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

40. Fury

"How are you?" Criston questioned.

"My dragon is being held hostage. I hear Zena screaming out in the night. She hates being trapped. She loves to spread her wings. They're only further infuriating her and me for that matter." Maeve answered.

"I will check on zena." Criston assured. " I know how she can get... im so sorry sweetie."

" I wish the kids could call you, Grandpa. I wish my mother could see them. She missed so much time running away from the capital. From alicent. From her father that she missed out on so much time with me and my children...." Tears pulled at her eyes. Criston hugged her stroking a hand through her hair. " I miss him. I miss Luke. I worry for them all and there's nothing I can do to help them from here. I want my husband to see that he's not fit for this crown... I want him to return it so I can be with my family again... it's been too long. Daddy..."

" I'm right here. I'm going to leave you promise." Criston assured.

"All hail King Aegon!" Leon Estermont declared as they walked to the throne, the people parted for them. "Aegon the Magnanimous Second of His Name, King of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. Hail King Aegon!" Aegon glanced back at him.

"The Magnanimous"? Aegon countered, Leon shrugged.

" is he magnanimous?" Aemond questioned.

" what does it even mean?"

" generous, forgiving, especially towards their arrivals or enemies." Aemond answered.

" I hope Josh gets your smart then he will be a good future King." Maeve admitted.

"Let's have the first petition, my good Lord Hand." Aegon told his grandsire.

"Good morrow, my, uh, Your Grace."

" It's alright." Aegon assured. "There's no reason to be nervous. What's your name?"

"Gr... Uh, Jerard, Your Grace."

Maeve had to admit that he was doing well upon the throne he made the people feel at ease, which was something. She honestly thought he wouldn't be able to do.

"Good morrow, Jerard." Aegon answered. "And how might your king be of service?"

"'Tis my flock. Uh, a-a-a tenth of them taken by...  the Crown on... on the cusp of winter. If I'd had the time to plan..."

" We should return them." Aegon agreed.

" he doesn't realize what being King means." Aemond remarked.

" of course he doesn't. He was flaunting around Kings Landing playing with women like he plays with his own cock. He never said in meetings his mother and grandpa side, never wanted him to. Of course He's clueless. " maeve agreed. " but I'm sure there's been worse kings that declared kill them all at any slight bit of pressure."

" I'm sure you're right." Armond agreed. " when our son is king he will be ready. I will make sure of it."

" Your Grace?"

" Well, you need your goats for the winter, don't you?" Aegon agreed.

" Sheep, Your-Your Grace."

"Sheep, even better. I shall make your flock of sheep whole." Aegon agreed.  But otto marched forward.

"Come. We don't need to be a part of this." Aemond offered his arm to her and she greatly excepted it. " where shall we go??"

" I want to go to the sept." Maeve answered.

"The... of course." Aemond agreed.

" and I don't think I want you there with me when I light a candle for my brother." She admitted. Aemond hesitated but his face remained unmoving. He understood of course he did. But he wanted to be there with her.

" I am sorry." Sorry that he hurt her in the process not that he did it. He wanted them all to pay. He wanted them all to suffer. They did not receive punishment. He wanted them all to suffer as he suffered.

"When the king speaks, Your Grace, all hear it." Otto corrected.

" After further thought, I have decided that I cannot restore your sheep. If war were to break out, my dragons will require feed." Aegon corrected. "Bring the next." He watched maeve walk out with aemond and his jaw clenched leaning back in his chair. His fingers trilled over the arm rest.

" Salts always run scarce on the road to winter, Your Grace. We rely on ships from Essos for our supply." the guildsman offered. "But now, with a blockade in place and war threatening..."

"Yeah, that treasonous blockade won't last long. I plan to send Vhagar to burn it to ash." Aegon cut in. "Bring the next."

Maeve knelt at the sept. She realized no one bothered her here. The guard stayed outside. The handmaiden left her alone. She just got to sit with her thoughts Maekar smiled up at her playing with a little figurine he had gotten from his grandsire viserys chambers.

Aegon didnt care for the figurines everything that his father had tried so hard to rebuild maeve however, thought it was beautiful and she had the replica moved to the children's room. They loved using it as a giant doll house. Using the figurines to fly over the land. Maekar held out a little drsgon to her.

" thank you my sweet boy." She whispered kissing his forehead.

"Hugh, Your Grace. The smiths are all proud to support Your Grace against Rhaenyra."

"But?" Aegon prompted.

"But...  iron costs have grown. A lone scorpion takes weeks to build. To put it simply, we are struggling. If we could but have the Crown's coin before we started work, it would bring great relief. Not just to me, but to all the smiths serving your cause." Aegon nodded.

"You shall be paid and paid well." Aegon agreed, Otto turned towards him.  "My army cannot win a war without your weapons. You should continue their making. Our victory depends on the efforts of the smallfolk." Aegon added, Otto headed back to his post.

"You have my most sincere gratitude, Your Grace."

"I'll hear the next petition." Aegon agreed feeling useful for once.

" I think my uncle is putting me in charge of a section of the guard." Arthur remarked.

" I'm sure you do well." Helaena answered.

" oh I highly doubt that I've never led anyone before." Arthur admitted.

" I would follow you." She countered grabbing his hand. "Arthur im afraid." She admitted.

" I'm afraid of a lot of things lately. What's on the top of your list?" Arthur pondered

"The rats."

" we have rat catchers." Arthur reminded her.

" but who will catch the rat catcher?"

"Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, the First of Her Name,  Queen of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm."

"Did you find what you needed?" Daemon questioned bringing his forehead to Rhaenyras, she nodded. "Your council stands at the ready, Your Grace." Daemon demanded ."I will fly to Harrenhal at your command and set our toehold in the Riverlands."

"Your Grace, my lord husband's blockade of the Gullet moves into place." Rhaenys added. "All seaborne travel and trade to King's Landing will soon be cut off."

"I want Aemond Targaryen." Rhaenyra demanded. Fury building in her eyes.