CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

Aenemera stood by the window in her chambers, still dressed in her outfit from earlier, unable to move or even speak to a soul currently.

When they returned to the castle, Aenemera left to be in her room and Aemond allowed her to disappear without a fret.

He understood she needed time to adjust, but it broke his heart to know she could be thinking poorly of him.

The only thoughts Aenemera managed to process right now is the betrayal in her heart. She questioned herself a thousand times how long he had known of this. Why he didn't come to tell her immediately — she felt foolish.

She felt most alone inside the castle, separated from her real family at Dragonstone while she now had to suffer the reality of Aegon being crowned as king — not her mother.

Her reflection shined through the glass panes of her window, tear stained cheeks with dirt and sweat still surrounding her beautiful targaryen features.

She had no desire to move from this spot — not unless they dragged her out.

But her thoughts would be ripped to shreds in seconds when the door to her chambers opened and Otto Hightower entered the room without a proper greeting.

She gazed at the man through the reflection of the mirror and quickly spun. She has never been alone with this man in her life, and part of her sort of feared it.

The door to her room shut behind him but he remained closest to it with his hands tucked behind his back. She remained silent as the older man began to speak. "I see my hunt for you didn't go well."

Her lashes fluttered and her eyes almost faltered close as she felt a blow to her gut. "You sent the guards after me?" She muttered as realization washed over her.

Of course he was the reason behind it — he never liked her mother, or father — maybe even her.

"It could've gone a lot smoother if you were already confined to your chambers like I was made to believe. But it seems you were out with my grandson performing distasteful duties while the castle prepared for the fall of King Viserys."

Aenemera felt a tear roll down her cheek as she was unable to control herself any longer. Even with the hand standing in front of her and dwindling her down like she was nothing, she felt herself giving up.

"I came here to propose an offer."

The princess's eyes never lifted from the ground and Otto slowly entered further into the room with his hands still tucked behind him. "You kneel to King Aegon, pledge your loyalty and I won't send the city watch after your mother. Do anything other than so — I'll have your family ripped from the seams."

Aenemera felt Otto lurking around her like she was a caged animal forced to perform tricks in order to survive. She had no one to turn to or seek help from — not even a letter to her mother could currently save her, she believed.

"Your place is by my grandson's side, here at the castle. You're permitted from seeing your family ever again." He didn't need to speak so sharply for her to believe his words were true and full of vile. "If I find out you've notified your family of the crowning, I'll have you thrown to the streets."

He stared the princess down before flicking his gaze back at the door and turning away. She couldn't find it in her to speak or react, but by the silent tears streaming down her face; he knew she understood.

Just as he opened the door to her chambers and guards were patiently waiting outside to make sure she wouldn't escape, she finally found her voice.

"You never cared for the king." Her eyes gazed up at the man tiredly but threateningly as he turned back to her. "You wanted to have the castle trapped under your boot. You were never a good hand. And now you plan to poison Aegon's mind."

"There's no such thing as poisoning one that's already damaged."

"Is that why you turned your daughter into a child bride?"

Otto tightened his grip on the door knob, his eye visibly twitching in anger but decided to ignore her comment and leave Aenemera to herself again.

The next morning Aenemera was centered in front of a tall mirror, much like the one used for her wedding as the handmaids did their work to prepare the princess for the crowning of prince Aegon.

She bathed earlier in hot water that waited for her in a metal tub. The handmaids warned her of the heat from the water but she'd much rather sit and dissociate for an hour than to think about anything else.

She wore a long black gown that touched the floor. Long black sleeves to cover her arms and shoulders covered in silver dragon scales. Her hair was fully braided back, separated into four parts before being braided together as one down her back.

Lyra, her favorite lady of all, was unable to get a single word out of her. She feared for the princess, acknowledging her pale features and restless eyes.

It was the first time she had ever seen Princess Aenemera look like she was bound to fall apart.

"You're ready, my dear." One of the ladies spoke.

Aenemera nodded once and silently excused herself while exiting the bedroom. Two guards were waiting for her but known she recognized. She no longer knew of where Theo was located, and she had nobody else to search for.

Aenemera arrived at the coronation, people of King's Landing currently being rushed inside by the city watch.

Both guard's led her towards the platform where Aegon would be crowned — where Aemond was currently waiting beside his sister Helaena.

They haven't spoken or even spared a glance at one another since they found Aegon. Her eyes were fixated on the ground as Aemond looked after her in desperation. He wanted to reach out for her and hold her — apologize, beg for forgiveness — anything to keep her close to him.

Aenemera took her stance beside Aemond and ignored his presence by turning her focus to the hundreds of people in front of her.

"People of King's Landing," Otto greeted loudly. "Today is the saddest of days. Our beloved king Viserys the Peaceful is dead." The crowd began to murmur amongst each other in disbelief. "But it is also the most joyous of days — for as his spirit left us, he whispered his final wish that his firstborn son, Aegon – should succeed him."

There was a shockwave of gasps at first before the crowd broke out in cheers and clapped. Aenemera closed her eyes, wishing to drift away from this day and return back to the beach. Somewhere peaceful and free.

Guards began to make a bee line to separate the people, creating room for the entrance of Aegon from the otherside of the building.

