Chapter Text
Lucerys Velaryon, second son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and heir to Driftmark. Despite the vocal protests of a few, sat with his hands folded in his lap, at his vanity, the soft golden light of the candles illuminating his more rounded, soft face, as one of his favorite maids brushes the wild curls of his brown hair, normally it was a soothing routine, today though it brought little comfort as he stares at himself at the mirror. He was dressed, as he so often was, like a omega princeling, the gown was made of soft dyed sea-green wool trimmed at the edges with gold silk, tailored carefully so the fabric would not chafe his skin. embroidered across the chest with the Seahorse of House Velaryon in fine silver thread.
It was, in truth, a rather ridiculous amount of grandeur for a child of Eight who could most likely outgrow the dress within a year. But his grandsire loves to spoil him in any gifts he receives from him. His eyes go back and take in the features of his face, his cheeks still having baby fat on them and his dark hair that didn't resemble his father's silver hair or that of his mothers, brothers or even his uncles.
Normally he wouldn't much care of his hair or the features of his face or the hue of his eyes but the memories of earlier playback in his mind even when he didn't want them too.
"Bastard." The word echo's like a cavern.
This isn't the first time he's heard that word used, The first time he ever heard it was when he was 5 name days old, he heard Ser Criston calle him such a name when he didn't think Luke was around to another knight in the training yard, they laughed with one another at it. He was unaware at the time at what it meant so he went to his mother and asked.
"Muña what's a bastard." He asked innocently. His mother's and Papa's posture stiffens.
"Where did you hear that word?"
Luke shrugs, and tells her about Ser Criston talking to another knight and calling him one
"What does it mean?”
Rhaenyra bristles. And then tells him that a bastard was the child of two people who parents weren't married and his father steps in that he's most certainly not a bastard, he's just takes more after his arryn and baratheon sides of the family.
At first it was enough for him, as the years passed the more he understood how different he was from his siblings and uncle's and how bad a bastard really was. A child of sin conceived of lust a stain.
After that he started to truly feel different from his silver haired older brother, then when Joffrey was born with the same silver hair of the Targaryens it made the whispers even worse and louder, today was the worse of it.
He was walking through the halls of the red keep to see his newest brother Joffrey in his nursery when the voices reached him from around the corner—low, careful, but not careful enough.
A shuffling noise came from behind a door. Luke assumed this part castle was empty. He quietly stepped toward the corner and leaned over the to not be seen but to also see. From around the hallway piller, he saw two maids standing next to one of the windows talking to one another.
“Did you see him?” A maid with dark hair asked the other one.
"Who?" The shorter one with a higher-pitched voice asked.
"The Princess’s sons."
"Which ones? She has Three."
"The Middle one.", the dark-haired one said.
The other giggled. "I did. God's, when I heard he looked nothing like his Father, I never imagined he would look so Plain featured. There's not a drop of Valyrian blood within his veins, poor little bastard."
"How the King lets his daughter parade them around is beyond me. He's so clearly a bastard, the brown curls, the pug nose, even the eyes are dull and not purple."
"He definitely takes after Ser Harwin Strong doesn't he. Such strong features."
They both giggle to themselves unaware of his presence as burning tears rolled down his face. Lucerys turned away and ran down the hall. The word bastard repeats in his mind over and over again. He ran back into his chambers and curled up in the sheets of his bed weeping into his pillow. He tossed and turned those nights, his thoughts consumed by that word, that's how his maid Elora finds him.
"Don't let those nasty words get to you little prince, their just sour o'l prudes that didn't get beat enough to learn not to spread false rumors. Now let's get you freshen up."
So now here he sits as Elora finishes his hair." There we are little prince right an proper you are."
His once unruly curls are now brushed as loose as possible, many learned long ago his hair was nearly impossible to brush back and lay down unless it was tightly braided which Luke didn't like to do very often. He now had earrings on both ears with a pearl hanging on each one, another gift from his grandsire Corlys.
"Thank you, Elora."
"No need to my Prince can't have Driftmarks heir going out looking like a wastrel can we. Now hurry along or you'll miss your brothers match." She gently and playfully pushes him along as he makes his way to watch his brother Jace practice with their uncle Aegon, Aemond and Daeron.
Luke like his uncles they all make him happy and laugh, sometimes uncle Aegon picks on Aemond though and pulls mean pranks on him that Luke doesn't like, especially when Jace decides to join in on them.
Luke knows Uncle Aemond's lack of having a dragon of his own hurts him and more than once Luke has sat down in the gods woods with him. Uncle Aemond not easy to understand, he's quite mostly and doesn't express his true feelings to very few people except for his mother, so it takes Luke a long time for his uncle to feel vulnerable with him and express his true emotions.
One day Uncle Aegon pranks took on a crueller strike and he and Jace dressed up a pig labeled the pink Dread for his lack of a dragon, Luke had chastised Jace for going along with it especially when he learned his uncle almost died trying to tame Dreamfyre.
