Chapter Text
The birth of Lucerys Velaryon was a scandalous affair. Even more so than the birth of the future King of the Seven Kingdoms. Prince Jacaerys was born with dark hair and dark eyes, quite unlike his so-called father Laenor. Rumors swirled about his dubious parentage and when Rhaenyra gave birth to her second child little over a year later, there was anticipation on how he would appear. Not only was the second born dark haired and eyed, but something more was present. Something unseen for many generations. Rumors spread, gossip mongering Lords with no other real scandal to occupy them were riveted.
Princess Rhaenyra was a scandalous woman and from her came scandalous and sinful children. Wrong in the eyes of the Seven. Wrong for the throne. Mere whispers of course, as the King’s word was law and his adoration for his eldest daughter easily transferred to her children as well. For now, all the people could do was talk. Of course, Luke had no memory of this, being newly born and all. It would be sometime before those whispers became a roar.
Luke was six years old when he was promised to Aemond Targeryen. Six was much too young to understand the intricacies of love and commitment. At six he was too busy following his brothers and uncles around to play games. He barely paid any mind to the lingering stares of the adults around him. How they looked at his dark curls and pale complexion in contrast to his father’s. He rarely heard the whispers. That was before he learned to listen.
He was too young to understand what a bastard was.
He barely even understood what an Omega was. Which, according to his mother, he was one. Like her. Same crooked finger, same designation. What more could Luke want in life? He was just like his mother, and that was enough for him. He hadn’t been upset about hearing he was to marry Aemond. At six, Luke had adored his uncle Aemond. Aemond was older, nearly nine and already seemed far more mature. He was an Alpha, the first since Daemon.
He was patient with Luke, even before their betrothal was announced he would make time for Luke. They would read together, or more appropriately, Aemond would read to Luke while Luke would remain pressed against him, absorbing his words and hardly daring to breathe.
There hadn’t been a male Omega in their line for centuries. Corlys had been delighted and firm in his desire to have Luke as his heir. There was a reason the seahorse was used as the Veleryon emblem. No male Omegas had been born outside a Valyrian bloodline. It should have been enough to silence the rumors. It did quell some of them. Not all however. Luke was an anomaly. A blessing some would claim, a curse others would whisper. It was a stain upon the Seven. Perverse and wrong. Queen Alicent had wailed and fought against King Viserys when he announced the engagement. She found it all twisted and shameful. It was bad enough King Viserys had insisted his Omega be his heir instead of his Beta eldest, but to tie her second son to that-
Luke eventually learned what a bastard was.
There was a time before Driftmark. That time was marked with innocence and childhood. No cruel words could reach him, no doubt yet plagued him. He was just a child with little care in the world. He had his family, as lopsided as it seemed at times. He had no reason to fear the future. He was happy; he was content. Then there was after Driftmark, and things would never go back to the way they were before.
After Driftmark, both Alicent and Rhaenyra had requested the betrothal be dissolved. It was a rare instance of them working together, but the King refused. In fact he declared that the incident only made it all the clearer that the two families needed to make more efforts. Prince Jacaerys would need to prepare himself as his mother’s heir.
Every other moon, the crown Princess and Prince Jacareys would travel to King’s Landing to allow them to remain part of the court. Perhaps King Viserys had sensed the danger in allowing his daughter to be kept away from court so long. He wanted her present more, he wanted the Lords to see her, to know that his heir was present. There could be no doubts. Those rumors were meaningless drivel.
Lucerys was to be kept from court, at least for a little while. It was all Viserys could offer his Queen who did not want her son subjected to facing the boy who had maimed him. He would give her a couple years reprieve before Lucerys would join his mother and brother during their visits. Afterwards, Alicent would simply have to accept the boy’s presence.
Those first couple of years passed rather quickly. As promised, mother and Jace would travel to King’s Landing and spend a few days there. Luke didn’t know what occurred during that time. He assumed it was all rather dull. Meetings and such. Daemon often traveled with them, unwilling to allow his wife to be surrounded by vultures.
