DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING
A/N: Thanks again to Ramzes for the reviews, they keep me inspired!
DUNCAN
"Has there been any improvement?"
Rhaelle sounded as though she was trying her best to sound nonchalant about the whole thing but Duncan could detect the heavy undertone of anxiety in her singsong voice. She should know by now that she doesn't have to pretend to be strong, not when it's just us thought Duncan sadly.
Alerie frowned a little and drank from the tea sitting in front of her. "He….has been much calmer lately, he spends most of his time reading….though he still won't let himself sleep, he says…" Alerie's voice caught and she struggled for her words before taking a deep breath and looking back them. "He says that the…visions come to him when he sleeps. Sometimes he'll go days on end without sleeping, me and the Grand Maester have been slipping him something with his wine at night to allow him to rest."
Duncan exchanged a worried glance with his sister before turning back to Alerie. "Does he say anything, anything of sense?"
Alerie actually seemed angry at that and shot Duncan a scowl. "Of course he does! He hasn't lost his wits!"
The young prince raised his hands in peace. "Forgive me my lady, it's just…..we're concerned is all; Aemon is our baby brother and we don't want him to suffer the same way others in our family have."
He could see that he was just making the poor women more worried so he excused himself from the table, leaving Rhaelle to comfort her while he searched out his father. The King had spent little time alone now that he knew that a fleet twice the size of the crown's was slowly making its way to the realm. Preparations were being made and the Wardens had been alerted though the king was still unsure of if their loyalty was enough to cause them to leave their homes and fight an angry horde of pirates and mercenaries.
Aegon sat in the council chambers with Jaehaerys as always acting as his right hand while he and Lord Arryn discussed whether or not they could afford to send any ships along the coast of Dorne considering that the Martells had almost no naval power of their own.
"I could send perhaps a dozen ships to provide at least some protection your Grace, though I'm not sure how much it will really do." replied Jasper Arryn.
"Even the smallest gesture can mean a lot, especially in these difficult times." He then spotted Duncan and waved him over. "What do you need Duncan?"
The prince looked over at the King's Hand hesitantly, a look which Aegon caught onto and asked Lord Arryn for a moment alone with his sons. Once the room was cleared Duncan gave voice to what had been troubling him. "We need to talk about Aemon…"
The King clenched his jaw at that. "Aemon is being looked after."
"We haven't seen him in a week!" said Duncan in outrage.
"He needs time to recover, he's in a fragile state right now and even the slightest thing could set off another episode." replied Aegon as though he was explaining to an unruly child.
"He's my brother-"
"He's my SON!" roared the king in a voice that Duncan had never in all his life heard coming from his father. "I've seen what madness does to our family firsthand Duncan, I watched as my brother did his best to harm everyone and anyone around him because he thought he was a damned dragon trapped in human form, I grew up watching my uncle dance around naked because he saw and heard people who didn't exist. Now the Gods in their cruelty see fit to inflict the sickness onto my youngest, unto your brother…I will not let him suffer as they did."
Before Duncan could say anything Jaehaerys seemed to appear from thin air and was immediately between them, his large purple eyes imploring them to calm down. "Father, Duncan has a point; we cannot keep Aemon locked away from the harshness of life, especially with the Blackfyres at our doorstep."
The King slowly moved into his chair and buried his face in his hands. He looks tired thought Duncan as he sadly watched his father struggle to retain his composure in spite of everything that had happened. When his father spoke it was barely above a whisper and he struggled to hear it. "I failed her; I promised Rhae that I would look after you all and….I failed her."
Duncan was kneeling at his father's side in an instant and he took the older man's hand into his own and looked hard at the king, his expression firm and without fear or doubt. "Maelys, the war, you're not blame for any of it father, not a bit. And Aemon…we will all look after Aemon, good or bad we will stay together through it all."
Suddenly the chamber door burst open and a small crowed of knights and council members rushed into the room being led by Jasper Arryn, a haunted look on his face. Aegon almost immediately rose to his feet and fully regained his kingly composure. Duncan was caught off guard by just how alarmed all of the various lords were looking.
"What is it, why do you all stand and gape like fools?" asked Aegon anxiously.
"Your Grace we just received a raven from lord Tytos….Lannisport is burning."
