Chapter 11
When Lucerys arrived back on Dragonstone, he slept for three days, only waking up long enough to get some water and a few bites of broth down before once again falling asleep.
Rhaenyra had worried over her son, but Gerardys continually reassured her the young prince would be fine. It was simply the prince's body and mind, after months of being under constant duress and vigilance, healing. He needed rest and this was simply the first step in healing. They would just need to wake him up to eat and drink what little he could throughout the day.
The new babes were put into cribs that rested in the room with Lucerys. Both were peaceful and happy pups that hated to be separated from their Kepa. Gods forbid they were taken out of the Prince's room because when they were carried over the threshold, both began to scream and wail until they were returned.
It was as if they knew something was wrong and were terrified about leaving Lucerys' side.
Jaehaerys and Jaehaera were constantly checking on Luke and their cousins with Little Aegon toddling behind them.
The three of them became fast friends, dodging their nurses and sneaking through the halls of Dragonstone. They played together, read together, and attended lessons together.
Joffrey ended up becoming the ringleader for the three of them and helped with any general chaos they wanted to get up to.
Helaena reacquainted herself with Jacaerys and, like her nephew Aegon, became fast friends with the twins. Or, fast friends with Baela, there seemed to be something more quickly forming between her and Rhaena.
She also became close to her uncle. They would have many conversations in the library when the twins were either down for a nap or asleep for the night.
Rhaenyra had given her sister the time and space she needed to settle herself and her children on Dragonstone, then the two began building the relationship both wished they had from the beginning. Though, it did confuse Jaehaerys and Jaehaera when they figured out that Rhaenyra was their uncle's mother and their mother's sister.
Because, if she was their mother's sister, that meant she was their aunt and Luke their cousin. But, he had married their mother's brother, which made him their uncle.
They didn't understand the full extent of the Targaryen family tree, but both of them made sure that it was well-known they loved their Uncle Luke and baby cousins either way!
Jacaerys, while waiting for Luke to be awake for more than a few minutes, spent most of his time in the training yard, using the dummies as an outlet for his anger. Baela joined him a few times and the two sparred until their arms were numb and their lungs struggling for breath.
Both were angry at what Aemond had done to their brother and wanted nothing more than to gouge out his remaining eye and shove him into the ocean. And if he was still alive, they'd drag him to their dragons.
But sadly, cooler heads, that later had to sit Joffrey down and make him promise the same as Baela and Jace, prevailed and they reluctantly agreed not to do any bodily harm to Aemond when he arrived. They did not promise to be polite.
Rhaenys and Corlys stayed on Dragonstone.
For the sake of the children, they set aside their grievances with Rhaenyra and Daemon, but there was still a barrier between them.
For Rhaenys and Corlys, it was the grief of their lost children keeping them distant.
For Rhaenyra and Daemon, it was a secret they desperately wanted to share, but could not for the promise of a friend.
But Luke? He seemed to get better.
The Omegan Prince kept himself in his chambers for the first few weeks, only moving from his bed to the chair at the window. He was attentive to his daughters, holding them in his lap and rocking their cradles, but there was always some lingering sadness in his eyes. And it got worse when he began nursing his daughters.
Sara, who had agreed to travel to Dragonstone and stay until they found a wetnurse for the babes or until Lucerys began to nurse the babes himself, and Rose helped settle his girls in his arms and position them against his chest.
He worried at first since his chest had only swollen a small amount, and it caused Luke to fear that he wouldn't be able to nurture his girls. But Gerardys, Rose, Abagal, Elinda, his mother, and Sara all reassured him that he needn't worry.
And since his daughters latched onto him with no hesitation and did not let go until they were full, it appeared that he had worried for nothing.
Sara and Rose cooed over the girls as they drifted off to sleep, but Lucerys stared out the window,
"You've been quiet for these last few days," His mother said as she gently rocked Aenyra while Aemma was nestled against him, "What are you thinking, Sweet Boy?"
