Aemond scowled as he watched his brother stare lustily at a nearby serving girl who scurried away once she caught the older prince's eye. His older brother hadn't stopped drinking since arriving at Driftmark and deemed it boring. But, unfortunately, Aunt Diana was too busy consoling her grieving son and grandchildren to mollycoddle the ever-childish Aegon.
Rolling his eyes, Aemond turned to search the crowd, catching a familiar girlish frame with golden silver hair standing near the balcony's edge, staring out at the beach. The young prince set off in Jocelyn's direction without thinking of the consequences should his mother catch him consorting with the enemy.
Once close enough, he reached down and jerked gently at her braided curls twice before walking towards the tent where Helaena and Dahlia were no doubt muttering in riddles and going through Heleana's menagerie of insects. His younger cousin had inherited her mother's patience for the weird and confusing, often spending her time in King's Landing with a usually solitary Helaena, listening to his sister's whispers with reverence and not shrinking from Helaena's insane interests.
Soft footfalls alerted Aemond to Jocelyn's pursuit, and he weaved through the crowd, not looking back until he was safely in the shade of the tent, hidden from his mother's assessing gaze and judgemental eyes. Aemond loved his mother but couldn't spend more than half an hour with her before she ranted about duty and responsibilities.
She would ramble about how his cousins and nephews were a threat to him and Aegon and how despite giving birth to five trueborn children, Rhaenyra would consider them a threat and execute them all as soon as she was crowned.
When he was smaller, before Jocelyn was born and Rhaenyra's familiar support grew enough to withstand his mother's influence, Aemond used to believe his Mother's stories. And would cry every night from nightmares of Syrax eating him or Uncle Aelyx executing him and Aegon at his wife's behest.
But then, he was forced to spend time with his fellow princelings and princesses, and he concluded that they weren't the beast his mother hissed them to be, but just children.
Rambunctious and spoiled children, but what could be expected of royalty?
That didn't mean he didn't hate them at times, resenting how the younger boys followed Aegon's words like they were written by the Seven themselves. Especially when Aegon tried to ruin their innocence with his cruelty and japes, but every time Aemond felt himself falling off the cliff into madness and jealousy, one of the little cretins always did something annoyingly cute to pull him off the ledge.
Not that Jocelyn was a cretin, she was perfect in every way. At least, according to Aemond, she was. But, if you asked his mother, Jocelyn Lannister was a spoiled brat who took after her whore of a mother too much.
Aemond had heard whispers that his mother and Rhaenyra had been childhood companions, spending their time playing with Aunt Alycia and Uncle Aelyx; whatever love had once been there seemed to have been shredded by time and old rivalries.
Despite his belief in Jocelyn's promises that Rhaenyra wouldn't sully her reign with kinslaying, Aemond could never get close to the woman, his father's favoured child. She had never been rude or spurned him or his siblings, but a chasm had always kept them apart. It was easier to deal with his niece and nephews because they were his age but with her perfect beauty and powerful presence, Rhaenyra seemed untouchable.
"Hand turns loom; spool of green, spool of black; dragons of flash weaving dragons of thread," Helaena muttered from her spot kneeling upon the green and gold pillows their mother had arranged for her as she rolled her hand as a giant spider tried and failed to escape her grasp.
Dahlia frowned as she sat next to her cousin, her dark brow furrowed as she cradled a giant centipede to her chest, her attention locked on Helaena's rambling. When Helaena spoke the same riddle repeatedly, the dark-haired girl gently but firmly took her shoulder, nudging it slightly before backing off. Helaena's hatred of physical contact was infamous among those who lived or spent significant time in the Red Keep.
Helaena jerked, her glazed eyes focused as she curled away from the contact. Still, she did quiet, instead turning her attention to a softly smiling Dahlia as she held out the spider's small carrier. She nodded approvingly as Heleana deposited the little beast into its cage and shut the lid.
"We have nothing in common," the sneer came from behind as a wobbling Aegon announced his appearance, his eyes bloodshot from alcohol and his lip curled in disgust as he took in Helaena as she listened intently. At the same time, Dahlia read her a story from one of her many massive books.
Jocelyn hissed a curse as she reached up and yanked the wine-filled goblet out of Aegon's loose grip, snapping under her breath, "You can't even pull it together for our aunt's fucking funeral?"
Aegon stumbled back a step at her aggressive tone and abrupt movements but didn't look repentant as he stared longingly at the goblet still clutched in his niece's hold.
