The Prince and His Flower

T H I R T Y - F I V E

"We found them, Your Grace." One of the guards said as they brought Aemma and Aegon forward, gripping them tightly by their arms. The guards forced them to their knees in the center of the room. Alicent had been pacing in front of the steps leading to the Throne, her face wet with tears. Otto stood at the side, trying to offer comforting words. 

Helaena stood with Aemond, picking at her cuticles as she mumbled to herself. At the guard's announcement, everyone's heads whipped around to take in the stumbling young royals. Alicent rushed forward and crushed Aegon and Aemma into a hug before quickly pulling away and slapping them both, hard.

"Where were you?" She screamed as she wiped at her tears. She continued to pace as the room filled with eerie silence at her outburst. "How could you do this? Do you know how dangerous the city is for you without a guard?" 

As Alicent rambled, screamed, cried, and screamed some more, Aemma bit her lips to stop a laugh from escaping. She teetered uneasily, looking as if a light wind could blow her over. 

"What would I do without you? How could you be so foolish?" Alicent waved her arms as she paced. Alicent walked to Aemma, looking down at her. "Tell me!" Aemma glanced at Aegon kneeling beside her, his face contorted as he tried to hold in a laugh, but it was no use. As he began to laugh, Aemma could not control herself and doubled down as they laughed, looking like drunken maniacs. 

"Is this funny? You could have been killed!" Alicent yelled as she grabbed Aegon's face, yanking him roughly toward her. "You put your niece in serious danger. Tell me, was it your idea to evade Ser Erryk?" 

Aegon giggled, then his giggle turned into another laugh. "Yes, it was, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves." 

If Alicent looked angry before, she looked positively furious now. 

"Everyone out. Now." Her words were clear, and everyone obeyed. As Aegon and Aemma struggled to get to their feet, Alicent shoved both of their shoulders and sent them toppling over. "Not you!"

Aemma and Aegon lay on their backs, laughing as they struggled to peel themselves from the floor. As Alicent looked down at them, her anger softened. She knew it was hard to be so perfect all the time, but Aegon could have gotten Aemma seriously hurt.

Alicent kneeled down and grabbed Aegon's face. 

"If I find out you coerced Aemma into these acts again, I will send you to The Wall." Alicent said before shoving Aegon's face away from her. 

"Where shall we go now?" Aegon called out. Alicent stopped and turned her head.

"To bed! Find your own way." She spat as she and Otto left, leaving Aemma and Aegon on the floor. As Aemma and Aegon giggled once more, she watched Helaena's concerned face appear before her. 

"Come on, Aemma." She said as she pulled Aemma to her feet. Aemond did not look at her as he roughly pulled Aegon up. 

"Shall I take Aemma?" He asked Helaena as she slung Aemma's arm over her shoulder.

"Oh, certainly not. I have dealt with Aegon drunk enough times already." Helaena said as she dragged Aemma away. 

"Helaena?" Aemma asked as they stumbled through the halls. 

"Yes?" She asked gently. Helaena was not angry at Aemma and Aegon's outing, she knew she would have a hard day after the news of her grandsire and the succession of Driftmark being called into question.

"Can we see the babies?" Aemma asked, her head lolling to one side. Helaena stifled a laugh; even drunk Aemma still cared for her children. More than Aegon ever did.