Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? / Aemond Targaryen / House of the Dragon

10. Guilty as Sin

"Is it awful to think him so handsome?" Avalon whispered. Alicent blushed tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"No." Davina assured. The girls glanced back at her. Davina stood arms crossed over her chest leaning against the wall. "Because daemon is sexy as sin."

"All seven deadly sins." Alicent giggled back into Avalons side as Daemon walked forward with confidence though, the kings guard unsheathed their swords ready to attack, to protect their king. No one knew what daemon was up to.

One could feel guilty as sin just looking at daemon without ever touching his skin.

A crown made of bones on Daemon's head he threw down his sword before them. His gaze shifted discreetly around the throne room making sure every eye was on him. They were. He winked back at davina which in turn made her roll her eyes while avalon and alicent were swooning.

'Add it to the chair.' Daemon offered it clattered before Viserys as the crowd murmured with anticipation.

"Everything has to be a show with your brothers." Rupert murmured and davina straightened up. "Why arent you working with sheep stealer?"

"I needed a break." Davina answered. Rupert shook his head disapprovingly. "You want him so bad you claim him." Davina hissed and the shock at her words didnt cross his face but a subtle tick of his jaw. If he could control davina he could control the dragons. He wouldnt deal with a disobedient dragon.

'You wear a crown.' Viserys noted.  'Do you also call yourself "King"?' he sneered.

"Come." Rupert rasped in her arm grabbing her arm in his bruising grip. Davina followed him willingly but he didnt let go of her.

'Once we smashed the Triarchy, they named me "King of the Narrow Sea." Daemon informed him and the crowd murmured again, Daemon was no king. Everyone knew of his reputation. Avalon held her breath worried what might happen to her uncle. Her father was a kind and forgiving man rhaenyras actions of rebellion showed that.  'But I know that there is only one true king, Your Grace.' Daemon assured. 'My crown and the Step stones... are yours.'

'Well, where is Lord Corlys?' Viserys questioned hesitantly, Daemon was not one to bend the knee willingly.

"Where did your aunt go?" Alicent questioned. Avalon glanced back to where she once stood.

"Lets not forget who is in charge here." Rupert instructed pushing davina up against the wall. Harwins gaze shifted to them stopping him in his tracks.

"I havent forgotten." Davina assured. "Its not me or you though."

''He sailed home to Driftmark.' Daemon told viserys honestly.

'Who holds the Step stones?' Viserys countered

'The tides... the crabs, and 2,000 dead Triarchy corsairs, staked to the sand to warn those who might follow.' Daemon informed him. Viserys got closer to him. Avalon held tight to alicents hand. Rhaenyra rolled her eyes seeing alicent and avalon side by side.

'Rise.' Viserys said hugging Daemon as he rose and the crowd applauded, there would not be war, but peace. 'The realm owes you a great debt, brother. Come. This is our chance...'

"You are back." Avalon said surprise filled her.

"Yeah some welcome party." Rhaenyra murmured.

"This is for daemons return." Avalon corrected

"I know i was joking. No one cares about me."

"You weren't supposed to be back yet." Avalon corrected. "Did you find a husband?" Rhaenyra laughed stalking off.  "I will take that as a no." She mumbled.

'Daemon, he would venture off, abroad, winning tournaments...'

'No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.' Daemon said immediately a smile on his face

'I will not revisit this debate. You were always mother's favorite.' Viserys told him. 'No, it's no great mystery.'

'You were.' Daemon assured

'Our mother, she had no regard for custom or tradition, rules. And I, sadly, was no great warrior.' Viserys countered. "But davina was always a mamas girl..." viserys saw the sadness in davinas eyes. Everything had been so different back when their parents lived.

"Excuse me." Davina whispered as Rhaenyra approached. Daemons eyes glued to davina barely listening to rhaenyra's congratulations as she approached.

"Excuse me as well." Daemon agreed following after her.

'I surmise the tour did not go well.' Alicent said walking over to Rhaenyra as she sat along on a bench staring at the gardens.  Avalon sat beside her twin.

'I endured it for as long as I could.' Rhaenyra told her stiffly.

"Im sure it was horrible." Avalon agreed.

"Thats why you didnt want to come." Rhaenyra sassed.

"I didnt want to be second fiddle to you." Avalon corrected stiffly.

'To have every young knight and lord in the Seven Kingdoms fawning over you... What misery. It is rare for girls in this realm to get a choice between two suitors, no less two score of them.' Alicent reminded her.

'Those men and boys don't fawn over me. They only want my name and my Valyrian blood for their offspring.' Rhaenyra corrected.

'I think it's rather romantic.'

'How romantic it must be to get imprisoned in a castle and made to squeeze out heirs.' Rhaenyra heard it as she said and looked over at Alicent with a  pinched gaze. Avalon rose up to stand beside alicent. "Sorry.' Rhaenyra murmured 'How angry is he?'

'The King went through great effort to arrange your tour. He is... frustrated. But I am glad you are home.' Alicent told her 'I find I have... few friends lately. I like to believe I'm still the Lady Alicent, but... all anyone sees when they look at me now is "The Queen." Alicent told her as Rhaenyra grabbed Alicent's opposite hand

'I've missed you, too.'

"Great we can all go back to normal!" Avalon agreed. "Rhaenyra you stop being a whiney baby and - thats it."

"Avalon!" Rhaenyra grumbled.

"You ran away from me." Daemon remarked.

"I did no such thing. I had a mission." Davina corrected.

"Your dragons." Daemon agreed.

"Yes." Davina agreed.

"Dav. I love you."

"I love you." Davina answered. "I... I dont feel good." She turned running off before barfing in the grass.