ᵈʳᵃᵍᵒⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ

˖⁺‧₊˚🪽.° ༘

[ the coronation ]

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

Alicent and Otto had turned away from Aemond and Helaena, watching as you approached them. The woman held a look of indecency, whilst Otto raised his fraying eyebrows at you. 

You had guts, he would give you that. To show up at the coronation of the new king in red? Well, you were surely sprung off the same branch as your calculating father. 

Guards flanked either side of you on orders of their queen, guarding you from the feasting onlookers of King's Landing. Many held their hands out, wishing to touch just a sliver of your velvet gown, but you kept your gaze straight ahead on the royal family. 

You knew it would cause a brash disturbance upon your choice of color. But this was merely a statement. It wasn't a threat, or anything severe as to come off dangerous. It was merely a warning. Of what was to come. 

And Alicent knew that. 

Her lips pulled into a frown as you walked up the steps, pace slow and quite frankly, unnerving. Your eyes held a certain frightening gleam in them that she had never seen before. 

You came to a stop in front of her, the skirt of your dress held in your hands as you bowed. Hair pulled into an elaborate style, with glittering red pendants weaving through some of the tendrils, they complimented the deep red gown you wore. The neckline had a small plunge, and it fell around your shoulders, with long sleeves covering part of your hand. A golden belt sat loosely at your waist, whilst the skirting fell to the floor with a slight train.

"My Queen," you nodded, the woman offering a tiny and stiff smile. "I am sorry I could not heed to your wishes in mentions of my dress. Green is a beautiful color, but I find that red overcomes it in terms of..." You trailed off, and the woman's nose flared, before you grinned softly. "Well, I needn't bore you with my gown choices."

You walked away from her before she could speak, leaving her frowning deeply as her gaze stayed on where you once stood. You stopped beside Aemond, the boy watching you from the corner of his eye. The patch covering his sapphire did nothing to hinder his stare, before he spoke, "Red at my brother's coronation for the throne? You really are asking for it, byka sōvion."

"If I am 'asking for it' by wearing this gown, can you imagine what your mother is begging for with this crowning, my prince."

There was loud chatter in the hall as it continued to fill up with the citizens of the kingdom. Helaena stood by your side, mumbling to yourself before clapping at the sight of you, oblivious the clear tension between yourself and her brother. Criston stood on her other side, glancing at you before returning his eyes to the Queen.

Otto stepped forward, calling loudly, "People of King's Landing! Today is the saddest of days. Our beloved king... Viserys the Peaceful... is dead."

The crowd murmered in shock, whilst you lowered your head slightly. You were saddened when you had found out of his death. You didn't really gather at the fact when Aemond had told you, too caught up in the news of Aegon's coronation. He was nothing but kind to you in your stay at the castle. You visited him once with Rhaenyra, the man croaking out a greeting when he saw you. He had taken one of your soft hands into his own decaying grip, stroking your palm softly as he mumbled his congratulations to you on your betrothal to his grandson.

"But it is also the most joyous of days... for as his spirit left us... he whispered his final wish: that his firstborn son, Aegon... should succeed him!"

Once again, their were mumbles and talk from the people. You seethed in your spot, clutching at your own fingers in a pitiful hold on them. Following the murmurs of confusion, applause soon sounded from the crowd, excited at the prospect of a new ruler.

"Guards!" the commander yelled. 

An onslaught of soldiers marched rapidly through the hall, separating people into an aisle as they ordered, "Out of the way! Move!

"Halt!... Turn!" The guards followed the commands, stationing themselves to face their partners. Then, horns blared, the music ringing out through the entire hall. "Present... arms!"

The horns came to a stop, leaving an echo as the soldiers raised their swords high into the air, the metal clanging against each other, forming an archway through the aisle.

Aegon stepped out from the corridor, dressed in all black with a monotone scowl painting his features. Sewn into the tunic was the Targaryen emblem, whilst a cape shifted behind him as he stepped down the stairs. With each step he took, the guards behind him would pull the swords back down, a sharp sound following the movement. He glanced behind him, before looking forward again as he continued his path.

Aegon looked impassive, eyes holding nothing but... well, nothing. He never wanted to be king, and yet, here he was, walking to receive his crown and to govern over these slobs of a society. Was his father laughing down at him from above? Was he the blunt of a common joke?

"It is your great, good fortune and privilege to be here to witness this!" Otto shouted. "A new day for our city... a new day for our realm. A new king... to lead us."

Aegon looked up when he came to the stairs leading towards his family. His mother stared at him, hands placed at her low stomach as she watched him approach her. 

Otto stepped back, head lowered into a bow, whilst Alicent moved forward. Her fingers moved to his cold cheeks as she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. She placed her hand to his back, leading him over to stand in front of the Septon, glancing at his grandfather, who stepped forward.

Otto only lowered his head slightly, and Aegon slowly fell to his knees as the man walked to the side. One of the helpers handed Septon Eustace a golden bowl, before he moved to stand in front of him. 

