Chapter Text
The mourning period for Prince Aegon Targaryen, firstborn son of Queen Alicent Hightower and King Viserys of House Targaryen, The First of His Name lasted for one month. For thirty days after his funeral pyre, the whole of King's Landing was draped in black. Mourners and condolences came from every corner of Westeros. From Crown Princess Rhaenyra of Dragonstone, weeping next to her father (while Daemon smiled smugly behind her) to the cups raised by the smallfolk of Flea Bottom for him. He was a beloved…….patron of the commoners…..and their industries.
Ravens and heralds all sang the same sad song. Prince Aegon fell ill with a sudden fever and passed away in the night. The Gods can be cruel but as the queen proclaimed, but all must trust in the will of the Seven.
It was a kindly lie for the masses and the histories of course. Aegon had indeed fallen, but not from a fever. The trueborn Targaryen prince that she and her father had plotted to make king in order to save the Seven Kingdoms from Rhaenyra’s bastard heirs was not destined to sit the Iron Throne. No, Aegon was destined to drunkenly fall down a flight of stairs in the Red Keep and break his neck after a night at a Flea Bottom brothel.
Alicent wept many tears that month. Ones of sadness, bitterness…..and relief. She had truly loved her eldest child but with him gone, Alicent could be honest with herself. Aegon would have been a terrible king. Even worse than his father. The boy had been lazy, cowardly and slow-witted. A cruel drunkard and according to Larys’ reports of his nocturnal activities; a lustful deviant with half-a-dozen bastards crawling around in the pits of the city. Father thought to rule through him and had discounted his many negative qualities.
She had always had her doubts. Aegon had been a dragon rider and even a slow Targaryen was still a Targaryen. And Targaryens were difficult to control; as Rhaenyra, Daemon and occasionally even Viserys proved. But all was not lost she realized after the tide of her grief receded. The Gods had taken one son from her but also gifted her the perfect replacement.
Aemond.
The son who should have been born first.
Her second-born son was everything that Aegon hadn’t been. He had a keen wit and intellect. A natural student and scholar; always studying the histories and literature of Westeros and Essos. Aemond was also deft with a sword and mace, a skilled horseman and rider of the largest and most powerful dragon in the world, the ancient and mighty Vhagar. The five-and-ten-year-old boy was also more motivated than Aegon. His cruel maiming at the hands of Rhaenyra’s brats and how they got away with their offense still made his heart burn with righteous anger.
Aemond was also tall, muscular and handsome. Unlike Aegon, who inherited his father’s stoutness and skinny arms. She never would say it aloud but Aemond looked like Rhaenyra and Daemon. Tall, with silky Valyrian silver hair and classically defined features that made him look like he stepped out of a Pre-Doom tapestry.
Yes, Aemond would be a fine king one day.
And a Targaryen king needs a Targaryen queen.
The Gods had also blessed her with one of those as well.
Her daughter, Princess Helaena, was to have married Aegon six months from now. She would marry her other brother instead. It was not the first time a royal or noble lady was put in that position. Men and boys often were betrothed young and then killed in battle, died of disease or other mishaps before the wedding. But the alliances forged were far more important than the individual. So grooms or brides were replaced or switched around as needed.
Alicent knew that her father was correct; it was her bloodline or Rhaenyra’s that would rule the Seven Kingdoms. A trueborn bloodline with pure Valyrian blood that any could see was more legitimate than the misbegotten sons of House Strong. Helaena and Aemond would marry and breed. They were older than Rhaenyra’s children, their claim would be strengthened with the silver-haired offspring that would come first.
She also realized that she could correct the mistakes she made with Aegon. Alicent realized now she had been a poor mother and mentor to him. Due to the unpleasantness of his conception and her melancholy during her early years of marriage to Viserys. Without proper guidance, proper Targaryen guidance, he had became a useless sot.
Alicent realized she needed to make peace with Targaryens and their queer customs.
Her Hightower blood and faith in the Seven could not defeat the power of dragons and Old Valyria.
