Requested by: none
Rating: yellow
Plot: You discover that Ser Criston sent one of his men to kill your mother

WARNING 1: SPOILER EP.2 of SEASON 2 The rating of this chapter is yellow due to the themes addressed

WARNING 2: This chapter is divided into three parts. The first is this one. Parts 2 and 3 are the following chapters about Aemond

   You burst through the door of the shared bedroom with your husband. The knight on guard behind you tries to stop you, but you halt him with a glance. He bows and steps back, closing the door behind him.
  Your eyes scan the room, searching for a man who you quickly find sitting in front of your husband. Ser Criston Cole rises to his feet, greeting you with a formal bow.
  Aemond, who moments ago had his back to you, stands and walks around the small couch to join you. <<Beloved wife, what brings you here so soon?>> he asks, surprised to see you. Usually, you join him for dinner or late in the evening after your various duties.
  Your light hair gleams under the faint candlelight, much like your husband's. Anger boils in your veins, and you clench your fists, digging your nails into your palms until it hurts. You can't tear your gaze away from the captain of the Kingsguard. His gleaming armor and white cloak are nothing but a facade. Ser Criston Cole is anything but a man of honor.

  You lift your arm, showing the two men a letter. <<This arrived just now. From Dragonstone>> you state through gritted teeth, unable to take your eyes off the knight. Aemond takes the paper from your hands, quickly reading the elegant handwriting. <<Last night, Ser Arryk entered my mother's chambers and attempted her life>> you declare, raising your voice with each word. <<Don't you have anything to say, Ser Criston?>> you ask, stepping closer to the knight who instinctively reaches for his belt, his sword within reach. Aemond's gaze shifts from you to Cole, his brow furrowing. <<Princess Y/n Velaryon, what happened is surely a dreadful affair. Thankfully, Princess Rhaenyra remains unharmed>> Criston Cole replies, maintaining his perfect white cloak facade. With a surge of anger, you advance, intending to lunge at him, but your husband's strong arms stop you. Aemond holds you against his chest, repeatedly asking you to calm down.

  <<Admit it. Admit that you did it!>> you shout with all your breath. Your cheeks are flushed with rage. The one-eyed prince lifts his head, seeking explanations from his trusted interlocutor. <<Was it you who sent Ser Arryk to kill my mother?>> you yell, struggling forcefully, but it's futile. <<It's the truth?>> Aemond asks, trying to calm you, staring at Cole with a serious look. After a few moments of hesitation, Ser Criston shakes his head. <<My prince, the princess is undoubtedly troubled by recent events. Given my loyalty to the king, your brother, it's not certain she believes I'm the one behind such an act>> the knight replies calmly. His words only fuel your anger. You scream, releasing your fury, and the prince immediately calls for your handmaids, asking the girls to prepare a calming tea. Aemond holds you firmly, exerting enough force to hurt you.

  Curses, insults, and threats spill from your lips. Phrases that surprise even yourself with their formulation. A maester strides into the room and, with the help of your husband and handmaids, forces you to drink a bitter liquid. In moments, your body feels heavy, and your head cloudy. You fall asleep in Aemond's arms, who gently lays you down in bed. He brushes aside strands of your hair and sighs in concern. When he married you a year ago, he knew you weren't the typical lady who followed etiquette, more akin to a porcelain doll than a lady. But tonight he understands what your grandmother Rhaenys meant when she said the spirit of a dragon had been reincarnated in you.

   When you wake up, you're not sure how much time has passed. You feel strange, as if heavily intoxicated. You struggle to sit up, tossing the blankets away with rough gestures. Your head throbs as if you've been struck forcefully.
  <<I'm glad you've awakened, Princess>> Criston Cole says, rising from the chair next to the window. Suddenly, everything comes vividly back to your mind. <<Where's Aemond?>> you ask through clenched teeth. <<With the king on urgent business>> he replies, moving to the center of the room.
  In a sudden motion, you grab the dagger lying beneath your husband's pillow and rush toward the knight. You press the Valyrian steel blade against his throat. <<I know it was you>> you whisper close to his face. <<You're not worthy of wearing this cloak>> you continue, seeing anger flash in his eyes. <<No one will listen to you>> he asserts, looking down at you. His jaw twitches. <<Do you think so? I have eyes and ears everywhere, Ser Criston>> you remind him with a raised eyebrow, pressing the blade harder against his neck. A trickle of blood runs down, staining his chainmail shirt. <<Do you think I don't know you slept with Alicent? Do you think I don't know that the night my nephew was killed, you were in Alicent's bed?>> you continue, watching various emotions flicker in his eyes. <<You were in love with my mother but she rejected you, and since then, like a petulant child, you've been seeking revenge>> you say, raising your voice a bit, scratching his cheek with your nails.

  Quickly, Cole grabs your arm with force and you find yourself bent over the table behind you. Your cheek pressed against the polished wood and your arm pinned behind your back. <<You preach a lot, Princess, but then you bed the man who killed your brother and his dragon>> he murmurs in your ear, pressing you harder against the table. <<Your honor is as filthy as Flea Bottom's streets>> you declare, trying to free your hand to grab the knife Cole placed not far from your right shoulder. But the knight has other plans. He grabs your hair with one hand, pulling you towards him, forcing you to stand up. <<All of Westeros knows your mother sent men to kill Jaehaerys. A son for a son>> he states, pushing you to the ground. You prop yourself up on your arms, glaring at the knight fiercely. At this moment, you wish you could incinerate him like a dragon.
But you know the truth. Your mother loves her sister Helaena, and having lost children herself, she would never wish the same pain upon her beloved sister. Rhaenyra is capable of many things, but never murdering a child out of vengeance.

  <<Your position at court is already precarious, Princess. It would worsen if anyone heard you conspiring like this>> he says, adjusting his armor and cloak, trying to appear composed. He surpasses you, wiping away the scratches with his glove, cleaning the little blood that seeps out. <<If I were you, I'd choose which side to stand on. Loyalty is crucial in these times>> he remarks before leaving the room, locking the door behind him. You stagger to your feet, pounding your fists on the door in an attempt to open it. You shout his name, the name of the guard who usually checks the entrance, but no one answers. Several minutes later, you slump to the floor, exhausted and in a flood of tears.

   The door opens and closes quietly. You hear light footsteps on the stone floor. In the dimness of the room, illuminated by a few candles and the fire in the hearth, Aemond searches for you, calling your name several times. He removes his jacket and drapes it over the back of a chair before joining you. You're curled up in a dark corner of the room. He notices you only because of the moonlight reflecting off your hair. Something glints in your hands.
  <<Love, what are you doing there?>> he asks, sitting in front of you, leaning against the wall and stretching his legs. He gently strokes your ankle, exposed by the lifted hem of your skirt as you sit on the floor with your legs drawn up. Only now does the young prince notice his dagger in your hands. <<Ser Criston said you woke from your delirious sleep. He had to lock you in the room to prevent something from happening to you>> he breaks the silence, sounding somewhat annoyed.  <<I was furious with Aegon for this; you shouldn't have been left alone. Your mind is fragile these days>> he continues gently, but receives a groan of annoyance from you. You stand up and walk to the center of the room. <<I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I meant that with what happened, it would be strange if you weren't troubled>> the prince tries to explain, joining you in front of the fireplace. He kisses your forehead, gently stroking your hair. You are the only legitimate daughter of Laenor Velaryon, unlike your brothers. But despite the dubious paternity of his nephews, Aemond has always wanted to marry you. At first, he only wanted it to be a way to unite the families even more, but then you both understood that the hatred rooted in them is much worse. Not even your happy marriage can prevent the imminent war.