modern au where the Targs are an influential and obviously famous family (they're like the Kardashians LOL and everyone wants to know about every aspect of their lives)
after the death of Viserys, the media exposes several dirty secrets of some family members and the rivalry of years even after the marriage of targ/velaryons boys, has not extinguished the fire and hatred between Rhaenyra and Alicent.
Rhaenyra and Alicent hate each other, but they are intelligent women and had the brilliant idea of making a reality show so that people could follow the day-to-day life of the Targaryen/Hightower/Velaryon family and realize that there is no war there.
Joff was "raised" to marry Daeron. From an early age, it was explained to him that this was a duty he had to fulfill, just like his older brothers. At first, he found the idea, it wasn't fair, but gradually he came to terms with it, especially because his older uncle was so charming, so handsome and kind. Joff quickly fell in love and was suddenly excited about the wedding.
but to Joff's surprise and disappointment, the wedding was a disaster. on the couple's honeymoon, Daeron refused to have sex with Joff and made his contempt and anger at the union very clear. in front of the cameras, they are the sweet, couple in love , they are what teenagers call relationship goals, but when they are alone, Daeron doesn't even bother to pretend that Joff exists. Just as he's good at faking a passionate smile for Joff when a paparazzi is around, he's also good at treating Joff with coldness and indifference.
It's not surprising that, some time after getting married, Daeron has a mistress and doesn't make a point of hiding it from Joffrey.
When Rhaenyra and Alicent announce the reality show, they make it very clear that now they all have to pretend 24/7, and this makes Daeron FURIOUS, because now he has to get rid of his mistress, adapt his daily routine to spend more time with Joff and, above all, SHARE the same room.
I want to ask you to write something with these ideas, please. whatever you want!
I like modern nepo bbism 😝
The two matriarchs of Targaryen/Velaryon/Hightower family called an emergency meeting in the dining room. The room was so spacious that it was better called hall rather than room. There was a long table in the middle, made of the best mahogany and lined with the most intricate carvings of the Targaryen dragon sigil.
Alicent and Rhaenyra sat at the head of table and waited for everyone to arrive. Frist came Jacaerys, always the dutiful son, followed closely by another dutiful son, Aemond, with Lucerys trailing behind his one-eyed uncle/husband.
Rhaenyra raised an eyebrow at Alicent, as if showing off her victory that among the first ones to arrive, there were two of her sons. 2-1. she won.
Alicent rolled her eyes in the same elegant way she did most things. She was renowned for looking down upon others without them even realizing. Her message couldn't be clearer. Wait and see. The game wasn’t over yet.
Next to come were the twins, Baela and Rhaena, in their full glamor. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Aegon was the next, with blood-shot eyes and greasy hair, hangover as he always was. Aegon was typically the last to arrive, if he ever arrived at all, but today, by some miracle, he not only showed up on time, but also had a few minutes to spare. The miracle soon turned out to be his sister wife Helaena. The somewhat unworldly woman was instructing her children, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, to push their dad to the dining room, while holding her new-born son Maelor in her arms.
“Morning, mother, sister.” Helaena greeted Alicent and Rhaenyra with a sincere smile, causing the two solemn faced matriarchs to smile with her. Helaena was among the few things that Alicent and Rhaenyra actually shared the same opinion. Both of them adorned her.
Now the score was still to Rhaenyra’s advantage, 4-3. If Alicent had to argue, she would say that her grandchildren also counted, the score was actually 4-6.
Daeron and Joffrey hadn't arrived yet. It was unusual. The couple was always the least of their mothers’ concerns. Joffrey was a wild soul, but he was not irresponsible and he valued family more than anything. That was why he married Daeron without struggle, and had never caused any trouble after the marriage. Daeron, on the other hand, was a tricky character. He appeared to be the gentlest and most reasonable among his siblings, never got drunk and passed out on the pavement like Aegon, never chased his nephew down in a car race in the middle of the day and like Aemond, and he wasn’t as unworldly and aloof as Helaena. He was charming, polite, chivalrous and above all, a damn good actor. It was no secret in the family that he and Joffrey’s marriage was nothing more than a political union. Daeron played his part as a caring husband, but when the cameras turned away, he was the coldest and most indifferent person in the world.
