Chapter 4
119AC
King's Landing
Alicent had tears in her eyes when she had to say goodbye to her eldest daughter.
"And please take care of yourself."
"I will. I promise."
Visenya said and hugged her mother tightly.
She released the hug and went to her sister and brother.
"Don't take any shit from Aegon. You can counterattack just as well as I can. I will try to visit you as often as possible."
She also hugged her younger siblings.
Alicent looked round with tears in her eyes.
She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it again.
A ship with white sails bearing an impaled sun as its emblem docked in front of them.
Nadian Martell disembarked. He bowed briefly and signalled to Visenya to join him on the ship.
Nadian Martell wore a yellow robe with orange suns on it to symbolise his origins in Dorne.
Visenya followed him on board and they immediately prepared to set sail.
Alicent began to bite her nails, something she always did when she was nervous.
Aemond took his mother's hand to reassure her.
Alicent, Aemond and Helaena watched the ship until it was no longer visible.
"My queen." The voice of Ser Criston Cole suddenly rang out.
Alicent turned round with a jerk. "What?"
"We have found Aegon, Your Grace. He's been hanging around a house of pleasure and he's clearly not in his right mind."
"Where is he now?"
"We took him to his room."
Alicent nodded.
"Children, we should go back now."
The four of them hurried back to the castle.
"Ser Criston, can you take them to their rooms?"
"Of course, Your Grace."
Alicent stormed into Aegon's chamber.
"Aegon!"
Aegon stood in the middle of the room and looked at his mum. Alicent was furious and therefore couldn't recognise that her son already looked worn out.
She punched him hard in the face.
"What was that for?"
"How dare you have fun with a whore while your sister is away? You won't see her again for half an eternity, but you don't care."
She shouted in his face.
"I do care."
He shouts back.
It was the first time Aegon had ever spoken back to his mother.
Alicent became silent.Now she could also recognise her son's watery eyes. Her gaze became gentle.
She hugged her son tightly.
"She is a strong girl. She will get through this."
Alicent said much more to herself than to Aegon.
Alicent detached herself from her son.
"Don't be late for dinner." Alicent sniffled briefly and left the room.
Aegon went to his wardrobe and opened it. He grabbed a simple shirt and a loose tunic and put them on. He left the room and walked towards the dining room. As he entered he realised that everyone was already there, except one.
Aegon sat down in his seat. Before he took a bite to eat, he looked again at the chair next to him.
Throughout the evening, Viserys kept trying to start a conversation, but everyone kept their answers as brief as possible. When Viserys realised that it made no sense, he let it go.
Aegon, who didn't normally eat very little, hardly touched his food. Not only Aegon but also Aemond, Helaena and Alicent kept looking at Visenya's empty chair.