What was he thinking?
Luke was thinking that there was something terribly wrong with him.
There was still that aching chasm at the pit of his chest where the love for his daughters should be.
He wanted to hold them, protect them, and shield them from what lurked in the darkness.
But he felt no love.
The emptiness in his heart had swallowed it.
Luke gently twisted one of Aemma's curls with his finger as she sucked on her hand and peered up at him. The dim light of the fire made her violet eye sparkle and her hazel eye darken, making it almost look like dragonglass in the shadows of the room.
He glanced over at Aenyra who had fixed her gaze on the rings his mother wore. Her tiny hand has flailing about as she tried grabbing one with a large gemstone. Rhaenyra shifted her hand and slid the ring down her finger, but kept a grip on it so that the pup wouldn't try to swallow it.
Luke knew he would never abandon his daughters, he could not imagine leaving them behind the way Aemond had. They were his children and Lucerys would rather die instead of leaving them.
But his heart was empty, and he could feel nothing.
He knew these pups would be better off with any other Omega taking care of them than him.
But he was selfish. Luke had already endured so much in order to bring them into this cruel world, they were his and he would not let them go!
But Luke felt nothing but emptiness,
"I can't believe it has almost been a month," Luke murmured instead of answering his mother's question, locking away the worries in his head.
One month.
One full turn of the moon.
Four weeks.
And by the next, Aemond would be here. What little safety Luke had begun to feel would disintegrate when Vhagar's roar shook the foundations of Dragonstone,
"They will be walking before you know it. Gods know you and your brothers went from crawling to running in the blink of an eye," Rhaenyra smiled at Aenyra who was still mesmerized by her ring.
Lucerys nodded, still running his finger over Aemma's hair as her eyes began to droop closed. He gently rocked her and shakily stood to carefully lay her in the crib. His youngest squirmed a bit when she was set down, but settled and drifted off to sleep, her breaths deepening as she descended into dreams.
He sat back down with a slight grunt as his legs trembled. It had been almost a month and still, Lucerys could not stand or walk without shaking and tired easily.
Gerardys said it was because of the circumstances of his delivery and the Red Walk. He said that Lucerys would regain full strength, but it would take time.
But, how much time did Lucerys have before Aemond demanded his daughters return to King's Landing? Until his husband found some small weakness and used it to convince the King that Aenyra and Aemma should be placed under his care?
Lucerys shuddered at the thought and held out his arms.
They trembled slightly as his mother set Aenyra in his grasp.
His oldest cooed and gurgled when she realized who was now holding her, and Lucerys almost managed a smile. He traced a finger over her cheek and the slight upturn of her nose as she began to settle against him.
That was another thing about the twins, they refused to fall asleep anywhere but their Kepa's arms. They could soundly sleep in their crib, but they would not fall asleep in it. Both would cry if put down for the night by another person and would refuse to settle until Lucerys had them both cradled to his chest.
As Aenyra joined her sister in the depths of sleep, Lucerys quietly asked,
"How do you do it? How did you do it?"
Rhaenyra tilted her head, "Do what?"
"This," He gestured between the pup in his lap and the one nestled in the crib, "Having children. I- You've done this four times and are about to do it for a fifth and I..." Luke trailed off as he stared at the crib.
Rhaenyra grabbed his hands and ran her thumb over the dry skin of his fingers. She briefly glossed over the fact he knew she was carrying another child, deciding to ask how he found out without her telling him later,
"I know I am not alone here. I know I have you, my siblings, everyone here, I just..." Luke closed his eyes as his vision blurred, "I saw what he could be like, what we could have had after they were born,"
"You and Aemond?" Luke nodded,
"He was kind and attentive. I never, feared him, during that time. I felt lo-" He cut himself off and looked away before continuing, "Now, I am just afraid. That he'll find something wrong, find out that something's wrong with me, and take them! I can't- He can't take them-" He shook with a harsh sob that caused Aenyra to squirm and whine with displeasure.
