As the council chamber cleared, Maekar turned to face his sons and Otto, his father-in-law. The weight of his grief and guilt hung heavy in the air, suffocating the room. His voice trembled as he began to speak.

"Rhaegar, Baelon, Otto," Maekar started, his voice filled with a mix of sorrow and rage. "There is something I must confess to you, something that I have kept hidden for far too long."

His sons and Otto exchanged worried glances, their eyes reflecting the pain they had witnessed moments ago. They remained silent, giving Maekar the space to speak.

"Over two decades ago, when I was still a Khal, I made a deal with a Maegi," Maekar continued, his voice heavy with regret. "I sought power, a great family, and the assurance of my own life. In exchange, the Maegi promised to fulfill my desires but warned that one day, she would strip me of that power by taking away my family."

Rhaegar, Baelon, and Otto listened in stunned silence. The room seemed to grow colder as the weight of Maekar's revelation settled upon them.

"I foolishly believed that the power and the family I desired were worth any cost," Maekar confessed, his voice choked with emotion. "I thought I could outsmart fate, that I could protect all of you from the consequences of my choices. But now I see the truth. I have brought this tragedy upon us."

Rhaegar and Baelon exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a mixture of anger and betrayal. Otto's face mirrored their emotions, his disappointment palpable.

"Father, how could you?" Rhaegar's voice trembled with a mix of rage and hurt. "You made a deal with a witch? You risked our lives, our family, for your own desires?"

Baelon's voice was laced with bitterness as he spoke, his words cutting through the air. "All this time, we trusted you, believed in you. And now we learn that you willingly endangered us, all for the sake of power and a family legacy?"

Maekar's heart sank as he witnessed the fury in his sons' eyes. He had anticipated their anger, but the reality of their disappointment hit him like a blade to the chest.

"I... I thought I was doing what was best for our family," Maekar stammered, his voice filled with remorse. "I never imagined that it would come to this. I never wanted any harm to befall you."

Rhaegar's voice dripped with sarcasm as he retorted, "Well, congratulations, Father. Your actions have brought nothing but pain and tragedy upon us."

Baelon's voice was colder, his words cutting through the air like ice. "We trusted you to protect us, to lead us. But it seems that you care more about your own ambitions than the well-being of your family."

Silence hung in the air, the weight of their shattered trust suffocating them all. Maekar felt the weight of his mistakes pressing down upon him, threatening to crush him under its magnitude.

But amidst the anger and disappointment, a flicker of determination ignited within Rhaegar's eyes. "We will find a way to survive this, Father," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "But know this, we will no longer follow blindly. We will forge our own path, one that does not depend on your misguided decisions."

Baelon's voice held a tone of finality as he spoke, his words piercing through the tension in the room. "We will seek justice for our family, but make no mistake, Father. Our relationship has forever changed."

With those words, Rhaegar and Baelon turned away from their father, their faces hardened with resolve. Otto, torn between his loyalty to his daughter's husband and his love for his grandsons, followed suit.

Maekar stood alone in the council chamber, the weight of his actions crashing down upon him. He knew that he had forever altered the dynamic of their family. Their trust had been shattered, and it would take more than words to repair the damage he had caused.

As he watched them leave, a lingering sense of regret and guilt washed over him. It would be a long and arduous journey to earn back the respect and trust of his sons, if it could ever be fully restored. But Maekar vowed to himself that he would do whatever it took to make amends and protect what little remained of their family.

—————

Three days after the attack
As Alicent, Visenya, and Evelyn floated on a bit of debris in the warm and stable waters of the Narrow Sea, their hearts heavy with grief and uncertainty, a glimmer of hope flickered within their weary souls. The remnants of their ship provided a temporary sanctuary amidst the vast expanse of the sea.

Time seemed to stretch as they floated, their thoughts consumed by the harrowing ordeal they had just experienced. The memories of Moira's sacrifice and the sadistic cruelty of Daemon haunted their minds, leaving them cautious and wary of any approaching vessel.

Suddenly, a ship appeared on the horizon, slowly making its way towards them. The sight of it stirred a mix of apprehension and curiosity within Alicent, Visenya, and Evelyn. They exchanged cautious glances, their eyes searching for any signs of danger.

As the ship anchored next to them, a surge of both relief and disbelief washed over them. They looked up to see Moira, Alicent's eldest daughter, standing on the deck, her eyes filled with determination and a cocky grin. And next to her stood Captain Declan Yarwyck, a seasoned sailor and Maekar's best friend, known for her daring exploits and unwavering loyalty to Maekar.

