CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

"We need to seal it up, remove the rest of the bodies and make sure no other dragon leaves the dragon pit."

"What about her dragon?"

Alicent dropped her head into her hands with a small shake of her head. After the damage that was caused just shortly earlier, everyone gathered for an immediate council meeting with Aegon and Alicent.

"Her dragon should be punished for her crimes." Otto scoffed while sitting back in his chair comfortably. "That beast is nearly the size of Vhagar. Maybe we're lucky she didn't escape on him."

"There was no escaping," Alicent spoke strongly towards her father. "She was not held prisoner here — but she must have felt like one."

Aegon swallowed the last drop of wine from his cup, tipping it over like he was expecting more to flow out but frowned in disappointment.

Alicent stared at her son in frustration knowing he had no clue or a single care to what was happening. "Aegon please," she whispered to him.

The doors to the room swung open with a furious bang as Aemond walked into the wrong with big strides and his hands clenched in fists by his side. "Would anyone like to discuss with me about my wife — who had just fled from the city?" He placed his knuckles down on the table and stared feverishly amongst everyone.

Aegon shrugged his shoulders in a drunk daze, shooting his hands up in the air. "I think it's a sign she wasn't worth it, my brother."

Alicent shot her oldest son a warning look and Aemond slowly smiled at him while slowly shaking his head.

Aegon scratched his chin and diverted his gaze from his brother. "Apologies."

"The both of you cannot be arguing right now," Alicent stated. "We have much to discuss — enough to get done that will last weeks of time."

Criston was the second person to enter the room now – but much quieter and gentle than Aemond. In fact he looked like he was nervous to speak at all, but his presence had everyone's attention now at the table.

The man stood by Aemond and folded his hands together nervously, his gaze seeking out Alicent's curious stare. "I just received some news about princess Aenemera."

Aemond slowly turned him, now giving him his full attention with eagerness to hear about his wife.

Criston side eyed the prince briefly then cleared his throat before speaking. "The dragon keeper's came to the Maester earlier and spoke highly of Baeselyx — they believe Aenemera is with child."

A short heartbeat passed and Alicent quickly looked at Aemond in sudden surprise while Aegon shot him a proud look with a thumbs up.

The room was as quiet as the crypts until Aemond angrily kicked over the empty chair where Corlys used to sit, sending it across the room as Alicent jumped to her feet and rushed over to her child in a panic.

Aemond took a stride backwards and raised his finger in warning. "We bring her back here under my care — or I ride to Dragonstone on Vhagar."

Alicent wanted to reach out and comfort him but he immediately snatched his arm away and stormed out of the room. She pressed her hand to her mouth and the room remained heavily silent until she excused herself to follow after him.

Aemond was right outside the door, across the hallway while leaning against the railing and his eye staring off in the distance ahead of him.

A single tear ran down his cheek as his heart pounded roughly against his chest. His bones filled with anxiety and had a chill shooting down his spine when he heard Criston stating Aenemera was pregnant over and over in his mind.

He was always naturally worried sick about the girl, but now she was believed to be carrying their babe — it was like something in his chest was exploding and he wasn't sure if he was close to passing out.

He wasn't sure if she was hurt or cold, hungry or scared — and he couldn't be there to reassure her and hold her.

Alicent came out into the hallway and made her way over to Aemond. Her own heart ached at the sight of her son. "My dear boy," she whispered while turning his face towards hers and using her thumb to wipe the tear away. "It isn't confirmed — it's just possible rumors."

"Doesn't make me worry any less."

Alicent nodded knowingly. "I know, your pain is justifiable. We will try to get her back, but Rhaenyra might — "

"If she's carrying my child, she belongs at my side." He commented quietly.

Criston appeared out in the hallway after a few moments, clearing his throat as Alicent turned to him unsure of what to do. The man pressed his lips together firmly and moved closer towards them both.

"What else?" Aemond demanded while turning his gaze back to the opening of the small courtyard.

"She can't be more than a few days along."

Alicent turned to her protector curiously. "Possible how?" Her eyebrows raised.

