𝓐𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷
The noise around me is deafening, my sole focus on the silhouette of Seasmoke fading into the skyline with my soul in tow.

"My Prince!" Ser Erryk brings me back to the here and now just before a sword is swung at my back, giving me a moment to dodge it.

Grabbing my sword from off the ground I swing low, striking the knight's hand to disarm him before running to Ser Erryk, "We have to make it to Vhagar!"

Our chances of escape were slim but I had to try.

The flames Seasmoke contributed were fading quickly, our cover sizzling away when we were left with no choice but to run.

Taking a left turn back into the darkness of the dragon pits I can hear Vhagars cries, trying with all her might to break the chains that held her.

We turn the corner to what I think is freedom when we screech to a halt, coming face to face with not only Vhagar but Tessarion mounted by his rider Daeron and Sunfyre with Aegon, the usurper himself.

Sunfyre's gold scales shimmered in the light just as beautiful as she was ferocious while Tessarion wore a smirk similar to his rider, my younger brother Daeron who would feed me to his ice blue dragon the moment he was given the order.

Though Vhagar was twice the size of my brother's dragons she was in chains, powerless in a moment like this we were outnumbered.

I'd brought Ser Erryk to his death, wishing I'd sent him on his way instead of allowing any help from him.

"There you are, brother. It seems you've missed my coronation. I'm King now, you should kneel." Aegon chuckles at me, the brother I'd known gone.

"Hmph. I see no king, just a pretender."

Aegon's face twists with anger, his nostrils flaring and Sunfyre reacts snapping her neck to roar feet away from me but I don't flinch staring the dragon down in her yellow eyes.

My older brother jumps from his saddle, and the gold cloaks cut off the exit leaving nowhere to run.

Ripping my arms back behind me it takes two of them to keep me restrained, Ser Arryk personally seeing to his own brother who'd helped Elaena escape.

"I'd kill you here if it weren't for our mother. She's demanded you remain unharmed,"

Taking a few steps closer his jaw twitches, as he smirks at me before reeling back a fist and slamming it into my stomach knocking all the air from my lungs.

"But a King doesn't respond well to demands,"

Hanging my head I spit at his feet as Vhagar cries out for me, unable to help though she lights the sky with her flames.

"You've committed high treason against your own King. You helped that little whore escape."

"You son of a bitch," Using my last ounce of strength I launch myself at him only making it a few feet until I'm pulled back by two men serving to entertain Aegon more with my struggle.

"Ah, ah, ah! I've let her go this once, but your lady wife won't be so lucky next time. How do you think she'd fair against both Daeron and me? Hm? Perhaps there's still time to find out-"

Aegon turns to Daeron but I see red when he threatens her my heart seizing as if his fingers were squeezing it himself.

"'NO. You won't touch a fucking hair on her head!" I growl more animal than man, Vhagar's roar paling compared to mine.

"Won't I? Perhaps I'll take her as my prisoner and make you watch as I pierce her heart with my blade."

Just as I'd done to Tessa.

Closing my eye I do all I can to rid the mental image of Elaena dead in my arms but it's a mistake, leaving me open to another hit to the ribs, this time with his knee and punch to my face nipping my bottom lip with my teeth.

Running my tongue along my teeth I part my lips with a cough. Blood drips from my mouth but I welcome the sting of the pain, only relieved it was me ending his assault and not Elaena.

She would be safe at Dragonstone with her family. They wouldn't let anything happen to her, and with much luck, they'd storm the capital.

"How disappointing. You're not nearly as threatening with your dragon in chains are you, big brother?" Daeron's smart mouth chimes him from atop his dragon.

I grin, my teeth bloodied from my spit, and my stare blazing through him. I didn't need my dragon to kill them, just my hands. "I assure you I remain just as threatening,"

"That's enough!"

My grandsire emerges from the group of gold cloaks but I look away allowing my long blonde hair to cover my face hardly able to stand the sight of him.

This was his fault. He'd manipulated all of us and now we'd all pay the price.

"Our quarrel is not with your own brother, my King. We need every sword we can muster,"

Hearing him refer to my demon brother as King only makes it that much more real.

"He helped her escape-"

"But he remains. Forgive me, your grace, but... perhaps the gods have separated them for a reason that's most beneficial to us."

And what the hell was that supposed to mean?

Aegon didn't seem convinced but he'd gotten his fill of watching me suffer... for now.

Scoffing at our grandfather, he doesn't agree but doesn't disagree either.

Aegon's sunken eyes examine me with disgust, his lack of sleep prevalent in the dark circles that swooped below them.

Directing his attention to the men who held my arms behind my back he barks his orders.

"Put him in a cell. Make sure he's uncomfortable. And his knight? Hang him along with the others," With a wave of his hand

"Aegon, NO-"

"THAT'S AN ORDER FROM THE KING, and you'll do well to remember just who wears the crown, brother. Not Rhaenyra, and certainly not your bastard wife!"

"You son of a bitch, Father would've never wanted this," I scoff, glaring at him as if my stare could burn him alive.