"Why should I care?" he asked, his voice slightly slurred from drink, "It's not like she ever gave a fuck about us." Aegon made it clear who he was referring to by tilting his head once toward Aemond and then toward Helaena. "No, she was too busy fretting over you and Rhaenyra's brood ever to deign the King's second sons or daughter a glance."
Bitterness laced the young man's voice as he tried and failed to grab the goblet back, only succeeding in almost falling flat on his face when Jocelyn danced out of reach.
"That wasn't her fault, you idiot. She tried to get to know you, she invited you to Driftmark hundreds of times, but your mother refused her offers." Jocelyn snarled under her breath, losing patience with Aegon's antics and simply dumping the goblet over the edge, letting the wine spill onto the sand below.
Aegon cried like he was in agony when he saw the wine disappear over the edge, but he didn't refute Jocelyn's allegations; everyone knew the queen was pathologically protective over her children. Not allowing any of them save poor Daeron out of her sight, and even then, their younger brother had been sent to Oldtown to foster with his Hightower relatives with his blue dragon Tessarion.
"No matter; our sister is still a simpleton. I cannot see why Mother insisted on betrothing us."
"Rhaenyra offered Jace as a possible match, but your mother said 'no.' If you have a problem, take it up with her." Jocelyn said before sticking her nose in the air and sitting with Dahlia and Heleana, showing where her loyalties lay without words.
"She is our sister," Aemond muttered, annoyed that Aegon had managed to run Jocelyn off before he could talk to her. Besides, despite her particularities, Helaena was his sister, and he loved her; he hated how Aegon spoke of her.
"Then you marry her then. The only thing me and Helaena have in common is our love of creatures with very long legs." Aegon said distractedly, a voracious grin spreading across his face as he watched the serving girls pass by; his eyes stuck to their rears as they avoided his gaze.
"Aegon…" Aemond muttered under his breath in disappointment when his brother, true to form, gave chase on wobbly legs.
The rest of the luncheon went on as onlookers gawked at the family in mourning, whispering behind their hands. Aemond felt adrift as he watched the easy way Rhaenyra and her faction displayed affection. Hugs and kisses were given freely as those closest to Lady Laena mourned her passing.
Surprisingly, Aegon had been quickly snatched up by their Aunt Diana, who pulled him into her circle and shoved food down his throat to sober him up. After that, Aegon didn't look all that miserable as he stood sullenly in their Aunt's grip, allowing her to play with his silver locks absentmindedly as she talked with her husband and children.
Mother had looked furious when she saw where her firstborn was hiding out but hadn't yet found the courage to confront the only other woman alive to marry into the Targaryen dynasty successfully. Aemond knew his mother resented Aunt Diana and disapproved of her conversion to the Valyrian lifestyle and religion.
The Royces had always been an ancient house that, despite their Southern appearance, had followed the Old Gods, wedding under Heart Trees until Diana was wed to Daemon in the Dragon Pit by the High Septon. The Princess had acclimated to her husband's religion and taught her children, his cousins, to do the same. As a result, they didn't follow the Seven or the Old Gods; instead, they bowed their heads to the Fourteen Flames of Old Valyria.
A distant roar and the sounds of massive wings flapping had Aemond's heart rate spiking as he jerked his head around in search of the source of the sound. An enormous shadow drifted through the clouds above, hidden by the darkening sky.
The crowd of funeral goers had slowly thinned as the sun set over the horizon, with many guests choosing to take refuge from the cold salty air inside. His mother had quickly snatched up a slowly sobering Aegon and a tired Haelena, dragging them indoors as soon as it was socially acceptable; luckily, Aemond had hidden from her shrewd gaze and hadn't been hauled off as well.
One day, you will claim a dragon, and we will fly together.
Jocelyn's words echoed in his ears as he slowly crept towards the stone stairway that led down to the beach. This was his chance to claim not only a dragon but the largest dragon in the world. Then, he would be worthy of the Targaryen name and Jocelyn.
Line Break*
Daemon growled as he rocked fervently between his wife's shaking legs, lost in the bliss of being inside her. Diana gasped as she clawed at his back with sharp nails as together, they fell off the precipice into pleasure. Even after almost thirty years and multiple third parties invited into their bed, no one compared to her husband when it came to bed sport.
