CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

One of the guards stepped into the bedchamber with a hand on the hilt of his sword and his eyes fixated on Aenemera while she hovered near her mother in concern.

"Prince Daemon is requesting to speak with the princess."

Aenemera looked over at the guard and her eyebrows twitched together. "Tell my father he can either join us or wait for me — I'm not fucking leaving my mother."

"Mera," Rhaenyra mumbled tiredly while reaching out for her daughter. "It's okay, my love."

Aenemera situated herself behind her mother, her hands on her shoulders gently as she guided her to the floor. "Come on, im right here — not going anywhere."

Rhaenyra tiredly tiled her head back against her daughters shoulder. Slouching back into her small body while Aenemera held out her hands for her to grab. "Hold onto to them, we're going to push together," she encouraged.

Rhaenyra didn't have it in her to tell her daughter to leave so she didn't have to witness the cruel reality of a stillbirth. But nevertheless she was grateful she was at her side.

"You can do it," Aenemera whispered to her mother, their fingers lacing together tightly.

"Princess, let us help you." One of the midwives cried out but Rhaenyra shook her head, waving them away.

"No, no, no." Rhaenyra chanted before beginning to groan loudly from the excessive painful pushing.

Aenemera nodded her head and watched from over her mothers shoulder, allowing her to use Mera's strength to push the babe out. "There you go, you can do it."

A gush of blood spilled onto the floor and suddenly had them both covered at the legs but Aenemera didn't care. Her bothers bloody hands while drenching her daughters by the strength she used to hold onto them.

Rhaenyra tilted her head back once more while crying out loudly. "It hurts!"

"I know, mother," Anemera's eyes filled with tears as she continued to encourage her. "You can do it, you're almost there."

"Fuck!" Rhaenyra let out a string of curses all while she continued to push harder. "Get out! Get out!"

Her hands dropped from Mera's and reached down to use her own bare hands to pull the babe out from her womb.

Aenemera wanted to look away but for the sake of her mother and unborn sibling, she didn't want to turn away. This was one of her toughest battles yet and she needed to be fully aware.

"One more! One more!" Aenemera encouraged her mother as she watched the babe be pulling out completely before sliding onto the floor; covered in dark blood.

Rhaenyra sighed out heavily before releasing a small whimper, her fingers grazing the small fragile body before placing it into the skirt of her dress to hold it.

Aenemera took quick notice that it was supposed to be a girl.

She was almost granted with a sister.

Outside on a small hill from dragonstone, everyone from inside the castle had gathered for the burning of Rhaenyra and Daemon's stillborn child.

Aenemera had Joffrey situated on her hip, her arms wrapped around him while his small head rested on her shoulder.

Her brothers Jace and Luke stood at her side, the children watching Rhaenyra and Daemon stand in front of the burning babe in silence.

Aenemera would never admit it out loud, nor to her mother — but it reminded her of the stories from her grandmother.

Rhaenyra told her about the several miscarriages her mother would have and how it took a toll on her body.

It installed fears into her own mind for future babes — not wanting to run into the same health problems as her grandmother.

But with recent events Aenemera feared for her mother as well, almost wanting to beg her not to try for another child again. She didn't want to lose her.

Someone stood closely behind Aenemera, placing a hand on her shoulder for comfort.

The girl tilted her head back to peer up at the stranger and was met with the strong eyes of Theophilus. He had been here the entire time — waiting for her.

"How?" She whispered to the older man.

"Morning of the coronation, they banished me from the grounds. I made travels to here at Dragonstone and waited for your arrival, princess."

Aenemera's heart leapt happily with tears summoning in her eyes. Theo smiled gently at the girl, placing his hand on top of her head. His loyalty for Aenemera never faltered.

It made her feel good to know there was still someone out there that she could trust.

As Ser Erryk suddenly made an entrance that had everyone turning their heads, including her parents; two guards pulled their swords out in protection.

Aenemera and Theo watched curiously as Erryk slowly kneeled down pulled out a satchel from his side.

