As the golden sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over all, Rhiannon fixed her gaze on Ser Qarl as he waded through the waist-deep water to retrieve her father. Meanwhile, her mother was nowhere to be seen, leaving Rhiannon to pounder. As she wandered around, she caught sight of Aegon, concealing himself at the bottom of a small stairway, a full cup of wine in his hand.
"Are you drunk?" Rhiannon inquired boldly as she gracefully lowered herself to the ground, coming to rest by Aegon's side.
"Not yet," Aegon grumbled, raising the cup to his lips and taking a long swig, the rich wine disappearing rapidly.
She gently fidgeted with the hem of her dress. Ever since the incident with the arrow, she hadn't had the opportunity to speak to Aegon, and the memory made her cringe. As she stole a glance at his profile, she couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. Aegon's silver hair cascaded in gentle waves, framing his face as his intense gaze remained fixed on the cup before him. She felt fortunate in that regard; she was relieved she didn't have to concern herself with the prospect of marrying a fat old lord.
"Want some?" Aegon asked casually as he thrusted the cup before her. She felt a rush of warmth spreading across her cheeks, fearing that he might have noticed her admiring gaze. Fortunately, it seemed that he was completely unaware. She confessed she never had wine before. Aegon turned to face her, amusement on his face.
"You never had it before?" She shook her head at his question. With a broad smile, he asked her if she wanted to, to which she nodded.
She cradled the brown cup in her hands, gazing down at its crimson contents before lifting it to her lips and taking a deep sip. Her eyes widened as she swallowed, registering its bitter taste.
Rhiannon started to cough as she handed the cup back to Aegon, who chuckled at her persistent coughing.
"The ones at the keep are much sweeter," Aegon admitted, amused by her reaction. He observed her features, taking in every detail. Her lustrous silver curls cascaded gracefully against her radiant, bronzed skin. Despite his reservations, he couldn't help but acknowledge that they were not such an ill-matched pair after all.
"When we're wed, I'll make sure only the best is brought in," Aegon declared without realizing it. A slight flush crept up his cheeks as he glanced down at his cup, wondering if he was indeed drunk. Rhiannon's cheeks mirrored his as they surfaced the topic for the first time. They lapsed into a companionable silence, savoring each other's presence.
"Rhiannon," Ralaera called from the top of the stairs, her red and puffy eyes betraying her grief. Rhiannon rose and exchanged a wordless glance with Aegon, who gestured for her to go. With a sweet smile, she joined Ralaera, leaving Aegon to his thoughts.
Ralaera asked Rhiannon, "Would you like to join me in the library?" Rhiannon's face lit up with a broad smile, and for the first time that day, Ralaera's smile matched hers. The two girls quickly made their way to the library, with Rhiannon completely forgetting about her plans to meet Aemond later.
Rhiannon and Ralaera were nestled amidst a towering stack of books, engrossed in conversation about their lives thrustfar.
"Pento's was beautiful, but it never quite felt like home," Ralaera confided, her voice tinged with wistfulness. "No matter how much my father wished it." Rhiannon offered a sympathetic nod in response.
"Dragonstone is gradually weaving its way into my heart; it felt so stark and desolate when I first arrived," Rhiannon shared, gently closing the book on her lap and then reclining against the numerous bookshelves.
Ralaera's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she boldly set her book aside and leaned forward, fully engaged in the conversation with someone her age. It was a welcome distraction from the recent unsettling events.
"Do you know how to fight?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine interest. As she reminisced about her childhood, a warm smile graced her lips.
"Ever since I was a child, I longed to be a warrior like Queen Visenya," Ralaera shared.
"My father noticed my passion and wasted no time in teaching me, much to my mother's dismay, " she added. Rhiannon's smile widens as she leans forward, laughs softly, and agrees.
Rhiannon reminisced about the secret training sessions she had with her father, which had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember. Her father believed that it was unfair for her brothers to learn self-defense skills while she did not, so he made sure to train her himself. As Ralaera listened, she couldn't help but laugh at the parallels in their upbringings.
"How fortunate for us," Ralaera remarked. Now, tell me about your dragon." Rhiannon proceeded to share the story of her dragon Safiya, who once belonged to her grandmother, Queen Aemma, whom the Queen never rode due to her fear of flying. She described how her pure white scales seamlessly blended with the high clouds and how her piercing red eyes unsettled some. Ralaera, in turn, spoke of her own dragon, Shadowmoon, a dark dragon with hints of deep blue scales.
As Rhiannon glanced out the window, she noticed the sky had turned dark. "My sister Rhaena's egg never hatched," Ralaera sadly confessed.
"She'll claim my mother's, though," Ralaera added, noticing the sky as well.
