(Third Person POV)
In the main hall of Driftmark, where everyone was gathered in the dead of the night due to an incident with the young princes, the doors opened and Rhaenyra walked in, followed by Aerion.
"Jace?" She said as she looked for her boys, "Luke!"
She walked over to where Jace and Luke were standing next to Corly and Rhaenys who were checking on their grandaughters, Baela and Rhaena.
Aerion noticed that they were bleeding and made their way to them, "Sisters!" He called as he checked on the girls, "Are you okay? What happened?"
"They attacked me!" Aerion heard Aemond say
Aerion looked over at the young prince and saw that his eye was stitched shut. Shocked at this sight, he looked over at the crowd, wondering what happened.
"They attacked Baela!" Jace exclaimed
"He took my Mother's dragon!" Rhaena exclaimed as well as the children began to shout over one another
"No I didn't!" Aemond yelled as
"He attacked us, he called us-" Jace started
"Silence!!" King Viserys commanded as everyone went quiet
"He called us bastards..." Jace whispered to Rhaenyra as she straightened up and glanced at Aerion
Aerion stepped forth and examined the situation, he deduced that there had been a fight between Aemond and the other and it was a bloody one. Jace and Luke were bleeding from their faces as Aemond seemingly lost an eye.
He noticed Queen Alicent standing with an angry glare, her eyes darting between Aerion and Rhaenyra.
"I will have the truth of what happened." King Viserys said as he slowly walked over to where Aemond sat
"What is there to learn? Your son has been maimed, her son is responsible." Alicent said with contempt
"A regrettable accident." Rhaenyra said as she held Lucerys
"Accident?" Alicent said angrily, "He brought a blade to the ambush! He took my son's eye!"
"My sons were attacked and forced to defend themselves, Your Grace." Rhaenyra said firmly, "Vile insults were levied against them."
Aerion looked at Rhaenyra, "What?" He said
Viserys frowned, "What insults?"
"The legitimacy of my children was put loudly to question." Rhaenyra explained
"He called us bastards," Jace said as he stood behind his mother
Aerion looked at Aemond, "Oh fuck's sake Aemond..." He muttered with a sigh
"Aemond." Viserys said with an angry look, "What possessed you to say these things, eh?"
"The insults were training yard bluster, childish insults, My King." Alicent said
Viserys ignored her, "Aemond, tell me where you heard these insanities." He looked at Aemond, "Tell me now, my boy, I demand an answer."
Aemond quickly glanced at his mother and then at Aerion, something that Viserys caught.
"Do not look at me, Prince Aemond." Aerion said, "I cannot defend you in this situation."
Alicent looked at him, "Oh is that so? You will not defend your own kin from such insane accusations?" She said with anger, "How dare you? After everything we've done for you, you have no sympathy for my son who lost an eye!?"
"The only insane accusations were the ones spouted at Princess's boys, My Queen." Aerion said, "And I regret seeing him in his condition, but he should never have said those things. I wonder where he heard it from, though. Prince Aemond does not say these kinds of things out of nowhere."
Viserys looked back at Aemond, "Where did you hear this? Who told you, Aemond?" He asked him, "Tell me now to be done with it."
Aemond looked at Aerion once again and back at his father, "A-Aegon..." He said softly
"Me?" Aegon said with surprise
Aerion sighed again, "Fuck's sake, of course." He muttered
Viserys walked over to Aegon, "And you....boy." He said angrily, "What possessed you to ever dare think of your nephews in that manner? I demand an answer...Aegon!!!"
Aegon looked down as he gulped, "Everyone knows....Father....." He said as he looked up to the young princes, "Just look at them...."
Viserys smacked his lips, "I cannot with you lot..." He sat, "I will not have any of this?! This pointless dribble and idiotic infighting must cease at once!!! We are Family!!"
He walked over back to the middle of the room as he looked around, giving everyone looks of anger and exhaustion.
"You will make goodwill to one another and get it over with!! Now!!!" He continued, "Your King demands it!!!"
He looked at Aemond and shook his head as if he was in mourning of what happened to his son.
