The Death of War

Chapter 16

Rhaenyra talks to Jace and Joff and things don't go well. Sorry about that 😢. We also see how things are going in Kings Landing and Aemond decides someone has to go. I hope you guys like it. 🥰

2 Weeks later.

Rhaenyra looked at Jace and Joffrey and was not sure what to say. She had been finding excuses not to have this conversation since Jace had returned from the Vale. Her oldest son knew there was something wrong, she could tell by the way he would at her. She had postponed this as long as she was able because she did not want her sons to hate her. They were innocent in all of it, she was the one to blame for all of it. She should have fought back against her father. She wished she had the other Rhaenyra's strength and left when her father had ordered her to marry Laenor. Instead, she had stayed and made a complete mess of her life and the lives of her children. She did not want Jace and Joffrey to think she loved the children she had with Daemon more than she loved them. Rhaenyra loved all her children equally and she would do whatever it took to keep them safe even if that meant that her two eldest sons would hate her forever.

"Why are we not doing anything?" Jace had been on a warpath since finding out about Lucerys's death. Rhaenyra did not blame him for his anger, she had felt the exact same way. The only difference was that she had moons to process her son's death while she had been in the other world. Her children had not had even half the time to grieve, Jace had only known for a few days. "Why are we not taking revenge on the man who killed my brother?"

"It was an accident, Jace." Her son gave her an incredulous look. "Yes, Aemond was reckless and he made some horrible mistakes, but he did not mean to kill Luke."

"What are you saying?" Jace looked at her like he did not recognize her. "My brother is dead and you are defending his killer?"

"I am not defending him, I am just stating the facts of what happened. I have not forgiven Aemond and I am still angry." Not as angry as she had been, but the anger at her brother's reckless actions still had not gone away. "But that does not mean I am going to blind myself to the truth. We are at war and making decisions based on our anger will just get us killed."

"Fine, we can talk about what we are going to do about Aemond later." Jace let out a sigh and sat down across from her. "Why did you ask me to return? I should be in the North right now, talking to the Starks."

"No, there is something I need to speak to both of you about ." She gestured for Joffrey to take a seat and waited until he did so. "There is still talk around the kingdom, about both your births and legitimacy. The Hightowers and Aegon are using the fact that you two are not truly Laenor's sons to discredit my own claim."

"Yes, we are aware of that," Jace answered and frowned. "They have been doing that for years."

"Yes, but now they have also put a target on your backs, and as long as you are both in the line of succession you will not be safe." Her hands tightened on the arms of the chair as she forced herself to keep talking. "There is also the fact that you both being on the line of succession will cause more conflicts in the end. Jace you will never be recognized as the true king and your children will forever be scrutinized."

"What are you saying?" Jace's gaze became sharp as he started to suspect what she was getting at.

"I need you both safe, no matter what happens to me, I need to know that you both will be safe, that others will not consider you a threat." Jace and Joffrey looked at each other before looking back at her. Rhaenyra swallowed her tears. "You both will be declared bastards and forfeit all rights to inherit the throne."