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KINGS LANDING || 130 AC
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𝕰laeys remained in his dimly lit bed chambers, the heavy silence pressing down on him like a suffocating weight. The room, once a place of comfort and familiarity, now felt like a prison. He paced restlessly, the walls seeming to close in as the reality of his decision settled over him. The echoes of his siblings' pleas still rang in his ears, their pain cutting through him like a blade. Time passed slowly, each minute stretching into an eternity as he waited, alone with his thoughts. The anger he had pushed down during the confrontation with Baelon and Alerae now bubbled up to the surface, directed not just at himself but at everything that had led him to this point. The conflict within him was a storm of emotions—loyalty to his family, resentment toward his situation, and a burning hatred for the man he had chosen to support.
When the door creaked open, and Alicent Hightower entered, Elaeys forced himself to adopt a calm demeanor. He greeted his aunt with a respectful bow, masking the turmoil that churned beneath his composed exterior. Alicent's voice was soft, almost maternal, as she approached him, "Elaeys," she said with a warm smile, "I am proud of you, nephew, for standing by your couisn Aegon. It takes great courage to make such a difficult choice, especially when it involves your own family. Your loyalty will not be forgotten," the young Prince only sent the now dowager Queen a tight-lipped smile.
Elaeys held his composure, nodding slightly as if in agreement, "It was not an easy choice," he replied, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling within him, "But I understand my duty," his voiced laced with false words that burned through his tongue.
Alicent stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Duty is never easy, especially when it asks us to go against those we love. But you have proven your strength, Elaeys. You have shown that you can rise above personal feelings for the greater good," her words were meant to soothe, to offer him some sense of validation for his decision, but they only deepened the bitterness festering inside him.
He looked up at her, his expression unreadable, "And what of those I have hurt?" he asked, his tone laced with a barely concealed edge, "What becomes of them?"
Alicent's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "In time, they will understand," she said, her voice firm but kind, "They will see that what you did was necessary and right. Sometimes, the hardest choices are the ones that bring us closer to our true purpose, dear boy," Elaeys nodded again, though inside he felt nothing but cold, seething anger. The image of Aegon's smug face, the knowledge of the pain his actions had caused his siblings, and the looming reality of the betrayal he had committed filled him with a violent rage.
