KING'S LANDING

The only sound that echoed in the room was Aemond's snores. Hira had urged him to drink poppy milk to dull the chronic pain. Aemond fell asleep shortly after.

Hira knew the truth of Storm's End and despite it all, she still sought to protect him. The admission was no excuse. No amount of remorse will ever bring Luke back, but the monster Aemond pretended to be was a falsehood littered with guilt and horror. A facade to hide inner insecurities that has plagued the silver haired man since his youth.

Hira can't change the past, nor could she offer forgiveness, it wasn't her right, but she would defend Aemond against all attacks. What more could she do for him?

She promised together, didn't she?

Hira had lost enough people. She won't lose Aemond.

When an hour passed, Helaena sent a tray of food to the room, which Hira ate immediately. Since her return to King's Landing, she's been eating less and worrying more. Her shoulder was healing as best it could, despite her rigorous movements and lack of proper care. She was due to see the maester, but she would rather be locked in a room with Aegon than be near one of those grey rats owned by the Citadel.

She remembered Rhaenyra and her lady mother Aemma, who died birthing her second born, the heir for a day. How Rhaenyra begged to not be harmed the way her mother was when birthing Visenya, another Targaryen child who died before their first breath.

This House was cursed. The gods have cursed each and every one of those who have dragon blood. Centuries of great dynasties and legacies held in the hands of Rhaenyra, the first queen of Westeros, and Aegon, the usurper king.

Hira took that moment to carefully plan her next steps, because she would not be caught in their crossfire.

She thought of all the ways she could steal Helaena and the children from under the Greens. Tried to remember which merchant ship she could trust that would ferry them to Leng. Helaena was all but ready to leave. The council was busy with war preparations, thus making it easier to escape.

Convincing Aemond to leave with them would be a difficult task. Aemond, who had been battling his own demons, slowly going mad with guilt.

It was becoming apparent to Hira, the difficulty of saving someone who doesn't want to be saved in the first place. That simply because she loved him, meant she could save him with feelings and determination alone. It was a cruel and painful lie that she had fooled herself into believing.

But she had to try, even if it hurts her in the end. For what is love, without pain?

After dealing with Aemond, she must return to Zhurong and her Lengii kin back in Dragonstone. Command an entire fleet and army without Sunniva or Daemon getting in the way.

Then, the Greens.

Poison would be her best ally. It was dishonourable by Westerosi accounts and she would be branded a kinslayer, but those things never mattered to her.

Jade's poisons worked best, the ones silently deadly that left no traces of proof of assassination. Otto would be the first to go, the council members who supported Aegon's ascension next. Alicent's allies, namely Cole and Larys Strong.

It would have to be discreet and fast. Fast enough that the realm would accept Rhaenyra's rule without question.

Hira cared little if she was branded a kinslayer, or kingslayer. For Hans, the death of a family member was acceptable, if they should threaten the royal standing or the empire as a whole. Aegon's rule was a threat to the true monarch, and if his death was the price to pay for peace, then Hira was willing to go above and beyond for it.

But she needed to know what her father was doing, where he had stationed the army. What Rhaenyra would do in her bid to avenge her fallen son. If Jace had gained the trust of the Vale and the North. Where the Blacks stood and what forces they gathered. She needed information.

Hira needed Mysaria.

She wondered what dark pit the woman hid herself in, to avoid the wrath of whoever torched her manse.

Aemond stirred beneath her arms, a lone eye fluttering open. At first, he gazed around the room, confused before settling his sights on Hira.

"You stayed." He murmured, as if he couldn't believe it.

"I promised I would, didn't I?" She replied. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore."

She passed a bowl of broth. "It's cold, but you need something in your stomach."

Hira paid attention to the way Aemond heaved as he sipped the broth, as though he had more tears to cry, more sobs to release.

She's seen all sides of him now. The destructive, pain-ridden side of him was heartbreaking to witness. But if she wanted her plans to work perfectly, she must be steel. Hira must be unyielding and tough, like her mother, like her father.

"You will listen to what I have to say and then you may say your piece."

Aemond stiffened, the bowl trembling in his grasp, then relaxed under the touch. Anticipation bubbled in Hira's stomach.

He motioned for her to continue.

She spoke with certainty, with strength, piled with unwavering eye contact so that Aemond would understand and see reason.

"I cannot offer you forgiveness for what you've done." Hira began firmly. "You murdered Luke."

He flinched yet Hira spoke true.

"You said that you only meant to chase him, but you should have known what threatening a rider does to a bonded dragon. They sense our fears and our pain. Arrax defended his rider as best he could and Vhagar attacked because she felt your emotions, your need to inflict harm. I am sorry that you lost an eye when you were a boy, Aemond, but even you said it was a fair exchange. Tell me, what exchange will be the price of Luke's life?"

The question goes unanswered.

"You are letting your vengeance get in the way of everything that truly matters to you."

Aemond stared blankly at nothing, fist clenched at his sides, the muscle in his neck going rigid.

"Despite it all and it might be stupid, but I still believe you can be redeemed. I want you to redeem yourself Aemond, but only if you mean it. Only if you want it."

Please, she begged, please. Save yourself.

