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Aemond watched as Lucerys’ dragon, or what was left of it, plummeted into the waters below in shock. The greatest thorn in his side had been felled by the great war dragon, Vhagar. Arrax had been a mere hatchling in comparison to the mammoth beast he had claimed. It had happened so fast, the anger, the chase, then Vhagar was spitting fire and then she had lunged. . .
Aemond had searched for his nephew, but there was no body to be found, no evidence that the boy had survived. Not that he’d be able to find him in this rain, it was coming down so hard, even Vhagar was having trouble navigating. And the waters below were choppy enough that even an experienced swimmer would’ve drowned. If the height from the fall hadn’t killed Lucerys’ the waters below would’ve dragged him underneath- that is of course if he hadn’t found a new home in Vhagar’s stomach.
Lucerys was dead.
A boy of three-and-ten gone with his whole life ahead of him.
And Aemond had committed an act of war that the Old Gods and the new condemned. He had always thought himself better than those of Rheanerya’s faction- he was a dutiful son, committed to his mother’s faith, and dedicated to the realm- and yet here he sat on the back of the largest dragon in the world, a kinslayer.
He lost count of how long he allowed Vhagar to fly North, back towards King’s landing. A crew of castle guards would be along to collect him in a moment, no doubt seeing his dragon’s massive frame in the distance. They landed a few miles outside of the city. Aemond allowed himself a few moments reprieve, as he leaned against the back of Vhagars head.
How was he ever going to explain this to his mother? To his grandfather? The small council? The thought of the conversation alone was enough to make his head spin, he found himself sliding off of Vhagar’s back and Aemond hit the ground.
Pain shot through his side and his arm twinged. The mud pressed against his tunic and into his hair but Aemond couldn’t bring himself to move. What was the point? He had murdered his nephew and sent the realm into a war he and his were not prepared to fight, they would come for him, the Blacks would come for his family and they would make him watch as they brought an end to-
He could feel Vhagar’s leg shifting, anchoring his consciousness back into his body. She always knew when he was floating away.
“Kirimvose, Vhagar.” he breathed out, he pushed up to lean against Vhagar’s side.
He knew eventually he’d have to make his way to the stream below and clean the mud from his person. It just wouldn’t do to return to the Capital as if he’d spent the night in a pigs pen. He had to be presentable and take responsibility for what he’d done.
Once news of Lucerys’ death reached Rhaenyra, her banners would be coming and the Greens had to be ready. The realm may collapse underneath this war, but his family would not.