CHAPTER THREE

SHE DID NOT LIKE AEMOND. Daemerys despised him and his brother Aegon. It hadn't taken long for the two Targaryens to disrupt their fun and she could tell by the way the Rhaenyras sons looked at them, they didn't like the brats either.

Halaena on the other hand she did like, the two soon bonded over a spider that was walking over her hand, the murmurs under her breath made Daemerys realise they had a lot in common — they heard the same things.

Daemon collected his daughter from the young Targaryen princess when the sky turned black and the stars came out. He carried her to her chambers, Baela and Rhaena left a while ago as they were still grieving for their mother.

"He'll have to close an eye".

"Who will, sweet girl?", Daemon raised an eyebrow at her when he opened her chamber door. But the confusion on her face left him knowing she didn't know herself. "It's okay, just get some rest".

Daemerys didn't know how long it had been until she was being shook awake, her blue eyes peeling open to see her sisters looming down on her. "Come quick".

Small pairs of feet padded the floors, the boys had been awoken too and come to join the girls, though Daemerys and the boys knew nothing of what was happening — only following the girls.

"Jace, what are we doing?", Lucerys asked, hand gripping Daemerys when Aemond walking through the shadows.

"It's him".

"It's me".

"Vhagar is my mother's dragon".

"Your mother's dead and Vhagar has a new rider now", Aemond bit and Daemerys scolded him in anger.

"Do not speak of her!", she yelled but he merely ignored her outburst — only fuelling her anger.

"She was mine to claim".

"Then you should've claimed her! Maybe your cousins can find you a pig to ride", Aemond spat like the words were filthy.

Daemerys hadn't a single clue what was going on, standing beside the boys as they stood close together, she was angry at the boy she didn't know and the whispers in her head grew louder.

He'll have to close an eye.

"It would suit you"

Rhaena growled in anger and stomped towards the boy, hands gripping him tightly but he shoved her to the floor making Baela punch him in the face.

Daemerys watched surprised but proud that her sisters were sticking up for themselves but moved closer when Aemond hit her back, sending the girl to the floor.

"Come at me again and I'll feed you to my dragon!".

"How dare you!", Daemerys screamed and launched herself at him, fists tight — hitting him in repeat but her feet staggered back when a fist hit her nose, hard.

Her mind went dizzy for a moment as chaos erupted, she felt blood trickle down to her lip. Her small fingers trailed up to come her nose, realising she was bleeding — her blue eyes turned to storm as she glared up at her attacker.

She widened her eyes when Lucerys was being chocked, the poor boy was no match to Aemond, none of them were. A rock was held in the princes other hand as he raised it as though he was going to hit Lucerys with it.

"You will die screaming in flames just as your father did! Bastards".

"My fathers still alive".

"He doesn't know, does he, Lord Strong?".

Daemerys listened in shock. Bastard. But that would mean that—

Jacaerys took out his small blade, as the girls yelled. Aemond shoved Lucerys forward but Jace pushed him into Daemerys arms, the girl holding his face to check for injuries before pushing her behind him — shielding him.

Jacaerys lunged forward and tried striking Aemond but the boy missed all his hits and struck him instead sending him to the sandy floor.

Daemerys walked into the shadows and picked the blade up into the palm of her hand as Aemond raised the rock again to hit the boys with.

He'll have to close an eye.

An angry yell shocked him as he turned to face the girl he did not know. Sand covered his face before a slice was made. Blood sprayed over her already bloodied face — Aemond screaming in pain, falling to the floor.

"Cease this at once!", a knight yelled, "Get away!".

Someone held Daemerys by the back of the neck, peeling the blade from her hand and dragged her out with her friends and sisters screaming for him to let her go.

The family were summoned immediately, Daemerys being pushed to the floor in front of them — Aemond being cared for by the maester. Queen Alicent looked down at the girl who showed no guilt for her actions and glared at her.

"How could you allow such a thing to happen?", Viserys stood tired, "I will have answers".

"The princes were supposed to be abed, My King".

"Who had the watch?".

"Young prince was attacked by his own cousins and this bastard, Your Grace", some man Daemerys didn't know nor liked opened his mouth.

"You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!".

"I'm very sorry, Your Grace".