Aemond was only five and ten. There was still time to make him a good man, a good prince and potential king……as well as a good husband. Alicent was also thinking of her sweet, gentle Helaena. Her beautiful daughter deserved a loyal and gentle lord husband to obey and honor. (And guide to the correct decisions with her mother’s and grandsire’s assistance.) No one else could be trusted with this task. Not maesters, septons, septas or nurses.
This task would require a mother’s love.
The love a mother had for her Targaryen children.
****
She waited a week after the mourning period ended for the lesson she intended to teach them. During that week, the crown announced that Aemond would marry Helaena on the same date she was to have married Aegon. The ravens flew and to proclaim this happiness throughout the land. (And to remind the nobles that their presence was still expected.)
Alicent spent the week praying and readying herself for the task at hand. She also had Lord Larys clear the castle of any suspected spies, put Daeron back on the road to Oldtown accompanied by her sworn shield Ser Cole and on the appointed night, she had Grand Maester Orwyle give her husband an extra-strong drought of his medicine to ensure he slept the night away.
Upon the hour of the bat, she ordered Ser Fell to bring her two children to her personal chambers. She stood illuminated before the roaring fireplace in her parlor sipping a cup of Arbor Red. The queen looked over the flames at the marble relief above the pit. Valyrians fucking. It seemed that all Valyrian artwork was about war, dragons, blood magick or fucking. She usually had the obscene thing covered up by devotional artwork dedicated to the Mother.
But not tonight.
Alicent, formerly of House Hightower was wearing her summer sleep gown, light white silk embroidered with golden dragons and green watchtowers. She was still a stunning court beauty despite age and motherhood. Her russet brown curls brushed against her shoulders as her braids had been undone by her servant girls before she dismissed them for the night. Alicent had the classic Southron noble features. High cheekbones, a noble chin and an prim aristocratic nose.
Her best feature were her eyes. The large and expressive brown orbs that could sing of love, affection and sympathy. They won her a king a for a husband. And another Targaryen before that. A memory surfaced of being behind a tree and blushing scarlet while the most beautiful girl in the world told her she had lovely eyes before kissing her.
She was doomed to love Targaryens. Alicent sipped her wine and once again wondered what life would been like if Viserys had chosen Laena instead. Oh, she would been married off eventually but she could have stayed Rhaenyra’s lady-in-waiting for an extra year or two. Perhaps she could have prevented Daemon’s corruption from taking root in her heart and making it so black. But perhaps the corruption had always been there and the sinful love she bore for the princess prevented her from seeing it. It was too late for that anyway and it was too late for her poor Aegon as well.
But it wasn’t too late for Aemond and Helaena.
Alicent would assure their destinies and their happiness. She smiled as she envisioned Aemond on the Iron Throne and Helaena with a babe in her arms. Rhaenyra would then finally understand that duty, honor and family always came first. A bell sounded at her chamber doors and Ser Fell called out.
“My queen, the prince and princess.”
Always duty.
She turned to face the doors as they opened. Her children were ushered in by the white-armored knight of the Kingsguard. Alicent lifted her chin to him.
“Thank you Ser Fell. See that we are not disturbed.”
“Yes my queen.”
The doors closed and the siblings looked at their mother some confusion at being summoned at this hour. Helaena’s curly silver locks were also unbraided and down. They looked half-brushed out, the summons must came to her when she was preparing for bed. Her daughter was clad in a sapphire blue dressing gown and matching slippers over her own white sleep gown. She looked at Alicent with slight wariness in her purple Targaryen eyes. That made the queen’s heart ache; she tried so hard to understand her…..odd daughter. It would be better after tonight she told herself, they would understand each other as women do.
Her tall and strong son was practically standing at attention in his loose white blouse and black silk with gold trim leggings. Aemond’s silver hair, so straight and fine, was down too. His brown leather eyepatch looked hastily put on. Knowing her studious son, he would been abed but awake reading by candlelight for hours yet. Even now, he looked more like a king than Aegon ever did in full court finery. She eyed his well-defined chest muscles through the open laces of his blouse; he was also growing into his manhood well.
