemrys with an amused look on his face, however his wife wasn't amused at all. She turned to rhaenyra. "Fix this.", she said sternly and walked ahead away from daemon, Alicent, and rhaenyra.
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