Neither Baela or Rhaena had much interest in traveling to King’s Landing. Instead they would remain with Luke at Dragonstone. Joffrey sometimes remained back with them. When Aegon was born he was too young to be separated from his mother so there were times that it was just Luke and his stepsisters. Not that he was upset by that at all. He adored his sisters and enjoyed getting into mischief with them.
Soon however, the order came for Luke to begin his visits. The King wanted him to begin spending time with Aemond, to allow affection to grow naturally between them. Luke was not so naive to think Aemond would immediately forgive him for slashing his eye. In the two years since he had seen his uncle there had been only silence. Luke had attempted to write to him at first but those letters were never answered and eventually Luke had given up.
“I wish I could marry Jace.” Luke had sadly confessed one morning after he had broken his fast with the family. Jace and Baela had gone off to spar with father and Rhaena had gone to the gardens as she tended to do each morning. Luke had lingered with his mother, wringing his hands together to the point that they hurt. His mother reached out for his hand, gently pulling them apart. The skin of his hands were reddened and his mother brushed her fingers soothingly over the tender flesh.
“Jace is a Beta my sweet,” Rhaenyra pressed a tender kiss against Luke’s fingers. “The King did not see it necessary to betroth you to him.” Luke quietly wondered if that was the reason or if he didn’t dare wed two bastards and risk the ire of the Lords. Jace was kind. He was gallant and gentle, a good older brother and Prince. How could Luke not wish to wed him?
“Father was a Beta.” Luke pointed out, sullen and miserable. His mother smiled fondly, sadness in her eyes.
“He was.” She agreed. “But it is different for you. A woman has more ease with…” She seemed to struggle to explain it to a child without sounding crass. “We are both Omegas, but I am still a woman and someday you shall be a man. It can be a little more challenging for the men, unless they are with an Alpha.” Betas and Omegas had married before. It was true that Alphas and Omegas had a higher probability of children. That was always the excuse. The children. The future.
Before Driftmark Luke had been excited at the thought of marrying Aemond. He was quiet and serious but kind and smart. He usually gave Luke his strawberries at dessert time and Luke would sneak him his apples. They already seemed to have a system down. They had no trouble sharing fruits, marriage would be so easy. Now he was not so sure. He had almost hoped the betrothal would have been called off, but it seemed luck was not on his side. In three days he would travel with his mother and brother to King’s Landing in an attempt to seal the rift between him and Aemond. Easier said than done.
“Aemond hates me.” Luke reminded her, hating that he felt his lip begin to wobble. He was too old to cry like a baby, but it seemed all he could do.
“Oh my sweet,” Rhaenyra cupped his cheek. “It is not an easy road you will travel, but love can occur in the most unexpected of places.” Her smile was reassuring but Luke’s chest still ached heavily. His mother finally stood, offering him his hand, informing him they would go for a little walk together. Luke had never been one to deny his mother before and he would not start now, accepting her hand and following her as she ushered him from the dining hall.
Soon, she and Luke walked hand in hand along the shore. Luke could hear the waves of the water beating against the rocks, the gulls flying overhead. For a moment they simply walked in peaceful silence, until his mother gently turned him away from the oceans and directed him to look down.
“What do you see?” She asked and Luke’s brows furrowed in confusion.
“Sand?”
“Hmm, anything else? Anything beneath the sand?” She prompted and Luke squinted. All he saw was wet sand. He shook his head and his mother knelt down.
“Mother, your dress will get dirty.” He bemoaned. Rhaenyra seemed unconcerned as she dug her fingers into the damp sand, digging down. Luke’s curiosity got the best of him and he knelt down with her and watched as she dug. She was like a young girl at that moment. Luke could practically see the child she had been, digging through the sand with her eyes alight in excitement.