Aemond’s disfigurement could be an asset she realized. Not only was it physical proof of Rhaenyra’s perfidy and the betrayal always lurking in bastard blood; it gave the young boy a fierce air and gaze. It would cow lords and smallfolk alike. His singular violet eye wasn’t uneasy, it was filled with love and obedience. Her poor second son, he always seemed so desperate for any expression of approval and affection from her. It never seemed like enough for him but perhaps now he would understand. Alicent failed him as a boy but she wouldn’t fail the man he was clearly becoming. She gestured to the two oak chairs next to each other on one side of the fireplace.
“Sit my loves, sit. We have matters of great import to discuss.”
They followed her instructions as she went to the tray on the low dragon-shaped table in front of the chairs. Her carafe of wine was sitting there. Alicent poured them each a cup and freshened her own and then sat in a chair opposite of them. Aemond took a small sip of his wine while Helaena just looked down at her silver cup before looking back up at Alicent.
“Is something wrong mother?” Alicent shook her head at her daughter.
“No sweetling, I wanted to talk to you both about the upcoming wedding.”
Helaena was on Aemond’s seeing side and Alicent observed their reactions to her statement. Her son was more in control of his emotions. His eye flicked over to his sister quickly before returning to Alicent and the left corner of his lip twitched upward only once. Helaena was less practiced in controlling her face; she smiled, looked over at Aemond and blushed. Alicent would need to work with her on that. A queen’s face must be a polite mask, betraying no intent. But still their reaction did please her. She could not recall Helaena looking at Aegon that way even once and their betrothal had been announced four years ago.
They loved each other. Good, that would make what came next much easier.
“I see the topic pleases you both.”
Both became wary again. Aemond sniffed and nodded.
“I will do my duty to my house. I am glad to keep our Valyrian blood pure.”
Helaena nervously turned her cup in her hands.
“I loved Aegon and I am devastated by his death. I so wished to be his wife.”
Courtly answers said in monotone. Truth and lies mixed together, good for a noble feast or a council meeting but not necessary here with her. She held up a hand to her cheek and opened the wound herself.
“I loved Aegon with all my heart but he has gone to rest with the Gods. Let us speak truthfully now. He was not of the right temperament for the position of leading our house one day or being Helaena’s lord husband.”
Aemond’s eyebrow shot up at that and Helaena’s eyes widened. She had never said such things in front of them (or anyone else) before. She looked at them both and sipped her wine, the sweetness soothing her clenched throat. Softening her features so they would know this wasn’t a trap or test and they could be honest. To her surprise, Helaena spoke first. Hesitantly, but then with increasing confidence.
“I loved my brother as the septons say we must. I would have been his wife as my family said I must. But Aegon was sometimes……unkind to me. He would mock my appearance and the way I spoke. He didn’t like spending time with me and sometimes he would kill the specimens in my collections. And he never listened to me. I warned him about the stairs that turned to snakes and would bit him but he just rolled his eyes at me and said I was ‘touched’. That was the last time I saw him.”
The cup in Aemond’s hand acquired a dent as he squeezed it with a look of cold fury on his face. Her son hissed at her with years of pent-up venom and anger.
“Aegon was a craven and fool. He did never deserve to lead this house or become king….if that had been required of him. And if he married Helaena and continued to treat her that way….the way he ‘treated’ serving girls, then by the old gods and the new, I would have slain him myself and fed his corpse to Vhagar!”
Harsh but true words. It was good to see that Aegon’s treatment of Helaena woke his dragon. And her son was also still careful to phrase how he spoke of the possibility of Aegon becoming king. He did not speak treason directly. But he made one mistake, Alicent pointed at Helaena.
“Don’t say that to me. Say it to the sister who is be your wife and the mother of your children.”
Aemond blinked and put the dented cup back on the table. He turned to Helaena with a look she hadn’t see on his face since he lost an eye at Driftmark. He looked honest and vulnerable as he stared at Helaena.
