The unwanted princess - H.o.D.

An eye for an eye

It was true that the way Viserys was handling the situation was unfair, but what Alicent demanded? An eye for an eye? Is that what fairness truly was? Mayhaps if Valora had had someone to fight so fiercely for her, she would've known. She had never had it.

"He is your son, Viserys." Alicent continued her plea. "Your blood."

"Do not allow your temper to guide your judgment." Viserys told her.

"If the King will not seek justice, the Queen will." Alicent decided. "Ser Criston... bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon."

There was silence as the whole room set their eyes on the knight sworn to protect the Queen. He hesitated, shuffling on his feet and from the other side, Lucerys squeaked as he hid behind his mother's skirts.

"Alicent." Viserys tried to stop her but the queen was having none of it.

"He can choose which eye to keep, a privilege he did not grant my son." She said.

"You will do no such thing." Viserys scolded her before turning to Ser Criston. "Stay your hand."

"No, you are sworn to me!" Alicent insisted, as Ser Criston sighed heavily.

"As your protector, my Queen." He said, letting everyone in the room know he would not be taking any of Luke's eyes.

"Alicent, this matter... is finished." Viserys said, stepping up to his wife as he glared at her through his mask. "Do you understand?"

But one look at Alicent's face told Valora everything she needed to know. This matter was far from finished to her.

"And let it be known: anyone whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra's sons should have it removed." The king continued.

Valora looked down at her feet. There he was, her father, forbidding Alicent to protect her child the same way he was. Alicent wanted an eye, Viserys threatened tongues. What was so different between the two other than the children they protected? Valors caught herself wondering if her own mother had been alive, she would've fought for her just as valliantly as Viserys always fought for Rhaenyra. Valora liked to think so, but maybe those were only dreams and hopes of the unwanted princess she had never quite managed to leave behind.

"Thank you, Father." Rhaenyra smiledbat Viserys.

And for a moment, all seemed well. That wad until Alicent marched up to her husband and stole his dagger and went back up to Rhaenyra. The guards all moved, Ser Dalt stepping forward in front of Valora as she watched in horror the way Rhaenyra held Alicent's hand back and away from her face. Still, no one dared interrupt the confrontation between the two women, too afraid to end up hurting their queen or their princess.

"You've gone too far." Rhaenyra almost growled.

"I?" Alicent cried out, shaking in her own fury. "What have I done but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law. While you flout all to do as you please. Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It's trampled under your pretty foot again."

"Release the blade, Alicent." Viserys tried but Alicent did not hear him. Or, mayhaps she did and just decided not to acknowledge it.

"And now you take my son's eye, and to even that, you feel entitled." The queen said to which Rhaenyra just glared at her.

"Exhausting, wasn't it?" She asked. "Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness. But now they see you as you are."

Rhaenyra pushed back against Alicent and, seemingly upset by her words, the queen stepped away, but not before opening a wound in Rhaenyra's arm. If it was intentional or not, it was hard to say, but in any case, silence took over the room as Rhaenyra bled onto the floor.

The matters were left unfinished, but surprisingly, it had been Aemond himself the one to step up and put an end to this dreadful night.

"Do not mourn me, Mother." He said, to which all eyes fell on him. "It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye... but I gained a dragon."