"The Kingsguard has never had to defend princes from princes, Your Grace".

"That is no answer!".

"It was his fault", head snapped towards the girl on the floor, droplets of blood on the floor by her knees from her still bleeding nose, a bruise starting to form on her cheek. Viserys softened his gaze whilst looking down at her.

"You have no say, Bastard!", Criston yelled but she rolled her eyes, leaving him angry.

"It will heal, will it not, maester?", Alicent asked in hope.

"I hope it doesn't", Daemerys muttered.

"The flesh will heal. But the eye is lost, Your Grace", the Maester stitched the princes eye up, the boy grunting in pain.

The Queen gasped and turned to her eldest, "Where were you?".

"Me?", Aegon asked confused but his mothers slap made him yelp. "What was that for?".

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

"What is the meaning of this!", Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys ran down the steps towards their grandchildren. The girls falling into their arms in nothing but tears.

"Jace?", Rhaenyra yelled as herself and Daemon stumbled into the room.

Daemon stepped in to see his daughter on the floor in front of his brother with a bloody face and dried tears. His anger bristled. "What is the meaning of this?!". His voice boomed and he stomped forward and took his daughter into his arms, checking her face before looking towards his other daughters who were in the same condition.

"I want their head! Who hurt my girls?", he roared but Daemerys shoved him away from her — leaving him to stand in shock.

Rhaenyra looked from her spot in front of her sons, giving the girl a look of pure sympathy.

"They attacked me!", Aemond yelled.

"He attacked Baela!".

"He broke Luke's nose!".

"He stole my mother's dragon!".

"Enough", Viserys spoke tired of the arguing.

"He was gonna kill Jace!".

"I didn't do anything!".

"Enough—".

"It should be my son telling the tale!", Alicent yelled to Rhaenyra who only scoffed. Daemon still stared down at his daughter who looked at him in anger and upset, not knowing what he had done.

"He called us—".

"Silence!", the King finally yelled, the room going so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"He called us bastards", Jace whispered to his mother, Rhaenyra standing up to protect her children.

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

"What else is there to hear? Your son has been maimed. And that bastard is responsible".

Daemon glared at Alicent before looking at his daughter. That was it. She knew what is meant, that has to be it. And for once he looked down at her in sorrow.

"It was a regrettable accident", Rhaenyra stood up for the girl but Alicent scoffed the excuse away.

"Accident? The prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son".

"It was my sons, and Daemons children who were attacked and forced to defend themselves!", the princess yelled back, having none of her nonsense. "Vile insults were levied against them".

Viserys looked up then, "What insults?".

"The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly to question as well as Daemerys".

"It's true", Daemerys croaked, eyes still on her 'father'.

"Tell me, child", Viserys told the girl.

"Aemond called the boys bastards leaving Lucerys confused", Daemerys turned her back on her father to speak continue speaking to her uncle. "Aemond then called Jace 'Lord Strong' even though Lucerys was adamant that his father was still alive. It was then I realised what bastard had meant", she turned to glare at her father who looked down to the floor, "Jacaerys was mad, as he should be as was I, Aemond hit them and my sisters. I took it upon myself to finish what Aemond had started and do not regret a single thing—".

"Your bast—", Alicent roared but Viserys silenced her.

"—and I'd do it again", Daemerys finished, some people gasped at her words, some were angry but her family looked proud.

"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", Aemond turned in his seat to look at his half sister, Rhaenyra knowing where the slanders came from but wanted the boy to say so herself.

"Over an insult?", Aemond's mother frowned and Daemerys snapped. "My son has lost an eye".

"Aemond did far worse in that cave!", Alicent looked down at the girl who caused this in anger with tears of frustration.

"You tell me, boy. Where did you hear this lie?".

"The insult was training yard bluster. The lot of boys. It was nothing".

"Aemond... I asked you a question".

"Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The boys' father? Perhaps he might have something to say on the matter".

"Yes, where is Ser Laenor?".

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

"Entertaining his young squires, I would venture".

A light chuckle came from the other side of the room by Ser Criston, but it quickly died down.

Daemerys looked down to the floor, growing tired before looking back at her father. She was angry at him still but despite what she knew, he was still her father, perhaps she could hear him out when this was all over.

