Dragons Blood Part 2

Driftmark

Hall of Nine

"We should ask Prince Rhaegon if he wishes to stay here with the children for a few days." Corlys suggested to his wife, but Rhaenys only sat at the fireplace staring at the flames.

"Laena died because she was a target. She became a target the moment she married Rhaegon." Rhaenys said.

"The crown prince blames himself enough. Must you add on to his guilt?" Corlys asked.

"If our daughter had better maesters, she and her babe might be alive." Rhaenys said.

"Maester Gerardys is one of the best the realm has to offer, and Laena knew that." Corlys pointed out. "You're looking to place blame on an act of the gods."

"Mayhaps the gods have scorned us...for our insatiable pride." Rhaenys bitterly said.

"The crown was yours until those fools at the Great Council plucked it from your head. Is it such a terrible thing for your husband to wish to win it back?" Corlys asked her. He hadn't given up in securing his blood on the Iron Throne.

"Tonight of all nights, let us lay aside this falsehood." Rhaenys looked at her husband. "It is not justice for your wife that drives you. It is your own ambition. It is your desire for the throne. If not for yourself, then for the scions of your own house. I gave the idea of wearing a crown a generation ago. It is you, Lord Husband, who refuses to abandon this pursuit, even now at the cost of our children."

Corlys sighed and sat down. "What is this brief mortal life... if not the pursuit of legacy?" He asked.

"Legacy may be why you live your life, Corlys, but I live for my grandson and granddaughters." Rhaenys looked at Corlys. "I want Driftmark to pass to Baela after Laenor. To true Velaryon blood, you will get your wish for Corwyn. He will be king after Rhaegon passes. Declare it now to all who are gathered here, and we will say that it is how we will honor Laenas memory." She said.

"You would have me cast an even darker shadow over those little boys that already exists?" Corlys asked. He did not mention Visenya because he knew she would not inherit anything.

"We are alone here, husband, you can speak the plain truth as we both know it. Rhaenyras children are not of your blood." She took Corlys' hand. "But Laenas are. They are here legacy."

"History does not remember blood. It remembers names." Corlys forcibly took his hand out from his wife's grip.

Shores of Driftmark

Rhaenyra and Daemon watched as Rhaegon walked alone. Laenor had gone to bed after Qarl was ordered to bring him back inside.

"Let me speak with him, uncle." Rhaenyra told Daemon.

Rhaenyra caught up with Rhaegon, who sadly looked at her. "It was never meant to be the three of us. Just you and me. She should've lived her life how she wanted it. Instead, she only got half a husband."

"I know you loved her. I loved her as well. She died -" Rhaegon cut Rhaenyra off.

"She was murded." Rhaegon spat. "As was my child."

"We've dealt with the assassins, and soon we will know who did this." Rhaenyra said.

"I already know who did this." Rhaegon said.

"Who?" Daemon asked once he joined them.

"The Hightowers. I took something from the assassin who failed to kill me at Harrenhall. It was a badge with the sigil of House Hightower and a firefly." Rhaegon said. "Now, while I have no idea about the damned firefly, I know the sigil of the greens. I'm going to kill them all."

"Rhaegon, be rational. If you wish to spill Hightower blood, that would mean killing Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond." Rhaenyra said. While she didn't truly care for her half siblings, she knew that Rhaegon loved them.

"Very well. That leaves only three suspects. Alicent is too weak to do this unless she had help. Otto wouldn't risk killing me without a strategic thought. That only leaves his son, Gwayne." Rhaegon said.

"You think Gwayne Hightower is bold enough to try and kill the crown prince?" Daemon asked.

"Bold? No. But stupid enough to fail. Mayhaps I'll ask his father." Rhaegon walked off but was stopped by Daemon.

"This is Laenas funeral. Perhaps we should wait a few days." Daemon suggested.

"There wouldn't be a funeral if I hadn't been comfortable." Rhaegon said.

"Just wait. We have to plan this right." Daemon said.

"Since when do you think rationally, uncle?" Rhaegon asked.

"I want Otto Hightower dead along with his wretched family, but now he's Hand once again. Perhaps we should wait just a few days before we strike." Daemon said. "It would not look good if the crown prince kills the Hand of the King."

"Perhaps you need to rest. You haven't been yourself since Laena died, especially since Ser Harwins not here to -" Rhaenyra was cut off by Rhaegon.

"To what? Keep me in check? Or make me behave?" Rhaegon asked. "I should've killed Otto the moment I saw him."

