𝕷𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝕱𝖎𝖗𝖊 ( house of the dragon )

aemon ii

Aemon was glad to be on his way home. He knew there'd be some type of scolding from Viserys about the abrupt manner in which he'd left court, but he'd still be welcomed back. That was certain.

He could not wait to finally sleep in his bed again, see Rhaenyra, and simply fly over King's Landing again.

Daemon flew ahead of him as they grew closer to King's Landing, and Aemon could see the Dragonpit in the distance. He felt Quicksilver shifting beneath him, sensing his own anxiousness. "Nyke gīmigon, Adēgion," he called to the dragon. "Īlon jāhor sagon lenton aderī." The dragon shifted beneath him again at the mention of a rest. It made Aemon laugh as they continued to soar above the sea. [I know, Quicksilver,] [We'll be home soon.]

When he'd landed in the Dragonpit, Quicksilver was eager for him to dismount and had no problem eagerly entering the tunnels under the pit, probably to make her nest next to Dreamfyre's. The two of them were like sisters, their previous riders being siblings themselves.

Daemon and Caraxes were not far behind, and Aemon was already mounted on a horse as Daemon was not as swift at leaving his dragon. While Aemon knew that Daemon was eager to get to the castle, he was eager for different reasons. He was eager to show Viserys he was better—that he'd beaten the Triarchy without help from his big brother, the King—while Aemon was eager to be reunited with his family.

The ride to the Keep was quicker than Aemon remembered, but he figured it was due to his excitement. Daemon, of course, took the lead; Aemon couldn't care less. The sooner Daemon's parading was over, the sooner he could settle back into life at home.

Entering the throne room, Aemon followed his cousin, eyeing the lords and ladies who barely paid him a glance as their eyes were trained on Daemon strutting before them.

Aemon had spotted Rhaenyra loitering in the crowd, but her eyes never met his; they remained solely on Daemon as if she were magnetized to him. Things had changed; Aemon knew this was inevitable, but it stung nonetheless as he realized how his departure had caused a rift between himself and his family.

As Daemon approached the throne, Ser Harrold stopped him, drawing his sword and pointing it to his chest, but Daemon seemed not to care. He always goaded Ser Harrold or really anyone he could when he had the chance. Daemon raised the Crabfeeder's hammer toward the King before dramatically dropping it to the floor with a loud clatter. "Add it to the chair," he stated before stepping back, a smug look overtaking his face.

The crowd murmured around them, wondering if the King would even respond. Aemon knew he would; Viserys always showed clemency to his family, maybe even too often.

Aemon gazed up at his cousin standing before the Iron Throne. He stood adorned with Blackfyre and the Old King's crown. The crown itself was one Aemon deeply admired—a simple band of yellow gold set with seven gemstones, each a different hue. Aemon recalled the time his grandmother had allowed him to hold the crown, her fingers guiding him to each stone and explaining its significance. She had told him that while the seven stones represented the Faith of the Seven, their arrangement held deeper meaning. At the front was a bright ruby, followed by a vibrant orange citrine, a carved piece of amber, an emerald, a sapphire, a carved chink of tanzanite, and finally, an amethyst.

Viserys observed his brother's face, eyes briefly flitting over to Aemon and softening before focusing back on Daemon. "You wear a crown. Do you also call yourself King?"

The crowd murmured again as Daemon swayed side to side, exuding confidence. "Once we smashed the Triarchy, they named me 'King of the Narrow Sea.'" Murmuring ensued again as Aemon suppressed an eye roll. Is this really the man he so idolized in his youth? He thought. Was this the man he grew up wanting to be? No. He wanted to be a brave and honorable knight. No trickery, no vanity, just doing what was right. Like his uncle and namesake.