Chapter Text
Chapter Songs-
Hurricane by Halsey
Shades of Cool by Lana Del Rey
If Looks Could Kill by A Heartwell Ending
The health of King Viserys had been declining for many years. His eldest daughter, and named heir– Rhaenyra– had not dared to return to King’s Landing with her children for six years, but now it was necessary. Corlys Velaryon had been severely injured in the Stepstones, which his brother Vaemond had seen as an opportunity to call Jacaerys Velaryon’s inheritance into question. For this reason both Greens and Blacks anxiously awaited the hearing to determine Driftmarks succession.
On the eve of the trial, Aemond Targaryen was training in the courtyard with Ser Criston Cole, easily dodging each attack. It was an impressive sight to behold. As Aemond disarmed Ser Criston, he finally noticed his nephews looking on, as well as her. He had not seen Visenya in six years– not since the night he lost his eye and claimed Vhagar. He was surprised to learn not two years later that she had claimed Vermithor the Bronze Fury. Two dragonless Targaryens had to make their own path.
Visenya gazed at Aemond with a certain enigmatic look in her eyes. As Aemond sheathed his sword and the crowd dispersed, he approached her, “It has been a long time, Princess.”
“Aemond.” she nodded at him in greeting.
“You’ve grown.” Aemond smirked as he took in her visage. Of all Rhaenyra’s children, Visenya was the only one Aemond ever got along with. He was drawn to her, even now.
“As have you.” she noted, “Tell me, has claiming the largest dragon alive truly caused so much change?”
“Yes, it has.” Aemond took a step closer to her, now really towering over the princess. Visenya was only slightly shocked by the proximity but did not let it show, nor did she back away.
“And do you intend to campaign against my brother on the morrow?” she inquired. Aemond was not surprised in the least by this question. Visenya always had a strong sense of loyalty to her family, no doubt a result of being her mothers heir.
“Yes,” Aemond answered confidently, “I have been looking forward to it. Do not fret though, I will go easy on him. After all, your brothers are only children.”
Visenya raised a brow at him, shooting him a warning look that resembled her mother. Aemond noted the air of strength about her, but it was also laced with gentleness. She was not someone who was easy to read, but that only intrigued Aemond more.
“It is their rightful claim.” Visenya stated simply. Aemond smirked again. He could not help but raise his hand to lift her chin slightly, onlookers be damned.
“A claim does not make you a man,” he said softly, “And from what I have seen, your brothers are not yet men deserving to rule.” Visenya did not shy away from his touch. She did not even flinch at his harsh words. She simply narrowed her hazel eyes at him.
“Are you?”
As Visenya stepped away and turned to rejoin her brothers, Aemond’s smirk fell. Once again, she had gotten the better of him. As he clenched his jaw and tried to shake her from his head, his gaze fell on Jace and Luke. While he held no ill will towards Visenya, he could not bring himself to forgive his nephews for taking his eye.
Aemond had once declared so boldly in front of everyone that it was a fair exchange: his eye for a dragon. He was young and naive then. He could not have known the stares he would be unable to escape once returning to King's Landing. Despite the power he believed to finally wield, the insults and jests at his expense became worse after losing his eye. He would never be free of judgment… except for when it came to Visenya.
As Visenya approached her younger brothers, she could feel Aemond's icy stare. She placed a hand on Jace and Luke's shoulders to lead them inside and away from Aemond.
“Do not provoke anyone to anger,” she commanded in a hushed tone, “You know we cannot afford it at this time.”
Visenya had always been the one to think of protecting her family's succession. Rhaenyra had raised her to be strategic, and that is exactly what she was. Since the fateful night where Aemond lost his eye, Visenya realized she would need to work tirelessly to secure her mothers claim to the throne, even if it meant great sacrifice on her part. Visenya had barely managed to usher her brothers into their room before chastising them.
“Do you not intend to apologize, then?”
Jace and Luke both shared confused looks. They had not forgotten the bad blood between the Greens and themselves, but their memories were short and their foresight was even worse. Jace was the first to speak.
“Apologize for what?” His tone was an attempt at stoicism while he crossed his arms over his chest. Visenya scoffed. She loved her brothers, but also could not help wanting to slap them at some times.
