Chapter 2: He Closes His Eye...

'Poor Viserys,' The man looked horrible, I could practically smell his decaying body from across the room.

The hall no longer empty was filled with the Kingsguard, household knights, and family.

Family with the intent of ruining each other for their own ambition. Though I suppose I started this little showdown.

Rhaenyra had yet to arrive, and though my name was Velaryon and title Prince, I wasn't sure Rhaenys would protect me like Corlys did. They too were yet to arrive.

"How could you allow such a thing to happen?" Asked Viserys in his old withered voice. His hair lay scanty on the sides of his face, his breathing labored and uneven.

"I will have answers," Viserys turned to Ser Westerling, expecting an answer. Aemond, now seated in a chair, had his eyes tended to. His face scrunched in pain as the maester drove the needle into his skin.

Each time I looked over to where the Green's were or more precisely at Aemond or the Queen, Cole always met my gaze, glaring at me. His sword was perched on his hip, his hand on the hilt as if waiting for the Queen's order to cut us down.

I think he is too focused on our bastardry to have an inkling that there is a possibility Jace is his son.

I turned to look at Jace for a split second, 'He could pass for a dornishman,'

"The Princes were to be abbed my King," replied Ser Harrold.

He and Cole stood in front of each other, with both of them giving their accounts.

"Who had the watch?"

"The young Prince Aemond was attacked by his own cousins, Your Grace," said Cole.

Jace wrapped his arms around me, and I let him. Rhaenyra was still not here.

"You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!" said an angry Viserys, stomping his cane.

Ser Westerling developed a solemn expression with his next words. "I'm very sorry, Your Grace,"

"The Kingsguard has never had to defend Princes from Princes, Your Grace," added Cole.

"That is not an answer!" Shouted Viserys, rebutting Criston.

Aemond's eyes were still being stitched. I looked at his face. The gash was a tad lean, but otherwise, they were straight, jagged, but straight. It appeared, however, that I failed in my endeavor. His right eye, however slight, continued to role and flinch.

My features remained schooled though, Jace gripped my shoulder more firm and I in turn did the same. I realized however small he was, he was my only allie. I quite literally saved our lives. The Targaryen children of Daemon were too and I would make sure they knew it. I would hold it over their heads for as long as I could, given their young age, I had enough time.

"It will heal, will it not, maester?" asked Queen Alicent. Her motherly voice contained desperation and a false sense of hope and slight longing.

Behind her stood Aegon, who looked at Aemonds scar in secret fascination. 'Was he still drunk?' After a moment I stopped looking, choosing to remain vigilant. Their relationship from the show was terrible, bullying your kid brother in favor of your bastard nephews. Now that was something.

The remaining non- Royals in the hall observed the clear divide between our houses. Some old, some young but all from Driftmark. I would rule over these people someday, I would ensure I did. It would be nice to know where their loyalties lie.

"The flesh will heal, but his left eye is lost, Your Grace. His other eye is also half blind..."

I heard Alicent gasp and Viserys sigh. Then Alicent rushed over towards Aegon and asked, "Where were you?" with clear áanguish in her voice.

"Me?" Aegon looked surprised. Alicent slapped him, "Ow, what was that for?" He rubbed his bruised cheek, looking wide eyed. I saw Helaena flinch slightly at the altercation but her gaze remained fixed on Aemond.

I was slightly worn out. I wrapped my arm around Jace using him as a crutch, he said nothing, but I could feel the court's eyes on us.

'Bastards' I heard a lingering voice in my mind. I brushed it off.

"What is the meaning of this?!" The booming voice of Corlys 'The Sea Snake' echoed into the hall. Behind him trailed his lady wife, Princess Rhaenys.

[AN: More Silver heads. *sigh*]

"Baela! Rhaena! What happened? What happened?" The twins rushed over towards their grandmother, with Rhaena sobbing in her neck. Like the Glamma she was, she ran her checks over their bodies, noticing them sporting bruises on their cheeks and knuckles.

I saw Corlys walk in the center of the hall, looking at the King and Aemond and then just be-

"Jace?" I turned towards the owner of the voice instinctively. Rhaenyra, mom. I shook my head at the thought. "Luke!"

She knelt before us, insistent on us showing her our wounds. "Show me. Show me." She demanded. Jace removed his hands from his mouth and Corlys stood a few centimeters away from us. Momentarily I caught Daemon sneaking in the room. His silver hair was a tad messy and his clothes rumpled.

It then dawned on me. I looked at my mother for a second, then brought her in for a hug. She tensed at this but welcomed it.

I sniffed her, some unknown scent. She had screwed Daemon.

I removed myself. You see this was the difference in both Alicents and Rhaenyra's parenting. Both were too much. From a viewers standpoint Alicent's parenting methods were harsh, rough even. But while Rhaenyra's pampering was sweet, it was overly so. She cuddled Jace and I, I could tell.

It's always important to balance, guys.

"Who did this?" Her fingers ran over the bridge of my nose, I allowed myself a small smile.

"They attacked me!" screamed Aemond, as if challenging his elder sister. I pray he lives long enough to go through Puberty, his voice was annoying, akin to Aegon.

"He attacked Baela!" shouted Jacaerys from beside me. "He broke Luke's nose!" he added.

This caused the voices of Jace, Aemond, Baela and Rhaena to overlap with each other.

"He attacked us!"

"He stole my mother's dragon!"

"Enough," said Viserys, his voice weary.

