In the depths of his slumber, Maekar found himself trapped in a terrifying nightmare. His mind, haunted by the tales of The Long Night, transported him to a time of darkness and despair. The night was endless, the cold was bone-chilling, and the dead seemed to rise with every gust of wind.

As Maekar tossed and turned, his wife, Alicent, noticed his distress and grew increasingly worried. She reached out to gently shake him awake, her voice filled with concern. "Maekar, my love, wake up! It's just a dream," she pleaded, her words laced with fear.

But Maekar remained trapped in the clutches of his nightmare, his body unresponsive to Alicent's desperate attempts to rouse him. Panic began to grip her heart as she realized her efforts were in vain. She called out for help, hoping someone would come to their aid.

Minutes felt like hours, and the room seemed to darken with each passing second. Alicent's tears welled up in her eyes as she watched her husband tormented by the horrors of his dream. She whispered words of comfort, hoping that somehow her voice would reach him and bring him solace.

And then, as if a ray of light had pierced through the darkness, Maekar's eyes fluttered open. He gasped for air, his chest heaving as he struggled to shake off the remnants of his nightmare. Alicent's face lit up with relief, and she embraced him tightly, her arms providing a shield against the lingering fear.

"It was just a dream, my love," Alicent whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're safe now. I'm here."

Maekar clung to his wife, his heart still racing from the horrors he had seen. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her comforting scent, finding solace in her presence. Gradually, the remnants of the nightmare faded away, replaced by the warmth and love that radiated from Alicent.

The husband and wife sought solace in each other for a moment, before the silence was broken by rapid knocks on their door before it burst open revealing Ser Criston, his face ridden with panic.

Before the future King and Queen could question why Ser Criston looked so panicked in the dead of night, he spoke, "there's been an incident with the Princess," he panted. Maekar and Alicent got up from her bed, Alicent grabbed her robe.

"Whats happened, Ser Criston?" Maekar asked, his own heartbeat ringing in his ears.

"I don't know, my Prince," Ser Criston shook his head. "They're gathered in the hall, I saw was blood," Maekar grabbed his dagger from under his pillow and together Alicent and Maekar rushed from the guest chambers of Driftmark where they paused at the sight in front of them.

Rhaenyra was already there tending to her son's bloodied faces, and Daemon was knelt in front of his daughters who had bruises littered across their faces. Then the mother and father found their own children seated across the hall. Rhaegar was covered in sand and his hands were soaked in blood, Visenya was uncontrollably crying into Aegon's shirt and Aliandra and Baelon and a Maester was blocking Moira from their view.

"What-?!" Maekar cut himself off as he caught sight of his eldest daughter. A wound that started from her forehead and ended below the eye was on her face, and she had lost it. Alicent's gasped, tears pooling her eyes as she came to a stop beside her husband.

"What happened?!" Alicent sobbed, sitting beside her daughter on the chair. She moved the hair out of Moira's face and nearly vomited at the gruesome sight that once held Moira's beautiful violet eye.

At once, the children, minus Aegon, Aliandra and Baelon began shouting over one another.

"Enough!" Maekar yelled, and that caused the children to stop and look at their father/uncle/cousin in fear. In all their years they had never seen Maekar so angry. But here he stood, filled with rage, his dagger clutched in his hand as if his intent was to hurt someone. This wasn't Prince Maekar, this was Maekar the Unhinged, the Great Khal Maekar of the Narrow Sea. "My daughter was maimed! She will be the one to talk!"

Viserys walked in as Moira began explaining the incident. She described the tale of how herself, Rhaegar and Visenya snuck out to see the dragons at the dead of night, how Aegar protected her and Visenya when Rhaegar claimed Vhagar, how they went flying with Vhagar and Aegar to the fight that broke out between the children which led to Jacaerys taking her eye.

"That betrothal you mentioned," Maekar spoke coldly towards Rhaenyra. "Between Moira and Jacaerys, my wife and I will not accept," Rhaenyra hung her head in shame. "How can I allow my eldest daughter to marry someone who harmed her so greatly? In turn, Rhaegar will not be needing that dragon egg you promised," the silence hung heavy in the air.

"How could you allow such a thing to happen?" Viserys asked, staring between Moira and Jacaerys in shock. "I will have answers."

"The children were supposed to be abed, My King," Ser Harrold said remorsefully.

"Well obviously they wasn't!" Maekar growled. "Who had the watch?"

"You swore oaths to protect and defend my blood!" Viserys yelled, leaning on his cane for support, before any of the Kingsguard could answer the question.

"I'm very sorry, Your Grace," Ser Harrold bowed his head.

"The Kingsguard has never had to defend blood from blood, Your Grace," Ser Criston added.

"That is no answer!" Viserys helped in his face before Maekar could.

"It will heal, will it not, Maester?" Alicent asked. Deep down she knew the eye was lost, but she hoped and she prayed she was wrong and that Moira would be alright.

