YEAR 130 AC
Red Keep ― Maegor's Holdfast…
Two years for members of the royal family, but for others, it was more than that. It has now been roughly four years since the Driftmark incident. With King Viserys's health slowly deteriorating, control of the royal court largely fell to his eldest son and Hand, Prince Aeonar. After the king was rendered bedridden, he became nothing more than a figurehead. For now, the Seven Kingdoms belonged to Aeonar, who turned his gaze toward domestic matters. However, with both the Blacks and the Caltrops continuing to vie for supremacy over King's Landing, those loyal to the Young Dragon worked tirelessly to remove any lingering threat to House Targaryen's reign; the Caltrops, meanwhile, were locked in a bitter power struggle with their political rivals as they too sought to establish dominance. But with Aeonar as heir to the Iron Throne and Viserys's Hand of the King, the cold war between the two factions projected to favor the Blacks.
While the elite engaged in their political games of intrigue amidst the infighting, one young maiden yearned to embrace a more ordinary life she had once known as a child.
The thirteen-year-old Princess Aemma diligently carried out her duties as a member of House Targaryen, honoring her role as both a daughter and granddaughter. Her Valyrian heritage was evident in her features, but her face resembled her mother Alicent's. Upon recently experiencing her first flowering, it officially marked Aemma's official entry into womanhood. In the act of filial piety, the princess had been asked by her mother to keep her ailing grandfather company. Sitting by his bedside, Aemma sewed a piece of silk fabric, threading one needle after another. She intended to create something special for her beloved grandfather with her own hands. She wanted to try to cheer him up. As she worked, she sang a soft, elegant tune, her voice as soothing as a mother's embrace to a frightened child.
He rode from far and yonder
Through the desert heat and the winter's cold
And the heaven's skies, and the crash of the ocean's waves~
O'er the wynds, the steps, and the cobbles
For across the horizon awaits his love
She was a secret treasure, his bliss, and his life.
For a castle or a village are nothing
Compared to a woman's kiss
For a maiden fair, he will risk it all.
For a woman's touch, his courage will lead the way
For a woman's love is warm~
And there he stood with sword in hand, the last of fear and doubt
And smooth the grass beneath his feet, and the winds as strong they blow
And strung the rain had felled on his face, and the red the glow of setting sun
That bathed him in its light
'Come one, come all, the great hero called; my maiden fair awaits my return.~'
And with a cry of savagery, they swarm across the field
And with a cry of savagery, they sought to test his skill~
He rode through the streets of the city
Through tests and trials, he passed his test
O'er the wynds, the steps, and the cobbles
For across the horizon awaits his love
She was a secret treasure, his bliss, and his life.
For a castle or a village are nothing
Compared to a woman's kiss
For a maiden fair, he will risk it all
For a woman's touch, his courage will lead the way
For a woman's love is warm
For a maiden fair, he will risk it all
For a woman's touch, his courage will lead the way
For a woman's love is warm~
Initially unresponsive, Viserys sighed as he turned his head against his pillow. His breathing was slow and shallow, but the king remained active. Then, clearing his throat of unwanted phlegm, he turned to his granddaughter. "My… what a… that was a very touching song, my dear. Truly a lovely voice you've been blessed with," he told her.
"Thank you, grandpa," Aemma replied gently and warmly. Once she finished sewing, the princess meticulously scrutinized the product of her hard work. The blanket, which had taken countless hours of planning and stitching, was a masterpiece adorned with intricate sun motifs and delicate white embroidery that ran along the edges. Despite enduring a few pricks to her fingers, Aemma ensured the blanket was comfortable and warm. Her striking violet eyes thoroughly examined the blanket, ensuring there were no misalignments, wrinkles, or tears. It's finished. Perfect! He'll love it for sure. "Here," she stood up and approached the bed. "I made this for you." Placing her handmade quilt over Viserys, Aemma carefully tucked in each corner and fluffed her grandfather's pillow to provide additional comfort.
"Ooh, ho, ho, ho… Ack! Ack! Uhh, thank you, Aemma. Mmm! My word… you made this?"
"Mm-hmm. Do you like it?"
