Haunted // Aegon Targaryen

7. Savages

''They made wings for it, apparently, and a tail.'' Alicent remarked.

''The lad shouldn't have been so credulous.'' Viserys told her nonchalantly.

''He's a child." Alicent reminded him

''He thought they'd happened upon some wild unnamed dragon and lured it to the Dragon pit?'' Viserys countered with a laugh.

''Your grandsons are a menace.'' Alicent spat.

''They're more children than he is.'' Viserys assured.

''Th-They're savages. And it's not surprising.'' Alicent muttered swirling her drink in her hand

''Are you sure it wasn't our Aegon who put them up to it?''

''It's a wonder to me their eggs ever hatched.''

''And why is that?'' Viserys asked innocently.

''You know why.'' Alicent hissed.

''I'm afraid I don't.''

''Don't!'' Alicent inhaled a tight breath before letting it out ''Viserys.''

''We shall continue this afternoon, Eddard.'' Viserys declared and he nodded moving away from the replica he was creating and heading out.

''I have raised this matter before and you forbade me to speak of it, so I held my tongue." Alicent reminded him and Viserys sighed. ''To have one child like that is a mistake, to have three is an insult, to the throne, to you, to House Velaryon and the match you battled so hard to make for her. Not to mention decency itself.'' Alicent told him stiffly. "And don't get me started on Vaera-'

"Don't you dare say one bad thing about my vaera." Viserys warned. "All my grandchildren are wonderful. Rhaenyra's boys and Vaera's girls. Perfect in every way."

"Vaera has disgraced the Lannister name as well." Alicent hissed.

"And you seem to enjoy disgracing mine." Viserys countered and Alicent opened her mouth but no words came out she stared at him open mouthed, appalled.

''I had a black mare once. Black like a raven.'' Viserys told her calmly. ''One day, she escaped her pasture and the neighboring stallion sired a foal on her. The stallion was as silver as the moon on a winter's night and the foal, when it was born, chestnut.'' Viserys told her with a chuckle ''Just the most unremarkable brown horse you ever saw. Nature is a thing of mysterious works. ''

'How do you know?" Alicent countered. ''The silver stallion. How do you know it was him? Did you witness the act itself?'' Viserys banged a hand down on the table silencing her, he wouldn't hear this again.

'The consequences of an allegation like the one you toy at would be dire." Viserys said with a deep sigh, his shoulders sagged as he turned away from her. ''Do not speak of this again''.

+

''Have I lost my sanity, Ser Criston? Do my senses lead me astray? Or is everyone else asleep, dreaming the same woolly dream?'' Alicent questioned as they walked

'Sometimes seems so, Your Grace.'' Criston agreed. But he loved Vaera, after all this time he loved her still and didn't want any harm to come to her girls.

'They flaunts the privilege and Rhaenyra's title and of her inheritance without shame. Rhaenyra expects everyone in the Red Keep to deny the truth our eyes can all plainly see. And the King, her father...'' Alicent sneered

''He knows.'' Criston offered cautiously.

''Of course, he knows." Alicent hissed ''Or did once, but has convinced himself otherwise. He'll do naught but make excuses for her. The Princess Rhaenyra is brazen and relentless. A spider who stings and sucks her prey dry. And his precious little Vaera the angel, the light of his life she can do no wrong.''