"May the Warrior give him courage," he spoke, dipping his thumb into the bowl, before stroking it against Aegon's forehead, revealing a transparent streak of oil. "May the Smith lend strength to his sword and shield. May the Father defend him in his need. May the Crone lift her shining lamp and light his way to wisdom."

You and Helaena watched her brother-husband, whilst Aemond looked straight ahead, jaw clenched tightly. The Septon turned away, handing the bowl back to his helper before retrieving the dark grey crown. Criston stood in front of the Septon as the old man held the crown to him. 

"The crown of the Conqueror, passed down through generations," Criston yelled, standing in front of Aegon. The boy breathed out deeply, shaking slightly as Criston placed the crown on his wavy white hair. 

Aemond finally found it in himself to look at his brother, only to glare at him from his spot. He did not deserve this. You were right, of course. His brother was not fit to be king. But that didn't mean his half-sister was either.

"Helaena," you whispered, the girl continuing her muttering. You reached down, clasping her hand in yours, and she hushed her voice.

"Let the Seven bear witness: Aegon Targaryen is the true heir to the Iron Throne."

Aegon blinked rapidly at the sound of mutters through the crowd, standing up as he watched the Septon and Criston nodded their heads to him in respect. 

He moved his gaze to you and his siblings, finding Helaena looking away whilst his brother merely stared at him. His mother curtsied, making the boy look to his brother and wife once again. Helaena gulped but repeated the action of her mother and Aemond nodded.

"Bow," the boy whispered close to your ear, watching as Aegon slightly tilted his head at you.

You didn't answer, instead looking the king dead in the eye as you raised your head even higher.

"All hail His Grace, Aegon, Second of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."

The bells tolled, filling the void of silence before Criston yelled, "Aegon the King!"

There was scattered applause from the crowd, before screams of excitement filled the hall, the audience clapping for their new king.

Aegon looked around the hall, eyebrows lifting slightly in surprise at the loud sound resonating off the stone walls. He was recieving more love from people he didn't even know then any he had recieved from his mother.

To test out the waters, Aegon unsheathed his sword as he stepped forward, before throwing his arm up, the weapon high in the air. This caused the cheers to increase, and Aegon found himself smiling as he held his arms out in glory.

"Aegon the King!"

"Long live Aegon!"

Alicent allowed a tight grin to pull at her lips, whilst yours formed into an angry scowl. Helaena looked away, focusing on the beading on the shouldering of your dress when all of a sudden, a loud clamor sounded from the center of the hall.

Looking forward, your eyes widened when the floor split open from the middle, rocks shooting from the ground as the people rushed to get away. 

You heard the roar of a dragon, a gasp escaping you as you recognized it to be Meleys.

"Rhaenys," you whispered, taking a step back as another rumble waved through the ground. 

You felt a hand steady look, snapping your gaze to Aemond, finding him watching ahead with a glare, though his arms tightened around your waist to keep you from stumbling. He moved forward slightly, holding his hand out in front of both you and his sister.

The dragon roared, and it seemed that the sound battled against the volume of the terrified screams from the crowd, civilians scrambling to get out of the hall in fear of the dragon. And whoever was riding it.

Through the dust clouds that shrouded the chamber, you squinted your eyes at the sight of an outlined figure through the bright light casting in from the large, double doors of the entrance.

Rhaenys tilted her head as Meleys walked forward. You gulped at the sight of the menacing dragon, and Otto screamed out to the soldiers, "Open the doors!"

The white-haired woman glanced over her shoulder, watching as the doors only continued to close, the Hand repeating in a shout.

"Get the girls!" Alicent ordered Criston, who stood in front of her protectively. She shoved past him, rushing to Aegon, keeping her gaze on the princess. 

You glanced over, finding the queen's guard running towards you and Helaena. Aemond glared at the man, coming to stand in front of you whilst Criston stood in front of his older sister.

Alicent held onto Aegon's arm as she planted herself in front of him as Meleys and Rhaenys came closer. The dragon-rider stared at the queen and new king, nostrils flaring and lips thinning as Alicent let out a shaky breath.

Suddenly, the red-haired woman closed her eyes, casting her head downwards as she awaited her fate.

She flinched at the sound of Meleys screech, bracing against the dragon's breath as it washed against their faces and bodies, ears practically bleeding at the sound.

You found yourself huddled into Aemond's chest, the boy looking away from the dragon as he raised his hand to your ear, covering it whilst the other was pressed to his shoulder.

Alicent snapped her gaze to Rhaenys when the shriek came to an end, eyes wide as the woman merely leaned forward, the dragon soon turning around. 

You let out a shaky breath as Rhaenys stared at you for a moment, eyes scanning your red-clad body before smirking slightly. You couldn't help but return it, even though you were shivering in your place.

Within a moment, Meleys was running out of the hall, and soaring into the air, leaving the royal family trembling. 

This was not Rhaenys' fight. This act was a chance to show her power, and to display her mercy. As Alicent once came to the woman to beg for support, Rhaenys hopes to the Gods that her message is as clear as the Driftmark Oceans:

No more bloodshed.

But oh, how wrong she was.