"He was gonna kill Jace!" I looked at Daemon and saw him amused at our petty squabbles.

"Enough,"

"It should be my son telling the tale!" spoke Alicent cutting in the argument.

"He called us —

"Silence!" screamed Viserys. He had been ignored twice now, it was time to assert his dominance in the room.

"He called us bastards," said Jace softly to Rhaenyra. He held onto my shoulder for support and I in turn wrapped my arm around his waist.

Our mother, surprised or more in acceptance, turned around and faced the crowd. Yet she said nothing… because it was the truth.

I let go of Jace for a moment and grasped Rhaenyra's hand on my own. I gave her hand a tight squeeze, and a small smile. She returned the gesture and faced the crowd, this time her head held high.

"Aemond…" breathed Viserys. He moved towards Aemond with his cane clanking on the ground. "I will have the truth of what happened. Now." Aemond looked betrayed at that moment. It was still slightly off-putting that he could still see, though now only quarter sighted.

His left eye was totally eradicated, his right eye however was a pale violet, almost blue. It seemed he still retained some vision. He was mostly blind though, for sure.

"What else is there to hear?" asked Alicent. "Your son has been maimed. Her son is responsible,"

"It was a regrettable accident," said Rhaenyra.

"Accident?" said Alicent flabbergasted.

"The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush, he meant to kill my son," defended Alicent. I will admit, at the very least despite her parenting skills, she loved her children. Or maybe just Aemond.

"It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves. Vile insults were levied against them."

"What insults?" asked Viserys to Rhaenyra.

"The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly to question,"

Already knowing what would happen, I zoned out of the conversation.

—

"Over an insult, my son has lost nearly all his vision," Alicent spoke in anger.

"You tell me boy. Where did you hear this lie?" Aemond looked down, avoiding his King's gaze. This man was no father to him.

"The insult was training yard bluster," butted in Alicent, trying to deviate the King from questioning Aemond. He would not have it though. "Aemond…" he questioned once more. "I asked you a question,"

"Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder? The boy's father?" Beside Alicent stood Vaemond Velaryon, who gave his nephew disgusted looks, which were caught on by the Sea Snake. "Perhaps he might have a say in the matter."

"Yes, where is Ser Laenor?"

"I do not know, Your Grace. I… could not find sleep." Stuttered Rhaenyra. Truly she did not know where Laenor was, she knew however who he would be with. "I had gone out to walk," Daemon from the far end of the hall, smirked.

Alicent, catching on to the lie said, "Entertaining his young squires, I would venture." From the Green's Ser Criston chuckled slowly, catching the attention of the Captain Commander.

"Aemond, look at me," The boy glared, with his partially remaining eye. "Your King demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?" He asked, not as father but as King.

The boy's eye trailed over towards his mother before it fell on his brother's visage. Everyone in court saw who he looked at, even Viserys.

It was clear who the assailant was but Aemond shifted the blame last second, "It was Aegon." It became abundantly clear how he became the favorite child of the Queen.

"Me?" Aegon said, confused.

"And you, boy," He said in a disgusted tone. "Where did you hear such calumnias?" Aegon straightened his posture, clasping his hands behind his back and looked forward.

"Aegon!" He shouted near the boy's ears causing him to flinch. "Tell me the truth of it!"

He spoke calmly, "We know, Father. Everyone knows. Just look at them."

Immediately, eyes turned towards the brown haired boys, and their mother who stood hugged them protectively.

Viserys stood silent for a moment, contemplating. "This interminable infighting must cease! All of you," He turned toward his family with a sorrowful expression.

"We are family," he said, his voice full of grief. "Now make your apologies and show good will to one another."

"Your father, your grandsire, your King demands it!"

—

Alicent teary eyed at the mischief her son suffered stood silently, while her husband walked past her slowly without sparing her so much as a look.

"That is insufficient." She said, stopping him in his tracks. "Aemond has been damaged permanently, My King. Goodwill will not make him whole," She tried to plead.

"I know, Alicent, but I cannot restore his sight."

"No, because it's been taken."

Viserys sighed, "What would you have me do?" He asked. "There is a debt to be paid. If the King will not seek justice the Queen will."

—

I became alarmed at her statement and shocked at her next one. "Ser Criston…" The man in question looked between the King and Queen as if questioning his loyalties and duties. "Bring me the eyes of Lucerys Velaryon,"

Mother pushed Jace and I behind her, Corlys stood behind her and grasped our shoulders. Jace, alarmed, sought our mother, "Mother!" He shouted, at the sudden infighting.

"You will do no such thing," countered Rhaenyra towards Criston.

"Stay your hand –"

"No, you are sworn to me!" said Alicent, raising her voice above the King.

I smirked, she was brave. I'll give her that, but nothing would happen to us. So far nothing has changed.

"As your protector, my Queen."

The Queen, not satisfied with Viserys' judgment and Cole's refusal, took matters into her own hands. She took the dagger attached to Viserys' hip and rushed towards us.

"Your Grace. Alicent stay with the King!"

"Hold your approach!!"

I watched the Queen wrestled mother with the King's dagger in hand. I let out a gasp, as I was pushed into Corlys' arms. Soon I found my eyes unable to tear away from the scene and my fingers embedded deep in my grandfather's garments.

I could see the knife aiming at me. Momentarily Alicent's eyes crossed mine and the dagger, made of Valyrian Steel shone brightly revealing encrypted words.