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Rating:
Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warnings:
Graphic Depictions Of ViolenceMajor Character Death
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Gen
Fandoms:
House of the Dragon (TV)Warhammer Fantasy
Characters:
Ikit ClawRhaenyra TargaryenJacaerys VelaryonLucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Baela TargaryenRhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon)Daemon TargaryenCorlys "The Sea Snake" VelaryonHelaena TargaryenAddam VelaryonBackground & Cameo CharactersSilverwing | Alysanne Targaryen's DragonOriginal CharactersJoffrey Velaryon
Additional Tags:
Crack Treated SeriouslyCanon-Typical ViolenceThe Dance of the Dragons | Aegon II Targaryen v. Rhaenyra Targaryen EraAlternate Universe - Canon DivergenceCanonical Character DeathCharacter Turned Into a HumanIkit got isekai'd as Jace's twinSkaven Species (Warhammer Fantasy)Death to all GreensHuman ExperimentationScience ExperimentsIkit is his own warningSilverwing still has shit taste in male ridersPOV MultipleBackground RelationshipsBackground Character Deathshow canon onlyDragon RidersAnimal AbuseIkit is an abusive dragonriderTho he's fairly mellow compared to his SkavenselfGood Parent Rhaenyra TargaryenNo beta we die like LucerysDysfunctional FamilyCannibalismBlood and TortureCanon-Typical BehaviorBAMF Helaena Targaryen
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English
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Published:2026-02-26Completed:2026-04-22Words:181,492Chapters:55/55Comments:1,270Kudos:749Bookmarks:160Hits:33,651
The Rat Prince of Westeros
SkilledWarriorKiwi
Chapter 22: Aegon the Older
Chapter Text
Being married didn't improve his life in any real way, it just meant occasionally he actually had to been seen in public with his moron of a sister.
Especially as it was now three years into his marriage and he was forced to have a intimate day with Helaena to celebrate the anniversary. Which was him sitting there bored out his mind while she talked about bugs or embroidered or sat there staring at nothing. He hated it intently, as he had done his duty and Helaena had given birth to twins less than a year ago. Finally their mother stopped nagging him about wanting grandchildren, even if she had shut up the first time Aegon demanded she sit in the room with them and watch if she had such issues with how they performed as a married couple in the first months where Helaena had not become pregnant.
That had made Helaena laugh, which surprised both Aegon and Alicent, and at least shut the queen up. Aegon was just fed up with it all. He didn't particularly think he had exotic tastes, but someone just lying there like a corpse wasn't attractive.
At least with them now having Jaehaerys and Jaehaera the pressure was gone, even if Aegon had no idea how to interact with children. They made weird noises and squirmed and threw up occasionally. He'd deal with them when they were older and behaved like actual people.
Couldn't be said for Helaena, as Aegon had to sit in the solar bored out of his mind and only tipsy instead of drunk. He'd rather be down at the courtyard doing stupid drills with Aemond at this point. How his brother, either of them really, hadn't been shackled with a marriage annoyed Aegon. Why was it always him suffering?
"This is so stupid, why am I even here?" he complained to no one in particular in the solar. He grabbed at one of the cups of wine, before shrugging and decided to grab the flagon as he started to complain in earnest as he grew more and more drunk.
There was an awkward silence from the guard and Aegon continued to rant, not even caring that Helaena could hear him from where she was sitting by the window. Embroidering as usual because that's all she ever did. He didn't like her as a sister, and having her as a wife didn't change his opinion in the slightest. She was just stupid, quiet and didn't even having the saving grace of being attractive like his other sister Rhaenyra was. Helaena was bland, in looks and personality, and Aegon was mad about it. Couldn't they have found him a wife from Lys or something? At least Rhaenyra looked the part of a Targaryen princess, if it wasn't for the hair Helaena could pass for a commoner.
