- ̥۪͙۪˚┊❛ CHAPTER FOUR ❜┊˚ ̥۪͙۪◌
AN UNDEFINED MIND
❛ oh i'm just a kid
i never use my brain
i only use my heart
and my imagination. ❜

❝ My dear Eudora,
Thank you. As if I couldn't
stress that enough. ❞

"HOW could you allow such a thing to happen?!" Viserys' voice echoed, the Hall of Nine falling silent to the King's voice. "I will have answers."

"The princes were supposed to be abed, My King." Everyone watched as the maester began to stitch Aemond's wounded eye up, the five children standing close to one another. The Queen, Alicent Hightower, was filled with distress as she watched her son wince at the stitches being sewn in and out of his skin. It was supposed to be a peaceful night, she didn't expect to wake up to such alarming news, but here she was wide awake with the rest of the people who resided in the castle that evening.

"It will heal, will it not, maester?" Queen Alicent asked, her eyes never leaving the wound.

"The flesh will heal. But the eye is lost, Your Grace," the Maester answered, causing the queen to let out a shaky breath. Immediately she stood up and walked over to her eldest son, Aegon.

"Where were you?" she asked him coldly.

"Me-" Aegon couldn't even finish his sentence as his mother gave him a vicious slap. "What was that for?!"

The queen grabbed her son by both his shoulders, anger threatening to spill from her eyes. "That was nothing compared to the abuse your brother suffered while you were drowning in your cups, you fool."

Just then, Corlys and Rhaenys came marching down the steps. "What is the meaning of this?" his voice boomed, as Rhaenys ran to her granddaughters. The two girls immediately hugged their grandmother, both letting out silent cries because of the hurt. It didn't take her much time to inspect the faces of the two little girls, horrified at how wounded the pair looked.

"Baela! Rhaena!"

"Jace? Luke!" Rhaenyra entered, scanning the room for her sons. Eudora watched as the princess ran towards Lucerys and Jacaerys, as Baela and Rhaena stayed clinging onto their grandmother. The young girl fidgets with her fingers, picking at the skin as she stands alone, blood continuing to drip down the side of her face.

Rhaenys turned to see the girl, eyes widening at the sight. Immediately she motioned Eudora to come over. At first, the girl was confused about who Rhaenys was directing her call to. But slowly she walked over to the woman, and Rhaenys began wiping the blood away from Eudora with a clean cloth.

"My poor, poor girls," the woman mumbled under her breath, looking between the three young girls who stood in front of her. Rhaenys' eyes softened, watching Eudora wincing from the sting. Her hand rests on Baela's cheek, wiping away the tears that came down. "You're all safe now, okay?"

"Who did this?" questioned Rhaenyra, inspecting her son's face.

"They attacked me!" called out Aemond.

"He attacked Baela." a voice spoke, everyone's eyes averting to whom it came from. Realizing it was from the small Stark, Aemond clenched his jaw. The rest of the children began to shout in their defenses.

"He broke Luke's nose!"

"He stole my mother's dragon!"

"Enough," scolded Viserys, but they continued on.

"He was going to kill Jace!"

"I didn't do anything!"

"Enough-"

"It should be my son telling the tale!" Alicent then joined.

"He called us-"

"Silence!" the crowd's bickering went quiet, and all eyes turned toward the king. The fire crackling was one of the only sounds you could hear, it was as if the air was stiff. Viserys took a look around, anger flushed all over his face.

Jacaerys, however, was the one who broke the quiet atmosphere. His mother, still bent down in front of him and his brother, heard him whisper. "He called us bastards," said Jacaerys, Rhaenyra taking offense. She quickly stood up and turned to face the people. She could only see Rhaenyra's back, but Eudora could see her going tense. The Stark's eyes traveled back to the king once more as he spoke.

"Aemond," began Viserys, heavy footsteps following as he sauntered towards his son. "I will have the truth of what happened. Now."

"What else is there to hear? Your son has been maimed, her son is responsible," Alicent answered.

"It was a regrettable accident-"

"Accident?" The Queen questioned, facing Rhaenyra with such grief. "The Prince Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush. He meant to kill my son and harm my guest," her last words gave attention to Eudora, everyone in the room knowing that the girl came to accompany Princess Helaena. It was at that moment that Eudora realized the court believed her friends- well, acquaintances of the night- were there to attack her and Aemond.

Eudora began to shake her head, eyes darting from Alicent to the nearest adult; Rhaenys. "That's not true," she could barely whisper, yet her voice was loud enough for the Targaryen to hear.

"What was that, child?" Rhaenys asked softly, Eudora really wanted to defend the four Velaryons, but before she could utter a word, Rhaenyra spoke.

"It was my sons who were attacked and forced to defend themselves. Vile insults were levied against them."

Viserys had grown confused. "What insults?"

There was a pause in the conversation, Rhaenyra drawing in a deep breath before she spoke once more. "The legitimacy of my sons' birth was put loudly to question."

"What?"

"He called us bastards," then said Jacaerys. It seemed as if Aemond didn't care about the impact of his words, smirking as his nephew spoke. "You can ask anyone who has been there, you must believe us, my King," he pleaded, looking towards his grandfather. Viserys only nodded, but was reluctant to hear from any child.

but from which child should he hear?

He turned to look at his wife, who then had her eye on Eudora. "The Stark should speak," said Alicent, her jaw clenched after her words. It would be better to hear from someone outside of the family, and the Queen believed it would give some unbiased truth. "You were there, weren't you, little girl?" She only got a nod from Eudora. "I demand the full truth, Eudora. Did my son call Jacaerys Velaryon and Lucerys Velaryon... bastards?"