With one final deep thrust, both parties moaned their relief as Daemon spilled himself deep, Diana having already peaked multiple times prior. Slowly, with what looked like boneless arms, Daemon fell off to the side so as to not crush her petite form with his as he gasped for air and absentmindedly caressed her still-heaving breasts and soft stomach.
"What do you think?" He muttered, eyeing her belly where thin white lines crisscrossed where their babies once grew, "Did I just spill another prince or princess into that fertile womb of yours?"
Daemon laughed as he caught the exasperated slap she sent his way, clasping her hand in his. He kissed her palm as she hissed a curse in High Valyrian and sent him a glare that would have killed him if it could. No, there would be no more babes coming from Diana's womb; the tea she drank every day would ensure that.
And Daemon was content to keep the children and grandchildren he already had, he'd told her so while watching her struggle to recover from Dahlia's birth. Diana had done her duty well and deserved some rest after the hell their spawn had put her through. He knew his wife dreamed of settling down either at Runestone or Dragonstone, surrounded by their grandchildren, living a peaceful existence.
If only that were possible.
"Fuck my fertile womb, and fuck you," Diana muttered, rolling her eyes but nevertheless laying her head on his chest and relaxing into his embrace as he continued to kiss her hand and up her arm, "I haven't had a baby in a decade. My fertile womb is a desert at this point."
"Do you want to make a b-?" Daemon's tease was cut off by a loud knock on their chamber door before a frazzled-looking maid stepped through, a Velaryon guard on her heels looking severe.
"Apologies, My Prince, Princess, but there has been a serious incident involving the children. His Grace demands your presence in the Great Hall."
In a second, the calm, cheerful atmosphere was gone and was replaced with terror as the couple raced to get dressed and out the door. Daemon didn't even bother to tie the neckline of the white undershirt he'd thrown on over a pair of brown cotton trousers, his bare feet shoved into a pair of leather boots. He wrapped Dark Sister's holster around his waist as he marched out.
Diana didn't look any better with her hair a tangled mess from sex and her bare form shoved into a white, almost sheer nightgown, covered by a red and black silk robe she'd picked up off the floor.
Their footfalls echoed through the empty halls as they followed the maid as she led them towards the hall where raised voices carried, many of them high-pitched.
The children… She said something had happened with the children.
Diana felt like her heart was going to beat out of her chest as she clasped her hand in her husband's and followed him as he made no attempts at subtly and shoved the doors of the great hall open with a crash, his hand resting on Dark Sister's hilt.
With wide doe eyes, the Royce princess consort scanned the crowd, counting heads internally and disparaging at the multiple injuries she saw. Thankfully, the youngest -Baelon, Baelor, Viserys and Cordyn - were still locked away in the nursery, safe from harm.
As the rest of the parents stumbled in, looking sleep rumpled and terrified, Diana felt her heart rate slow only slightly; she wasn't alone. They would keep the children safe, no matter the cost.
"Baela? Rhaena! What happened?"
"Aedan! Alyssa! Where are your brothers?!"
"Dahlia!"
"Tyson! Jocelyn, get away from him!"
Rhaenyra looked close to tears as she knelt in front of a sobbing Alyssa as she clutched her bloodied nose frantically. She reached out and cupped her daughter's cheek, murmuring, "Alyssa? My sweet girl, show me."
"Who did this?" Aelyx hissed from where he stood, with a scowling and black-eyed Aedan under his arm.
The parents all rushed to their children's aid, including horrified Diana who silently fussed over a whimpering Dahlia, who looked unharmed. Unlike her nieces and nephews, the young princess was clean, her hair tidy as if ready for bed.
"I was in bed, I heard yelling," Dahlia whimpered, "Helaena and I went to check on the others, and everyone was gone."
"He stole Vaghar!" Rhaena cried into Daemion's chest whilst pointing an accusing finger at a sullen and defeated-looking Aemond. By his side knelt a worried-looking Jocelyn, who clutched his hand in hers as the Maester poked and prodded at the newly stitched skin over his eye.
Fury lit up the now One-Eyed-Prince as he snarled, "They attacked me!"
And with that, the room erupted into shrieks and accusations as the children all pleaded their innocence and made their own accusations against each other.
"A dragon cannot be stolen!" Jocelyn cried as she stood tall in the face of almost all of her playmates' combined fury. Aemond looked thankful as he continued to clutch both hers and a tearful Alicent hand in both of his.
"He snuck out at our mother's funeral! Vaghar was supposed to be Cordyn's! Just as she was our Mother's!" Baela shrieked, a bloody gash over her eye leaking blood into her silver hair.
