Chapter Text
“We need to do something about this.”
Rhaenyra turned to her Hand, princess Rhaenys who was looking at her with a stern gaze. She sighed. “it’s not that, easy, you know. Not after everything we have been through.”
Rhaenys nodded, looking tired, “I know, Rhaenyra, but we can’t go on like this, your reign can’t go on like this. Not if we don’t want people to start talking. The realm needs stability. Your sons, at least Jace, needs to make some kind of peace with Aegon. Your son in law, Cregan is trying. Jace has too as well, as our crown prince.”
Rhaenyra nodded wearily, her fingers brushing across her face.
It had been three weeks since Alicent, Cole and Otto had been sent back to Oldtown. Alicent’s third son, Daeron had come here the day after Alicent had been sent away. He was a quiet thing, had bowed to her the day he had come, saying quite clearly he had no wish to steal anything from anyone or fight. As long as he and his siblings weren’t killed, he had no grudge against Rhaenyra or his nephews.
When she’d heard that, a part of Rhaenyra had wished to go back in time and slap Alicent, the nonsense she had filled her children’s head with, it was unreal she still pretended to be the victim.
Daeron though even if he was Aegon’s brother was having as hard a time as settling here as her sons. His reasons were different since he never really knew his older three siblings, Aemond was not even making an effort to talk to his own brother, just sitting like a stone at meal times. Aegon and Helaena were trying their best, including him in everything. Maybe he will open up to them soon.
Her children were, well, she sighed, looking pensively out of the window at the clear blue sky.
Baela and Rhaena weren’t doing bad, they were at least trying to settle down, they even talked the other day to Helaena and even greeted Aegon and Daeron.
Her sons were another story.
She had not asked Lucerys to join them for any meal times, he was exempt from everything. The one time he had, Aemond was mysteriously absent. She didn’t want to know how he knew Luke would be there. Daemon had looked away when she had said the same to him and her heart had warmed at the thought of her husband making sure her son was safe. He must have been the one to tell Aemond to not come. He didn’t need to say he was the one who told Aemond not to come.
The other times Aemond had been there, he looked as if someone was holding him at sword point as his older siblings talked to her and Daemon, her nieces, Rhaenys and Corlys while he sat as stiff as a board, eating very little and not deigning to speak at all. He only greeted her and Daemon with a stiff nod as they were the Queen and King Consort and lady Rhaenys and lord Corlys as they were the Hand and the Master of ships.
Her youngest three boys were scared to even leave their rooms, forget about sitting with everyone. They had started crying the moment they were taken to the gardens to play with Aegon and Helaena’s children. They didn’t know anyone except each other and it seemed they didn’t want to know anyone else except their older brothers and sisters. Their cries had made Aegon and Helaena’s three children, Jaehaerys, Jaehaera and Maelor cry too. Suffice to say, she wasn’t keen to try that again any time soon.
Her sweet Luke when he had joined them for that one dinner had responded in quiet nods and halfhearted smiles to her siblings’ greetings, always looking at the door as if afraid Aemond would stride inside any minute and demand he take his eye out.
He had not come again, preferring to sit with his younger brothers and eat. She didn’t want him to come. She had no desire to make him upset or sad.
As for Jace, he was not rude to anyone, he had nodded politely to Aegon, Helaena and Daeron the first day. But she had noticed Cregan’s hand wrapped tight around his shoulders as they ate quite a few times. As if his husband’s grip on him was the only thing keeping him there.
“Let’s give them time,” she finally looked at Rhaenys who nodded, “I’ll talk to Jace, tell him to at least make an effort. Luke and my other sons not interacting won’t make much difference, everyone also knows Aegon usurped me. That can’t be resolved in mere weeks, my Hand.”
Rhaenys smiled a little, “that should be enough, my queen.”
Both the women smiled, pleased to have reached a solution which would benefit everyone.
Aemond turned another page of the book absent mindedly, not really taking in the words written on it. He didn’t have any desire to read. He didn’t have any will to do anything but just sit quietly or sleep.
He sighed and threw the book, burying his face in his palm. He had thought he could handle Luke being so close. He had promised himself he wouldn’t approach him; he will not scare him again. He was fine with watching him from afar.
Turns out it was a moot point since even after almost a month here he had only seen Lucerys twice. Comforting himself with the thought of seeing him here and there was a foolish hope since he hadn’t seen him at all. It was like he was back at Dragonstone not here with him, living in the same castle.
Luke seemed to love being confined to his room or his younger brothers’ rooms. He hadn’t seen a glimpse of him even once. Whenever he did visit Arrax, he knew Lucerys did, there was no way his omega didn’t go and see his dragon but Aemond didn’t know when he did. As much as he wished to know, for him it would be so easy to follow Lucerys, even go in his rooms since he knew the castle very well. But he won’t do that no matter how much he wanted to. No matter how much it pained him.
There was no point in doing something like that. Even if it was only to apologise to the younger boy, to assure him no harm will ever befall him again.
He reigned in on his impulses because he knew it wasn’t right.
Daemon had said very clearly he was not to go near him, that was the only reason Rhaenyra was allowing him to stay there.
“If there is to be any kind of conversation between you and Luke,” Aemond winced inwardly but didn’t let show any emotion on his face as the older alpha spoke, “you will have one, no matter how much time it takes, days, weeks, months. But it’ll only be when he is comfortable enough to be near you.”
Daemon sighed seeing Aemond flinch.
“I know my wife better than anyone. Rhaenyra will never stop Lucerys and you from talking, even eventually bonding but she will never voluntarily allow you near him. She can’t, Aemond. Not after you tried to take his life.”
Aemond clenched his hand into a fist as familiar ache rose in his chest at the words. “You have my word, uncle.” He met Daemon’s hard gaze, “I’ll not bother him, trust me.”
Daemon nodded, “I do. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let you live.”
Aemond would have laughed or scoffed if it was any other person but not the man in front of him. His uncle might be the only one, no, he was the only one in this entire continent he feared.
He had no doubt Daemon would have done exactly what he said if Lucerys was dead by his hands.
“He’ll have no trouble from me any longer.”
Daemon looked at Aemond for a few moments before smiling a little. “You make me wonder, nephew. Why hurt him if you cared so much?” He shook his head and strode out of Aemond’s room.
Aemond wasn’t sure even he could answer that question. He didn’t want to kill Luke, he knew that, he never wanted him dead. But chasing him on a war dragon would not have resulted in anything but that. No matter his intentions, Lucerys had pummeled to his death with Arrax.
It was a miracle he lived.
He never wanted to feel that again.
Aemond shut his eye, not caring for the wetness on his cheek. What can he do except regret his actions?
The one time Lucerys had joined everyone for the meal, Daemon had met him in the courtyard in afternoon, just telling him to not come to dinner that night.
Aemond had been surprised at first at the words. It was only when Daemon continued to look at him did he understood why he was specifically telling him not to go.
To say he had the mad urge to laugh until he broke down right there in front of the other knights and King Consort wouldn’t be a lie. He had controlled himself though and had nodded, not staying there a minute longer and shutting himself in his room. If next day his whole room looked as if a hurricane had come there, that was the problem of maids and servants, not him. If Vhagar’s melancholic cries that night were heard all across the forest and bay, only he knew the reason for it.