He quietly watched her, curious on what she was digging for. Soon, she made a pleased noise and after a moment pulled her hand free, opening it to show what nestled in her sandy palm.
It was a tiny little crab. Luke almost could have mistaken it for a spider if not the little claws. It remained perfectly still in Rhaenyra's hand as she showed it to her son, those odd little black eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
“You see nothing but sand now, but underneath that layer, there are many creatures just like this one. That is like love. You may find there is more than meets the eye.” She gently coaxed the tiny crab into Luke’s hands and he cradled it with a surprised little coo, as if this tiny crab was precious.
“Are you saying Aemond is a crab?” Luke asked as the little creature scuttled along his palm. He heard his mother laugh and it sounded like bells.
“I am saying to allow your heart to remain open, sweet boy.” She urged gently, “You may find happiness when you least expect it.”
“Oh…Aemond is a bit crabby.” Luke managed a weak joke and his mother smiled warmly at him, eyes alight. Luke finally coaxed the crab back into the dug sand, he and his mother carefully covering it back up, allowing the crab to remain peacefully in the dark.
It was better to be Beta. That was what the Seven had always claimed. Alpha’s were too wild, too violent. Maegor had been an Alpha as was his mother Visenya. It was wrong enough that a woman could be an Alpha. Not to mention the rumors that she could impregnate other women. Perhaps a simple rumor. She was the last and hopefully would remain that way. All she was spat on the face of the Mother. Cruelty clung to their names like shrouds. Daemon Targaryen was an Alpha and had certainly lived up to that designation. They were too wild to lead, better for war and death than the safety of a realm.
Omegas were a trickier group all together. Certainly a woman omega was not much different from a Beta, save their fertility was much more abundant. Good Queen Alysanne had been proof enough of that. She was dutiful and loyal, a woman of high morals to both her King and her realm. She was what an Omega should strive to be. Princess Rhaenyra however was the opposite. Wanton and selfish with her love. Pushing out bastards with no remorse and trying to pass them off as true born. Each spawn as sinful as their mother.
Aemond had grown up hearing all of this. Part of him wondered if he should be ashamed by being an Alpha but he found he couldn’t be. Daemon and Maegor were warriors. They were feared and respected. Soon, Aemond would be as well. His mother may fret about it, but it was beyond her understanding. Alpha’s and Omegas were not common among most people. Years and years ago it had been more prevalent but now it seemed that only those with the blood of Old Valyria had such a “gift”.
To Aemond it was also a curse because as an Alpha he was immediately tied to the only other Omega born to the family since Rhaenyra.
Luke.
Having to marry the very bastard who had crippled him was an insult. He wanted to refuse, wanted to rage at the King, tear his crown from his rotting head and beat him with it. He wanted to take Vhagar and burn Dragonstone to cinders, burn Luke Strong to nothing but ash and dust, just like his father.
Just like both his fathers.
Viserys had betrothed them as children. Aemond could recall his mother’s protests, almost hysterical in her grief.
“You cannot think to promise my son to that-” she had caught herself before saying what she had wished to. “That boy! It is not natural, Viserys. He is a boy!” Her voice was sharp and cutting, bouncing off the walls.
The King had been unmoved. Unmoved by his wife's tears and unyielding to her pleas.
“He is an Omega, Alicent.” Viserys had firmly reminded her. “And as an Alpha, Aemond would be best suited with him.” He had refused to yield to Alicent’s tears and pleas as he so often did. Aemond sometimes wondered if that was why he acquiesced to her demands to not allow Jace and Helaena to wed. It was her way of gaining back control.
He could remember little Luke Strong approaching him as he broke his fast with his brother and sister. “You don't mind marrying me?” Luke had asked as he slipped into the empty chair beside Aemond, watching him with trepidation. In truth, Aemond had always wished he would be with Helaena. This was before she was promised to Aegon. Helaena was kind and gentle. Aemond would have been happy with her. Luke was sweet and earnest. Aemond could learn to be happy with him.
