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Their fate will always be intertwined, whether it's in fued or in love
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The allegations and rumors about the future queen being a whore died down as quickly as it was brought up.
Him bearing his fourth child, that has a full Targaryen features, has been a scandal that the council started a petition to the Queen for an investigation; if it weren't for the Queen's hand reminding the council about the trial and how the outcome of the trial shows that Rhaenyra's sons are Laenor's son in name and blood.
The said trial that Lord Vaemond has requested has been his own downfall. Lord Vaemond has brought up the legitimacy of Rhaenyra’s son and a test to know if they are truly a Velaryon. A legend that has been written in the history of their house and the reason why they use the Seahorse as their house sigil: Male Velaryons can produce their own child with other Velaryons.
The Hall was quiet after Lord Vaemond requested that Princes Jaecarys and Lucerys join in bed that very moment, and after a week and one of them got pregnant, then they were true Velaryons. Rhaenyra was about to protest when Queen Alicent blocked her, instead suggesting that Prince Lucerys should be the one carrying since Prince Jacaerys is the future king.
Even though they tried to stop it, the trial was done with witnesses inside the room guiding the brothers on how it was done. And after a week, Prince Lucerys has shown symptoms that he is carrying, throwing Lord Vaemond’s claim for Driftmark down the gutter and the Lord in the darkest cell of the Keep.
Princess Rhaenys, though still loved her granddaughters, doted on Prince Lucerys, even supporting her now-acknowledged grandsons to inherit Driftmark. Queen Alicent also changed her treatment, now knowing that her friend’s children are not bastards and are true sons of Laenor, she has no objection to Rhaenyra being the future queen, but she heavily suggests that Prince Lucerys be married to Jaecarys as soon as possible so that the child will not be born out of wedlock and that Joffrey can inherit Driftmark.
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“What?” Prince Lucerys ask in shock when his brother tells him about Joffrey inheriting Driftmark. “Wait, no- What am I going to be then? Just a piece of furniture you have all used to prove our legitimacy?!”
Jace calms his brother, guiding him to their bed, “Luke, listen to me. You cannot lead Driftmark and be my queen at the same time. Being a mother to our child that you are carrying and our future children is already a heavy task; what more as the future Queen of Westeros?”
"Queen? What are you talking about?" Luke asks as he pushes his brother’s hand, but Jace's hands return to their previous position.
"You are carrying my child, our child; the council and mother, together with the queen, have decided that we will marry, and you are going to be my future queen."
Luke scoffs, standing up to leave the room. "I'm not a woman. I cannot and will not be your Queen. I refuse."
"You cannot refuse fate, brother. The child in your womb is proof."
Luke angrily squeezed the door. "I am your brother, and I will not marry you. I refuse!”
“You cannot refuse me!”
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That night, Luke finds comfort in the arms of the last man he thought he'd feel safe.
Aemond finds a crying Lucerys in the pit; having been forbidden to ride Arrax, Lucerys can only find comfort by being near his dragon.
They didn't talk, and there was no need for words as they understood each other. Aemond lost his eye, and Lucerys lost his freedom.
Aemond is now filled with pity seeing his nephew with a bump in his stomach, crying about everything that is happening. He offered the only thing he knew he could offer, wrapping his arms around just like how Helaena hugged him and Luke, who immediately returned it with so much enthusiasm.
It has become a routine with the two that they quickly started to form a bond that quickly turned into a forbidden relationship.
“Now I understand what my uncle felt.” Aemond laughs as he caresses Luke’s face, “Like an ocean longing for the moon whom they can only touch for a brief moment of time.”
Luke sadly laughs as he kisses Aemond’s scar.
“Tomorrow, I’ll accept King Daemon’s offer of being the captain of the City Watch. Because if I don’t, your brother will throw me to Oldtown, never to be seen again.”
“Do you think they know?”
Aemond pushes Luke’s hair and tucks it behind his ear, “Uncle most certainly does, but I think he approves in his own little way. Your brother might, but his devotion towards you blinds him.”
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They were never careless, they knew the ways, but that night Prince Jaecarys ordered Prince Aemons to be on the frontlines, and knowing that he might not return, their safe lovemaking became a feral one.
And now Lucerys is cradling his newly born child, tears flowing down his face as he tries to sing a lullaby.
“What should we name him?” Jaecarys asks.
“Aemond,” Luke answers, fire burning in his eyes.
“A great name.” Jaecarys exclaims, “An honor to our fallen uncle.”
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King Jaecarys was a great king, but Targaryes carried madness in their blood one way or another. And Queen Lucerys knows the madness he has, one that will always hug him tight