Lucerys quickly began to rock her, begging in whispers for her not to cry, saying that he was sorry, he did not mean to wake her up.
Aenyra settled again after a few moments and Rhaenyra gently took her granddaughter as Lucerys put his head in his hands.
His shoulders shook with silent cries that made him ache as his mother gathered him into her arms. She held him gently while repeatedly kissing his temple as he cried into her shoulder.
Her heart ached for her son and she desperately wished she could take the pain her son was feeling from him,
"Sweet Boy," She whispered while pressing a last kiss to his cheek before holding Luke's face in her hands, "I cannot fathom the pain you feel. To constantly fear someone you love-"
"I never said I loved him," Rhaenyra smiled sadly at Luke, as she grasped his hands,
"You did not need to. We all knew of your feelings when we visited King's Landing," He looked away but his mother ducked her head to keep in his line of sight, "There is no shame in what you felt,"
"Even after everything he's done?" Luke asked before shaking his head, "I don't want to. He's taken too much already I don't want to give him anymore! Not when it should be given to them,"
The last part was whispered as he looked to where his daughters were sleeping.
His daughters who should be loved.
Why couldn't he give that? Why did it have to be given to the man who no longer, or never, cared?
Why had he given Aemond so many things willingly, and left nothing for his daughters?
"Why can't I give anything to them?"
Lucerys cried himself to sleep that night in his mother's arms, the two of them nestled on the chaise sofa that was located near the window.
The bed may have been a better place for the two of them, but it had the beginnings of a nest a top of the mattress. And since Rhaenyra had been unable to get a clear answer from her son about whether or not she would be welcome in his nest, she guided him to the sofa and curled around him in the cramped space.
Daemon was the one who found them the next morning.
Luke's face was still tear-stained and still hidden in Rhaenyra's shoulder while his mother had her arms around him and her chin resting against his head.
The Alpha Prince checked the young princesses, smiling when he saw the two of them still sleeping peacefully as the sun crept over the horizon.
It was now six days until the arrival of Aegon and Aemond.
And already, the One-eyed Prince was causing trouble.
Gerardys had approached Daemon first thing that morning and said that two ravens had arrived from King's Landing. One from the King to Daemon, and another from Aemond to Lucerys.
He read neither of them and only took the one for Lucerys, saying he would deliver it to the young prince.
And now, watching the two Omegas sleeping, he wished to just throw the letter into the dying embers of the fire. Nothing that One-eyed Cunt had to say could be so important to Lucerys,
"Daemon?" He turned toward the sofa, smiling when he saw his mate staring up at him. Her eyes were heavy with sleep as she reached one of her hands toward him.
Daemon took it and pressed a kiss to the back as he sat on the floor, quietly asking,
"How is he?" Rhaenyra sighed as she kissed their son's head,
"Afraid. Daemon, he is so afraid of what will happen when Aemond arrives. Of what will happen to his children while Aemond is here," Daemon shook his head with a slight growl as he crumpled the letter in his hand,
"That One-eyed Cunt won't have the chance to attempt anything while he is here!" He snarled, "If he were not my brother's son-"
"But he is. And even if he wasn't, you know what sending him to Balerion would do to Lucerys," Daemon sighed heavily through his nose.
He knew what would happen, he knew what a broken bond felt like.
Laena's mark had burned away the moment he had lost her.
Daemon had run out of their home in Pentos when he realized where she was going, calling for her, hoping he could reach her. But he saw Vhagar's flames and felt the scar split open. Blood that felt like liquid fire burned its way down his arm and chest as he watched Laena die.
When his shoulder healed, with no mark, no scar, and no sign of his Laena, he had secluded himself on the beach of Dragonstone with only Caraxes and the two screamed at the gods.
