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SERENADE OF SEA AND FLAME
Chapter Seven, Unexpected Betrothal

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The children were brought to The Hall of Nine, where the Driftmark Throne was held. A maester was summoned to stitch up Aemond's slashed eye. The people present in the room couldn't help but watch in disgust as the maester went to work.

"Will it heal?" Alicent asked, worried to death.

"I am afraid the eye is lost, your grace," the maester answered. "Though, the wound will heal." Aemond continued to grunt in pain. Jace wrapped his arms around his brother while Visella held hands with her cousins.

The Queen turned to her other son, "where were you?" She took her anger out on Aegon, slapping him across the face. Helaena, who stood beside him, gasped softly.

"Ow! What was that for?" He asked, holding his cheek.

"That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your own cups, you fool!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys walked in.

"Are you girls okay?" Rhaenys asked urgently. She quickly stepped down the stairs and hugged the three of them.

Rhaenrya had finally walked inside of the room, with her Uncle Daemon who decided to stand at the door. She scanned the room for her dear children. "Ella? Jace?" She asked nervously. When her eyes found Luke, her eyes widened at the sight of his bloody nose. "Luke!"

"Mother!" Visella cried, running to her. She hugged the three of them. After Luke showed her his nose, anger began to build up inside. When Rhaenrya demanded who caused the damage, Aemond placed the blame on the other kids. "They attacked me!" He shouted.

"He attacked the girls!" Jace yelled back defensively. "I had to do something!"

"I only pushed Rhaena, and got punched for it!"

"You don't hit girls!"

The children all began to scream and shout at each other. Uncle Daemon stood against the door, smirking at the chaos.

"Silence!" The King roared.

Jace whispered to Rhaenrya, "he called us bastards."

"I will hear the truth of what happened at once, Aemond!" Their grandfather commanded. "Now."

"What else is there to hear?" Alicent asked. "Your son has been maimed. Her son is responsible."

"Your son was going to kill my brother," Visella snapped.

Their mother spoke for them. "It was a regrettable accident."

"An accident?" Alicent scoffed. "The Prince brought a blade to the ambush, he meant to kill my son."

Growing angry, Rhaenrya shouted, "it was my children, who were attacked and forced to defend themselves!" She continued. "And vile insults were levied against my sons!"

"What insults?" The King asked.

"The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly into question."

"What?"

"He called us bastards . . ." Jace said. As Ella looked around the room, everyone on the opposite side had a look on their face. Everyone except sweet Helaena, she didn't look like she was entirely there. Visella wanted to smack Aemond's face as he smirked devilishly.

"I am one day to inherit the Iron Throne, your grace," Mother said. "The future Queen's sons were questioned about their own birthright. That is the highest of treasons. Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned! I'd like to know where he learned such slanders." No one had to say it, it was Alicent and her father, Otto Hightower, the hand of the King.

"Over an insult?" Alicent scoffed softly with tears in her eyes. "My son lost an eye over an insult?"

King Viserys looked down at Aemond. "You tell me, boy. Where did you hear this lie?" His son sat in silence, not giving an answer.

"Where is Ser Laenor, I wonder?" Alicent was only trying to change the subject. "The boys' father? Perhaps he might have something to say in the matter."

"Yes," the king agreed. "Where is Ser Laenor?"

"I do not know, your grace." Rhaenrya answered. "I . . . could not find sleep, I gone out to walk." Visella glanced over at Daemon, analyzing the look on his face. He was smirking.

"Entertaining his young squires, I would venture," Alicent spat. Ser Criston Cole let out a quiet chuckle.

"Or perhaps still grieving over his dear beloved sister he just lost," Visella spoke up. "Or have you forgotten, my Queen?"

"Of course not, may the gods bless her." Visella rolled her eyes as Alicent said those fake words.

The King once again questioned his son. Alicent tried to defend Aemond, but he put the blame on Aegon instead of his mother.

"Me?" Aegon asked in shock.

"And you, boy?" Viserys used his cane to walk over to his eldest son. "Where did you hear such calumnies?"

Aegon said nothing, feeling betrayed by his younger brother.

"Aegon!" The King shouted, making him flinch. "Tell me the truth of it!"

"We know, father." He said calmly. "Everyone knows." He looked over at his nephews, "just look at them . . . and compare to the princess." Everyone's eyes looked upon Visella and her brothers. As much as she did not like Aegon, he was right.

There was a long pause of silence. "This interminable infighting must cease!" King Viserys hit the end of his cane against ground. "All of you!" He turned to everyone in the room. "We are family!" His voice cracked saying the last word. "Now, make your apologies and show good will to one another. Your father, your grandsire, your king commands it!"

Viserys walked away, leaving for his chambers. Apologizing was not enough for Alicent. "That is insufficient," she said, making him stop walking. "Your son Aemond has been damaged permanently, my king. Good will cannot make him whole!"

"I know, Alicent." He replied. "But I cannot restore his eye!"

"Because it was taken!"

"What would you have me do?"

"There is a debt to be paid. I shall have one of her son's eyes in return."

Rhaenrya moved her children behind her as the room began to murmur to themselves. "You will do no such thing."

"My dear wife—"

"He is your son, Viserys, your blood."

"Do not allow your temper to guide your judgment, it is over."

Still wanting revenge, Alicent demanded her sworn protector, Ser Criston, to take Luke's eye. That also did not work as the king was against it. In a fit of rage, Alicent snatched Viserys' Valyrian steel dagger and charged for Luke herself.

Visella hugged her younger brother to protect him as he screamed in fear. Thankfully, their mother stopped Alicent from coming any closer. For a moment, mother whispered something to the Queen, but Ella couldn't make out what was said. The Queen slashed Rhaenrya's wrist as she moved the blade away, causing blood to come out.

After Alicent back away with the dagger, Rhaenrya stayed where she was, unable to move in shock. Daemon stood to her right while Lord Corlys stood to her left. Luke squeezed between Rhaenrya and Daemon, holding her wrist, hoping to stop the blood.

Silence came over the room, until Aemond spoke. "Do not mourn me, mother," he said softly. "I may have lost an eye, but I gained a dragon. A fair exchange." He laid his head against his mother's chest, comforting her, when he was the one with an injured eye.

"This proceeding is at an end," said Viserys in a threatening tone. He looked over at Aemond, then Visella. "There's only one way to solve this." He announced. "My sweet granddaughter, Visella, will marry my son, Aemond."

"What?" Rhaenrya, Alicent, and their two children asked in unison.

Daemon chuckled quietly, "oh shit!"

"I will allow our children, Aegon and Helaena to marry, as you have requested," the King told his wife, annoyed, "As your king, I command that Aemond will marry Visella, bringing this petty feud to an end, do you understand?" Alicent only gave a simple nod.

"But father—" Rhaenrya said, thinking of an excuse. "Visella— she hasn't even bled yet—"

"Do you understand as well, daughter?" He asked. She opened her mouth to say something, but sighed and nodded, "yes, father."

"Good." The King turned to leave the room. "When the times comes that Visella has bled, they will be married at once. She shall also come with us back to Kingslanding, as a ward for the time being."

Visella couldn't believe what her ears heard, no, this can't be real life. She glanced over at Aemond, still hugging his mother as he stared back at her. He showed no emotion whatsoever. He wasn't the Aemond she once knew anymore. I hate him, she told herself, I hate him and I always will!

"Well," Daemon said. "This just got interesting . . ."

Two children who were once friends became enemies. Just as their mothers expected. To add more fuel to the fire, they were betrothed enemies.