The Prince and His Flower

T H I R T Y - F O U R

As Aegon, Aemma, and Ser Erryk walked the streets of Kings Landing, the sun blared down, causing sweat to roll down her back. 

"Where are we going?" Aemma asked as she rubbed the back of her neck. 

"I'm taking you to the docks and selling you off to a slaver. An alehouse, obviously." Aegon rolled his eyes. They had been walking for about thirty minutes now, and Aemma was growing impatient. 

"As if you could get me in chains." She scoffed. 

"I have more than one way of restraining people." Aegon smirked. Aemma rolled her eyes as Ser Erryk tried to hide his disgust.

"Oh yes, I'm sure." Aemma muttered. They walked in silence for a few more minutes until Aemma recognized her surroundings.

"How dare you take the Princess here?" Ser Erryk asked as his eyes roamed around their surroundings. 

"The Street of Silk has many good alehouses." Aegon shrugged. Aemma frowned, knowing he frequently visited the brothels that lined the street. 

"Of course you would know that." Aemma grumbled. Aegon stopped, his head swiveling as he searched for the right building, then reached behind him to grab Aemma's hand as he led her inside. 

Aemma's face flushed and she cast her eyes to the ground as she heard the sounds of pleasure around her. Aegon paid no mind and kept walking through the twisting hallways, his grip on Aemma's hand firm. The sounds faded and Aemma could hear shouting now, out of joy more than anger. The room was large and bustling, filled almost to capacity with men drinking and eating merrily.

Aegon found an empty table and took his seat, pulling Aemma down next to him as Ser Erryk sat across from them.

"I hardly think this is  inappropriate for you, Princess." He said in a hushed whisper.

"I think if I had to stay in that castle one more minute I was going to throttle someone." Aemma sighed as she scratched at the hat. A young serving girl approached, she was stout in the waist, but she had a glow to her face.

"What can I get for you?" She asked impatiently. Aemma looked to Aegon, who furrowed his brow.

"Hm, just ale. Bring the whole tray." He said, throwing a handful of coins down. The woman scooped them into her hand and walked off without another word. "Oh, sorry Aemma. I think I forgot to order for you." 

Aemma laughed and punched Aegon's shoulder. Ser Erryk watched Aegon intently, waiting for him to do something disrespectful to the Princess. Aegon clapped his hands excitedly as the woman returned, setting down the tray full of cups of ale. She quickly divided the cups between the three, then left without saying another word again. 

"These are not for you, I'm afraid." Aegon said as he slid the cups in front of Ser Erryk toward him and Aemma. "Shall we?"

Aemma drained her cup, licking her lips and scrunching her nose at the taste. "It's not very good." She said. 

"Trust me, drink a few more, and you won't even know what you are drinking." Aegon said as he already started on his second cup. 

Aemma belched as she finished her seventh cup, wiping her mouth on her arm. Ser Erryk sat there uncomfortably, his back rigid and his hand resting on his sword. Aegon smiled and patted Aemma's back. 

"Now, now, don't quit on me! You! Girl! Another tray!" Aegon waved his hand at the serving girl, throwing another handful of coins at her. Aemma stretched her arms in front of her, smiling as her anger from earlier in the day began to dissipate. 

"I fear our companion is ruing our mood." Aegon sloppily whispered in Aemma's ear. Aemma glanced up at Ser Erryk, who looked as if he was carved from stone. 

"What shall we do about it?" Aemma whispered back, her hand gripping Aegon's shoulder as she struggled not to fall out of her chair. 

"We'll talk about it after this round." Aegon said, nodding to the tray full of newly poured drinks being set in front of them. Aemma and Aegon clinked their glasses together, laughing as ale spilled on the floor before bringing their cups to their lips.

"Princess?" Ser Erryk asked as he watched Aemma's head swing from side to side, as if it were too heavy for her neck. 

"I'm fine, Ser Erryk, I must relieve myself. Where is the privy?" Aemma asked Aegon as he finished his last cup. 

"It's in the other room. Allow me to show you." Aegon stood, his arm holding Aemma's elbow. Ser Erryk began to stand as well, but Aegon held his hand up. "Hey! Someone needs to watch our table. I'm just showing her where it is, not leaving her for dead." 

Ser Erryk looked from Aegon to Aemma. 

"It's alright, Ser." Aemma smiled, and Ser Erryk hesitated for a moment before slowly sitting back down. As Aegon led Aemma away, he leaned down toward her ear.

"Wait, wait, wait... okay, run!" Aegon laughed as he and Aemma broke out into a run as Ser Erryk turned his back, bumping their way through the crowd, Aegon keeping a firm grip on Aemma so that they did not separate. Aemma felt her cheeks flush as they entered the first room, but the ale made her bold enough to look around at what was happening around her. Indecent acts of coupling were being performed everywhere, and Aemma's eyes widened as she saw two men coupling. 

Their pace slowed to a walk as they made their way to the door, Aegon glancing down at Aemma's flushed face. 

"Curious, are we?" He asked, laughing when turned to him, hitting his shoulder.

"Walk." She commanded, and he obeyed. As they pushed out into the street, Aemma turned to Aegon.

"What now?" She asked. Aegon shrugged and pulled Aemma toward another tavern.

"We keep drinking." He said.

Aemma and Aegon drank until the sun set, moving from tavern to tavern. 

"This one is rather fancy; it has glass mugs!" Aemma said as she held it up to show Aegon. He raised his mug, and they clinked them together, with a little too much force apparently, for the mugs shattered, ale dripping everywhere. Aegon and Aemma looked at each other wide-eyed before bursting into laughter. 

"Hey! You'll be needing to pay for that!" The barkeep shouted. Aegon flicked a coin at him and waved his hand for two more glasses. Aemma had long since discarded her dreadful hat, and Aegon's cloak had been left in one of the many taverns they visited. 

As Aemma downed yet another glass, she sighed and placed a hand on her stomach.

"I think that is all I can drink." Aemma groaned. Aegon looked at her in disbelief.

"Truly? Well, I suppose everyone has their limits. Shall we make our way back?" He asked, holding his arm out to Aemma, who accepted it.

"Do you think they noticed our absence?" Aemma asked.

"Definitely not, they'll probably assume you just stayed in your chambers all day." Aegon assured her, patting her hand as they made their way to the Keep.

As they rounded a corner, Aemma and Aegon were stopped by a dozen goldcloaks. 

"Apologies, Your Grace's, but the Hand and the Queen have sent us in search of you, and request you be brought to them immediately." One of them said as they formed a circle around Aemma and Aegon, who thought the whole situation was funny, and promptly burst out laughing.