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

48. I Hate This Place

Trouble / Renly baratheon / loras tyrell / rieka stark out now!

""Dad is going to harrenhal." Vaera remarked. "I can follow him."

"You are going and not tell mum." Draegon realized.

"Yeah. Tell her im doing recon." vaera suggested.

"Vaera," Draegon whined.

"love you!" 

"He is the basest of villains." jace remarked. "He sullies the grave of his brother." They buried the twins together.

"I cannot fault him for keeping his oath." Rhaenyra countered. She thought of marve trapped with the enemy. How could she get out her baby girl? Get her safe after what daemon did...

"And what of those who sent him?" Jace countered as Rhaenyra threw a bit of dirt on Erryks grave.

"Otto Hightower would never have allowed this." Rhaenys reminded Rhaenyra. "Hotter blood has prevailed, I think. The young men have taken the bit in their teeth. They wish to punish, to avenge. Soon they will not even remember what it was that began the war in the first place." Rhaenys went on.

"That is easy enough They usurped my throne." Rhaenyra corrected.

"That is one answer." Rhaenys agreed. "Or was it when the child was beheaded? Or when Aemond killed Luke... or when Luke took Aemond's eye?"

"Is all well, lord Hand?" A squire questioned as Maeve helped him put on his chains of hands around his neck. "Only they'll be waiting." he added.

"You want to come with?" Criston questioned. Maeve shook her head, he kissed her temple rubbing a hand over her back. "I will find you after." She nodded leaning into him.

Green dragon banners hung the walls as Criston made his way to the small council meeting. His new presence of hand and commander made him no friends.

"Cookie took off again." Davina remarked.

"She went after father." Draegon agreed.

"Why?" Davina drawled trying to hold back her anger. She watched Cannibal appear in the distance only to take off as if he sense Davina's worry and took off after Vaera and Cookie.

"She wants to stop him from... I dont know, you know her obsession with him is beyond me." Draegon declared.

Daemon marched through harrenhall coming to the throne room, he flung open the doors and three men ran scared while the larger of them stood unphased.

"I'm claiming Harrenhal."

"Apparently so. I, Ser Simon Strong, Castellan of Harrenhal, pledge fealty to Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, First of Her Name. I swear this by the old gods and the new." Simon said from his knees. "Supper is venison with black cabbage and peas. No redcurrant. Sorry about that. That venison is well aged. Shame to let it waste." Daemon hesitated staring across from the strongs eating supper.

"I've survived many a battle. I do not mean to be felled by poisoned peas." Daemon corrected pushing the food back.

"Come on cookie, there is Caraxes, hi buddy," Vaera cooed. "I'm looking for daddy. Is he inside?" Caraxes nudged against her. "I will take that as a yes." While daemon had walked in sword at the ready, panic rushing through him Vaera came in humming as she pranced through the halls.

" I'll admit that my cook's peas aren't exactly the stuff of legend, but poison?" Simon chuckled.

"Well, it's an easy way to kill a dragonrider."

"If you've not yet surmised, you are welcome here."

"And what of your lord, Larys Strong, hm?" Daemon countered. "He who sits at the false court of Aegon?"

"Hello? Anyone here?" Vaera called out.

" they will fight each other kill each other while you gain the support of everyone around them we shall have the north already just a few old men will be fighting for rhaenyra." Tyler assured as avalon stared out over winterfell.

"We need high garden and harrenhal and-"

"And we will." he assured her. " I have heard that someone already set out to both."

"Who? Davinas children." she realized. " is it awful that I'm not sending our children to battle?" Tyler smiled kissing her cheek and shoulder.

"Aspen and-"

" how can I be expected to ask others to fight for my whore when Robb and draegon... draegon is barely older-"

" he is a great deal inc omparison you know what a few years can feel like. Especially to a young man."

"Larys Clubfoot is no lord of mine. He is a scourge upon this castle and this family. Do you not think it's strange that his father... my nephew, Lord Lyonel, perished by fire? And his son, too, here in this damp place? It was the first fire here since Balerion ended the line of Harren the Black. Even in the summer, we struggle to light the hearths. So, no, you will find no loyalty to Larys Strong here, my prince."

"Your Grace". Daemon corrected.

"Forgive me. I-I, um... I... I'd only assumed that as consort..."

" Then we are reminded of the perilousness of assumption."

"Hello? Father? I saw caraxes." Vaera called out.

"Tis unfortunate." Helaena remarked. "Life and love... love is a fragile thing." She realized. "Can be broken and stolen as easily as glass. As porcelain." Arthur stared back at her. "Are you riding out with ser criston?"

" I would surely die if I did." Arthur admitted glancing to crison across the way. "Besides. You need protection." Helaena blushed.

" Are you my sworn sword?" Helaena questioned softly.

" I would love to be." Arthur agreed grabbing her hand.

"Ser Gwayne, welcome to King's Landing."

"How exhilarating to arrive at court after three long months on the road to find my lord father, who served three kings faithfully, unseated as Hand of the King. And by a man from such modest beginnings." Gwayne added. "What a giddying ascent the gods have bestowed on you."

"Ser Gwayne has volunteered to accompany you into battle." Alicent added.

"We have a full complement, Your Grace." Criston corrected.

"Then you shall have a fuller one." Alicent agreed.

"The march will be hard, Ser." Criston warned.

"No one is more delighted than I to march out to war with a Dornishman."

"Excuse me." Maeve cut in. Alicent marched off. "Daddy be careful," she begged hugging him.

"I will return to you." Criston assured.  "Do you not like your guards?"

"They are fine but i want you here." Maeve whimpered. "I hate this place. I wish i could disappear."