"The flesh will heal," Maester Kelvyn inspecting the damage as he put stitches in the wound. "But the eye is lost, my Princess."

"Where were you?" Alicent asked, turning her to her two eldest sons.

"Us?" They both asked in unison. "Ow! What was that for?" They both added at the same time again when Alicent slapped them. Maekar and Alicent never had to raise their hands to their children before, and it was even a shock to Maekar.

"That was nothing compared to the abuse your sisters and brother suffered!" Alicent exclaimed in anger. "You let them approach dangerous beasts alone and get bullied by others!"

The door opened and in walked Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys.

"What is the meaning of this?" Lord Corlys asked, staring around as Rhaenys went straight to her granddaughters.

"He stole my mother's dragon!" Rhaena shouted, pointing at Rhaegar and once again the children began shouting over one another.

"Enough," Viserys tried to quieten them down.

"He was gonna kill Jace!" Lucerys yelled, also pointing at Rhaegar.

"I didn't do anything!" Rhaegar lied.

"Enough..."

"It should be my daughter telling the tale!" Alicent yelled at the bastards.

"He called us..."

"Silence!" Maekar yelled and the room fell silent once more.

"He called us bastards," Lucerys whispered.

"Moira... I will have the truth of what happened," said Viserys softly, approaching his granddaughter. "Now."

"What else is there to hear?" Maekar asked as he stood protectively between his family and his father. "My daughter, your granddaughter has been maimed. Her son is responsible," Maekar jabbed his finger in the direction of Rhaenyra.

"It was a regrettable accident," Rhaenyra defended her son.

"Accident?" Maekar chuckled coldly, which sent a shiver down everyone's spine. "Let us fight then, Rhaenyra," he unscathed his dagger and twirled it around. "Let's see if I take your eye by accident."

"The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush," Alicent spoke up, retaking her seat beside her eldest daughter and cradling her head to her chest. "He meant to kill my son and instead maimed my daughter."

"It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves," Rhaenyra spat back defensively. "Vile insults were levied against them."

"What insults?" Viserys asked.

"The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly to question," said Rhaenyra, and her mind went back to the conversation her and Laenor had with Maekar and Alicent's just under a week ago.

"Your friend... or lover?"

"What?" Viserys stared at his daughter.

"He called us bastards," Lucerys mumbled.

"My sons are in line to inherit the Driftmark, Your Grace," said Rhaenyra. "It's treason against House Velaryon."

"The highest of treasons was the fact my daughter was maimed, she is fifth in line to the throne!" Maekar continued, waving the dagger about.

"Princess Moira, Princess Visenya and Prince Rhaegar must be sharply questioned so we might learn where they heard such slanders," Rhaenyra countered back with a smirk.

"Over an insult?" Maekar asked. "My daughter has lost an eye!" He barked, and was happy when they flinched.

"You tell me, girl," Viserys seethed at Moira who cuddled deeper into her mother in fright. "Where did you hear this lie?"

"My daughter has been through a lot tonight, father," Maekar spoke up, shocked that despite Moira's lack of an eye, Viserys was taking those bastards side. "The insult was training yard bluster. The lot of boys. It was nothing."

"Rhaegar..." Viserys turned his attention towards the boy. "I asked your sister a question and she couldn't answer, so out with it."

"Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder?"'Alicent spoke when Rhaegar didn't answer. "The boys' father?"

"Perhaps he might have something to say in the matter," Maeker finished for his wife.

"Yes. Where is Ser Laenor?" Viserys asked, looking directly at Rhaenyra.

"I do not know, Your Grace. I... could not find sleep," Rhaenyra lied, and Maekar picked up on it. He always knew when she lied. "I had gone out to walk."

"Entertaining his young squires, I would venture," Alicent snarked.

"Rhaegar, Moira... look at me," both children looked at their grandfather wearily. 'Your King demands an answer. Who spoke these lies to you?" Maekar discreetly shook his head.

"It was Aegon," Moira said quietly and Maekar sighed in exasperation.

"Me?" Aegon asked in shock.

"And you, boy?" Viserys asked, getting in his face which Maekar didn't like and pushed them apart. "Where did you hear such calumnies?" Aegon didn't meet his eye, in turn looked directly to the floor. "Aegon! Tell me the truth of it!" The weak old man yelled, and everyone but Maeker jumped.

"We know, grandsire. Everyone knows," Aegon said quietly, glaring at the two boys. "Just look at them."

"This interminable infighting must cease! All of you! We are family!" Viserys yelled, desperately pleading with his family. "Now make your apologies and show good will to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your King demands it!"

"My family will not do such a thing!" Maekar seethed, gripping his father by the forearm. "For moons I have had letters upon letters from Lords of the realm begging to let my Moira marry their sons when she's of age, Moira has been permanently damaged. "Good will" cannot make her whole."