"That's it?" Alicent said as she walked over to Aemond, "That's all you're going to do? Your son lost an eye, Viserys....."
"I cannot restore his eye, Alicent." Viserys said, "What do you want?"
"A debt is to be paid, you cannot allow this transgression to be....." Alicent sniffed as she cried
"Fine." Viserys said, "Rhaenyra, you shall hand over the next clutch of eggs Syrax lays, as good will to my children. Should they provide heirs, they will have dragons produced by yours and will be a symbol of our peace. There, is that not enough?"
"What?" Alicent looked at him with disgust, "Dragon Eggs? Are you mad, Viserys? Your son lost an eye! An eye for an eye, I want Lucerys's, not a Dragon Egg!!"
Lucerys clung onto his mother, "Mother..!" he whimpered
Aerion frowned, "You can't be serious." He said
Viserys walked over to Alicent, "My Dear Wife..." He said, "You cannot allow your temper to guide your judgment....hm?"
He then turned around and began to walk away, reaching Ser Harold who stood in the middle of the room, next to Criston Cole.
"If the King won't seek justice, the Queen will." Alicent said
Viserys stopped, "What?" He said as he looked at her
"Ser Criston." Alicent said seriously, "Bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon."
Rhaenyra held onto Lucerys, "You'll do no such thing." She warned
Criston Cole shifted slightly and Aerion placed his hand on his sword.
"Don't take another step, Cole." Aerion warned, "You lay a hand on either of those boys and Driftmark's floors will be soaked with your blood."
The Crowd of nobles present gasped as they all took a step back, the Kingsguard placing their hands on their sword reluctantly as Aerion took a step forward defensively.
Viserys looked over at Aerion, surprised at this, "Stay your blades, you fools!" He shouted, "Ser Criston, stand your ground."
Criston looked over at Alicent, "I..." He said
"No, you are sworn to me!!" Alicent shouted, "Bring me his eye, now!!"
"A-As your protector, My Queen." He said
"That is enough!!!" Viserys bellowed, "I have had it, nothing should be done other than delivering those eggs, I have spoken. And let it be known: anyone whose tongue dares question Princess Rhaenyra's sons, should have it removed. Do you all understand?"
There was an air of kingly authority displayed at this moment. Despite Viserys's frail condition, he was fierce at that moment. He did not want conflict to arise and was well aware that if it were to rise, blood will spill. The last thing he wanted was for Aerion to cut down anyone.
Rhaenyra looked at Viserys as she held onto her sons, "Thank you, Father...." She said softly
Aerion relaxed the grip on his sword, his eyes not leaving Criston Cole who was returning the glare.
As Viserys began to walk away, Alicent reached for his dagger, drawing it in a swift motion, and began to march toward Lucerys.
Before anyone could react, Rhaenyra ran towards her and met her in the middle, catching her arm as Alicent struggled to move forward. Corlys and Rhaenys pulled the boys to them as the Lord of The Tides got in front of them and his grandaughters.
"Alicent!!" Viserys exclaimed
Almost immediately, Criston Cole took off in a sprint, going toward them but Aerion drew his blade, pointing it at the Kingsguard who stopped. This prompted the other Kingsguard to draw their blades as they looked at Aerion who stood between them and Princess Rhaenyra's boys.
Alicent and Rhaenyra were struggling as the Queen gave her an angry look.
"Are you mad, Alicent?" Rhaenyra said
"Mad? What have I done other than expected of me?!" The Queen exclaimed, "Upholding the kingdom and the law....as you flaunt all that you please?! Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? Trampled by your foot yet again..."
"Stop this!!" Viserys shouted as Ser Harold grabbed him
"Sheathe your steel!" Ser Harold bellowed as he got the King to safety as the crowd began to get into a struggle
"Release the blade, Alicent." Otto said as he stood next to the driftwood throne
Criston pointed his blade at Aerion, "You want to do this, boy?" He said as he readied a stance, "Really?"
Aerion gave him a serious look, "I ask you lot the same thing." He said, "Will you be willing to die for this? For this stupidity?"