"He's the queens father." Rhaenyra pointed out.

"Yes, and when I kill him, everyone will understand that I'm not playing games anymore." Rhaegon wasn't listening. "You're both repeatedly stopping me from having fun. He looked at Daemon. Move aside."

"I refuse." Daemon said.

Rhaegon sighed and looked at the pole next to Daemon. "Very well." Rhaegon slammed Daemon head on to the pole and knocked him out.

"Rhaegon, no!" Rhaenyra shouted, but it was too late. She looked to see if Daemon was alright, and luckily, he only had a small wound on his head. She looked at her lover. "What is wrong with you?!" All Rhaegon did was smirk and walk off.

Otto Hightowers chambers

Otto was drinking some ale. He needed something strong to get through this day, especially now that the crown prince knows what his son has done.

"Pure brown ale?" Otto heard a familiar voice and turned to see Rhaegon at his door. "I always thought you'd prefer some Dornish red."

"It's been a difficult day, my prince, as you know." Otto said.

"Mm. You know Otto, I've said this before, but I don't like you, but I respect your intelligence." Rhaegon said. "I think you wanted Alicent to marry me, but knew that I wasn't as weak as my father so you sent your daughter to him knowing that she'd be able to control the king by spreading her legs. You would also have complete control over the Seven Kingdoms if she sired a son, which means eventually you'd have to get rid of me."

"I wouldn't dare harm the heir to the Iron Throne, my prince." Otto said.

"Oh, I know. You'd have someone do it for you, but you would have the decency to be discreet about it. Your son wouldn't." Rhaegon said.

"Is there a point to this, my prince?" Otto played it calm.

"Alicent would be too weak or too in love to kill me. You would do it in a way that makes no one suspect you... but your son is a different imbecile entirely." Rhaegon said.

"Are you accusing my son of something, my prince?" Otto asked.

"I am. He hired assassins to kill me and my family. If my wife was anything like your mother, she wouldn't have cared about her children, and Laena would be alive, but that was not her way. Your son robbed my children of a mother. I want retribution." Rhaegon said.

"How do you want it?" Otto asked.

"I'm glad you asked. I thought of flaying him and putting his skin on a pole as a flag for all to see." Rhaegon smirked. "Give me your son, or die screaming at his side."

"I cannot allow you to harm my son, and since you haven't told the king, means I'm safe." Otto said.

"Yes, you are. You see I have no true evidence that it was your son other than the badge I gave to you, but I'll admit that I was surprised you'd risk taking on the post as Hand knowing how much of a risk it would be." Rhaegon said.

"I knew what I was risking, my prince, but then I realized that you're not dangerous enough to kill the Hand of the King and the queens father." Otto confidently said.

"That makes you the third person to underestimate me today." Rhaegon was about to attack Otto but was interrupted when Ser Criston burst into the room.

"Forgive me, my lord. A fight has occurred between the royal children. All are gathered in the Hall of Nine, and Prince Aemond was injured." Ser Criston said.

Rhaegon looked at Otto. "Another day then. The crown prince left the room."

Hall of Nine

Viserys was sitting in the high seat watching as Alicent held Aemonds hand while his eye was getting stitched up by Driftmarks maester.

"How could you allow such a thing to happen?" Viserys asked. "I will have answers."

"The children were supposed to be in bed, my king." Lord commander Harrold said.

"Who had the watch?" Viserys asked.

"The young prince was attacked by his own cousins, your grace." Criston said, defending Aemond.

Jace was holding Luke. Corwyn was held by his sisters, and Visenya stood next to Heleana. Cerelle, who was in bed with her children, also stood with Daeron and Joanna. She was grateful that her children weren't involved in the fight.

"You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!" The king shouted.

"I'm very sorry, your grace." Lord commander Harrold apologized.

"The Kingsguard has never had to protect princes from Princes, your grace. Ser Criston said.

"That is no answer!" Viserys shouted and got in his face.

Alicent was full of concern, and the maester stitched her son up. "It will heal. Will it not, maester?" She asked.

Everyone waited for maester Kelvyns answer. "The flesh will heal, but the eye is lost, my lady." Alicent took a deep breath in shock by what she just heard, and Viserys sighed and lowered his head.

"Where were you?" Alicent asked Aegon.

"Me?" He asked, and his mother slapped him, and Heleana turned away, not wanting to see the violent act. "Ow. What was that for?"

"That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool!" Alicent scolded her son.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Corlys asked as him and Rhaenys decended from the steps.

