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saltandfire-blog · 11 days

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Salt and Fire

Summary: Lucerys Velaryon belongs to both sea and sky. His whole life he has tried to prove his blood runs thick with not just fire but salt, despite the scandalous accusations that have haunted him and his brothers. Aemond Targaryen is nothing but fire, and before their families tore them asunder, his nephew was one of the few people he did not scorch. History books would have you believe the green and black children of House Targaryen grew up enemies, but before eyes and loyalties were slashed, there was once devotion between the two second sons. As boys grow into men, it is easier to repay an injury, because forgiveness is a burden and revenge a pleasure.

Chapter Thirteen

what shined so brightly now destroys me

Orwyle had his own rooms in the tower of the rookery and Aemond stared into his lit hearth that reminded him of the one he had sat beside while everyone gathered from Driftmark to peer at his torn open face. Fire numbed him, It helped him disassociate from having to look at his father glaring angrily at him. The licks of it's flames and the pop of the logs were a much more comforting sound while his mother and the Grand Maester discussed his wound and it's treatment in the background of his thoughts.

Some days when he wasn't expecting it, certain reminders dragged him away from wherever he was and back to the caves below High Tide.

Shouts and screaming grew louder.

Whenever he saw the knife in his mind, he still remembers how the stones in it's hilt reflected off the torch lights and his hand would always clench, blindly seeking the rock he had found in the dirt.

He remembered it's weight and jaggedness when he held it, even long after he'd dropped it in that cave.

“Aemond?”

His mother's voice pulled him back when he almost shivered, still able to feel the trickling of his blood rushing down his face.

He hadn't noticed his mother and Orwyle had stopped speaking and were staring.

“Sorry,” he mumbled meekly.

His mother looked concerned while Orwyle repeated himself, “I was saying, My Prince, I must implore your rides on your dragon should cease until you are entirely healed.”

“Orwyle says this new swelling is concerning,” Alicent told him,

“If we are not diligent with keeping the Prince's wound clean, infection will set in, Your Grace.”

Hearing he could not fly Vhagar immediately had him bristling.

“You said if it was tightly bandaged it would be acceptable.”

“That may be –”

“Yesterday you were gone half the day,” his mother interjected, her own voice growing severe. “While on Vhagar, when was it you changed your bandages?”

“I came here immediately once I returned…”

“Yes My Prince, and the dressings were much more soiled than should be – ”

“You can't keep me from Vhagar,” he interrupted, his temper beginning to flare with impatience.

Aemond knew where this was leading. His mother had already begged him before, but he refused to slacken on his still incipient bond with Vhagar.

“I do not intend to,” she urged, softening as she could no doubt see him completely shutting any further advise from consideration. “Perhaps she can guard your life that you so ceaselessly insist on endangering better then I, but this is only a temporary price you must pay to continue to ride her and must follow the maester's instructions until you are fully healed.”

“I thought I'd already paid my price for her.”

Cont. A03

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saltandfire-blog · 2 months

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Lucerys Velaryon x Aemond Targaryen

Salt and Fire

Chapter Twelve

disarm.

Driftmark was only half a day's journey from it's neighboring island with the winds as strong as they were. Arrax and Vermax flew above the Sea Wyrm's sails, staying close their whole time at sea that Luke wondered if his dragon could feel his festering dread and anxiousness building the closer they sailed. When they arrived by midday, Luke saw they were immediately met with a startling amount of ships in their grandfather's harbors than he had ever seen before. The island's docks and shipyards were filled with the Sea Snake's entire fleet, Luke noted, spotting Queen Rhaenys easily as the largest galley, along with the Sea Snake and the Pride of Driftmark. Seeing the Harridan, Bold Laughter, and Morning Tide all present as well confirmed each of his grandfather's brothers must have arrived back to the island as well, and even though he had of course prepared for them, his heart sunk with disappointed most of all when he spotted the True Heart, already dreading having to see Vaemond and his sons. Though seeing Spicetown Girl and the Seahorse at least assured him all his friends would be here as well. Other sails announced the attendance of other houses who had also come to pay their respects, Luke recognizing the swordfish of Sharp Point, the two black wings of House Staunton, and the red crabs of the Celtigars.