"It's a gift… any grandfather can ever hope to ask… from their grandchild." Viserys smiled weakly.
Aemma's gentle smile slowly dropped into a concerned frown. "Are you in pain?" she inquired.
"It comes and goes, but try not to concern yourself about me, Aemma. The... The Grand Maester ensures I get the proper medicine to stay… healthy. Don't worry. I'll be out of this… this bed soon, I promise. But I… I'm sorry I missed your wedding, dear."
"No, no, grandpa. We understand the reason why you weren't able to attend. But you mustn't apologize for something you have no control over. Your health should come first and foremost. That's all that matters." Oh, grandpa, I hope you get well soon. If only you know how much we're all worried about you. Aemma's mind wandered back to a conversation she had with her grandfather. She had recently married her brother Aegon. Still, her mother had requested that they wait until the following year before consummating the marriage, a request that her father had promptly granted. Aemma and Aegon had ample time to have their own children, so there was no need to rush. However, Aemma couldn't shake off her discomfort as she noticed several young and older men staring at her during the ceremony. With her father's support, they backed away out of respect or fear of retribution from the Young Dragon if he caught them leering at his daughter. The situation was unsettling, but Aemma knew that her father had her back, and she could always count on him to protect her from any unwanted attention. The same could be said for any of her brothers. Jaehaerys, Aegon, Viserys, Daeron… Aemma knew they would fight tooth and nail to protect her. "Is there something I can do for you, grandpa?" she asked the king.
Viserys stiffed in pain momentarily. "Please… hand me my tea," he pointed to his desk.
"This one here?"
"Yes. Yes…"
Aemma obeyed. She deeply loved her grandfather, and seeing him in such a state was heart-wrenching. However, as she cautiously grasped the cup, she paused upon detecting an unfamiliar aroma. Wait a moment; something's not right. Aemma paused. This smell… Staring at the cup, she sniffed twice before her face scrunched. Ugh! Milk of the poppy; too pungent! The princess was now feeling suspicious. Grandpa said Grand Maester Orwyle has been making him this tea, but who amongst the servants has been serving it to him? There's way too much of it in here. Aemma glanced at the door. I need to inform my father about this. I swear when I find whoever is trying to harm my precious grandfather… Aemma was cautious as she prepared a fresh cup of herbal tea with a modified dosage, ensuring the king wouldn't notice the difference. After stirring the concoction with a spoon, she handed it over to Viserys and observed as he consumed it, his hands trembling until he finished the drink.
"Ahhhh…"
"Do you need anything else, grandpa? New sheets? A new pillow?"
"N… No, no. No, thank you, my dear. But… thank you. For being here with this old man."
"I wouldn't want to miss anything that would make you happy. You mean more to me than just being the king. You are our cherished grandfather, and I love you dearly. We all cherish you with all our hearts."
Upon hearing his beloved granddaughter's heartfelt words, Viserys was deeply moved and emotionally overcome. Despite the discomfort caused by his physical limitations, he trembled with emotion, and tears threatened to spill from his eyes. In a tender gesture, Viserys raised his remaining arm and beckoned Aemma to come closer. She eagerly complied, enveloping her grandfather in a warm embrace filled with love and affection. For Aemma, hugging her grandfather was a source of endless comfort and joy, and the bond between them had grown even stronger with each passing moment since she was a little girl. "My… My dearest grandchild… I… I love you so much," he said through faint hushed whispers.
"I love you too, grandpa," Aemma returned her grandfather's affection by kissing his cheek tenderly. "I'll send for someone to watch over you. But, in the meantime, I want you to get plenty of rest to help regain your strength." We need you, grandpa—more than ever—especially father.
"I'll… I'll be back on my feet in no time," Viserys reassured.
As Aemma lowered her head in deference to the king, she prepared to step out of the room. Just as she was about to leave, however, her gaze fell upon Talya, her mother's handmaiden, standing just outside the doorway. "Please keep an eye open for anything suspicious," she requested.
"At once, my princess," Talya complied. "Does that mean your father will also be informed about the 'tea' the other servants give the king?"
How do you know about this? "Yes. But it'll be best if it comes from me instead of someone else."
