The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 35

The first reaction of my father, as has been previously noted, was not what anyone expected of him. He wanted to ensure my mother was looked after and protected, which I think says a lot about the man my father is. As for my uncle Daeron . . . well, his reaction was decidedly less sedate. Perhaps it's no real surprise that he is referred to as 'the Daring'.

Still, the largest story my father mentions of that night was the last dinner the family shared together. It was Viserys' final attempt at peace, and thus, would be my father's last attempt at it as well. However, if there is one thing that my father constantly underestimated throughout this time, it was how much the rivalry between the Greens and Blacks had been passed onto their children . . .

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Daeron stormed into Aemond's chambers as soon as he had heard what happened. It seemed that his assessment of his brothers had hit the mark, more or less. Had neither of them inherited any morality at all? He still needed to pay a visit to Aegon over what he had done to Dyana, but that would come later. Aemond had tried to force himself on Helaena, and he had to answer for it.

He had been prepared to take a warhammer to the door's hinges to get into Aemond's chambers, but that was unnecessary since Aemond had left them open. As soon as he marched in, he saw his brother casually sitting at at table, flagon of wine sitting in the open, and an impassive look on his face. A red mark still adorned his right cheek, where Helaena had slapped him. Good.

He snatched the wine goblet from Aemond's hand and threw the sweet liquid in his face. "Hello to you too, brother." Aemond said, wiping his face with the sleeve of his doublet. "The Vale suits you."

"Shut up." Daeron snarled. "Helaena. What did you do to her?!"

"I did nothing." Aemond replied calmly, snatching the goblet back from Daeron and refilling it. "Helaena is not like Nesaena, Daeron. She jumps at shadows." He took a long drink from the goblet, still eyeing off his brother.

"You're a bad liar, Aemond." Daeron replied. He wouldn't be able to forget the look in Helaena's eyes when he had seen her, nor the tears still running down her face or her endless attempts at wiping her lips to get out the stain Aemond had left on her.

"I merely kissed her, if you must know." Aemond replied. He wondered how far his brother was going to go; he had heard the mutterings around the Red Keep that he had acquired the moniker of 'the Daring'. How he had managed that, Aemond would never know; his brother was no demon with a blade after all.

He set down the goblet and stood up. Even though Aemond was only the second son, he towered over his other siblings, and even their mother. He was hoping that Daeron would back off, but instead he simply stared defiantly, a deep rage obviously in his eyes. "If you touch her again . . ."

"You'll do what?" Aemond asked. "Go on, Daeron the Daring. Tell me-"

Daeron cut him off with an almighty punch straight at his face. Aemond was surprised; the power behind the punch was far beyond what Daeron should have been capable of at his age, and the effects were apparent almost immediately. There was a flash of blinding pain; Aemond brought his fingers to his nose. They came away bloody.

"You broke my nose, you cunt!"

"It'll be more than just your nose that gets broken if you go near Helaena again." Daeron growled.

Aemond had to admit he was mildly impressed. Daeron had been a skinny little boy when he'd gone off as Daevar's squire, with a tiny dragon to match him. Now, he was a hardened warrior, almost to the extent that their cousin was. At least, that was the image he was projecting anyway. Beneath the rage, Aemond could see that there was a fear in his brother's eyes, no matter how much he tried to hide it. Daeron had never had to hide his emotions in Runestone like Aemond had to in King's Landing, and he was failing to hide the hint of fear he felt now.