A Dance Of Scales And Shadows | Aemond Targaryen x OC

Part 17 - The Heart Overhead

Soon after the funeral, Aegon ordered the execution of all the rat catchers and fired Otto. One of her servants overheard a conversation between guards who said the king had beaten the assassin with a blunt object until he died. Another guard mentioned that Christon Cole had sent someone to kill Rhaenyra but the assassin never returned.

First, it was Aemond who couldn't control his temper, and now it was Aegon. And there she was, powerless and voiceless in all the political turmoil. She wasn't sure Rhaenyra was at fault for what happened to Jaehaerys, but seeing the body of her niece had angered and devastated her to the core.

"How are you?" Aemond leaned on the doorframe.

"Not well," she replied.

He walked over, shortening the distance between them, and gave her a comforting hug.

"You've been crying again, I can see that," Aemond said.

"How can I not... When I saw his body butchered..." she clung closer to him.

"It's tragic," he continued, "but I'm proud that Daemon has sent people after me. It means he views me as a threat."

Aika loved her brothers, and she knew that when it came to them, she always listened to her heart, ignoring the logical concerns of her mind.

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"You're into reading these days, Mother. Is there a particular reason?" Aika said as she entered the queen's chamber and found Alicent surrounded by books.

"You do love reading history books, don't you? I've heard about something but can't find it in the books..." Alicent asked.

"I do. What is it?"

"Have you heard anything about the Song of Ice and Fire?" Alicent asked.

"You spoke with Rhaenyra?" Aika replied immediately.

"What? How did you know?" The queen was surprised she guessed it so quickly.

"Dad told me after I agreed to marry Jace about Aegon's dream, how he saw the end of humanity and how a Targaryen must sit on the Iron Throne to unite the realm against the cold and the dark," Aika told her.

"I don't understand. Why didn't he ever tell me?" Alicent sounded disappointed.

"He believed it should pass from heir to heir. I think, as Jace and I became the heirs, he thought to entrust me with it as well," Aika said, looking straight into the fire.

Moments later, she asked, "So what did you two speak about?"

"She wanted a peaceful solution."

"Hope you let her know that it's too late," Aika replied coldly.

"I messed up big time, Aika. Before his death, Viserys called for Aegon. He told me about the dream and called him the prince that was promised," Alicent said, taking a breath. "I assumed he was talking about our Aegon."

"Did you?" Aika replied with the same cold tone. "Or was it the final straw for you to push for Aegon's coronation?"

Alicent shook her head, unsure of how to respond.