Honestly now a man grown he understood why people called Rhaenyra the Realm's Delight because in his few moments of lucidity in the celebration feast for his wedding some years ago his gaze had been caught on her as she danced and laughed, the shimmering swirl of her black dress with all those glittering diamonds, the way the blood-red corset drew even more attention to her curvaceous figure and heavy bosom. Even now he could still remember her, how even those firmly in his mother's court couldn't help but stare at the Realm's Delight. Numerous pregnancies had given her a generous heft to her hips and breast that only accented the beauty and last Aegon heard she was pregnant yet again. Or had she already had the child? He couldn't remember but it seemed like the Rogue Prince couldn't stay off her, not that Aegon blamed him. If he had a wife like that...
Aegon giggled to himself, unaware he was now currently ranting about how beautiful Rhaenyra looked on his wedding day to the uncomfortable looks of the guards and maids. Meanwhile Helaena was just nodding along, entirely unbothered.
"Aegon!" his mother's annoying voice jolted him from his ramblings, blinking to realize an outraged Alicent was standing in the solar and glaring at him. He wondered if she could appear like a mummer's trick, since she seems to ambush him increasingly since his marriage. Now she was just all scolding and expectations, much like how she started lecturing him with, "How dare you say such a thing in front of Helaena! She is your wife, you will give her the proper respect! You should not be speaking about another woman in such a manner."
He sputtered a few words, not even remembering what he was complaining about, as Alicent continued to glare down at him. Oh and great, the flagon with all the wine was on the ground.
"He is right, mother. Rhaenyra looked very beautiful," Helaena suddenly said, looking up from her embroidery. "Truly the Realm's Delight."
Alicent sucked in a breath as if struck, fists clenched, but notably forcing her to be more relaxed as she turned to Helaena. Even her voice softened and Aegon sneered.
"It is unjust for him to be speaking in such a way, unfitting of a husband. You are his wife and deserve the respect that position entails."
"It's fine. We have two children, healthy and whole. What does anything else matter?" Helaena asked.
Aegon nearly asked Alicent if she still heard comparisons to the late Queen Aemma, who Aegon never met yet still haunted the Red Keep, but even in his tipsy state had a sense of self preservation so held his tongue as she turned to him to continue her lectures.
So instead he just slumped in his chair and stared at her until she got sick of ranting at him and left them alone. He didn't even know why she appeared, besides to ruin his day and take the rest of the wine. He grumbled, drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair as a maid cleaned up the spilled wine and then he made himself eat some food, grumpily stuffing the honey cakes into his mouth and uncaring for how inelegant he was.
There was some random chatter from Helaena, mumbling to her maids who pretended they cared. He didn't even know who those women were, beyond the fact they were all plain and boring. He wished he could go to Sunfyre.
That crazy nephew of his had the right idea, just leaping up onto his dragon and leaving Westeros entirely. Aegon should've done that instead of marrying Helaena.
In all honesty he actually thought of that when the months, then weeks, then days, of his wedding approached. Stealing as much of his mother's jewellery as he could then sneaking out to Sunfyre and flying across the narrow sea. Vhagar may be a giant bitch of a beast but she was slow and Sunfyre could out-fly her, and he sincerely doubted Rhaenyra or Daemon would care enough to come looking for him even if the king demanded it.
He could've flown across Essos until he found his strange little nephew Ikit, who was apparently doing deranged and unholy things there because he had the sense to leave Westeros. Doing fun things, if even half the rumours were true. Instead Aegon did nothing and got married to his boring bland sister.
Aegon ended up falling asleep in his chair, the sun seeping in through the windows warming him until he was snoring. At least that was mildly enjoyable, napping like a cat in the sun. Of course his cunt of a little brother Aemond ruined it.
He always thought Aemond should've been born with their mother's hair and eyes, considering the way he got all stroppy and lectured Aegon just like her. He barely even stirred in his chair, more annoyed his nap got ruined despite the ache in his neck when Aemond started. Helaena was still in her spot even if she was now alone. The guards were still present however, looking as bored and disinterested as ever.
"You should be with Helaena, conciliating with the nobles in the Red Keep," Aemond said in lieu of a greeting. Or maybe he had already said something besides that which he already ignored.
