𝙺𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽 ° aemond targaryen

Act Three, Scene Seven

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"𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝙳𝚒𝚎"
𝟷𝟸𝟾 𝙰𝙲 - 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚎𝚍 𝙺𝚎𝚎𝚙
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HIS FOOTSTEPS WERE QUICK AS he made his way through the crowded halls, holding the bundle close to his chest. He dodged bodies easily, not once steering from his trek towards the council room—he knew anyone of importance would be in there at a time like this. His mind was spinning as the large wooden doors came into view.

The guards posted outside nodded at the prince, moving swiftly to open the doors for his arrival. The room was loud with chatter, the king's angry yell drowning out them all. "Abed!" He screamed in the face of Criston Cole. "Instead of safeguarding the sanctity of my family!"

Aemond's presence was noted first by Lord Jasper and the Grand Maester, their turned heads catching the attention of the Hightower woman sat across from them. She let out a soft sigh. "Aemond, now is not the time-"

"Vaella is alive."

His determined and sure tone caught everyone in the room off guard, all eyes turning to where the younger Targaryen man stood at the end of the table. Curiousity in them peaked as the saw the bundle he held in his arms.

"The intruders...they came in through the hidden servant tunnels, exited them in my chambers." His voice faltered out as the babe in his arms started to squirm, whining passing through his lips—the loud voices must have disturbed his sleep.

Alicent's eyes blew wide as she shot up from her chair. She was quick to make her way to her younger son, a soft gasp leaving her lips as she saw the child in his arms. For one of the few times in her life, she was utterly speechless, her hands shaking as she looked up at her son's face, silently asking if she could take the child from him.

The boy answered her with a singular nod. The weight of the small babe was lifted from him, his eye following his mother's figure as she stepped a few feet away, her eyes not leaving the child's face.

"He was left in my room," He said, not feeling the need to specify who he was referring to. "There was a note with him. His name is Saellor Targaryen..." He turned to look at his brother. "He is my son."

Aegon sat up further at this. "Who left you the note? Did it say?"

"It was signed by Daemon Targaryen." He paused, watching the new wave of anger that flared inside of the king. "I do not believe he was here himself, but he more than likely hired someone to do these acts for him."

"They hold my sister hostage and plot to murder my son in his bed," He shook his head in fury, slamming his fists down on the table. "That bitch queen of bastards did this! The smug cunt of Dragonstone who sits across the bay on her rock, laughing at me! She's fucking laughing at me!"

Aemond could not focus on the rest of the conversation, not even noting as Lord Larys entered the room, for his son's whines had turned to wails at the commotion the king had made. The boy was quick to move over to his mother, whose attempts of hushing the child were futile.

"Let me take him," He said in the softest tone Alicent had heard him speak with in a long while. She nodded slowly, handing the babe back to her son. "I'm going to take him back to my chambers."

"I will alert the wet nurse as soon as I can," When she saw her son flinch at the thought, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "He needs to be fed Aemond."

"I know," He sighed softly. "Vaella just wanted to do all that herself, and the thought of...forget it."

Before Alicent could say anything more, her son was turning on his heel and leaving the chambers. Her heart broke for her boy; no matter what he had done, no one deserved to have to raise a child alone.

But knowing that Vaella was alive, somewhere, was hope enough that her children would be united once more.

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      Blood dripped down the girl's cheek, the skin on her face split from the metal of the knight's armored fist. Her eye and cheekbone were throbbing, and she could already feel bruises forming along her stomach from the man's harsh kicks.

      "Do not make this difficult, Vaella," The sly voice spoke out, just as smug as she had remembered it. "Just pledge your fealty to the rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and all this will end."

      She knew it would not be that simple—even if she were to bend the knee, she would not be allowed to be free. She would be left in the cold, damp cell to rot it out until the war is over. And then, and only then, would she be allowed out.

     Only when her family is dust in the wind.

     "Fuck you," Vaella spat, blood from her open cut spilling across her lips and smearing her teeth with red. "You have lost your mind if you think I will ever-"

     Another hit, this time hitting the girl across her jaw and causing her teeth to sink into the flesh of her tongue. She could feel blood seeping from the puncture, filling her mouth with the metallic taste.

Boots were heard against the stones as the man walked forwards, pushing back the knight and kneeling beside the hunched over girl. Daemon was no fool; he knew she would never bend. Though, he could not entirely let the girl go unpunished for the actions cause by her husband.

"You are only doing this to yourself." He said simply, his cold eyes locking onto hers as she glared up at him, the hand not holding up her weak body covering her bleeding mouth. "Just bend the knee to Rhaenyra and no more harm will come to you."

Without thinking twice, the girl reared up, the red substance from her mouth splattered across the face of her blood father in small, wet drops. The man flinched slightly, his glare turning more menacing, but the girl merely met his cold stare with her own.

"I..." Vaella began, her breath heavy with anger. "Would rather die than ever fight for you."

A smirk came to the elder Targaryen's face, as if those were the words that he had been waiting to hear. "You have made your choice, I see. Now, do not be angry when you get the consequences."

She had half expected to get another smack or punch from the knight that stood behind the man. But, alas, Daemond simply rose to his feet, muttering something to the armored soldier before both men left the room, leaving a shivering and bleeding girl on the floor of her cell.

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vaella doesn't really have special
treatment anymore. homegirl is gonna
be going through it for a little while

but on a happier note, we love
aemond in this father era