Alicent's heart skipped a beat as she locked eyes with her daughter. The joy of seeing Moira alive and well clashed with the lingering pain of her loss. Emotions overwhelmed her, causing tears to stream down her face as a bittersweet smile tugged at her lips.

Moira's grin widened, mirroring her father's cocky expression as she extended a hand towards Alicent, Visenya, and Evelyn, pulling them aboard the ship with a strength born out of determination and love.

"Mother, look who I found?" Moira grinned, her hair still damp. "We couldn't leave you behind," Moira declared, her voice filled with both relief and a hint of cockiness.

Alicent's heart swelled with pride and gratitude as she embraced Moira tightly, feeling the warmth of her daughter's presence wash away the pain and despair that had consumed her. She looked towards Declan, her eyes filled with appreciation.

"Declan, your loyalty and bravery have given us hope in this dark hour," Alicent said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "We are forever grateful for your steadfast support."

Declan's cocky expression softened, replaced by a mischievous smile. "My Queen, it's an honor to fight alongside you and your family. The bitch's treason and Daemon's cruelty will not go unanswered."

The wind carried them swiftly across the Narrow Sea, guiding them towards their next destination—the Stepstones, a cluster of islands known for their strategic importance. It was here, in these treacherous waters, that Declan held a stronghold in Maekar's name, a base from which they could regroup, rest, and plan their next move.

"How did you find us anyway?" Visenya, the curious eleven year old asked as she steered the ship with Declan's guidance.

"The Narrow Sea is my fortress, little Princess," Declan chuckled, her hands on top of Visenya's. "I have eyes and ears everywhere, and as soon as I saw the Blood Wyrm fly past I knew something must be wrong."

"Plus, her crew found me and thought I was a pirate," Moira laughed at the memory of having four swords at her neck. "Thankfully Captain Declan saved me before I could meet the Stranger."

"The pleasure is mine, my damsel in distress," Declan bowed cockily, sending a cheeky grin at the Princess who smiled shyly.

As they approached the Stepstones, the familiar sight of Declan's fortification came into view. Tall, imposing walls rose from the rocky shores, a testament to Declan's ingenuity and resourcefulness. The ship docked, and the weary travelers stepped ashore, greeted by Declan's loyal crew.

Declan, with her characteristic cocky smile, welcomed them to her stronghold, eager to provide them with a safe haven amidst the chaos that enveloped Westeros. "Welcome to the Stepstones, my friends," she declared, her voice filled with confidence. "Here, we shall gather our strength and prepare for the battles that lie ahead."

Alicent, filled with gratitude for Declan's unwavering support, approached her and clasped her hand. "Declan, your dedication to Maekar and our family knows no bounds. We are forever in your debt," Alicent said, her voice filled with sincerity.

"Rest assured, we will not rest until we bring word of our survival to the King and rally his support in our fight against the Blacks," Declan reassured her. Declan's eyes sparkled with determination. "Alicent, your family is my family. ice echoing with a resolute conviction.

With the Stepstones as their temporary refuge, Alicent, Moira, Visenya, Evelyn, and Declan planned their next move. While the others rested and recovered from their harrowing journey, Declan prepared to set sail for King's Landing to deliver the long-awaited news of their survival to Maekar.

As Declan boarded her ship, she looked back at her companions, a mixture of determination and concern in her eyes. "Rest up, my friends. I shall sail swiftly to King's Landing and ensure that Maekar knows his family is alive and fighting," she said, her voice filled with unwavering resolve.

With a final wave, Declan's ship disappeared into the horizon, leaving Alicent, Moira, Visenya, and Evelyn in the capable hands of Declan's crew. The Stepstones became a bustling hive of activity as preparations were made for the challenges that lay ahead.

Days turned into weeks as they waited anxiously for Declan's return, each passing moment a reminder of the weight of their mission. Finally, on a clear morning, the sound of a familiar ship's horn broke the silence, announcing Declan's triumphant return.

As the ship docked again, Alicent, Moira, Visenya, and Evelyn rushed to greet Declan, their faces filled with anticipation. Declan stepped ashore, a triumphant smile on her face, and delivered the long-awaited news. "Maekar has been informed, and he is coming," she announced, her voice filled with excitement.

A wave of relief washed over Alicent and her daughters as they embraced each other, their hearts filled with hope and determination.