Chapter Text
Aegon had been sitting in the dark for who knows how long, the haze of mead was waning and he managed to put himself together enough to kick the stone slab that would set him free.
He did not know who had kidnapped and put him there, but he was not going to stay and find out. The question remained: should he go to the Red Keep now or should he camp out and wait until the streets were busier at midday?
His stomach did a flip as he went down the sept stairs. It was only when he saw Aemond and Cole at the top of the street when he pieced together what had happened. There was no reason for them to be here searching for him and no reason for Sir Criston to wear civilian clothes but one.
Fuck no.
He sprinted in the opposite direction as fast as he could. He needed to make good use of his knowledge of Flea bottom to make it to the dragon pit before one of those brutes could get their hands on him. They had always been too pure and uptight to wander through here, so for now he had the advantage.
He ran through sidestreets and trough secret smuggling passages, and yet he knew he hadn't shaken them off yet, one step closer every minute.
When he emerged from the last passage, it took Aegon a bit to get used to the light. It was then when he saw it, Sir Arryk sprinting at top speed towards him. Could the seven have no mercy? They had sent the creepy twins after him as well.
He burst into a small tavern, dashing to the window that led to the adjacent street and changed course towards the Iron gate. Was it counter productive? Yes. But if he had learned anything from his grandfather, it was to divide and conquer.
His advantage was now gone, since he had dragged the twins along too many times, so he could only assume they knew the shadiest areas of Flea Bottom as good as he did. Now his only hope were that his pursuers would take each other out. Criston certainly would pummel anyone who stood between himself and whatever desire Aegon's own mother had, and Aemond had such an inferiority complex that he could not bear to fail at proving himself better than his older brother. So it was clear they would not allow the twins to get the glory, if the same person had sent them that is, although he doubted it, which would fuel the animosity between his pursuers even more.
He ran until he saw the small ladder to his left. Going through the roofs could be dangerous, but he needed to make it to the Street of sisters before those fools realized what his goal was. Going up, he took the ladder with him and hid it. Hopefully they wouldn't dare to climb.
By the time he found some barrels that he could jump on to make it down, he was nauseous and with a bleeding leg thanks to almost collapsing a roof. He had also managed to steal someone's tunic to cover his hair. It looked ridiculous, but at least people wouldn't point his pursuers the way anymore. He half jogged up the street, seeing the Dragon pit closer by the minute. His first mistake was being careless and not concealing himself very well as he threw up. His second one was starting to throw up again as Sir Criston tackled him. His only consolation as he was being choked was that it hopefully went into the brute's mouth.
Suddenly the pressure stopped and the weight on his back lifted, Sir Arryk was there reciting orders from his grandsire and drawing his sword to Criston. Aegon thanked the seven and took off running blindly as Criston screamed for Aemond to follow.
As he ran up the hill Aegon wished he had joined his brother in training. Breathing hurt and his legs felt as if they were on fire. Aemond was almost reaching him, so he took a sharp left into the side streets. If he was right, a special green painted tavern would present itself to the right, with a window just the right size.
Aemond was just a breath away when he threw himself at the door. It thankfully opened in one go. He turned and held the door closed as Aemond rammed against it.
"Open the window and give me a chair!" Aegon screamed as a sword burst through the door near his face.
The innkeeper and the patrons obeyed wordlessly.
Aegon took a deep breath as the sword pierced the door again. He put the chair under the knob and jumped headfirst through the small opening, he got all of his arms to the other side before he felt someone tug at his leg violently. His face and hands were scratched by the gravel as he clawed to not get dragged inside. He trashed and kicked as hard as he could. What he could only assume were his brother's nails clawed at his injured leg. Aegon shrieked and kicked even more, finally managing to land a good enough blow to get momentarily free. He managed to get one leg out before Aemond regained momentum and grabbed his boot. He kicked more until his foot was free, the boot a fair sacrifice for his freedom.
For a moment as he slowly got up, he looked back, only to see Aemond sitting on the floor, the boot held tightly in both hands and a bloody lip. His brother's gaze told him how furious he was. Aegon was not going to stay and see if Aemond fit, so he took off hobbling to the best of his ability.
