CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

A day of rest and relaxation in the bed chambers of Princess Aenemera was cut short as the day arrived for the meeting with the lord of ties.

Aenemera was nervous, to say the least.

Her gut twisted and pulled in separate directions knowing her grandfather remained in bed ill and the hand of the king would be sitting on the iron throne. The occasion could easily go bad in any sense of direction — and Aenemera had to fully prepare herself for any kind of outcome.

Standing in front of her mother with gentle gazed eyes peering up at her, Rhaenyra gently brushed her fingers through her daughter's hair to sooth her.

"It'll be alright," she promised truthfully.

"Not worried mother," Aenemera smiled visibly nervous towards her mother. "Just want to get this over with."

Rhaenyra nodded knowingly. Agreeing as well while on the fence of wishing this wasn't happening. Her gut was twisting but was unclear if it was her unborn baby making the kicking.

"Aenemera," Alicent called out to the princess.

Her and Rhaenyra both turned curiously towards the queen and watched as she waved Aenemera over. "Come, my dear."

Rhaenyra forced a smile on her lips while pressing a gentle kiss to her daughters forward. "She's right, stand with your husband." She ran her fingers through Aenemera's hair once more then gently pushed her towards the other side.

Aemond watched Aenemera fondly. He didn't say a word or try to pull her away from her mother — he respected their time together while she was visiting.

But he couldn't ignore the aching feeling in his chest by watching her stand in the opposite room instead of at his side.

It wasn't until she was finally standing beside him that he felt like he could breathe again.

There was a soft glimmer in his eye as he glimpsed down at her, her smile reaching her eyes as she peered up at him. Almost forgetting the reason they were all gathered in the throne room this afternoon.

His left hand found home against her lower back, his thumb rubbing against her spine — but when he returned his focus forward, the glim disappeared and his stare hardened towards the Strong boys standing across the room.

"Though it is the great hope of this court that Lord Corlys Velaryon survives his wounds, we gather here with the grim task of dealing with the succession of Driftmark."

Aenemera inhaled very slowly through her nose while folding her hands in front of her red dress; all while Otto Hightower spoke in front of the iron throne.

" — As hand, I speak with the King's voice on this and all other matters. The crown will now hear petitions. Ser Vaemond of house Velaryon."

Aenemera's eyes flickered towards Vaemond as he settled in the center of the room and in front of the hand of the king.

"My queen, my lord hand. The history our of noble houses extends beyond the seven kingdoms to the days of old Valyria. For as long as House Targaryen has ruled the skies, House Velaryon has ruled the seas. When the Doom fell on Valyria, our houses became the last of their kind. Our forebearers came to this new land, knowing that were they to fail, it would mean the end to their bloodlines and their name. I have spent my entire life on Driftmark defending my brother's seat. I am Lord Corlys's closest kin, his own blood. The true, unimpeachable blood of House Velaryon runs through my veins."

"As it does in my sons, the offspring of Laenor Velaryon." Rhaenyra spoke up from the other side. Aenemera quickly tilted her head upwards to get a better look at her mother. "If you cared so much about your house's blood, Ser Vaemond, you would not be so bold as to supplant its rightful heir. No, you only speak for yourself and for your own ambition."

" — You will have chance to make your own petition, Princess Rhaenyra." Alicent stated. "Do Ser Vaemond the courtesy of allowing his to be heard."

Vaemond slowly turned to Rhaenyra and narrowed his dark eyes at her. "What do you know of Velaryon blood, Princess? I could cut my veins and show it to you and you still wouldn't recognize it. This is about the future and survival of my house, not yours."

Aenemera squeezed her hands together eagerly as he turned back to the throne and tucked his hands behind his back. Her stance became visibly uncomfortable but Aemond kept his hand resting on her back for some form of reassurance.

But she wasn't too sure about what. They shared different beliefs towards her brothers — for their actions as children. She wasn't even so sure what Vaemond would speak of her as well.

"My Queen, my Lord Hand. This is a matter of blood, not ambition. I place the continuation of the survival of my house and my line above all. I humbly put myself before you as my brother's successor... the Lord of Driftmark and Lord of the Tides."

Otto nodded once. "Thank you, Ser Vaemond. Princess Rhaenyra, you may now speak for your son, Lucerys Velaryon."

Rhaenyra slowly made her way to the center of the room and Aenemera found herself breathing heavily from anxious. Aemond's hand drifted from her back and grabbed her lower arm, squeezing it for a sign of her to relax.