"Enough! Silence!" All fell silent as his brother stood to his feet, his one arm leaning heavily on his walking cane as Viserys hobbled to stand in the middle of the room, between the two explicit factions on either side.
Daemon looked fit to kill as he released his hold on Diana's hand and forced his face into a cool, collected mask of indifference as he stepped forward, "If I may, Your Grace?"
"What could you possibly have to say? My child has been maimed!" Alicent hissed, her face contorted in fury as she clutched her son's hand to her breast in anguish.
"I can see that, Queen Alicent. I simply want to get to the bottom of this nonsense without any more calamities." Daemon replied, to Diana's relief, despite his dislike of his brother's halfbreed children - in his words - now wasn't the time for vengeful fury. A prince had been maimed, and there would be consequences.
"Perhaps each of the children should take turns telling their story?" Diana said, her face pale but composed as she left Dahlia with her siblings and came to stand with him. She couldn't allow Alicent's apparent grief overtake this procession, the truth needed to be found, and she had a feeling there was more to the story than her grandchildren jumping their defenceless cousin.
"It is obvious what happened! Your grandchildren tried to kill my son for claiming his birthright! My King, Viserys, this cannot go unpunished!" Alicent cried, her brown eyes filled with tears and righteous anger as she glared daggers at Diana.
"Silence, Alicent. My brother is right. Now is not the time to allow our tempers to cloud our judgement." Viserys said, his face weary as he looked at Aemond with guilt and horror apparent in his eyes. "Aemond, tell me what happened."
Aemond looked desperate as he leaned forward, his voice cracking with emotion and pain as he jostled the still tender wound over his eye, "I claimed Vaghar, Father. They attacked me when I came back inside."
Viserys shook his head but pushed forward, levelling his glare at a bloodied Aedan, the eldest of Rhaenyra's children, "Aedan! Speak!"
Aedan cowered a little under the scrutiny of the whole hall but replied, "Baela and Rhaena woke us up. She said someone had stolen Vaghar. We went to look and found Aemond coming back inside. Rhaena told him that Vaghar was Aunt Laena's dragon, and he spat at her feet and said Aunt Laena was dead and Vaghar was his dragon now. Then… then Rhaena shoved him, and he punched her in the face. It all happened so fast! He had a rock and said he was going to burn us all alive! I'm sorry."
The apology was a whimpered cry as the young boy, only nine years old, began to sob into his father's chest. When it became clear that the boy was in no position to keep talking, Viserys turned his gaze to a sobbing Alyssa, his gaze softening as he took in her still bleeding nose and red eyes.
"Alyssa, what happened next?"
"We were all fighting. Jocelyn tried to stop us and left to get help. Aemond picked up a rock and was choking me, so Aedan took out his blade. He said he would burn us all alive and feed us to Vaghar! So Aedan swung at him. It was an accident, Grandsire! Aedan was just trying to get him to let me go! It's not his fault!"
"That's when I found the Lord Commander and led him back to the others," Jocelyn said, her eyes glaring daggers at a still sobbing Aedan, "Aemond was bleeding."
The adults stood in stunned horror as they listened to the tale, too shocked by the night's events to speak as they took in the damage wrought by children all under a dozen years old.
Rhaenyra took advantage of the lull and stood tall, "Your Grace, we have multiple witnesses telling the same story. It was Aemond, the eldest, who started the fight, maybe not with fists but with dishonourable words, and he was the one to threaten to become a kinslayer half a dozen times over."
"That is your excuse? An insult? My son has lost an eye!" Alicent cried, her voice filled with disgust as she curled her lip at Rhaenyra, her hatred evident.
"He threatened the lives of four children, all younger than him! Both sets of twins are nine years old, and he threatened to burn them alive after he disrespected his own aunt's legacy by claiming her dragon during her funeral." Rhaenyra said, standing tall, her chin tilted up in defiance.
"Enough! This interminable infighting must cease!" Viserys roared, slamming his cane down with a thump and making every stand to attention as tears came to his eyes, "All of you! We are a family. Now make your apologies and show goodwill to one another."
With that, the king dropped his head in defeat and began to make his escape, his breaths laboured from exhaustion. Alicent looked appalled as she watched her weakling of a husband retreat without doling out punishment.
"This is insufficient," she said brokenly, tears welling over, "Aemond has been damaged permanently, My King. 'Goodwill' cannot make him whole."
