Through Morning's Eye

Twenty-Three: The Balance of Life and Death

She sat at the bay window the majority of the day, watching the commoners celebrate on the streets. She could hear music and cheering when the bells were not ringing.

She was shocked that they would spend such expenses on a second son during a war but a wedding was good for morale. It was giving the people something to celebrate and it brought something positive to the streets.

She wondered if all of Dragonstone had celebrated so grandly for Lucerys' wedding. He was the heir now that Jace was gone.

As much as she despised Aemond, she wanted to get her hands on Daeron. She wanted to choke him while she gutted him like a fish.

'I am afraid what is left of Prince Jacaerys is still digesting in Tessarion's belly.'

Her fists clenched with rage as Alicent's words swirled around her brain. If her brother had been digested through a dragon, she would have reached in and rip out Daeron's intestines. Maybe even cut them up and serve them to Alicent.

She tilted her head as she continued to watch the townspeople, imagining their deaths. The people cheered for Aegon, allowing him to be king. Had they all remembered the true succession and created a mob, there would not be enough guards to hold them all off. But they allowed there to be a coronation and encouraged it.

Death was all she could think of. Gutting Daeron, slitting Otto's throat, setting a fire to Alicent so that she knew the pain of burning alive.

But then she began to imagine Rhaenyra's death. The other side to this war, the reason there was a war. She did not deserve as gruesome of a death but she did not deserve the throne, no one did. She knew Lucerys did not want it either, so it should pass to Aegon the Younger. He was still but a child, he would need a regent. But if he married Jaehaera, they could start anew without the influence of the vipers that started the war.

But she knew it was all a pointless dream. A dream that seemed to last all day.

She was delirious with grief, in a state of pain and anguish. As the sun was close to setting and the amber hue of the sunset dimmed over the city, she felt numb with no desire to live. What was the point? Aemond would have to rid her for his new bride anyway.

She opened the windows, stepping onto the sill. She wanted to see her father, her mother, and Jacaerys. She wanted to fall into their arms.

She closed her eyes as she accepted death into her heart, leaning forward with a smile on her face.

But two hands grabbed onto her waist and pulled her back. "Fucking hells, Kristyne!" Aemond yelled.

Her eyes opened to see Aemond pulling her into his arms as she tried to push against him. "Let go of me!"

That's when she saw the look in his eye, one of pure shock.

He ... cared?

She stepped back from him and noticed he was alone. "Where is your bride? Unless you came here to kill me before she arrived, of course."

"Oh, fucking SHUT UP!" He yelled. "I did not get married today!"

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"If you knew how to shut up for five fucking seconds you would know that I brought a bride for my fucking brother, not me! Daeron's wedding was today to Lady Baratheon, I am not betrothed you fucking infuriating woman!"

Her arms fell at her side as she lost her words. Aemond was not getting married. Aemond was not going to kill her.

"Oh," Was all she could say.