ALERIE
Alerie's day hadn't exactly gone as she would have liked. For starters she had to endure the various meetings with Maesters coming in and out of the chambers she and Aemon shared at the early hours of the day. At first she hadn't minded at all and had readily answered all of their questions about her husband's routine but after six days and little progress she was beginning to lose patience.
Her days at court were little better especially with the rumours that were circulating about Aemon. It seemed that many of the lords and ladies had found it most interesting that yet another Targaryen had lost his mind and some even had made questions about her own child's future sanity, though of course now they only spoke such things in low whispers. Alerie wasn't sure if that was out of respect of the much loved king or simply because that was how things were when it came to the royal family, more often than not she found herself feeling desperately homesick for Oldtown, for the Hightower and even for Summerhall but she knew that her place was at Aemon's side. I said the words, I am his and he is mine…
The physical strain was also something that she found exceedingly tiresome, now more than ever that she was almost due to give birth and her mobility wasn't what it used to be. Her ankles had swollen considerably too and even walking to lunch with Rhaelle had been difficult and aggravating.
As Alerie made her way back to her chambers she sent off her handmaidens and stood in front of the large wooden door and took deep breath before entering, anxious to see what state her husband would be in today. Please let him be himself she prayed silently as she walked into their room.
Her search didn't take long as she found Aemon sitting at a desk looking over a map of some sort; every so often he would circle certain areas with a pen before crossing them off in agitation. Alerie took a breath and stepped forth, careful to make her presence known but not to get too close in case he would react violently like he did during his first episode.
Aemon stopped his scribbling and looked up at her with a weary smile. The first thing Alerie noticed was the dark bags that hung underneath his eyes from the lack of sleep he was getting, the other was the small silvery gold stubble that had formed around his jaw. Despite his dishevelled look his voice was surprisingly warm. "Sweetling…"
He rose from his seat and gave her a kiss with slightly more life than she had expected. "How were things at court?" he asked lightly.
"The same as ever; a bunch of arrogant lords and ladies complaining about each other whenever someone's back is turned, I had only Rhaelle to keep me company." She paused. "Have you been….well?"
Aemon winced slightly at her words but continued to hold his tired smile in place. "I've had the Grand Maester in here all morning asking me all sorts of questions, what do I eat, and what do I drink." He laughed a little. "He even asked when I go to the privy, it's all so bizarre."
"I'm sure they have their reasons."
A dark look came over his face then and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "He asked me if I….ever felt the urge to burn things."
Alerie had no idea what to say to that and tried not let her fear get the better of. You've been married to him for two years! He would never harm you she tried reassuring herself despite the horrible feeling of anxiousness.
"Is that what they all say about me? That I am Aerion Brightflame come again?" he asked despondently.
Alerie shook her head violently, trying to believe her own lie. "No my love, they just…people are concerned knowing that their prince is…unwell."
Her husband looked absolutely miserable then and she felt her heart break as he sullenly turned away from her and stared back at the map sitting on his desk. "I'm sure my family will want you to sup with them tonight, don't feel that you have to stay here out of obligation. The madman will be fine without a caretaker for the night." He said miserably without looking back at her.
"Oh don't speak that way!" she said suddenly finding herself angry at how he had allowed melancholy overcome him. "Has it not occurred to you that I want to be with you? Or have you let sleep deprivation rob you of common sense?"
Hesitantly Aemon looked back at his wife, a stunned expression on his pallid face. Before he could say anything Alerie marched up to him a brought him into a deep kiss full of all the passion she had to repress for the last few weeks and felt as though she was the dragon not him and filled him with her fire. With a fury she didn't know that either of them possessed they slowly tore at each other's clothes and slowly headed towards their bedroom, the thought of supper long gone.
BARRISTAN
The Hightower man was humming tunelessly to himself from his horse as he escorted Barristan towards the inn. He was unsure originally whether he could trust the bald man when he came to him late at night in a tavern claiming to be on a mission from the royal family but once he saw a letter sealed with the three headed dragon of Targaryen he was more willing to comply with the man despite knowing next to nothing. In truth all that he knew was that he was to follow the bald knight to a particular inn just outside of the capitol and wait for someone.