"Baela? Rhaena? Corwyn? What happened?" Rhaenys asked.

Corlys looked at the carnage that had been caused between the children. Baela, Rhaena, and Corwyn were sobbing, but they were comforted by Rhaenys.

"What's happened here?" Rhaegon asked as he entered. Otto followed seconds later. He rushed to Corwyn, Baela, and Rhaena. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, father." Baela answered. He then looked at Corwyns cheek, which was bleeding.

"It's not so bad." Rhaegon said, assessing the damage on his sons face. He rushed to Jace and Luke. Jace had some blood on his face, and Luke was holding his nose. "Let me see." Luke showed Rhaegon his nose, and luckily, it wasn't broken.

"Visenya? Jace? Luke?" Rhaenyra rushed to her children. "Show me. Show me." She saw Luke's broken nose, both her sons were bleeding and she was furious. "Who did this?"

Daemon arrived and glared at Rhaegon. The rogue prince had bled from his head but was cleaned up by Rhaenyra when he came to. Cerelle then rushed to her husband with her children.

"They attacked me!" Aemond yelled.

Jace intervened. "He attacked Baela."

"He stole my mother's dragon!" Baela said.

"He could've killed us, and he almost killed Luke!" Duncan said.

The children were shouting and and the adults could not make out what was being said.

"Enough." Viserys said weakly.

"I didn't do anything!" Aemond said

"Enough!" Viserys tried again a little louder, but no one listened.

"It should be my son telling the tale!" Alicent yelled.

"He called us -" Jace tried.

"All you, enough!" Rhaegon shouted, seeing that his father wasn't getting anywhere to maintain order.

"He called us bastards." Jace whispered to his mother, and Rhaenyra got up and looked at her younger nephew in anger. Unfortunately, Rhaegon heard it was well.

"Aemond, I will have the truth of what happened, all of it right now." King Viserys demanded.

"What else is there to hear? My son has been maimed, their sons are responsible." Alicent came to the defense of her son.

"It was a regrettable accident." Rhaenyra said.

"Accident? The prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son." Alicent spat.

"Stop talking, Alicent." Rhaegon demanded and walked to Aemond. "Tell me what happened, little brother."

"I... I wanted a dragon and went to see Vhagar. No one, but you were helping me t... to claim a dragon, and I didn't want to bother you since you were mourning lady Laena." Aemond explained.

"You see, this was an attack on my son." Alicent said.

"It was my son's who were attacked as well and forced to defend themselves. Vile insults were levied against them."

"What insults?" Viserys asked.

Rhaenyra sighed. "The legitimacy of my children's birth was put loudly to question."

"What?" Viserys asked.

"He called us bastards." Jace told the king, and Aemond smirked.

"My son Jacaerys will inherit Driftmark, and should something befall my brother, Prince Rhaegon or his son, mine are in line to inherit the Iron Throne, your grace. This is the highest of treason. Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned so that we might learn where he heard such slander." Rhaenyra insisted.

"Over an insult?" Alicent asked. "My son has lost an eye." She had tears in her eyes.

"You tell me, boy. Where did you hear this lie?" Viserys asked.

Alicent feared for her son at this point. "The insult was churning out bluster, the lot of boys, it was nothing."

"Aemond." The king ignored the queen.

"Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder the children's father? Perhaps he might have something to say in this matter?" Alicent asked, trying to take the attention away from her son.

"Yes, where is Ser Laenor?" The King asked.

"I do not know, your grace, I... could not find sleep." Rhaenyra said. "I'd gone out to walk."

"Entertaining his young squires, I'd venture." Alicent said, and Ser Criston chuckled, and Lord commander Harrold looked at him, which made him stop.

"Aemond, tell me where you heard this lie. Your king demands an answer." Viserys said.

Aemond knew that he couldn't tell the truth that he heard that Rhaenyras' children were illegitimate from his mother. He then looked at Alicent, and everyone, including the King and Rhaegon, was surprised by this. "It was Aegon." He said.

"Me?" Aegon asked surprisingly.

Viserys walked to Aegon. "And you...boy, where did you hear such calumnies?" Viserys asked. "Aegon?! Tell me the truth of it!" The king shouted at his son.

Aegon took a deep breath and then looked at the king. "We know grandfather, everyone knows. Just look at them. None of them look like Ser Laenor." He then looked at his older brother. "They look like him."

Viserys looked at Rhaenyras' children and then at Rhaegon. The king looked at his wife, who had tears in her eyes.

