The Prince and His Flower

S I X

It had been one moon since Joffrey had been born, and Aemma couldn't wait for him to actually do something. He just sat there and cried, ate, slept, and then cried again. Aemma and Luke stood in the nursery over Joffrey's cradle and watched as he lay there, doing nothing. Again.

"Do you remember being this boring when we were babies?" Luke asked, looking at his sister. Aemma slowly turned to Luke and looked at him as if he grew another head. 

"Are you simple-minded? Why would I remember that?" She shook her head. Luke rolled his eyes. 

"I don't know. Maybe you were nicer when we were babies." Luke folded his arms and walked out, leaving Aemma alone with Joffrey, save for the wetnurse sitting in the corner. 

"Joffrey, I truly hope you're smarter than your older brother." Aemma reached down and poked Joffrey's nose. She gasped as he smiled. His first smile! Luke would never believe it. Aemma turned and ran after her brother, but instead spotted Aegon as he was walking through the halls.

"Hello, my betrothed." Aegon bowed dramatically and placed a sloppy kiss on Aemma's knuckles. She wiped her hand on her skirt and looked away. Aegon had been kind enough when they were first betrothed, spending many days with Aemma walking about the Keep, playing together, and even flying together on Terrax and Sunfyre, but now he seemed to no longer care for appearances.

She had seen him drunk more often than sober in the past few moons and he made comments about how he couldn't wait for her to bleed so he could take her on their wedding night, or how his eyes would hungrily rake her body, even though she hadn't flowered yet. She had begun to hear the rumors that surrounded his frequent visits to the Street of Silk and the many whores he kept around. 

"Hello, uncle," Aemma replied curtly, already wishing for the conversation to end.
"Now, Aemma, is that any way to greet your husband-to-be?" Aegon smirked as he gazed at her lips. Aemma's cheeks flushed and she took a step back, Aegon following her. He must be drunk, Aemma thought to herself. Aegon had always become rather vulgar once his cups started flowing. 

"I don't think that would be proper, Aegon." Aemma continued to step backward until her back touched the wall.

Aegon stood before her and placed his hands beside her head, trapping her in place. Aemma wanted nothing more than to kick him between his legs and run away, but she knew the trouble she would be in with the Queen if she harmed him. 

"I think that I am to be your husband, I can do with you whatever I please," Aegon murmured, dipping his head down towards Aemma's lips. Aemma closed her eyes and cringed away slightly, and as she smelled the stench of alcohol from his open mouth, her stomach twisted itself into knots.

"Ah, there you are, brother. It's time for training, don't you think?" Aemond suddenly appeared behind Aegon and roughly grabbed his shoulder, pulling him away from Aemma. 

"I think I'd rather skip training today; I fear I've had too much to drink." Aegon burped. Aemond frowned and grabbed Aegon's arm and led him away, turning around to smile at Aemma, who let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. It felt as though Aemond had been coming to her rescue quite often lately whenever Aegon attempted to be unbecoming towards her. She frequently sat with Aemond in his chambers as of late, talking about Terrax or what they had learned in training. She even showed Aemond Dragon's Breath, allowing him to hold it and examine it. Aemma didn't even give Luke the honor of holding her sword, but she found herself growing closer to Aemond as he suffered from being the butt of the joke from his brother and nephews more often lately.

Aemma waited until the two brothers rounded a corner before turning around and walking toward her mother's chambers. She did not knock as she pushed the door open and found her mother sitting at her desk reading a book.