Led By Fiery Passion (currently being revised)

Part 57

It took hardly any time to reach his destination.

Vhagar circled overhead, her wings cutting through the storm-churned air as she loosed a thunderous roar that echoed across the cliffs like a war cry. Aemond's jaw tightened as he surveyed the land below. He swallowed hard, bracing himself as the likely scenarios played through his mind—most of which ended with blood, steel, and death at Daemon's hand.

Still, he pressed forward.

As they descended, he reached into his saddlebag and retrieved the tattered remnants of a dark cloak—just enough to dull the silver of his hair and the gleam of his armor. The last thing he needed was to look like a prince flying into hostile territory.

Vhagar landed with a ground-shaking thud.  Aemond dismounted down the latter in  fluid motions , his eye scanning the keep.

Then he saw her.

A figure with long silver-white hair rushed down the stone steps, a guard quick behind her. For a moment, his breath caught—Aenyra?

But as she drew nearer, he realized.

Not her.

Rhaenyra.

He blinked hard, the resemblance sharper than he'd ever allowed himself to admit. The same fire in her step. The same stubborn set to her jaw. For a fleeting second, it felt like fate was mocking him—presenting the mother he didn't care much for as a mirror of the daughter he loves so fiercely.

"Aemond?" she called out hesitantly. He recognized the familiar face of the guard immediately but refocused his gaze on Rhaenyra.

As he closed the distance between them, his nerves were frayed. Yet he had come all this way to do at least one thing right...for Aenyra.

"Aemond, why are you here?" Rhaenyra's voice was a blend of surprise and caution. She scrutinized him closely, searching for any hint of hostility or lingering resentment from their past. The tension was palpable, thick with harsh feelings.

"I—I came to find you," Aemond stammered, his heart racing. The cloak he held felt heavy in his hands, burdened with the memories of just a few hours prior. "I need to speak with you about Lucerys."

Rhaenyra's expression shifted as concern etched deeper lines on her brow. "Lucerys?" She whispered out barely above a whisper, the air caught in her throat as his name spilled past her lips. Her guard, Ser Erryk, stayed on high alert, ready to act if needed, but Rhaenyra's gaze remained fixed on Aemond.

With a deep breath, he stepped closer and revealed the cloak. Rhaenyra's expression morphed into one of confusion and horror as she snatched it from him. Tears began to stream down her cheeks.

"It was Aegon..." Aemond said, his heart heavy as he watched Rhaenyra expression falter before him, a sight he never thought he would witness.

"Aegon did this?" Rhaenyra asked through gritted teeth, her brow knitting together as tears continued to flow past m her eyes. she fought to regain her composure.

Aemond remained silent, giving a slight nod in response. Rhaenyra tightened her grip on the cloak she held. "Can you give me a moment?" she requested. He watched as she walked a few paces down the sandy beach before suddenly collapsing to her knees. Aemond instinctively took a step closer, but the quiet sounds of her sobs froze him in place.

He glanced at the imposing black castle where Aenyra and her family had resided for the past few years, he noticed only guards were stationed at their posts; Daemon and the rest of the family were nowhere to be seen. After releasing a deep breath, he approached her, stopping just behind her as Rhaenyra buried her face in the cloak, her cries becoming muffled.