The Prince and His Flower

S E V E N T E E N

"Gods, Aemma! Your face!" Laenor gasped as he took in the sight of his children. Jace had a black eye, Luke's nose was broken, Aemma's cheek swelled to the point it nearly covered her eye, and her hand was tightly wrapped in bandages. 

"How is everyone, Maester?" He questioned. 

"The Princess's hand is the worst of it. I worry about how it will heal; I can already notice a tremor." The maester said as he finished stitching Rhaenyra's arm. Aemma looked down at her hand, which shook from left to right ever so slightly.

"Will it get worse?" She asked.

"Possibly. Only time will tell, Your Grace." The maester wrapped Rhaenyra's arm and took his leave.

"Aemma, I'm sorry. You have to believe me!" Luke cried out as he took his place next to his sister. Aemma smiled sadly at him, with cloth stuffed in his nose as he pouted his lips.

"Luke, I was never angry at you for this." Aemma patted Luke's head as he rested it on her shoulder.

"Are you mad about what I did to Aemond?" He asked. Aemma frowned.

"I... It is a complicated situation. I do not think Aemond should have lost his eye, but there is nothing to be done now." Aemma shrugged her shoulders.

"The Queen wanted my eye. Is that something that would make it fair?" He asked. Rhaenyra and Laenor shared a look, unsure of how to answer.

"Life is not fair, Luke. The Queen could take your eye, but who would pay for Aemma's hand? Helaena? Herself? The best we can do is accept that what has happened, happened. At least now we may return to Dragonstone, together." Rhaenyra said from her chair.

"What? I cannot return to Dragonstone with you. I am to be married!" Aemma said as she gently pushed Luke from her shoulder.

"Aemma, look at what has happened! I do not feel inclined to leave you with that woman, you are my daughter, and I will not sacrifice you to quell any dispute. Not again." Rhaenyra shook her head.

"Mother, I do not wish to remain without you just as much as you do but look at us! Grandsire was right, we are family! Would you prefer to keep yourself isolated with your children while the Realm grows without you? When the time comes, you surely cannot expect the Realm to bow to their new Queen when she was never there!" Aemma exclaimed. Rhaenyra sighed, wondering why the gods gave her a daughter just as stubborn as she was.

"You are my daughter, my only daughter. I will not allow you to return to Kings Landing. We will speak of this no more." Rhaenyra said as Aemma groaned in frustration and left, slamming the door behind her. 

"Leave her be, Rhaenyra. She is just upset." Laenor patted Rhaenyra's shoulder as he ushered Luke and Jace toward the door. "Come on, boys. Let us give your mother some space."

Aemma sat alone at the beach as she played with a rock. It was round and smooth, and the color of the night sky. Aemma switched the rock from her right hand to her left, which still tremored. As Aemma reached above her head to throw the rock into the ocean, she dropped it. 

"Stupid hand, stupid rock, stupid Aemond!" She yelled out as she stood up and kicked the rock. This was his fault.  

"I believe it is rather unladylike to act like that, Princess." Aemma whipped her head around, only to see Prince Daemon standing before her.

"I believe it is rather rude to sneak up on a Princess." Aemma scoffed. "Why are you here?"

"I simply decided to go for a walk, perhaps offer some wise words to a young girl in need." Daemon shrugged as he approached Aemma.

"What wise words would that be?" Aemma asked as she drew circles in the sand with her foot.

"You are a smart girl, Aemma. You have the Queen wrapped around your finger, as well as the prince. You stand to inherit nothing, yet you could rule the Realm if you so wished." Daemon patted her shoulder.

"I am not in line for anything, Uncle. I am forbidden to return to Kings Landing." Aemma shrugged off Daemon's hand as she faced the sea once again.

"You are your own person, are you not? You have a dragon, you may do whatever you please. Burn down the whole fucking city if you wish." Daemon's words captured Aemma's curiosity.

"You are saying I should return to Kings Landing?" Aemma asked.

"I am merely saying you have more power than you realize. Your mother does not see it yet, but I do." Daemon stood next to Aemma as they both watched the sea. "So, tell me, what possessed you to stick your hand in front of the blade?" Daemon asked with a chuckle.

"I did not wish to see his eye cut out." Aemma said flatly.

"And now?" Daemon asked.

"I still feel the same way. I may be angry, but I am not cruel." Aemma turned to eye her uncle, who was still staring out to sea.

"Being cruel is the only way you will ever get what you want, Aemma. You will learn that soon enough. Should you return to Kings Landing, I think you will make a fine addition to the court." Daemon smiled to himself as he thought of all the potential this little girl beside him had. 

They sat together in silence as they watched the ships sail away, Sunfyre, Dreamfyre, and Vhagar joining them. As Daemon watched Vhagar fly toward Kings Landing, he made his final goodbye to Laena, and Aemma felt her hatred grow toward Aemond.

"Aemma?" Rhaenyra knocked on the door to Aemma's chambers.

"Come in." Aemma put her wooden dragon aside as she sat up. Rhaenyra sat on the edge of the bed.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier." Rhaenyra's mouth was set in a thin line. She had a rather long conversation with Daemon, who convinced her to send Aemma back to Kings Landing as a spy of some sort. 

"Why?" Aemma asked. 

"Because you were right. I think it is better that you stay with your family, keep us united." Rhaenyra gave her daughter a small smile.

"When we return to Dragonstone, you will return to Kings Landing, as we had previously discussed." Rhaenyra reached out and stroked Aemma's hair as she contemplated her mother's words. 

"I see. Okay." Aemma said as she thought back to her uncle's words. Rhaenyra pulled Aemma to her, enveloping her in a hug.

"All I want is what's best for you. I love you." Rhaenyra murmured into her daughter's hair. 

"I love you too, Mother." Aemma kissed her mother's cheek.

"I think you and your brothers should go see your father. He is rather stressed out after last night's events." Rhaenyra said as she stood, pulling Aemma to her feet. 

"Aright. Thank you, Mother. I'll miss you." Aemma gave her mother one last hug as she went off in search of her brothers.

Rhaenyra smiled sadly, knowing today was the last day Aemma would ever see her father.

A/N Sorry guys I know this is a short chapter but don't worry the next one will be nice and sad. Also, Daemon is just sooo manipulative he's literally sending Aemma to Kings Landing to try and spy on them.