"When we enter the place I'd very much appreciate it if you didn't speak to anyone or do anything that would attract attention, is that clear boy?" said the bald man.
Barristan didn't like the way the knight spoke to him but nodded his head none the less. "Will we be waiting long?" he asked.
The knight gave no answer but instead urged his horse over to the side of the large building and hitched it over to a post while Barristan did the same. He hesitantly followed the man into the warmth of the inn; the room was alive with noise and merriment as patrons drank and laughed at everything and anything. Barristan wasn't usually one for the drink, at least not to the extent that most indulged in.
The bald man led him over to a table near the back away from prying eyes and told him to wait while he went to speak with someone. Barristan picked the chair nearest the hearth and stretched out his legs under the table, leaning his head back and listening to the various discussions going on behind him.
"Did you hear the news? Lannisport is under attack!"
"Aye, they say that it's the Blackfyres again."
"I heard a Braavosi sailor say that Maelys Blackfyre consumed his brother in the womb and has two heads!"
Barristan frowned at that. He wondered if such a thing truly did exist in the world, and how any man could live in a state like that with their form twisted in such a way. Only the Gods in their cruel wisdom know for sure, Mother have mercy.
The bald man returned with two men bearing the sigil of House Hightower along with a hooded figure. Barristan sat up straight and looked over at them expectantly as they pulled up seats across from him; the man draped in a dark cloak leant forward and lifted his hood just enough so that Barristan could catch a glimpse at the familiar set of purple eyes looking back at him.
"Greetings Ser." came the hushed voice of Aemon Targaryen.
Barristan stared at the man in shock. "My prince, I…." he started only to be cut off by the Targaryen's raised hand.
"Please not here Ser; we're trying to keep a low profile." said the prince with a slight smile.
The prince seemed to be in much better health than when Barristan had last seen him two weeks past, with more colour returning to his face and a less overall haggard look to the man, though the young knight could still see some traces of exhaustion around the prince's eyes.
"I must apologise for the secrecy involved here but these are difficult times my friend, one never knows who is a spy anymore." explained Aemon before looking around as if to emphasise his point.
Barristan looked at the man cautiously. "May I ask what this is all about my prince? I was told by your man here that I was required in a matter for the crown."
The prince nodded. "Aye, though I must warn you that what I am asking of you has not been sanctioned by my father, nor does he know about it or even that I am outside of the Red Keep. Is that something that you can go along with?"
The young knight frowned at that and gave the prince a searching look. The Targaryen did seem to be in a much better state than he was at Summerhall yet Barristan still couldn't help but think back to the state he was in when they found him brooding in his study, could he really trust a man who couldn't even trust his own mind?
"I am loyal to the crown my prince it's just…"
"It's just that you're unsure of my state of mind." finished Aemon with a rueful smile.
Barristan shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "…yes, that is my concern."
Aemon's smile did not shrink and he nodded at Barristan's words. "I understand. I'll be the first to admit that I have been…unwell, and, if I am to be honest with you Ser, it is likely that I will suffer another episode as I did at Summerhall." A deep look of shame flashed over the man's face as he said that before he looked up at Barristan with a determined expression. "My brother Jaehaerys and I have come across information vital to the war, while the King and my brother Duncan head to Lannisport to assist lord Tytos, the Blackfyres are sending an envoy to Quenton Greyjoy to try and gain the Ironborn's support against the crown, I mean to get there first."
"You mean to travel to Pyke?" asked Barristan in disbelief.
Aemon gave a solemn nod. "I do." He looked at Barristan again and sighed. "If you cannot trust my judgement Ser then at least trust that of my brother Jaehaerys."
Barristan looked hard at the man sitting before him and tried look for any hint of a lie or even malicious intent lurking behind his lilac eyes and found none. But that's the trouble with madmen, they believe their own lies. The thought made him uncomfortable yet he remembered all the times he had faced off against the prince during tourneys and thought of how highly even Ser Duncan the Tall spoke of the prince and after a time he finally made his decision. "I will join you. But I must ask….why are you coming? Why not send a member of the Kingsguard?"
Aemon smiled at that. "Because, two night's past I fell asleep in the arms of my wife and I let sleep overcome me. For the first time my dreams were not that of fire and death…..they were of victory."