CHAPTER FIVE
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

Aenemera watched Aemond dismount from Vhagar and it was like a fire ignited in her chest at the sight. Part of her didn't want to believe what she had just witnessed but the other part of her wanted to strangle him.

"What did you do!" Aenemera hissed at the boy while she stormed towards him at the Dragons landing.

"What I had to." Aemond shoved past the blonde girl but she quickly followed after him, reaching for his arm and pulling him back. "You had no right to that dragon!"

Aemond spun around while shoving off her hand. "A dragon can't only be passed down."

"Vhagar is my mothers dragon!" Baela shouted once she entered the room with her sister and Aenemera's siblings. Both betrothed children spun around to face the new crowd, but Aemond didn't back down.

"Your mother's dead." He took closer steps towards the younger children and Aenemera narrowed her eyes at the boy. "And Vhagar has a new rider now."

"She was mine to claim!"

"Then you should've claimed her!" Aemond shouted back. "Maybe your cousins can find you a pig to ride. It would suit you."

Baela run forward with a grunt and shoved Aemond, only for him to push her to the ground. Aenemera jumped back in shock, nearly getting whiplash as Rhaena ran forward next and threw a punch at Aemonds face.

He fell to the ground before jumping back up and hitting Rhaena in return. "Come at me again and I'll feed you to my dragon!"

"Aemond!" Mera shouted in shock before throwing an arm across his chest to pull him backwards, then using her other hand to cover his eyes. Jace now started to attack Aemond while Aenemera had him blinded and held back. But it wasn't her intentions to have her brothers jump in.

Aemond elbowed Aenemera before shoving her on the ground behind them. The boys began kicking and punching each other, but when Mera witnessed Aemond punching Luke right in the nose that was probably broken now, she immediately started seeing red.

Aenemera ran towards him and grabbed him by the back of his head, his blonde locks wrapping around her knuckles and he shouted out in pain. "Don't touch them! Don't ever touch them!" The girl screamed for her brothers. Aemond grabbed her hand and pushed down on her knuckles just as Jacerys came running back for some more.

But once Aenemera had finally let go, Aemond had Lucerys by the neck and picked up a large rock. "You will die screaming in flames! Just like your father did – bastards!"

"My fathers still alive!" Luke choked out, flinching away from the sight of the rock.

"Aemond drop it!" Aenemera screeched, panic mode settling in now but the boy ignored her by turning to Luke. "He doesn't know, does he, lord strong?" He slowly lowered the rock as a smirk tugged at his lips.

Luke now pulled out a small knife from his pocket and took his first swing towards Aemond.

Mera pulled Luke against her chest and quickly placed her hand over his nose, cleaning the blood while he winced but also checking to see if it was actually broken. "Let me see!" The older sister panicked, cradling her little brother but he stood up in a protective stance in front of her while Jace got punched to the ground, losing the knife in the dirt.

Luke ran towards their brother as Jace splashed some dirt in Aemonds face, blinding him for a moment just as Jace picked up the knife and ran towards him.

Mera's eyes widened in worry, "Lucerys no!"

The smaller boy raised the knife and slashed it over Aemonds left eye, the boy immediately howling out in pain while covering his face with his hands.

"Cease this at once!" Harrold Westerling ran into the room. He ran towards Aemond now and gently called out to him. "My prince, let me see."

Jace and Luke immediately ran to their sister's side as other guards walked into the room. She instinctively held her hand out for the girls, who were just as covered in blood and dirt like the boys were.

"How could you allow such a thing to happen?"

Aenemera clutched onto her siblings with her arms around their chest, holding them close to her own as she stood a bit higher than them. She was visibly nervous in the crowded room, desperately waiting for her mother to arrive while she defended her siblings on her own.

" — I will have answers!"

"The princes were supposed to be in bed, my king." Harrold spoke gently.

"Who had the watch?"

Criston Cole stood in his suit of armor with his hands folded in front of him. "Young prince was attacked by his own cousins, your grace." Aenemera glanced at him briefly before looking away. "Including young Aenemera."

Visery's voice grew loud. "You swore oath to protect and defend my own blood!"

"I'm very sorry your grace," Westerling apologized.

Viserys slowly made his way towards Rhaenyra's children. His cane cracking against the floor as he got closer, but his facial expressions softened as he looked at his oldest grandchild. "Tell me, Aenemera. Explain to me what happened."

