A Dance of Hearts and Dragons | Aegon II Targaryen

A Bite and a Farewell

"OW!" The yell of pain reached Alicent's chambers from the nursery. She immediately jumped up to race to the nursery to see which of her children was yelping.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Get him off me! Get him off me!" the girl cried out.

"Aegon!" Alicent yelled as she arrived and spotted her oldest cackling like a hyena at the scene before him. Aemond was trying to pry Daeron off of Alysanne's arm; he'd bitten down and was not relinquishing his hold.

"Aegon, you idiot!" Alysanne snapped. "You told me he doesn't bite anymore!"

Aegon opened his mouth to explain, but his laughter bubbled up again, making it impossible for him to speak.

"Aemond!" Alysanne cried. "Help me!"

"I'm trying!" Aemond said, his voice tinged with frustration as he tried to pull Daeron off Alysanne's arm. He shot a disapproving glance at Aegon, who was still laughing uncontrollably.

"Move, move," Alicent hurried over and took over from Aemond.

Alicent pried Daeron's mouth open and pulled him off Alysanne's arm. "Daeron, no!" she reprimanded her youngest. "Helaena, take him to another room," she requested of the girl who'd been standing to the side. She looked over at Aegon, who was still laughing uncontrollably. "And you! This is not funny, Aegon!"

Aegon wiped tears of laughter from his eyes, trying to compose himself. "But it is funny, Mother!"

"It is not, idiot!" Alysanne interjected, cradling her arm. "It hurts!"

Alicent inspected Alysanne's arm, relieved to see the bite hadn't broken the skin. "You'll be fine, Alysanne." She turned to Aemond. "Can you fetch the maester?"

"Of course, Mother," Aemond nodded and quickly left the room.

"Really Aegon? Today of all days?" Alicent looked over at him. "She is to leave to visit her father today and now we're sending her back with bite marks. Foolish boy," she snapped before turning back to observe Alysanne's bruising arm.

"It's Daeron's fault, not mine," Aegon defended himself as he tried to control the smile on his face.

"Daeron is 3 years old, Aegon! You are 8; you should know better! How did this happen, Alysanne?" Alicent rubbed her temple in frustration before brushing the girl's cheek to clear away the tears.

"That stupid idiot dared me to put my arm near Daeron! He promised he doesn't bite anymore! You're a liar!" Alysanne leaned around Alicent to continue berating the prince.

He wasn't as bothered by Alysanne's insults as he was by his mother's though. Alicent's reprimands hurt his soul, but Alysanne's gave him a sense of satisfaction.

Alicent shot him a warning look. "Really, Aegon? A dare? You should be setting a better example for your brothers."

Aegon just rolled his eyes, but this set Alysanne's blood on fire and she reached up for a bowl that was on the table next to her and hurled it at his head. He only had just enough time to duck out of the way.

The bowl crashed against the wall, shattering into pieces. Alicent gasped. She'd spent six months with this sweet girl that reminded her so much of her lost friend. But it was in these occasional moments that she remembered who her other parent was. These bouts of rage stemmed from being the daughter of Daemon Targaryen. "Alysanne, that's enough!"

Aegon, wide-eyed, finally stopped laughing. "She's gone mad!"

Alysanne's face flushed with anger, and her fists clenched as she shouted back, "You're so annoying!"