A crown for a queen

"There is a debt to be paid"

    "Is it true Mother?" I ask, rumors throughout the castle had whispered about the Lady Leana's death. "Lady Leana has died?"
    "Hush child," Mother says, brushing my hair and braiding it delicately. "Take that sword off your hip, there is no war to be fought" She laughs.
    "Her name is BackBiter Mother," I correct, smiling up at her.
    "Backbiter?" She asks.
    "Yes," I smile, I press my fingers to my beautiful sword again. It had been almost a year since I had gotten her. Harwin Strong said that I had excelled in the art of swordplay, getting to where I could almost defeat him. I guarantee that he was simply trying to make me feel better with that remark, I had seen the way the kingsguard trained.

    "I am very sorry for your mother's death Beala, I hadn't known her, but she seemed a powerful warrior." I say, tipping my head to Beala and Rhena.
    "You are very kind," Beala says, smiling grimly.
    "And what are you doing here?" Aegon scoffs, walking towards me, glaring down at me.
    "I am here to mourn the death of my Aunt" I reply, I will not let him tempt my anger. Mother hadn't let me take BackBiter, but that doesn't mean I am weaponless.
    "I didn't think nastards cared for their family" Aegon sneers.
    "Watch your tongue Aegon or may see it cut off" I snap.
    "Dark hair, no dragon, the signs speak for themselves" Aegon says, smirking. I kick his knee, causing him to buckle to the ground.
    "Just because you're older and fatter doesn't make you stronger you puny prick" I shout.
    "What is the meaning of this?" Mother asked. She pulls me back into her arms and wraps me up in them.
    "He called me a bastard," I spat.
    "The questioning of my child's legitimacy is of the highest treason. I might remind you of Aegon" Rhenyra says, she bent to whisper in my ear. "We must keep peace, no matter our emotions Vealla"
   
    "I am sorry for your loss Prince Daemon" I say, tipping my head towards him.
    "I saw you fighting Aegon," He says, putting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "You do well defending you and your mother."
    "Thank you" I smiled, earning the compliment of Prince Daemon was certainly a feat.
    "Vealla, it is time for you, Jacarys and Lucerys to go to bed now, go along" Mother says, putting her hands on my shoulders and placing a kiss on my forehead.

    "Jace, Vealla! Someone stole Vhagar" Bealla shouts. All five of us ran down to the tunnel beneath the castle, it connected to the beach. Supposedly that was where maids and rat catchers entered.
    "Vhagar was my mother dragon! She was mine to claim" Rheana shouts.
    "Then why didn't you?" Aemond sneers. "If you want a dragon of your own I suppose Mother can spare a pig" He spits.
    Rhaena charges him, raising her fists, he easily throws her aside. I gasp, I run to Rhaena. "Are you alright?" I ask, helping her up as the boys and Bealla charge Aemond as well. Jace pulls a knife out of his pocket, only for it to be ripped out of his hand as he falls.
    I turned and punched Aemond in the face, over and over again. Blood splattered onto my fists and my face. He kicked out at me, landing a blow to the outside of my knee. I fall to my knees, holding my breath, trying not to cry out.
    Luke runs at Aemond with a large rock, hoping to hit him in his skull. Aemond turns and grabs luke by the throat."You bastards deserve to die, just like your father" Aemond sneers.
    "Put him down" I shout, standing and landing a sharp blow to his stomach. He heaved, dropping Luke and grabbing the dearest rock. He lifted it over his head as if to drop it on Jace's head.
    Luke yells as he drags the knife up the left side of his face. Leaving a bloodied wound right over his eye.

"What is this?" Alicent yells. She ran to kneel next to Aemond as he was being examined by the Measter.
"Aemond attacked Rheana '' Jace yelled. I stood by Coryls, staring at the scene unfolding before me.
"What has happened?" Viserys said, limping into the room.
"They have taken my son's eye" Alicent said, her voice trembling as she looked at Aemond and then my siblings and I. "Brutally and unjustly, Measter, will he be alright?" Alicent asks.
"The flesh will heal, the eye however" Alicent gasps.
"He will be eyeless forever," Alicent cries.
"What has happened?" Mother says as she rushes to me. The children around me begin to point fingers at each other, shouting over each other.
"He called us bastards," Jace says to her.
"Tell us the truth, Aemond," Viserys says.
"My son has been maimed and her children are responsible" Alicent shouts.
"Aemonds maiming was a regrettable accident," Rhenyra started, she put her hand on my shoulder, Luke and Jace were behind us, holding mother's other hand.
"Your children brought a knife, they were clearly aiming to kill Aemond" Alicent says, pointing at myself, Jace and Luke.
"We were defending ourselves from your pig of a son" I shouted.
"You watch your mouth," Alicent snarled.
"The only reason my children would fight is to defend themselves from those who wish to harm them" Mother insisted, shielding me with her body slightly. "Your son was throwing vile insults at my children, questioning their legitimacy, that is the highest of treasons your Grace" Mother says, looking at Viserys. "Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned"
"Where is the children's father?" Viserys asks.
"I do not know your grace, I hadn't been able to sleep so I took a walk around the castle" Rhenyra says.
"Probably entertaining his young squires," Alicent says snidely.
"Where did you hear such vile insults?" Viserys asks Aemond. Aemond looks at his mother and then says;
"Aegon"
"And where did you hear these insults, Aegon?" Viserys turned to his eldest son.
"We know father, everyone knows. You can tell just by looking at them" Aegon says in a daft tone.
Viserys turned to face all of us. "We are all one family, you must cease this infighting and get along. You will make your apologies and show good will to each other" He says, looking between us all. "By order of the king" My blood boiled as I looked at Alicent, the fake tears running down her face, the anger in her expression.
"This is insufficient" Alicent begins. "Apologies will not restore my sons eye. There is a debt to be paid. And it will be paid by taking one of Lucerys's eyes" She says. "He will get to choose which eye to keep, a luxury he did not give Aemond." She shouts. "Sir Cristin, bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon"
"You will do no such thing" Viserys shouts.
"You are sworn to me Cristin" Alicent yells.
"I am your protector" Cristin says, refusing to maim Luke.
"The matter is finished" Viserys shouts, Alicent looks between us all. "Anyone who questions the birth of Rhenyra's children shall have their tongue cut out" As Viserys turns to leave, Alicent grabs his dagger from his belt and runs towards Lucerys. I shield Luke and Jace as Mother goes to meet her.
Alicent is moving to stab Rhenyra, while Rhenyra has a hold of both Alicent's arms, preventing her from moving closer. "Where is duty? Where is sacrifice?" Alicent snarls. "Trampled under your pretty foot again."
"Exhausting wasn't it?" Rhenyra sighs. "Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness" Alicent pushes her away, dragging the dagger down my mother's left arm. Blood began to flow from her forearm to the ground.
Mother grabbed my arm. "Come, Lucerys, Jacerys" She says, and she begins to lead us back to our rooms. "Goodnight children."