It was Qarl Correy who steered them steadily through the shipyard, the man handling Laenor's carrack as if it were his own Luke thought irritably. When his mother informed them their father's friend would be in charge of sailing them on the Sea Wyrm, Luke hadn't caught his angry protest in time. His mother had watched him oddly, unsure where this sudden outburst against Ser Qarl had come from, and Luke had almost wanted to confide in her he didn't want to be anywhere near his father's friend. The man had been helping pack up the last of their belongings and had been striding past them on the beach during his outburst but had only glanced back briefly before ducking his head and carrying on with preparing the ship to embark. Rhaenyra had chided Luke's rudeness and asked where this sudden dislike of Ser Qarl had come from, but Luke only shrugged away and apologized, accepting the other knight captaining his father's ship without further protest so his mother would stop questioning him. She hadn't seemed pleased and he could see she meant to press him for further answers, but the time for her to leave on Syrax was approaching and he knew she still needed to see that Joffrey was completely settled with her maids and Gerardys before leaving so she had let him escape her but sharply mentioned they would speak more about it when they returned.

Thankfully, the gods had been kind enough to make the incredibly awkward trip across the Gullet brief. Their own sails on their father's carrack did not announce their arrival, and he preferred it that way until he realized his hopes were dashed the moment Arrax's cries from overhead reverberated across the port. Arrax descended like another cloud from the skies and circled familiarly around the shipyard, flying in between masts and Luke watched in concerned when he heard a few men shout as his dragon caused the riggings to rock. He tried to lull his dragon's excitement, feeling it flutter in his own chest gave him a sick feeling when his stomach was already in knots. Luke was reminded of his dragon's reputation amongst his grandfather's fleet and grinned to see his Arrax welcomed warmly with cheers and waves from former crew members who must have been apart of the seamen who had traveled with them from Dorne. A few men who had been pulling in nets even tossed up a few fish as he flew by, laughing and hooting at the young dragon who flapped by.

When they arrived, he could see the Sea Snake with his mother waiting for them as they were pulled in and anchored, and even though he was excited to see his grandfather, he was unsure how to greet him since his visit was for something particularly grim, especially for Corlys. Though when they disembarked, his grandfather was smiling widely, only faintly muted if he looked closely, and met them with a bone crushing embrace Luke was familiar with and found had missed very much.

“Grandfather,” he greeted, squeezing the Sea Snake back before the very tall older man kneeled down to get a look at Luke, who always felt himself want to initially flinch away. Being gone so long left him uncertain, but he had forgotten Corlys never failed to soothe any self-consciousness that gathered inside himself, his grandfather's expression nothing but beaming and only took in how much he was growing and not seeking to find what differences they so obviously had. It was then he saw just how alike the Sea Snake and his daughter were – had been – as he regarded Luke warmly and never batted an eye in his greetings, much like he remembered the Lady Laena had regarded him, kind and indiscriminately. Their grandfather patted Luke's shoulder heavily and ruffled his fingers through Jace's hair, regarding the boys just as warmly as he always had.

“I'm so sorry, grandfather,” Luke said, feeling a bit of emotion bubble in his voice that had Rhaenyra rest her hand against his back comfortingly.

“The gods at least show some reprieve and have sent you boys to help ease these times,” the Sea Snake smiled, but it was weighted and weak.

“There was no trouble across the Gullet?” their mother asked, stepping forward, her hand sliding across his shoulders gently, staring especially close at him.

“None, it was very short,” Jace assured her.

Luke glanced back at Ser Qarl who had jumped on the dock as well and was greeting other acquaintances that had come to help offload the ship. He searched longer and noted their father wasn't there.

His eyes flitted up when he felt his mother watching him.

“Your father is at High Tide,” she assured him, reading his thoughts somehow.

He was also worried about the troubled look that shadowed over both his mother and grandfather's faces at the mention of Laenor.

“Come, we’ll get your things ridden up. Let's get you lads settled in.”