“Did your little brother finally stab my little brother in his sleep?” Aegon elbowed Jacaerys, who was fiddling with his phone.
“What do you mean?” Jacaerys said half-mindedly, “They don’t even share the same room. Their rooms are at the opposite wing of the house. There is no chance Joff can sneak into Daeron’s room and stab him without waking up everyone.”
“Well, fine. Whatever you say, Sherlock.” Aegon made a face. Jacaerys was all about logical thinking, while Aegon was allergic to logic.
“Maybe stabbing will do them good.” Lucerys said thoughtfully, twirling a strand of curls with his finger, “It certainly did me good.”
Helaena instinctively covered Jaehaera’s ears and urged her husband to do the same with Jaehaerys. Thankfully little Maelor was asleep, so it wouldn't hear anything inappropriate.
“Shut up, Luke.” Aegon groaned, “My children don’t need to hear your twisted bedroom preference.”
“What makes you think I plan to talk about my sex life?” Lucerys rolled his eyes, “I am a very private person, you know. I have no intention to share my wonderful bedroom experience with my dear husband.”
“No intention my ass.” Aegon retorted, “Everyone on this planet saw you blowing my brother on the balcony, LIVE.”
“It was a good show, wasn’t it?” Lucerys chuckled, not a single ounce of shame on his face.
“Lucerys.” Aemond spoke for the first time since he entered the dining room, “Enough.”
The seats of the long table were strictly arranged, with Rhaenyra’s children on the right and Alicent’s Hightower clan on the left. It had been the norm since they were still kids, and it had remained so even after the Targaryen/Velaryon marriage. Thus, Aemond was now sitting across Lucerys, his lone violet eye fixed on his mischievous husband. Aemond the one eye was a formidable figure in the business world, but he didn't really talk much in the family. Normally he would let Lucerys take charge of the bickering, since Lucerys was far better at making Aegon speechless than him, but he made sure to intervene whenever Lucerys had gone too far. Now was an example.
“Sorry, uncle.” Lucerys batted his eyelashes innocently at Aemond, “I will be a good boy from now on.”
Aemond’s expression softened, his tightly pressed lips relaxing just a little bit as he reached out to smooth Lucerys’s fluffy curls.
“Good. Cross the line again and you will be punished.” Aemond said in his usual soft but intimidating voice, his thumb brushing against Lucerys’s jaw.
Aegon groaned again and shut his eyes. Why had he done to deserve this? Why couldn't he just sleeping his hangover away on his luxury bed?
Joffrey showed up before Lucerys and Aemond could change the dining room into a porn set. The youngest Velaryon looked a bit worse for wear. He was wearing a pair of thick rimmed glasses, hiding his reddish eyes and the lower part of his face was covered by a mask. His hair was a mess, and he was in a set of ridiculous fluffy pajamas.
“Sorry I am late.” Joffrey said, his voice muffled by the mask.
“What takes you so long, little Joff? Have you picked up furry kink?” Aegon joked.
“Are you feeling better?” Rhaenyra asked after throwing Aegon a warning stare, “Sorry to wake you this early. I’ve told Doctor Gerardys to check on you later today.”
Joffrey had been struck down by the flu three days ago. He had spent the past three days on bed, but fortunately, today his fever finally broke. He still suffered from a pounding head and upset stomach, and he was shivering even with all the layers on, but he still nodded to his mother.
“I am better now, mother. Don’t worry.” Joffrey didn't take his usual seat, instead sitting down at the far end of the table to avoid spreading the virus.
“Where is your husband?” Alicent asked, even though she knew Joffrey couldn't answer her. One of her wonderful, or rather, annoying, traits was that she was able to ignore the blunt truth even if said truth was stuck right under her nose. For example, she knew too well that Daeron didn't give a damn about Joffrey, but she still pretended that nothing was wrong.
“No idea.” Joffrey replied, “Haven't seen him for a week.”