"To claim Vhagar, I am utterly speechless," Rhiannon explained. "What an honor." She added as Ralaera smiled widely at the thought.
"Shall we call it a night?" Rhiannon asked, her voice filled with warmth, and Ralaera agreed wholeheartedly. They gracefully left their seats on the floor and made their way to their chambers, their footsteps echoing off the stone floors. In hushed tones, they exchanged words, mindful of the late hour and the slumbering castle residents, hoping to avoid any trouble.
Suddenly, the serenity of the night was pierced by raised voices reverberating through the corridors, followed by a chilling scream that sent shivers down their spines. Rhiannon and Ralaera exchanged concerned looks, and without hesitation, they sprang into action, their determined strides echoing through the empty hallways as they rushed toward the source of the disturbance, unsure of what they might find.
Rhiannon was the first to turn the corner, and her eyes immediately fell upon her brothers, Jace, who was lying on the ground, and Luke, who was standing next to him. Ignoring everyone else, she hurried over to them, enveloping them in a tight embrace and bombarding them with questions about what had happened. Ralaera also rushed to her sisters; she was the first to notice the young prince doubled over, trying to hold back his cries as blood spilled from his wound.
"Oh no," Ralaera whispered under her breath as her sister's hushed tones conveyed the unsettling news. Ralaera was acutely aware of the impending consequences of this revelation. Even though she had never crossed paths with Queen Alicent, she could envision the Queen's likely reaction to the news.
"Rhiannon," Ralaera interjected, attempting to bring her attention to the gravity of the situation.
"Cease this at once!" Ser Harrold's booming voice reverberated off the stone walls as the knight strode forward. Aemond's anguished cries pierced the air, drowning out all other sounds as the knight knelt before him. Rhiannon, cradling Luke protectively, gasped in horror as she finally took in the sight of Aemond and the blood gushing from his face.
Ser Harrold whispered urgently as he leaned in to check on him; it didn't take long before more knights rushed to the scene. 'This is bad, very bad indeed,' Rhiannon thought to herself as she and Ralaera exchanged concerned glances; even at their young age of ten, they could sense the gravity of the situation.
"Gods above," Ser Harrold exclaimed in disbelief as he finally beheld the severity of the wound.
The children were hurriedly escorted into the grand hall of nine in the castle. The maester diligently attended to Aemond's wounds while Rhiannon stood guardingly before her younger brothers. As they tried to locate their parents, they were dismayed that their chambers and the quarters of the three Targaryen sisters' father were empty.
As her grandfather sat in the imposing chair that was placed higher above all, he grilled Ser Harrold with intense scrutiny. Alicent observed the scene with dread as the maester wrapped up his task.
King Viserys stood with fury, slamming his cane as he bellowed, "You swore an oath to protect and defend my blood!" Rhiannon, taken aback, had never witnessed such rage from him before. Glancing around the room, she felt a pang of fear in her mother's absence.
Ser Harrold expressed his regrets, while Ser Cristen attempted to debate that they were not trained to handle family matters, which did not sit well with the King.
"Will he recover, maester?" Queen Alicent pleaded, her gaze fixed on her son's pale face. Her other children stood close behind her, roused from their sleep, and ushered into the hall. All eyes in the chamber shifted to the maester, anticipation hanging in the air as they awaited his response.
"The flesh will heal, but unfortunately, the eye is lost your grace," he spoke with unwavering honesty. Rhiannon couldn't help but exhale a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. Truthfully, she had never dared to utter a single word in front of the Queen, always obeying her mother's instructions to keep her distance. As Alicent received the news, her face contorted with despair before she stood up and turned to interrogate her eldest.
Rhiannon was filled with a mix of emotions as she observed Alicent's hand connecting with a resounding slap on Aegon's cheek, followed by harsh whispers directed at him. Her stomach churned as she witnessed the scene unfold.
As they were escorted to the hall, her brothers recounted the entire incident, detailing how Aemond had brazenly taken Vhagar and insulted them by calling them bastards.
Bastards, how Rhiannon hated that word.
Lord Corys burst into the hall, his voice echoing off the walls, "What is the meaning of this?!"
His wife hurried in behind him, her eyes wide as they took in the scene before them. Rhaenys immediately rushed to the three Targaryen girls while Lord Corys placed a comforting hand on Rhiannon's shoulder. Feeling the warmth of his touch, Rhiannon began to relax, knowing that she wasn't alone in this chaotic moment.
