Chapter Text
The Dance of the Dragons did happen, but it ended as quickly as it started. The only reason that it changed was the day that Aemond Targaryen was born. He was not born an alpha or a beta but an omega instead. The change of events had affected the way the future would happen. In another time, Rhaenyra gave birth to her second son, Lucerys Velaryon, who presented as an alpha.
Lucerys and Aemond would grow to become great friends amongst their siblings, bonding together through years until one fateful night. That night was when Vhagar, queen of the dragons, let Aemond ride her for the first time since her last rider’s death. The events that followed changed the relationship between Aemond and Lucerys.
An eye for a dragon was enough payment but the friendship that once was, disappeared. Lucerys did not realize what he had done until after Aemond screamed, a hand cupping his eye socket. The young alpha dropped the knife as if it was burning him, attempting to reach Aemond.
“Do not touch me, you bastard!” The words hurt Lucerys from within, causing his blood to run cold. Aemond screams in pain, turning his back to Lucerys and the rest of the children. Rhaena and Baela are too stunned to move as Jacaerys reaches his brother. Aegon growls, glaring at Lucerys as he whisks his younger brother away, taking him to their chambers.
“Lucerys, it was not your fault, you were only defending yourself.” Rhaena tries to reassure Lucerys but it is already too late. In others eyes’, it would be self-defense, but in Lucerys’ eyes, he had hurt someone he loved (even if he did not realize yet).
What happened that night put up a wall between the two families. Alicent’s eyes turned cold as she looked at Rhaenyra, pain and betrayal in her eyes. It was the same look she had given the princess the day she had married Laenor Velaryon. The cut that the queen left on the princess’ skin was a mark to remember for days on end. “My son has lost an eye! Remember this mark, Rhaenyra, blood for blood, cut off by your son.”
Aemond quickly turns on any alpha that attempts to make any move on him. He rejects every courtship, every gift, and the words they say. Deep down, he knows that they mean nothing, because they will never be the person he wants so badly. So, instead of being the proper omega, Aemond fights back, learning swordsmanship, the history of his ancestors, and bonding with Vhagar. He refuses to be another omega that can be sold off to be some broodmare to an old lord.
He promises to fight until his last breath.
When Rhaenyra and her brood come back to discuss the matters of legitimacy to Driftmark, Aemond prepares himself. Time has changed how all of them look, no longer the naive children they once were. Aegon was now married to Helaena, and was as content as he could be in the marriage. Helaena continues to mumble in riddles, not expecting anyone to pay attention to her or ask what the words could mean. Aemond is taller than his siblings, towering over them all while staying quiet and in the shadows.
They all know Aemond refuses to be courted by any alpha, regardless of their titles and wealth. Alicent does not try anymore, feeling hopeless with her second son now.
“One day, brother, you will have to spread your legs for someone. Mother will find an alpha for you, whether you like it or not.” Aegon always says those words to Aemond, not expecting his brother to say anything back. Aemond sneers though, his missing eye making the look more terrifying. “I would rather die than share a bed with an alpha. I’ll die a maiden if I have to.”
His feelings do not budge even as Rhaenyra arrives, her sons following behind her. Daemon has his hand on the sheath of Dark Sister, ready to pull it out if needed. Jacaerys and Lucerys are no longer boys but young men now. Both taller and more handsome than ever before. Aemond ignores the looks he gets from Lucerys though, pretending not to notice anything. But Aegon and Helaena are not so blind, keeping their thoughts to themselves instead, for once.
Dying a maiden and not bearing any children would be the real scandal for the Queen and Grandsire.
The only person that Aemond may allow to touch him was Lucerys but that would never happen in this lifetime.
~v~
Aemond swallows, stiffening visibly as he watches Rhaenyra and her family enter. Jacaerys was tall but not as tall as Lucerys. Lucerys was even taller than Aemond now, and it made the prince feel anxious, unsettled by it. Lucerys no longer had any baby fat on him but a sharp jawline like his father. Brown curls at the nape of his neck and brown eyes shine brilliantly. The Targaryen colors brought out his features, making him look more antagonizing and dangerous to the eye.