Rhaenyra scoffed. It was no secret that Daeron was seeing someone outside marriage, a young model from the Reach. He kept his mistress in a separate mansion, and he actually spent more time there than in the family estate. Rhaenyra hated her half-brother for neglecting her son, but Daeron was such a good actor in front of the cameras that any action she took would only end up in the biggest scandal ever. She could even imagine the headline, ‘IS THE PERFECT COUPLE A LIE? Targaryen’s biggest secret uncovered’.
Speak of the devil. Daeron walked into the room in his usual casual but classic clothes, crisp shirt, tweed vest and trousers, paired with leather oxfords. He looked well-groomed as he always was, clean shaven with slightly gelled hair, a sharp contrast to his flu-struck husband.
“God, did something bad happen? Are we going bankrupt?” Daeron murmured after browsing the room, “Why is Aegon already here?”
“Because I am actually a family man and I listen to my beautiful wife.” Aegon retorted immediately, “Unlike you, who chose to stay with his gold-digger mistress, little brother.”
Daeron shrugged, neither the word gold-digger nor mistress seemed to offend him. Joffrey always found it peculiar that how come his very existence was enough to offend his otherwise very well-tempered husband?
“Since everyone is gathered, let’s go down to business.” Rhaenyra cleared her throat and addressed the crowd, “Before you ask, Baela dear, Daemon is with the little ones, so he cannot attend today’s meeting. He fully agrees to my plan, by the way, which I will explain to you in a moment.”
“We are doing a reality show.” Alicent spoke, “All of us.”
Everyone seemed to be confused by the idea. Aegon was half-way yawning, his mouth opening to an ‘o’ like an idiot; Aemond quirked an eyebrow, the one on his blind side, which meant he was properly surprised; Helaena seemed to be the least affected, rocking Maelor in her arms as she hummed softly to the baby. On Rhaenyra’s side, Jace looked up from his phone for the first time today, having a silent conversation with Baela using eye-contact; Lucerys actually stopped stroking Aemond’s hand for a moment, but recovered soon enough; Rhaena looked genuinely pleased, for a reality show would definitely help her influencer career. As for the remaining two, Daeron and Joffrey, despite their strained marriage, their reaction was exactly the same. Reluctant, to put it lightly.
“Reality show? Who the fuck wants to watch us lying around and do nothing?” Aegon was the first to question, “It is the most narcissistic thing I have ever heard!”
“Actually, everyone wants to know about our lives.” Lucerys replied, “We are like the royal family of Westeros. No offense, Baela.”
Baela waved her hand dismissingly. She was a political activist, a firm believer of democracy and equal rights, so it was natural that she condemned the idea of royalty with passion.
“None taken, Luke.” She said before turning to Aegon, “Actually, cousin, I think you are the only one here who doesn't have a proper job. No one is going to lie around and do nothing except you.”
“Hel doesn’t have a job either!”
“I run a charity fund and also work part-time as an interior designer, husband.” Helaena chimed in.
“Since when?!” Aegon shrieked like a little girl, “You betrayed me, Hel!”
Helaena only shrugged, breaking a cookie into half and handed them to her twins respectively.
“There will be cameras 24/7.” Rhaenyra raised her voice, “I need all of you on your best behavior. We need to show the world that we are a functional family. No fighting, no scandal, no bullshit, understand?”
“We are anything but functional.” Aegon murmured, “They call us the incest clan.”
“The shooting will start one week from now, but the tech team will arrive tomorrow to set up the cameras.” Alicent said, ignoring Aegon as she always did, “You have one day to hide anything you don’t want the whole realm to know.”
Everyone turned their eyes to Lucerys and Aemond, but the couple seemed to be unaffected by the gaze. Lucerys helped himself to a chocolate cookie, while Aemond took a sip of his tea. For some reason, they all thought Lucerys and Aemond’s room would be some sort of sex dungeon, even though no one had actually seen it.
“You need to stay in the house for the duration of the show, my dear.” Alicent turned to Daeron, who was sitting next to her, “Take care of your lady friend.”
Lady friend was certainly a nice way to put it. Everyone knew Alicent was referring to Daeron’s mistress.
“Don’t worry, mother.” Daeron smiled to his mother warmly, “I will take care of everything before tomorrow.”
