The Mouth of the Dragon, The Eyes of the Lamb

Chapter 34

"There's nothing to talk about, Hel," Aemond muttered before dunking his head under the water to wet his hair. Helaena heard the water and waited until she heard it again before speaking.

"I seem to recall you saying that Luce knows about Mother's plan. That's something."

Aemond scowled in the general direction of Helaena as he scrubbed his hair. He bathed in silence for a while before sighing. "I told her yesterday morning. She had a nightmare and asked if Alicent was truly planning that."

Helaena frowned. Surely Lucela didn't talk about her dragon dreams with Aemond? "And you told her because of a dream?"

Aemond sighed and scrubbed the sleep from his face. "No, I told her because she was terrified of whatever it was that she dreamed."

"You don't think it was Aegon on the throne?"

"No," Aemond grumbled as he stood and grabbed the towel from the stool beside him. He dried off quickly and wrapped the towel around his waist before walking into his main chambers. Helaena was sitting on his bed chewing her nail. "I think she dreamed about something worse. I think Daemon has been putting the idea of Aegon taking the throne in her head, and she finally asked about it."

"And you didn't lie to protect Mother?"

Aemond stepped behind his privacy screen to get dressed. Helaena's question bothered him more than he cared to admit, but he wouldn't let her know that. "No."

"Do you love her?" Aemond didn't say anything. "Aemond?"

"I'm not going to answer that, Hel."

He walked back around the screen and glanced at Helaena. She was standing now with her arms crossed, but she was smirking at him.

"That's an answer, Aemond."

He glared at her, and her smirk grew into a grin before she walked over to him. Even annoyed, Aemond immediately opened his arms so she could walk into them. Helaena hugged him quickly before pulling away and glancing at him a final time before leaving.

                                                                                            ------

"Grandmother?" Lucela squealed as she walked into her mother's chambers. Rhaenys turned and smiled at her before standing and hugging her hard. "What are you doing here?"

"Viserys summoned me. For what, only the Gods know, but here I am."

Lucela glanced at the table behind Rhaenys and noticed Baela and Rhaena were in a deep discussion with Jace and Luke. All four looked upset, and Lucela frowned softly. "I take it you are going to take Baela and Rhaena back to Driftmark when you leave?"

Rhaenys turned and followed Lucela's gaze. "No. I'm sending them back after they break their fast." Lucela looked at Rhaenys in surprise. She had left them after Vaemond's death because they wanted to stay. It seemed they still wanted to.

"What's changed, Grandmother?"

Rhaenys looked at Lucela and took her hand in her own. "Just a feeling, Luce. If I could get you and your siblings out as well, I would."

Lucela frowned again and opened her mouth to ask what this feeling was when someone knocked on the door. Elinda, Rhaenyra's lady in waiting since long before Luce was born, quickly answered the door. A guard entered and bowed quickly.

"Princess Rhaenys, His Grace will see you."

Rhaenys squeezed Lucela's hand before following the guard outside. Rhaenyra saw the worry on Lucela's face when she turned and wanted to ask her about it, but Daemon put his hand over hers.