-Chapter 142-
-POV Aemon Targaryen-
"How dare you?" said my uncle.
I stifled a small mocking smile, sensing the indignation in his tone, while observing the throne room around me, which hadn't changed one bit but now seemed more... ancient.
Less striking.
Less powerful.
'More... dull,' I thought before resting my gaze on my uncle, who, armed with Blackfyre, looked at me furiously but no longer had the slightest ounce of majesty.
'Just like him,' I thought, looking at the weak old man who was still trying to wear a crown that was clearly far too wide, but most importantly, far too heavy for his head.
"What really angers you, my uncle?" I asked as I advanced, hands crossed behind my back, genuinely interested in hearing his point of view.
"That I imprisoned Otto Hightower?" I asked after a few seconds, then continued with several other questions:
"Your former friend? The father of your Queen? Or that you never had the courage to do it yourself?"
"I do not allow you to—"
"Allow me to do what exactly… Viserys?"
He froze, narrowing his eyes upon hearing how I had addressed him, but he said nothing.
He didn't need to, as the Kingsguards all took a step forward, their hands on the hilts of their swords.
I found it so ridiculous that I couldn't suppress my laughter, a mocking but deeply amused laugh that came from the depths of my gut.
ROAR OF URRAX
The guards turned their heads and looked back as they felt the ground tremble, and Viserys called out to me:
"Aemon!"
"It's nothing, Urrax is simply here to get his dinner," I said, amused, watching the Kingsguards who looked panicked but struggled against their fear to avoid losing face.
I shook my head and took a step forward. All the guards half-drew their swords, challenging me with their eyes to take another step forward. And that is exactly what I did.
At the same moment, Urrax also advanced, and given Urrax's weight and size, everyone felt it.
ROAR OF URRAX
"Aemon!!" Viserys said in a more urgent tone.
ROAR OF VERMITHOR
ROAR OF URRAX
"You are not addressing the right person," I said, sensing through my bond with Urrax that Vermithor in the sky was beginning to rumble.
'The bond between dragons and their riders is truly incredible,' I thought, still not fully understanding it, even though I had made great progress in this aspect over the past four years of calm.
ROAR OF VHAGAR
"It seems even Vhagar is getting involved," I said as I continued advancing, not the least bit worried, as this was merely Viserys' way of regaining control.
'He has done this so many times with Daemon that he thinks it will have an effect on me,' I told myself, knowing exactly why he was doing this.
'But more importantly, why I wouldn't give in,' I thought, determined to impose myself brutally, but most importantly, completely.
'I will break your spirit until you become nothing more than a wreck incapable of making a decision without me,' I thought, continuing to advance, picking up my pace.
Until I was face to face with a guard who stepped aside once Viserys was forced to say:
"Leave us alone."
I waited for the Kingsguards to leave the throne room before I began ascending each step of this cursed throne for which everyone fought.
Once at the top, standing less than a meter from Viserys, who had sat back down and whom I towered over, I said:
"I thought we had agreed to live in peace."
"I thought so too, until I discovered what you did," Viserys said, referring to the court episode.
I said naturally:
"I imprisoned these people because I suspect them all of being traitors. If they have done nothing, they will naturally be freed. However, if it turns out that they have committed reprehensible acts, they will be punished according to the King's law."
"And in your great benevolence, you will obviously present yourself as the sole and only judge of this tribunal, won't you?" he said sarcastically before continuing in the same tone:
"To be able to impartially judge every person who stands before you."
I briefly shook my head and said:
"Actually, no, that was not my plan."
"Then what was your plan? Because I no longer understand you!" Viserys said, pressing for an answer.
I wanted to explain what I had planned, but in the end, I realized it wasn't worth it.
Facing my silence, his anger faded a few moments later.
"You told me you did not come to prove his guilt to have him executed," he said in an exhausted tone before asking me:
"Did you lie to me?"
For a second, I felt pity for this man who was only in his forties but looked at least twenty years older.
'He is exhausted,' I observed.
"Perhaps," I finally said, crushing any ounce of guilt I might have felt toward him.
'He never had any for me,' I reminded myself, recalling everything that had happened before we reached this situation.
Every time he had to sacrifice me for his own benefit and that of his children, he did so without hesitation.
'And that since my birth,' I thought, remembering certain words Viserys had once said about me when I was still a child.
At one time, he constantly complained to Grandmother as well as Jaehaerys about the insecurities he had filled his wife's head with by always demanding more from her… Until it killed her.
'Then I will do the same,' I thought, freezing my heart to its core.
"You also told me that you would do your best for this family," he asked, looking me straight in the eyes:
"Was that a lie as well?"
I remained silent because I knew exactly what I meant by 'family,' and not all those who bore the name Targaryen were included, just as many people with different names had earned their place in 'My' family.
"You have just led us all down an extremely slippery slope," he said before adding:
"I hope you understand what you're doing because beyond yourself, this could impact your children."
I slightly narrowed my eyes when he mentioned my children, but I responded in the same tone I had used before:
"I have already taken all necessary measures for them, and I dare anyone to try to harm them. That would trigger…"
I left my sentence hanging for a few seconds, unable to find the exact words that could accurately represent and express the anger and fury that would explode if anyone ever harmed my children.
Then I said very simply, but with a cold gaze:
"To be honest, I don't even know what I would be capable of doing. However, what I do know for certain is that no one, and I mean absolutely no one in the known world, would want to see that side of me. That, I am sure of."
"We shall see," said Viserys.
I didn't know if it was a warning or a threat, but if anyone tried to harm my children today, I would wish them luck.
I had just locked up nearly all the court's spies in the black cells, and aside from the Faceless Men of the House of Black and White in Braavos, a successful infiltration would now be far more difficult.
'Not to mention the hundreds of knights now stationed in the Red Keep, replacing the knights of House Targaryen, who would operate outside the castle to maintain order in the capital. Because I was going to destroy all the rotten foundations of the dynasty Jaehaerys had built, which was on the verge of collapsing within a decade before disappearing entirely in less than two centuries.'