He found him later in the godswoods later on his face and silver hair covered in sooth smelling of a raging fire and ash. He leans back and takes a seat next to his uncle who's head lays in his lap.
"I'm sorry for Jace being mean. He shouldn't have went along with your brothers prank."
His uncle doesn't look up but responds to him "it's not fair." Aemond says with frustration in his voice.
"What’s not fair?"
"They said they found a dragon for me. But it was a pig." his uncle allowed body shakes allowing Luke to see his true emotions."everyone, everyone has a dragon but me, I bet even Joffrey's egg will hatch without a problem. It not my fault my egg didn't hatch that it remains lifeless and cold."
"It's not."
"Then why do people whisper behind my back and say it is, that I'd be better off at the Citadel become something worthwhile!" His uncle finally looks up and tears of anger flow down his face." I bet even you think that too."
"What no qybor, I don't not even for a second."
"Yeah right, I bet you you and your brother make joke about me, the dragonless, useless second son. Like I don't stay long after our sparring session end to practice with the blade, as if I don't spend sleepless nights studying philosophy and history!"
Luke doesn't think before he acts and brings his uncle into a tight embrace." You'll have a a dragon one day qybor I know you will. I promise." Aemond hiccups a few times before he brings his arms around him and buried his face into Luke's curls." You'll have the biggest and most fearsome dragon ever and until that day I'll share Arrax with you until you get your own."
They stayed like that for hours until the kingsguard found them and He and Aemond were separate, after that day it seems like his uncle latches to him like a barnacle to the underside to a ship keeping him close and letting out warning growls when other alpha's get close to him. Aemomd also seemed to develop a strange talent for being wherever Luke was. If he happens to be walking in the gardens to play, or in the library Aemomd would somehow come walking along the path with no clear purpose. If he stood near the dragonkeepers to ask after Arrax, there he would be, lingering near enough to look at the dragons and too far to be accused of following. And Jace seemed to notice too and warned him to stay away from him.
Today was no different From above, on the balcony overlooking the courtyard, luke watched the scene as he sat comfortably in a cushioned chair set near the stone railing, as a omega he wasn't allowed to join his brother and uncle in the training yard so watching them after his lessons shouting words of encouragement was the best he could do. Ser Criston Cole, however looked far less appreciative of his encouragement.
The knight stood in the center of the practice yard his brother Jace adjusted his armored chest plate while his silver hair was tied up to keep it out of his face, while he takes in every move, Aegon held a blank expression as he observed Daeron looked eager to start stood to the side as Aemond was beating a straw mannequin under the watchful eye of four boys and the Kingsguard, making sure Luke saw his skills.
"Aemond stop just using the strength of your arms use the entire force of your body to strike the target as hard as you can."
Aemond gets back into a another stance and looks around until his eyes meets Lucerys for a brief moment, before hacking at the mannequin again harder using the entire weight of his body making it shake.
"Well done, Prince Aemond."
"Amazing work qybor!" Luke shouts
Aemond nods at the praise, his pale cheeks turning red at the attention.
"Now the rest of you form up." The rest of the boys stepped forward.
"Today is going to be a sparring session, each of you will go against the other your objective is to disarm or make the other fall off their feet. Give your enemies no quarter."
Aegon was paired against jace, Daeron against Aemond. Aegon looked sure of himself mostly because he is the oldest and tallest of them all while Dearon was as serious as a nine year old could be, and Aemond looks at him again a flicker in his eyes like can't identify, before forcing back on Daeron.
"Blades up," Ser Criston barked
The fight went as luke expected, Jace was a good but he was still smaller than uncle Aegon who was a larger opponent.
Aegon shoved Jace, but his brother was many things but not one to give up easily. Jace forced himself back and re-engage the fight. But it eventually ended up with Jace flat on his arse.
Aemond and Daeron's fight was much the same with Aemond forcing Daeron back, but it changed in an instant Daeron used the hight difference to his advantage. he thrust his own wooden sword forward almost hitting Aemond but was parried. he stumbles Aemond retaliates with several angles of attack, Daeron deftly it all. The princess went for an overhand swing. But it seems Daeron wanted he took the opportunity as he maneuvered his wooden sword up and puts all the force he has and hits Aemond square in his face.
A scream broke out.
Aemond holding his nose, blood dripping through his fingers causing him to let go of his own wooden sword to the ground.
Daeron uses his little body and hold out his arms shoving Aemond making him tumble to the ground.
Ser Criston approached ."Aemond, you lowered your guard and left yourself vulnerable." Criston hold out his hand to Aemond, still gripping his bleeding nose.
"Luke! Luke! Did you see that I beat him." Daeron yells out to like with a big smile with a few missing baby teeth.
"That wasn't really nice Dar." It really wasn't Luke doesn't like to see anyone hurt especially not his family and he wanted to make Daeron apology, however he doesn't get the opportunity as all hell breaks lose. Before anyone could react Aemond was on his little brother shoving him to the ground and rained down punch after punch at Daeron who cries out.
"Aemond stop!"
"Gods grab him."