"There's an old story I heard once — "

"What did the keepers say?" Aemond asked again.

Criston stared at the back of his head as Alicent glanced at her son with worry. "She has a dragon inside her."

Aemond's hands gripped the railing briefly, his head nodding once in belief with a slight hum in response. "Mm. She is the mother of dragons."

Aenemera easily had a connection with all dragons beneath the dragon pit. Between Vhagar and Baeselyx, to Meleys who willingly allowed her to climb on top of her — and any other dragon that felt peace around her nature.

Aemond was unsure what else he could do.

He desperately wanted to act out in anger and ride out on Vhagar to retrieve his wife — but he was aware what discretion that would cause against her mother and father.

Alicent went to speak up for her son again, her hand reaching out to coax his arm with reassurance but there was a loud crash somewhere off in the distance that had all three of them spinning around in surprise.

Aemond quickly stormed back into the council room with his mother following close behind. The others that waited patiently were already at the window and standing on the balcony to see what was happening.

Aemond pushed through the men, almost knocking them over as he furrowed his eyebrows with his eye scanning the entire area slowly.

A small rumble was heard near the dragonpit, followed by echoes of screaming until the group watched the ceiling begin to fall from a giant hole and Baeselyx came soaring out with a loud screech.

They watched the dragon float in the sky before diving towards the sea. Aemond knew that he had sniffed out Aenemera — almost forgetting that her dragon was chained up this entire time.

Aenemera couldn't help herself from running through the entrance of Dragonstone after climbing off of Meleys.

Rhaenys tried to keep up, as well as the guards but the princess had no time to waste and desperately wanted to see her parents again. Some of the braids in her hair became loose during the flight and she was still emotionally unstable with racing thoughts.

She pushed open the doors to the great hall and saw her parents standing by the fireplace in a small discussion.

"The princess Rhaenys and Anemera — " before ser Leront could even finish his sentence when the three of them entered the room, Mera was racing down the steps and was eagerly met by looks of shocks from her parents.

"Aenemera!?" Rhaenyra spoke out in a mixture of panic and delight to see her daughter, now rushing towards her before the girl crashed into her arms with a small mewl.

"What's the meaning of this?" Daemon came up behind Rhaenyra and immediately had his hand placed behind his daughter's head while she clutched onto her mother.

Rhaeny bowed her head in silence as Aenemera pulled just slightly from her mother to look between her parents. "We need to speak — immediately."

Rhaenyra eyebrows creased together in worry as she held her daughters cheek. "Aenemera, my sweet girl — you are supposed to be in kings landing."

"What have they done?" Daemon demanded an answer, ready to attack anyone that brought harm to his child.

"Viserys is dead." Rhaeny's quickly stated, earning a sudden look from both Daemon and Rhaenyra. "I grieve this loss with you, Rhaenyra. My cousin, your father possessed a kind heart."

Aenemera looked up to view the sadness rinsing over her mother like a cold bucket of water. She clutched onto her mothers arms in worry but shifted to the side in the middle of her parents as Rhaenys moved closer.

"There is more." The princess spoke gently. "Aegon has been crowned as his successor."

Rhaenyra turned her head quickly towards the princess in a shock manner before slightly hunching over with a whimper, resting her hand over her stomach.

Aenemera glanced down quickly in worry. "Mother?"

Rhaenyra swallowed a thick lump down her throat then placed her hand on Aenemera's shoulder. "They crowned him?"

"How did Viserys die?" Daemon asked.

"I could not say."

"How long ago?" Rhaenyra panicked with her voice shaking from sharp pain.

Rhaenys shakes her head and slowly begins to pace next to the table. "A day past, perhaps two. I was made a prisoner in my quarters while the Queen made her preparations."

Daemon shook his head and pressed his hands against the table. "Viserys has been slain."

"Alicent demanded you declare for Aegon." Rhaenyra glanced at Rhaenys.

She nodded. "She did. I refused her."

Rhaenyra raised her eyebrow at the princess. "And yet you are alive."