She remained still while clutching onto her siblings. "My king — " she gulped nervously before opening her mouth, "it was – "

" — me." Luke answered.

Aenemera quickly looked down at her brother and smacked his chest lightly. The king closed his eyes in silence.

"The eye is lost your grace."

Aenemera looked at the maester, chills running up her spine as Viserys stumbled back in defeat. Alicent stood up quickly with red and worried eyes. She spun to her oldest child. "Where were you!?"

Aegon confusingly looked at his mother. "Me?"

The Queen's hand smacked him across the cheek in response. "Ow! What was that for!" She grabbed his arm now and Aenemera flinched backwards with her siblings. "That's nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool."

A door opened at the other side of the room and Aenemera whipped her head around, praying it would be her mother but was even more thankful it was Corlys and Rhaenys approaching. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Baela, Rhaena! What happened?" Rhaenys ran up to her grandchildren, pulling them close to her as she inspected their body and faces from the fight.

Corlys glanced towards Aenemera and her brothers. She gave him a worried look, silently pleading to her second grandfather until the main doors of the room swung open and Rhaenyra rushed inside.

"Mera!" The princess almost cried out, running to her children. "Jace, Luke!" She now kneeled before her brothers, gently reaching for Luke's face. "Let me see – let me see." The boy winced by her touch but revealed his bloody nose.

Rhaenyra quickly stood. "Who did this?"

"They attacked me!" Aemond shouted from the chair.

"He attacked Baela!" Rhaena responded.

Jace pointed towards Aemond. "He broke Luke's nose!"

All of the children broke out into a yelling match, including Aenemera as she scolded Aemond. "Enough!" Viserys shouted.

" — He was going to kill Jace!" Lucerys defended his sibling.

"I didn't do anything!"

"Enough!" Viserys tiredly shouted once more.

Alicent now took a striking step forward and pointed at herself. "It should be my son telling the tale!"

" — He called us — "

"Silence!" Viserys smacked his cane down and the room grew silent at once.

Jace leaned down and whispered to their mother. "He called us bastards."

Rhaenyra quickly looked at her oldest for confirmation. Aenemera frowned and slowly nodded her head in agreement. Their mother closed her eyes briefly before slowly standing, rubbing their arms comfortably before taking a stance in front of her children.

"Aemond," Viserys spoke. "I will have the truth of what happened. Now."

Alicent turned to the king in frustration. "What else is there to hear? Your son has be maimed. Her son is responsible."

"It was a regrettable accident." Rhaenyra looked to the ground while pulling her children closer to her.

"An accident?" Alicent spoke out with surprise. "The prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son!"

"It was my sons and daughter who were attacked!" Rhaenyra snapped back. "And forced to defend themselves. Vile insults were levied against them."

Viserys slowly lifted his head, his eyes looking around curiously. "What insults?"

Rhaenyra held Luke hand in reassurance, rubbing his palm while Jace held onto her sleeve and Aenemera stepped in front of Luke with a hand on his shoulder. "The legitimacy of my son's birth was put loudly to question."

Viserys narrowed his eyes on his daughter. "What?"

Jace looked up at their mother. "He called us bastards."

"My sons – my daughter – are in line to inherit the throne, your grace." Rhaenyra gently pushed her children behind her as she stepped forward. "This is the highest of treasons. Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned. So we might learn where he heard such slanders."

Alicent looked at Rhaenyra in confusion. "Over an insult? My son has lost an eye!"

The king moved closer to Aemond, leaning down to his level. "You tell me boy, where did you hear this lie?"

"The insult was training yard bluster." Alicent commented. "The lot of boys, it was nothing."

Viserys ignored her spoken peace and turned to their son again. "Aemond, I asked you a question."

Alicent shook her head. "Where's Ser Laenor, I wonder? The children's father? Perhaps he might have something to say in this matter."

"Yes, where is ser laenor?" Viserys asked.

"Grieving," Aenemera muttered. Rhaenyra reached for her arm and gave it a short squeeze. "I do not know your grace. I could not find sleep. I had gone out to walk."

"Entertaining his young squires, I would venture."

Aenemera sent the queen a sharp glare. She so badly wanted to speak her mind, to stand up for her siblings and father, but understood her duty was to remain silent.

"Aemond," Viserys asked again. "Look at me. Your king demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?"

