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

33. Not Another Bloody War

"Have a safe trip." Avalon requested hugging Davina goodbye.

"It will be a quick journey, I can't wait to be rid of the capital." Davina admitted. "You stay strong kid.''

Jeremy rushed to Davina just as Cregan rushed to Vaera. 

"I love you Davina." Jeremy declared, Brandon rolled his eyes. He was not losing to his little brother. He wouldnt. 

Her eyes fluttered she hated this part. She loved her children and her dragons. Men were a means to an end.

"Oh. Oh. Thank you." Davina agreed. Jeremy stared back at her wanting more but realizing he wasnt going to get it.

"You're welcome. I just wanted to put that out there."

" Oh, yeah, no, I, I'm, I'm glad." Davina assured, she wasnt glad. The L word changed everything.

" Good. Glad is good." Jeremy agreed waiting for more, still hoping beyond hope.

"Yeah. Yeah. No, no. Um. So, it's getting pretty late. We should probably go to sleep.... long flight and all...."

"Yeah." jeremy agreed. 

"Okay." Davina agreed kissing his cheek. "Come on, Petyr, bed time."

"Awhh," He whined but slumped after her. Cannibal grumbled and growled 

" Yeah.... okay... thank you?" Jeremy whispered. 

"Oh, burn." Brandon whispered coming up to his brother. "Dont you know never to say the L word, its like... terrifying. Commitment." 

"Do you not love her?'

"Of course i do." Brandon's eyes followed Davina to cannibal, the needy baby that he was, he nuzzled against her arm. "And I love her, it's ruining my life."

''Who knows?'' Otto questioned as Alicent had told him of Viserys passing.

''My handmaiden, Talya. Some of the servants.'' Alicent answered. "I saw him last night... before he..." Alicent leaned back in the chair, a shaky breath on her lips. ''He told me he wished for Aegon to be king." Alicent relayed and Otto stared back at her from the fireplace. ''It is the truth. Uttered with his own lips. His last words to me and I was the only one to hear it. And now he's dead.''

Vaera woke in a panic, she ran to her mothers chambers at winterfell but found Robbie first. 

"I think the king is dead." Vaera declared. "I'm seeing things again."

"They started when we went to the capital."

"I saw the dinner. I knew what helaena was talking about..." 

"A beast beneath the boards, what does it mean?"

"I hope i'm wrong." Vaera admitted. 

"Tell me." 

"I saw Meleys too." Vaera added softly. "Breaking through the floor, it didnt make any sense though, so many people, they all went flying, so many dead..."

"What happens next?" 

"I dont know, I can't see past that moment."

"Maybe its just a dream." Robbie suggested. 

"I wasnt asleep when I saw Meleys break through the floor of the pits." Vaera corrected. "I'm seeing visions. Am I bad or mad or wise?" Robbie chuckled. 

"I suppose any are possible." Robbie offered. "If you know you can help and choose not to... is someone we love going to die?" 

"Grandsire is already dead. I can feel it." 

"You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me." Arthur warned. Helaena chuckled.

"My parents hate me my mother hates me thinks I'm strange. She ignores me" Helaena countered. "They don't understand me."

"My parents are upset that I'm not acting like my cousins and going drinking and whoring every night". Arthur countered "I wish my parents ignored me."

"My mother wishes I would get knocked up and just be normal." Helaena countered. 

"She hasn't forced you to marry." arthur added

"yours either."  Helaena agreed

"I suppose we are lucky then. Forever alone." Arthur offered. 

"Alone together." Helaena clarified. 

"Along together." he agreed holding out his hand for hers. She put her hand in his and something felt right. "Do you know why the council has convened this early anyways?"

"A war or a death would be the only reason." Helaena answered. 

"Lets hope its not another bloody war."