Aemond offered Luke the sweet bread from his plate.
“I am not unhappy.” He had replied as Luke accepted the bread. He could feel Helaena watching them, something knowing in her eyes. Aegon was pushing his food across his plate, looking uninterested in the conversation. Luke smiled at Aemond, his too large teeth sparkling like pearls.
“I am happy to marry you.” He stated confidently. “You’re my favorite uncle.” Aemond’s cheeks warmed at this. He found he couldn’t think of a response.
“Oi!” That caught Aegon’s attention.
“Don’t worry, you are Jace’s favorite!” Luke swiftly assured him and that seemed to satisfy Aegon for the moment and he shot Aemond a smug smile before returning to his food. That of course had been before Driftmark. Before the Pink Dread and all those stupid cruel jokes that made Aemond feel lesser and lesser each time. He knew now it was his brother who was the ringleader and his nephews nothing more than simple minded cronies, but at the time he thought they were all monstrous and cruel. He thought they constantly plotted these little pranks together. Perhaps Luke Strong was too young to understand the cruelty in them, but he followed. Always eager to please his brother who was always eager to please Aegon.
No one wished to please Aemond. It was like a splinter under his flesh, that no matter how much he picked at it, no matter how much he bled, it continued to fester and burn. He was an open wound that could not and would not heal.
And Luke would always come to him afterwards, stupid and ignorant of his actions and like a fool, Aemond would forgive him again and again. He did so until the night Luke slashed that dagger at his face. There would be no forgiveness for that.
The pain had been consuming those first few weeks. Aemond would awaken, howling and sweating, desperate for the agony to end. Desperate for it all to end. He had to learn to walk, his vision impairing much more than he had anticipated. He had been clumsy, fumbling around like a foal and feeling pathetic. His mother was a constant, always hovering and trying to offer him help. His grandfather had been an unmoving wall, disconnected as he had always been. He wanted Aemond to heal on his own. The King of course had no time for Aemond or his pain. It had been Cole who helped him in those days. Helped him regain his independence. Helped him see that he was more than what he had lost.
“You will master yourself,” Cole had assured him. “This weakness will soon become your strength if you let it.” Criston Cole was the closest thing Aemond had to a father. He would not wish to let him down.
The oddest thing to come out of all of this was Aegon. It started small, Aegon coming to visit him while he recovered in his rooms. He would offer him tomes, which was surprising as Aemond had often assumed Aegon could not read. Yet from the looks of the tomes Aegon had brought him it was highly likely he had simply waltzed into the library and grabbed the first thing he touched before leaving. Tomes on agriculture, tomes on different rock formations. Tomes on religion. Hardly anything Aemond would read in earnest, but he appreciated the effort, even if he had been testy and angry those first couple of visits.
Aegon would also bring treats and wine. He didn't coddle or push Aemond and sometimes he was biting and cruel, but Aemond appreciated him all the same. Aemond had pointed the finger at Aegon that night, yet Aegon seemed to hold no anger towards him for it.
“You had the last laugh in the end,” he had informed Aemond during one of his visits as Aemond lay in his bed, miserable and in pain. “You now ride Vhagar…ugly as she is, you ride a dragon from our ancestors. You will recover from this and when you do, don't let anyone forget what you did.”
It was the closest thing to a compliment Aemond had received from his brother. The King had none to offer and his mother could not see past his injury. Helaena had little to say on the matter as she often did and Otto Hightower rarely had time for him. Aegon however saw him.
Perhaps he felt guilty. Or maybe he was bored. He didn’t have Jacareys to play with as he used to, so it was just that Aemond was around. Aemond found himself clinging to it. Not the first choice, but still a choice. Aemond found he enjoyed this version of his brother much better.
