Viserra was close to sleep, eyes slowly shutting, when her door burst open causing her to shoot up. She glanced at the door, spotting Ser Rickard with wide eyes, "Ser?" his face was grim as if something horrible had happened. He gulped, "The Queen is wanting your presence immediately in the main hall, Princess" causing her to jump out of bed with a heavy fear in her chest. She had almost forgotten to grab her robe in her haste.

The two of them ran down to the hall, rounding a corner to spot almost her entire family present. Jace, Luke, Rhaena, and Baela were all crowding together, blood on their faces, hair a mess, and dirt on their clothing. The adults were all talking with her father who sat on the Driftmark throne, head in his hand. Helaena, Aegon, and her mother were all crowding a maester, who seemed to be attempting to work, their faces pale.

And there was Aemond, who had turned his head when the door opened behind them, showing her the state of him.

Nausea hit her hard, hand covering her mouth and tears springing to her eyes as she ran over to kneel by the chair he sat in, "Aemond!". His eye was only half-stitched and there were scrapes covering his face. She grasped his hand to squeeze it in a show of comfort, feeling him weakly squeeze back, "Aemond..what happened?.."

He smiled, "I got my dragon.." his tone was filled with pain and yet his eye shined with satisfaction, almost victory, with tears falling down Viserra's face at the sight. How did this happen? Did someone take his eye? The sound of a fist hitting the throne made everyone's eyes turn as her father stood up with struggle and turned towards his guards, "How could you allow such a thing to happen? I will have answers."

Ser Harrold clearly looked guilty, after all he was the head of the Kingsguard, "The Princes were supposed to be abed, My King." but the answer did nothing to satisfy the angered king, "Who had the watch?".

Ser Criston Cole spoke up, "The young Prince was attacked by his own cousins, Your Grace." making Viserra's head turn to her cousins. She made eye contact with Luke, tears shining in his brown eyes, the fear so noticeable. She couldn't help but feel pity for the much younger boy, his face still held the baby fat he was born with.

"You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!" His cane made a clacking sound as he paced, his anger getting worse with each step. Ser Harrold bowed his head, "I'm very sorry, Your Grace" only getting a huff of frustration in return.

It seemed Ser Criston didn't share the same view however, "The Kingsguard has never had to defend Princes from Princes, Your Grace" which caused her father to turn to face him, hobbling over, "That is no answer!"

It was moments like this that truly reminded Viserra that her father was a powerful man, he was the King, his temper was still inherently Targaryen, especially for those he cared deeply for. She briefly wondered if he would feel the same anger over her as he did over Aemond and the other children.

"It will heal, will it not, maester?" her mother asked, hurrying through her words with her panic, letting Viserra turn her head back to her brother. The Maester hummed, "The flesh will heal..but the eye is lost, Your Grace."

Alicent immediately turned to Aegon, "Where were you?" causing Aegon to raise an eyebrow, "Me?" only to be smacked in the head. Aegon touched his head, wincing, "Ow! What was that for?" making Alicent frown in disapproval, "That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool."

She, then, turned to look at Viserra who flinched, squeezing Aemond's hand tightly. Fear grew in her heart at the look in her mother's eyes, one of pure anger, her words being interrupted by the entrance of Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys walking down the steps.

Corlys yelled, "What is the meaning of this?!" while Rhaenys ran for her grandchildren, "Baela! Rhaena! What happened?"

The door opened once again, Rhaenyra walking through looking disheveled with Daemon close behind, "Jace? Luke!" and bent down, whispering words to them. Viserra glanced at her mother, who was glaring at Rhaenyra and her children as she questioned who had harmed them.

Aemond took clear offense to this, "They attacked me!" which only set off Jace, "He attacked Baela!" making Viserra turn to Aemond in surprise. He had attacked Baela? Rhaena yelled out, "He broke Luke's nose" before all the children involved overwhelmed the room with their accusations, voices echoing.

"He stole my mother's dragon!"

"He was gonna kill Jace!"

"I didn't do anything!"

"It should be my son telling the tale!"

"He called us-"

"Silence!" yelled the King, eyes all drawn to him, though Viserra noticed a pause on Rhaenyra's face as she stood, grasping her children to stand behind her. Anger shown through her beautiful eyes. Viserys turned towards Aemond, who jumped in his seat, "Aemond..I will have the truth of what happened. Now." as he stormed over.

Alicent quickly spoke up, "What else is there to hear? Your son had been maimed. Her son is responsible." to which Rhaenyra interjected, "It was a regrettable accident.". The frown on Alicent's face grew, her eyes going wide, "Accident? The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son."

Luke? The sweet boy who often tried to sneak her treats when he could, that Luke? Viserra turned her tearful eyes to Luke, who looked at her with his own brown ones. The very ones he inherited from his father. Rhaenyra grasped them tighter, "It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves. Vile insults were levied against them."

"What insults?" Viserys turned his head, eyebrows furrowed. A short pause followed as Rhaenyra seemed to contemplate what to say, "..The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly to question."

"What?"

Jace piped up, looking up at his mother, "He called us bastards."