––––––––––––––––––––––––––
As the afternoon wore on, Aemma managed to finish her rounds. But, between her sewing, music, dance lessons, and tutoring, the princess felt entirely drained when she completed her latest task. It is likely that her eldest brother, Prince Jaehaerys, had returned to King's Landing after touring throughout the realm. Before that, he was known to travel frequently between the capital and Driftmark, where he visits their cousins Baela and Rhaena. Aegon and Viserys have just finished their sparring session with the Cargyll twins, Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk.
Meanwhile, Daeron has been undergoing rigorous training under the guidance of the Lykirī Mēre elders to improve his discipline. However, his stubbornness and hot-headed nature had led some to compare him to his paternal great-uncle, Prince Daemon. Despite his own misgivings about the ancient Valyrian Freehold's surviving assassination guild, their maternal grandfather, Ser Otto Hightower, would be damned if another Daemon Targaryen from emerging within the family line and worked to prevent that from happening.
As Aemma gazed at the selection of dresses laid out before her, she couldn't help but feel the weight of expectations upon her. Her mother and handmaidens had chosen these garments to present her in the best possible light as befitting a princess of her station. As the daughter of the Young Dragon, the court already held her in high regard, but Aemma couldn't help but wonder whether she had more to prove. But her father and mother both assured her no. Her thoughts turned to her elder she-dragon, Silverwing, and the urge to take her for a ride. Perhaps she could persuade her brothers to join her in flying around King's Landing. After all, what better way to clear her mind than soaring through the skies on the back of a dragon?
"Little early for sorting through clothes, don't you think?"
Aemma nearly jumped and spun around to see Aegon the Elder entering her room unannounced. The princess had already been aware of her uncle's infamous reputation as a lecherous womanizer, shamelessly flirting with young women—both ordinary servants and highborn, married or widowed, before having sex with them. But he would force himself upon them without their consent if they refused his advances. "U-Uncle," she said, uncertain. "What a surprise. I did not hear you enter. You have me at a disadvantage."
"Well, I had plenty of time on my hands. But, mmm! Gah, feels good to let loose now and then. It would be best if you tried it some time," Aegon replied without shame. Judging by his stance, it was assumed that he was already drunk and unable to maintain his balance. "You know… I couldn't help but think back to your wedding day. What was it now... three, four days ago?" he asked.
"Last week," Aemma corrected him. He's drunk. "But, uncle, you know you shouldn't be here."
"Oh? And why not?"
"This room belongs to me, and it's important to note that my father has instructed that nobody should enter without prior permission. So could you please leave so I can get changed?"
"Heh, always the stubborn ones, I swear." Aegon approached his niece, causing Aemma to slowly back away. "You looked so beautiful in that wedding dress," he towered over her, his hand pressed against the wall beside Aemma's right side. "Yes, you know what I mean. All the men were looking at you that night. How they… wanted you. Make you their own."
Now Aemma was feeling very nervous. "Um, u-uncle," she tried to reason with him. "This is… This highly unethical behavior; what you are doing." She attempted to move away, but Aegon stood over her. Come on, go. Please leave. "You forget yourself."
"So? Aegon the Conqueror had two wives, and Helaena doesn't satisfy me in ways you can't even imagine," Aegon pointed out. His eyes were leering at her, licking his lips with desire. "But you… Haven't you been bedded yet?"
"U-Uncle!" Aemma exclaimed, her cheeks flushing. She caught a whiff of his breath. "You're drunk." I got to get out of here! Someone, help me. Anyone!
"Oh, I only had a little. But you didn't answer my question. Right now… I'm on fire," Aegon had her cornered like a rat. "My blood is stirred. As will yours, soon enough. Does the thought of being 'satisfied' make you wet for me?"
"I-I am a woman wed," Aemma protested, pulling away from him, terrified. She quickly slid under his arm and crept closer to the door. She knew that if she managed to escape, she would have to run as fast as she could and scream as loud as she could for help. It was a frightening situation, and she prayed that she would be able to get away safely. "If you don't leave me alone, my father will have you hanged, uncle."