Their swords were pulled out and lifted towards the sky, creating a protection above Aegon's head as he finally appeared into the crowd and made his way to the highest platform of the room.

"It is your great good fortune and privilege to be here to witness this," the hand continued, "a new day for our city... a new day for our realm. A new king to lead us."

Aenemera glanced over at the man with pure hatred swelling behind her eyes and deep within her heart. His threats from last night still cut her deep but she would standby for the sake of her family – because who knew what they would be capable of.

Aegon took his place in front of his mother Alicent, in which she stepped forward to place a gentle kiss on his forehead.

He then kneeled down on both knees as they began the ceremony of his crowning. Aenemera turned her gaze away to focus on anything else particular in the room, but everyone rightfully had their focus on Aegon.

She could feel Aemond close to her side. The heat radiating off his body like he was trying to remind her that he was with her, but she still couldn't find it in her to look at him.

Even if he had no knowledge of Aegon being claimed as Viserys successor, she couldn't move past the ill feeling in her stomach knowing her mother was being betrayed.

She didn't want to believe that her grandfather made it his last dying wish — it didn't make sense to her but nobody was going to believe her if she tried to reach out.

Aenemera was one against six — against a hundred.

"The crown of the Conqueror, passed down through generations." Criston held the crown now as he stood in front of Aegon, holding it high for the people to see before settling it on Aegons head. "Let the Seven bear witness: Aegon Targaryen is the true heir to the Iron Throne."

Aegon stood to his feet and Criston was the first to bow, followed by his mother Alicent and sister Helaena. Aemond gave a quick single nod and when Aegon's eyes found Aenemera's angered one's, she couldn't find it in her to corporate. But she felt in her soul that Otto was watching her closely, forcing her to fall into a small bow.

"All hail His Grace, Aegon, Second of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."

Once the bells started trolling, the crowd broke out into delighted cheers. Clapping and raising their fists as a sign of respect and pleasure to have him as king. Aenemera wanted to be angered with them, knowing this is where her mother should've been standing – but it wasn't their fault.

"Aegon the King! Long live Aegon!"

Aenemera watched in clear distaste as Aegon pleased the crowd by raising his sword and waving it towards the ceiling — in which the crowd yelled louder.

Their strong reaction to the crowning sent chills down her spine and hands to grasp onto the fabric of her gown, silently begging for it to be over — unrealizing that her wish would quickly be granted by the God's.

A screech sounded beneath the floor followed by a loud bang and suddenly a dragon made an appearance.

Her head shot up in surprise with chills traveling around her body. Meley's tail thrashed around and sent several people flying while others screamed and ran towards the exit in a hurry.

Aenemera felt Aemond capture her into his arms proactively and she felt herself grasping onto his clothed chest as Rhaenys brought Meley's closer. The dragon bellowed and roared several times towards the crowd then up at Aegon.

Alicent fought past Ser Criston and took a stance in front of her son while Aemond kept a firm grasp on Aenemera.

"Protect Helaena!" Alicent ordered.

The people continued to run towards the door as Otto ordered the kings guard to keep it open. Rhaeny's gaze twisting back and forth before they fell on Aenemera's, the princess' locking eyes in a silent desperation.

Meley's reeled her head back before letting out the most gut wrenching scream towards the Hightower's.

Aemond had his arms circled around Aenemera and kept her close to his chest but her gaze never fell from Rhaeny's, as she watched the older princess suddenly hold her hand out towards her direction.

"Come!" She heard the woman shout to her above the screeching from her dragon.

It was Aenemera's chance to be free from kings landing – but there would be a price to pay soon after, she just didn't know it yet.

Aenemera turned to Aemond with wide eyes, her body already moving ahead of her own thoughts and twisting out of his grasp. He looked down at her in confusion, his eyebrows twisting in frustration; wondering why the hell she would put herself in danger.

But when she managed to free herself from his arms, she picked up her dress and rushed towards the large dragon without a second thought.

Realization settled in for Aemond and quickly jumped forward to grab her arm to reel her back. "Aenemera!"

The dragon Meley's lowered the left of her wing and allowed Aenemera to climb on per Rhaeny's desire's.

Aemond felt his body begin to burn a thousand fires as he watched his beloved climb onto the dragon in retreat. "Aenemera!" He called out to her once more, his voice nearly cracking as he tried to chase after her but two guards jumped in front of him as protection.

Aenemera managed to get behind Rhaeny's and held on tightly to the princess as Meley's turned towards the doors and flew the women from the keep; a loud screech of warning following behind.

Aemond watched with heartbreak and his hands eagerly grabbing onto the arms of the guards, desperately wanting to push them away.

As promised to never happen, Aenemera slipped from his grasp as easy as thin air.

When Rhaeny's and Aenemera's reached the highest clouds above kings landing, Baeselyx noticed a sudden and heavy shift from the dragonpit.

He fought against his chains and angrily flinched against the guards to break free. He could feel the distance of his bond with Aenemera slipping. The distance from his rider grew further and his heart pounded against his chest as he tried to break free with broken cries leaving his heavy dragon lips.

Aenemera leaned her forehead against the princess' back, silently thanking her but regret also settling in her chest having to leave the two beings she loved the most; unknowing when she would face them again.

❪ dylan ❫
forgive me yall