If Joffrey didn’t know his uncle better, he would say that Daeron was sincere. However, he was not that innocent boy who had fallen in love with his gentle and polite uncle anymore. He could see from the slight downturn of Daeron’s lips that the blonde was holding back his fury. Of course Daeron would be furious. He had made it clear that he couldn’t stand Joffrey at all.
“It’s tiring enough to pretend we are in a loving relationship for the media.” Daeron claimed one time after they had come back from a charity red carpet event, “I don’t want to put up with you in private too. I need room to breathe.”
Joffrey’s reaction to Daeron’s words was to leave the room as calmly as he could, but in fact, he was so embarrassed and hurt that he felt like crying. He hated himself for even hoping that Daeron might see him differently one day. He had abandoned hope that Daeron would ever love him back, but at least they didn’t have to be enemies. He hoped Daeron wouldn’t avoid him like a disease one day, but it seemed he was too naïve to hope so.
“This is all. You can stay for breakfast, but I would advice you to go through your things and make sure nothing inappropriate is lying around before the camera team arrives. This show is our biggest PR so far. No one screws up.” Rhaenyra made the final speech before sitting back and gulping down a full cup of tea.
Joffrey stood up first, murmuring an apology as he left the room. He had no inappropriate things to hide, but he couldn’t stand Daeron’s disgusted stare anymore. He rushed back to his room, shut the door, ripped off his mask and took a deep inhale. The room was spacious and decorated in the coziest way. Helaena helped designed it for him, but unfortunately, the king-sized bed only had one occupant so far. He was supposed to share this room with Daeron, but Daeron had spent only one night here. The next day of their wedding night, Daeron went back to his old room and made no intention to come back.
“Open the door.” There was an impatient knock, followed by Daeron’s even more impatient voice, “I don’t have time to play games with you.”
Joffrey only had time to put his mask back on before the door was pushed open by an annoyed Daeron. Daeron frowned as soon as he stepped into the overly heated room. The flu made Joffrey so cold that he had to switch the heater to max and put three layers on himself to stop shivering.
“Why is here so stifled?” Daeron complained and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.
Joffrey thought the reason was obvious, but he still answered his husband’s question.
“I am cold.” Joffrey said, “It’s the flu.”
“God. Now not only do I have to share a room with you, I also have to expose myself to flu virus.” Daeron crossed his arms, making no attempt at hiding his displeasure.
“You don’t have to share the room with me if it annoys you so much.” Joffrey said in a flat voice. He had learned to be unaffected by Daeron’s obvious loathing. He had no idea what he had done that made Daeron hate him so much. He was raised to be Daeron’s bride, a union made upon Joffrey’s birth. The Targaryens had been going through a hard time back then, so Rhaenyra and Alicent had to join force to fend off the snakes that wanted to devour the Targaryen fortune. As a show of good faith, they betrothed their youngest children at the time, Daeron and Joffrey. For Joffrey, his fate was set at birth, but for Daeron, who was three years older, he had lived the first three years of his life as a free man until he was forced to accept his fate. Joffrey doubted Daeron remembered those years, but Daeron always used it as an excuse to mourn his freedom.
“Haven’t you heard what my mother and my half sister said? The reality show will follow our lives 24/7. I have no doubt that they will sneak a camera or two in our bedrooms. What will the public think if they find out we sleep in separate rooms? Our public image will be ruined.” Daeron ruffled his curls frustratedly, “I can’t afford to be seen as a hypocrite. My career will be screwed.”
But you are, Joffrey thought. Daeron was the most hypocritical person Joffrey had ever known. He was all caring and in love with Joffrey in public, always keeping his arm around Joffrey’s waist, sneaking a quick kiss from time to time, and making sure to go to Joffrey’s important games. However, in private, he made it clear that he could not stand the sight of Joffrey. He was so reluctant to even speak to Joffrey that he mostly communicated with Joffrey via e-mails. How could someone be so fake? How could Daeron whisper loving words to his ear in one second, and look at him with disgust in the next?
“We will be at the bottom of the attention list.” Joffrey said, “People are more interested in Lucerys and Aemond’s sex life or even Aegon’s drunken nonsense than us. You can say we sleep in different rooms because I don’t want to spread my flu to you.”
