The Passion of a Thousand Suns | Aemond Targaryen

Twenty three: of great regrets

KING'S LANDING

Despite his silver hair, Aegon was a replica of his mother: the worried frown that lined his mouth, the chin, the despair in his eyes was all Alicent Hightower's.

Sovereignty was a foul look on the pretender king.

Aegon most likely felt the same.

Surprisingly, he didn't reek of wine, in fact he looked as sober as the day he was born. However dark circles hung under his eyes and his hands trembled on the tabletop.

"Not hungry?"

"Could be poisoned."

"I believe you have bigger things to worry about than poison."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's whatever you make it out to be, cousin."

Afflicted by a dislocated shoulder and swollen ankle, Aemond flew Vhagar to King's Landing. Carrying Hira in his arms, he all but ran to the infirmary, demanding the maester to tend to her ailments.

The maester set the bones, all the while Hira screamed and cursed into a rag. He provided milk of the poppy, which she dismissed, wishing to be able-minded, instead decided to fight through the pain.

That was yesterday.

Today, Aegon sat across the table, laden with ham, fruit and cheese, with Aemond on the armchair. They were inside Aemond's quarters, alone.

None but the Green brothers had spoken to her, although she knew Otto and Alicent was informed of her arrival. Nothing stayed a secret in the Red Keep. Especially with Aemond sprinting like a madman across the castle and threatening the maester bodily harm if he disobeyed the prince.

Hira leaned forward, one elbow resting on the table, the other tied in a sling close to her chest.

With a pinched mouth, she mocked. "Tell me, false king, is the crown as heavy as you expected?"

"I never wanted it." Aegon's frown turned into a scowl, marring the Targaryen beauty they were well known for. "It was forced."

"And yet your Hand sent ravens to barter for support and his grandson to Storm's End," Hira responded, "to marry a daughter of Lord Boros."

Aegon shared a look with his brother, smirking, as if he knew something she didn't. "You haven't told her?"

Aemond gave his brother a flat look. "Where would I find the time, hmm? Before or after she was injured?"

Hira interjected. "I am right here. Tell me what?"

Aegon was quick to deliver the news in a gleeful manner. "The marriage proposal was for Daeron, not Aemond. We all know who he would rather have in his bed and it's not a helpless little stag."

Hira whirled around to face him, glaring heatedly. In response Aemond massaged his forehead.

Good.

In her pain-ridden state, she spent the better half of the night thinking of ways to break that betrothal. The other half blocking the screams of Luke and Arrax from her mind.

"Leave. Your help is unwanted." Aemond sneered.

Ignoring his brother, the elder popped a grape into his mouth, chewing the fruit obnoxiously. "I came to negotiate, cousin."

Hira's stomach ached with hunger.

"I don't negotiate with traitors."

"Pretty face but stubborn mouth. Is she really the one you want, brother?"