Aegon smirked. "Ooh, feisty are we?" he chuckled. "Good. I like my wenches feisty. It makes the thrill that much more intense. I'll have you singing louder than the girl I fucked yesterday. Didn't take much to make her sing before I spilled my seed in her cunt."
"N-No…"
"Yes, Aemma. You've teased me long enough. So it's my turn to get a taste of you." He put a hand on her breast and squeezed. "Now, get those clothes off. Undress yourself, girl. Or they get ripped off. You wouldn't want to know what happens to those who say 'no' to me, would you?"
"NO!" Aemma screamed in terror. Aegon grabbed her wrist, holding her as she struggled against his grip. He kissed her hard, all while his right hand was busy trying to slip beneath his niece's clothing to caress a breast. Instinctively, Aemma bit Aegon's lip hard and raked it with her teeth until she drew blood. Finally, he released his grip and hollered angrily.
"Gagh! You bitch!" Aegon roared. She bit me! She fucking bit me!
Aemma immediately ran out of the room, panic filling her with dread. Her crimson dress had been tattered slightly, and her hair was coming undone. She had to get away from Aegon the Elder as quickly as possible. Looking for an escape route, Aemma quickly turned the corridor. Much to her bewilderment, however, her uncle was surprisingly fast on his feet, and it wasn't long before he eventually caught up to her.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Aegon snarled, grabbed her arm, and spun her around.
"Unhand me, you brute!" Aemma shouted and slapped him across the face.
Aegon, unfazed by his niece's assault, backhanded her in retaliation, sending her flying to the ground. He watched Aemma quickly try to get back up, but he grabbed both legs and drew her closer to him. Aemma put up fierce resistance, kicking and wriggling to break free of his grasp. He grabbed her clothes to rip them off, but she kicked, twisted, and turned. Aegon was physically stronger than Aemma, so these things did not faze him. On the contrary, it seemed to arouse him even more. So he pounced on top of her, pinned her down, and leaned close to her ear. "So it's true. You are a virgin, then," he whispered. "Good. Prepare for a good, hard fucking."
"NOO! GET OFF OF ME!" Aemma screamed, knowing what her uncle intended to do to her. "HELP!" Mom! Dad! Jay! Aegon, Viserys, Daeron! Someone! "MOTHER! FATHER! HEEEEELP!~ JAY! AEGON, VISERYS! DAERON!" She thrashed with all her might, kicking, biting, and scratching Aegon's face in a desperate attempt to escape, but to no avail, as Aegon the Elder was too strong and applied his body weight to keep her from flailing.
"Go ahead. Do it! Keep screaming; better that way," Aegon the Elder remarked as he worked to undo his breaches. When she tried to knee him in the groin, he twisted away and forced her legs apart with his knees. "I'll have you now." He worked to pull her leggings down. The more she struggled to stop him from trying to rape her, the more Aegon enjoyed himself.
"HELP! SOMEONE! PLEASE, HELP ME!~"
"Scream all you want, but no one's going to—"
"GET THE FUCK OFF MY SISTER, BASTARD!" a familiar voice yelled from behind.
Before Aegon could turn around, he immediately found himself hoisted off the ground and hurled against the wall as hard as he was thrown. He grunted, seeking to retaliate against whoever dared interrupt his fun. It was Jaehaerys! The eldest of the Targaryen children was the first to arrive on the scene. And from the look of it, Jaehaerys was disgusted and outraged by what he had witnessed. When Aegon shook off the initial assault, he was hit again from a different direction and then the other. He realized the twins, Aegon the Younger and Viserys, had heard their sister's cry for help and immediately ran to her rescue. From the look on their faces, they were beyond pissed off. When Aegon moved to strike back, he felt a horrible, sharp pain in the back of his legs and fell to the ground to see Daeron had a makeshift blade to stab him with before he aggressively joined in on the attack, kneeing him in the face as hard as he could.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO DO THAT TO HER!" Viserys exploded in anger.
"PUT YOUR HANDS ON AEMMA?! I HOPE YOU DUG YOUR OWN GRAVE!" Aegon the Younger shouted, punching and kicking his uncle relentlessly.
"YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID!" Daeron roared.