Daeron considered the idea for a moment. It was a good excuse, actually. Once Joffrey recovered, he could find other excuses like going on a business trip or something like that. Hopefully by that time, the public would be too shocked by their siblings’ drama to notice them.
“Fine. I will have some of my things delivered to your room to keep up the façade.” Daeron said, his mood visibly lightening a bit from not having to share the same space with Joffrey.
“What are you going to do with your lady friend?” Joffrey couldn’t help but ask. He was always curious about Daeron’s mistresses. Yes, Daeron had more than one mistress during their marriage. What did they have but Joffrey didn’t that made Daeron rather stay with them?
“None of your business.” Daeron replied coldly, “I will take care of my business, and you mind your own. Do not think I didn’t notice that you are getting along with my ex-military uncle quite well.”
For a second, Joffrey was lost. What did Daeron mean? Uncle who?
“Are you accusing me of having an affair?” Joffrey asked disbelievingly, “How dare you? I’ve never done anything unfaithful-”
Joffrey couldn’t continue, for a sudden coughing fit made it impossible for him to speak.
“No? I have sources telling me that you have been spending a lot of time in the gym, even when it’s off season. I never know another football player who is as dedicated as you.” Daeron scoffed, “Who knows what you are doing in the gym where my uncle happens to work at?”
“I broke my ankle in the final, for fuck’s sake!” Joffrey was so angry that he felt dizzy, his vision blurring and his ears ringing as if someone was playing trumpet in his head, “I am doing my reheb! Just because you are a cheater, doesn’t mean I am too! And leave Gwayne out of this.”
“Well, whatever you say.” Daeron shrugged, “But let me make one thing clear. I am not a cheater. We are never together, nephew.”
Joffrey had to hold on to the bedpost to prevent himself from stumbling. He felt like a fool. Daeron was right. They were married, sure, but they were never a couple. Daeron never touched him except for the fake kisses and caresses for the cameras. Joffrey had no right to accuse Daeron of anything. Why he kept forgetting how much his husband hated him? Joffrey wished he had never fallen in love with the cruel man in front of him.
“I’ll admit, my uncle is good-looking. And properly blonde. You like blondes, no?” Daeron flipped his silver curls as if laughing at Joffrey’s despair, “I won’t blame you if you decide to screw him once in a while. I can even give you some tips about how to keep an affair hidden.”
“Get out.” Joffrey squeezed the words from his teeth, “Get out of my room. I don’t want to see your face.”
“That makes two of us.” Daeron turned to leave as if he had been waiting for Joffrey to kick him out ever since he entered the room, “Take some pills for the flu, all right? I don’t want you to cough to death.”
Joffrey didn’t know Daeron’s last sentence was more of a mockery or worry. He didn’t care, though. He cursed himself for showing his weakness to Daeron. No more. He would not lower himself to that. If Daeron decided to be cruel, the least Joffrey could do was not to care.
The show was a success, much to Rhaenyra’s relief. The polls just skyrocketed. More than 30% of the entire Westeros population watched the premier of the show, and the numbers were looking strong five episodes in. People were excited to see the inside the famous Targaryen estate, the Red Keep. How big and luxurious it was. Its current occupants, the Targaryen/Velaryon/Hightower gang was even more interesting than the mansion itself.
Aegon was, surprisingly, named the most loved Targs on the show so far. Jacaerys replied the Instagram post with a short Congratulations and a clown emoji. Baela was the darling in the lesbian community, even though she never publicly confirmed her sex orientation. Rhaena’s social media account gained another 500K subscribers since the show had aired, and counting. Aemond didn’t get much screen time, for he was a busy businessman, but Lucerys made it up by sharing his erotic, intense, heartbroken, and overly romantic tale of how he and Aemond turned from nemesis to soulmates. Even Aegon the younger and Viserys gained their own fan base by making cute faces at the camera. Just as Joffrey predicted, the camera seemed to ignore them for the most part, which was really a huge relief for both. There was one scene in episode two that captured Joffrey and Daeron emerge from two different rooms, but Joffrey’s excuse was enough to satisfy people’s curiosities. Daeron giving him a gentle morning kiss and making him tea helped, too.
