Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
────⋆˖ ݁༉‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.݁˖⋆────
Vaella is there but far far away. Her mind twisted, her body standing alone. Trapped between the families she loves so dearly. Just looking into the nothing while the Maester pieces Aemond together again. She can't bear to look at it. Hearing it is enough for her. It's as silent as it can be in the grand hall. Nobody dares to say a word.
"How could you allow such a thing to happen? I will have answers.", Viserys breaks the grave silence. "The princes were supposed to be abed, My King.", Ser Harrold answers his voice filled with regret. "Who had the watch?", Viserys questions further. "Young prince was attacked by his own cousins, Your Grace.", Ser Criston avoids the issue.
"You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!", the king gets louder and stamps his walking stick on the ground. "I'm very sorry, Your Grace.", Ser Harrold apologies regretful. "The Kingsguard has never had to defend princes from princes, Your Grace.", Ser Criston tries to belittle their fault.
"That is no answer!", Viserys snaps at him angrily. "It will heal, will it not, Maester?", Alicent's soft and hopeful voice awakes Vaella out of her gap. The girl meets her mothers worried face. The first time Alicent casts a glance at her daughter. Oh, how she has grown. Her little girl grows into a women more and more. And she, her mother is the one missing it all.
"The flesh will heal. But the eye is lost, Your Grace.", the Maester answers and lets Alicent's softend gaze harden again. "Where were you?", she aks Aegon furiously and slaps him in the face. Vaella presses her eyes together at the terrible sound of it. "What was that for?", Aegon asks grunting in pain. "That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool.", she hisses angrily.
"What is the meaning of this?", Lord Corlys and Lady Rhaenys rush down the stairs. Rhaenys immediately takes the twins in her arms protectively while Corlys looks around the hall in need of an answer. But the answer must wait for Rhaenyra and Daemon now also enter the hall. Looking all messy and disarry.
"Jace?", Rhaenyra asks into the hall. "Luke!", her at first confused voice replaced by concern. The princess hurrys to her sons side and grips Lucerys softly. "Show me. Show me.", she moves Luke's hands off his face softly. "Who did this?", Rhaenyra asks looking at the persons present.
"They attacked me!"
"He attacked Baela!"
"He broke Luke's nose!"
All of them start screaming at once. It is a total mess of allegations of what the one had done and defences of why the other has done it. No sound to be heard of Vaella. Her only reaction being a lonsesome tear rolling down her rosy cheek. Isn't it sad how her family, the family slowly falls apart?
"He stole my mother's dragon!"
"Enough."
All the different voices drag the hall into a tangled nest of confusion. It is impossible to tell which voice belonges to whom. Only the soothing voice of the King clear for the ones not involved in the mess. But sadly too unremarkable for the raging people.
"He was gonna kill Jace!"
"I didn't do anything!"
"Enough-"
"It should be my son telling the tale!"
"He called us-"
"Silence!", Viserys shuts all of their mouths eventually. His voice still ringing in many of the attendant's ears. "Aemond... I will have the truth of what happend. Now.", the King makes his way towards his wounded son. "What else is there to hear? Your son has been maimed. Her son is responsible.", Alicent lets it sound so simple, but it's not. It's anything but simple.
"It was a regrettable accident.", Rhaenyra holds her sons tight. "Accident? The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son.", Alicent reasons with her. "It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves. Vile insults were levied against them.", Rhaenyra's voice is getting irritated. "What insults?", the King questions further.
"The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly into question.", Rhaenyra answers truthfully. "What?", Viserys can't believe it. "He called us bastards.", Jacaerys elaborates the meaning of his mother's words. Vaella catches a glimpse at Aemond smirking in his seat. Is he seriously proud of himself?
"My sons are in line to inherit the Iron Throne, Your Grace. This is the highest of treasons. Prince Aemond must be shatply questioned so we might learn where he heard such slanders.", Rhaenyra requests her gaze fixed on Aemond. "Over an insult? My son has lost an eye.", Alicent argues against the request.
"You tell me, boy. Where did you hear this lie?", Viserys follows his daughter's request. "The insult was training yard bluster. The lot of boys. It was nothing.", the Queen answers for her son. "Aemond... I asked you a question.", the King insists on an answer of him. But Aemond takes his time and only looks his father up and down.
"Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The boys' father? Perhaps he might have something to say in the matter.", Alicent switches the theme. "Yes. Where is Ser Laenor?", Viserys looks at the many faces of the hall. "I do not know, Your Grace. I... could not find sleep. I had gone out to walk.", Rhaenyra answers a bit struggeling. "Entertaining his young squires, I would venture.", Alicent takes another dig.
"Aemond... look at me. Your King demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?", Viserys resumes the previous topic. Aemond takes his time to answer. The tension in the hall rising again. The people desperately waiting for it's release. "It was Aegon.", Aemond answers eventually. A lie. How often Vaella heard her mother say it to them. The girl narrows her eyes at her brother. Why was he trying to protect her?
"And you, boy? Where did you hear such calumnies?... Aegon! Tell me the truth of it!", the King is getting louder now, clearly fustrated over the whole situation. "We know, Father. Everyone knows. Just look at them.", Aegon says carefully but meaningful. "This intermiable infighting must cease! All of you! We are family!... Now make your apologies and show good will to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your King demands it!", Viserys makes his way to the exit. Vaella watches how he slurps over the stone floor. It seems, she isn't the only one fully devasted by their families difficulties.
"That is insufficient. Aemond has been damaged, permanently, My King. 'Good will' cannot make hin whole.", Alicent says dissatisfied by the Kings unacceptable resolution. "I know, Alicent, but I cannot restore his eye.", Viserys starts to argue with his wife once again. "No, because it's been taken. There is a debt to be paid. I shall have one of her son's eyes in return.", Alicent demands, seeking for satisfaction. Vaella can't believe what she is hearing. She never knew her mother could be that way. Rigid, yes. But cruel, no.