"If I am to grace this farce with some answer, I will start by reminding the court that nearly 20 years ago, in this very — "

Suddenly the doors to the throne room opened and Aenemera's grandfather started to make his way into the room with his walking stick, just barely hunching over with a cloak over his body. "King Viserys of House Targaryen, the First of His Name, King of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm."

Aenemera found herself breathing normally again at the sight of her grandfather entering the throne room. Her heart steadied and yet ached at the same time to watch him struggle. But it brought her nourishment that he would be here deciding things in good faith.

"I must admit my confusion," he started while trying to contain his breathing from the walk. "I do not understand why petitions are being heard over a settled succession. The only one present... who might offer keener insight into Lord Corlys's wishes is the Princess Rhaenys."

All eyes turned to the princess now as she stepped away from her granddaughter and stood before the king. Aenemera as well was most eager to hear her statement.

"Indeed, Your Grace. It was ever my husband's will that Driftmark pass through Ser Laenor to his true born son... Lucerys Velaryon. His mind never changed. Nor did my support of him. As a matter of fact, the Princess Rhaenyra has just informed me of her desire to marry her sons Jace and Luke to Lord Corlys's granddaughters, Baela and Rhaena. A proposal to which I heartily agree."

Aegon snickered slightly to himself in front of Aenemera while he remained beside Helaena. Aenemera flickered her gaze at the back of the boys head, remaining silent but so desperately wanting to smack the smirk off his face.

"Well... the matter is settled. Again. I hereby reaffirm Prince Lucerys of House Velaryon as heir to Driftmark, the Driftwood Throne, and the next Lord of the Tides."

Vaemond quickly scoffed as Rhaenys stepped away, taking her place in the center again. "You break law... and centuries of tradition to install your daughter as heir. Yet you dare tell me... who deserves to inherit the name Velaryon. No. I will not allow it."

Viserys tilted his head slightly at his sudden rejection. "Allow it? Do not forget yourself, Vaemond."

Vaemond shoved a finger towards Luke now and shouted at the king. "That is no true Velaryon, and certainly no nephew of mine!"

Aenemera flinched at his words but deeply wanted to run to her families side. Aemond must've known of her true desire and gripped her arm tighter, not enough to bruise her but enough to keep herself from getting in trouble or worse.

"Go to your chambers. You have said enough." Rhaenyra glared at the man.

"Lucerys is my true-born grandson. And you... are no more than the second son of Driftmark."

Vaemond had his fists clenched and shaking by his sides as he continued to speak ill towards the king. "You may run your house as you see fit... but you will not decide the future of mine. My house survived the Doom and a thousand tribulations besides. And gods be damned...I will not see it ended on the account of this."

"Say it." Daemon whispered.

"Her children — " Vaemond's eyes flickered from Aenemera to her siblings as he began to shout. " — are bastards! And she is a whοre."

Aenemera's eyes grew wide with fury as she quickly snapped her arm from Aemond's protective grasp and took a daring step forward. "You use that disgusting language towards my mother again and I will strip you of your titles with my bare hands!"

Aemond immediately grabbed both her arms and pulled her backwards into his chest. His eyes widened with worry and immediate anger to anyone that dared challenge his wife.

Viserys stood from his throne now. "I will have your tongue for that."

Before Vaemond could say another word, Daemon came up behind the man with his sword and slashed his head in half.

Aenemera spun around into Aemond's arms, the boy taking a full stride backwards with his arm covering her back. The entire throne room gasped in shock and terror as Daemon began to clean his sword. "He can keep his tongue."

"Disarm him!"

He held up his hands in defense after placing his sword away. "No need."

Aenemera kept her face turned away from the scene and now dead body laying in the middle of the throne room.

Her eyes clouded and blurred with tears as Aemond turned her towards him and held her face in the palm of his hands. "You're alright," he whispered to her gently. But she couldn't find her voice any longer as she slowly turned her gaze towards Vaemonds body.

A tear trickled down her cheek as Aemond kept his hold on her face, kissing the crown of her head and whispering gentle things to reassure her.

It was this moment that she knew things would slowly begin to shift. Her father would become more reckless and the question of legitimacy of her brothers would cause a war.

She was no longer feeling safe in her own home of King's Landing.

❪ dylan ❫
tis a filler chapter my apologies! next chapter is the dinner scene and little bit of fun at the end (rubs hands together like a little cockroach)