“You took his eye!”
“He called us bastards!” The memory of that night was one that could easily be recalled by all three of them. There was blood spilled, and families divided. Visenya had nightmares for nearly a fortnight afterwards, wondering what could have been done.
“And you focus on the wrong thing!” Visenya sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, “The encounter was violent and you had every right to defend yourselves, but to make that the offense you cling to will only strengthen the beliefs that we are bastards.”
Jace shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Luke simply stared at the ground. It was uncommon to hear Visenya be so outwardly angry. She kept her emotions controlled most times.
“It is not just our own reputation we defend now.” Visenya said softly, “We also defend our mother. If there is any chance of reconciliation with the Greens, it begins now.”
There it was: reconciliation. That word haunted Visenya ever since she realized just how divided their house was. She did not desire a war to be fought over the succession, so she clung to the idea of reconciliation like a shield, never knowing if it was truly possible.
“Alright,” Luke conceded, “we’ll try.”
Visenya straightened before nodding at her brother. She turned to exit the room, now hoping to find her mother and stepfather. She knew they had hoped to speak to King Viserys. As she walked down the hall, however, she bumped into someone.
“Watch your step–” Aemond stopped himself from biting out the rest of the sentence. When he realized it had been Visenya to run into him, his expression softened. She backed away a single step.
“My apologies.”
“Do not apologize.” he muttered, “My mind is elsewhere.” Visenya tilted her head as she gazed up at him. Her eyes relaxed and the smirk on her face was almost imperceptible.
“You seem troubled, Aemond.” Aemond somehow felt invaded by the girl's perceptive look. He only crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, but it was no use, for Visenya had already gleaned the information needed. She raised a brow at his attempted apathy.
“Fine,” Aemond relented, letting out a sigh before speaking again, “Yes, I must admit I am troubled.”
“Because of my brothers?”
Aemond’s jaw clenched. The memory of that night haunted all of them, but perhaps him worst of all, “Yes, because of them.”
“You know that I repudiated their actions all those years ago, but I had hoped the matter was settled when you declared it a fair trade… your eye for Vhagar.” As she gauged his reaction, it almost seemed like his anger was replaced with something more melancholic,
“It was never a fair trade.” Aemond had realized that too late. It didn’t matter how large of a dragon he had, he would always be a second son. He would always be looked down upon by his brother, pitied by his mother, and ignored by his father.
“You also took something that night.” Visenya allowed her cool demeanor to somewhat falter, “Tell me, did Rhaena deserve to have her late mothers dragon stolen before she even had the chance to claim her, before her mothers body had even drifted to the bottom of the sea?”
Aemond’s expression turned cold. The memory flooded back into his mind. He felt… guilty. He was guilty for taking Vhagar so quickly, and also for enjoying it. It had made him feel powerful, like revenge for his years of torment. He could not hold Visenya’s gaze as he muttered a response.
“No.”
Visenya's expression softened, “I was once a dragonless Targaryen too. My hatchling died in the cradle and I had to wait years to be able to claim Vermithor.”
Aemond could hear the sadness in Visenya's voice as she spoke of losing her first dragon. They both knew the feeling of not having a dragon. Perhaps that is why they had always gotten along. As he looked back at her, he could just make out a hint of vulnerability she was trying to hide.
“It is not the same.” He said quietly, his voice much gentler than before. Visenya lifted her head more.
“Isn’t it?” She challenged him, “My claim to the Targaryen name has been questioned since birth, and not just for the reason you believe. I am a woman, the heir to the first Targaryen woman who has ever been named heir to the Iron Throne. I have had to work twice as hard for everything.”
Aemond looked at her intently, his eye softening now. Her vulnerability was now even more apparent and he could see the frustration in her eyes. He now understood her in a way he hadn’t before.
“They underestimate you.” Aemond’s voice was still quiet, his gaze still fixed on her. Visenya narrowed her eyes at him again.
“I would be glad to see you not make that mistake.” She brushed past him before turning again, “I’ve told my brothers to apologize. I pray you do not let pride get in the way of reconciliation between kin.”
Aemond did not know exactly what he was feeling as she walked away. Sometimes he believed he would never truly understand her, and that drove him mad.