The Prince and His Flower

E I G H T

As Aemma sat on the ground next to her grandsire and his Hand, Lord Lyonel Strong, she found her eyes wandering from the pages towards the training yard, where Ser Criston seemed to put all of his efforts into instructing her unless leaving her brothers to aimlessly swing at the straw dummies. Ser Criston stood before Aemond as he attacked the dummy.

"Soften your knees." He said. "Keep your feet light." Viserys laughed as he watched his sons and grandsons train.

"This is the stuff, Lyonel." Viserys looked down at Aemma, who had completely disregarded her books in favor of watching her family train.

"I feel as though you should be attending to your lessons, Aemma. But I will look the other for today." Viserys reached down and stroked Aemma's hair.

"Thank you, grandsire. I just find it so entertaining." Aemma's eyes trailed back to the training yard as she wished she could join them.

Aemma frowned as Aemond hit Jace's sword out of his hand, knocking it to the ground. It appeared he harbored some ill feelings after the nasty prank that was played on him earlier in the day.

"Don't stand too upright my prince or you'll get knocked down." Ser Criston advised Aemond. As Aegon finished his attack on his dummy, he quickly grew distracted as he shared looks and waves with a passing group of maids. Aemma rolled her eyes, feeling bad for poor Halaena. After Rhaenyra convinced Alicent to end their betrothal, she decided to subject Halaena to the same things Aemma faces, though it appears Halaena was slightly luckier as he ignores her just about all of the time.

"Aegon." Ser Criston commanded his attention.

"I've won my first bout, Ser Criston. My opponent is suing for mercy." Aegon dragged his feet.

"You'll have a new opponent then, my Lord of the Straw. Let's see if you can touch me. You and your brother." Ser Criston readied himself, and Aemma abandoned her book on the ground as she stood up to get a better view. Aegon and Aemond took turns attempting to land a hit on Ser Criston, and as Aegon ran at him, Ser Criston simply pushed him out of the way.

"You'll have to do better than that." Ser Criston twirled his wooden sword in his hand as he deflected both Aegon and Aemond's blows at the same time, knocking his sword against Aemond's wrist. As Aegon ran at him the second time, Ser Criston sent him stumbling as he whacked his backside.

As Ser Harwin watched from the sidelines, he decided to advise the young Velaryon boys.
"Ah," he called to get their attention. "Weapons up, boys. Give your enemies no quarter." Ser Harwin spared a glance towards Ser Criston, who gave him a cold stare.

"It seems the younger boys could do better with a bit of your attention, Ser Criston." Harwin mentioned as he walked by.

"You question my method of instruction, Ser?" Criston asked without turning around.

"I merely suggest that method be applied to all your pupils." Harwin countered.

"Very well. Jacaerys," Criston grabbed Jace roughly by his breastplate and pushed him toward his uncle. "You'll spar with Aegon. Eldest son against eldest son." Viserys' brow furrowed as he watched the scene unfold.

"That is hardly fair!" Aemma called out from the battlements. Ser Criston pretended he did not hear her.

"It's hardly a fair match." Harwin agreed with his daughter. Aegon laughed as he grabbed Jace's shoulders as he passed him, excited for the fight.

"I know you've never seen true battle Ser but when steel is drawn a fair match isn't something anyone can expect." Ser Criston placed his weight on his sword that was pointed at the ground.
"Blade up," the boys raised their blades. "Engage."