𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 | 𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗲𝗻

Chapter 11: begging

119 d. C

The moment Aemond was told by his mother that Shiera and her family were going to Dragonstone and he wasn't allowed to join he felt his heart break.

He tried to plead to her but she would bulge. She had already made up her mind.

"You can't make me stay! I'm going with them!" Even as he shouted he knew she would change her mind. She was too proud to go back on her words.

"Yes I can. I am your mother and I don't want you to leave my side" Alicent tried to explain it as gently as she could. It was wrong for her to say it but Aemond was her favorite so sending him to that dreadful island was something she wouldn't allow.

"And I don't want to leave Shiera's side! I need her and she needs me! How is she going to navigate in a place she doesn't know! That's my job, it's why I'm here!" Tears were now falling freely as he couldn't control his emotions anymore.

Having enough Alicent grabbed her son's face and made sure he listened intently to her.

"That's not your job! Your job is to secure your brother's throne! Because if you don't we are all going to die!" The fears Alicent felt were blinding her. Her father was right, she couldn't let her children get closer than they were with Rhaenyra's children. It was dangerous.

Hearing this Aemond yanked his face out of his mother's clutches and took a step back.

"Aegon is not the heir, Nyra is. And I would die before letting anything bad happen to my family." With his face blank he gave one last look at her mother before turning around for the door.

His next stop was his father's chambers. He had been informed that he had retired for the day but that didn't stop him. Entering and going to his father who laid in his bed he begged for the first time in his life. Viserys' face was the clear example of exhaustion but he tried to listen to his son.

"Father, please, please don't let her go without me. I promise I will train more, I will be best at philosophy and history. I will do anything. But let me go" His tears fell and wet the king's bed. And Viserys, with the little strength he had left, could only weakly shake his head.

"I've already tried but your mother is determined that you stay here. I'm getting old and weaker. Right now she is the one reigning in my name, I can't fight anymore," His face was solemn as he said this. "But I promise you one thing, Aemond, I'm going to do everything I can to get better and take back the reins of the kingdom. And when that happens there will be nothing that can separate you"

Accepting his fate and at a loss of words he nodded and bid his father goodby.

Running out of the room where he had been informed of his mothers decision he made his way towards Shiera's bedroom. He knew that at this time of the day she enjoyed some alone time where she rested in her favorite chair by the fire.

When he made his way across his sister's quarters he didn't even stop to greet her as he only had one thing on his mind.

How was he supposed to protect Shiera as he had promised Rhaenyra some years ago if they separated her from him?

He entered Shiera's bedroom without knocking and found her where he knew he would, sat at her favorite chair by the fire. Her eyes were red as proof of her having been crying before he arrived. At that he ran towards her and fell at her feet taking her hands in his.

The loud noises Aemond had  made when he entered her chambers had scared Shiera for a moment but upon feeling his hands taking hers she knew that it was him and she didn't have anything to fear.

Giving his hands a kiss Shiera then moved her hands to Aemond's face, feeling how wet his cheeks were and how his hair, that she loved so much, was now messy and tangled.

"I don't want to go without you. I don't want to be alone" Tears started to pour again from Shiera's eyes.

"And I don't want you to go without me. When I'm not with you I'm incomplete. A part of me is gone" straightening up and encircling Shiera in his arms he let his own tears fall as well.

"Maybe if we beg the king he would let you come with us" She would do anything to make sure they stayed together.

"I tried but it's impossible. My mother and grandfather would let it happen" He wished he was stronger, able to stop this. He wished he had a dragon, a true Targaryen. Someone mighty enough that he could keep those he loved close to him.

"But I might make him change his mind, I could tell him that I saw you coming with me and that we shouldn't contradict destiny" She would say anything.

"No. You won't do that. Your secret would never be safe. Not anymore," He didn't want to think about all the possible outcomes of doing that. "I promise that we will see each other soon. I don't need prophetic dreams to know that. And when we are together again I will not let you go."

"I will be so alone" Feeling Shiera hugging him tighter he buried his face in the hollow between her neck and shoulder.

"You are not going to be alone. You have Jace and Luke" Aemond would make sure to talk to his nephews before they left. Shiera wouldn't be alone in a new place.

"I will. Jace is Luke's person as Luke is Jace's. You are my person" Moving back a little so that they were face to face she took his face again and  leaned her forehead against his.

"Then I will make sure that, as your person, we will never be apart again. I promise it to the gods, old and new" Wiping the tears from their eyes, Aemond stood up and led them to the bed.

There, once he made sure that they were both well covered under the sheets, he snuggled next to Shiera and they both fell asleep.

Rhaenyra, who had listened to everything from the door, regretted that the disputes started so long ago affected the people she loved the most.