The Prince and His Flower

T W E N T Y - E I G H T

Aemma and Helaena giggled as they shared stories, their heads pressed close together, hands clutching each other when they would burst into another fit of laughter. Everyone was present, save for Viserys, who had fallen ill yet again.

"You two seem awfully happy this morning." Alicent said with a smile as she watched her daughters. 

"When aren't they this happy?" Aegon asked as he nursed his cup of wine. Aemma rolled her eyes and playfully punched his shoulder, only to return to her previous task of giggling and whispering with Helaena.

"Then I told him that I should have betrothed myself to Daeron instead," Aemma whispered, laughing as Helaena's eyes went wide with shock. 

"You did not! He gets so jealous when you spend time with Daeron and Aegon." Helaena said as she raised her hand to cover her mouth. Aemond wondered what the two girls were talking about when Aemma's gaze flickered from Helaena to him. He held eye contact until she looked away to continue her conversation with Helaena. 

"Drinking already, brother?" Aemond turned his head toward Aegon, who already began to refill his cup. Aegon simply shrugged and brought the cup to his lips.

"I am a man of many things, and a man has needs. My needs are wine." Aegon said, licking his lips and glancing toward Aemma. His heart yearned for her, it craved her, it needed her. He had her, just not in the way he wanted, but he knew this was the only way. 

"Hm, to each their own," Aemond said as he brought his fork to his lips. 

"How has marriage treated you, Helaena?" Otto asked, his first words of the morning. Aegon and Helaena shared a glance before she smiled at her grandsire.

"Very well, thank you." Helaena nodded awkwardly before sipping her tea.

"Soon enough it will be Aemond and Aemma celebrating their marriage," Alicent spoke. Aemma smiled meekly at Aemond, who returned her smile with an equally awkward one. "I cannot wait to see the grandchildren you both will give me."

Aegon dropped his cup, wine spilling onto the table. Aemma stood as the wine threatened to stain her light blue dress, grabbing the nearest rag to dab at the mess.

"You need to be careful, Aegon," Aemma said as she dabbed at his chest, trying to wipe off the wine that had splattered. Aemma's touch brought him out of his trance, for he grabbed her hand, and stood abruptly. 

"Please excuse me." He mumbled as he hastily made his way out of the room, bumping into the servant that was summoned to clean his mess. Aemma looked to Helaena, but she simply shrugged and tugged Aemma's skirt for her to sit back down. 

"Oh look, meat pie!" Helaena clapped her hands as the servants brought it out. Aemma smiled at her aunt and sipped on her tea. Aemma looked to the door, wondering about Aegon's outburst, before shaking the thought and enjoying the rest of her meal.

As Aemma worked on her embroidery, her thoughts drifted back to her dream. She wondered what she and Luke were scared of, why they were falling. As her hands unconsciously embroidered, Aemma worried about her brother. 

"That's beautiful Princess! Is it for Aemond?" The septa asked, snapping Aemma out of her thoughts.

"What?" She asked. The septa nodded toward Aemma's embroidery, a near-perfect picture of Vhagar. Aemma blinked before setting it aside and starting another one.

"No." She shook her head as she focused this time, embroidering a seahorse. Helaena had watched the interaction carefully, her lips pursed. She wondered what Aemma was thinking, but knew not to push the matter. 

"I think he would love it," Helaena said, smiling at Aemma and reaching out to take her gloved hand in hers. Aemma looked from their hands to Helaena and smiled.