ELLIPSISM, aemond targaryen

[014] the lonely crashing of the waves

THE LONGER THE whole event lasted, the more depressing it became. As the sun slowly set, the wind picked up and the waves began to hit the rocks more fiercely.

Aemma spent most of her time with Daemon Targaryen who, to her surprise, was willing to answer all of her questions about his achievements on the battlefield (Daemon was even happy that she was interested.) Although Aemma asked Jace and Luke if they would like to join, the boys refused and Aemma said nothing, as she could see that something was bothering both of them and they were probably nervous around Daemon.

However, it turned out that Aemma and Daemon got along well and were able to talk about anything despite their age difference and some differing opinions. That was something Rhaenyra had figured out after watching them for a while and it was the first thing that brought a smile to her face that evening.

Daemon noticed that something else had caught Aemma's attention and looked down to the sea where Laenor Velaryon was standing waist deep in the water and staring ahead.

"Your father is not taking the loss easily," Daemon pointed out.

Aemma shook her head sadly. "He lost his sister, it is understandable that he is suffering. However, it seems to me that you are very calm, Prince Daemon."

Daemon hummed and looked at her. "I am reconciled to the fact that people die."

"So you don't miss your wife one bit?" Aemma raised an eyebrow.

"Now, I did not say that, did I?"

"Then what are you saying?" Aemma asked him curiously.

Daemon sighed and shook his head. "You won't leave me alone until I answer you, will you?"

"No."

The man looked at her amused, but then his face became serious. "There were . . . complications during childbirth. All attempts to turn the child failed. In that case, there is only one way to solve it."

Aemma's face dropped. "Taking the baby right out of her womb."

Daemon didn't answer, he just looked away.

"It wasn't your fault."

Daemon turned his head to her. "Why do you think I think it's my fault?"

"Because it's obvious. Firstly, it's a predictable reaction if you cared at least a little bit about Laena. Secondly, since it happened you are tense, you don't talk to people--"

"I didn't do that even before it happened," he argued.

"I heard. However, you did not talk to them then because you feel superior to them and you show it with your attitude, eye contact, but never with words. But now you don't even look people in the eyes. As if you are afraid that you will see condemnation in them, but I think you are also afraid of sympathy. A typical reaction of a person who feels guilty."

Daemon shook his head and let out an amused laugh. Throughout his life, he held the opinion that all the people around him were idiots, and it fascinated him how his brother surrounded himself with such people to help him run the kingdom. Because of this, Daemon held onto the idea that he would be a better king precisely because he wasn't an idiot and didn't plan to surround himself with them. But he was not the king and he was not his successor either.

And here before him stood a little girl who knew more about him from the way he talked and acted than he was willing to tell, she was fighting with a sword that was too big for her and she was smarter than all council members together. Innocent-looking and kind, but at the same time cold-blooded and arrogant.