Aemma stumbled to her knees, arms crossed over her chest, her breath ragged. Once the princess heard familiar voices, she looked up and realized help had arrived. Her brothers! All of them heard her and rushed to save her. A wave of relief and anxiety washed over her; Aemma slowly crawled away while her brothers continued relentlessly beating Aegon the Elder savagely, blood splattering and sounds of sickening bones crunching before the Kingsguard heard the commotion and rushed over.
"What the…?! Stop this at once!" Ser Harrold ordered.
Ser Arryk hooked Aegon the Younger and pulled him away; Ser Erryk did the same to Viserys. Ser Steffon had difficulty restraining Daeron, who fought against him. The prince wanted a piece of the uncle who tried to rape his sister. Ser Lorent, meanwhile, strained to pry off Jaehaerys. They all wanted Aegon the Elder to suffer for what he did.
Criston arrived late and saw Aegon the Elder on the ground, twitching with a groan, spitting blood on the floor. He was surrounded, mercilessly beaten within an inch of his life. By the looks of him, I'd say they ruptured a few of his organs and broke several bones. He looked up at the princes still in the Kingsguard's grip. They're very dangerous when paired in groups. But separately…
Alicent, having heard the commotion, turned the corner. However, when she saw Aemma on the ground with her hair disheveled and dress torn slightly while her arms covered her chest, she immediately realized what had happened. Her maternal instincts shifted into overdrive. "Oh, my Gods! Aemma!" she gasped and hurriedly rushed to her daughter, deeply worried.
"M-Mother!" Aemma crawled over to Alicent, buried her face in her mother's shoulder, and wrapped her arms around her tightly. She cried as her mother caressed her.
"What do you lads think you're doing—" Ser Arryk tried speaking up.
"He tried to rape Aemma!" Aegon the Younger snapped.
The Kingsguard gasped in shock. Sure, they protect the king and members of the royal family, but what would their code as knights of honor say if they stood by while another tried to assault someone from the same family sexually? Sure, they knew of Aegon the Elder's womanizing ways, but this took things too far.
"Father!"
Everyone turned to see Aeonar standing there in the hallway. Accompanied by the Lykirī Mēre, the Young Dragon made his presence known. It was then that the entire corridor felt increasingly cold. Finally, Aeonar turned to his daughter, still crying in Alicent's neck. "Aemma?" When he examined her, his pale lilac eyes glared at them. "Who did this?" his voice was menacingly low, but his tone sent chills down the men-at-arms who arrived on the scene.
"HE DID!" the Targaryen children all pointed at Aegon the Elder, who remained to lie in a pool of his blood. "He tried to rape Aemma! We all heard her call for help and saw him trying to rip her clothes off!"
"He did WHAT?!" Aeonar said sharply. He stared at Aegon the Elder, then up again at Criston. The two continued staring at each other as Ser Harrold immediately shouted orders, demanding the troops take the elder Aegon to the Grand Maester and any available healers to treat Aemma. Alicent glared angrily at her brother-in-law for trying to do such a horrid thing to her precious daughter. She continued stroking Aemma's hair, calming her as a mother. Even as Queen Beatrice, Lord Unwin, and Prince Aemond arrived, little could be done. This latest act would only heighten hostilities between the two factions.
Little did they know, King Viserys, who had gotten out of bed, was across the hall from where they gathered. His hand was shaking against his cane terribly, and his vision blurred. The king, having seen what happened, felt his chest tighten. He couldn't breathe! Followed by a prolonged, sharp pain in his head! He dropped his cane and clutched his chest before he collapsed to the ground. Before long, Viserys started twitching violently and shook with sharp spasms.
The only thing the king heard before losing consciousness…
"Grandfather!"
"Grandpa!"
"Your Grace! Someone get a maester! Hurry!"