“Sweet sister…..Aegon was unworthy of you. You are the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms or beyond. As beautiful as mother. I shall treasure you as much as Vhagar and more than any jewel or victory because you are my future and that of our dominion over these lands.”
Helaena gasped but perhaps not at the words, but that Aemond said them so boldly in the presence of another. She licked her lips and said what she had obviously felt for years.
“Aegon was only ever duty to me. You are the brother I would have chosen. My dreams are muddled now, changing and flapping their wings rapidly to escape from a new cocoon but I know one that can’t be changed. Us. Water, fire and air. You’ll have your one eye closed and than I shall close mine before the moon blinks again.”
Alicent rarely understood what her daughter was speaking of, but it seemed to please Aemond. Who slowly reached out with a large hand calloused from holding dragon reins and a sword and Helaena gave him her smaller and more delicate one to hold. The queen smiled at that small kindness, men were so often ignorant of how important those were. Alicent leaned back in her chair.
“You may kiss her if you like.”
The siblings had been gazing at each other adoringly but both drew back from each other at her words.
“We…..hmm……should wait until the marriage before we kiss.” Aemond sputtered.
“I have never secretly kissed Aemond.” Helaena declared in her version of a stern voice.
Alicent shook her head with a small sigh. This would simply not do.
“It is a sin to lie to your mother. I know you two kissed in the hall behind the kitchens on the day of bringing Aegon’s ashes to the sept. Aemond, you were seen leaving Helaena’s chamber at the hour of the wolf, two nights past. This concerns me.”
Larys was worth the occasional indignity like letting him touch himself while looking at her feet or while watching her bath. It was only an indignity and not a sin, he never touched her. Helaena and Aemond looked shocked, they were young and obviously had thought they were being careful.
“I want no bastard births before the wedding, further muddling the issue of the succession. Have you two laid together? The truth now.”
Both of them looked at each other; Aemond straightened his shoulders and addressed Alicent formally.
“I have kissed Helaena on several occasions. It was my doing, not hers.”
“is that you were doing in her chambers for over an hour? Kissing?”
Helaena raised the cup of wine to her lips and started drinking. A fairly astonished Aemond and Alicent watched her drain the entire goblet. She wiped her lips and took a deep breath.
“He also touched my bosom over my nightgown. I enjoyed that very much.”
The queen coughed up a bit of her own wine and Aemond groaned at that confession. Helaena’s cheeks flushed and looked down at her cup.
“That’s not bad after all. Oh! And Aemond’s pants became tented and then wet when I touched him behind his legs. This seemed to embarrass him for some reason.”
Aemond looked ready to bolt for the doors now. His mother looked at him pointedly.
“Did you now? Aemond, I will ask you this but once. Have you taken Helaena’s maidenhead?”
“No!” Aemond looked scandalized by the very suggestion but he was more than on the verge of manhood, given Helaena’s retelling of the nocturnal event. Alicent studied his face closely and decided she believed him. She didn’t ask Helaena if she had given it to anyone else. Her sweet girl was too innocent for such suspicions.
(Helaena had in fact asked Aemond to take it that night but he refused. Neither mentioned that to Alicent.)
But she was concerned about Aemond’s purity. And why shouldn’t she be? Boys should have to wait until the marriage bed as girls did. It always rankled her that they were expected to be ‘experienced’ while maidens were cloaked in innocence and ignorance.
“Aegon took you to a brothel in Flea Bottom once, did he not?” Helaena frowned and looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“He did?"
The prince was now under the gaze of both his mother and sister. The formidable youth who rode Vhagar and regularly battered more experienced knights like Ser Cole in the yard shrank back into a little boy under their attention. He looked down in shame, as he should.
“Yes, he did. It was two years ago. He said it was time I ‘became a man like him.’”
Alicent leaned forward and pierced the penitent boy with her stare.
“Aemond, did you lay with a whore?”
Her son shook his head furiously at her and Helaena.