And if that didn't make her heart sink, her eyes went wide, turning to look at Aemond, who looked at her. He didn't..Why would he ever attempt to speak those words at them? She knew her mother showed little care to who heard her declare them as sin but Aemond was smarter than that.

She shook her head before her thoughts were cut short by Rhaenyra, "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." but she knew where he heard such a thing, they all did. A small glance at her mother proves it, the panic in her eyes was so obvious that anyone could see.

Aemond looked back at Rhaenyra while Alicent spoke, "Over an insult? My son has lost an eye." but Viserra knew that their opinions did not matter in the end. She turned to look at her father, "You tell me, boy. Where did you hear this lie?"

Alicent attempted to defend her son, "The insult was training yard bluster. The lot of boys. It was nothing." to which he ignored, "Aemond..I asked you a question." making the young boy panic. Alicent pursed her lips, straightening her posture, "Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The boys' father? Perhaps he might have something to say on the matter." her mother was anything but subtle at her attempt to change the topic.

Viserys glanced around the room, "Yes. Where is Ser Laenor?"

Rhaenyra sighed, "I do not know, Your Grace. I..could not find sleep. I had gone out to walk." to which Alicent pursed her lips, "Entertaining his young squires, I would venture." and the silence that followed suffocated the room. To insinuate such a thing in his family home only served to make her, and by extension the royal family, look bad. It was clear to Viserra that her mother felt cornered, and why shouldn't she?

A small chuckle was heard by Ser Criston, who quickly stopped with a look from Ser Harrold. Viserys huffed, "Aemond..look at me. Your king demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?" and his true answer was shown in the glance he gave to their mother. Alicent looked panic, quickly causing Aemond to speak the words, "It was Aegon."

Aegon's eyes went wide, "..me?"

Viserys quickly stormed over, "And you, boy? Where did you hear such calumnies?" and when no immediate answer followed, he decided to shout, "Aegon! Tell me the truth of it!!" making the boy wince. Aegon glanced over at Rhaenyra's sons, "We know, Father. Everyone knows. Just look at them."

All eyes were drawn to the boys, who curled closer to their mother, who had an anger in her eyes as if daring them to speak of their existence again. Viserys turned to look at everyone, "This interminable infighting must cease! All of you! We are family! Now make your apologies and show good will to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your king demands it!" before beginning to walk away.

Alicent turned, clearly exhausted, "That is insufficient. Aemond has been damaged, permanently, My King. 'Good will' cannot make him whole" to which Viserys turned to face her, "I know, Alicent, but I cannot restore his eye."

Alicent huffed, "No, because it's been taken"

"What would you have me do?" asked Viserys, exasperated with her vague words. Viserra stood, clutching Aemond's hand like a lifeline, the tension in the room making her vision blur slightly.

"There is a debt to be paid...I shall have one of her son's eyes in return." Her eyes turned wild, staring at Lucerys, or possibly Rhaenyra, with hostility. She had never seen her mother with such a terrifying look on her face. Murmurs filled the room as Viserys attempted to calm her down, "My wife."

"He is your son, Viserys. Your blood." Her voice was tight, tears fighting to appear in her eyes as Alicent stared at Viserys. He softened his tone, but stayed firm, "Do not..allow your temper to guide your judgment." before he took a step away, expecting the matter to be finished.

Alicent clenched her hands into fists, " If the King will not seek justice, the Queen will. Ser Criston..bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon." and horror filled Viserra as Luke began to panic, the sound of a child clearly terrified as he clung to his mother.

"Alicent" Viserys exclaimed as Alicent continued, "He can choose which eye to keep, a privilege he did not grant my son." as if that made it any better. Rhaenyra glared at her, "You will do no such thing."

Viserys turned to Ser Criston, "Stay your hand." only for Alicent to yell, "No, you are sworn to me!" causing the man to look between the two. Ser Criston bowed his head, "As your protector, my Queen."

Viserys stared her down, "Alicent, this matter...is finished. Do you understand? And let it be known; anyone whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra's sons should have it removed." his voice echoing in the room. Rhaenyra looked relieved, "Thank you, Father"

Alicent quickly stormed over to Viserys, snatching the knife he always carried on his hip and stormed over to the direction of Luke. Shouting filled the room before Rhaenyra turned to see the source and caught her just in time.

The two whispered to one another in the center, Viserra could only watch in shock. Her mother terrified her in this moment, this anger that she always hid behind her eyes bursting out violently. The flames painted her hair, having them look like the lava she had once seen on Dragonstone.

Viserra couldn't look anywhere else than at her mother, fear gripping her tightly as a headache began to form, words being lost on her. It only stopped when Alicent slashed down, cutting Rhaenyra's arm and spilling her blood, the knife clattering to the ground.

This was bad, not only had she defied the king, but she spilled the blood of his heir, who knew what kind of punishment her mother would receive. Aemond stood, letting go of her hand, "Do not mourn me, Mother. It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye..but I gained a dragon."

She should have known the second Vhagar flew over them that he would try and claim her, she should have stayed with him. Maybe then she could have talked them all out of fighting, because that's what it was, nothing more than children not understanding the gratitude of situations and relying on instinct.

If only she did something.