Despite it all, Aemond would not fall prey to weakness or lust. He was not, and never would be, like Aegon, falling into his desires so easily. He stays where he is, averting his gaze from the tall alpha to pay attention to what the Hand had to say. Grandsire looked so smug, looking down on them all, as if he sat on the Iron Throne all his life. But Aemond knew that Grandsire would never be anything but a pawn in the game. He wanted his family on the throne and he was so close to getting it.
The doors open though before anyone can speak after Vaemond’s long-winded speech. Aemond doubts anyone was even paying attention. He feels eyes on him but avoids looking back, gritting his teeth. He would not submit to an alpha, even if this one was of particular interest. Aemond would not fall prey to his omegan instincts.
Vaemond stood no chance in court when King Viserys hobbled in, staggering to the throne until his crown fell. Aemond thought it all poetic, symbolizing his father’s relationship with the Stranger. The Stranger would come any day and take his estranged father away, leaving a mess in his absence.
The victory had been won before anyone could even see it. Aemond knew his half-sister won this round. Rhaenyra was letting out her scent, the smell of pride licking the air. Lucerys would inherit the Driftmark throne and become Lord of the Tides. It is what Corlys and Laenor Velyaron both wanted for Lucerys when he grew up. Now that that was settled, Lucerys would be betrothed, probably to Rhaena or Baela.
It is at dinner that everything becomes disastrous. Aemond glares at his meal in front of him, avoiding eye contact with any of his family. He gets strange looks from Daemon from time to time and his mother. Alicent does not know what to do though, wanting to snap at her son for being so rude at the dinner.
Aemond stands, swallowing tightly, “excuse me, your grace, I do not feel so well suddenly.” He dodges further questioning from Alicent, swiftly leaving the dining hall.
The day that King Viserys I passed away in his bedchambers in the middle of the night, whatever peace was there, now disappeared. According to Alicent, the king was mumbling the words of Aegon being king. In reality, he was merely speaking of Aegon the Conqueror. But suddenly, a war began instead over the fight for the crown and who sat on the throne. Would it be Rhaenyra Targaryen, first born of the king or his second child, Aegon?
Aemond had orders to visit all the lords before Rhaenyra could get her claws into them. To convince them that it would be better to support the Hightowers more. Rhaenyra was a woman, an alpha, but a woman. The lords that had sworn allegiance to her all those years ago were either dead or older.
If it had to be done, he would have to offer his own hand in marriage if necessary. Aemond did not want it though, planning to kill anyone who touched him in foreign lands. That is what he did, visiting the lords that supported Aegon’s claim, making sure that they had allies. What he was not expecting though, was to see Lucerys Velaryon arriving as he spoke to Lord Baratheon. Aemond feels his blood run cold, feeling dread as the alpha comes closer, looking regal as ever. But he was only here to deliver a message, that was all, to declare allegiance to the black queen, the true queen of the seven kingdoms.
Borros Baratheon sneers at the prince, taunting him with questions of the legitimacy of House Targaryen’s ruler. Aemond turns, meeting brown eyes for the first time since the night of the dinner. “My Lord Strong, I must say, you are brave to come here without a fight. Attempting to steal back the throne from my brother for your whore of a mother? My half-sister?”
The words sink in and Aemond can see that they sting the alpha, making him growl unconsciously. “I came here to deliver a message, nothing else, Uncle. My allegiance is to the queen, the true heir.”
“But not to repay the eye that I have lost then, boy?” Aemond rips his eyepatch off, revealing the sapphire gem sitting in the empty eye socket. He had covered it all his life, feeling ashamed as people would stare, calling him the “one-eyed cunt.” Aemond tries to remind himself that this is just another alpha, one that manages to get under his skin unfortunately.
“I will not fall for your tricks, Uncle. I am not the boy you once knew, if anything, I demand your apology.”
That was not the response that Aemond thought he would get, there was a fire underneath Lucerys’ skin. The words make him shiver, blood turning cold once again as Aegon’s cruel words rang in his head. Would Lucerys take him, take him here and now, in front of Lord Borros and his court? The feeling of dread makes Aemond pull his hand away from his sheathed dagger. Lucerys was a dragon that was ready to chop him to bits and Aemond was terrified of what could happen.
He needed to leave before something terrible happened.