The Mouth of the Dragon, The Eyes of the Lamb

Chapter 29

Lucela opened the door to her mother's chambers the next morning. She had only gotten an hour or two of sleep and was dragging. She saw Joffrey and Aegon first and smiled at her younger brothers. Lucela hadn't seen them much lately, and she knew that she needed to fix that.

"Lulu!" A happy squeal sounded out from her left, and Lucela turned her head in time to see Visenya running toward her legs as fast as she could. She barely had time to lean down to pick up the toddler before she was on her. Visenya wrapped her little arms around Lucela's neck in a hug and immediately laid her head on her shoulder.

Rhaenyra smiled at her daughters. Even with all of the shit surrounding them all, her children would always be her happiness. Lucela offered her cheek to Daemon before kissing her mother's and taking her seat. Jace and Luke were already eating with gusto and simply waved.

"Where's Vizzy?" Lucela asked as she looked around the table for her youngest brother. Daemon pointed to the bed with a grin. Viserys was sprawled in the middle of the huge bed sleeping soundly.

Small conversation was made as they ate, and Rhaenyra reached over the table to take Lucela's hand in her own. "How are you, sweet girl? I feel like I never see you anymore?"

Lucela swallowed her fruit with a gulp. "I'm okay, Mother."

Rhaenyra smiled softly and nodded. She could tell that something was bothering her daughter, but she also knew that Lucela would tell her on her own time.

"Jace, Luke, what are your plans for today?" Rhaenyra asked her two eldest sons as she let go of Lucela's hand.

"Um, we were going to spend time with Baela and Rhaena," Jace muttered as Luke's face turned bright red. Lucela hid her grin in Visenya's silver hair. She was happy that her brothers seemed happy with their betrothals. She could only hope to be that happy in her own.

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Aemond had sat in the garden most of the morning with his sketchbook and pencils spread out on the table in front of him. Helaena and the children had just gone back inside, and Aemond finally had a moment of peace to draw. Voices from behind him caused Aemond to turn then freeze.

Lucela and Greyson walked into the garden with Viserys and Visenya. Viserys was walking slightly ahead of them, and Visenya was struggling to get out of Lucela's arms to catch up to her brother. Lucela's dark hair was an obvious contrast compared to her younger siblings and even Greyson as he walked silently behind her.

Her eyes met Aemond's for only a moment before she averted her gaze and continued to walk to the Godswood tree. Greyson didn't even look in his direction. He simply stood next to Lucela as she sat on the ground and watched her siblings play.

"Want to tell me what you did to my sister?"

Aemond fought the urge to jump as he watched Luke sit down in the chair opposite him. He had been so focused on Lucela that he hadn't noticed her twin brother approaching as well.

"What makes you think I did anything?"

Luke's dark eyes focused on his face for a moment. Aemond didn't avert his gaze from his nephew's, even if he wanted to.

"She likes you, Uncle. Gods know why." Luke turned his attention back over to where Lucela was sitting. She was watching Visenya and Viserys with a huge smile.

"If you're asking me why she likes me, I'm just as clueless. I haven't exactly been kind to her."

"No, you haven't," Luke said with more force than Aemond had ever heard. He turned his attention back on Aemond. "If you hurt her, it won't be pretty for you."