Joffrey had succeeded at avoiding the camera’s attention so far, and perhaps that was why he became slack as the shooting went on.
“Thank you driving me home, Gwayne.” Joffrey smiled to the man on the driver’s seat.
“No problem. I need to pick up something from Alicent anyway.” Gwayne replied, taking a turn at the end of the road and entering the Red Keep estate.
Gwayne Hightower was Alicent’s brother, the only son of Sir Otto, the powermonger of Old Town. Instead of working for Hightower Inc., Gwayne chose to join the army after taking a gap year between high school and college. He finished his degree in the army, and had an honorable discharge last year. He now worked as a therapist specializing in sports injury and recovery. Joffrey got familiar with the man after his ankle surgery. For a world class football player like Joffrey, ankle injury was the trickiest one. If he didn’t recover properly, he risked losing his position in the league and the national team. Joffrey was still young, so he could not let that happen. Fortunately, Gwayne was very helpful in his recovery, and Joffrey had actually made huge progress so far.
Joffrey couldn’t help but notice the resemblance between Daeron and Gwayne. They were both blonde, Gwayne’s hair color a bit deeper than Daeron’s, and so did his eyes. Gwayne had grey blue eyes compared to Daeron’s light violet ones. They were both good-looking with board shoulders and toned arms, but behind the handsome faces, their character couldn’t be more different. Gwayne was gentle and patient, never forcing Joffrey to do anything even if Joffrey was having less productive day. He complimented Joffrey’s strong will and endurance, never implying anything about brunette being somehow inferior. Most importantly, Gwayne was sincere. Joffrey didn’t have to think about his every move in front of Gwayne. Unlike Daeron. Joffrey never knew which of his words might antagonize his Daeron.
“Are you feeling better now? Your voice still sounds funny.” Gwayne pulled the car over before turning to look at Joffrey, “I know some drink recipes to relieve sore throat, but I am sure your doctor has better approach than me.”
“Doctor Gerardys is great, but he only gives me pills.” Joffrey chuckled, “If you know some magic potion, please, I am all ears.”
“I can make them for you.” Gwayne suggested, his eyes gentle and his voice gentler, “Or I can send you the recipe and you can make it yourself. It’s mostly lemon and turmeric.”
“Why don’t you find me in the kitchen after finishing your business with Lady Alicent?” Joffrey suggested, and that was his first mistake. He had completely forgotten about the reality show. He only asked Gwayne to stay because it just felt so good having someone caring for him.
“Okay.” Gwayne nodded after a short pause, reaching out to tuck Joffrey’s scarf tighter, “Let’s go, then.”
Joffrey’s next mistake was letting Gwayne park near the front door. He should have been wiser and chosen to enter the keep from the one of the side entrances. There were cameras swarming the front entrance, and inevitably, Joffrey and Gwayne were captured entering the keep by the cameras. Joffrey’s third mistake was failing to expect the media’s craziness. That was why he was so shocked to find that he was condemned as a cheater by the public after the next episode aired.
Another blonde in the relationship? Is our perfect couple a lie?
It was a lie from the beginning, but Joffrey had never expected he would be the one to expose the truth.
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Poessive Gods
I had this idea from the Au I am doing on Ao3, it’s called Do You wish for This?, under Anon but it’s a Aemond/Lucerys fic. But it involves the gods of old Valyria being fucking creeps and...well...
Chapter 1?
The air was tense, so tense that a knife could cut through it and show the air beneath it.
And in an instant it shifted.
Queen Alicent had grabbed Ageon’s dagger from her husband and turned, intent on taking Lucerys Velaryon’s eyes before all the witnesses before them and the boy screamed.
But instead of his mother coming to stop her, someone else did.
A man dressed in robes of gleaming white and gold, hair purer than snow and eyes of burning amber locked arms with the queen. His fang teeth bared in warning as his clawed hands gripped her wrists.
“Do not…hurt him,” he hissed, everyone stepped back as the man had magically appeared.
“My queen!” Cole had called out, rushing to her aid before a similar man with forest green hair and bright red eyes stopped him, snarling right at him as a woman appeared, hair a fiery red and eyes a bright orange as she looked around before standing in front of Rhaenyra.
