𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 ─ THE LOST EYE
❝ you'll be 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 too ❞

𝐕aenora stood on a cliffside that hung above the ocean wave blue of the sea that surrounded Driftmarks sea. Tragedy had struck Kings Landing when news of the death of Laena Velaryon, the wife of Daemon Targaryen, reached them. The news had caused the royal family to flock to Driftmark, to be present for the funeral. 

Laena's ashen body was laid in a beautifully crafted casket, and was on the edge, close from falling into the clear blue waters of Driftmark, with only nets and rope holding it up. The funeral party stood on a cliffside, onlooking the watery burial, as silent as a crypt, as Vaemond Velaryon, Laena's uncle, spoke a eulogy.

"Tubī Velario Lentro Ābrāzme Laene iēdrarta mōrqittot, māzīlarē tubirri Elēdrion ziry umīsilza luo dāriot, hannagon Embrurliot gierūlti. Solion tolijor zijosy pradarose, Ābrāzma Laena rāeniot hen eglio ilvot lanto taloti hembis." (We join today at the Seat of the Sea to commit the Lady Laena of House Velaryon to the eternal waters, the dominion of the Merling King. Where he will guard her for all the days to come. As she sets to sea for her final voyage, the Lady Laena leaves two true-born daughters on the shore.) Those who understood the language knew that his words were a backhand to Rhaenyra, feeding onto the rumor, on the legitimacy of her childrens birth. 

"Pōja muña hen zȳho solio āmāzīlus daor, yn ānogrosa gierī ozletaksi humbilza. Velario ānogro rȳ lopor ojāris. Īlvon qumblī iāris. Īlvon drējī iāris. Se dōrī vajiñagon īlvon bēvilis." (Though their mother will not return from her voyage, they will all remain bound together in blood. Salt courses through Velaryon blood. Ours run thick, ours run true, and ours must never thin.) A chuckle left Daemon's lips, which caused heads to turn to him, looks of shock on the people faces as his blatant disrespect at the funeral of his own late wife. And once his chuckles faded, Vaemond continued.

"Talus mandus ñuhus. Inkoso kostōbāpis aōhis jelmīs sagon, gīso lykāpas aōhas embis, se prūmȳsa lēdāpas aōhas manengīs. Hen embār masti. Va embrot āmāzīli." (My gentle niece, may the winds be as strong as your back, your seas as calm as your spirit, and your nets be as full as your heart. From sea we came, to sea we shall return.)

And so, with his last words, the guards let the net that held the casket to land loose, and the casket fell into the deep waters that surrounded the cliff, returning Laena Velaryon to the sea.

"𝐇and turns looms; spool of green, spool of black; dragons of flesh weaving dragons of thread." The riddle fell from Princess Helaena's lips like a dreamlike whisper, only heard by Vaenora, as the two girls sat with each other, playing with a spider and a large seashell.

"We have nothing in common." Aegon complained, watching as Helaena and his youngest sister, Vaenora sat next to each other, observing them with disgust in his eyes as he watched the spider they had, crawl along their hands. He had taken his disappointment for his betrothal to Helaena with him from Kings Landing

"She's our sister." Aemond replied, observing his twin and older sister.

"You marry her then." Aegon rolled his eyes.

"I would preform my duty, if mother had betrothed us." Aemond explained with a shrug.

"If only." Aegon stated beneath his breath. "But then again, she isn't our dear sweet niece, isn't she?" At his words, Aemond blushed, looking down to his feet.

Helaena continued to repeatedly whisper the riddle, as Vaenora turned to look at twin, her lilac eyes then turned towards her niece who wandered around the grounds, before her head fell, silver hair covering her face as her eyes turned white. And as her eyes turned back, a loud dragon roar filled the air.

𝐕aenora was awoken in the middle of the night by her mothers scream. As she exited her room, she found a guard waiting for her. As Vaenora entered the room, she found Aemond, sat on a chair, a long gash down the side of his face that the maester was stitching up. Vaenora quickly approached her twin, taking hold of his hand as she sat down on the ground beside him. Aemond looked at her before his eye closed in a wince as the needle dug into his skin. Alicent came to her daughters side, leaning her head into her lap.