"Uncle that's enough."
"Stop that little beast."
Ser Criston grips at Aemond's tunic and pulls him off Daeron who covering his head.
Luke Stoos Frozen in place watching as Aemond was dragged away from sight and Daeron was just as quickly taken to see a maester.
"My Prince it probably best we leave. Let's go and find your parents."
"Y...yes, yes let's go."
....
He's called to the kings chambers after supper with his family, word spread about the scene and from what he heard Aemond is confined to his chambers until further notice.
"Aemond has presented as a Alpha, apparently the boy has entered his first rut and lost all sense. He bit some of the guards, almost Alicent herself when she tried to calm him down to take some tonics."
Both his parents chuckled at that.
Luke of course has started learning of presentations and their effects, but he didn't know that a rut someone so violent. Seeing his usually calm and stoic uncle devolve into a rabid beast wasn't something he thought he would ever see.
Approaching the kings chambers Luke is let through a set of wooden double doors Ser Harrold opens the set of doors and announced his arrival.
His grandfather sits at his vast and detailed model. The air is thick with incense and the smell of medical herbs
"Ahh Lucerys come come my boy take a seat."
Luke takes a seat across from his grandfather in a chair so big his legs dangle from the ground."I told you saw the unfortunate events that occurred in the training yard, it was most likely a scary scene."
"It was a shock grandfather, how's Uncle Aemond doing."
"The first rut is always the most difficult, mine was much the same, I was nine name days when I was playing with my father when my insides felt like the flames of the hells themselves burned inside me. I lashed out at everyone near me, my uncle and father and to drag me to my chambers themselves."
"It won't last long Will it."
"It depends on the person, in normal case like myself it lasted only a week, extreme cases last a fortnight. But rest assured Lucerys your uncle will be fine."
"How's Daeron. Aemond hit him pretty hard." Luke pretty sure he saw another of Daeron's baby teeth were knocked out during Aemond's rage.
"a few scraps and bruises, but otherwise he will make a full recovery, now I wanted to talk about a another topic today. Tell me Lucerys are you found of Daeron."
Luke thinks on his grandfather's question, while uncle Daeron is only a year older than him and they get along pretty well and he's never been rude or made fun of Luke, but wouldn't really say he's especially close to him. He tells his grandfather as such.
His grandfather scans his face for a moment, bringing his remaining had to his chin" Lucerys do you like living here. What I mean are you happy."
A swirl of emotions fill him as he thinks of all the stares and off handed remarks about him whispered in the halls he tell him his honesty feelings.
"No, grandfather not really.. I don't know why but I'm not" He knows why but doesn't voice it.
"Lucerys, your mother has expressed her desire to move herself and her family to dragonstone and while I would rather you all stay in the keep I will abide by her decision. But I would like your thoughts about it."
Luke doesn't know what to think, the red keep is the only home he's even known even with all the whispers he now understands accuses him, it's still his home." I don't really know grandfather."
"Lucerys I want to give you the option to choose, however you must know I've been pondering this a while since your mother first came to me."
"What is it grandfather."
"You see Otto Hightower has been sending me requests to foster Daeron in Oldtown for some time and I've been reluctant as has been your grandmother, however I'm not so blind as to see the tension that's been festering between your grandmother and mother. That why I've been thinking of sending you both to Oldtown, I think it would do you both some good to be away from this little spat of theirs. "
Luke was shocked at his grandfather's suggestion
"Grandfather, what about my brothers and Muña and father. Surely they would argue such a thing."
"Your father was the one to suggested to send you with your uncle in the first place."
"W..what!" Papa really wanted him sent away. He feels dread fill his body
"My sweet Lucerys, I'm not so deaf, nor is your father I've heard the vile rumors being thrown around the court, if I could I'd have the preparations tongues cut from their mouths, however the peace of the realm must be kept. And I've been thinking of betrothing you and Daeron."
Luke went to argue but his grandfather cut him off
"Please listen first before you argue it. As the third son he doesn't stand to inherit much but yourself are the heir to one of the richest houses in the realm. So I think you two spending time together being fostered together will do you some good. Grow close to one another and in time when you sit upon the driftwood throne Daeron will be your consort."
Luke takes in his grandfathers proposal, and deeply pounders the options in his head.
"But I will leave it to you, it's your decision my boy, I will not defy your choice and will support it to the best of my ability."
Luke pounders everything in his little head, he doesn't want to be separated from his brothers especially not the most recent addition, and muña and Papa, he feels the threat of tears swelling in his eyes not being able to see them for possibly years, however he doesn't want to leave the only home he and his siblings, mother have ever known just because of the stupid rumors about his parentage just because of his stupid hair and Plain features. He thinks on of all the scowls he's now noticing and more and more talks about him getting more and more overwhelming by the day. The he thinks about Uncle Aemond how much he be alone after his rut, Luke's sure besides himself and Cole, helaena and his mother Alicent, Aemond is practically friendless and alone.
He doesn't want him to be alone...
After what seems like a eternity he gives his answer.