The Mouth of the Dragon, The Eyes of the Lamb

Chapter 17

Pounding on her door woke Lucela up from her fitful sleep. With a groan, she tossed her legs over the side of the bed and shuffled to the door. Luke and Jace stood on the other side with matching grins.

"I ought to beat the pair of you up. What is it?"

"We just simply came to tell you to dress in your leathers today, my dear sister," Jace said as his grin widened. They hadn't been riding since they came into King's Landing, and the brothers were assuming that Lucela had missed it like they did. Her face lit up slightly as a small smile spread on her face.

"We're all going to break fast soon, so get a move on," Luke said with a wink before he turned and walked back down the hallway. Jace followed him, and Lucela closed her door quickly.

She was able to find her black leathers and a black peasant shirt almost as soon as she opened her wardrobe and dressed quickly. Margery walked into her chambers and frowned when she saw Lucela already dressed and pulling her brush through her curls.

"Going riding?" Margery asked with a grin as she grabbed a strip of leather and began to braid Lucela's hair for her. Lucela simply grinned.

The guard opened the doors to the dining hall for Lucela and Greyson silently. Something about the scene in front of her wasn't right, and Lucela paused halfway to the table trying to figure it out. Daemon was staring at her and seemed to be waiting for her to figure out what was different at the table.

The middle seat, as always, was empty. Viserys hadn't joined them yet again. Alicent and Rhaenyra sat on the left and right sides of the empty chair. Daemon was next to Rhaenyra. Jace sat at the end of the table. Joffrey sat next to him so Luke could sit next to Lucela. Beside Alicent sat Otto. Helaena was in her usual seat. Lucela felt dread settle in her stomach when she finally figured it out. Aegon and Aemond had switched seats.

Lucela looked over at Aegon with a "what the fuck" look, and Aegon looked apologetic. With a sigh, she finished the walk to her empty seat and let Greyson pull her chair back for her.

"I take it all of you are going riding?" Rhaenyra asked with a small smile as she took in her children wearing their leathers. Aemond glanced over at Lucela before reaching over and placing an apple on her plate. Lucela's reply to her mother died in her throat as she stared at the dark red fruit. She could hear Jace reply, but she had no clue what he said.

"Don't make me eat that one," Aemond said with a small smile before taking a bite of the fruit on his own plate. Alicent and Rhaenyra were both staring at Lucela. Daemon was staring at Aemond.

"Thank you, Uncle," Lucela whispered before reaching out to grab the apple and taking a bite. The crunch seemed extra loud as conversation died as everyone stared at the two of them. Aemond didn't pay them any attention as he ate his food, and Lucela wanted the floor to open and swallow her whole.

"We'll join you all on your ride out. None of us have been riding, have we?" Aemond asked as he looked over to Helaena and Aegon. Helaena was in her own little world, and Aegon stared at Aemond like he had gone completely mad. Jace opened his mouth to tell Aemond absolutely not, but Lucela answered instead.

"The more the merrier." Lucela glanced over to Daemon, and he smiled softly at her. Rhaenyra watched the exchange with a frown and looked over to her husband. Daemon simply kissed her temple and continued to eat.

"Luce?" Luke asked, and Lucela realized that someone had said something to her before that.

"Hmm?"

"Are you okay with going home for this trip?" Luke repeated his question as he looked at his twin sister with concern. She smiled and nodded. She absolutely wanted to go home.