The streets were less populated the more he approached the oak door at the side of the dragon pit, hopefully choosing that one would leave Sir Criston or Sir Arryk waiting by the big bronze ones. His relief at making it to the pit was short-lived. Standing inside, arms crossed, was Sir Erryk.
Aegon felt beaten, he had managed to make it all this way and gone through all this pain just for Erryk to intercept him at the last step. It wasn't fair. Such was his defeat that he could not help but blurt.
"Please, I just want to leave, I don't want to be king." the plea was met with a blank stare, but his stillness made Aegon keep going. "You know me, I'm not cut to be a King, Rhaenyra can have it. I don't want it, never did. So please, just let me go."
Sir Erryk stood aside with a nod.
Aegon approached slowly and made his way down to the tunnels, giving the knight furtive glances to make sure he hadn't changed his mind.
First he ordered the dragon keepers to open a gate to the hillside and then he went to fetch Sunfyre.
Aegon found him in one of his favourite spots, golden scales gleaming with the torches light. Vhagar was nowhere to be found, which suited them both fine.
The nook was too small to allow Aegon to mount him there, so he would have to do it just before the door. It would be slower due to his leg, but it was better than getting crushed against the ceiling.
"Mazis Sunfyre, mazis"
The dragon obeyed, and even lowered his head so that his rider could lean on him and walk faster. Aegon bet Vhagar couldn't do that, the old crone.
The dragon keepers had opened the biggest door and helped him mount Sunfyre. And yet, as they advanced to freedom, the voice of his brother called out from behind.
"Aegon! Dismount at once! Mother awaits, your duty awaits you!"
"I don't want it! You always craved it Aemond, so it's yours. I'm not coming back!"
"We will see about that." Aemond said with a determined expression. Then he wiped around and disappeared through one of the passages.
"Soves!" Aegon roared, panic replacing the sick feeling of his stomach.
Sunfyre plunged into the air, gliding gracefully as he ascended to the white clouds. It was clear the dragon felt his terror and was trying to get as far of Kings landing as fast as possible. Aegon's head was a mess. It wasn't until they were above the clouds with the cold wind stabbing his body that he was able to calm down and think. The psychopath that he called brother would be in pursuit soon; the killing machine that was his dragon with him. As much animosity as there was between them, he didn't want to hurt his brother, much less engage in combat in the middle of the sea. Sadly, he could not trust Aemond to hold back. Sunfyre could probably deal some damage, but Vhagar was still bigger and more experienced in combat. So their best option was to outfly them, size proved a disadvantage in maneuverability and speed, so that is what they would do.
Looking back at the massive dragon leaving the pit, Aegon's brain could only produce a destination where they would be safe.
Dragon Stone. Rhaenyra would keep him safe.
"Rybas!" Aegon shouted, hoping his dragon would obey, and not get lost in the chase. He needed Sunfyre to be calm and in tune with him if they were to make it off with their lives.
Vhagar was still far behind, but she had almost reached their altitude, which was good news for what he was going to attempt. Aemond was gaining on them. All he could do was wait until they were high enough. Then they dived.
Aegon gripped his seat as hard as he could, cold air cutting him like ice through his thin tunic, his eyes watered with the speed, but they kept going. Head first into the ocean bellow, Sunfyre's wings tightly pressed at his sides. They left the clouds behind seeing the ocean closer by the second.
"Umbas! Umbas!" Aegon screamed at the top of his lungs, hoping to be heard. They were still too far up.
His hands hurt and he lost grip with his injured leg, causing his body to flap hard against his mount again and again. As frightened as he was, they couldn't stop, it did not matter how many ribs he cracked or how many bruises he acquired.
"Umbas!" he kept hollering through the pain, fat tears being carried by the wind.
He did not dare look behind, but he was sure that Vhagar would be in pursuit, her massive body would never allow them to do what they were attempting though, and hopefully they would be too far behind to reach them if everything went as planned. Aegon hoped the wind also affected Aemond's only eye, so that he didn't notice his older brother plunging into the ocean like a madman, a slip away from certain death. The only thing more dangerous than a pissed off Aemond was a desperate Aemond.