Silence filled the air as Aemond slowly looked towards his mother, Viserys following his stare and the people at the corner of the room quickly looked down. Aemond gulped nervously before speaking. "It was Aegon."

Aegon blinked once at his brother. "Me?"

Viserys came around quickly to his oldest son. "And you, boy. Where did you hear such calumnies?" The boy kept his eyes piercing the ground in silence until the king screamed his name. "Tell me the truth of it!"

Aegon slowly nodded. "We know, father. Everyone knows — just look at them."

Aenemera's face was full of disgust as she took a dangerous step forward. Rhaenyra grabbed her hand in response. "And how would you like to explain me then!" She shouted at Aegon. "Do I not resemble my father as well? But instead this man I've never spent time with!"

Rhaenyra tugged her back, placing her hand on her daughter's cheek with warning eyes. "Aenemera. No."

Viserys shook his head. "This interminable infighting must cease!" He shouted. "All of you! We are family! Now make your apologies and show good will to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your king demands it!"

Alicent slowly turned to her husband with tears swelling in her eyes. "That is insufficient. Aemond has been damaged permanently, my king. Good will cannot make him whole!"

Aenemera looked away from her mother as Viserys turned to Alicent. "I know, Alicent, but I cannot restore his eye."

"No, because it's been taken!"

"What would you have me do?"

Alicent furrowed her eyebrows. "There is a debt to be paid." She turned to Rhaenyra and her children now. "I should have one of her sons eyes in return."

Viserys slowly raised his chin. "My dear wife — "

"He is your son, Viserys." She turned to him again with a tear rolling down her soft cheek. "Your blood."

Viserys moved closer to the Queen, standing before her and he spoke gently. "Do not allow your temper to guide your judgment." His tone was laced with a warning, but she did not back down. "If the king will not seek justice, the queen will."

"Alicent, this conversation is finished — do you understand?"

The queen remained silent now as Viserys began to walk away. "And let it be known — anyone whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra's children should have it removed."

"Thank you, father." Rhaenyra spoke before turning to her children, a hand placed on Luke's head while she brushed Aenemera's hair from her shoulder in reassurance.

Alicent took one inhale sharply before running towards Viserys and snatching the knife from his pocket before charging up towards Rhaenyra and her children.

Harrold jumped forward. "Your grace, stay with the king!"

Viserys turned sharply to his wife and tried to call out to her. "Alicent!"

Everything was happening all at once as Rhaenyra spun around, catching Alicent's arms with the blade and Criston Cole shouted to the others in the room. "Hold your approach!"

Lucerys screamed loudly and his behind Aenemera and Jace while she held out her arms to protect her siblings. "Mother!" She shouted in panic while the room began to rush backwards and create a circle around the women.

Guards rushed around and suddenly Daemon was at the children's sides while pushing Criston to the side for trying to defend Alicent.

"You've gone too far!" Rhaenyra gasped, using her strength to push Alicent back but also to protect herself from being harmed.

"I!? Alicent responded in surprise. "What have I done but what was expected of me!"

Worried tears filled Aenemera eyes with anger as she kept her siblings held back. She so desperately wanted to jump in and defend her mother by joining her uncles Side but she remained still.

" — Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law. While you flout all to do as you please!"

"Alicent, let her go!" Viserys ordered.

" — Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It's trampled under your pretty foot again!" Alicent spat out, her grip on the knife becoming stronger. "And now you take my son's eye, and to even that, you feel entitled."

Rhaenyra lifted her chin. "Exhausting, wasn't it?" She muttered out of breath. "Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness." The blade loosened just briefly as Alicent looked at her old friend in shock before her grip tightened again. "But now they see you as you are," Rhaenyra whispered.

The anger of Alicent's face ignited as she took a step back, out of Rhaenyra grasp while slicing her arm in the process. Viserys caught her by the shoulders while Rhaenyra collided into Corlys chest.

Rhaenyra slowly looked down at her arm in shock, everyone watching the blood drip down her sleeve and fall into a puddle on the floor.

Aenemera's lips opened in shock, a sadden whisper escaping her throat. "No—"

Alicent dropped the blade and Aemond appeared at her side. "Do not mourn me, mother. It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye — but I gained a dragon."

Aenemera glanced at Aemond now, their stare clashing at one another strongly. She prayed this meant her alliance with the family would end, but she knew in her heart that this would be an excuse to strengthen it. And she would be pushed to the edge to save both families from destruction.