Eudora took a shaky breath, her hands gripping her cloak. "He did, your grace," the girl couldn't look Alicent in the eye. "Aemond told Lucerys that... that he would die screaming in flames, just as his father supposedly did- I'm so sorry, I really am," Her voice grew quiet with every word. Eudora spared a mere glance at Alicent, her gaze returning back to the ground soon after. The girl gave a small bow, then retreated back a few steps where the fireplace's light couldn't reach her. She could feel the Queen looking at her, the whispers around the room, but also a small uplifting comfort. In the sea of adults, Jacaerys and Eudora seemed to find each other's stares, in a second the boy felt more hopeful than before.

Whilst everyone continued to talk and defend their truths, one simple action was made out of Jacaerys. Though bloody, beaten up and bruised, he managed to mouth something to the Stark, one which she was able to read clearly.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jacaerys said, Eudora earning a smile from him. She didn't know what he was thankful for, or why he had to say thank you to her. The girl had to speak the truth, and she did. Maybe it meant more to Jacaerys than it should, but Eudora didn't know what purpose it holds. She only smiled back at him, the sense of comfort coming over the two once more.

But what broke the peace was the Queen's voice. "I shall have one of her son's eyes in return." A small gasp could be heard, followed by quiet murmurs spreading across the room. No one knew whether Alicent was only joking, or if the Queen was serious with her words. It frightened Rhaenyra's boys, however, as both clutched onto their mother warily.

"My dear wife..."

"He is your son, Viserys," Alicent pleaded. "Your blood."

The king only walked to his wife, almost as if he was bothered by her words. "Do not," he began, in such a calm manner. Yet he continued to inch closer to her. "Allow your temper to guide your judgment."

"If the King will not seek justice, the Queen will," she continued, her eyes shifting towards the knight who stood by the throne. "Ser Criston... bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon."

Lucerys stepped behind Rhaenyra, shaking. "Mother-"

"Alicent."

"He can choose which eye to keep, a privilege he did not grant my son."

Rhaenyra drew in a sharp breath. "You will do no such thing."

"Stay your hand-"

"No you are sworn to me!" the queen said with such anguish. An anger blazed in her eyes as she spoke. It was like Alicent had the upperhand now. Criston did not hesitate to give his answer right after.

"As your protector, my Queen-"

"Alicent, this matter... is finished. Do you understand?"

Baela inched closer to Eudora, watching as the king and queen bickered. "I don't like where this is going," she whispered, Eudora nodding in agreement. The young Stark clung onto the Velaryon, whilst Rhaenys kept the three girls- including Baela- close by her side. Everyone stared at Viserys and Alicent intently, well most did as Lucerys was peeking behind Rhaenyra just to see Aemond staring back at him.

"And let it be known, anyone, whose tongue dares to question the birth of Princess Rhaenyra's sons should have it removed."

"Thank you, Father." The matter of the fiasco seemed to be at bay, Rhaenyra turning to her sons, attending to their frightened spirits, Rhaenys and Corlys to the girls. Alicent stayed still, and unpleasantly for a while.

Tears continued to fall down the queen's face, but her look was numb. Everything happened so fast right after, in a flash she rushed to Viserys, swiping the knife from his belt. "Alicent!"

"Hold your approach!" Rhaenyra was quick to turn around, noticing the girl who once was her friend, now wielding a knife raised high at a child.

Screams errupted across the room, from the young Lucerys especially who stumbled back from the rest. Everyone was either rushing to see the scene unfold or trying to protect themselves. Rhaenys was eager to keep her grandchildren safe, her arms immediately circling around Baela and Rhaena. Rhaenyra was holding off Alicent, Daemon with Criston. Jacaerys wandered to find his brother- who had already found his way to the Stark's side. "Luke, Eudora," Jacaerys called out in relief, rushing over to them.

"She can't be serious, right?" Eudora asked Jacaerys, turning to the boy with such worry as her chest began to rise and fall with such pace. He couldn't assure anything would go right, or if his words would comfort her, Jacaerys pressed his lips together in dismay. He only stepped in front of his brother and the girl, putting his arm out in security.

"You've gone too far-"

"I?" questioned Alicent. "What have I done but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law. While you flout all to do as you please."

"Alicent, let her go!"

"Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It's trampled under your pretty foot again!"

Otto wanted to step into the conversation. "Release the blade, Alicent."

"And now you take my son's eye, and to even that you feel entitled."

"Exhausting, wasn't it?" Rhaenyra replied with a breathy laugh. "Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness... But now they see you as you are."

For some reason, this angered the queen. With a grunt, Alicent backed up, cutting Rhaenyra's arm in the process. Corlys was there to catch the princess, but the damage has been done. All eyes were at the princess and the queen. "Do not mourn me, Mother," Aemond spoke, breaking the cold silence. "It was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye... But I gained a dragon."

"... This proceeding is at an end," Viserys spat bitterly, beginning to walk away from the hall.

As blood dripped down the silver haired woman's arm, an unspoken divide was beginning to form. The Blacks on one side, standing close to the princess, and the Greens on the other, where Aemond gently wrapped his arms around his mother, the Queen. One stood out of place, however. In the shadows, watching the room separate, was a young and confused girl- dragged into the unknown- who didn't know where she should stand. Eudora was the undefined mark, at least for now.

((🛒))