Burn me • Aemond Targaryen

Favorite Picture

Chapter Four~ Favorite Picture.

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Rhaella stood overlooking the training of the four princes. Seated next to her Father, she read him the tales of old valyria.

Ser Criston Cole had been training the princes for as long as Rhaella could remember, she of course had not been allowed to trained alongside them, The queen claiming no husband would want her if she only knew how to handle a sword, instead of a child.

She was bored of this and so was her father apparently, because he was no longer paying any attention, "This is the stuff. Lads that learn together, train together... knock each other down, pick each other up. They will certainly form a lifelong bond, wouldn't you agree?"

"That is the hope, your grace." Lyonel agreed, he had been the hand for quite some time now, in replace of her Grandfather.

Rhaella was not so sure of the hands assurance. The tension between the velaryon princes and the targaryen princes was ever growing especially now they were again training side by side, it was obvious who were the better opponents.

Aegon hit the stuffed 'solider' let his gaze drift on up to where Rhaella stood, bowing and looking back up with a devious grin. She bowed her head in return.

Cole saw the interaction and rolled his eyes. "Aegon." He cleared his throat.

"I've won my first count Criston, my opponent sues for mercy." The prince grinned.

Rhaella noticed the way Aemond rolled his eyes at his elder brother before going back to hitting the stuffed target.

"You'll have a new opponent then, my lord of the straw. Lets see if you can touch me." Cole said turning away for a moment. Aegon looked up again raising his brow at Rhaella, Aemond again rolling his eyes at his brother. "You and your brother." Criston announced. Aemond attacked first, his wooden sword landing blow after blow against Cristons own weapon. Aegon joined in shortly after, he got a few smacks of the sword before Cole pushed him back into his brother. "You'll have to do better than that" The man said swinging his sword. He gave a hit to Aemond before smacking Aegon with it too.

The two princes both turned their gaze to the princess who was looking down with a curios eye.

Rhaella couldn't quite hear what it was Harwin strong said which made Cole instruct her brothers to spar with her nephews. She only saw him grab Jacaerys by the collar and drag him in front of Aegon. Aemond chuckled at this and then it was when Rhaella heard Cole say, "Eldest son against eldest son."

Again Aegon met the eyes of Rhaella, just as Ser strong confronted Cole. "Hardly a fair match."

Cole sighed, bored of the other solider, "I know you've never seen true battle, ser, but when steel is drawn a fair match is not something anyone should expect." He set himself between the two princes. "Blades up." Swords were lifted. "Engage."

Rhaella knew the fight to be over before it even started, the only slight interest was when Aegon thought to proudly of himself and turned his back on his nephew, only for the prince to jump up and advance on his uncle. The speed Jace came with, swinging his sword meant Aegon had to back up and like the snake he was he used the stuffed target to win one back against his nephew.

"Foul play." Harwin accused.

"I'll deal with it." Criston countered.

Rhaella turned to her father, asking him silently with her eyes.

He nodded in response.

Rhaella ran down the stone steps and onto the gravel.

By the time she had reached Aemonds side, The other two princes had reengaged in battle.

Cole was shouting instructions at Aegon who was clearly beating Jacaerys. "stay on the attack!" he ordered. "Use your feet!" The prince kicked Jacaerys In the chest causing him to fall onto his back, his sword still raised, till Cole shouted. "Don't let him get up!" Aegon beat Jacaerys' sword over and over again like he was trying to hammer a nail into a stone wall. "Stay on the attack!" Cole instructed.

Strong urged forward. "Enough!" He shouted, snatching Aegons weapon from behind.

Rhaella found it unfair, she didn't much care for her nephews but Aegon should know better.

"You dare put your hands on me!" Aegon seethed.

Rhaella scoffed, every chance he got he would flaunt his birth. But status has no place in a fight. She heard her Fathers voice of reason before Cole spoke again.

"You forget yourself strong, that is the prince."

"Is this what you teach Cole?" He spat, "Cruelty to the weaker opponent?" The solider gathered the wooden swords, fallen from the battle. Criston chucked his own, disregarding Harwin as his inferior.

Cole always seemed to hold a distaste for Her half sisters sons, one that Harwin was often on the receiving end of, of course Rhaella had heard the rumours, even from her mother, but Cole was a grown man and even if the rumours were true why was Cole, a member of the kings guard so bothered by the boys?

"Your interest in the prince's training is quite unusual, commander." Cole was taunting Harwin now it was clear, even to a blind eye. "Most men would only hold that devotion to a cousin, a brother." He paused a moment letting the tension set. "Or a son."

Harwin threw a heavy punch into Cole's face, knocking him back a step, another one was thrown surely breaking Criston's nose.

Aemond pulled Rhaella behind him, half guarding her from the chaos unfolding in front of them. "You should go inside, you should not see this."

But Rhaella ignored him, watching blow after blow Harwin sent Cole's way. She could hear the faint shouts of her father, instructing her to return to his side, but all her eyes could focus on was the way Cole was being beaten. There was an art to it, Cole had created the picture and now Strong was painting it, his fists as the brush and the blood as the paint, a beautiful disaster. It may well have just become her favourite Picture.

"Say it again!" Strong shouted, the guards dragging him away from a battered Cole.

Aegon laughed finding the whole situation funny, He hadn't noticed his sister joining them on the ground level. "Enjoy the show?" He laughed.

Rhaella turned her head sharply. "Is this all you do now Aegon?" She smirked at him. "Beat children barely half your age?"

Her brothers smile faltered. "Come now, do not paint me to be the snake when we know you're the serpent poisoning unsuspecting victims." He said lowly, he was making a threat to her, daring her to try and embarrass him.

"Just try and prove it, brother." She replied just as low, looping her arm under Aemond's and walking back inside.

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