Aegon cracked open an eye, "Why would I do that?"
"To celebrate the anniversary of your marriage and to show everyone how strong it is," Aemond said.
He was still in his training leathers and Aegon rolled his eyes. The moron had Vhagar, what even was the actual point behind training so much with a sword? He knew the basics and that was enough. Now he was portraying Alicent as much as he could, all disappointed expectation and Aegon didn't even know why. He was a second child, nothing was expected of him. Aemond and Helaena even less so.
"Go bother someone else, Aemond," he finally snapped, rubbing at his temple. "Or better yet, go find some woman to anchor yourself down with."
"You're acting as if it is a burden, you are being an insolent child," Aemond continued to lecture.
"Shouldn't you wash your hair or something? Having it long like a woman, maybe that is why you don't seek a wife," Aegon taunted. He didn't actually care but watching how Aemond puffed himself up in offense was always funny. It was like his brother felt a sense of authority over him, just because he had grown taller than Aegon as years passed.
Helaena meanwhile had stopped plucking at her threads, blinking over at her brothers as they argued.
"Insulting me doesn't stop your actions," Aemond ground out. His leather gloves creaked as he clenched his fists, as if he was thinking of throttling Aegon and having to restrain himself.
"What actions? I'm spending time with my wife, she's right off there. And if people wish to gawk at the children then they're in the royal nursery doing whatever babies do."
"Fine, your inaction. You should be ingratiating yourself with the nobility, especially as the king's health wanes," Aemond lectured. "You are important in terms of image, especially upon the anniversary of your wedding-"
"Ikit was right, fleeing Westeros to avoid his betrothal and to get away from his annoying family," Aegon interrupted, gleeful in the way Aemond's whole body went stiff at the mention of his most hated nephew. "I should've jumped on Sunfyre and joined him across the narrow sea. Having mass orgies, practicing black magic, feeding hapless maidens to his dragon, burning Dothraki hordes and bathing in blood sounds far more entertaining than this boring farce."
Aemond inhaled, nostrils flaring as his face flushed red, and Aegon could literally see him reigning in his temper. When Aemond finally spoke it was through clenched teeth, "This is not about anyone else. This is about you and how you are treating Helaena before everyone."
"Blood runs, anger rises," Helaena suddenly spoke in serious tones, leaning towards Aemond as if she was speaking a secret. "Death wakes, war calls."
"Oh but I'm the drunk," Aegon scoffed. As usual she was speaking nonsense. How she never got shipped off to the Silent Sisters was beyond him.
In response to his rudeness she raised up her embroidery with a bright smile, like a newly made knight showing off his shield. The thing was just a solid mass of red thread.
"That's awful," he said.
Aemond gave him an irritated look. He just made a face, gesturing towards the mess of red. It was like someone threw up red wine all over it. What else was it to be called besides awful?
"Go change out of your sparring outfit, you git," Aegon decided.
"Unlike you, I know that keeping your reflexes and swordsplay honed is befitting a Targaryen prince," Aemond sniffed.
Aegon laughed, "You really think if you beat him in a fight it'll make your eye grow back?"
Aemond gave him a hateful look at that and stormed off, leaving Aegon giggling in his chair. Idiot. They all knew he never got over that night in Driftmark, where Ikit went wild and mauled him like a dog. Aegon didn't even care, still angry Alicent had screamed at him over it as if he had anything to do with it, when Aemond was the one being a little shit that night. And now Aemond was acting as if he managed to beat Ikit in a sparring ring it would somehow restore his lost eye and give him back his dignity.
Seriously, why was everyone in his family stupid except for him? They kept making stupid excuses for themselves. At least Aegon was true to himself.
With a groan he got up, glancing out the window and feeling relieved it was close to sunset. He could have a bath and dinner and then go to bed without any more lectures, since he had wasted his entire day just sitting in Helaena's useless company.
He grumbled a goodbye to Helaena, since he had to be 'dignified' and had Helaena hum in acknowledgment and go back to adding even more red to her embroidery, before he left the room.
