-Chapter 188-
-POV Aemon Targaryen-
Faced with my confession, not only Laena, but Jeyne as well, looked surprised.
But beyond that surprise, a fury I had rarely seen emanated from Jeyne's gaze.
She turned to look in the direction the two Hightower siblings had just walked off in, and took a determined step forward.
I had to physically stop her by placing a hand on her arm to keep her from following Alicent and Bryndon Hightower.
Unlike my second wife, Laena managed to control her anger, and that impressed me, for she displayed a rare level of composure.
"Don't go," I said, annoyed by Jeyne's childish attitude.
We were playing a dangerous game, in a court of lions, snakes, but most of all—dragons.
Blood and vice were an intrinsic part of this court's DNA.
Jeyne, surprised that I held her back and prevented her from expressing the anger she felt—justifiably so, since we had been attacked—said:
"You're not seriously going to let such an affront slide, are you?"
"Of course not," I replied, displeased that Jeyne could think I would let such an act go unpunished, before explaining why we needed to be careful in how we responded:
"An act like that mustn't be judged with leniency, quite the contrary. We must respond with the utmost firmness, I'm well aware of that. But think carefully… If we catch Bryndon Hightower, lock him up, and hang his head on the gates of the Red Keep tomorrow morning, what will the common folk say?"
Jeyne narrowed her eyes but said nothing, already aware of how precarious our situation was.
The problem with House Hightower was a delicate one, for I sought to impose Targaryen dominance, with myself at its head.
However, I was not seeking to plunge the realm into a climate of anxiety, reeking of brimstone.
House Hightower, which had done its best to rile up the crowds, now struggled to use that same influence to calm the zeal of those they had incited.
All this, out of fear of vanishing in fire and blood.
'A second arbitrary execution would be the final nail in the coffin… the nail in all their coffins,' I thought, fully aware that it would force me to make an example of this open rebellion.
'I would be forced to massacre everyone, tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of people,' I thought, determined to avoid mass slaughter at all costs.
"It has to be an assassination," said Laena, reluctantly, as she still hoped to bring justice to her brother.
'But she was willing to settle for vengeance,' I finished silently in my mind, acknowledging the sacrifice Laena was ready to make… yet another one.
I was about to agree, but I met the eyes of my mother-in-law, who sensed something was wrong.
And it reminded me of the promise I had made her.
I lowered my gaze, recalling the vow I had taken, and it still wasn't enough.
I wracked my brain to find a solution, and it wasn't until I saw Viserys that a light flickered in my mind, illuminating the shadow this problem had cast upon it.
"I have an idea."
---
-POV Alicent Hightower-
"No no no no no… NOOOOO!" I screamed, panicked, pacing quickly in circles before dropping to the floor as I felt another wave of dizziness.
"How… how did he… how did he figure it out… how did he know?" I muttered frantically, unable to comprehend how Robar Hawkeye had figured out that Bryndon had orchestrated Laenor's murder.
"AHHH!" I shrieked, startled, terrified, feeling a hand on my shoulder.
Turning around, I saw Ser Steffon Darklyn looking at me wide-eyed, shocked by my condition, probably wondering whether I was still sane.
"Your Grace, it's me," he said in a reassuring tone, stepping back slightly.
"Where is the…"
I didn't even have time to finish my sentence before the door slammed open and I saw Aemon walk in, his blackened gaze fixed on me like a predator.
"Your Grace, the Queen is…"
The guards posted outside my door tried to stop Aemon verbally, but without truly acting on it.
But all it took was a single glance from Aemon—directed at a guard I had chosen personally, knowing his absolute loyalty to me—for the man to recoil in fear.
Under that cold and glacial stare, the Prince promised something else if he didn't back off… fire and blood.
"Leave us," I said, then added, looking at the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard: "You too, Ser."
Ser Steffon wanted to say something, but judging by the Prince's expression, I didn't want him talking about what Bryndon had done in front of the Lord Commander.
He might take arrows for me, but he was by no means loyal, and if Viserys learned of this, Rhaenyra would be fully ensured to ascend the throne.
'And our heads will roll the moment she sets her ass on the Iron Throne.'
Once the door closed behind the two knights, I regained my composure, forcing a smile onto my face, before breaking the silence and beginning our conversation:
"Would you like me to…"
Aemon cut me off coldly, saying:
"That's enough, Alicent. No more little games. I haven't come for a courtesy visit. I only need to know one thing… Did you help your brother kill Laenor? Yes or no?"
"I…"
"DON'T LIE TO ME!" the Prince shouted, stepping forward, towering over me with a stature befitting the greatest colossi of the realm.
Faced with his menacing tone, my mind went blank.
I couldn't think anymore.
I just stared, dumbly, heart pounding, at the fire raging in those lilac eyes glaring at me, daring me to utter a single lie.
Frozen by fear, all I managed to mutter was a pitiful "no" before breaking into tears.
Aemon frowned, then shook his head and said: "You didn't say he didn't do it, so you knew."
"I didn't…"
"Be quiet," he said in a low voice that instantly silenced me and left me unable to formulate any rebuttal to his accusation.
Aemon shook his head, then said:
"Alicent, I've been more than patient with you, with the Hightowers. First with you, who tried to use me to restrict Rhaenyra so I'd become a scapegoat and you could reconcile with her. Then came your father's many attempts to make my life difficult."
He paused, then turned around, gazing at the wall. But it wasn't the wall he was seeing… no, I had the feeling he was reliving the very scenes he spoke of.
After a few moments, his attention returned to me, and he said:
"What did you get out of it? What did you gain, Alicent?"
Seeing the look in his eyes, I realized it wasn't a rhetorical question.
I lowered my gaze, and thinking about it… I didn't even need to think… I had gained nothing at all.
Quite the opposite.
First my little brother, then my father, and now…
"The problem with you Hightowers is that you're a great house. A house with a long history, great wealth, and a massive flock of sheep," said Aemon, before quickly adding: "Until now, that's what saved you. You hadn't gone far enough to awaken the dragon. But this time… This time, you really fucked up."
"I didn't know," I mumbled, struggling to control the sobs I was trying so hard to repress.
"I don't care if you knew or not what your idiot brother was going to do, Alicent!!" said Aemon forcefully, silencing me once again, before adding:
"The fact is that now, you and your dumb family have riled up the crowds. And your brother will die no matter what, which will undoubtedly spark a renewed wave of the rebellion you've sown across the Reach."
Understanding where Aemon was going, I said: "But none of us had…"
"…wanted this to happen?" he finished for me, before shrugging and saying:
"I'm willing to believe you, but that won't change the outcome. I'm going to kill your brother, the Faith's fanatic rebellion will happen, and I will erase the name Hightower from history as punishment. I imagine you understand what that means for you and your kin."
"NO!" I screamed, terrified by what he implied.
"It's over. I really did my best for you, Alicent, in memory of when you were a lady with a heart of gold. But that time is long gone," said Aemon, turning away in disappointment.
"No, not my children… I beg you, Aemon… not my children!" I cried out, tears streaming down my face, clinging to him to stop him from leaving the room, pleading with all my strength.
Aemon looked at me for a few moments before saying:
"The only solution I see is that you publicly take your brother's head for treason. If your brother is still alive the day after tomorrow, then Urrax will fly to Oldtown."
Stunned by his demand, I didn't even feel him slip from my grasp.
And I only realized Aemon had left when the door slammed shut, startling me and snapping me out of the trance I had fallen into.
---
Hello everyone,
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, I've taken a few weeks' rest lately to recharge.
Some things in life got to my head, keeping me from writing as much as I would like, but it's fine now.
Ghostrider0002