The Prince and His Flower

T H I R T Y - S I X

"Care to train with me?" Aemond asked, leaning on his sword. Ser Criston stood by him, inspecting the equipment. Aemma paused, debating whether or not she wanted to.

"No." She said as she continued walking.

"I suppose that ale did impact your abilities, seeing as you could not even stand, and such." Aemond snickered as Aemma's face reddened. Why couldn't he let it go?

"Don't let simple anger cloud your judgment." Ser Erryk warned, but Aemma did not listen, as usual.

"You know what? I would love to train with you! It's been too long since I've seen your face pushed into the dirt." Aemma said as she turned and made her way to Aemond. He smirked as his eye roamed over her current attire.

"I hope you don't trip over your dress." He scoffed. Aemma laughed to herself as she tore off her skirt, earning a horrified look from Aemond and Erryk before she revealed her pants beneath them.

"It is rather chilly today, I wore pants." Aemma shrugged as she tossed the discarded skirt into the dirt. She walked to the table of equipment and ran her hand over the swords, settling for the one that felt just right. Aemma also picked up a dagger, holding it in her right hand, and the sword in her left. Aemma preferred to strain with typical steel so that when she uses Dragon's Breath, she has much more stamina due to its extremely light weight.

"Hm, well I hope you are ready for a loss." Aemond said as he and Aemma began circling one another. Aemond wielded a sword and shield, and Aemma had two blades. Aemond attacked first, his sword going straight for Aemma's ribs. She deflected it easily, grunting at the impact that ran up her arm and rattled her teeth. She pushed away Aemond's sword with her own and began a small flurry of attacks, all of which he dodged or caught with his shield.

"Don't go easy on me." Aemma huffed as they backed away and circled each other once more. Aemma attacked this time, twisting her body around to gain more momentum as she brought her sword down against Aemon's shield. The wood splintered at the force, but just holding itself together. Aemond shoved Aemma back with his shield as Aemma yanked her sword out, sending her spiraling toward the ground.

She rolled out of the way just in time as Ser Criston swung his morningstar, crashing into the ground with a thud. Ser Criston loved to train Aemma and Aemond in the element of surprise. Aemma quickly ran and shoved her dagger into the hem of her pants as she retrieved another sword.

"That was good, Aemma. Now, let us see how you do against both of us." Ser Criston said, swinging his morningstar at his side. Aemond attacked first, a flurry of blows as he attempted to drive Aemma backward, but she managed to hold her ground. Aemond gave one last mighty blow, but Aemma caught it, and their swords locked.

Ser Criston attacked now, running at Aemma with his morningstar, but she caught the ball and chain with her other sword, breaking her attention from Aemond for a split second as she kicked Ser Criston square in the torso. He staggered backward, and Aemma yanked her sword toward her, causing Ser Criston to lose his grip on his morningstar, still wrapped around Aemma's sword.

Aemma shoved Aemond backward, her arm beginning to ache as she quickly took Ser Criston's morningstar and untangled it from her sword, dropping it behind her as she swung the morningstar. It was unfamiliar, she rarely trained with one, but she knew how to use it.

Aemma attacked, destroying what remained of Aemond's shield. He quickly discarded it as Aemma swung for his throat with her sword. He deftly dodged her blade and ducked under her arm. Aemma swung at him again and again, keeping her sword close. Aemond ducked each blow, and at Aemma's last swing stepped closer, bringing his blade to her neck, and Aemma's to his chest. The point was dulled, but Aemma felt the pressure of it, and she gave her sword a gentle push into Aemond's chest, smiling as he looked down in surprise.

"You've both done very well." Ser Criston said, clapping them both on the back. "You'll be winning tourneys in no time, just like Daeron." Clapping erupted around them; a crowd had formed without either of them noticing.

"I don't give a shit about tourneys." Aemond said, his lips pursed, before his gaze flickered to something behind Aemma's back, pointing his sword. "Nephews. Have you come to train?"

Aemma whipped her head around in disbelief, but there was Jace and Luke, watching. Aemma gasped and ran, jumping into Jace's arms as he spun her around. Ser Erryk watched the interaction with a smile.

"I can't believe you truly came!" She said, kissing his cheek as he set her down. She turned to Luke and crushed him in a hug.

"We can't believe you won!" Luke said, shocked. He wondered how easy Aemma had gone on him when they trained together on Dragonstone. Aemma smiled before pulling her brothers into another hug.

Aemond watched the interaction with dismay as he tossed his sword on the equipment table. Those bastards were truly back. Aemond wondered if they came to try and take another eye while they were here. He'd like to see them try.

"Where's Mother and Daemon? The boys?" Aemma asked.

"Mother took Aegon and Viserys to see the King, and Joffrey has been taken to the nursery." Jace said. "I still can't believe that was Aemond."

As Aemma opened her mouth to respond, she was cut off.

"Open the gates!" A guard shouted. The trio turned and watched as the gates creaked open, revealing Vaemond Velaryon and his guards. Aemma sneered as she watched the arrogant man make his way through the courtyard, not even sparing a glance toward Jace, Luke, and Aemma.