"I know, my son, but I cannot restore her eye," Viserys said sorrowfully.

"No, because it's been taken," Alicent retorted before Maekar could speak up.

"What would you have me do?" Viserys asked her.

"There is a debt to be paid," Alicent shrugged, turning to face the two bastards. "I shall have one of her son's eyes in return," murmurs broke out at the demand.

"My dear daughter-in-law," Viserys tried to approach her.

"She is your granddaughter, my King," Alicent begged tearfully. "Your blood. Fifth in line to the throne."

"Do not... allow your temper to guide your judgment," Viserys tried to comfort her.

"If the King will not seek justice, the heir will," Maekar seethed, unsheathing his dagger once more as he turned a nasty glare onto his sister and her bastard children. "You listen here boy, I will grant you the choice of which eye I take from you, a choice you did not give my daughter, and another choice wether it is I the one who takes it from you or a Dothraki," Maekar could tell the boy feared him. "I assure you, each option will make you bleed."

"Mother!" Jacaerys gasped, hiding behind her skirts.

"Maekar, this matter... is finished," Viserys yanked the blade out of his hand. "Do you understand?" He asked, placing the blade in his belt, as if he had confiscated a toy from a toddler. "And let it be known: anyone whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra's sons should have it removed."

"Thank you, Father," Rhaenyra bowed her head.

"Moira is one of the heirs to your throne, yet you choose to ignore this for the children of Ser Harwin Strong!" The room gasped and broke into murmurs again. Viserys paused in his movements, allowing enough time for Alicent to grab her husband's dagger and rush towards Rhaenyra's sons.

Rhaenyra turned in time and caught Alicent's wrist before she brought the dagger down. Maekar spotting movement across the room, tackled Daemon to the floor before he could bring harm upon his wife.

Daemon and Maekar exchanged blows as Rhaenyra and Alicent struggled over the blade. Daemon punched Maekar in the stomach and kicked him off of him. Both men were on their feet and glaring at each other. Maekar, fueled by rage and a desire for vengeance, lunged at Daemon with a primal scream. The uncle and the nephew engaged in a brutal fistfight, their punches landing with a thunderous impact. The room trembled with the intensity of their struggle.

"You've gone too far," said Rhaenyra as she struggled to overpower Alicent.

"I?" The future Queen laughed in shock, still pushing on the blade as the grunts of her husband and Daemon rang around. "What have I done but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law. While you flout all to do as you please."

"Alicent, Maekar, let them go!" Viserys demanded but neither compiled.

Maekar's anger consumed him, giving him an edge over Daemon. He managed to overpower his uncle, pinning him to the ground. With a fierce determination in his eyes, Maekar tightened his grip around Daemon's throat, choking him with all his might.

"Where is duty? Where is sacrifice?" Alicent seethed with rage. "It's trampled under your pretty foot again."

"Release the blade, Alicent," Ser Otto spoke for the first time since he was called into the hall.

"And now you take my daughter's eye, and to even that, you feel entitled," she cried.

"Exhausting, wasn't it?" Rhaenyra snarked. "Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness. But now they see you as you are," Alicent let out a yell as the blade slipped between Rhaenyra's hands, sending it into her arm. The shock of it both sent Rhaenyra and Alicent to the floor, just meters away from the brawling relatives.

Alicent flung the blade as she fell narrowly missing the onlookers. Both women sat on the floor of Driftmark, Alicent bleeding from a small cut on her lip and Rhaenyra bleeding from the cut on her arm as they watched the fight unfold.

Daemon gasped for breath, his face turning red as he fought against Maekar's relentless grip. The onlookers watched in horror as the fight took a deadly turn. The room was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the desperate gasps for air from Daemon.

Suddenly, Rhaenyra, driven by love and a sense of duty, rushed towards the struggling relatives. With all her strength, she pried Maekar's hands away from Daemon's throat, freeing him from his nephew's deadly hold. Gasping for air, Daemon coughed and struggled to regain his composure. But the room gasped once more, as without looking at her, Maekar elbowed Rhaenyra in the face as he brought his fist up to punch Daemon once more. Rhaenyra fell to the ground, holding her bloodied nose.

The room erupted into chaos as the fight came to an abrupt halt. Viserys' voice boomed, commanding everyone's attention. "This ends now!" he declared, his voice filled with both authority and concern.

As the room settled, Viserys approached his brother and his son, his eyes filled with a mixture of disappointment and sorrow. "Enough of this madness," he said, his voice firm yet filled with sadness. "We are family, and we must find a way to resolve our conflicts without resorting to violence."

"Do not mourn me, mother, father," Moira spoke up, weakly limping to stand between her parents. The blood loss had made her weak, but she was determined to show those bastards that she would be fine. "It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye... but my brother got what he always wanted, he gained a dragon."