3: The Beginning of the End

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
Lyanna wandered the castle as everyone slept, content in the silence that engulfed Driftmark at night. If she listened closely enough, she swore she could hear the waves crashing onto the shore from anywhere in the castle. She passed by a group of guards as she made her way down the hall, all of them seemed to be conversing worriedly. 
"My Lady!" One of the guards, Ser Harrold, exclaimed upon seeing her. Thinking he was mad at her for being out of her rooms this late, the young girl prepared for a scolding. "Have you seen the princes? Or their cousins Lady Baela, and Lady Rhaena? They were seen leaving their rooms and have yet to return."
"I saw Aegon drinking on one of the staircases, if that helps," she offered, her brows furrowing as the older man let out a sigh. 
"He's not who we're looking for but thank you, My Lady. It's best now if you head back to bed," Ser Harrold said, giving the girl a smile and pat on the shoulder as she nodded and walked past him. 
Lyanna was making her way in the direction of her rooms when she heard a shout come from one of the passages leading outside. The voice sounded faintly familiar, almost as if it was- Aemond. 
Shouting for the guards that were still behind her, Lyanna didn't check to see if they were following before she sprinted down the passage. What met her chilled her to the bone, icy rage flaring up in her chest as she saw Lucerys standing over Aemond with a bloody knife, Jacaerys, Baela, and Rhaena not far behind him. Aemond was collapsed onto the ground, gripping his face in pain. 
"Aemond!" Lyanna shouted, throwing herself down to the ground beside the boy. "What happened? What did you do?"
The last question was aimed toward the other children in the room as the guards shouted in surprise as they entered, her arms wrapped themselves protectively around Aemond's trembling frame. The Targaryen boy, just this once, allowed himself to be held. 
"I claimed her," Aemond mumbled as Lyanna frantically called for the Maester. "I claimed Vhagar. I have a dragon now, just as you said I would."
———
Lyanna stayed by Aemond's side as he was brought upstairs, and as the Maester sewed his wound. She let him grip her hand as tightly as he needed as the King shouted at and berated the guards for not protecting the children. She stood to shield him from sight as more and more people began piling into the room. 
"It will heal, will it not, Maester?" The Queen asked as she stared worriedly at her son, her hands red and raw from her picking at them nervously. 
"The flesh will heal," Maester Kelvyn answered, finishing Aemond's stitches. "But the eye is lost, Your Grace."
The room could be heard taking a collective intake of breath at his words, the added pressure applied from the the prince's hand in hers being the only thing that alerted Lyanna he was upset at this news. Aemond just stared blankly straight ahead as his mother rounded on Aegon.