Only when he felt the wet ocean air hit his face did he know it was time.
"Naejot Sunfyre!"
It worked. His dragon started opening his wings and they stabilized, he regained control of his body as he clenched his legs once again to his seat.
As Sunfyre glided over the waves, wings fully open, his scales shone bright gold, like a sunrise over the dark waters of Blackwater Bay. Looking back, he could see Vaghar small in the distance. She would be unable to reach them before they arrived. Aegon couldn't help but laugh with relief. They made it against all odds. Freedom had never tasted so good.
They flew between the Spears as an added distraction and continued to fly east until they reached Sharp point, by then Vhagar was just a small dot in the distance, so Aegon allowed himself a sigh of relief. Sunfyre calmed down as they entered the Gullet, no dragons patrolling the skies in the horizon meant they could probably get closer to the castle. He remembered his grandsire talking about a bridge that could hold Syrax’s weight at the south, so that is where they would land.
The white cloaks looked surprised by his arrival, he could not fault them, if it weren’t for the white hair and the dragon he would look like a beggar.
After dismounting he ordered Sunfyre to go with his brethren, the last thing he needed was to cause even more trouble.
He turned and looking at the guards he enounced, with his best commanding voice “Take me to my sister Rhaenyra”
One of the guards trotted ahead, probably to inform of his presence and his dragon. Meanwhile the others escorted him gracefully slowing down to his pace. The walk there was awkward at best, he tried to look poised but with his bad leg and the fact that he could not stop trembling after the freezing trip, he was not really making the best impression. All he could hope for was the absence of Jacaerys and Lucerys in the room or he would never live this down.
As the door opened his presence was announced.
“Prince Aegon Targaryen!” The curious looks of Rhaenyra and Daemon met his. Daemon lowered his hand from his sword’s handle.
“Brother, your presence was not expected. What brings you here?” His sister inquired.
“Bad news I’m afraid. I believe our father to be dead, and a conspiracy against you. They mean to take your claim as queen from you, in my favour.”
Rhaenyra made a pained face, bringing her right hand to her pregnant belly. She pushed through.
“And what are you doing here? Come to gloat?” Her face an angry grimace.
“No, the crown has always been yours, I cannot carry that weight. I escaped my captors, and with Vhagar after me I didn’t have anywhere else to go.” Aegon tried to be as sincere as possible.
“How did my father die?” She asked, her face tearful.
“He was slain, he must have.” Daemon interrupted.
“I don’t know, I woke up encased under a septs fountain and suddenly everyone was after me and talking about my duty, so I can only assume it happened. I’m sorry.”
She approached him slowly and gently grabbed his arm. “Thank you Aegon, your loyalty…it means a lot to me.”
He only managed to give a nod before Rhaenyra bent over in pain, all the two men could do was support her weight until she could breathe again.
“Call a maester for Aegon and the midwives for me, the baby is coming.”
Daemon dashed to the door, leaving them uncomfortably alone.
“I’m sure everything will be okay, you have done this before, right?” Aegon talked, not yet sure if it was to calm his nerves or hers.
“No, it won’t, it’s too early for the baby, and we might be at the beginning of a war.” She replied, breathing heavily.
“Well, they can’t exactly take the throne if they don’t have anyone to crown, right?”
“What about Aemond? They could crown him instead.” She spoke trough her teeth.
“Luckily for us he was just chasing me here, so I don’t think he is exactly at hand at the moment for that. He will not kill me either, I am sure of that.” No, he was not, but he needed to make Aemond look tame, so they didn’t kill him after landing.
The midwives took charge after that and conduced his sister to another room. Meanwhile the maister brough him to a chair near the fire and made him take his pants off to treat his wounds.
In case it wasn’t clear enough today was not his day Jacaerys and Lucerys did not take long to arrive. He doubted he could wipe the image of himself in his breaches trembling like a wet pup from his minds. So pathetic he must look that Jace outright gave him the cape off of his shoulders. And so he waited for Aemond to arrive as Rhaenyra screams echoed trough the castle and his nephews asked him questions he had no answer for.