-Chapter 78-
-POV Viserys Targaryen-
"Lord Corlys, cousin," I said as I noticed Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys entering the royal box.
"Your Majesty," they both said, bowing their heads slightly.
I smiled lightly, but my gaze quickly shifted from them to their children, Laena and Laenor, who were accompanying them.
'Why is he here without his armor?' I thought as I looked at Laenor Velaryon.
"I would have expected to see you in armor by this time, Laenor?" I asked, surprised.
Laenor was about to answer, but his sister spoke first, saying, "Laenor fell ill last night, an indigestion that forces him to appoint a champion."
"I see," I said, nodding, understanding the real reason behind this sudden change in combatants.
'He must have come to his senses after the madness of last night,' I thought as I watched my son-in-law nod, though clearly frustrated by having to renounce his vengeance.
I had a few questions, but they all vanished once I heard the herald in the center of the arena call out for everyone to hear.
"PEOPLE OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS, WE ARE ALL GATHERED HERE TO WITNESS THE DUEL REQUESTED BY PRINCE CONSORT LAENOR VELARYON TO JUDGE THE GUILT OF LORD COMMANDER OF THE KINGSGUARD, SER CRISTON COLE."
Cheers erupted from the stands, eager for what was to come...
'They just want to see blood spilled,' I thought, slightly disgusted by the notion.
"PRAISE THE LORD COMMANDER, SER CRISTON COLE, WHO WILL DEFEND HIS HONOR IN THE EYES OF GODS AND MEN TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE."
'What a farce,' I thought, as I already knew the outcome of this fight.
'Even Daemon couldn't defeat him, and since Laenor isn't participating, this duel holds no interest anymore,' I said to myself, feeling little concern for the battle ahead.
Ser Criston approached the center of the arena, quite composed, bearing the favor of my wife, who seemed much more pleased since we had learned that Laenor would not be fighting.
'Could it be that she had the same thought as me?' I wondered, thinking I understood what had made her so joyful.
"NOW, GIVE A ROUSING APPLAUSE FOR THE ONE WHO IS ABOUT TO DEFEND THE COLORS OF HOUSE VELARYON... THE MYSTERIOUS CHAMPION."
Curious to see who dared to face Ser Criston, I turned toward the entrance where the mysterious knight would appear, and I understood immediately.
I turned to look at Laena, noting that she was accompanied by Ser Arnold Arryn.
I searched for Rhea Royce and, upon seeing Ser Gunthor behind her, I narrowed my eyes, certain that the man advancing in an armor resembling dragon scales in red and black was none other than Aemon.
'Why is he doing this?' I wondered, not understanding why he had suddenly decided to support House Velaryon, given the tensions between Corlys and him.
I glanced at my wife, who gasped in surprise as she too realized who was beneath the dragon-shaped helm, then she muttered, "How dare he?"
"He is a prince of House Targaryen; he owes obedience only to his king and no one else," said Laena, the newly titled princess of House Targaryen.
I frowned slightly, as I had noticed since yesterday that she was speaking up more and acting with far too much liberty.
'Aemon will need to rein her in. If he lets this woman dominate him, House Velaryon will end up subverting ours.'
"Address the queen properly, Laena," said Rhaenys, who had noticed my gaze on her daughter.
Laena looked at her mother but said nothing further, which caused Rhaenys to frown, though she refrained from saying anything more.
I could have intervened, but my attention was not focused on women's matters; it was solely on my precious nephew.
'No matter what happens, he must not die. He is the last hope I have for a strong and united House Targaryen.'
---
-POV Aemon Targaryen-
I smiled beneath my helm as I watched the commander of my uncle's guard and champion of the queen approach me, saying:
"You must have truly lost your mind if you think you can defeat me in battle. Even your own father couldn't manage such a feat."
'And you're so arrogant you clearly haven't taken the time to speak with the knights sworn to the Kingsguard, or even those under your command,' I thought, recalling how just two days ago I had taken down around twenty seasoned knights with ease.
'Although I did take advantage of something I no longer possess,' I reminded myself, knowing that with the armor I wore, I couldn't execute the same moves. Still, I was far faster and more agile than common knights.
"You say nothing?"
"There's not much to say to a man who is about to die."
"I'll remember your words when you…"
Criston Cole didn't get the chance to finish his sentence. With Lady Forlorn drawn, I charged at him suddenly, forcing him to immediately go on the defensive.
I couldn't see his expression beneath his helm, but judging from his grunts and the difficulty he had parrying my strikes, I could sense his growing frustration.
'200 in physical strength grants me about twice the force of a normal human, roughly a ton of strength,' I thought, watching Criston Cole retreat, slowly pushed into his corner.
It didn't take long for cracks to appear on his steel shield, and just as I was about to deliver the final blow, Criston Cole hurled his shield at my face.
Surprised, I raised my hand to block it, and he took the opportunity to bring his flail crashing down on my right hand.
---
-POV Criston Cole-
Seeing that Prince Aemon was about to break my shield, just as he had done with the heir of House Corbray, I took matters into my own hands.
'I can't keep staying passive,' I thought.
I threw my shield with all my strength toward the prince's face, and he instinctively raised his hand to cover it.
'Got you,' I thought as I swung my flail with all my might toward his arm.
He dodged quickly, but with a slight twist of my wrist, I managed to strike his right hand, the one holding his Valyrian steel sword.
CRACK.
'His right hand is no longer usable,' I thought, satisfied that I had taken out my opponent's dominant hand.
Just as I was about to deliver the killing blow, I felt something slam into me violently, sending me crashing to the ground.
I didn't have time to comprehend what was happening before I felt someone striking my helm.
---
-POV Laena Targaryen-
Seeing Aemon enter the arena personally left me in shock, but it also touched me deeply, for I knew well the tension between him and my father.
I was also aware that he was risking his own interests to help me.
As I watched him enter, though relieved that he had finally kept his word and found a champion, I did not want to become a widow the day after my wedding.
I didn't want him to die in this fight, and I couldn't understand why he hadn't sent his uncle to fight in his stead.
As the battle unfolded, I quickly realized why he hadn't done so. Criston Cole couldn't regain the upper hand against Aemon, and his shield was crumbling with each blow from my husband.
But suddenly, Criston Cole regained control and broke Aemon's hand, causing him to drop Lady Forlorn.
I stood, as did most in the royal box.
Criston Cole was about to bring his flail down on Aemon's head, but Aemon threw himself at him, knocking him to the ground and assaulting him savagely.
Out of control, he hammered Criston Cole's helm. The knight seemed dazed and, after the first blows, stopped trying to defend himself, but that didn't stop Aemon from continuing to strike again and again.
The arena fell silent. Aemon only stopped when he noticed that his opponent's body was no longer moving, a part of his helm embedded in his skull, with blood flowing, staining the arena's sand red.
Silently, I thanked the Seven for granting me the gift of not having to bury anyone the day after my wedding.
Then, I turned toward the king, who had already stepped forward to say:
"THE GODS HAVE SPOKEN. CRISTON COLE OF HOUSE COLE OF THE STORMLANDS IS GUILTY OF THE DEATH OF JOFFREY LONMOUTH, AND PRINCE AEMON TARGARYEN, RIDER OF URRAX, HAS DELIVERED JUSTICE IN MY NAME AND IN THE NAME OF THE GODS."
"Glory to Prince Aemon!" someone shouted from the stands.
I don't know why, but something burned inside me, and I couldn't help but respond to the call, proud of the man who had recently become my husband, by shouting, along with many others:
"GLORY TO PRINCE AEMON!"