House Of The Dragon-For The Queen, Not The Prince

(Third Person POV)

Aemond ducked underneath Vhagar's wing as the old dragon tried to free herself from Vermithor's clutches, jumping away as Aerion slid down her body and onto the ground. 

"Aemond!" Aerion called out as the Prince ran towards the side, "Come back here!!" 

Aerion chased Aemond away from the dragons, The One-Eyed Prince stumbling into the ground, still feeling the effects of the crash. 

Aerion reached him and drew his sword, Lady Rhea, and pointed it at him, "We're not done, Aemond." He said, "This is your last chance. Bend the knee. Swear fealty to Rhaenyra and things will go differently." 

Aemond stood up and drew his sword, "I think not." he said as he readied a stance, "There is no way out other than death." 

"Your Dragon won't make out of this alive, Aemond." Aerion said as Vermithor kept his clutches on the wailing Vhagar, "But you can. Take the black and you'll be spared." 

Aemond narrowed his eye, "You should've given that option to your boys." He said, "The only way peace was an option. Those boys were bastards, Joffrey is a Bastard!! They do not deserve what they have!" 

"They were my boys!!" Aerion shouted as he pulled his helm off of him, revealing his face, covered in sweat, "And they were taken from me, what right do any of you have to decide their fate!! Rhaenyra was willing to give you all a chance!!" 

"It's all over, Aerion..." Aemond said, "You and your wretched whore of a wife, you've gone too far. Taking the lives of those innocent children..." 

"That wasn't us and you fucking know it.." Aerion said as he tossed his helm aside, "Enough of this, Aemond, just give it up! How much more death are you willing to witness to get it through your mind that nothing good will come out of this." 

"You're going to have to kill me." Aemond said seriously, "Brand yourself a Kinslayer." 

Aerion sighed, "If what that bastard said is true, I already am one." 

"Well, come on." Aemond said, "Don't waste my fucking time." 

As this happened, Vermithor ripped apart a chunk of Vhagar's face, following it up with a stream of flames into the old dragon's head, the entire body of the oldest dragon slowly going limp. As Vhagar collapsed to the ground, her entire head burst aflame, Vermithor reared his head up and let out a triumphant roar that was heard all throughout the area. 

Aemodn gritted his teeth, "Fucking....." He muttered as he saw Vermithor limp away from Vhagar's corpse

He lunged at Aerion, thrusting his sword at Aerion. Aerion side-stepped and tripped Aemond, causing him to stumble forwards. Aerion then kicked him in the rear, throwing him face-first into the ground. 

"You were never as good as I was, Aemond." Aerion said as thunder rumbled in the sky which began to darken even more

Aemond stood up with an enraged look on his face, "You....!!" He said as he swung his sword at him, "I'll kill you!!" 

Aerion blocked his sword as the young prince tried to overpower him, trying to push him but he was not budged. 

Aerion easily pushed him away and thrust his sword at his chest, only for Aemond to deflect the sword and counter with his own slash at him. Aerion dodged the slash and countered with another thrust, which Aemond dodged as well. 

"You think you're better than me?" Aemond said as he swung his sword at his face

"I know I am." Aerion said as he deflected it and immediately riposted, aiming for Aemond's thigh

Aemond jumped away, avoiding his blade and lunged right back at him, going for a swing to Aerion's neck. Aerion, however, stepped back, narrowly avoiding the blade. He then blocked a follow-up and then kicked Aemond in the knee, buckling him down hard. Aerion proceeded to shoulder-tackle, throwing him onto the ground hard. 

Aerion stood over Aemond, pointing his blade down at his throat, "Yield." He said seriously, "I don't plan on taking this fight further." 

"Then don't." Aemond said with a glare, "Take your own life. No, take your own eye and I'll probably yield." 

"I told you, didn't I?" Aerion said with a cold tone, "That is no longer an option." 

"Then, I guess one of us has to die." Aemond said 

"I suppose so." Aerion said

Aemond grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it at Aerion's face, causing him to step back as he shielded his face. 

