• The Rats •

                                    

                                          

The moonlight spilled through the high windows of the Red Keep, casting eerie shadows along the stone corridors. The rat catchers, cloaked in darkness, moved with silent precision. Their mission was clear: find Jaehaerys and fulfill Daemon's orders.
Leading the group was a wiry man with eyes that seemed to pierce the dark. His partner, a burly figure with a scar running down his cheek, followed closely. They navigated the labyrinthine passages with the ease of those who had spent years slipping through the Keep's hidden nooks.
The royal nursery was their destination. It was there that Jaehaerys slept, watched over by his mother and nestled beside his twin sister. The rat catchers paused outside the door, listening intently. Inside, the gentle hum of a lullaby could be heard, sung softly by the children's mother.
The wiry one produced a vial of sleeping draught, his fingers deftly uncorking it. With a nod, the burly rat catcher pushed the door open just enough for them to slip inside. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a single candle on the bedside table.
Helaena sat in a chair beside the crib, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. She watched over her sleeping children, her heart filled with both love and fear. The rat catchers moved like shadows, their presence unnoticed as they approached.
The wiry one reached into his cloak, pulling out a small cloth soaked in the sleeping draught. He moved closer to Elaenys, ready to press it against her face. But as he did, she stirred, her eyes fluttering open.
Helaena gasped, her hand flying to the dagger at her waist. The burly rat catcher lunged forward, his hand clamping over her mouth to stifle her scream. Panic flared in her eyes as she struggled against his grip.
The wiry rat catcher moved quickly, pressing the cloth to her nose and mouth. Helaena fought, but the sleeping draught took hold, her struggles weakening until she slumped back in the chair, unconscious.
With Helaena subdued, the rat catchers turned their attention to the crib. Jaehaerys and his twin sister lay side by side, their tiny chests rising and falling in peaceful slumber. The burly rat catcher hesitated for a moment, the innocence of the scene giving him pause.
"Quickly,"
the wiry one hissed, urgency in his voice. 
"We don't have much time."
The burly rat catcher nodded, reaching into the crib. His hands were surprisingly gentle as he lifted Jaehaerys, cradling the child against his chest. The wiry one kept watch, his eyes darting to the door, listening for any sign of approaching guards.
As the rat catcher held Jaehaerys tightly, ensuring he couldn't escape, the other rat catcher stepped forward with a grim determination. With a swift and merciless motion, he drew his blade and severed the young boy's head. The gruesome task completed, they wrapped the head carefully and set off to deliver it to Daemon, their dark mission now accomplished.

After they left, Helaena finally woke up and immediately noticed her son's crib was empty. Panic set in as she scanned the room, only to find Jaehaerys's headless body not too far away, blood pooling around him. The horrific sight tore a scream from her throat, and she collapsed beside him, sobbing uncontrollably as the reality of the nightmare sank in.
Helaena, driven by sheer terror and desperation, picked up her daughter Jaehaera and ran out of the room, clutching her tightly. Her eyes wild with fear and anguish, she burst into her mother's quarters. Alicent, startled and utterly confused, looked up in shock as Helaena stood there, breathless and trembling, unable to form coherent words amidst her hysteria.
Alicent spoke, her voice filled with alarm.
"Helaena, what's happened? Why are you so distressed?"

Helaena's voice trembled as she spoke.
"They've.... killed the boy."

Her voice rising in shock.
"What? Who did this?"

Helaena's voice broke, and in her arms you could still find Jaehaera.
"The rat catchers... they cut off his head."


Elaenys closed the door to her and Aemond's quarters, her face pale and eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and anger. She turned to Aemond, her voice trembling as she spoke.
"Aemond, it's Jaehaerys... he's dead,
She said, her voice breaking. 
"I know who's behind this. It's my father, Daemon. I know him too well. A son for a son, he must have thought. But Jaehaerys was just a boy... a child."

Aemond's face hardened, his single eye burning with fury. 
"Daemon will pay for this," 
he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
 "He will regret the day he ever thought to harm our family."

Elaenys nodded, tears streaming down her face.
 "We will make him pay, Aemond. For Jaehaerys, for Helaena."



The news of Jaehaerys's death spread through the Red Keep like wildfire. Handmaidens, their faces pale and eyes wide with horror, scrubbed the bloodstained floors of the nursery room, their whispers filled with fear and sorrow. The once joyous room, filled with the laughter of children, now echoed with the sound of scrubbing and muffled sobs.
Aegon, upon hearing the news, was struck with a mix of rage and despair. His usually confident demeanor crumbled as he struggled to comprehend the loss of his son. He stormed through the halls, demanding answers, his voice echoing with a raw, painful intensity.
Helaena, already fragile, seemed to wither further. She clung to Jaehaera, her eyes empty and haunted. The bond she shared with Jaehaerys was deep, and his death left a gaping wound in her heart. She barely spoke, her grief too overwhelming for words.
The entire family was plunged into mourning, their hearts heavy with the weight of their loss. The once vibrant and powerful household now felt cold and broken, each member grappling with their own sorrow and anger.