At that instant, the door to their right swung open, and Rhaenyra and Daemon swept into the room. Rhaenyra's voice rang out, calling her children's names as she rushed towards them. As she knelt in front of her two sons, she gently began to assess the extent of their injuries. Luke was in tears as he gingerly pulled his hand away from his broken nose. Rhaenyra stood tall, demanding to know who was responsible for the altercation. Aemond spoke up, explaining how he had been attacked. Chaos ensued as all the children began talking at once, their voices blending into a cacophony of shouts and accusations. Amidst the commotion, Rhiannon, Ralaera, Aegon, and Helaena remained silent.
"Enough," The King's voice grew louder with each repetition.
"It should be my son telling the tale!" Alicent's voice rose above the children's.
"He called us-"
"Silence," Viserys interrupted Jace. The entire room fell into silence.
"He called us bastards," Jace whispered to his mother, who stood beside Rhiannon before her sons, her hand touching Rhiannon's before she took a deep breath, thinking of how to approach this situation.
"Aemond," Viserys demanded as he stepped towards him.
"I must know what happened!" he demanded as he stood before him.
Rhiannon gazed intensely at Aemond, taking in his emotionless expression. Aemond stayed silent as his father pressed for an explanation.
"What more is there to know?" Alicent interjected. "Your son has been injured, and her son is responsible," she added.
"It was a regrettable accident," Rhaenyra finally said as Alicent fired back in disbelief. "Accident?!"
Alicent countered by claiming that the young Prince Lucerys brought a blade to an ambush. At that moment, Rhaenyra's composure snapped, and she stepped before her three children.
"It was my sons who were attacked," she argued, "and forced to defend themselves," Rhaenyra added that vile insults were levied against them. The King looked up at his eldest daughter and asked what insults. The air in the room shifted once more as everyone's attention turned to her mother, Rhaenyra.
With a deep breath, Rhaenyra started, "The legitimacy of my son's birth was loudly put into question." Rhiannon's stomach churned with nerves as Rhaenyra finished speaking.
"What?" Viserys asked, clearly confused about the accusation.
"He called us bastards," Jace spoke up. The room fell into an eerie silence, with only the crackling of the fire breaking the stillness.
"My children are in line to inherit the iron throne, your grace. This is the highest of treason," Rhaenyra declared boldly, taking another step forward, her eyes locking with her father's. She demanded that Prince Aemond be interrogated about the source of his information. Alicent gazed at Rhaenyra in utter disbelief.
"Over in insult? My son lost an eye." Alicent asked.
Viserys questioned him about the source of this information; Alicent attempted to intercede on his behalf, mentioning that many young boys had been gossiping about it. However, her husband paid no heed to her input.
Rhiannon observed with keen interest as the Queen appeared visibly anxious and demanded to know Ser Laenor's whereabouts. Even the King inquired about his location. When Rhaenyra responded, claiming she didn't know because she couldn't sleep and had been wandering around, Rhiannon harbored doubts about the truth of her story. This was because her mother had joined them at the same time as Daemon.
Alicent couldn't resist taking a dig, insinuating that he must be amusing himself with young squires. Ser Cristen couldn't help but chuckle quietly.
Viserys made another attempt. "Your King requires an answer. Who fed you these falsehoods?" he inquired. Aemond glanced at his mother, knowing that he had heard it from her. Then, he proceeded to speak the untruth.
He falsely claimed, "It was Aegon." Aegon, who had been quiet until then, finally said, "Me?"
A hush fell over the room as the King turned to his eldest son. Aegon kept his gaze lowered, feeling the weight of Rhiannon's and everyone else's eyes upon him. Viserys' voice resounded through the chamber as he demanded the source of the troubling rumors.
Aegon calmly spoke "We know, father," and locking eyes with Rhiannon.
"Everyone knows. Just look at them," Aegon remarked as the eyes of the crowd fixed upon Rhaenyra and her children. Rhiannon felt her heart pounding loudly as her gaze lingered on Aegon.
The room was filled with a heavy silence as Rhaenyra held her sons close, glancing at her daughter before fixing her gaze on her father. Tears welled up in her eyes as she grappled with the weight of the situation, unsure of the best course of action. A single misstep could unravel everything.
King Viserys tore his gaze from his daughter to his wife, who looked knowingly at him. Turning swiftly to Aegon, demanded and reminded that all of this fighting must end and that we are all a family. Viserys turned after his outburst and stepped forward.
"Make your apologies and show goodwill to each other," He urged. Rhiannon finally shifted her attention away from Aegon and fixed her gaze on Alicent, who appeared visibly startled and overwhelmed with disbelief.
King Viserys moved in closer to his wife, his voice filled with authority. "Your father, your grandsire, your king demands it!" he declared, emphasizing his words with the pounding of his cane on the stone floor. As he started to move past his wife, she looked at him with a mixture of anger and revulsion.