"Enough, Aerion!" Viserys shouted, "Sheathe your blade, boy!"
Rhaenyra looked at Alicent, "Exhausting, isn't it? Hiding behind your cloak of self-righteousness...." She said, "Now they see you for what they are...."
Aerion glanced at this and watched as Alicent swung the blade in a struggle as Rhaenyra attempted to stop it, getting cut in the process.
"Shit." He muttered
"Alicent!!" Viserys exclaimed
Rhaenyra stumbled back as the blade dropped and Aerion immediately sheathed his blade, running toward her and holding her.
"Are you okay?" He asked as she grabbed her arm
There was a serious cut, bleeding profusely and Aerion immediately held it, applying pressure in an attempt to stop it from bleeding.
Criston Cole was going to take a step when Viserys glared at him and the others, "Enough!!" He commanded, "Stand down!!!"
They did as they were told, sheathing their blade as Alicent stood there watching in horror, just realizing what she had done.
Suddenly, Aemond stood up from his seat, "Do not mourn me, Mother..." he said, "It was a fair exchange....I may have lost an eye....but I gained a dragon..."
"Vhagar is now mine."
****************************************************
"I'm sorry." Aerion said, "I couldn't protect you...."
He said that as he sat across from Rhaenyra who was getting her cut stitched up by the maester, the sun shining through the windows as morrow arrived.
"It's okay." She said softly, "You drew your sword in defense of my sons, you have my gratitude."
Aerion watched as the Maester finished up, "There you go, Princess." He said as he straightened up, "If you require an ointment, let me know."
"Thank you, Maester." She said with a slight smile
The Maester bowed slightly and walked out of the room.
Aerion looked at the wound, a long cut on her arm, "Hm..." He said, "I suppose we're matching, huh?"
He pulled the sleeve of his arm, showing a scar on his arm. It was from one of the wounds he received back when he claimed Vermithor.
Rhaenyra chuckled, "Oh..." She said with a smile, "I guess we do."
Aerion looked at her, "You are right." He said, "Things are much worse than I thought."
Rhaenyra looked at him, "Is that so?" She said
"Queen Alicent's venom has reached even her children...." Aerion said, "Well, it's not just her.....the culprit is her Father, after all. Even as a young boy, I had an odd feeling from him. But my cousins....your siblings.....they are not at fault...."
"I know." Rhaenyra said, "I don't intend to make enemies with them. I have tried to be their sister but the Queen has prevented that."
"I was originally meant to wed Helaena." Aerion said, "But she didn't want that. And when Ariana died, she wanted me to marry her cousin in Oldtown....apparently to be with Daeron. Who knows how that boy is doing at the moment."
"I didn't know that." Rhaenyra said
"I have my own ways of finding out about things." Aerion said, "I'm not stupid, I can tell that Alicent wants to do everything in her power to keep you from getting control. But..."
"But what?" Rhaenyra said
Aerion looked at her, "There is only so much you can get away with." He said seriously, "Between us, Rhaenyra....."
He looked around as if making sure that they were alone.
"You have to promise me." He continued as he leaned forward and whispered, "No more."
Rhaenyra frowned, "No more what?"
"You know what." Aerion said seriously, "I am young, yes, but I am not blind to what I see. I will do everything in my power to defend you and your honor, but you have to make that effort as well. No deals between us, we will be Husband and Wife. You are Heir to the Throne and when you ascend, you will be Queen and I your Consort. So promise me, Rhaenyra...no more...."
Rhaenyra knew what he meant and also knew that it could not be spoken out loud.
She nodded as she gave him a serious look, "Okay." She said softly, "I promise you."
Aerion reached over and grabbed her hand, "I'm serious." He said
"I know." Rhaenyra said, "I know, I do. And I mean it, I will be with you and only you."
"Good." Aerion said as he sighed, "I never thought I would be in this situation so I have to be prepared for what's to come."
"And what's that?" Rhaenyra asked
Aerion looked at her,
"The vipers, of course."