And yet he still attempts to claim more of my sons.
[ a son for a son — daemon had asserted as much, when sending his assassins to kill aemond in exchange. yet the young prince jaehaerys, a mere babe, had been the one slaughtered in his crib. and this has become a cycle of revenge that is unending. where will the line be drawn? ]
I will not stand in the way if you wish to confront him on the battlefield. But we are in a kingdom that is not our own, and we cannot make our hosts an unwilling party in our war.
He does not have Vhagar to press his advantage, but remain cautious.
I had believed so, but we do not know what we will return to, or the dangers that will have emerged in our absence. Why not have the wedding here, while all have agreed to peace?
From what I know, he is still abed, suffering from the grievous wounds he sustained at Rook's Rest. And with the Greens' forces marching from the north, with Vhagar among them, King's Landing may very well be unprotected.
Would you prefer it be before a handful of witnesses? Although I'm certain the Balfours would welcome any excuse for another banquet.
And ours, if those who remain make the right moves. Lord Stark's men march south and will met our enemies in the Riverlands. I have faith in him.
It would be more advantageous for us if we were to use this as an opportunity to build allies amongst the Balfours and other residents. ( see, mom, he can play the political game! and he sees what you're suggesting. )
We could sway them further to our cause by requesting that they host a reception for you and Baela. [ she only knows of portia by reputation and hearsay, but she might very well be able to appeal to the other woman's mothering instinct, if such a thing exists. ]
At this moment, our numbers supersede our enemies'. Though I cannot say for certain how many Alicent may have persuaded to support her son's claim.
He is an honorable man and Starks do not shirk their oaths.
We cannot rely on that to remain the same. For a while, it was only you and Alicent. I do not doubt that Aemond has begun to twist the truth of the matter to others here. Baela told me his version of events after Aunt Laena's funeral are quite... selective. ( which paint him and Baela in a light worse than the reality of the situation. )
I have heard whispers of a Stark here. Have you had cause to meet them?
Of course he would recall that the circumstances by which he lost his eye were unprovoked, but there were cruel words exchanged that day and even crueler allegations made. Luke always maintained that he was defending himself, and I had no reason to distrust him.
A Stark? No. I have not but I have found another who claims she is our descendant. ( and he would have found Cregan if he were here. Surely. )
He had me on the ground, mother, with a rock raised to smash in my head. Luke did it to protect me. ( and Jace’s suggestion eventually lead to his brave baby brother to his death. )
Daenerys. Yes, she believes she is a descendant of our line, rather than the enemy's. She has asserted her fealty to our side as well.
[ but she also can't underestimate aemond's powers of persuasion, as well as the lengths he might go to in order to threaten one who is of her blood. ]
I do not know when he began to carry such enmity towards you or your brother. Perhaps it had to do with him claiming a dragon so late in life.
We were not kind to him as children, it is true. But we were children all the same and Aegon was no kinder. ( and even though Jace is-- was only two years older than Luke, the younger was still his baby brother in his eyes. )
And now Aegon lies abed, suffering from grievous wounds. It is unclear whether his brother may have been the cause of those as well. [ so many reports from rook's rest had been conflicting — aegon had ridden sunfyre into battle, only to be met in the sky by both meleys and vhagar, but how had both dragon and rider been burned so terribly? ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 04:30 pm (UTC)[ a son for a son — daemon had asserted as much, when sending his assassins to kill aemond in exchange. yet the young prince jaehaerys, a mere babe, had been the one slaughtered in his crib. and this has become a cycle of revenge that is unending. where will the line be drawn? ]
I will not stand in the way if you wish to confront him on the battlefield. But we are in a kingdom that is not our own, and we cannot make our hosts an unwilling party in our war.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-21 04:37 pm (UTC)( then after a moment: )
Would you not? Truly? ( will she let him fight for her as is his right, as he should as her heir? )
no subject
Date: 2024-09-22 08:22 pm (UTC)I would not. Not if you feel you must avenge your brother.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-22 08:58 pm (UTC)I suggested it — That you send us both. It is my responsibility.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-22 09:34 pm (UTC)Though while we're on the subject of responsibility, Daemon and I have been discussing whether it would be wise to move forward with the wedding.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-22 09:56 pm (UTC)Have you? Would it not be better for us to wed before your subjects? A celebration after your coronation?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-22 10:13 pm (UTC)I had believed so, but we do not know what we will return to, or the dangers that will have emerged in our absence. Why not have the wedding here, while all have agreed to peace?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-22 10:31 pm (UTC)With many of us here and Aegon bed-bound, perhaps we will find luck on our side for when we return.
Would this be a family affair or one before the whole of the mansion?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 12:35 am (UTC)Would you prefer it be before a handful of witnesses? Although I'm certain the Balfours would welcome any excuse for another banquet.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 12:40 am (UTC)It would be more advantageous for us if we were to use this as an opportunity to build allies amongst the Balfours and other residents. ( see, mom, he can play the political game! and he sees what you're suggesting. )
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 12:45 am (UTC)We could sway them further to our cause by requesting that they host a reception for you and Baela. [ she only knows of portia by reputation and hearsay, but she might very well be able to appeal to the other woman's mothering instinct, if such a thing exists. ]
At this moment, our numbers supersede our enemies'. Though I cannot say for certain how many Alicent may have persuaded to support her son's claim.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 01:00 am (UTC)We cannot rely on that to remain the same. For a while, it was only you and Alicent. I do not doubt that Aemond has begun to twist the truth of the matter to others here. Baela told me his version of events after Aunt Laena's funeral are quite... selective. ( which paint him and Baela in a light worse than the reality of the situation. )
no subject
Date: 2024-09-24 12:26 pm (UTC)Of course he would recall that the circumstances by which he lost his eye were unprovoked, but there were cruel words exchanged that day and even crueler allegations made. Luke always maintained that he was defending himself, and I had no reason to distrust him.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-24 09:08 pm (UTC)He had me on the ground, mother, with a rock raised to smash in my head. Luke did it to protect me. ( and Jace’s suggestion eventually lead to his brave baby brother to his death. )
no subject
Date: 2024-09-28 05:04 pm (UTC)[ but she also can't underestimate aemond's powers of persuasion, as well as the lengths he might go to in order to threaten one who is of her blood. ]
I do not know when he began to carry such enmity towards you or your brother. Perhaps it had to do with him claiming a dragon so late in life.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 05:17 am (UTC)We were not kind to him as children, it is true. But we were children all the same and Aegon was no kinder. ( and even though Jace is-- was only two years older than Luke, the younger was still his baby brother in his eyes. )
no subject
Date: 2024-10-01 12:50 am (UTC)And now Aegon lies abed, suffering from grievous wounds. It is unclear whether his brother may have been the cause of those as well. [ so many reports from rook's rest had been conflicting — aegon had ridden sunfyre into battle, only to be met in the sky by both meleys and vhagar, but how had both dragon and rider been burned so terribly? ]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-01 01:40 am (UTC)I am no fool.
no subject
Date: 2024-10-01 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-10-01 01:44 am (UTC)