"How could you allow such a thing to happen?" Her father questioned the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Westerling. "I will have answers."

"The children were suppossed to be abed, my King." Ser Westerling said.

"Who had the watch?" Viserys asked, and Ser Westerling turned to Criston Cole.

"The young Prince was attacked by his own cousins, your grace." Ser Cole explained.

"You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!" The King exclaimed outraged.

"I'm very sorry, your grace." Ser Westerling bowed his head, "The Kingsguard has never had to defend Princes from Princes, your grace."

"That is no answer!"

"It will heal, will it not, maester?" Queen Alicent asked Stroking Vaenora's hair.

"The flesh will heal. But the eye is lost, Your Grace." Vaenora frowned, running her thumb over Aemonds knuckles.

"Where were you?" Alicent hissed, turning towards her eldest son.

"Me?" Aegon questioned.

Slap!

"Ow! What was that for?" Aegon questioned, clutching his reddening cheek.

"That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool." Alicent sneered.

The doors creaked open and Corlys and Rhaenys came storming inside.

"What is the meaning of this?" Corlys questioned.

"Baela, Rhaena! What happened?" Rhaenys rushed towards her granddaughters, pulling them into a hug. "What happened?"

Princess Rhaenyra soon appeared as well, with Prince Daemon behind her.

"Jace? Aemma? Luke!" Rhaenyra called, rushing towards her children, looking over their injuries.

"Who's blood is this? Who did this?" Rhaenyra questioned, turning towards them.

"They attacked me!" Aemond suddenly yelled, which caused her nephews and cousins to begin to yell, back and forth.

"He attacked Baela!"

"He broke Lukes nose!"

"He stole my mothers dragon!"

"Enough!" King Viserys ordered.

"He was gonna kill Jace!" Luke cried.

"I didn't do anything!" Aemond shouted.

"Enough." Viserys said, tired from the back and forth bickering.

"It should be my son telling the tale!" Alicent called out.

"He called us-"

"Silence!" Viserys yelled.

"He called us bastards." Jacaerys whispered to his mother.

"Aemond..." Viserys turned towards his son, "I will have the truth of what happened. Now."

"What else is there to hear?" Alicent questioned. "Your son has been maimed. Her son is responsible."

"It was a regrettable accident." Viserys reasoned.

"Accident?" Alicent questioned, her eyes widening. Her husband was always one to turn a blind eye to the fact that Rhaenyra's children her bastards, but the fact that he openly dismissed her son for her bastards once more, even when one of them took his eye, it filled her with rage. "The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son."

"It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves." Rhaenyra spoke up, "Vile insults were levied against them."

"What insults?" Viserys questioned.

"The legitimacy of my childrens' birth was put loudly to question." Rhaenyra answered.

"What?"

"He called us bastards." Jace said.

"My daughter is heir after me and my sons are in line to inherit the Iron Throne, your grace. This is the highest of treasons. Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned so we might learn where he heard such slanders."

"Over an insult? My son has lost an eye."

"You tell me, boy." Her father turned towards Aemond, a look of anger on his face, "Where did you hear this lie?"

"The insult was training yard bluster." Alicent answered for him, worried for her son, and herself as it was she who told all her children of the rumor their niece and nephews were shadowed in. "The lot of boys. It was nothing."

Viserys ignored his wife's words, "Aemond. I asked you a question."

"Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The childrens' father?" Alicent suddenly questioned, which caused the room to look around, searching for the Velaryon. "Perhaps he might have something to say in the matter."

"Yes. Where is Ser Laenor?" Viserys asked, turning towards Rhaenyra.

"I do not know, Your Grace." Rhaenyra answered. "I... could not find sleep. I had gone out to walk."

"Entertaining his young squires, I would venture." Alicent jested.

