(This chapter contains chapters 10 and 11! Enjoy!)
Chapter 10; Let the Healing begin.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, she was ripped out of Aemond's arms and rushed away. She wanted to make sure Lumi landed safely behind Vhagar. She swore she heard her land, but they moved her before she could look behind her. The large green dragon was quite the blockage. She was rushed off by a man in full armor and another man in grey robes into a Tower.
They got her into a private room, were three woman and another man were already waiting. They had towels, wraps, and tons of other things all around them. The equivalent of medieval A&E. Madama Pomfrey would have approved.
If it wasn't for the Ladies comforting her telling her what they were doing next, she knows she would have panicked. They Began poking her and pushing her the second she entered the room. They even put up a privacy screen between them and the prince (Princes?) before removing the jacket and what cloth she had on that was supposed to pass as clothes.
It was when they undressed her and laid her on the bed that the real work started. One of the ladies took out a string and started measuring from the top of her baby bump to the bottom. The second lady started asking questions about her pain. How much pain, where at, was it a stinging pain or a sharp pain, ECT. The older man when to her other side, and took her wrist, getting her pulse. They then checked to make sure she wasn't bleeding.
She felt uncomfortable, not just from the with the fluffy of activity around her, But the unwanted hands touching her. She was not used it, nor comfortable with it. But the ladies kept her calm and informed. Somehow knowing what the next step was and the reason for them helped her keep her nerves. When they were all done with the examination, they told her they were going to give her teas. Teas that would help relax her and stop pre-term contractions. She was to stay in bed, eat as much as possible, and for a time would be prohibited from dragon riding.
A Dragon's cry from outside of the tower let her know that Lumi was nearby. She gave a deep sigh of relief she didn't know she had been holding.
They were safe now. They were on solid ground, under care, and being helped. She, Teddy, and Lumi would be fine now…
She felt a bit of panic in her mind, followed by another cry. She quickly responded to her dragon through there bond.
"Safe." She spoke through the bond. "We're safe. Let them help. I promise, We're safe." She felt a grumble of disapproval from the other side of the bond, but then calm.
Rhaenyra kept her distance and stayed behind the Courtyard Gate as the Dragon keepers started to carefully approach the White Dragon. A Dragon who, after landing behind Vhagar, that decided to rush her way over to the wall. Then sit at the foot of the healer's tower and cry. Where her rider was being treated.
Daemon had been right in his assessment, the Dragon needed food, water, and care urgently... Gods forbid, she had NEVER seen a Dragon so ill-treated at this. It made her sick to her stomach and ill…
"This… This isn't supposed to happen to Dragons…" Jace said, with a heart broken look.
"No, it's not… But it has happened." Rhaenyra said, then turned to oldest boy and heir. "Iā zaldrīzes mērī isse se vys iksis iā ter'dor run..." She spoke those words in their mother tongue.
A Dragon alone in the world is a terrible thing.
Jace's head nodded solemnly to his mother's words, he then looked to where his brother had run off.
"I'll… I'll go find Luke." Jace said, turning heel. Rhaenyra looked back to the white dragon.
One braver Dragon keeper among the lot stepped close and grabbed one of the chains on the leg. Only to be met by a reproachful snapping of the jaws and a roar. Half of the dragon keepers, the younger half, Started at that. One of the guards on the side started as well and dropped his metal shield on the ground.
As the sound of the metal clashing, the white dragon shrieked from deep in her lungs. She pushed herself against the courtyard wall, with the white tower behind her. She furled her wings close to her, and tucked her tail between her legs…
She was suddenly terrified yet again, and now looking at all the dragon keepers with fear. Watching them each in turn… Waiting and watching as if expected more pain…
A clash of metal? Was that really all it took? Rhaenyra's heart was breaking…
From the side of the gate, arms still crossed was Aegon. Now taking out a half-empty wineskin he had snuck with him on his dragon, He scoffed…
" That's not a Dragon…" He quipped as he took a deep sip, then wiped his mouth. "That's not a Dragon at all; THAT is an overgrown... plucked... chicken."
The wide-eyed, opened mouth aghast look Rhaenyra gave Aegon at his words spoke volumes.
"Luke? LUKE!" Jace yelled.
Go away, Go away, Go away...
Luke thought as he pulled his knees closer to him and shuffled himself back more. He didn't want to be found right now. Not by his brother, not by anyone...
"I KNOW you're around here..." Jace said, sounding a bit further.
Go away, go away, go away... leave me alone...
Luce stayed where he was, no answering, tucked behind an old suit of Armor.
"... Not funny, Luke. I know this is one of your favorite places, you're here, and you HAVE to come out now..."
Just go away, go away, go away...
