𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒅 | House of the Dragon

𝘿𝙍𝙄𝙁𝙏𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙆 (𝙋𝙩.𝙄𝙄)

═══ CHAPTER FOUR ═══

It was late at night, when Alyssa was suddenly woken up by someone shaking her arm. "Alyssa, wake up!"

"What is it?", the halfasleep girl asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Someone stole Vhagar!", she heard someone whisper and it was then Alyssa realized that there were four people standing next to her bed:
Jace, Luke and her cousins Baela and Rhaena.

Now Alyssa was fully awake. She quickly got out of bed and followed the other children to the castle yard and down into the dragon caves.

The stone floor felt cold on Alyssa's bare feet. But there was something else. Alyssa couldn't help but feel like something was about to go very wrong. She just didn't know what it was and that made her even more nervous.

Finally, the group came to a halt when a figure suddenly emerged from the darkness of the caves.

Baela was the first to realise who it was.

"It's him!", she yelled out.

"It's me", came the replie and Alyssa was horrified to realise that the figure was none other than her older brother.

"Aemond, what are you doing?", she questioned, but Aemond didn't answer. Instead, Baela did.

"What he's doing is clear. Vhagar is my mother's dragon!"

"Your mother's dead", Aemond gloated, "and Vhagar has a new rider now."

"She was mine to claim!", Rhaena retorted.

"Then you should've claimed her. Maybe your cousins can find you a pig to ride", Aemond sneered. "It would suit you."

Before anyone could react, Rhaena charged at Aemond, but he stopped her and swiftly threw her to the ground. Baela, wanting to protect her sister, swooped in and punched Aemond. He stumbled back but because he was older, he quickly regained the upper hand and punched Baela, sending her to the floor as well. Alyssa looked at her brother with wide eyes. He had never been like this. This was the first time she was truly scared of him.

"Come at me again and I'll feed you to my dragon!", Aemond threatened.

That was enough. Alyssa suddenly forgot all her fear. She took her brother by surprise and punched him. He looked at her, growled and hit back, sending his sister to the ground next to Baela.

Now, Jacaerys marched forward. He and Aemond fought, before Aemond kicked Jacaerys back. Lucerys attempted to defend his brother, but Aemond punched him in the face hard, breaking his nose. The boy fell to the ground, wailing.

"Luke!", Alyssa yelled out and swiftly ran to him, but he was already back on his feet.

Jace stood quickly, holding Aemond down, while Baela, Rhaena and Lucerys repeatedly kicked him. Alyssa was too horrified by what was happening to do anything. Aemond managed to break free. He kicked Jacaerys back, pushed Baela into Rhaena and pushed Lucerys into Jacaerys.

Lucerys ran at Aemond again, but the older boy grabbed him by the throat.
He grabbed a rock, ready to bash it against Luke's head. Alyssa wanted to rush forward, but Rhaena and Baela quickly held her back. "Aemond, please, no!", she begged her brother.

"You'll die screaming in flames just as your father did!", Aemond growled. He looked between Jace and Luke. "Bastards!"

"My father's still alive!", Lucerys cried out. Aemond looked surprised for a moment. Then he turned to Jacaerys with a smirk. "He doesn't know, does he, Lord Strong?"