“I did not. I swear it on my honor. The whole evening was horrid. The building was dirty and the air smoky with foul foreign incense. The quality of girls was dubious. Aegon seemed to delight in the ones that were filthy, skinny and….young. I attempted to go unnoticed as Aegon and his cronies chose their wenches but he kept pushing me. He signaled to the madam of the brothel and told her to ‘train’ me. She was at least kinder and prettier than the urchins Aegon lusted for.”
“Prettier and kinder how?” Alicent raised an eyebrow at her daughter. That was a sharper tone than she'd ever heard from Helaena. Aemond flinched at it and continued.
“I suppose it was because……she was older. She seemed more confident than the slack-jawed calves that she owned and sold. She was healthy, busty and had lovely dark hair. She reminded me of mot…..someone who’s beauty and poise I had admired. I was taken back to her chamber but I would not touch her. Not even when she enticed me with her nude form. I just waited until Aegon was finished and then endured his taunts all the way back to the Keep.”
The logs in the fireplace cracked and popped in the silence that followed. Aemond awaited their judgment with a furrowed brow. Finally, Helaena reached out and grabbed his hand. Wrapping her fingers over his and rubbing his knuckles with her thumb.
“Aegon and his cruel japes. I mourn him but I shall not miss him. I believe you brother. Mother does too, right?”
Helaena looked at Alicent who nodded her assent. She actually did. With most other men, she would have scoffed and dismissed their claim of innocence. Viserys fucked half the Street of Silk in his day, they said. But her king and lord husband was a weak man. Unlike Aemond, he allowed himself to be dominated by his brother and now by his oldest daughter. But her son was not a weak fool. He would be a good and honorable man….and king.
She would see to it.
“I believe you my son and I am proud of you for resisting such base temptation. That is what this night will be about. Dealing with temptation. While you have avoided adding to Flea Bottom’s population of silver-haired orphans, your behavior with Helaena since Aegon’s death concerns me. You lust after her and I fear you will both, being young and willful dragons, will give into temptation. I will not have Helaena in the sept with a big belly.”
Both started to protest but she waved them into silence.
“This is not an attack, it’s an acknowledgment of your Valyrian natures. You are not made like other men and women. I now acknowledge that it is wrong to think of you as Hightower or even Westerosi children. Aemond, what is the Doctrine of Exceptionalism?”
He perked up, always eager to prove what a good student he was.
“Exceptionalism is the religious precept that King Jaehaerys worked out with Septons Oswyck and Barth. In short, it allows for royal Targaryen marriages between siblings and relatives. It shows that we are exempt from the laws against incest laid down by the faith of the Seven because we are not of Andalos. We are the blood of Old Valyria and the Gods made us different. As evidenced by our ability to ride dragons, shared by no others. It is right and proper that we keep our bloodlines pure and closed.”
Well said. He left out the part about how the Doctrine was part of the peace treaty between the Faith and the crown in order to put the militant uprisings behind them and to prevent the Starry Sept from burning to the ground every time a septon denounced the Targaryens as ‘unnatural’. But it was both spiritually true and politically convenient. They were different from the common (or noble) man.
“That was correct. You and your sister are to be wed and bed. It is only right that we acknowledge the difference in your blood in how you must be prepared for this future. Aemond, you observed congress in the brothel but it is different between husband and wife. Helaena, you have lust your heart but are you aware of the duties you’ll be expected to perform at the bedding?”
Now it was her turn to look away and blush. As she stammered, Alicent refilled her wine cup.
“Of-of-of course. I am aware such a thing exists. But I must confess to being confused by the details though. I know Aemond is different between the legs but…..is it like my bugs or the horses mounting each other in the stables? The nurses and septas say I don’t need to know the details. I’m told that instinct will be enough on my wedding night and that I’m to bear any pain to come.”
Alicent nearly threw her own cup in the fire. That was all they told her as well. And father told her to endure all discomfort for House Hightower. Then one night she had a grunting old beast on top of her and inside her……hurting her. Eventually the pain ceased but the promised pleasure? That never came either. Viserys’ touches were nothing like Rhaenyra’s and even Ser Cole’s worship felt lacking.
