Aemond and Maegella were taken to her chambers shortly after the King's dismissal, each given a sleeping draught to help ease them into the land of dreams. Camilla sat in a chair by the edge of the bed, watching her children sleep. The Queen probably would have fallen asleep there if not for one of her ladies in waiting entering the room.
"Prince Daemon, Your Grace." Sedna announced.
Daemon entered the room, his tall frame towering over Camilla's ladies in waiting as they fled the room. He stopped by the foot of the bed, gazing down on the sleeping Prince and Princess.
"How are they?"
"Aemond has been blinded and Maegella is disfigured. The maester says they will experience lifelong pain due to their injuries." Camilla sighed, her finger brushed against Aemond's cheek. "Why have you come, Daemon?"
Daemon ignored her question, staring at the two sleeping children. "Daenyra has grown to be quite beautiful, and Daemion is a handsome boy. Soon my brother will marry them off."
"That is the way of things," Camilla stood from her seat, pressing a kiss to Aemond's forehead and turning to face Daemon. "My husband told me he offered you a place in his court and you refused, Why?"
Daemon chuckled, it was dark and devoid of emotion. "What is there for me in the Red Keep?"
"I am there, my children are there."
"Do you think I wish to watch your marriage to my brother? Watch him raise my children as his own? Stand by, unable to care for them for fear the realm will find out the truth."
"When have you ever feared what the realm thought?"
"Since my life is not the only one at risk." Daemon sighed. "It is difficult enough that I know of their existence. That I know my brother doesn't care for them, care for you as I would. To witness it would be a fate worse than death. To be forced to watch you wilt under my brother. I can't do it. I would end up killing my own brother. It is best if I stay away."
"Best for who? Definitely not me or my children." Camilla grabbed his hand, pulling him closer so he would face her. "Look at what my life became without you. I am forced to raise my children for their inevitable slaughter when Rhaenyra comes to power. My life is a tragedy."
"And what do you think of mine by comparison?"
"I know little of it, besides you have left me behind and married and had daughters." It was silent for a moment as Camilla and Daemon gazed at each other. "Did you love her?"
"We were happy enough."
"That is a blessing most do not have. I have not felt true happiness since before my Aunt's death. The only thing that comes close our my children, and even then it is tainted with fear for their futures. "
"Rhaenyra will not kill your sons."
"She has already stolen my son's eye," Camilla hissed, before softening her approach. She squeezed Daemon's hand, gazing up at him through her lashes. "Our son's eye."
"Aemond..."
Camilla merely nodded. "Come back to the Red Keep, protect me and our children. Be their father."
"My brother-"
"Is ill, Daemon. He will not live for long." Camilla stepped closer. She lifted a hand to the side of his face, holding him as her thumb stroked his cheek. "When the day comes we shall bind our blood, like Aegon the Conqueror did with his sisters. Just as we should have done years ago."
Daemon wrapped his arms around Camilla, pressing his forehead against her own. Camilla's eyes fluttered closed at the feeling of being so close to him. She had missed his touch more than she cared to admit.
★・・・・・・★
The carriage steadily rocked side to side as the wheels drove over the uneven cobble road leading to the docks. Camilla sat across from her husband, her youngest sleeping peacefully in her arms. Her gaze remained solely on Monterys, ignoring Viserys' presence.
"You are cross with me."
"Of course I am." Camilla responded, though she refused to look at her husband.
"You would you have me cut out my grandson's eye?"
"I would have you care for all your children," Camilla turned, pinning Viserys with a sharp glare. "Not only Rhaenyra and her sons."
"She is my daughter, my heir."
"Maegella is your daughter," Camilla argued. "The maesters say she will never smile again, not fully. And not that that would matter to you, I don't believe you've ever spent enough time with her to even see her smile."
"Camilla-"
"Do you know that Aemond takes after you in your love for history. He reads anything about Old Valyria in hopes that you might wish to speak about it. Daemion has a mind for strategy, he spends hours around a tactical map challenging lords and knights alike to defeat his campaign. Daenyra enjoys singing, she has such a sweet voice but it is difficult to catch her in the act. As soon as she notices you she clams up. Aegon only wishes to feel loved, but I worry his mind will never allow him peace. Helaena enjoys walks through the gardens, she has created plans with the Head Gardener to designate a small area for beehives. And you have never spent a moment with Monterys, I fear he doesn't even know he has a father."
Viserys was silent for a moment, processing his wife's words. "I suppose you are right, I will make a greater effort to know our children. But I will not take Lucerys' eye, nor will I strip him of his titles."
"Viserys-"
"We will speak no more of it." Viserys dismissed his wife with a wave of his hand.
★・・・・・・★
The ship swayed back and forth as it sailed through the Blackwater Bay. Camilla stood against the side watching as six dragons carrying all but one of her children flew overhead. Camilla had been hesitant to allow Maegella or Aemond to fly back to King's Landing, but Daemon had offered to join them on Caraxes and watch over them.
The tap of a cane against wooden floorboards alerted Camilla of another presence. The Queen tore her eyes away from the sky, turning to face Lord Larys.
"A perversion of justice. The young Prince and Princess defiled, an outrage."
"Indeed."
"If it's an eye you want to balance the scales, I am your servant."
"An eye alone will never be enough, Lord Larys."
"Just speak the words, my Queen and I shall deliver."
"That is not necessary." Camilla turned to face the man. "Your devotion has not gone unnoticed, but the moment is not right."
"These are dangerous times. "
"The day will come when I require a friend with not only skill but discretion as well."
"I shall await your call, my Queen."
An unsettling grin spread across Camilla's lips. Soon the day would come and she would take all Rhaenyra holds dear. She would make Rhaenyra pay for taking her son's eye and scarring her daughter's face. Camilla would force Rhaenyra to watch as pieces of her sons were taken. She would relish in Rhaenyra's cries of anguish as she could do nothing to stop it.
She looked back towards Driftmark, High Tide now nothing but a speck. It would be wise for House Velaryon to side with Camilla in the upcoming war. If they didn't she would rain fire down on the island, burning everyone and everything. They would pray to the sea to save them but even a rising tide would be no match for Camilla's furry. She would set the Blackwater bay on fire to get her way.
AN: Camilla's entering her mad queen era
-Ele