Daemon knew that he and Rhaenyra were meant for each other, but that did not mean he held no love for Laena. She was his light in a dark time, she gave him her heart, and two daughters who looked more like her with each passing day, and he still felt her loss years later.
Rhaenrya understood and did not begrudge him. She was probably the only other person who knew what he felt.
She and Harwin Strong had not bonded, could not bond with each other, but Rhaenyra had loved him, and he her. He gave her pieces of himself that helped create three boys who were becoming men. Rhaenyra loved her Commander, and still carried the wound of his loss.
They found love in their years apart from each other, and have both lost them. Both still mourned Laena and Harwin, and would for the rest of their days.
Daemon rested his forehead on Rhaenyra's arm before kissing her shoulder and murmuring,
"He has written to Lucerys," He felt Rhaeyrna stiffen under his fingers,
"What does he want?"
"I do not know. I have not read or fed the fire with it. Luke should make the decision of what to do with it," Daemon looked toward the sleeping Omega but found that he was awake.
Luke's finger traced the patterns of his mother's dress as he asked Daemon,
"What does he want?" When he was not answered immediately, his red eyes trailed over to Daemon and Lucerys once again asked, "What does Aemond want? Why does he write after a month of silence?"
Daemon briefly wondered if he should have just thrown the letter into the fire, but eventually nodded and unrolled the paper,
"Lucerys, the time for Aegon and I to depart for Dragonstone is quickly drawing near. I understand, that with my past actions, I will not be received warmly. But I am willing to take the first steps in mending the rift I created between us. I found two eggs in the Dragon Pit, that I think would suit our daughters. I will bring them to Dragonstone with me, and if you agree and find them suitable as well, I will leave them to rest within our children's cradles. If you find that the eggs are not right for either of our children, I will take them back to King's Landing with me-"
"No!" Lucerys had pushed himself up and shook his head, "I will not take anything from him! My daughters do not need anything from him!" Luke collapsed back against the cushions as Rhaenyra took his hand and Daemon stood.
The young Omega had to breathe deeply for a few moments then looked up at his father,
"My daughters are going to grow up here on Dragonstone. Their family here will choose their eggs from the Dragonmont. They don't need anything from King's Landing!"
Daemon nodded as he crumpled the paper in his fist, not caring about the unread words, and tossed it into the embers in the hearth. It caught fire fairly quickly from the dim coals, and once it had curled under the flames, Daemon looked back to Lucerys.
The Omega was leaning over the cradles as his daughters began to wake and announce their hunger.
Daemon picked up Aenyra as Rhaenyra helped Lucerys get comfortable, then handed the pup over. Once she was settled, he lifted Aemma, whose nose was scrunched up at the audacity of waking with no food in her belly, and placed her beside her sister.
He did not squirm at the sight, thinking it only as a natural process of life. Daemon also remembered Rhaenys, in a moment of spite, had nursed Laenor in a meeting with their grandfather and the Lords who had chosen Viserys to be their future King.
Almost all of them, including the King, averted their eyes as she was asked if it was necessary for her to do that now. His spitfire cousin had only responded that since they only saw her as a chamber for growing and nursing babes, they should not be surprised when she had to do so.
Daemon had laughed and received many glares that day.
When Aenyra and Aemma were well-satisfied and lightly dozing against Lucerys, Daemon said,
"I will inform the Dragonkeepers and have them prepare two warming chambers. When you are ready, we can pay a visit to the hatcheries," Luke nodded in thanks, not bothering to point out he would be unable to go due to him feeling fatigued from just crossing from one end of his room to the other.
But, his daughters would be getting their dragon eggs, and Luke did not care that he would be unable to witness them being chosen. Because it would be his family choosing the eggs, not Aemond.
Because Aemond had abandoned his daughters, and only claimed them when he saw their hair. Lucerys knew it would have been a different story if they looked like him.
Aemond would have no say when it came to Aenyra and Aemma. Not with their names, or their dragons.
Not with anything.