Aegon spins back around, the vein in his forehead popping from his pale skin. 

"Father's dead! Betray me again and it's likely you'll join him in the seven hells." Spitting at my feet he turns to walk away from me but I'm struck on the side of the head and it all fades away, a distant memory and I succumb to it.

***

When I come to I'm unconvinced I'm awake, the rancid smell of the dungeons something from straight out of my nightmares.

As I go to move a sharp pain shoots through my chest forcing me back down to the ground and I hiss in pain clutching my ribs.

It wasn't anything I hadn't dealt with before in my training but I've never had to recover in a dungeon cell.

Better me than her.

I'd take a million beatings if I knew as I lay dying she was safe. Everything I did was for her, for our family and I prayed they made it to Dragonstone safely, otherwise, I'd take this whole city down with me.

I was thankful they hadn't known she was carrying my child. Aegon would've surely gone after her then, torturing me in the only possible way how and that was through Elaena.

I have to make it out of here. 

I have to get back to her.

This time there would be no help. Ser Erryk had given his life helping us and we'd failed him, his own heroic loyalty was his downfall. I could only hope his death was swift and painless.

Leaning back I rest my aching head against the wall. I hadn't had a headache quite like this since the night I had my sapphire planted in my stolen eyes place.

Closing my eye I trace my own scar just as Elaena did, wishing it was her soft fingers I felt. I'd wondered what she was doing at this very moment. She must've been worried sick that I hadn't returned to Dragonstone with her as I'd promised.

Would Rhaenyra and Daemon accept Jaehaeryn? If the rumors of the Prince's bastard reached Dragonstone her arrival alone with a child in tow would surely ruffle some feathers.

Elaena's parents were never my biggest fans and right now she was enduring it all on her own. 

How long would they keep me here? If they feared I'd ruin their plans they were right. If there was a war to be fought I sure as hell wouldn't be fighting it from down here.

I don't know how long I sit in the darkness of the cell until a light in the darkness approaches.

Blinking slowly I tilt my head to glance at the figure, hoping for anyone other than who I lay eyes on.

Ser Criston Cole looks down at me ashamed but he doesn't say a word, bringing the torch closer to my face to bring my wounds to light. His dark brows draw together as he surveys my state.

"Your Prince commands you to set him free,"

"I'm Lord Commander of the King's guard now and you're a traitor to the Realm."

"I never pegged you the type to feast at my father's corpse, Ser Criston. I protected my wife. Did you expect me to simply hand her over to them? Aegon would've had her killed."

"You should've considered it a mercy. It was a mistake to have made her your wife, to begin with-"

"A MERCY?" Standing I flinch at the pain but push through it pulling myself up with the iron bars.

"Mind your tongue, Cole. I may be behind bars now but I assure you it's only temporary." I grit through my clenched teeth.

Shaking his head he scoffs at me. "The hope is that this is temporary, my Prince. Your mothers requested your presence at the small council meeting. It's within your best interest you hear what they have to say,"

I throw my head back laughing darkly to myself. "I've got quite the handle on my own interests."

"Aemond-"

"And if I don't go?"

Narrowing his eyes at me he doesn't budge, disappointment sagging his features.

"From where I'm standing you don't have much of a choice."

Taking a deep breath I refuse to tell him he's right so I keep my mouth shut instead.

If I had any chance of returning to Elaena the first step would be to get out of this cell.

Backing away from the door I hold up my hands in surrender so he could open it.

Without a word between us, he clasps my wrists with a set of iron cuffs locking them and leading us to the small council chambers where I can already hear the muttering of snakes from inside.

Ser Criston pushes open the doors and silence washes over them all at once.

With the exception of my siblings, most of those who stood behind Aegon as he was crowned sat around the large rectangular table.

At the helm sat my mother, and next to her the hand of the king himself my grandsire, not at all fazed by my entrance.

Pushing out of her chair my mother rushes over to me.

"My son," As she goes to cradle my face I pull away from her, my mother's betrayal stinging still.

"What did they do to you?!" She cries, wiping the dried blood from my lip but I turn my face.

"Nothing your King didn't command," I reply, my voice tired and husky.

Once those words leave my mouth everyone at the tables hangs their heads, none of them brave enough to make eye contact with the fallen prince.

If the King was capable of torturing his younger brother, what else would he be capable of?

"Ser Criston, unchain my son."

"Your grace-"

"Unchain him." She demands, raising her voice.

Hesitating for a moment Cole does as he's told, releasing me from my shackles.

"Take a seat," My mother's voice is soft and regretful but it wouldn't make up for what they'd done.

Doing as I'm told I take my time, glaring at all of the men sitting around the table.

Though my entire side aches I don't let it show holding my breath with every move I made.

A few chairs down sat Tyland Lannister, eager to open his mouth but I hadn't forgotten his comments in the past regarding my wife.

One moment he was complimenting her figure and the next he was plotting to steal the throne from her mother.

He would be one of the first to die.