"Aemond. look at me." Aemond turned his head towards him, his eye fully stitched up, yet he had some cuts on the rest of his face. "Your king demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?"

It was a tense moment before Aemond answered. "It was Aegon." Everyone turned towards the eldest boy.

"Me?"

"And you, boy?" Viserys moved towards his son, "Where did you hear such calumnies?" Aegon didn't answer, nor did he turn towards his father, "Aegon! Tell me the truth of it!" Viserys yelled enraged.

"We know, Father." Aegon spoke, "Everyone knows. Just look at them." All eyes turned towards Rhaenyra's children and Rhaenyra pushed her sons behind her skirts as Aemma stood unhidden to their stares.

"Princess Aemma was there." Alicent suddenly spoke up, "Wonder what she would say of the attack."

"You will leave my daughter out of this." Rhaenyra sneered, pulling Aemma behind her.

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

"That is insufficient." Alicent softly spoke, "Aemond has been damaged, permanently, My King. Good will cannot make him whole."

"I know, Alicent," Viserys sighed, "but I cannot restore his eye."

"No, because it's been taken."

"What would you have me do?"

"There is a debt to be paid." Alicent stood up straighter, "I shall have one of her son's eyes in return." Rhaenyra clutched her sons closer to her as the room broke into a murmur.

"My dear wife." Viserys said, shocked at his wife's request.

"He is your son, Viserys." Alicents voice shook, "Your blood."

"Do not... allow your temper to guide your judgment." Viserys attempted, to no avail.

" If the King will not seek justice, the Queen will." She then turned to her sworn protector, "Ser Criston... bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon."

"Mother." Luke cried.

"Alicent." Viserys called.

"He can choose which eye to keep, a privilege he did not grant my son."

Rhaenyra looked at Ser Criston, "You will do no such thing."

"Stay your hand." Viserys ordered.

"No, you are sworn to me!" Alicent yelled, outraged at seeing Criston's lack of movement to follow her order.

"As your protector, my Queen." Ser Criston explained.

"Alicent," Viserys spoke, "this matter... is finished. Do you understand?" Alicent didn't answer, instead looked to the ground, "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 said pleased, turning towards her children, checking them further for more injuries.

Alicent suddenly grabbed a dagger from Viserys' side, turning towards Rhaenyra and her children.

"Your Grace. Stay with the King!" Ser Westerling called.

"Alicent!" Viserys yelled.

Vaenora watched as Alicent began to approach her half-sister and her niece and nephews.

"Mother!" Aemma called out, peaking her head out from behind her mother, causing Rhaenyra to quickly turn around the to commotion.

"No." Rhaenyra said, quickly walking forward to meet Alicent in the middle of the room, holding her arm. "You've gone too far." Rhaenyra spoke.

"I?" Alicent inquired tearfully, "What have I done but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law. While you flout all to do as you please."

"Alicent, let her go!" Viserys yelled watching fearfully at the scene between his wife and daughter.

"Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It's trampled under your pretty foot again."

"Release the blade, Alicent." Otto Hightower told his daughter.

"And now you take my son's eye, and to even that, you feel entitled."

"Exhausting, wasn't it? Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness." Rhaenyra's voice dropped to a whisper, "But now they see you as you are."

Alicent let out a grunt as she pushed her arm down, moving back. The two separated, Rhaenyra stumbling back into Lord Corlys, as blood poured from her arm.

The room closed in on the two as Aemond spoke up, "Do not mourn me, Mother. It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye... but I gained a dragon." Aemond let go of Vaenora's hand and walked up to his mother, wrapping his arm around her, resting his head on her chest as Alicent blankly stared at Rhaenyra's bleeding arm.

"This proceeding is at an end." Viserys stated, leaving the room, his Kingsguard following.

Vaenora got off the ground and turned towards Helaena, who rushed over to her, wrapping her in a delicate hug as the two girls looked at the space between where they and Rhaenyra stood. And so the house of the dragon split into green and black.