Beginning of the End | House Of The Dragon

10.2

"I will ring the bell and go, try to sort this mess out and get you all freed."

"What, no!" Alysanne argued, turning on me hotly and staring as if I'd grown two head. "Are you crazy, you heard what the Queen said, there is a coup going on right now as we speak! And I hate to tell you this, but you would be a major piece to be used for their games."

"And if I don't go what then, we die in this room? Locked up to guarantee our silence? No I think not. I will not he a prisoner in my own home." My voice shook and I was angry with myself as tears filled my eyes and distorted the room, Alysanne's were just the same.

"She's right though, Alyssa, she's the only one out of us they'd even begin to trust. She may not be one of them by blood, but by marriage. Its our best shot." He refused to even look at us, especially as Alysanne now turned on him, her hair flying wildly about her. He took one glance as her eyes before turning to look out the window. He'd been severely closed off since my daughter's had been taken, as if something had come into his head and shaken him in some way.

Ignoromg Alysanne's words my hand raised to ring the bell but right before I could move my fingers to war around the coarse rope, the door opened. I hesitated for a moment before stepping out into the hall, slowly and with caution. I didn't even look back, already knowing the stares I would receive, and I could feel their eyes. Practically hear their though, she's mad. I wasn't though, like my father I liked to gamble, unlike my father I was quite good at it. They wouldn't dare to hurt me, not me, for if Aemond ever found out he would burn them all to the ground and everything around them. Yet he would never let a single lick of flames ever even brush against my skin.

I couldn't help the sudden flood of doubt that flooded to my head though as my arms were immediately grabbed rather roughly by the two guards on the door as soon as my foot brushed against the cool stone of the hall. And when I tried to tug away the grip only tightened and became painful, like a viper wrapping itself around my arm and constricting. I felt panic, I kept yanking, my breathing becoming ragged, and the tears still hadn't left my eyes yet; today having completely shot my nerves.

"Let me go!"

"Enough!" Ser Criston stepped into view, his face stern and his voice commanding obedience. "Do you not know who this is? This is the Prince Aemond's wife." He inclined his head and they immediately let go and returned to their stations as if they'd never even left them at all...it made me feel small for some reason.

Sparing one last glance at them, Ser Criston held out an arm to me. His eyes softened and he became the charming white knight that so many ladies fluttered over. "My Lady." And what choice did I have but to take his arm, letting the steel bite at my exposed flesh, though it was oddly refreshing.

"You must forgive them, they were just doing their jobs and with...we are all on edge right now." He wanted to keep things from me, he didn't know how much I knew yet but I was thankful for the way he spoke to me, like a frightened deer who might bolt at any moment. I supposed I did look like one at that moment. But the reason I was thankful was not because it soothed me, but because it made angry, brought me back to myself, and helped me remember I was a dragon. I drank up the cool flames like the sweetest drink and welcomed the call as it rushed through my veins and cooled my blood to make it so that not even Valyrian steel could cut through it.

But I still must play the part. "I understand Ser Criston. The King...well, I understand that some changes must be made, I've known that for a long time."

"in their blood, and in their bones, is that you will be our king."

"Did they hurt you?" His eyes flickered over my form quickly and Alicent's conspiratory voice slipped into an echo and then into nothing at all.