บท 91: Trial By Combat
(Third Person POV)
Vaemond took a step back, "You..." He said confused, "W-What?"
"Aerion." Viserys leaned forward, "You will accept the Trial for me, Your King?"
Aerion didn't look away from Vaemond, "I fight for the honor and dignity of my Wife, Your Daughter." He said seriously, "I'll fight on her behalf."
Vaemond looked at Viserys, "This..." he started
"Hm." Viserys leaned back, "Very well. I accept this Trial, this farce. Aerion Targaryen will fight on behalf of my daughter, who you slandered, Vaemond. And the Trial starts now. Name a Champion, if they refuse, well....I doubt anyone else would like to step up."
Vaemond composed himself, giving off a slight smirk, "I choose Daemon Targaryen." He said
There was a low gasp, everyone's eyes laid on Daemon, Aerion's included. This was exactly what Daemon had planned. He wanted Aerion to step up after the Trial was demanded and he wanted Vaemond to name him as champion.
Baela and Rhaena looked at each other, "N-No, not again..." Baela said
"F-Father...he won't." Rhaena said
Rhaenyra glared at Daemon, "You planned this?"
Daemon didn't respond, his eyes were right at Vaemond, who was awaiting his response. Of course, he had wanted this moment to come.
But not for him to fight his son, no. He just wanted to see Vaemond's face when he gave his response.
Daemon smirked, "No." He said simply, "I don't think so."
Vaemon's face dropped, a look of shock and despair crawling on it, "W-What?" he said
Daemon shrugged, "I'm not fighting my own son." He said looking away, "I learned my lesson."
Vaemond scowled, "You.....you fucking snake...!!" He exclaimed, "I should've let you die in The Stepstones!!"
"Aerion should've done the same to you, Ser Vaemond." Daemon said as he looked at him
"Enough." Viserys called, "Is there any volunteer to fight on Ser Vaemond's behalf? If not, he will have to fight for himself."
Vaemond looked around, not expecting anyone to step up. Of course, this was Aerion Targaryen who was standing there, sword drawn and itching for blood.
Aemond leaned into his brother, "Does it have to be to the death?" He whispered
Aegon frowned, "Are you mad?" he said, "Aerion would destroy you."
Alicent scowled as Helaena looked down, "No!" She hushed them
Aerion took a step forward, "It seems nobody is stepping forth." He said, "You're on your own. Draw your sword."
Vaemond looked down, clenching his fists. He didn't expect this to happen. He was a fool to trust Daemon Targaryen, only bad things happen when dealing with The Rogue Prince. And right now, there was no other choice. If he didn't fight for himself, he'd possibly be punished severely, losing his tongue or perhaps being sent to the wall.
But if he fought Aerion, he would certainly die. Aerion is not one for murder, but an honorable one-on-one duel was a different story. He would cut anyone down if it was a proper one of those.
Emotions were running hot. If anything, Vaemond would count on his sons to take vengeance...no...Justice.
He drew his sword as he glared at Aerion, "So be it!" He said as he looked at the imposing figure of The Mighty, "Boy, I have fought in wars long before you sucked on your dead mother's tit."
Daemon closed his eyes and shook his head, "Oh, boy." He said with a slight chuckle, "Adding more fuel to the fire."
Aerion's eye twitched, "Take the first swing, I won't riposte." He said seriously
Vaemond shook his head as he held his sword with both hands, "You..." He said, "You dare mock me?"
"Do it." Aerion said with his sword lowered
Vaemond let out a shout, lunging at Aerion and swinging his sword down at him. In a quick motion, Aerion blocked the sword, drove it down to the ground with ease, and without warning, he kicked Vaemond in the stomach, sending him flying.
Those watching gasped as they watched Vaemond hit the stone floor hard, grunting in pain.
Aerion took a step forward, "Get up." He said seriously
Vaemond got up, "You..." He said, "You allow yourself to be insulted by your own wife?! Fighting for this foolish girl?! What an imbecile you are!!"
He swung his sword again, Aerion dodged it by moving his head back and immediately parried the follow-up as he quickly punched Vaemond in the face, stumbling him hard.
In a quick motion, Aerion reached for Vaemond's sleeve, grabbed it and pulled it hard. This caused the sleeve of his shirt to rip off completely as Aerion slowly stepped back, furling the cloth on his left hand.
He then tackled Vaemond on his side, pushing him to the ground.
Rhaenyra frowned, "What is he doing?" She whispered to herself
Daemon smiled at this, well aware of what Aerion was doing, "He's not going to wipe the blood with his own clothes, is he?" He thought to himself
Vaemond stood up and thrust his sword at Aerion who parried it to the side with ease, flicking his sword at Vaemond's exposed arm.
"Agh!" Vaemond exclaimed as he stumbled forward, his arm bleeding, a small cut on it
Vaemond stopped and looked at his cut, it bled fast, dripping on the floor. The dangers of Valyrian steel. Aerion nicked Vaemond's arm and that much blood was the result. The cut oddly resembled Rhaenyra's scar, caused by Queen Alicent.
Aerion took a step back as he cracked his neck, "Tell me, what kind of blood is that, Ser Vaemond? Velaryon?" He said seriously, "I don't see the difference between that blood and that of the men I've cut down...at the end of the day, Lamentation is stained the same color...Red."
Vaemond glared at him, "I won't be lectured by you, of all people!" He growled, "You, who bring shame to your Family, to your Mother's Family!! You allow yourself to be shamed by that girl, that stupid id-"
"Shut your fucking mouth." Aerion cut him off with a vicious glare, "I've given you courtesy enough....the reason you still stand breathing after uttering those insults to my Wife is because of the years of service to the Crown and to your Brother's Seat, whom I respect. But no more.....in the next few seconds, you die. And if your sons seek revenge, let them, I'll cut their heads off and bury them in the sea next to you."
Vaemond scowled, "You...!!!" He shouted as he lunged at him, thrusting his sword at him
Aerion parried it with ease and in a swift motion, hit him with a riposte, plunging Lamentation through Vaemond's chest.
Everyone gasped at this; Helaena turned around and covered her eyes, Baela and Rhaena's jaw dropped as Rhaenys closed her eyes.
Aegon had an amused look on his face as Aemond's eye had a glint of admiration to it.
Rhaenyra held onto Luke's hand tightly as she and her sons watched with shock in their eyes.
Daemon, however, was smirking, "Yes..." He whispered, "That's my boy...."
Blood poured out of Vaemond's mouth as he looked up at Aerion Targaryen, the man who ended his life.
"Y-You..." He managed
Aerion pulled his sword out, wiping the blood away with the cloth form Vaemond's shirt as he walked past him towards Rhaenyra, an apathetic look on his face.
Vaemond clutched on his wound as he collapsed to the ground, the light leaving his eyes.
There was silence in the room, nobody made a noise, save for Aerion sheathing Lamentation and merely standing next to Rhaenyra, grabbing her hand and looking at Viserys.
To say that the King was speechless was an understatement. He just watched his nephew mercilessly kill a man in front of him, fighting for the honor and dignity of his daughter.
Nobody made a noise still.
Except for Daemon, who was snickering.
He leaned the sheathed Lady Rhea on the floor, "What a fucking idiot." He said as he looked at Vaemond's dead corpse, "Who gave him the idea of demanding a Trial by Combat in front of Aerion Targaryen?"
"He gets hard by fighting in those."
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