"I know, Alicent. But I cannot restore his eye."
"No, because it has been taken."
"What would you have me do?!" Viserys asked, his voice raising once again in frustration.
Alicent raised her head stubbornly and turned to glare at Rhaenyra, "There is a debt to be paid. I shall have one of her children's eyes in return."
"My dear wife…."
"He is your son Viserys. Your blood." Alicent cried, cutting him off before the king could console her into rationality.
Diana was furious as she stepped forward in tandem with Daemon, their children moving with them to surround the grandchildren in a silent threat. If Alicent wanted an eye, she would have to go through the combined might of six fully grown dragon riders and all of Lord Corlys' guards who quickly went in the defence to protect their liege lord and his family.
"Do not allow your temper to guide your judgement." Viserys hissed, anger making his face redden.
"If the King will not seek justice, then the Queen will. Ser Criston, bring me the eye of Aedan Targaryen."
The sound of swords being drawn filled the air as Daemon stepped forward, Dark Sister in his hand. "If anyone tries to touch a hair on my grandson's head, I will slice them in half and feed their corpse to Caraxes."
"Peace, Daemon! Alicent, enough!" Viserys cried, his gaze darting to a nervous Ser Criston who made no move to follow his Queen's command.
"No! You are sworn to me, Ser Criston!"
Criston looked apprehensive as he took in the armed guards standing to attention, not to mention Daemon, Aelyx, Daemion and Corlys, who had all come to stand in defence of their blood. After a moment of hesitation, he stepped back, lowering his head in apology, "As your protector, Your Grace."
"Alicent, this matter is finished," Viserys growled before turning away and beginning his retreat back to his rooms.
"Thank you, Your Grace," Rhaenyra said, her voice quiet and subdued as she began to turn away to tend to her children.
At her words, Alicent's eyes darkened with malicious intent. Cries of shock and outrage filled the air as she reached forward and, with a ferocious look in her eyes, snatched the Valyrian steel dagger from her husband's waist and charged the other faction, her bloodthirsty gaze locked onto a cowering Aedan.
"Alicent!"
"Stay with the King!"
"Hold your approach!"
"Do not Ser Criston!"
With a wild yell, Alicent swung the blade but choked when all she met was air as a hand lashed out and stopped her midair. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the narrowed eyes of Rhaenyra, who held her back with barely a flinch.
"How dare you?" Rhaenyra hissed and, using a move she'd been taught by Daemon as a child, disarmed Alicent and sent the Queen sprawling onto her backside while Daemon went and met a snarling Ser Criston halfway. With Aelyx's help, Daemon put the disgraced knight into a firm hold, shoving him to his knees. "You have gone too far."
"How dare I?" Alicent shrieked from her position on the ground, her legs tangled in her long green skirts as she tried and failed to stand again with dignity, "What have I done, but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law. For the good of the kingdom while you and your spawn do as you please?! Where is duty? Where is sacrifice?"
"Alicent enough!" Viserys roared, panic sparking in his eye at the physical confrontation.
"Who exactly are you speaking to? Certainly not me and certainly, not His Grace's Heir." Diana spat her fragile hold on her temper broken by the Queen's self-righteous words; even with her sex-mussed hair and wrinkled robe, she stepped forward to glare down at the Hightower Queen, who had never looked more like a lost little girl than at that moment.
"Princess Rhaenyra has done her duty five times over and has been a beacon of light these last ten years while you and your lot try and fail to pull her down. And for what? Because she has managed to find love? Happiness? Jealousy does not suit you, Your Grace, no matter how much green you wear."
Emboldened by her Aunt's backing, Rhaenyra advanced, standing tall to tower over a still fuming Alicent, "And now you attack my son, a prince third in line to the Iron Throne itself, and you think you are the victim. Aemond has been damaged, yes, and I will forever feel guilt for not being there to stop it from happening, but it was not I who taught him to be cruel to those he deems lesser than himself. He may not have stolen Vaghar, but he showed dishonour in his actions, sneaking out into the night while everyone slept instead of attempting to claim her where we might celebrate his achievements."
At the end of her speech, Rhaenyra turned her glare onto an embarrassed looking Aemond whose sneer had long since vanished in the face of his sister's disapproval. Even Jocelyn, his most staunch supporter, looked uncomfortable as she petted his hair and looked down at her feet in supplication.