"Aemond... look at me", Aemond used his one good eye to look up at his father. "Your king demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?".

Daemerys could have sworn he looked at his mother who seemed to go pale rather quickly but Aemond muttering his brothers name turned everyone's attention to him instead of her.

"Me?", the prince looked dumbfounded by his little brother's response.

Viserys moved from Aemond to his eldest son quickly, "And you, boy? Where did you hear such calumnies?".

When the boy did not respond, the king yelled. Daemerys flinched a little, a hand being placed on her shoulder — she knew who it was and didn't push him away this time.

"We know, Father. Everyone knows. Just look at them".

Everyone turned towards the boys, Rhaenyra doing her best to shield their prying eyes from her sons. "This interminable fighting must cease! All of you! We are family! Now make your apologies and show good will to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your uncle, your king demands it!".

Alicent looked at her husband appalled, his cane hitting the floor every step he took away from them, "That is insufficient. Aemond has been damaged permanently, My King. 'Good Will' cannot make him whole".

"I know, Alicent, 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", the Queen looked to the girl in front of Daemon — Daemerys eyes widening at her words. "I shall have one of her eyes in return".

Daemon in an instant grabbed his daughter and shoved her behind him, standing in front of her, hand on his sword protectively.

"My dear wife", Viserys went but she had enough of his soft heart.

"He is your son, Viserys. Your blood".

"Do not... allow your temper to guide your judgement".

"If the King will not seek justice, the Queen will", Viserys turned to her in shock, "Ser Criston... give me the eye of this bastard". Alicent turned to face Daemon and Daemerys.

"Father", Daemerys chocked back a sob, Daemons temper fuelling and grip on his sword tightening.

"Alicent!".

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

"You will do no such thing", Rhaenyra spoke calmly as Daemon dragged himself and his daughter towards them and the rest of their family — the princess gripping onto the girl like she had been doing with her sons.

A wall had been made on each side, people already choosing which side to fight for.

"Stay your hand", Viserys told the knight.

"No, you are sworn to me!".

Ser Criston took a moment to understand what was being asked of him before correcting her, "As your protector, my Queen".

Alicent frowned at his words, "Alicent, this matter... is finished", Viserys told her. "Do you understand? And let it be known: anyone who's tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra's sons and Prince Daemons daughter should have it removed".

"Thank you, Father".

But that wasn't enough.

As Rhaenyra crouched to her sons and Daemon turned his back to check on his own daughter, Alicent grabbed Viserys blade and made her way towards them, ignoring the calls behind her.

"Hold your approach!".

Daemon did not have time to stand as his daughter and Lucerys screamed — Rhaenyra had already stood and fought Alicent back, arm gripping hers that held the blade meant to her hurt her children.

Ser Criston went to attack but Daemon pushed Daemerys towards the children who held her in their grasp for protection with Lord Corlys who held the girl in his arms as her father stopped the knight in his path.

"You've gone too far", Rhaenyra spat.

"I? 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 cried in betrayal.

"Alicent, let her go!".

"Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It's trampled under your pretty foot again", Rhaenyra glared down at the Queen, the two holding each other back, blade inches from the princess.

"Release the blade, Alicent", her father, the Hand called to her.

"And now you take my son's eye. That bastard took it! And to even that, you feel entitled".

"Exhausting, wasn't it? Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness", Alicent seemed to falter before tightening her grip on the blade, "But now they see you as you are".

The Queen yelled, pushing the princess back, the two falling back to their sides of the room. Daemerys watched and Lord Corlys let her go and caught Rhaenyra — Viserys doing the same to Alicent.

Everyone looked shocked as blood trickled, their eyes looking down to blood trickling down her the princesses arm to her hand to the marble flooring.

Alicent looked shocked but not regrettable as the blade dropped from her hand, crashing to the floor.

Daemon stepped forward and reached for his daughter before standing beside Rhaenyra and her sons, Lord Corlys on the other side of the princess.

"He'll have to close an eye", Daemerys whispered to her father who then looked from her to Aemond in shock.

He'll have to close an eye.

Aemond had closed an eye.

Daemon didn't have time to think before Aemond spoke, "Do not mourn me, Mother. Daemerys gave a fair exchange", his words shocked them, her the most. "I may have lost an eye. But I gained a dragon".