Ashes In The Castle ||| Aemond Targaryen

three

Aegon and Aemond had a nickname for Naerys. Visenya.

It wasn't to call her a great warrior, no. Visenya was often the forgotten Queen, regarded only as the sister-wife of Aegon the Conqueror. When recounting the tale, many forewent mentioning her name at all. The credit was all to the King.

The nickname was meant to demean her. To call her a forgotten Princess.

Their gripe with her specifically was not her rumoured parentage. But rather it was the fact that she was used to push them. They were compared to her constantly when they were young.

She had already learned Valyrian, she was spending an extra few hours studying, and she paid more attention in their lessons. Naerys was progressing faster than they had in the training yard.

By the time she had stopped trying to be perfect, when she stopped trying to impress her parents in the pursuit of something impossible, it was too late. Aemond and Naerys hated each other.

Because more than anything, Alicent always used Naerys to remind him where he failed. She was a representation of that to him.

It was always slight comments. When they passed each other in the corridor, when they had lessons with the Maesters together.

"Correct, Princess. Well done."

"I knew that too." Aemond would say, glaring at Naerys as she smiled.

"I'm sure you did, uncle. The rats of the Red Keep know all the same."

The worst, though, was the battle training. It was a hard sell for Ser Steffon to convince Ser Criston to let Naerys spar with her brother. But since hearing the words from Ser Harwin, since she stopped trying to be perfect at everything and focused on the training, she'd improved considerably.

"How would I appear if I allowed a lady to spar with a man? It will be unfair." Ser Criston didn't even want to consider it.

"She has been trained to the same degree as both her brothers and uncles. The Princess needs to practice on someone of her same skill."

Criston finally let it happen. But even Jace was hesitant, standing across from Naerys with his wooden sword. He didn't want to hurt her, he'd been convinced by Ser Criston he would take her out immediately.

"Do not go easy on me, brother. I want a challenge."

With Aegon, Aemond, and Luke watching, Jace took her up on that offer. Despite their difference in age, she was a girl. He didn't want to lose to her.

And when they were told they could begin, they both looked at one another for a moment, unwilling to make the first move. Naerys was nervous for a moment, her heart was racing. She had to prove herself, right then.

Aegon yawned. "Can you just knock her over already? I'm bored."

With the words from his uncle, Jace charged at Naerys, his sword pointed toward her. She was fearful for a moment. And only a moment. Before she remembered Ser Steffon's lessons.

"Watch the opponent. You're smaller, lighter, and faster. Use their own eagerness against them."

She saw it with Jace. He thought his strength would carry him to victory, he had no care for form or strategy. Naerys did.