"This interminable infighting must cease! All of you! We are a family! Now make your apologies and show goodwill to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your King demands it!" Viserys demanded and walked past Alicent, who was shocked that Viserys favored Rhaenyras children once again.

"That is insufficient. Aemond has been damaged, permanently, my king, goodwill cannot make him whole." Alicent pointed out

"I know, Alicent, but I cannot restore his eye." He pointed out to his wife.

"No, because it's been taken." Alicent retorted.

"What would you have me do?" Viserys asked.

"There is a debt to be paid." Alicent said and looked at Rhaenyra. "I shall have one of her sons eyes in return."

"Alicent-" Viserys tried.

"He's your blood, Viserys." Alicent reminded Viserys.

"Do not allow your temper to guide your judgment." Viserys warned Alicent.

"If the king will not seek justice, the queen will." She looked at her sworn protector. "Ser Criston, bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon."

"Alicent." Viserys warned again.

"Mother!" Lucerys hid behind Rhaenyra.

"He can choose which eye. I'll grant him that courtesy." Alicent said.

"You will do no such thing." Rhaenyra told Ser Criston.

"Stay your hand." Viserys commanded.

"No, you're sworn to me!" Alicent yelled.

He looked at the crown prince. "As your protector, my queen."

"If he even attempts to take another step forward, I'll kill him myself." Rhaegon said who was quiet the entire time. "Go on, Criston Cole. I need a reason to unleash some anger."

Viserys walked to his second wife. "Alicent, this matter is finished, do you understand?" He warned her one last time. "And let it be known, anyone whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyras children shall have it removed."

"Thank you, Father." Rhaenyra said.

Viserys walked away from Alicent, who was angry. To her, the king had defended his children with Aemma over her children. This was the last straw. The queen then unsheathed the dagger from Viserys and charged at Rhaenyras son. She intended to take Lucerys' eye herself.

"Alicent!" Viserys yelled, but it was too late.

"Stay with the king!" Lord commander Harrold yelled. "Hold your approach!"

"Alicent?!" The king called to his second wife.

Rhaegon stood in front of Rhaenyra and caught Alicents wrist. He then effortlessly pushed her back.

Ser Criston ran to protect the queen. "Do not Ser Criston!" Lord commander Harrold yelled. All the children screamed in fear. Daemon, who was still angry at Rhaegon, intervened and held Ser Criston back. "Stay your hand, Cole! Ser Harrold comanded."

"Enough. Rhaegon said. "You've gone too far."

"I? What have I done, but uphold the kingdom, the family, the law, while you and Rhaenyra flout it all to do as you please?" Alicent asked.

"You truly are delusional if you believe that. You've upheld nothing but help in my father's deterioration." Rhaegon spat.

"You and Rhaenyra take my sons eye, and to even that, you feel entitled!" Alicent yelled. "All I did was love you. Do I not deserve better from you?"

Rhaegon looked at Aemond. He had a soft spot for his youngest brother and hated seeing him maimed, but he also had to protect his son, Lucerys. Rhaegon looked at Alicent.

"Must've been exhausting to hide beneath the cloak of your own righteousness?" Rhaegon asked. "But now all can see you as you are. Your children are the way that you made them." The crown prince smirked. "Let me give everyone a demonstration of your cruelty." Rhaegon let go of the queens wrist, and the force drove the dagger across Rhaegons' forearm. Blood dripped on the floor, and Rhaenyra quickly ran to her brother to see his arm.

"You should be punished!" Viserys shouted.

"No, father. It's just a scratch." Rhaegon said. He looked at Otto and smirked. The Hand of the king could tell this was calculated by Rhaegon. Now, the kings favor will permanently rest on his first wife's children.

Aemond walked to his mother. "Do not mourn me, mother. It was a fair exchange." Everyone's attention turned to the boy. "I may have lost an eye... but I gained a dragon." Otto smirked at his grandson.

"This proceeding is at an end." Viserys finally said.

Daemon walked to Rhaegon and was joined by his wife and children. Rhaenyra stood with Rhaegon as did lord Corlys and princess Rhaenys. Rhaegons children by Laena hugged their father, and Rhaenyras children hugged her.

Hi guys, here's another chapter of Blood of the Dragon

What did you think of Rhaegon knocking Daemon out?

What did you think of Rhaegon confronting Otto?

What did you think of the confrontation after Aemond lost his eye?

What did you think of Rhaegon allowing himself to be slashed across his forearm?

I'm open to suggestions for this story

Please comment and vote

Thanks, guys