A Bastards Revenge • Aemond Targaryen • Season 2

1.3

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Aenys stood in his chambers alone, staring into the burning fire, allowing it to heat his face.

"Your grace."

The soft ember emitted from the Queen's guard pulled him from his thoughts. Aenys looked up and he met Erryk's gaze. The knight slowly approached, setting his helm on the table near the couches.

"I saw your brother, down in Kingslanding." Aenys says, approaching the knight, and seating himself on one of the couches. "Is he faring well?" Erryk asks, still standing, despite Aenys motioning him to sit.

Aenys nods, "He is, he guards the red keep." Aenys says

Erryk sighs, "I apologize for my brother, I can't understand why he would follow after a fraud like Aegon. The man is a coward who fathers bastards, only to forsake them for the pits." Erryk says

Aenys finally stands, reaching for a goblet of wine before pouring some into two cups, offering one to Erryk, who takes it with a grateful nod. "There was a time in my youth...where I cared for Aegon...I thought he was...brilliant. But my eyes were opened and I saw him for who he truly was. You and I are alike in that aspect and unlike my father, I do not blame you for your brother's actions." Aenys says, standing face to face with the knight, mere inches away.

Erryk examines the prince's features, nodding his gratitude. "I thank you, my prince." Erryk says

Aenys notices their proximity, forcing him to step away. Erryk clears his throat, sipping the wine to quench his thirst. "I will be taking my leave, my prince. Get some rest, you've come from a long journey." Erryk says

Aenys nods, setting his cup, and removing his glove. "Thank you Ser Erryk." Aenys says, dismissing the knight.

Erryk nods, removing himself from the prince's room.

Aenys sighs, leaning over his table, his hands planting along the wood. "Aemond." Aenys whispers to himself, slowly kneeling on the floor.

....

Kingslanding.

As the sun set, the Targaryen family gathered closely around a pyre, watching the flames burn high into the sky. Jace was the first to approach his brother's firey grave, his jaw clenched tightly as he kept the tears from spilling, his eyes shining with his pain. Jace looks down at his brother's favorite blanket, embroidered with seahorses, made by their grandmother. With a deep inhale he throws it into the fire.

Rhaena watched with an anguished frown, breathing harshly as she was overcome with emotions, but she kept any tears at bay. Jace lifts Joffery in his arms and watches him lift his favorite toy. He was just a boy, still naive to the cruelness of the world, yet he threw the small wooden horse into the pyre, hoping it would reach his older brother, and keep him company.

Jace clutches to his brother, struggling internally before stepping away from the pyre.

Aenys carefully steps forward, looking down at the last letter his brother had written to him, his thumb gently caressing the worn letter. His dark eyes fill with tears as he reads the words one last time, his fingers fraying the edges as he attempts to keep his pain at bay.

Dear brother,

Dragonstone and its people have grown wary. Your absence has been noted here at court, it's been too long since we've seen the great Brutal Prince. Not much has interested me as of late, all this talk of babies and thrones is soul-consuming.

While I am happy for my mother, who is becoming more beautiful every single day. I long for stimulation, a battle, one you would humor me with. I wish I could join you, if not for the honor then for your company. I miss you, brother. Truly....and I must admit, this stems from something greater. I see you more as my father than my brother. You've been there since I was young, nurturing me and raising me as the man I am today.

My thoughts are filled with horrors, horrors that I hope never see the light of day.

I guess I am growing rather restless, or is this longing I feel? It is complicated, but I understand that only you would know this feeling.

Aenys jaw clenched as he kept his tears at bay. The first time he read this, he broke into a mess of tears. He was young with a responsibility to someone but himself. Luke's words were true and that ate at him. He became a father at a young age....only to lose the person he considered his to the jaws of his lover's dragon.

I hope you don't cringe at my vulnerability, Jace would laugh at my sentimentality, but every time I receive news from the Stepstones. I grow more anxious by the day, fearing your safety. I know you would knock me over the head for doubting you, but it's still a fear. We can't really help those, can we?

Your last letter was short, I hope all is well down in the stepstones and that you return in one piece.

With love, your dear brother,

Lucerys Velaryon

Without further hesitation, Aenys threw the letter into the fire, watching as the flames ate the words, removing its trace from the world, taking his heart with it.

He can mourn when this is over.

Rhaenyra approached from his side, her breath a trembling sound as her eyes stared into the fire. Her grief is more powerful than words. She removes her gaze to look upon the last trace of what was her son, the last thing he had on his person, his cloak.

It was about the hardest thing she had done, allowing the cloak to be engulfed, burning with a sharp sing, lighting up the sky even more brightly.