A Collection of Black (HOTD Oneshots)

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon...

Ser Harrold should have been by the king's side, protecting him as his duty, but the man found himself standing with Ser Harwin by Princess Rhaenyra as she tended to her injured children, her husband, Prince Consort Laenor, held little Luke and whispered soft nothings into his ear. Princess Rhaenys and Lord Corlys were standing close by with Ladies Baela and Rhaena being held by their father, Prince Daemon.

On the other side of the room, Prince Aemond was still being tended to by the Maester, his mother hovering by worriedly. Prince Aegon was leaning drunkenly against the hearth, and Princess Helaena was standing by herself, looking at nothing and muttering. The king was standing by Lord Hand Lyonel, putting most of his weight onto his cane. Ser Harrold was displeased to see Ser Otto whispering something into his ear, to which Lord Lyonel would whisper something back angrily.

The Kingsguard looked at the children, they were all bloodied and injured, Prince Aemond more so due to the wound on his eye.

The second son of the King had tried to claim Vhagar, just hours after the funeral of her previous rider. He snuck out under the cover of darkness, completely uncaring for how callous his actions would be perceived. But the dragon did not pay heed to the young boy, in fact, according to Lady Rhaena, Vhagar turned away from Prince Aemond. She did not choose him as her rider.

A fight broke out between the children, Rhaena and Baela confronted the Prince about how he tried to claim Vhagar on the day of Lady Laena's funeral.

"Aemond insulted Rhaena, mother," Jacaerys said to the Crown Princess, holding his little brother and Rhaena's hands. "He called her a bitch, said she was undeserving of Vhagar like Aunt Laena."

There was a murmur of outrage among the crowd, people glared at the young prince. Lord Corlys muttered angrily under his breath, glaring daggers at the boy who insulted his daughter on the day of her funeral.

"He called us bastards, kepa." Young Luke sniffled, holding onto his father's doublet as tears dripped from his bloodied face. "He-he said when he gained a dragon, he would burn us...! He said we could die screaming, like-like the bastards we are, because we are not true Targaryens..."

Ser Harrold gripped the pommel of his sword, knuckled turning white. Prince Laenor huffed angrily, holding Lucerys in his arms and burying his face in his chest. Princess Rhaenyra's face went cold, her eyes alight with rage. She stood to her full height, placing her children behind her, looking like a dragon.

"Father, this cannot go on." She said sternly, looking into her father's tired eyes. "You allowed me and my children to be insulted and humiliated in Kings Landing, you allowed your wife much more power and authority than she should have. No more! Vile insults were levied against my children, Prince Aemond tried to hit Jace in the head with a rock, and he threatened to kill them!"

Everyone was looking at Prince Aemond like he were vermin now, glaring at him with disgust and murmuring amongst themselves.

"Little beast."

"How could he hurt the sweet princes?"

"Maegor Come Again."

"Would-be Kinslayer."

The young prince withered under the insults, but kept a look of rage on his face, cleaned of the blood, but with his eyes sewn shut, never to be used again.

"I demand that Prince Aemond be punished." Princess Rhaenyra continued when her father did not speak. She spoke firmly, standing in front of her children to protect them from her half-siblings, from her stepmother.