Luce placed his head on his knees and stayed completely still. He didn't want to come out. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to be found. That's why he ran to this room in the first place. a Random room in the drum tower that had paintings, a few suits of armor, and other decor that had not used for years, if not generations.
Didn't Jace get it? He wanted to be alone.
Luce then heard, and sort of felt, his brother sitting down a few feet from him.
"Hey..." Jace said. Luke just sighed.
"So... We saw him."
"Yes..." Luce said weakly. Jace waited for a beat, then nudged his brother with the end of his boot.
"And?" The other brother said. Waiting for Luce to talk.
"It's gone... His eye is really gone." Luce said, not moving his face from his knees.
'Yes, it is..."
"And did you see him?"
"Yes... He got tall."
"... He got terrifying..." Luke said in a small, barely-able-to-be heard voice.
Jace just sat still, not really know what to say.
"He hates me, doesn't he?... I saw it in the way he looked at us... He hates me, and he's angry at both of us, maybe the girls and... And..."
Jace moved closer and put his arm around him.
"... Things are never going to go back to the way they were, are they?... We're never going to able to make it right... Are we, Jace? Not now... Not after all this time."
"... I don't know Luke. I wish I could tell you; I really do... but I honestly don't know."
Rhaenyra: oh, it's adorable...
*Metal sounds.*
Lumi: O.O *Goblin flashbacks.*
Rhaenyra: oh, it's traumatized...
Chapter 11; Towers, and Treatments.
Dusk was starting to creep over the waterline of Dragonstone by the time the Meisters and Midwives exited the rooms.
Aemond and Aegon were standing together, Aegon just as drunk as before, on the left side of the healer's room door. Rhaenyra and Daemon stood on the right. Her hands folded over her belly, and Daemon looking like he had grown sick and tired of waiting hours ago.
The Air around the four was strange to say the least.
Rhaenyra was trying her best not to look at Aemond. Forcing whatever guilt she was feeling down. While at the same time constantly meeting eyes with Aegon. Aemond was ignoring her just as well, but was radiating rage, to an uncomfortable degree. One maid nearly ran away in fright. Whether it was just because of Aemond, or because of the situation as a whole, was anyone's guess.
Daemon was a statute. He had been standing post, watching the door with the eyes of a wild cat. Waiting to pounce on the first person out the door. His eyes were ready to freeze anyone in their tracks. He had done it twice with Aemond, silently reminding the younger man to keep his composer, but Aegon was pushing it.
The oldest of the brothers was nearly chuckling with glee. Looking back and forth from there half-sister to their estranged Uncle, then back to Aemond. He was sucking down his wine, looking like a little kid waiting for the favorite part of a play to begin. It was obvious he was enjoying everyone else's discomfort far too much. So much he felt safe to grin and gloat without a word as he half-hid behind his younger brother.
It was an awkward stalemate. This mix of looking, and not looking, and outright staring. No one was willing to break the silence.
When the door finally did open, Meister Gerardys and the midwives stepped out. The tension around them broke, if even just a little.
"Well? How is she?" Daemon ordered before the man got all the way out the door.
"We've managed halted her contractions: Her pre-term labor has stopped for now. It took a three teas and oils, but the child will not quicken today…" Rhaenyra let out a loud sigh, and her hands unconsciously rubbed her own stomach.
"She'll need to be on bed rest for at least two weeks. No traveling nor dragon riding; Even as a passenger. Not until she gets stronger and can handle the stress… Short walks can be allowed, but only once or twice a day."
"And the Child?" Aemond asked quickly without missing a beat. The meister frowned openly at this.
"28 weeks in term, I'd say… Far too soon to be born. In fact, we would need at least 8 more weeks before the child could survive outside its mother. Even that would come with its own set of problems. 12 weeks would be ideal, but…"
"But?" Daemon demanded. The meister held his tongue for just a moment, but he knew he had to tell them, even if it was not good news.
"Her body already tried to expel the babe… There is solid evidence to lead us to believe it will try to do so again. It is almost certain the child will be born early... If her case follows in line with others."
"What can we do to lessen the chances?" Rhaenyra asked.
At this the midwives answered. "Lean Meats, Fruit, and Vegetables. The girl is famished. Fresh water. Tie a Knot in every string, rope, or cord that enters the room she is in, to keep the baby tied to her. Keep her unstressed, well rested. We have a tea that can help as well, But she can only once every three days. One of those was the tea she got earlier… And we should put a symbol of the mother above her bed."
Daemon's eyes twitched, Rhaenyra's lips pursed, but Aemond lightly nodded his head.
"…and what of the mother's injures?" Rhaenyra asked pointedly. The midwifes all looked to the meister for this one, sadness in their eyes.