Chapter End
Author's Note: Well, this was an emotionally and morally tough one to write. But this filler arc centers around Princess Aemma. I honestly have no love for Aegon the Elder and am disgusted for what he's done throughout his years, but this one takes the cake. Not only did he not stop in sleeping with any woman he sees, but he tried the same thing on Aemma. However, IT DIDN'T WORK! Her brothers came in and beat the absolute shit out of that piece of shit. What was the extent of the damage they inflicted on him? Six broken ribs, ruptured a few internal organs, and broke both his arms. Alicent and Aeonar are in mom and dad mode after they learned what had happened, but Aeonar wants his half-brother dead. NO ONE puts their hands on his little firefly. But what of King Viserys's condition? His health is steadily declining and at the end, it looked like he either had a heart attack or a stroke. What do you think will happen in the next chapter, because the first half takes place prior to this one and the other half occurs AFTERWARD. Let me know. I... need to get a drink.
dragon rose 11: all I got to say is that Aegon, the older ether, should be executed for this or exile to the wall because there is no way in hell Aeonar should realistically not do some permanent punishment to Aegon after this this is a mess he's mother and grandfather cannot get him out of so realistically he should be dead or at the Night's Watch
randomdude24: Trying to rape Aemma is a terrible mistake by Aegon the Elder, only a matter of time before this information gets spread out, I can see Aeonar making that happen. But I can see the Caltrops at the same time making this Aemma fault to save face although probably won't be effective.
The closer we get to the war, the more I really question how the Caltrops can even successfully usurp the Throne, Aegon is irresponsible, lazy, whoremonger, etc. vs Aeonar who is smart, calculating, an accomplished warrior, with friends in court, top it off the first born son. No doubt Aeonar has enemies like Ser Cristion, the remnants of The Triarchy, house Peake, possibly houses Baratheon and Lannister who Aeonar has embarrassed or insulted. Looking forward to who sides with who.
One question, I know you can't spoil anything but, I imagine you have an ending planned out. Comparing to the canon version of the dance of dragons, will this story have a better ending or will it be very bittersweet like the canon version?
—I'm still weighing my options, but for now I'm leaning toward bittersweet. Other than that, I can't say.
Moran: Call me callous, but I think Aeonar was hoping for this to happen for two reason I could think of so far:
1st, something Aeonar could use to damage the Caltrops' image in a negative light and show the realm their inability in disciplining Aegon the Elder and his hedonistic disposition.
2nd, Aeonar possibly disapproves of Aemma's innocence. Not that he see it as weakness but It made her a sheep in a place full of ravenous wolves. He would use this event to prove what men are capable of and pushes her to learn to defend herself.
I can already picture Aeonar sending Aemma with Aegon the Younger and/or Alicent to Dragonstone not just for her safety but also to train with the Lykiri Mere away from prying eyes.
XavierWright: I'd like to see how Beatrice tries to get her vicious bastard out of that one. But given that Viserys just fainted, I suppose that'll have to wait.
Still, Aegon the Elder's pretty dumb for 2 reasons.
1. He obviously should've known that Aegon the Younger wouldn't take the raping of sister-wife sitting down, and considering that he practically kicked his Uncle's ass the last time they fought, I think younger Aegon would've killed his Uncle if he could.
2. There's also Aeonar. Surely Aegon must be aware of the fact that his legal half-brother has no love for him, and any wrong moves instantly signs his death warrant. Adding on to the fact that Aeonar is a renowned spy master, why was he stupid enough to attempt to rape Aemma? He knew Aeonar would find out about it eventually, and that would only mean bad things for him.
But all in, the worst part is that Aemma will be forever scarred by this ordeal. And it's all thanks to Aegon the Elder 'Targaryen'. And the tensions have now been further heightened. Good job, bastard.
Hope it was worth it.
TheRagFromTheCrag: I fucking hate this chapter.. fucking aegon...
—I know; I hate it too.
LordDarkness89: Aegon should definitely face some serious consequences
—I think I have an idea, but it might be seen at the very end of the next filler arc chapter.
garrysprawson123: Oh my God, so is Aeonar and his family going to live in Dragon Stone now because Aegon that fucking bastard tried to rape Aemma! that fucking bastard! and also Kingslanding isn't safe for Aeonars children and now
—As much as he wants to keep his children safe, Aeonar cannot afford to leave King's Landing. He's the Hand of the King and needs to keep things in check now that his father is sick in bed and the Caltrops are still causing trouble.
mpowers045: Castration would've been better but broken arms and ribs are fine
—Trust me, I've been getting plenty of DMs requesting Aegon the Elder suffer that fate