Luring the Dragon • Aemond Targaryen

The world belongs to men

"Lost I was born, lonesome I came, lonesome I'll always stay"

An old saying conveys that time heals wounds. I think that it doesn't mend anything, and we are the ones who heal ourselves. I firmly believe time has always been my enemy because it has never worked in my favor, as neither the gods have ever done it. We all live under the threat of time. The king's days are counted because his health is only deteriorating from one day to the next. I barely saw him a few times a week and then for short periods. Time did not help him to get better. It was quite the opposite. Time hasn't taken away the pain in my heart since losing Luke, and I'm sure it never will. My relationship with my mother would never be the same after everything we've been through. As time passed, I started to notice the letters received from Jace were increasingly rare and shorter. And the time was becoming suffocating because I could no longer avoid discussions about marriage. And time continued to advance, and I still owed Aemond a favor.

'You know it was only a matter of time before they would arrange it for you.' Daemon remarked as we walked nonchalantly through Alicent's royal garden. Her administrative decisions were undesirable and poorly executed. The royal treasury investment goes to support noble people and religion. Luxury and abundance surround us everywhere in the palace area. It was no longer a secret that the king was incapable of handling his royal prerogatives since he got sick. And with this current condition, she had taken over the command of the realm. Daemon seemed disturbed by the existing situation, but to his frustration, he had no decision-making power. Alicent declared to everyone that we were just guests who benefited from her profound generosity.

'You know it's crap! I don't understand why it matters so much to them that I am not married. I'm not even the next heir. They could spare me from their ridiculous customs.' I lamented, feeling fed up with this conservative society. But, despite the feeling of rebellion smoldering inside me, Daemon seemed more amused by my reaction than outraged.

'Watch your words, Aelyza. You never know where a septon might be hiding. You could end up accused of treason and heresy.' Although the message was as honest and objective as possible, his complacent smile said something completely different. I knew that Daemon would have killed with no hesitation all the clerics following the Faith of the seven than to allow one to touch me.

'I prefer the beheading instead of the future audiences of the suitors for my hand. I don't even know what's worse. An arrogant Lannister? A barbarian Stark? Maybe a cruel Baratheon? How about a manipulative Hightower?'

'Or, maybe none of those listed. You can choose a weak and easy-to-control man so that you have an advantage.' He pleaded as if it was such an obvious solution. I stopped believing that I would experience true love a long time ago. Everything was about politics and alliances, some emotionless perspectives based exclusively on necessities. But I couldn't ignore that frustration when Daemon came up with this recommendation.

'What are you implying? Should I follow my mother's example? Hasn't this already caused us all enough trouble?' I remarked impertinently, not caring that I was bringing to the discussion a sensitive topic. The paternity of me and my brothers has never been a clear case, not even in our family. My mother told us the same story she recited to the whole world. Some days, Daemon tended to be a bit more generous with the information, but he was cautious every time. Because of those lapses of his sincerity, I had come to have specific theories about our connection.

'No, but I suggest you could learn from her mistakes. You can choose wisely, or you can surrender to these customs that you despise. Some would say this is a man's world, made for men and led by them. But you know what I think? Men are violent creatures. They seek chaos and blood and women. This world would be nothing but blood and ashes if all the power were in the hands of men. My dear Aelyza, although you will never play on the main stage, you can do much more behind the scenes.'