"The High Septon crowned Aegon. I witnessed it myself just before I fled on Meleys — I rescued Aenemera from there as well."

Daemon worriedly turned to his daughter and reached for her hand, slightly brushing the top of it with his thumb. "Rescued? What for?"

Aenemera took a glimpse of her father before looking down at the table while chewing the inside of her cheek. "I was alone — I was being threatened and needed to get out of there. I had no other choice."

"Threatened by who?" Daemon stood straight up now with his hand weighing his sword.

"They crowned him before the masses — " Rhaenyra questioned before flinching again with both hands hovering over her stomach.

Rhaenys quickly nodded. "So that the masses would see him as their rightful king."

A small growl came from Daemons throat. "That whοre of a Queen murdered my brother and stole his throne. And you could have burned them all for it."

"A war is like to be fought over this treachery, to be sure. But that war is not mine to begin." Rhaeny's stated as she took another step forward to enforce a warning at the family. "I only rushed this to you out of loyalty to my husband and to my house. The Greens are coming for you, Rhaenyra. And for your children. You should leave Dragon tone at once."

Tears started to silently drop from Rhaenyra's face before she hunched over once more in severe pain.

Aenemera backed up into her fathers chest in panic and watched as her mother paused in fear before lifting her skirts and revealing blood on her fingers. "The babe is coming."

Mera shook her head quickly in worry as she quickly held her mothers arm and started to rush her out of the hall while screaming for the maids to come help her in her bedroom.

"We need to get you out of this dress!" Aenemera panicked while waving the handmaidens over to help her out of the gown. "Do not worry, my love," Rhaenyra tried to reassure her while hunching over.

They managed to strip her down into the thin material of a nightgown, tossing her dress to the side and watching her begin to pace around the room with a hand over her stomach.

By now the Maester was joined inside the bedroom, discussing with the midwives and handmaidens of his concerns while Aenemera stood off to the side, stressfully watching her mother.

"Her term is far from complete — this should not be happening," whispered the Maester Gerardys.

"It is fucking happening!" Rhaenyra bit out in pain.

An older midwife came over and gently pulled her away. "Keep your head about you, princess. Come."

"We've done this six times before," another tried to reassure. "Keep your spirits and the seventh will be no different."

Rhaenyra raised her arms after shaking them off, repeatedly telling them to stop touching her as she continued to pace around the room before holding onto a pillar and hunching over.

Aenemera brought her hand up to cover her mouth as tears formed around her bottom lashline in fear. She was one of the strongest women in the seven kingdoms, she has never seen her mother suffering from pain and it felt like a thousand heartbreaks knowing she could do nothing.

"Mother? Aenemera?" Jace spoke as he entered the room with Luke at his side.

Mera gazed up at her brothers and rushed towards them. "We need your support," she whispered to her siblings.

"Princess," Maester Gerardys called out.

Rhaenyra breathed in heavily several times while holding onto her back then running her sweaty palm against the side of her nightgown. She glanced over at her children in sadness and a small shake of her head.

"Your grand sire, King Viserys, has passed. The Greens have repudiated the succession and claimed the Iron Throne. Aegon has been crowned king."

"What is to be done about it?" Jace asked softly.

Rhaenyra shook her head. "Nothing yet."

Jace glanced around the room briefly before tilting his head worriedly. "where is Daemon?"

"I don't know. Gone to madness. Gone to plot his war."

Jace inhaled deeply with a sharp nod. "Leave Daemon with me."

Aenemera opened her mouth to speak but suddenly their mother was standing in front of her with a cold hand caressing her cheek with tired eyes pouring into her own. "Mera, whatever claim remains to me, you are now its heir. Naught is to be done but by my command."

Mera slowly nodded nervously and watched her mother back away to continue doubling over in pain.

❪ dylan ❫
I know Aegon was technically crowned in the dragonpit, stated in the show but for purposes of Baeselyx, I switched it to some random ass important building. During the entire thing Rhaenys retrieved her dragon and took Aenemera with her. So lets all pretend it goes with the flow LOL.