The Queen is dead and her best friend is angry.
Elowen Redfort, Queen Aemma's Lady-in-waiting and closest confidant is in the room when the queen is murdered. Driven by her grief Elowen finds herself in the King's chambers intending to confron...
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The royal wheelhouse softly rocked side to side as it passed over the cobblestone roads of King's landing. Outside the carriage small folk lined the streets, tossing flowers as the wheelhouse passed. Elowen softly smiled to herself as she stared out the window beside her, the common people held a special place in her heart. Her lips parted as she turned to her left, though the words died on the tip of her tongue as she registered the blank look on Aemond's face.
"What is the matter, my dear?" Elowen gently probed, laying her hand atop Aemond's. "Are you not happy to wed Rhaena?"
"I am," Aemond responded, glancing at his mother. "I've waited for this day to come."
"Then what is the matter?"
"I-" Elowen waited for Aemond's thoughts to turn into words, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles in silent comfort. "I miss father."
Elowen's smile dimmed slightly as she became fiercely aware of Viserys's absence. Most days she was able to move past it, to ignore it like she ignored her nose on her face. But then she would hear or see something and she would turn to share it, only to find that the person she wanted to share it most with wasn't there.
"I miss him too," Elowen whispered. "The gods can be cruel and unfair sometimes. I wanted so badly to grow old with him. To hold his hand as he brought you into the Small Council meetings and taught you what it means to be a good ruler. To see his eyes light up when we were introduced to Aegon and Alyssa's child. To find matches for Helaena and Viserra and watch as you were wed." Elowen looked back to Aemond, having drifted away as she thought of Viserys. "That is the risk one accepts when they fall in love, the chance that it might be you that lives longer."
"I don't know what I would do without Rhaena."
"And I pray you will never find out," Elowen squeezed Aemond's hand one last time before she withdrew her touch, lifting the thin box beside her and placing it on Aemond's lap. "Your father wanted you to have this."
Aemond stared at the box for a moment before lifting its lid. His breath stilled in his throat as he realized what had been given to him. There nestled in the crushed velvet interior laid his father's dagger. His finger traces over the Valyrian steel in awe. "Thank you."
Elowen moves so she sits closer to him and wraps her arms around him. One hand cups the left side of his face and pulls him closer so she can press a chaste kiss to his temple.
"I am so proud of you, my sweet boy." Elowen whispers into his white gold hair, pulling away as the carriage came to a stop. "Are you ready?"
At Aemond's nod Elowen knocks on the door closest to her, alerting the guards that they were ready. The sun blinded her as she stepped out of the wheelhouse, her hand raised to shade her face allowing her to see. The Grand Sept looked the same as it had on her wedding day. She had been so happy to marry Viserys, ecstatic for their life together. She had wished for an eternity at his side, but twenty one years and the children that had been born from their love was more than enough.
