The Prince and His Flower

T W O

Aemma had grown up around Harwin, who was the Commander of the City Watch. He would even train her alongside her father when he was free from his duties. Whenever she grew tired of her lessons, Harwin would allow her to follow him around during the day and she loved every moment of it. Harwin enjoyed it as well, his daughter acting as his shadow, asking questions, and showing genuine interest in his duties.

"Harwin!" Aemma smiled up at him. "My book is terribly dreadful, I've learned all I need to know about the Conquest, yet Septa Cerissa makes me read it over and over again." Aemma sighed dramatically, earning a chuckle from Harwin, who loved her theatrics.

"It does indeed sound dreadful. In that case, I shall tell her I haven't seen you. But move quickly my sweet, for I cannot speak for anyone else." Harwin flashed her a grin and quickly returned to his duties, lest anyone see him leaving Princess Rhaenyra's chambers.

Aemma sighed in relief as she finally reached her chambers, excited to wash away the dirt and sweat that had accumulated after her spar with Jace.

"Prepare me a bath, please." Aemma waved her hand at her maid as she began to undo the laces of her dress. The maid worked quickly and silently as she prepared Aemma's bath, and as she was soaking, her mother's head peered in from the doorway. Rhaenyra smiled at her as she pulled a stool next to the basin and sat with her daughter. 

"I heard you abandoned your lessons today, my sweet Flower." Rhaenyra picked up a brush and began to brush her daughter's hair. Aemma felt her cheeks flush as her mother called her out. 

"How did you know?" Aemma leaned into her mother's touch. 

"I have my ways of knowing. My ways of knowing are also known as Luke." Rhaenyra laughed. 

"Of course, he told you. Did he tell you how I beat Jace in our spar today as well?" Aemma turned around and smiled at her mother. Rhaenyra didn't appreciate her defecting her lessons for training, but she learned long ago if Aemma wanted to do something, it would be done. 

"He did. Although I wish you would attack your lessons with the same enthusiasm, I am proud of you." Rhaenyra turned Aemma's head back around as she continued to brush her hair. 

"Your grandsire has requested that we all have dinner together. We should arrive within the hour. Would you like me to braid your hair?" Rhaenyra asked, laughing when Aemma turned around with so much excitement water splashed everywhere. 

"Yes, Mother. Sorry!" Aemma said. Her mother drained the basin and wrapped Aemma in a robe.
Aemma was excited to dine with her family, it was one of her favorite times of the day. Aemma loved spending time with her grandsire and the Queen, despite the obvious tension between the two women that hung over the room.

She adored her sweet aunt Halaena and often sat in the gardens with her as she admired her bugs. She and Halaena had been similar, they see things. Dragon dreams were what Viserys called him, and he claimed he suffered from them too. Aemma was not so sure of her grandsire's words, but it made her happy to know that she and Helaena were not alone in what they saw.

"Do you like your hair?" Rhaenyra tied off the braid and let it rest over Aemma's shoulder. She had adorned it with beautiful sapphires around the crown of her head and let the braid drape over Aemma's shoulder. Aemma gasped and her face brightened up as she took in her hair through the mirror. She turned and threw her arms around her mother.

"Thank you! I love it." Aemma beamed. Rhaenyra placed a kiss on her daughter's head and wiped her hands on her skirts. 

"I'm glad you like it, my sweet girl. I must ready myself now, I shall have one of the guards fetch you when it is time." Rhaenyra took one more look at her daughter as she left the room.