The Prince immediately stood up and thrust his sword at Aerion's face, only for him to dodge the attack. Aemond tried to shoulder-tackle Aerion but upon colliding with the valyrian steel plate, he bounced up as he grimaced in pain. 

Aerion swung his sword at Aemond, the prince deflecting his blade and tried to riposte. Aerion then deflected the blade with his gauntlet, emitting a slight spark. 

"Stop this..." Aerion said as he punched Aemond in the jaw with his left fist, "I don't want to..." 

"Shut up!!" Aemond said as he stumbled, "You fucking coward, plunge that blade into my chest if you want to end this! Do it!!" 

Aemond lunged at him but Aerion swung Lady Rhea downwards, the blade cutting through Aemond's chest, spraying blood everywhere as the prince stumbled forwards and against Aerion. 

Aerion caught Aemond in his arm as the One-Eyed Prince clutched his massive wound which bled profusely. 

"Your teacher didn't teach you well." Aerion said with a grim look on his face, "Don't let your emotions cloud your performance, Aemond. I thought I told you that I was going to teach you." 

Aemond coughed, "You son of a...." He said as he dropped his blade and clutched Aerion's cloak, "You were...always above everything and everyone else.....I...I curse you, Aerion Targaryen...." 

"You curse me?" Aerion said as his emotionless eyes peered at his own cousin

Aemond slowly collapsed to his knees as he bled out, "You will never know peace, Aerion." He said, "Your Wife will never live to enjoy her ass on that throne...I curse her, too...that sister of mine....." 

Aerion crouched down and placed his hand on Aemond's cheek, staring right into his eye, filled with nothing but anger and hatred. 

"I was cursed, the moment I turned my back on you." He said softly, "I will never know peace, you say? Well, I expected that...the moment I flew to war. Aemond, I hope you can find rest on the other side." 

Aemond smiled slyly, "Fuck you." He said before spitting blood into his face, "I am satisfied." 

He then fully collapsed to the ground on his belly, slowly bleeding out and fading out of life. 

Aerion looked at the sight of his cousin, a feeling of dread filling his entire body as he hands slowly trembled. 

He wiped the blood off his face and sighed, "Forgive me, Viserys...." He said softly, "For what I did to your boy...." 

He then stood up, holding Lady Rhea in his hand as his cloak fluttered in the wind. 

Aerion felt the drops of rain fall down and hit him on the head, the droplets bouncing off the cold steel of his shoulder plates. 

He then heard a single footstep, splashing water from a puddle a couple dozen meters behind him. 

Aerion sighed, "I am tired." He said aloud, "Nothing but fighting. Nothing but fire, blood, and death. But I must keep going. And I ask myself, will it matter in the end? I do not know. Ever since you and I fought.....I always felt like strings were being pulled from the shadows." 

As the rain began to pick up, pouring all around Aerion, he heard the faint rumbling of Vermithor as the Bronze Fury lay down on the ground, exhausted from his battles. 

Aerion glanced behind him, seeing his Father, Daemon Targaryen standing in the distance as his own cloak fluttered in the wind, his hair becoming drenched by the rain. 

"You never planned on supporting Rhaenyra, didn't you?" Aerion said, "And Helaena's children.....that was you, wasn't it? Sterling...the Grey Snake...that was you..." 

Daemon didn't respond, he had Dark Sister drawn in his hand as he looked at his own son with a serious look in his eye. 

"You trying to attack me during our clash in the sky...." Aerion said, "That proved me right, my suspicions. Father, what the fuck are you planning?" 

"Oh Aerion." Daemon said, "Now of all time, you call me Father." 

"Because I know what I must do." Aerion slowly turned around, "I'll put her on that Throne and keep her there. No matter what it takes. I have seen what happens. This realm must be united." 

"United?" Daemon said, "By her? I don't know. It is a strong Targaryen that should sit that throne. If not me..." 

"Then You."