Come Back To Me

Chapter 39

***TW Violence, death and gore***

Aemond's second stop before returning to King's Landing

Vhagar was growling in the colder climate, along with her rider. He held his jacket closer to him for warmth, but it was his ears that were the worst of his shivering. He'd flown immediately north after leaving Dragonstone, not wanting to waste anymore time with the other hooded figure he had tied up behind his saddle.

This one wasn't kicking or screaming like Otto did, but mostly just grunted through the flight and shivering the rest of the way.

Aemond had Vhagar fly lower when he noticed smoke from a field by the river. Armies. Tents.

Sporting a direwolf on the banners they staked between their tents.

Stark.

Vhagar landed on the opposite side of the river from the men that started to gather on the other side.

Cregan marched his way through his men and stood tall when he reached the front. His hand rested on the pommel of Ice, the Valyrian heirloom of his house.

"Kinslayer." Cregan called out as he nodded to Aemond. "What a brave and honorable prince of the realm you are to hide behind your dragon for battle."

"Oh, I am not here for battle, Stark. I've brought you something you want more than you think." Aemond shouted back with his eye narrowed down at the northern lord.

"Unless you plan to give me your head, there is nothing I want from you." Cregan declared, tightening his grip on his sword.

"Not even the life of the very same man that poisoned your beloved at her own wedding?" Aemond smirked when he saw Cregan's face drop. "Our interests align in this seeing as how my grandsire was so eager to tell me who that poison was truly meant for."

"And yet Lady Cassandra is alive and well...mostly. She hasn't spoken much to me as of late." Cregan taunted, but Aemond simply shook his head with a hint of a smile growing on his face. A small prideful look when he pictured how Daena had defended him, even if she refused to admit it.

"I don't give a shit about that Baratheon whore. If someone tries to harm me or my wife, their actions will have consequences." Aemond turned behind him, throwing the hooded man over his shoulder and working his way down along Vhagar.

He hopped to the ground, marching towards the edge by the water and threw the figure down. The man groaned, but Aemond didn't care. He yanked him up by the back of his tunic and ripped the hood from the man.

Lord Larys Strong.

"Consider this a present from me and Princess Daena. The little spider doesn't deny a single bit of the accusation. He poisoned Lady Baela that night when he really meant it to be Princess Daena." Aemond's grip tightened around the fabric of Lary's tunic.

It took everything in him not to just throw the man towards Vhagar himself. But he had to play this right. If he wanted his plan to work, he needed allies of his own. Allies beyond his mother and sister.

He had to fix whatever wrongs he could if he wanted her back.

"And why should I trust the word of a kinslayer?" But Cregan felt the same rage Aemond did as he looked at the frail man knelt beside the prince.

"He does not lie, my lord. My Lord Hand ordered me and I served him as I have served the Queen Regent in the past." Larys bowed his head. There wasn't any remorse in him, but merely acceptance of his fate. "I only ask that my clubfoot be removed upon my death. I wish to be free of it in my death."