"… She's bruised and has cuts around her wrists and ankles from the chains, but nothing more. Some older, healed scars. One on her forehead, an old puncture wound on her upper right arm, long scar on her left… Things along that line. All healed or will heal with time… But…"
One dark look from Prince Daemon, and the meister immediately continued.
"I'm not so worried about her injuries... I am, however, very worried about her long-term health. She was starved, left without water for long spans of time, more than likely left to the extreme hots and colds of the islands. This mistreatment could have lasting effects. All the nutrition she has gotten recently would have gone straight to the babe; She'll need to replenish it. I suggest a regimen of Milk, Bone Broth, Iron pills…"
"Get them. Start it as soon as possible." Daemon snapped. The meister nodded. "Right away, my prince."
With that, the meister turned and headed straight up the stairs, to start collecting what he would need for the girl. The Midwives walked over to Rhaenyra, and she took a few steps back for privacy.
"Is there anything else we should know?" She asked softly.
"There was no bleeding, which is a blessing… She is scared but has decided to put her trust in us for now. Her ankles and wrists are freed now, but we are having difficulty getting the collar off… She wants her dragon. She is worried over her. Outside of answering our questions and asking after the babe, that's the only thing she'd talk about. She's sleeping now with the Junior meister watching over her. She'll probably sleep through till morn."
"Thank you; you are excused." The three midwifes departed after that. Rhaenyra turned and looked to her two… Relatives. The hateful one-eye staring back at her as Aegon grinned almost madly, looking back and forth. Rhaenyra then folded her hands over and spoke hesitantly.
"Well… The day is getting quite late… You should probably stay for the night. We can have rooms readied for you in the Stone Drum, and have dinner sent up-"
"I believe we'll stay here, in the White Tower. Thank You." Aemond said abruptly. Aegon leaned forward a bit more so he could see them both, the manic gleam now shining brightly in his eyes.
Rhaenyra's face fell at those words. Daemon slightly scrunched face might as well of had 'What the fuck?' written crossed it.
"What… Whatever do you mean?'
"I mean Thank You kindly for your consideration, but we will stay here in the White Tower. They have rooms here, do they not? There are two right here besides Lady Peverell's room. They look empty. I believe we would all be much more comfortable if me and Aegon stay here in the tower..."
Rhaenyra's eye went wide at the unexpected rejection. Or was it a rejection? It was a no, that was for sure… But…
"… You'd prefer to stay here at the tower? For what reason?" Rhaenyra spoke, a little affronted. A lone raised eyebrow from Aemond give his answer. Her jaw locked, and her hands fidgeted, but her eyes stayed on him. While she hated to admit it, they did deserve to be wary. When the children had fought, it was Aemond who lost his eye.
Now that the emergency was over, the reality was starting wash over all of them. There was no trust between the two sides right now… Hadn't been for years. And the distance the 6 years of time that had passed done nothing to heal it.
"Let's make this easy on us both. Aegon and I will stay here as guests of the Tower. The Meisters and Septon's share the tower, so it's considered part of the Sept. Holy ground should never see bloodshed. So, you can sleep better knowing your boys are safe, and I'll sleep better knowing they are far from me."
"Besides, we have our orders from the crown... We were to find the rider and dragon, then see them safely to King's landing. It would make more sense for us to stay near our charge during her convalesce, would it not?"
Rhaenyra stood stock still, not really knowing how to react. As Aegon looked seconds away from dancing or gigging in amusement. She didn't think her face would betray her uncomfortableness, and she didn't like the way Aemond had put things… But she also didn't have the words to refute him.
She did want to keep them away from her boys. She was still coming around to the thought that two greens were here. On HER island. Let alone the thought of bringing them into the drum itself. She was going to tell them to avoid one another and add a guard to follow her brothers, make sure they didn't harm her boys. The Threat of possible vengeance worrying her.
But she also knew this was a larger risk for them. They were on her island, under her command. They definitely had no allies here...
But Aemond had also just given her a way out. A Valid excuse. The white tower was a part of the Sept. Holy ground WAS sacred. No one would dare spill blood here, let alone try kin slaying. On ether side. Unless they wanted the faith, the gods, and the people to despise them. The order was perfect excuse if anyone was to ask why they were not given rooms in the drum. As well as keeping the guest rite.
Both sides would be able to sleep better…
Rhaenyra sighed.
"Very well. We'll have the linens in these two rooms freshened for you and have a fire started in the fireplaces. Supper will be sent to all of you as soon as it's ready…"
"Thank you very much, Your highness…"
Aemond couldn't help but notice the slightly impressed look on Daemon's face.
Rhaenyra: Well… If you MUST stay overnight-
Aemond: Sanctuary…
Rhaenyra: … Pardon, huh?
Aemond: I. said. Sanctuary. I ain't going nowhere. Not without my girl. Try me.
Rheanyra: o.o
Daemon: … You clever son of a bitch…