Aemond was grimly silent, until. "He's here in this room. I didn't realise how tall he's gotten."

She exhaled slowly, shutting her eyes closed for a second, before setting her sights back to Aemond. He was in his own world, somewhere Hira couldn't join or see or touch. Luke's ghost haunting every corner of his mind, playing a game with rules Hira knew not of, nor one she could beat.

Aemond bowed low, knees pressed against the hardwood floor and hands in a prayer. Out of the Targaryen children, he was the least pious. He mumbled something she couldn't quite catch, until his voice grew louder with each sob and groan.

Aemond begged for forgiveness.

Together, she promised.

Hira was growing to hate promises. Especially the ones she couldn't keep, the ones she kept breaking.

Amongst the shedding of tears and gasps, Aemond stammered brokenly, "I'm losing my mind." Wide eyed and ruined, so disconnected from reality.

Whoever tossed Aemond's coin had a bad hand, for he had fallen to the side of madness.

"It is your regret." Hira answered, "Luke is not haunting you. It is simply your mind playing tricks because deep inside, you know what you did was wrong. But you are no monster Aemond, not when you feel remorse, rather than satisfaction with Luke's passing."

"If it's regret, how do I rid myself of it?" He urged, a little helpless, a little lost. It was unbecoming of him. It bewildered Hira to see this vulnerability from him, when the side she's only ever seen was so vastly different to the front he paraded around everyone else.

Hira shrugged, unhelpful because truly, how was she to know? "I don't have the faintest clue."

Aemond snorted. It seemed that the tears had dried up, and what was left was a pathetic little prince, searching for something he couldn't reach. It evoked memories of similar moments in her childhood, recalling the exact way Aemond felt.

She tugged the sleeves of her tunic over her hands, admitted softly, "I still blame myself for Jin's death. There are moments where I think Jade looks at me and for a second I see hatred in her eyes. She has loved and she has lost and I am to blame for all of it."

"Lyonel was the reason-" Aemond began but Hira interjected.

"It matters not. Jin is gone. And though it's been years and I know Jade would never think so cruelly of me, nor blame me, in my heart of hearts, it is I who is at fault. There is nothing in this world that will ever change my mind. I live with this burden and will continue to do so, because it is my punishment."

"And you think this is my punishment?" Aemond questioned, uncertainty filling his tone.

"You are festering with guilt, Aemond, but ultimately it is your choice how you live with it. Maybe one day I will wake up and the guilt will be gone, but I can't guarantee that, so I will live through it."

He shook his head, silver strands falling to cover his face. He looks unruly, untamed and wild. "I don't believe I can be redeemed."

Hira slipped her hand in his, memorising the weight and touch, the callouses and roughness.

"All my life, I had unrelenting faith in my gods, but lately they have proven to be anything but useful or merciful. Now, however, my faith lies in myself, and in you. So heed me when I say that I believe you are redeemable and if I have to spend every moment there is on this earth to prove it to you, then I will."

Aemond's beautiful face was downcast and sullen, "I don't deserve it."

"Maybe not, but it's there and it's not going anywhere, Aemond Targaryen."

They fall into a silence only familiar to themselves, consumed by their thoughts. Drifting in and out of reality, lost in memories and self-condemnation.

Hira's mind drifted to her plans, solidifying them until they were foolproof. There was no room for mistakes, not when it might cost her the lives of those she cherished.

She became so lost in her thoughts that she almost missed Aemond speaking.

"I want to feel something other than this, as though a monster's living underneath my skin."

The Lengii princess huffed a laugh, "It's not so easy to stop feeling."

"I find peace when flying. But the last time I was in the skies, I imagined Arrax and Luke there. I don't know if I have the courage to fly again." He said with a tense, tired smile. "It's funny, I ride the largest, scariest dragon and here I am afraid. I'm afraid of Vhagar and who I've become."

"You shouldn't let that impact your relationship with Vhagar." She protested.

Especially when it's fragile as it is. That went unsaid, though Hira suspected Aemond heard it anyway.

She continued, "Vhagar is worth every scar."

Aemond lifted his eye to hers, the words turning in his head until he realised where he heard that from. He slowly nodded.

"Fly with me?"

The ache of Zhurong appeared again, causing Hira to frown.

Aemond was quick to speak before she could say a word. "It would do me good, and you as well. The Red Keep poisons everything that lives in it."

She agreed, knowing what snakes lay beneath the floorboards and in the walls.

Aemond proceeded with his gamble, "My bond with Vhagar is mild at best. I envy what you have with Zhurong, I wish to have the same with my mount. Teach me, please."

Hira gave in to the yearning of flying once more, even if it was with another's mount. Being one with the skies, diving through clouds and mist, that would heal some part of her sorrows.

Under the stars, Vhagar took Hira and Aemond across the sea. The Lengii woman instructed Aemond on how to better understand the she-dragon, and how to strengthen their bond as rider and mount. He was patient and Vhagar was mild in temperament. They spoke in hushed tones as the beast glided through the skies.

Settled on the rocky isle, Hira pressed a kiss against Aemond's brow, cherishing the moment, because she knew it wouldn't last.