The air grew heavy with silence once more as Alicent shook her head, her expression unreadable. Viserys, feeling the weight of her disapproval, turned and began to walk away, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty hall.
Alicent shattered the silence with her words. "That is insufficient," she declared, her voice carrying an air of finality.
"Aemond has been irreparably damaged, my king." As the king turned to face her, his movement came to an abrupt halt, and their eyes met in a charged moment of tension.
"Goodwill will not make him hole," She finished.
"Unfortunately, I cannot restore his eye," Viserys spoke with a mix of sorrow and frustration, indicating his exasperation that the issue had not yet passed.
"No, because it's been taken," Alicent stated the facts. "What will you have me do?" Viserys asked.
"There is a debt to be paid," Alicent said, her tears almost spilling.
Rhiannon struggled to discern whether the Queen's emotions were stemmed from deep sadness or seething anger. The room fell into silence once again as Rhiannon's gaze shifted back and forth between Alicent and her grandsire, realizing the full weight of Alicent's implications. Lord Corys, his hand still resting on her shoulder, gave it a reassuring squeeze, silently communicating his unwavering support.
"I shall have one of her son's eyes in return." Alicent's voice cut through the tense silence as she made her chilling demand, her eyes fixed on Rhaenyra. The hushed murmurs of the crowd swirled around her, echoing the shock and tension that filled the air.
Rhiannon's body tensed and her heart raced as she absorbed the shocking news. She fixed her gaze on her grandsire, her eyes searching for any sign of objection in his stoic expression.
"My dear wife," he warned, his voice carrying a stern and commanding tone,
"Viserys, he is your son," Alicent uttered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Your own flesh and blood," she added.
"Do not allow your temper to guide your judgment," A word of caution from Viserys hung heavily in the air as he advanced towards her, fixing his gaze upon her with a stern warning. Alicent's eyes blazed with defiance as she met his stare. Determined to take matters into her own hands, she commanded Ser Cristen to exact retribution on Lucerys by taking one of his eyes, leaving the choice to him. Tension crackled in the room as Alicent and Viserys engaged in a heated exchange. Despite the escalating conflict, Ser Cristen wisely refused the Queen's directive, further stoking her fury.
After the intense argument, King Viserys spoke up in the room, warning that anyone who dared to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the princess's children would face consequences.
"Thank you, father," Rhaenyra expressed her gratitude as she turned and looked after her wounded sons, motioning for her daughter to join them. Rhiannon left Ser Corly's side with a slight smile, which he reciprocated. Standing by her mother and brothers, Rhiannon received a gentle touch on her cheek from Rhaenyra before her mother attended to her brothers.
The events unfolded in the blink of an eye. One moment, Alicent stood on the other side of the room, and in the next, she held her grandsire's dagger and charged at her brother. But before she could reach him, Rhaenyra stepped in front of her children, shielding them from harm. The room filled with shouts and cries as Lucerys's piercing scream filled the air, prompting Rhiannon to rush to his side and cradle him in her arms. Meanwhile, Ser Corly positioned himself in front of the children, sheltering them from the unfolding chaos while Rhiannon watched helplessly from behind him.
Her eyes widened as she observed the intense struggle between her mother and the Queen. Despite their conversation, Rhiannon remained fixated on the blade, her gaze unwavering as the Queen held it menacingly above her mother.
"Alicent, let her go!" commanded Viserys, but the Queen ignored his plea and kept talking to Rhaenyra. Ser Otto, the Hand, and the Queen's father urged her to lower the blade, but she remained unresponsive, and her actions defied their appeals.
Rhiannon's skin prickled with the sensation of being watched, prompting her to turn her head. She caught Aemond's eyes fixed on her, emanating a palpable sense of disgust. Returning her gaze forward, she couldn't shake off the lingering weight of his stare. She watched as Alicent grunted, bringing the blade down and slicing her mother's forearm. Ser Corlys held Rhaenyra's shoulders as everyone noticed the fresh blood dripping from her arm; Alicent was so startled by the sight that she involuntarily released her grip on the blade, causing it to fall to the ground with a resounding clank that shattered the stunned silence.
Aemond stood stoically at the edge of the crowd, his commanding presence evident as he gently but firmly instructed his mother not to grieve for him.
"It was a fair exchange; I may have lost an eye." He spoke as he held, his head held high. His left eye was sewn shut but already swollen with dried blood around the wound.
"But I gained a dragon."
Rhiannon stood solemnly beside her brothers and new sisters as Rhaenyra and Daemon exchanged vows. Her cheeks were stained with tears from her late father. As she watched the ceremony, she couldn't help but wonder what might have transpired if she had remembered to meet Aemond. The possibilities and potential outcomes swirled in her mind.