When they rode to High Tide, Luke held onto these last moments before they arrived to the Sea Snake's seat, enjoying the ride back on the pale mares his grandfather had brought for them. The island’s air was thick like Dragonstone's, but the smell of sulfur was replace by the taste of salt when the tide rose so high and the waves crashed against the cliffs below and sprayed it's seawater into the winds. Glancing to Jace, he smirked quietly to himself when he saw his older brother pull his cloak tighter around himself as he squinted uncomfortably against the wind and knew Jacaerys found Driftmark cold and dreary. Luke didn’t mind it, and even if his grandfather's seat would force him to reside here some day, he found if based on the island by itself, he might even enjoy it.

Once they reached the castle, he was reminded of what else came with living here. Luke was used to it by now when he came to visit, but he could see his mother was not as her appearance grew drawn and austere when they were greeted by House Velaryon upon their arrival. With as enormous as Corlys had made the castle and as many rooms that were filled with his siblings, nephews, nieces, and even cousins, it was a considerably small party that greeted them on their arrival. Though Luke wouldn't deny he preferred most of his great-uncles and aunts weren't there to scowl at him anyways. Seeing Jommy Harte was amongst those who came to greet him, he dismounted his horse with a bit of more encouragement, though he knew he would not get to properly greet his friend until much later after all the formalities that came with his family. The person he was anxious to see almost as much as Aemond was also standing in the crowd to greet them as well. Rhaena could be seen standing with her sister and father, but when he offered her a small tentative smile, it hadn't been returned with as much vigor as usual. This was not been the opportunity to talk to her like he'd hoped.

Though he could care less about who had showed up and who hadn't when he didn't see his father there either.

Their first day, after they were settled in rooms his grandparents had set aside for them, there wasn't much time for anything else before his mother gathered them for that night's memorial. It wasn't until they all gathered in Driftmark's Sept were they finally joined by their father. Laenor greeted them, but Luke's relief to see him was quickly smoldered the second he smelled ale on his father's breath. It was obvious his father had sunk into his cups that day and was still clearly inebriated as he fumbled his steps and bumped into a few servants at the gathering afterwards. His mother was clearly exasperated and gave up suggesting Laenor go to bed after he made a scene and snapped loudly that he was not one of the children. After that, their father did not stay much longer and left his father's hall without wishing anyone goodnight.

Luke grit his teeth as he caught sight of Ser Qarl who had been standing at the edges of it all silently depart as well.

Eventually he found a moment with Rhaena. It was dark and he had left the hall to sit outside when he saw he had not been the only one seeking an escape. His cousin was sat alone on a marble stone benchseat, the torches outside blowing so wildly Luke was amazed that they could even remain lit.

“Can I sit with you?” he asked, hesitantly approaching.

He'd understand if she wanted to be alone, but that didn't mean it wouldn't devastate him. There was a reason Rhaena was his favorite cousin and he appreciated she didn't wish him away, nodding kindly for him to come join her even if her smile hardly curved the edges of her mouth.

They both sat beside each other but did not speak. If he weren't wracking himself for something to say, it might have been peaceful. If they weren't all gathered inside because Rhaena's mother was dead, it might have been beautiful, watching the waves crash against the rocks down below.

“I hate to parrot everyone else,” he finally said, “I'm sure everyone's told you how sorry they are.”

Rhaena turned from the sea to watch him, her face unchanged but her eyes danced across his face, searching for something from him.

“But I –” he winced just hearing himself, but could think of nothing else to say, “I wish I could give you more than condolences.”

Luke regretted himself immediately when he saw her lip tremble and her eyes suddenly well with tears, but before he could apologize, Rhaena leaned into him and he hurried to catch her, wrapping his arms around her as she sobbed into his shoulder. He could feel her body shake as she wept, and though he wished to help her, he had little to no experience comforting someone else’s tears, let alone a girls. He'd hugged his family countless times, and had even dragged Aemond into a few forced embraces throughout the years, but he'd never been close enough to others to embrace them while they cried.

Cont. A03

#hotd #house of the dragon #aemond targaryen #house targaryen #westeros #fanfiction #aemond targaryen fanfic #lucerys targaryen #aemond x lucerys #lucerys velaryon #lucerys valeryon #lucemond #lucerys velaryon fanart #luke velaryon #aemond targaryen fanfiction #aemond fanfiction #aemond one eye #hotd aemond

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