It started like that, but for Aemond it allowed a bit of warmth to sit in his chest, a childish sense of happiness to have his brother and biggest tormenter, treat him with kindness rather than malice. It did not take long for that happiness to change as well. He found himself daydreaming less about Helaena and more about his elder brother. He would sit next to him during meals, watch him laugh without a care in the world, the way his head tilted back, the way his curls fanned around his shoulders. He was enchanting; he was divine.
He was a Beta, and promised to Helaena while Aemond was chained to the little beast.
Aemond was the second son. Set to inherit nothing. Even being married to the bastard he was a mere consort. He often wondered if Daemon Targaryen had such feelings, marrying the woman who some said would one day be Queen. Not just a woman, but an Omega. Would he bend the knee if the time came or would he strike her head from her shoulders and claim the crown himself?
Aemond didn't doubt there were those who hoped he turned on her. Like a rabid dog. He could recall one of the Lannisters saying something about how male Lions will kill cubs that were not their own, hinting that perhaps Daemon would take care of the bastard problem himself and be executed for such “horrible” treason. Aemond also remembered his mother's mouth thinning in displeasure at the thought. It was not brought up in her presence again. Women have such delicate sensibilities.
Queen Alysanne had been an Omega. Before her was Queen Rhaenys.
Some believed that was the true meaning of the dragon having three heads. Three Targeryens, an Alpha to protect, a Beta to lead, and an Omega to nurture. Visenya, Aegon, and Rhaenys. Could it mean there had to be three for the dynasty to prosper? Is that why each King after Aegon never quite reached the might and glory he wielded? Maegor was an Alpha who had taken many wives. Omegas and Betas, but his reign was filled with blood and death and ruin.
If Viserys had found an Omega and Alpha and wed them equally, would that have made a difference? Both his wives had been Betas, same as him. If Rhaenyra was crowned and she and Daemon wed a Beta, would the might of the dynasty be promised? Or would it end up like Maegor? Aemond often pondered this, quietly of course. He did not dare speak of it around his mother or grandsire. They would have balked at such childish musings. Still, there was a time as a child when he thought he would not wish to be married to anyone but Luke, simply because for once he would have something that was well and truly his.
He had always hated sharing.
Which is why when his monstrous half sister and her eldest bastard began their visits back to the Keep, Aemond had been quick to make himself scarce. He would train with Cole, who he suspected was also looking for excuses to avoid the Princess. He didn’t want to spend his time near the eldest bastard. He was smug and held an air of superiority that he had not earned. Aemond now flew the largest dragon, yet somehow he still felt small. That small feeling intensified as he noticed Aegon often hanging around him, all easy grins and laughs.
It wasn’t fair.
If only Aegon was an Omega. Then maybe they could have been betrothed instead. Or if Helaena was an Omega. Then all three of them could be together. Safe and happy. No wicked bastards to get in the way or hurt them. It was as if he was without a dragon all over again, alone and less than and somehow Jacareys had his hooks in his brother. Jace was no Alpha. He was another Beta. Two male Betas could never wed. It was frowned upon, it was a sin. The pleasure of the flesh with no chance of a child? Aemond ought not worry too deeply. Yet that doubt lingered and gnawed at him, threatening to bite a hole through his heart and bleed him out.
To make matters worse, it seemed his mother and whore half sister were attempting to mend their own tattered relationship. Be it by the King’s decree or their own efforts, they were often seen together. Most of the conversations seemed tense and polite, but Aemond could see that softness in his mother’s eyes when she looked at Rhaenyra. Cole said Omegas could entice and weaken the strongest of hearts. That he should guard his heart lest it be bested as well.
He would do so. Jace was meaningless. His visits sporadic enough that Aemond could ignore him. Luckily, the second bastard was not permitted to join them at first. It allowed Aemond the space he needed. He would train with Cole, he would sharpen his wit and his body to a cutting edge, to ensure the next time Luke Strong got too close, he would be the one to bleed instead.