CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
❛battle for the crown.❜

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EARLY 130 AC ⸻ Dragonstone ⸻

TODAY WAS the day.

The day that Rhaenyra spent sleepless nights thinking about. The day that Jacaerys and Basalia held each other tightly before parting ways. The day that Team Black readied themselves for war, while the Greens had no idea they were coming.

Dragon screeches echoed down upon King's Landing as they flew above ships, all proudly repping the Targaryen symbol for Rhaenyra. All ready to die for their Queen.

The unique sound of Caraxes chirping woke Aemond up abruptly. "Lyria!"

Lyria jolted awake, looking over to her husband rattled.

"They're here— you must go with Helaena and my mother." Aemond slung his feet over the bed, grabbing his clothes from the previous night and throwing them on.

Lyria could barely process before he tied his hair back in a messy top ponytail. "Aemond—"

Aemond rushed towards the bed, planting a single kiss upon her lips. "I love you, I will be back. Please," Aemond pleaded, kissing her hairline. "Find my mother." In one swift grab of his sword, he was out of the door.

Lyria jumped from her bed and wrapped her night robes around her, hurrying out of her room in a panic as the roaring was closer. Dragonstone was no far flight from King's Landing.

The castle was bustling with frightened people, even though they wouldn't admit it.

"Lyria, darling!" A fully dressed Alicent called out. Lyria studied her; she didn't seem worried or afraid. "Come!"

Lyria nodded, hurrying behind Helaena, her child, and Alicent as they made their way to Alicent's chambers.

"We will be safe here." Alicent added, shutting her door behind them.

"How do you know?" Lyria questioned, to no answer.

⸻

It took no time before Rhaenyra, Daemon, Genevieve, Rosyn, Jacaerys, and others were let into the castle walls.

"You all go this way, Daemon and I will make our way to Aegon." Rhaenyra demanded, giving her eldest son a look mixed with worry and pride before they parted ways.

"And how do we know Alicent is truthful?" Daemon questioned, unsheathing Dark Sister.

Rhaenyra didn't answer, gripping the sword she wielded tighter. Daemon was right in questioning her, and she was grateful for not being questioned in front of anyone else. Alicent could be lying. This could be a trap. But, they were let into the gate quite easily. So, Rhaenyra decided to be hopeful.

A round of guards came rushing around the corner, coming to a halt as they were met with the fiery Targaryen couple. Everyone froze for a moment as the guards fought an inner battle.

"Fuck this." Daemon spat, charging at the guards with Dark Sister with a fiery passion.

Rhaenyra and Daemon cut their way through the guards, making their way towards Aegon's rooms. Where Alicent told them they were.

They didn't cut through many more guards before they entered the room. It held Larys, Maerella, and Aegon.

Noticing their entry, Larys left in a hurry, fleeing.

"Move over, Mae." Daemon spoke, standing in front of his queen protectively. Rhaenyra peeked through his shoulder to see someone who she viewed as a daughter, shield the man who usurped the throne.

Maerella stood to her feet slowly, side stepping in front of Aegon. "I will not let you touch him."

"Mae, please..." Rhaenyra pleaded, "This does not have to involve you."

A single tear shed down Maerella's face as she looked at her father, her stance not faltering. "I love you, Aegon."
She whispered.

Aegon mumbled pleadings, but they were not heard as he had taken his daily milk of the poppy. Per Alicent's request.

"Mae." Daemon warned to no avail.

"Father, I have made my decision. You will not harm me, I know it." Maerella spat back.

Rhaenyra inched closer, her hands raised outwards as if she were pleading silently. Daemon smirked, "Oh? Won't I?"

Maerella gulped, swallowing the fear she felt.

"Aegon," Daemon began, stepping closer towards her. As each foot fell to take a step, it felt like he was stomping around in her head. "Usurped the throne, you foolish child." Giving Maerella no time to argue, he continued on. "He does not love you— He is married to Helaena. There will not be an out for him unless Helaena dies."

Maerella switched her weight to her right foot. She loved Aegon, but she also adored Helaena.

"I will lay my life down for my Queen. I will fight to the death for my Queen." Daemon noted, inching forward. "Would you for that cunt you call a lover?"

"Father—"

Daemon chuckled, "And now he sits in that bed, burnt to a crisp, and you still stay."

The silence grew around them as Rhaenyra spoke up, "Maybe we should—"

"You are no child of mine while you sit and defend that cunt."

Maerella grabbed a dagger from the insides of her skirt, lunging towards Rhaenyra just before her fathers sword entered her gut. Rhaenyra gasped, jumping back.

Maerella looked up to Daemon, who did not meet her eye. He only pushed her off the blade, letting her body drop to the floor.

"Daemon." Rhaenyra spoke, her voice barely above a whisper as she meant to check on him.

Daemon did not falter as he headed straight towards Aegon, who could not put up a fight if he tried.

Aegon welcomed death.

Daemon sliced his head from his neck, looking towards the door as steps running in got his attention.

"Uncle." Aemond smirked. "Sister."

Rhaenyra, hearing his voice from behind, began to shake with anger as it prickled its way up her spine. Images of Luke ran through her mind. Daemon lunged at Aemond, battling fiercely through their swords.

Rhaenyra's hearing rang. Fire boiled her blood. Her vision was red.

Turning on her heel, she looked towards Aemond. "You took the life of my son."

Aemond spat at her as Daemon found the upper hand before Aemond found words.

Knocking his sword from his hand, Daemon looked at Aemond, knocking him over on his back. Aemond crawled for his sword before Daemon chopped his hand off.

Aemond screamed, causing Rhaenyra to smile wickedly. "I will not stop until everything you cherish is ruined."

Before Aemond could argue, or plead, Rhaenyra practically threw her sword on his head, severing it.

Daemon looked towards his wife with a wicked smile.
"My Queen." Taking a knee, he bowed his head towards her. Pushing the trauma back from killing Maerella, he attempted to put it past him for now. Processing his emotions would come later, if it ever came.

"Let us go find the others." Daemon nodded, coming to his feet to head towards the main hall.

As they arrived in the main entry, bodies were littered throughout the small entry. "Jace..." Rhaenyra gasped, looking over the bodies.

She noticed Genevive perished in the battle. Rhaenyra let out a sorrowful sigh as she bent down, closing her eyes, whispering her love.

"Throw her in the dungeons," Rhaenyra heard a voice spat. "My wife will deal with her."

Rhaenyra came to her feet, finding out the voice belonged to Jacaerys as he pushed Lyria towards a guard.

"Jace!" Rhaenyra beamed, rushing to her son to embrace him.

"We did it," Jacaerys breathed. "We took your throne back."

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