Protecting them.
“W…Who are you,’ Alicent demanded, gasping as she was pushed back into Ser Harrold’s grip and she finally got a good look at him.
His eyes were that akin to a Dragons and his skin was littered with patches of pearlescent white scales.
“...I am Arrax,” he grinned, Viserys making a choking noise but he ignored him, turning to look at Rhaenyra who stiffened under his gaze before it moved to her left.
To Lucerys.
And Arrax smiled.
“....My boy,” he breathed, striding forward and kneeling down as the green haired one released Cole and turned to the Blacks, looking for someone as well. “My Lucerys,” he cupped his face, smiling as the boy looked to his mother confused. “Finally for you to see me….”
“Jacaerys,” the other male smiled, kneeling down with a grin and arms open. “My boy! It is I! Vermax!”
“....L…Lord Vermax…” Rhaenyra was near the point of passing out as more appeared from the shadows, all adored with patches of scales and one with hair as dark as night coming to her father.
“...Sit. You need rest Viserys,” his voice was soft, deep, commanding and Viserys knew who it was in an instant.
“....Balerion…” he breathed in awe as those of Valyrian descent shifted away in fear from the god of death.
He seemed to not notice, offering a kind smile to the king who felt at ease around him.
“...Aye,” he nodded, pulling up a chair for the ill king who fell upon it in shock.
“....To what do we owe a visit from the gods of Valyria,’ Daemon asked, looking round with apprehension as he held Dark Sister in a tight grip.
“Down boy, nothing is to happen to you,” a man with flowing auburn locks snorted, coming beside him. “...But it’s what I like about you.”
“...Caraxes.”
“...In the flesh,” he smirked. “Vhagar! Get out here and see your bonded child,” he quipped, turning to the hidden alcove by the fireplace where a man was standing in the shadows.
He was sullen, eyes sunken in and his face was that of annoyance as he looked up to Caraxes with pure hatred before it went to Aemond.
“....No,” he rasped, looking away from the boy as Caraxes snorted.
“He has claimed the dragon Vhagar. Technically he is the boy you are to be bound to for the rest of his natural life-”
“I DON’T WANT HIM!”
Vhagar boomed, coming out with rage emanating from him as he stood next to a cowering Aemond.
“I don’t want him! Tesarion doesn’t want them, Gaelithox and Shrykos don’t want them. I wanted Rheana,’ he screamed, Arrax turning to him with a narrowed eye before snorting.
‘Then you should have devoured the fool when he tried,” he deadpanned, standing up with Luke in his grip, smiling as Vhagar sneered, stepping closer to the Blacks and ignoring Aemond.
“...Hmmm,” he huffed, coming to stand behind them all and keep an eye on the proceedings. “....Leana will always be better,” he grumbled, Daemon turning to him as he nodded, and looked away.
‘As to why we are here,'' Arrax began, handing Lucerys over to a woman with light pink hair and Targaryen eyes. “...I came to make balance,” he smiled, hands clasped behind him. “And with that…I must kill some of you.”
“....I see,” Viserys nodded, the gods shifting as Arrax nodded to Balerion who snapped his head to Cristion Cole, rounding on him in seconds and lifting him up by the throat.
“Cole,” Alicent screamed, the man choking as the god of death beheld him and sneered.
“...I’ve always hated you. Always bad mouthing. Calling the child of my bonded Targaryen a whore, loose woman…I will take great pleasure in this,” he whispered, squeezing his hand as Cole began to choke.
‘I beg of you please! Spare my sworn shield-”
``You are no Targaryen, you have born no Targaryen children, you have no say in this matter,” he snarled, Cole’s neck snapping in an instant and dropping him cold and dead on the floor before turning on her. “You have no say in any of what is going to happen tonight.”
“...I am a Targaryen,” Aemond spoke up, Balerion and Arrax turning to him with looks of displeasure on their faces.
“...Just because you have the looks, you claimed a dragon and are the son of the king…does not make you a Targaryen,” Balerion informed him, moving to Viserys who was scared, confused and unsure of what to do.
“The second who must die this night….I will do this myself,” Arrax nodded, the children quivering as he smiled at them before stalking right to Otto Hightower.
