𝕷𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝕱𝖎𝖗𝖊 ( house of the dragon )

aemon vii

That evening, Aemon received an unexpected summons to Alicent's chambers with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. As he approached the intricately carved door, he wondered about the nature of this meeting. The corridors of the Red Keep seemed to close in on him, and the flickering torchlight cast dancing shadows on the stone walls.

Upon entering, he found Alicent seated by a window overlooking the city. The room was bathed in a soft, golden glow as the sun dipped low on the horizon. Alicent's expression, however, held a gravity that belied the beauty of the scene.

"Aemon," she greeted him, her voice measured. "Thank you for coming."

He inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Your Grace." The formal term was not one he'd normally use when they were alone, but he wasn't sure why she'd sent for him. We shouldn't even be alone like this, he thought.

Alicent motioned for him to take a seat, her gaze unwavering. "I have heard whispers, Aemon. Whispers of dalliances that threaten to stain the honor of our house."

Aemon's brows furrowed in genuine concern. "What are you talking about, Ali?"

Alicent's eyes searched his, and there was a flicker of uncertainty in her gaze. "My father's claims that Rhaenyra and Daemon had been intimate with each other were unfounded, but I heard that the maester was sent to Rhaenyra's room, with a tea."

"A tea?" Aemon was lost now. What did he have to do with Rhaenyra drinking tea?

"Yes."

"And this tea was...?"

"To dispose of any unwanted side effects of an inappropriate dalliance." She seemed to hate the words as they came from her mouth.

Aemon connected the dots now, but he was still confused why this involved him. He had preferred to stay as far from Rhaenyra's drama as possible. He had his own problems to deal with. "You spoke to her yourself, right? She told you Daemon never touched her?"

"Yes, but the tea was delivered, so I spoke to Ser Criston..." This threw Aemon off even more. "And he admitted that he and Rhaenyra... they..."

Aemon didn't need Alicent to finish. "Gods, Alicent!" He exclaimed as he stood up. "What was the point of that?"

"She lied to me!" she defended. "She said—"

"She said Daemon never touched her." Aemon ran his hand over his face. "Now you've uncovered something even worse!" Aemon's exclamation turned to a spitting whisper. "A princess sleeping with her Kingsguard knight!"

"She dishonored herself!" Alicent returned his tone.

"Who even told you about this tea? Did you see it delivered yourself?" he questioned.

"Ser Larys-" she whispered.

"Larys Strong?" he asked in disbelief. "What business does he have spreading rumors like this? Treasonous rumors of the Princess' virtue?"

"They are not rumors if Ser Criston confessed to them himself!" Her voice was charged with betrayal.

"Ser Criston is a knight of the Kingsguard, and a good one at that." Aemon expressed. "Now he shall fear for his life at every turn because of a rumor you heard from the second son of the Hand of the King who most likely wishes to gain some standing with you."

"It is not my fault, this is Rhaenyra's fault." Alicent had rageful tears in her eyes. "She should not be allowed to run about doing as she pleases while the rest of us must sacrifice everything for her."

"What are you talking about?!" Aemon couldn't believe the words coming from her mouth. "Are you doing this because you are jealous of her?"

"I am the Queen," she added, her voice carrying a weight of authority.

"That's not what I asked," he said quietly, eyes searching hers. "Why are you doing this?"

"Rhaenyra has spent her whole life getting what she wants!" she exclaimed, frustration lacing her words.

"She's the crown princess, the heir to the throne. If you reveal this affair, it will be a disaster. Do you understand that?" Aemon's tone was urgent, his concern evident.

"We have spent our entire lives giving up what we want so that she can be lifted up. She deserves to be held to the same standards," she argued, her conviction unwavering.

"This is not about us! Do you not truly understand that revealing this information would destroy the realm and cause problems for us all? If you only tell the King, he will ignore it because he cares for the peace of the realm! If you tell others and make it a rumor, you will doom this house! Aegon will not be King without bloodshed!" Aemon stressed, a sense of desperation in his voice.

"It is not about if Aegon is King!" she insisted, her resolve unyielding.

"Really? Because to me, it seems like your father's words have possessed you, and his ambitions have become your own," he observed, his gaze penetrating.

"I am only thinking of the safety of my children!" she asserted, her voice tinged with emotion.

"No! You are thinking of yourself! Think of your children, think of the realm!" he implored, his frustration evident.

"I am!" she retorted, her tone strained.

"No, Alicent! This is exactly what you do!" he exclaimed, exasperation coloring his words.

"What?!" she questioned, her defiance evident.

"You say you are thinking of the realm, of your family when truly you are thinking of what your father would want," he accused, a sense of betrayal in his voice.

"Aemon—" she began, her voice catching.

"You said this when you married the King, but actually, if you truly didn't want to, you would have said no, you would have left with me, but you didn't! You refuse to actually do something that's good for yourself because your father has told you otherwise, and deep down, you truly know that you wish to only please him," he declared, his words cutting through the air.

"Aemon—" she tried again, her voice harder this time.

"Your father will see this realm burn to put Aegon on the throne before he even thinks about peace," he warned, a note of sorrow and pain in his voice.

"You have no right to demean my father!" she protested, her defenses rising.

"You called me here!" he reminded her, his frustration evident.

"You are a bastard!" She blurted out, and it broke Aemon's heart, his face falling. "You have no right to say any of this to me. I am your Queen and a lady of high birth; my word is greater than yours."

"Fine, as you wish, Your Grace. I will see myself out," he conceded, tears pricking his eyes as he walked past her.

Alicent suddenly realized what she had said, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him. "Just remember, Your Grace, at the end of the day, you are the Queen, but the King makes the decisions for us all."