After a moment, the young prince stood, walking to a now cowering Alicent who had been helped to her feet by a frowning Ser Harrold. Taking her hand in his, he said, "Do not mourn me, Mother. I may have lost an eye, but I have gained a dragon. There is no debt to be paid."
"To bed all of you!" Viserys roared, his face pale with a mixture of horror and relief that his daughter escaped his wife's assault unscathed.
Silently, the crowd dispersed, with only the shuffling of feet and the swish of fabric the only sound in the great hall. Finally, the only ones who remained were a panting Viserys who, with great difficulty, took a seat on the salt throne, and bowed his head in grief and a solemn Daemon and Diana. Ser Harrald stood in silent vigil next to the throne, his face lined with stress as he stood tall in his white armour.
After several long moments, Daemon seemed to lose his patience and, with one last disgusted look at his brother, spun on his heel and strode from the room, his steps virtually silent despite the stone floor. Leaving Diana alone to inspect her good brother with a critical eye.
"Why has this happened, Sister? Have I truly been so blind?" Viserys asked, his voice cracking with emotion as he looked up at Diana with pleading eyes.
Diana felt only pity as she stared back at the broken and feeble king, although a dark part of her whispered how his exterior now matched just weak Viserys had always been on the inside. Past grievances came to mind as well as the pain of Aemma's loss.
It seemed Viserys' bad decisions had come home to roost, and her family was being left in its path of destruction.
"Yes," she said, her voice quiet but firm in the empty hall, Viserys looked stricken as she continued to speak, her voice growing louder as her confidence grew, "You have allowed your feelings to get in the way of politics and in doing so, have allowed your wife too much leeway to plot at will."
Viserys could only gawk at Diana's blunt words, shock rendering him mute. Diana may have always been a bold woman, brought only bolder by her husband's backing, but she had never been so angry that she'd blatantly insult a royal, especially to the King's face.
Diana's heart raced in her chest; she knew that she risked banishment, maybe even execution, with her words, but she continued on, her back straight and eyes level, "Alicent has been playing cryvasse while your daughter, who I love dearly but wasn't adequately prepared to rule, plays checkers. And because your daughter loves and respects you, she refuses to lower herself to gossip-mongering to defend herself."
Viserys blinked rapidly, his swallow audible as he stammered, "I had heard whispers, but I have always defended Rhaenyra! And Alicent, she would never stoop so low."
"You are blind, Viserys, just as blind as when you banished Daemon all those years ago for telling you the truth." Diana snapped, her composure shaking slightly in frustration. What would it take for Viserys to see what was right in front of him?
"And what truth is that?" Viserys said, a dangerous edge entering his tone. Ser Harrald responded to it by resting his hand on the hilt of his sword in a silent warning for Diana to choose her next words carefully.
Still, she ploughed on, too far gone with anger and frustration to hold her tongue any longer, "That you are weak, and because of that, House Targaryen grows weaker as well. When you die, your daughter and wife's fraction will rip this realm apart for the throne. You must make this right before it is too late."
"And how would you suggest I do that?" Anger still lingered in Viserys' voice, but he just looked tired as he leaned back in his borrowed throne and looked at her with exhaustion hooded eyes.
"King Jaeherys had many children, like you, and in order to preserve peace and promote alliances, he made betrothals and fostered his children out to the Great Houses. The eldest children are old enough to do the same." Diana said, forcing her voice to stay steady despite how thick it felt at the possibility of stealing her grandchildren away from their parents for political gain.
Pushing forward, she used the king's shock to continue her proposal, "Aegon and Aemond are desperate to prove themselves, but your wife stifles them with her protectiveness. She fills their head with Westerosi values instead of those of their Valyrian Ancestors. I propose fostering Aegon or Aemond on Driftmark to strengthen ties and fix the broken trust between our houses. As for Rhaenyra's children, Aedan and Alyssa are also viable candidates to meet and foster alliances with their kin in the Vale or even the Westerlands."
"Alicent and Rhaenyra would never agree -" Viserys sighed, rubbing his forehead and struggling to stand, looking to be done with the conversation.
"All due respect, Your Grace, but they are not the king or the head of House Targaryen. You are." Diana cried, desperation making her voice crack slightly in an effort to stop Viserys' retreat.
Viserys froze, his back to her, but the tension in his shoulders was clear. After a long moment, he spoke, "I will consider all that you have revealed to me, sister. Good night."
And just like that, he was gone, leaving Diana alone to contemplate her words. What had she done?