The Passion of a Thousand Suns | Aemond Targaryen

Twenty eight: saving a soul who doesn't want to be saved

KING'S LANDING

The only sound that echoed in the room was Aemond's snores. Hira had urged him to drink poppy milk to dull the chronic pain. Aemond fell asleep shortly after.

Hira knew the truth of Storm's End and despite it all, she still sought to protect him. The admission was no excuse. No amount of remorse will ever bring Luke back, but the monster Aemond pretended to be was a falsehood littered with guilt and horror. A facade to hide inner insecurities that has plagued the silver haired man since his youth.

Hira can't change the past, nor could she offer forgiveness, it wasn't her right, but she would defend Aemond against all attacks. What more could she do for him?

She promised together, didn't she?

Hira had lost enough people. She won't lose Aemond.

When an hour passed, Helaena sent a tray of food to the room, which Hira ate immediately. Since her return to King's Landing, she's been eating less and worrying more. Her shoulder was healing as best it could, despite her rigorous movements and lack of proper care. She was due to see the maester, but she would rather be locked in a room with Aegon than be near one of those grey rats owned by the Citadel.

She remembered Rhaenyra and her lady mother Aemma, who died birthing her second born, the heir for a day. How Rhaenyra begged to not be harmed the way her mother was when birthing Visenya, another Targaryen child who died before their first breath.

This House was cursed. The gods have cursed each and every one of those who have dragon blood. Centuries of great dynasties and legacies held in the hands of Rhaenyra, the first queen of Westeros, and Aegon, the usurper king.

Hira took that moment to carefully plan her next steps, because she would not be caught in their crossfire.

She thought of all the ways she could steal Helaena and the children from under the Greens. Tried to remember which merchant ship she could trust that would ferry them to Leng. Helaena was all but ready to leave. The council was busy with war preparations, thus making it easier to escape.

Convincing Aemond to leave with them would be a difficult task. Aemond, who had been battling his own demons, slowly going mad with guilt.

It was becoming apparent to Hira, the difficulty of saving someone who doesn't want to be saved in the first place. That simply because she loved him, meant she could save him with feelings and determination alone. It was a cruel and painful lie that she had fooled herself into believing.

But she had to try, even if it hurts her in the end. For what is love, without pain?

After dealing with Aemond, she must return to Zhurong and her Lengii kin back in Dragonstone. Command an entire fleet and army without Sunniva or Daemon getting in the way.

Then, the Greens.

Poison would be her best ally. It was dishonourable by Westerosi accounts and she would be branded a kinslayer, but those things never mattered to her.

Jade's poisons worked best, the ones silently deadly that left no traces of proof of assassination. Otto would be the first to go, the council members who supported Aegon's ascension next. Alicent's allies, namely Cole and Larys Strong.

It would have to be discreet and fast. Fast enough that the realm would accept Rhaenyra's rule without question.

Hira cared little if she was branded a kinslayer, or kingslayer. For Hans, the death of a family member was acceptable, if they should threaten the royal standing or the empire as a whole. Aegon's rule was a threat to the true monarch, and if his death was the price to pay for peace, then Hira was willing to go above and beyond for it.