Shattered Rubies

Chapter 7

"What did he say?" Elinor asked as she walked into Aegon's chambers, "What?" Aegon looked up rubbing his eyes, still very much tired, "What did the Gold Cloak say?"

Yawning, Aegon continued to rub his eyes, "He had a friend that helped him, said he was a rat catcher."

"And his name?"

"He didn't give a name, Elinor it's too early."

Elinor rolled her eyes, "It's past noon" she said and walked over to his desk, taking the cup and pouring herself a cup of wine, "I want him hanged, justice for my son."

"We do not even know his name" Elinor raised an eyebrow, she already had a plan, "Ser Criston?" She called out and Criston walked into the room, "Your grace" he bowed.

"Gather all the rat catchers" Criston nodded and made his way out, "Hang them all" Aegon spoke up and Elinor smirked knowing he finally realized her plan, "Will do."

"Maelora keeps asking for Vaegon" Elinor informed Aegon, he sighed and pulled the shirt off his body, "We have to tell her."

"She's two, she doesn't understand anything, let alone death" Elinor turned to Aegon and took a mouthful of wine, "One day she'll have to know."

"Yes, but not now. Now take a bath, you reek of ale."

****

Elinor, Aegon and Criston stood in the late King Viserys bed chamber, his kingdom module being carried out, all shattered to bits, "I think our plan worked, but why so everyone could see?"

"It's to show the crown is strong" Criston informed the queen, who rolled her eyes and linked her arm with Aegon's, "What have you done?"

The three turned around and found Ser Otto standing, "Ah, my Lord Hand, what is it?" Elinor asked, a bit happy that she had justice for her son, "The rat catchers!"

Aegon finally realize what he was talking about, "Oh. I had them hanged" he informed the Hand, "The maggot who took my son confessed to accomplice, he could not say for certain which man it was-"

"IDIOT!"

"Beware how you speak to your King and Queen, my Lord" Ser Criston warned but Otto turned around and pointed to Aegon, "The King is my grandson and my grandson is fool, he's worse than a fool, he's murdered innocent men."

"And one guilty one."

"And hanged them from the walls of the city for all to see" Elinor rolled her eyes, what else would Otto have let her do? Give them a slap? "Plot against the King and I will pay it back a hundred times over."

"They are fathers and brothers and sons, and their wives and children gathered out at our gates to weep and curse your name" Aegon walked over to the table, poured himself a cup of wine and gulped it down.

"With your child's blood we bought their approval, with your wife and mother's tears we made a bitter sacrifice against the deprivations to come and you throw it away" Elinor crossed her arms, annoyed, "After all I've done for you, fortless, feckless, self-indulgent."

"At least I did something, I have not answered injury to the crown with what, wailing? Currying favor with the fishwives? I will not be thought weak" Elinor snorted and covered it up with a cough.

"Even know, news of Rhaenyra's monstrous crimes spreads through the realm, the great houses falter, they cannot but come to our side."

"I wish to spill blood not ink. We must act!" Elinor spoke up and walked to stand next to Aegon, "Ser Criston Cole has acted" she pointed to him

Otto took in a breath, "And what has Ser Criston Cole done?"

"He sent Ser Arryk to slay Rhaenyra" Aegon informed him.

"Alone?"

"He's pretending to be his own twin, brilliant."

"Gods help us all"

"It's time the bitch queen paid a price" Criston took a few steps closer, frustrated Otto spoke, "And you exceeded to this, this prank, without consulting me or the council? Instead of judgement you display impetuousness and diminished us in the eyes of our enemy, ill-considered, trifling."

Elinor sighed, all this argument for something they did, for revenge on her son, rolling her eyes she tighter, "Do you never think of your father? His forbearance, his judiciousness, his dignity"

"Fuck dignity, I want revenge" Aegon spoke up and suddenly a feel of deja vu washed over Elinor, "My father is dead" Aegon reminded Otto taking a few steps closer to him.

"He is and we are the poorer for it. He was right about you and so was Larys about you" Otto shot at Elinor and she shot back a glare.

"I'm happy my father is dead, if not the poison I would've killed him myself" Elinor told Otto, it was true she would've killed him, even if she had to walk all the way to Harrenhall to do it.

"My father made me king" Aegon told his grandfather, however he chuckled, "Is that what you think?" Otto huffed and made for the door, though as he begun to open it Aegon stopped him

"Remove your badges, Ser Otto. You were my father's hand, not mine" Elinor smirked but Otto glared at the pair, what danger they are becoming, "Take it off."

"You wouldn't dare."

"I have dared...and I find it stimulating"

"Insulin pup" Otto muttered as he took of his badge, "You think yourself clever without a strong hand at your side? To guide"

"He has a strong enough queen by his side I think that's good enough" Elinor told Otto, who rolled his eyes at the girl, "Give it to Cole" Aegon stated.

"Your Grace?"

"In this hour, you have proven yourself of more worth than a hundred old men and my new Hand will be a steal fist."

"You will regret this."

"Give it to him, chip chop I have to get to Maelora" Elinor said as she downed the last of Aegon wine. Otto threw the badge to Criston's feet and made for the door.

"You are dismissed."

****

Elinor laid in an empty bed, well it was hardly empty with Maelora asy her side, softly snoring, possibly dreaming of Vaegon.

Elinor smiled down as she rubbed her red hair, her only daughter or well her only daughter for now. Her free hand rested on her lower stomach where she surely knew a babe was growing.

"A boy will be the son of Westeros but you Maelora shall be mine."

Aegon sat in his father's or well now his bed chamber, looking at the fire, how the wood broke apart, the crackling.

Tears pooled in his eyes, silently he cried, sobbed, his head in his hands, the tears flowing down his hands.

The door opened but Aegon hadn't bothered to turned, Alicent watched as her son cried, mourned his son.

Sighing she walked out, Aegon moved from his hands, playing with his wedding ring.