House of Ashes | Aemond Targaryen

Twenty two

(Republished)

Chapter twenty two

Vaiana found herself in the grand, oppressive silence of the throne room. The chill of the stone floor seeped through her boots, and the vastness of the chamber amplified her sense of isolation. She was disoriented, her heart pounding in her chest. How had she come to be here?

Her gaze swept the room until it fell upon Aegon. He sat slumped on the Iron Throne, his once proud posture now broken. His face was a mask of pain, both mental and physical, etched with lines of betrayal and despair.

"Vaiana," he said, his voice a rasp. "How could you?"

The weight of his anguish bore down on her, twisting her insides with guilt. She stepped forward, her eyes wide with remorse. "Aegon, I—"

"You betrayed me," he interrupted, his voice cracking. "You used me, poisoned me. I loved you Vaiana, I wanted you here, by my side, the only source of comfort I had!"

The weight of his accusation struck her like a physical blow, guilt gnawing at her insides. She took a tentative step towards him, her voice trembling. "Aegon, I... I didn't mean to—"

She moved closer, the scene shifted abruptly. The throne room vanished, replaced by an unfamiliar chamber. Vaiana's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. There, in the dim light, she saw a small chest. She knew it contained her child's egg, the precious legacy of her bloodline. She reached for it, her fingers trembling with urgency.

She moved toward the chest, her hand outstretched, but a shadow blocked her path. Aemond emerged from the darkness, his one good eye gleaming with a predatory hunger. "Going somewhere, Vaiana?" he asked, his voice a silken purr.

Vaiana's breath caught in her throat as Aemond advanced, trapping her against the wall. His gaze was filled with a sickening mix of lust and possessiveness. "You think you can escape me?" he whispered, his face inches from hers. Blood began to seep from his hairline, dripping down his face and onto hers. Vaiana recoiled, fear and guilt twisting inside her.

"Aemond," she pleaded, her voice shaking. "Let go."

He laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "You belong to me, Vaiana. You always have." His hand moved to her throat, his grip tightening.

Vaiana's terror reached its peak as he began to choke her, his hands tightening around her throat. Her vision darkened, and she fought for breath, the room spinning around her. She gasped for air—

Vaiana jolted awake, her chest heaving, her skin slick with sweat. She panted, the terror of the dream still gripping her. The dim light of her chambers was a stark contrast to the vivid nightmare she had just endured.

The door burst open, and guards rushed in, their expressions tense with concern. "Princess, are you alright?" one of them asked, his voice urgent.

She nodded quickly, trying to calm her racing heart. "I'm fine," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "It was just a dream. Leave me."

They hesitated, watching her struggle to sit up. One guard stepped forward to offer support, but she gently waved him away. "I can walk on my own," she insisted, her pride fighting against her weakness. They followed her nonetheless, just in case.

"Is my mother in her chambers?" she asked, her voice steadier now.

One guard shook his head. "No, Princess. The council is in session."

Vaiana paused, uncertainty clouding her mind. She took a deep breath, then asked, "Where are my little brothers?"

They led her through the winding corridors of Dragonstone, until they reached a cozy chamber where her younger brothers were playing. As she entered, she saw Aegon and Viserys on the floor, their silver hair gleaming in the soft light, their innocent laughter a balm to her weary soul. Joffrey was with them, his face lighting up as he saw her.