He had neither the silver hair nor purple eyes she dreamed of.
“They are wrong sweetling. Tell me, when you were bonded with and learned how to ride Dreamfyre, was that because of instinct, guidance from the Dragonkeepers or a combination of both?”
Helaena sipped her wine and considered her mother’s question.
“Both. We are connected to our dragons but the keepers teach us their ways and habits. We learn so we can understand what we innately know. But one would be lacking without the other.”
Aemond nodded in agreement with his sister.
“She’s right.”
“I agree and that’s why you’re both here. Aemond, tonight you will learn to be a good husband and Helaena, you will learn to be a good wife. You both learn how best to pleasure each other and how to control yourselves. You will not be Aegon and Rhaenyra come again. Honor and duty do not mean marriage should also be joyless and faithless. As you said, one would be lacking with out the other. So I shall teach you both."
Their shocked silence was what she expected. Helaena took another big gulp of her wine and glanced nervously at Aemond. Her son rubbed his chin, so nicely shaven as he was not given to ugly stubble like his father and voiced the objection she also expected.
“Mother, are you sure that is appropriate?” She sipped her wine.
“Aemond, have you ever read Maester Georrge Martain’s work, Valyrian Social Customs in the Early Freehold?”
“No, I haven’t. Grand Maester Mellos said his work, while extensive, was overly salacious and incomplete.” Alicent shrugged.
“A pity, he could learn something about the king he serves. I discovered it some time ago while perusing your father’s historical library. It was fascinating. The culture of your forebears was very……exotic. And I’m not speaking of just the dragons or blood magick.”
She leaned over and took the carafe to refill her goblet. As she did, her night gown fell open slightly, revealing the shape of her breast.
Aemond noticed and looked.
Helaena noticed Aemond looking and looked herself.
Alicent pretended not to notice either of them looking as she sat back in her chair to continue.
“Where was I? Ah yes, exotic customs. Weddings and beddings were taken quite seriously by the Valyrians. It was a family affair of course. It was considered a parent’s duty to prepare their children for all aspects of adulthood. Including in the knowledge and practice of all things carnal. This responsibility fell to the mother of the bride and groom. As she was the one who brought them into the world, she was to be the one who prepared them bring others into it as well.”
Helaena tapped her nails against her cup.
“I believe I understand but why? You didn’t do this with Aegon.” She nodded.
“And that was my mistake. By attempting to restrain his Valyrian nature; I caused it to boil over in unacceptable ways. Drink, serving girls, gambling and whores. All those vices because he wasn’t allowed to be a dragon and wasn’t instructed in the proper way to do so. Look at Rhaenyra! Her power and prestige wax now with Daemon at her side and filling her with children. I shall see you two prepared to face them and I will see you both happy and pleasured.”
Like I never was, she added silently. Her children were silent and pensive for good long while but then Helaena took charge and guided a hesitant Aemond to a decision. As a good wife and older sister should. Her only daughter inclined her head to her brother.
“Aemond, I think we should do as mother asks.” He looked at her with surprise.
“You do?” She smiled shyly.
“Yes…..I want to be able to please you and not just make you wet your pants.”
A dry chuckle exploded from his normally sour mouth and broke the slight tension that been hovering over all three of them.
“I wish to please you as well. Treat you like a lady and not a whore to be ravished or mare to be bred.”
He smiled then and it wasn’t cruel or mocking. It was small but it was kind and this pleased her. Alicent hadn’t see him smile like that since he had two eyes. Aemond lifted his cup to Helaena and she clinked hers against it. He drained it in one swallow and put it on the table and bowed his head to Alicent.
“We proceed at your will mother.”
Alicent, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, rose from her chair with her chin held high. She raised her arm to the archway that divided her parlor from her bedchamber. A large featherbed which had already been turned down for sleeping lay beyond it.
“Fellow me, my loves.”
She felt no indecision as they obeyed. This was the right course of action.
This was a mother’s love.