"I've been told it's within my best interests to hear what you have to say and given I don't have much of a choice I recommend one of you begin talking."

"You're hardly in a position to be making demands, boy." My grandsire, annoyed with my lack of cooperation glares at me in warning but I lacked fear eying up the raven-haired lord who sat beside him, Jasper Wylde.

Perhaps he'd be the second...

Clearing his throat the master of law avoids my stare, looking to his fellow lords for help.

Coming to his aid, the lord of Casterly Rock speaks up, "There is the question of where certain houses' loyalties lie-"

"They all swore to Rhaenyra years ago,"

"Only because there was no other choice," my grandfather mentions but I notice my mother become uncomfortable, picking at the skin around her fingernails.

"Lord Borros Baratheon has four daughters, all of them unmarried. With the right proposal-"

Slamming my fist on the table everyone flinches but I've only just begun now that their plan for me became clear.

"ARE YOU MAD?" I shout, standing and kicking my chair back behind me sending it crashing to the floor.

"Enough!" My grandfather demands.

"Did you truly expect me to annul my marriage for some Baratheon girl? For my usurper brother's claim? Is that why you brought me here?!"

"Aemond, don't-" my mother stands, rushing towards me to calm me down but we were far past that.

"I swore an oath to her, to my wife. And though oaths sworn mean nothing at this table I intend to keep mine."

Grabbing hold of my arm she keeps her voice low, embarrassed by my outburst. "Aegon is the King! The allegations you toy at are treason! Your brother is giving you a chance at a clean slate-"

"You'd have to kill me to separate us. Do you have that in you, mother? Hm? Would you kill your own son?"

Staring at me wild-eyed my mother shakes her head, "Of course not-"

"But you'd kill mine?" I growl, happy now to reveal what they'd all only guessed at.

Instead of being ever the proud grandmother her face falls, her worst nightmares becoming a reality. If our audience could escape the mounting tension they would, but instead, they watch with horror.

"It... it's not true, it's just rumor" she stutters glancing at my grandsire for his reaction but he avoids her gaze. Being the hand of the king, he'd known all along.

"Elaena carries our firstborn son inside of her. One day he'll sit atop the Iron Throne like his mother before him, and Rhaenyra before her." My heart skips a beat when I say her name, flowing over my tongue like honey, and I was missing her sweetness already.

"They'd put your brothers to the sword, you know this. Daemon would never allow Rhaenyra's claim to be challenged!"

"So you instead put her family to the sword?"

"We will give them their chance to admit fealty and kneel for their rightful King."

"And you expect Daemon and Rhaenyra to go quietly? For Elaena and I to go quietly as you steal my son's birthright?!" I snarl at her.

"Unless you plan to plunge the seven kingdoms into war, yes! We have a duty to keep the realm united."

"You've only driven the realm apart with this madness! It's you who called the banners to war, hanging their lords and ladies in the Red Keep for all to see!"

Raising my voice she cringes at my tone and Ser Criston steps in between us his hand on his sword at the ready.

"I will not stand idly by and suffer these insults you throw at your mother, the Queen!"

"Queen? My mother is Queen dowager at best." I spit taking a step closer to him, egging him on.

"Go on, Lord Commander, hm? Draw your sword if you wish to wear a similar scar-"

Tyland jumps from his seat closest to us, terrified to get blood on his fancy robes but I seize the opportunity to swipe the small dagger that hung around his waist.

Twirling it between my fingers it feels damn good to be armed again even if it was this feeble excuse of a blade. I bring its pointed tip to his cheek just a hair below his dark brown eye.  

"Stop! The both of you!" My mother shrieks, pushing us apart but her palm presses against my sore ribs causing me to flinch back in pain.

"Is this what you want for yourself? You've lost everything because of this girl!" My grandsire interjects but he presses a sore spot, taking me back to the night Elaena was accosted by that man. It was because of him I almost hadn't made it to her in time.

"Elaena IS everything, have I not made that perfectly clear?" 

With tears in my mother's eyes, it seems to finally sink in. 

I was no longer just her son, no longer just a child that she could move about as a pawn at her whim. I was a grown man who thought and fought for himself and his family.

"If this is where you wish to draw your line in the sand, just know I'll be standing on the other side with my wife and my child. Let me go or lock me away I'll always find my way back to her." 

I wait for their reply but I strike them speechless. Taking that as my sign to go I start towards the door but Ser Criston grabs my arm.

"No! Let him go." 

"My Queen?"

"Let him go." My mother repeats defeated dropping her arms to her sides.

Deep down a part of me snaps. The boy who'd cried for his mother and father's affections was desperate for love no longer. 

I'd found myself in Elaena, I'd found my heart and purpose in her eyes and it was she who taught me, love came without manipulation and secrets. It was light and free and protective.

My mother's brown eyes pleaded with me to stay but I was done for the moment Elaena placed her lips to mine.

Dropping the blade to the floor I turn, pushing open the door and slamming it shut behind me. 

I was going home.

***