The evening was better, as he felt a lot more refreshed after a hot long bath. He had tried to get the pretty maid to stay after she delivered him a flask of perfumed water, liking the freckles scattered across her face and button nose- commonborn clearly, but in a cute way -but she scurried out when he tried to rise out of the water to invite her closer. He grumbled and drank some more wine, before scrubbing himself down.
Supper was a family affair even if the king had been absent more and more as his illness ate away at him. Helaena was happy enough to talk about some strange clouds she saw and what Dreamfyre had been up to, while Aegon was more occupied with the spiced lamb chops. At least Alicent was happy enough to encourage the ramblings, Aegon just grunting occasionally to 'participate' but otherwise not caring.
When he finally got to bed he groped about for the wineskin in his bedside table, taking a few sips from it before capping it and tossing it back in with a clatter. Who knew spending time with Helaena all day would be so exhausting, and it wasn't long before he fell asleep.
His dreams were all flight upon Sunfyre's back, the dragon's scales shimmering like polished gold and the pink of his wings as warm and clear as a sunrise, until he abruptly woke up.
Aegon blinked, unsure of what had woke him. He was completely alert as if someone had clapped awareness into his mind. His eyes could make out the furniture, the paintings and tapestries on the walls of his room. The darkness distorted the objects into deep shadows and Aegon yawned.
He rolled over, intending to make himself more comfortable so he could get back to sleep, only to freeze when he realized Helaena was standing naked next to his bed.
Aegon blinked, trying to make sense of things. In the darkness with the only illumination being the slice of the full moon through the window, he could see the silver gleam of her bare skin, her hair. Helaena at least was pleasing to look at without her clothes, really the only decent thing she brought to the marriage, so he didn't particularly mind that she was nude in his room.
He shifted within his blankets, about to make a crass joke only to freeze when he met her eyes in the dark and realized the completely insane way she was staring at him.
Her stance was slightly hunched, neck tilted at an odd angle that had her long hair hanging loose and down towards her breasts. Her eyes were burning like stars, poisonous gleams through the curtain of her silver hair. Completely mad and transfixing.
Aegon didn't dare to move, as he knew with complete certainty if he tried she would stab him to death with the knife she was holding. Her other hand was clenched in such a tight fist blood was already staining her fingers, the occasional soft plip of droplets falling to the ground the only sound besides his breathing.
Helaena wasn't breathing.
At least he couldn't hear her breathing, as his heartbeat roared in his ears. But her breasts weren't moving, the way they would if her lungs were filling with air.
She was twitching, though. Strange little jitters that made her limbs jerk and head twitch from side to side. Her eyes didn't blink, didn't so much as look away from him, and neither did she breathe.
Aegon didn't move. He didn't say anything. He just lay there. Staring at her as she stared at him.
The knife she was holding was long and narrow, like one used to skin animals or descale a fish. Its blade glowed like moonlight. More blood dripped on the floor.
He didn't move. She didn't move. The moon did, the light and shadows shifting in the room as it slowly moved towards the horizon.
They both remained in place even as the moon disappeared and sunlight began to appear, the pink and purples of dawn and distant birdsong.
Then there was a muffled thud as a door closed somewhere nearby in the Red Keep and Helaena blinked. Only then did Aegon flinch, shuffling back in his bed as best he could with the blankets still tangled upon him. He went to sit up, ready to try and throw her off-
Instead all she did was drop the knife with a clatter and turn around, walking towards the wall opposite the bed. Aegon stared as she stepped behind one of the hanging tapestries, pressing against the stone which opened silently as a hidden entry way appeared. Helaena then disappeared through there with the slab sliding shut behind her as if it had never been there at all.
The only thing left behind was the bloody hand print on the stone.
"What the fuck," Aegon managed to blurt out, a cold sweat suddenly soaking his body.
After a moment he twisted about and yanked open the bedside table, pulling out the wineskin and taking several deep gulps. He was far too sober to begin to understand what had just happened.
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