02 - AN EYE FOR AN EYE

ALL CAPS = in high valyrian

"How you you allow such a thing to happen?" Viserys demanded, looking to the deathly silent room. "I will have answers," he stated, anger still in his voice.

"The children were supposed to be abed, my king." Ser Harrold stated, but the fury the King's expression held did not die down.

Aemma stood protectively in front of her two sisters, but even from behind her sister, Visena and Aemond exchanged glares. Though even so, Aemma could feel her shaking.

"who was on watch?" Viserys continued, shocked that this could even have happened.

"you prince was attacked by his relatives, your grace," Ser Criston Cole replied. Unfortunately, the response didn't console the King further, and he became even more outraged.

"you swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!" he yelled before almost bursting into a fit of coughs. He stood hunched over; his sickly demeanour made the sisters nervous.

"I'm very sorry, my king," Ser Harrold looked down at the ground.

Ser Criston, on the other hand, dismissed the fact he needed to apologise and stated, "we've never had to defend princes from their kin, your grace."

This only made the King more visibly agitated, "that is no answer!" He sneered. Viserys seemed furious, outraged even.

It was Alicent's turn to speak, and she turned to the Maester attending to her son.

"it will heal, will it not?" She asked. She looked worried, but that was expected for a mother who had just seen a severe wound inflicted on her son.

The room was again silent as people waited for the Maester's response.

"The flesh will heal," he spoke whilst taking a needle and thread and pulling it through the boy's skin quickly, "but the eye is lost, your grace."

Alicent held a hand to her mouth, and her eyes widened with horror. But she soon gained composure and strode over to Aegon, anger etched upon her features.

"Where were you?" She looked at the eldest brother, and Visena felt pity as she knew what was to come.

"me?" The swift impact of his mother's hand made him gasp as flesh collided, and the sound echoed across the room. "What was that for?" He said, confused about the whole situation.

"that was nothing," she spat, " compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in cups, you fool!"

He then turned to his brother, and his eyes widened as if seeing the damage for the first time. He looked at visena and mouthed in Valaryian so his mother wouldn't understand. This was you?

Aegon gave her an approving smirk, obviously too drunk to think straight, and his mother smacked him on the back of his head again.

The doors suddenly flew open as the children rushed to Rhaenyra, except for Baela and Rhaena, who ran into the arms of their grandmother.

Rhaenyra gasped as she looked at Lucerys nose and Surnystas bloody and bruised cheek, the cuts on the other sister's cheeks were also inspected.

Visena put her hands over her ears as they argued about vengeance, taking her hands off only when her sister gripped her shoulders as if her life depended on it.

"He deserved it," Visena stated meekly, and all eyes turned to her.

"What did you say?"Alicent uttered a look of shock and fury on her face.

"He hurt all of us as well."Alicent's eyes widened further, and all eyes were now on Visena. Rhaenyra would not be happy. Aemma nudged her as a sign to please shut the heck up. Aemond just continued to glare.

He hated her, everything about her. He despised it all.

Alicdnt switched her gaze to Rhaenyra. "No wonder, when she was raised by someone like you. All your children are ruthless animals." She spat, and Daemon stepped forward in front of Rhaenyra and the other children.

"AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO FUCK THEIR WAY TO POWER. The punishment for treason is beheading; Aemond got off easy." Daemon held back a burst of slight laughter; Visena truly was something.

"Are you suggesting to behead my son?"

"I'd be happy to."

Aemma almost died on the spot. She could feel her life slipping away as she stared at her sister and cleared her throat.

"My sister meant no offence by that. She said that what Aemond did was treason; although it was a very tragic accident, it was still..treason?" Aemma wanted to die more; she had a bad habit of turning her statements into questions.

"Accident? my son has lost an eye!" Alicent retorted, keeping a firm eye on Visena, who had opened her mouth to speak.

"He should have lost mo-" Daemon gripped Visena's shoulder and gave her a warning look that made her fall silent.

Rhaenyra stepped forward, now telling the King of the treason committed, the queen getting more enraged and the King storming over to Aegon, who had now been named the perpetrator. A loud slap came and went, and the queen turned to Viserys.

"Visena, your granddaughter did this!" Alicent screeched at Viserys, pointing to Aemond, "we must seek vengeance. There is debt to be paid!"

"Alicent." King Viseys furrowed his brows, "I will not have that. She is my granddaughter and is but a child!" Alicent stared at Visena with hatred.

"Ser Criston, bring me the eye of Visena Targaryen," Alicent was letting rage cloud her judgment; no good could come from it.

"You shall do no such thing," Rhaenyra hissed, standing in front of Visena and her sisters.

"Stay your hand," Viserys demanded, turning to the Queen's shield.

"You are sworn to me!" the Queen yelled, and the room fell silent, waiting for what was to come.

"As your protector, not your sword," Visena and her sisters felt relieved at Ser Criston's actions for the first time. The knight lowered his head and stood still as Alicent looked at him with disappointment.

"Alicent, this matter is finished," he stepped closer to his wife in pain, "do you understand?"

The king stepped away soon after he spoke and headed to leave, pausing before he did.

"and let it be known," He stated, "anyone whose tongue dares question the legitimacy of my grandchildren shall have... it removed."

"Thank you, father," Rhaenyra said in gratitude, and Daemon's stance softened.

Alicent didn't move or speak; she just stood still. The room fell silent as the king resumed his mission to leave, and the queen stole and unsheathed his dagger.

After a quick, your grace was muttered from Ser Harrold's lips. The Queen crossed the room and raised her blade as Daemon clutched Visena with one arm. Lucerys screamed, and the people gasped as Rhaenyra stopped Alicent's arm and moved her into the middle of the room.

The room was deadly silent. Daemon let go of Visena and stopped Criston cole as he tried to cross to the middle of the room.

Anyone could tell Rhaenyra was stronger, and Surnysta gulped as the two Queens engaged in a heated conversation, struggling for the blade.

"You've gone too far!" Rhaenyra said, a pained expression on her face.

Visena couldn't hear what they were saying anymore, but by the look on Alicent's face, Rhaenyra had said something that had hurt her.

The children cried out as Alicents pulled down the blade, drawing blood as she stumbled into Viserys.

Rhaenyra looked in shock down at her arm as Alicent dropped the blade, too many emotions to recognise playing across her face.

But Visena could only find herself staring back at Aemond, who looked at her as he muttered,

"do not morn for me mother, I may have lost an eye, but I have gained a dragon."

The conversation ended, and the family began preparations to leave.

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Daemon pulled his niece aside,

"you are lucky Alicent doesn't speak high Valyrian, don't pull something like that again, you hear?" He spoke softly, and his expression softened as the girl nodded. He patted her back and smiled as he gave him a half hug before bidding goodnight and following her sisters.

That girl, he thought, truly was one of his own.

And he would make sure no harm came to her, or at least he hoped.

AN: SORRY CHAPTERS ARE SO LONG!! THANKS FOR READING THIS FAR :D I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED IT, AND I'LL TRY POSTING EVERY DAY! Get ready for a lot of drama, death, abduction and dragons.