What his retrieved from the inside of the bag had Mera choking on her own small gasp; King Viserys Crown.

"I swear to ward the Queen with all my strength and give my blood for hers." Ser Erryk held the crown high in his grasp. "I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall guard her secrets obey her commands, ride at her side, and defend her name and honor."

She watched as her father slowly took the crown from Errk, inspecting it carefully before turning to her mother with a slight nod.

"Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men. Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."

He settled the crown upon her head and Aenemera proudly smiled wide. With Joffrey still in her arms, all of their children slowly settled into a respective bow towards Rhaenyra.

There was a low crumble and unsettling sound coming from the hill behind them now, causing everyone to stand to their feet.

Even several guards pulled out their swords and started building a defensive line around Rhaenyra.

Aenemera watched in confusion while settling her younger sibling down on the ground and turning to the direction they were focused on.

Above the hill a large figure slowly made an appearance, slowly climbing onto the rocks and sniffing out the sent it knew most.

Baeselyx finally arrived at Dragonstone in search for the princess.

Aenemera almost cried out at the sight of him. Pure sadness but relief washed over her entire body, which was probably as similar to Baeselyx as she carefully started walking towards him.

She slowly raised her hand and lifted her fingers towards his snout, allowing him to smell and recognize her; but their bond was so incredible strong that he could never forget.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered to him. Regret taking over her heart for ever leaving him there without her.

But with their bond and strength, he refused to be left behind and far away from his rider.

Back at Kings Landing, Aemond was in the courtyard with his sword, swinging it about and forcefully hitting it against a straw like body.

He was releasing intense anger and frustration that's been weighing over his heart for several hours.

He was unsure what to do with himself.

Occasionally he would travel to the library on instinct, hoping to find his princess sitting in her usually chair with one of the books he gifted her at the wedding.

Or walk through the gardens that they got married in.

But she was still nowhere to be seen or heard of and it was slowly beginning to break his heart.

He had no other way to release all this anger but he also refused to speak with anyone currently.

He was trapped in his own thoughts like a prisoner wondering if she hated him or was even aware that she was growing a babe in her womb.

His gripped righted on his sword and with one swing, he forcefully took the head off from the makeshift mannequin with a deep growl.

Maverick slowly made his way towards the Prince, cautious not to sneak up and surprise him. But Aemond was rarely scared easily by anything.

"My prince, I'm sorry to hear about Aenemera."

Aemond breathed heavily through his nose, his gaze still centered on the fake body that was now ripped to shreds from his sword.

"She was like a friend to me — "

"I don't give a shit about how you feel." Aemond turned his neck to stare at the boy now.

Maverick nodded knowingly and locked his hands behind his back, his gaze never slipping from the prince. "I wanted to express my condolences, but I also wanted to offer my presence."

Aemond's eye twitched with frustration as he took a scary step towards Maverick but the boy didn't cower away. "The only reason you're still breathing is for the love I have for my wife," Aemond spat towards his face. "She pitted you, she easily accepts others even when they could bring her danger. She's too kind to be cautious of her own protection."

Maverick lowered his head as Aemond began to ramble off with anger, allowing him to release it all upon him; acknowledging it was probably all built up frustration.

" — So I do advise you find someone else to latch onto like a leech." Aemond turned away from the boy and kicked away the fallen head on the ground. He continued to abuse the mannequin with his sword but Maverick was unmoving.

"I want to pledge an alliance with you my prince." Maverick cleared his throat calmly. "I care about her well-being and the castle will no longer be the same without her presence. So I'm offering myself to you that I will be at your side to rescue her at any means. Any war or battle in the near future, I will be at your side to defend your title and hers. I'll do what I must to help."

Aemond paused his actions and turned his head at the boy, the muscles in his face relaxed and calm as he asked the next question without hesitation.

"Would you be willing to die for her?"

❪ dylan ❫

my darling girl I'm going to miss her so much for awhile when this story finishes up. I'll try my best to write some chapters in between while we wait for season 2, i just need to read the book and really try to get my facts right so I'm not messing up any plot/timeline.