𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 | 𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗲𝗻

Chapter 13: farewells

119 d. C

It was the next morning and everyone had congregated at the entrance of the Red Keep. Laenor and Rahenyra were making sure all their belongings were being taken care of while the kids gave their farewells.

As he had promised the night before Aemond stepped to the side with his nephews to make sure they wouldn't leave Shiera alone. At the same time, the girl was standing before her uncles and aunt. Daeron and Helaena were crying and trying to convince Shiera and her brothers of staying with them. Aegon on the other hand remained impassive. He didn't want to cry in front of all the court and, even if he didn't care about them, he had to be strong for his siblings. Now that Rhaenyra was going away he needed to become stronger if he wanted to make sure his grandfather and mother didn't exploit the absence of the heir.

Before they had all made their way to the courtyard he had seemed his sister for comfort and wisdom. There the siblings had comforted each other as one was left at the crawls of his mother and the other had to leave without part of her family. Rhaenyra knew that leaving them behind was wrong, but staying could mean the discovery of her daughter's secret and therefore putting her at risk.

Promising Aegon that they would go back for them and that she loved them she kissed his forehead and made their way towards the rest.

After giving his nephews the talk and giving them his farewells he made his way to Shiera. Taking her hand from behind he sent a look to his siblings asking for a bit of privacy. Once they were gone he turned her around and hugged her tightly.

"Be careful. Don't talk to strangers. Remember to gather your dress a little so you don't step on it. Close the windows at night so you don't catch a cold. And—"

"I know. Don't say more. It's making it all too real" Tightening even more the hug she tried to engrave every detail of Aemond in her mind. His soft hair, his voice, how he towered over her just a little, how he smelled of ash and cherry tarts, how his hands felt on hers. Just everything.

"I will get a dragon. And when I do I will come for you," He was going to keep that promise. Even if that meant entering the dragon's pit and facing a thousand dragons. "But don't forget me. You're the only one that sees me and really wants me as I am. Even when I get angry and lash out and make mean comments that I later regret"

"I will always wait for you. Even if you take a hundred years and are all wrinkly and old. And of course I see you. I might me blind but I would always also find you wherever you go" Shiera said.

Hearing her mother calling them Shiera kissed Aemond on the cheek and together they started walking towards their family. Viserys stood between Alicent and Otto, looking sadly at Rhaenyra. The kings' kids at Otto's side. Rhaenyra stood with Laenor on one side and her brothers on the other. When they reached them they went to their respective parents and stood face to face.

Then, when everybody was present Viserys took a step forwards with the help of Alicent.

"I wish you all a safe journey. Fly carefully and send me a raven when you arrive at Dragonstone" He looked ill. His skin was clammy and starting to rot in some parts of the face. Even so, he had wanted to make the effort to send them off in person.

"Of course father," Giving him one last look, she took Shiera's hand, her other arm occupied with Joffrey who remained asleep. Not even bothering to acknowledge the queen and her father she made her way to the carriage. Laenor following behind her with Jace and Luke. They were going to take a carriage to the dragon's pit where Rhaenyra would mount Syrax with Shiera and Joffrey strapped to her while Laenor would do the same with the older boys.

As she felt her mother guiding her to the carriage Shiera turned around a last time and, even if she couldn't see, she shouted towards where she felt Aemond was.

"Avy jorrāelan!"

Aemond, being one of the few people who understood High Valyrian, realized what she was telling him and didn't hesitate to answer her.

"Avy jorrāelan tolī!" Feeling the weight of Viserys' hand on his shoulder, Aemond turned and sought comfort in his father's arms.

He realized that the egg was about to hatch. In less than a day it had gone from being stone to containing dozens of cracks that increasingly revealed something moving inside.
So, summoning up all his courage, he put his hands into the fire and picked up the egg. He would never forget that night. Him in his room, Shiera thousands of kilometers away, and a blood-red dragon emerging from an egg that had been doomed to oblivion long ago.

Meraxes had arrived and with her the only obstacle in Aemond's path towards being the most powerful man in Westeros and keeping Shiera safe vanished.