Chapter Text
Luke had known things for as long as he could remember. It took him a while to realize that not everyone did; that not everyone knew how all the stories ended even while living through the middle. Honestly, he did not realize this until the incident at a family dinner ordered by the king. Luke was only 3 years old and excited to play with his older brother and his favorite uncle, Aemond. He always tried to follow Aemond around whenever he could, toddling after his uncle along corridors or into lessons he was too young for. He was not allowed too much. Usually, he was hand in hand with Jace under Sir Harwin’s careful, kind eyes during the day and around his Muna at night when her duties did not take her away from the personal quarters.
This particular day, the blacks and greens had gathered on order of the king for a family dinner. Muna had placed him in a chair next to Jace, but he tried his best to wiggle out from it and crawl to his uncle a few chairs to his left.
“No, no, no, Lucerys. Don’t you want to sit next to your brother?” tutted his mother, grabbing him under his arms and lifting him up to hold him close to her chest.
“But I see Jace every day!” pouted Luke. “I want to talk to Uncle Aemond.” His uncle smiled softly for a moment before glancing at his mother’s pursed lips and looking away.
“I think Aemond may want to spend time with his brother right now,” mother hesitantly suggested. Luke looked over at Aemond, who seemed more interested in his food and the pretty ladies than anything else, and privately disagreed. He crossed his arms to show his disapproval. Grandfather laughed.
“Oh, let his enjoy his time with his uncle. Have them grow closer together as family,” grandfather suggested. Muna placed him down so he could address the grandsire properly. Winking conspiratorially at Luke, grandfather continued, “is Aemond your favorite uncle?”
“Aemond is my favorite everything!” Luke beamed. Grandfather belted out a large laugh and several of the adults followed with quieter ones. Aemond’s cheeks turned bright red. Luke hoped he was feeling all right and not getting sick. Emboldened, Luke continued, “I want to spend as much time with him as possible!” Grandfather’s grin widened, glad that we cared for each other so much.
“Have fun with your uncle. But you will have the rest of your life to stand side by side as your serve your mother and her kingdom after I am gone. You will have many years yet to come.” Luke nodded very seriously.
“Yes, Grandsire. I want to be with Aemond as much as possible before his dragon eats me.”
All noise in the room stops.
“What-“
That was all that could be asked before people all over started to scream at each other across the table. Queen Alicent yelled at muna for lies and poisoning us against her children. Muna screamed her own accusations. Even more yelled about plots, tricks, and even treason. But all Luke could look at, in this storm of confusion, was Aemond’s face. It had drained painfully white, all the pretty pinks from earlier gone. The King grabbed Luke’s arm suddenly.
“What are you talking about? Aemond does not even have a dragon? Where have you heard this?!” he commanded, voice hushing the crowd. But Luke did not look at him. He could not tear his eyes from Aemond’s face.
“Answer me!” the King demanded. Luke broke his gaze and turned to the king; eyes wide.
“I-I… No one told me anything your grace. I just know. Doesn’t everyone know?” Luke asked, genuine confusion in his voice.
“Aemond is not going to harm you, my boy. Why would you think this?” Luke’s confusion melted away.
“Oh. Of course Aemond wouldn’t want to really hurt me. We were in the skies and he yelled to stop, by Vhagar didn’t listen and ate me and Arrax. It wasn’t his fault.” He turned to Aemond. “I know you never meant to do it. You aren’t a kinslayer, not matter what people called you afterwards.” Luke tried to give an encouraging smile, but it apparently wasn’t very successful as Aemond looked even more saddened and betrayed, possibly turning a little green. Luke wanted to reach out and give him a hug, like the sometimes do when no one is around, but then his mother spoke.
“Luke, my dear, Aemond does not have a dragon. Vhagar is your aunt Laena’s dragon. No one is going to eat you…” she tried to reach down towards him to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder, but Luke looked away from a moment, thinking.
“Oh… I understand. Laena hasn’t died yet. I forgot. I’m sorry for worrying everyone.” Luke looked down at his shoes, rubbing his right toes into the floor. “It’s confusing sometimes to remember what already happened.” He looks up at Muna, Grandfather, and the rest of his family around the table. “How do you always remember what’s already happened and what to not talk about yet? It’s confusing…”
Helena walks to him, her mother trying to grab her by the shoulder but failing. He holds his hand and whispers, “yes nephew, the dreams dance together, mixing, often.”
The adults look between each other, worry painting their faces. Luke doesn’t know why, but turns to Aemond. He is still very pale and sick looking. Luke sweeps across the room towards him, hugs his torso even as Aemond tries pull away, and looks into his two beautiful eyes.
“It’s okay, Uncle. You’ll aways be my favorite.”