Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? / Aemond Targaryen / House of the Dragon

63. Supposed to be Dead

"Steady. Slowly." The maester requested trying to help Aegon walk the room. But he struggled to move.

"I can't." Aegon begged. Maeve couldnt watch, she hated to see him so broken. 

"You can. You must try, Your Grace." the maester countered as Aegon cried out. His cane snapped and he fell to the ground.

"I can't, I can't!" Aegon yelled.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. I'm sorry, Your Grace." Maeve tried to help him but he wasnt making it easy. 

"Aegon," She begged. "Lets get you back to bed." but little Maekar wined out and she was quick to leave aegon and rush to her baby, trying to settle him. 

" Oh, God. Oh, God." He cried out as a knock sounded at the door and Aegon wailed in pain.

"A moment!" The maester countered but larys kept knocking. "A moment, please!" larys pushed forward.

"You really oughtn't to be doing that alone, Grand Maester." Larys remarked moving closer. "Allow me." Larys took Aegons opposite side helping him back to the bed.

" No, no, no, no, no, no, no." Aegon sobbed out.

"Forgive me, Your Grace." Larys agreed.

"Be careful." Orwyle begged.

"Wait, wait." Aegon begged yelling out.

"Aspen!" Avalon demanded. "Where have you... Laenor?"

"Avalon." he answered. 

"What are... you..." 

"Hi." Laenor agreed. 

"You are not dead." 

"I'm not." Laenor agreed. "Good catch." 

"Seasmoke was claimed." Vaera countered. "Addam of the hull. You can get your dragon back though, surely." 

"Where is my father?" Laenor questioned. 

"I need to know your allegiance." Davina countered blocking his path. 

"Rhaenyra and Daemon wanted me dead. I had a good friend however who didnt want to kill me." Laenor informed them. "I have no allegiance to Rhaenyra. But i want to see my father, my sons..." 

"Aemond killed Luke." Davina said bluntly. Laenor felt his heart break. 

"Your progress is impressive." larys remarked as he got back into bed. "But I'm afraid you must work harder. Your strength will return. There are... adjustments to the gait and so forth that you will learn now that you are... as you are." Larys added. "You should be more cautious." he told the maester.

"I, I should, Lord Larys. He-He needs rest. He should be abed. I push him on your instruction." He reminded Larys. Maeve looked between them. 

"I'll have the sentry give you more warning." Larys assured. "Let him try again in a few hours."

"He is spent." Orwyle countered.

" It will be long before he may rest again." Larys corrected, Orwyle stared back at him with a knowing look as Aegon groaned from the bed. 

" Alyn." Corlys declared.

" My lord." he answered.

"I have tasks that need your personal attention." Corlys remarked. "The queen requires ships at her service in King's Landing. Charter fishing vessels. Pay whatever they demand but ensure their captains are dependable." He instructed as they walked. "Put trusted swords aboard."

"Yes, m'lord."

"Have them wait just outside the harbor. And there will be a message to carry to one she will name." Corlys added alyn nodded. "The queen has found a new rider for one of her dragons."

"I've heard tell of it."

"The rider is your brother." Corlys informed him. Alyn hesitated. "She now makes the call for others. Our people are of Old Valyria, but... we are no dragonlords. I confess, I knew little of your mother's heritage. If it is... something in the blood." Corlys urged.

"My brother was ever restless, yearning for some sign of his worth. I am of salt and sea." Alyn countered. "I yearn for nothing else."

Corlys locked eyes on carmen. 

"My boy claimed a dragon?"

"It's good to see you-"

"Where is he?" Carmen cut him off. 

"I will bring you to him." Corlys assured. 

"Lady Margaery Tyrell might I say you are gorgeous." Robbie declared, Otto rolled his eyes. 

"You are too kind." She answered grabbing his arm. 

"Shall we discuss alliances over tea?" he pondered. 

"Good day lord Otto," Margaery said over her shoulder as she smiled into Robbie, he smirked back at Otto as they headed through the gardens. 

"So, how you been?" Corlys questioned. 

"Well, my existence is a continuum, so I've been what I am at each point in the implied time period." Carmen answered. Corlys chuckled glancing to her as they walked. "Addam is a good boy, is he safe at dragonstone?"

"He claimed a dragon, he is one with the dragon-"

"And you know why." Carmen agreed. "Did he tell Rhaenyra who he was? Did you?"

"No." Corlys countered. 

"Even now after my boy has done something so amazing and so dangerous, you dont care about him." Carmen huffed marching ahead of him. 

"Carmen!" Corlys begged. "I lost my wife-"

"And my boys never had a father because you didnt want to know them or me. I was just a good time when you out at sea." Carmen cried out. "I loved you and you.... you didnt think of me and the boys as anything-"

"I didnt know about Addam-"

"You met Alyn, he was a child yes  a babe but you met him and i fell in love with you again and... Gods." she shook her head. "Lets not talk, just take me to my boy I wont tell your queen what you are to them." 

"Father?" Laenor questioned. Corlys turned, paled, thinking he was seeing ghosts. Carmen stopped glancing back at the man. "Father!" Laenor ran to him hugging him tight. 

"Another bastard?" Carmen murmured. "Seems you care about this one unlike mine." 

"Laenor." Corlys rasped. 

"Laenor?" Carmen repeated, sure he was supposed to be dead.