“Wh-NO,” Alicent screamed as Arrax grabbed the man’s shoulder and shoved his hand right through his chest, holding his heart as he whispered in his ear.
“Your treasonous actions cost me, Vermax and Tyraxes our children…but that ends tonight,” he murmured, ripping his arm back as Otto fell to the ground dead and Arrax turned around with a bright grin. In his hand was Otto’s heart that he held out to Rhaenyra, looking at her expectantly with a raised brow before she opened her mouth and took a bite.
Arrax smiled, nodding as he cupped her cheek and murmured that she did well; then moved one.
Arrax moved around to all of them; one by one: Daemon, Rhaenys, Jacaerys, Lucerys, Joffrey and Viserys before he turned to the Hightower children.
He took a single stepforward before Helaena took a step forward herself to the God and took a bite, Arrax nodding as a woman with a veil grabbed her and moved her to the side of the blacks.
He turned to Daeron who grabbed his hand, seeing a way out of Old Town and took a bite, a man with singed clothes coming to hold his shoulder as he pushed him by Joffrey who had blood all over his mouth.
Aegon and Aemond remained, Arrax turning to Aegon who shifted and looked at Arrax like he handed him the world.
“...Eat this and become a dragon,” Arrax commanded them, devoured heart outstretched like an offering. “Don’t…and forget about being protected by us.”
“...” Aegon wasted little time as he downed a goblet of wine and took out a chunk of heart with a groan before a woman ushered him to Daemon’s side.
Aemond remained.
“...” Arrax kneeled down, looking the boy right in the eye as he placed the last piece of heart down. They kept their eyes locked as Arrax reached a hand out and placed it over his wounded eye and all was silent.
Then Aemond screamed.
“NO! NO! NO! NO! VHAGAR! VHAGAR! LISTEN TO ME! LISTEN TO ME! NO, VHAGAR NO!” he screamed in pure agony before Arrax released him and stood up.
Aemond seized in his seat, gasping as Alicent rushed over from her father’s corpse to her son who turned to her in horror and smacked her hands away.
“...A…A good thing….even though you…you,” he panted, blinking as he tried to keep the future away from the present.
Arrax had moved on, letting Aemond go through his madness without help as he took Lucerys back with a croon of adornment, kissing his hair as he caressed his face and Rhaenyra got the sense something was very WRONG.
Her sons were being coddled as if they were the most precious things in the world by the Gods of Old Valyria.
But the adults were no different.
Caraxes had Daemon caged in his arms, head nestled in the junction between his head and shoulder as he spoke of the poor souls lost at sea. Anytime Daemon made a move to leave, his arms tightened around him and God gave him a warning snarl.
Meleys held Rhaenys close as she murmured to her sweetly about times long gone with Leanor and Laena, hands tightening as the Queen who Never Was tried to take her hands back. Her eyes flashed a bright pink in warning until she sat down with her Husband who knew naught what to say.
Viserys, her father, watched Aemond beside Balerion who held his shoulders with both his hands. Keeping him in his seat whenever he tried to move and eyeing him with a stern look when he went to argue. He began to massaged his shoulders to calm him down as Viserys relaxed into it, but kept his eyes trained on his daughter.
Rhaenyra herself felt the presence of Syrax, the god holding a goblet of wine in hand as he watched the proceedings beside her, smiling and grinning as he kept a hand around her waist and tightened his grip when she tried to move.
He gave her side eye every time, but cooed at the sight of Joffrey and Jacaerys.
“More hearts for budding Dragons like you,” he cheered, raising his goblet with a smile. “Perhaps that Cole fellow,” he grinned. ‘Eh, Tyraxes,” he asked eagerly, the goddess nodding as she bounced a scared Joffrey on her hip.
“Shall I get it?”
“...Oh look, he made his decision,” Syrax commented, Aemond stumbling over and looking right at Luke.
“...I-”
“Not a word,” Arrax commanded and all went silent. “...Now….shall I lay down the law,” he grinned, head cocking to the side.
And Rhaenyra felt as if everything was about to crumble all around them as Syrax held her tighter and shared a look with Caraxes.
Something very bad was about to happen.
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