The Gathering Storm | Aemond Targaryen

Chapter 4

Haera was woken with a start the next morning as Anya ripped the sheets off the bed before rushing across the room to pull open the curtains just as violently, sending bold rays of sunlight across the room.

"Wake up! It's another beautiful morning!"

Letting out a groan of protest the eldest Velaryon sibling rolled over, burying head in the sea of pillows that filled her bed.

"None of that or I'll set your breakfast out on the balcony to be eaten by the pigeons." Anya scolded, opening Haeras wardrobe as she didz "I already hung up your clothes for you so you can forget that henious dress."

"Haeras voice was muffled by the pillows as she spoke. "There wasn't even a point in wearing it yesterday, Queen Alicent chose not to see us."

"I can spit in her food if you would like me too."

"And then you would be hung."

"Only if I get caught." Anya grinned, pulling a pale yellow dress threaded with blue vines out of the wardrobe. "I like this one."

Haera picked her head up slightly, her thick lock of silver hair falling over her eye as she did. "Are you going to be making all my decisions for me while I'm here? Because if so I'm going to jump into Blackwater Bay and swim home."

"Oh please-" Anya brought the dress to her chest, hugging it as she gave her best for eyes to her friend, "you know how much I loved choosing your outfits when we were children. Let me do it just this once?"

Letting out a groan, Haera fell back into the pillows. As much as she had missed Anya, she had only grown more bossy over their years apart.

"Fine!"

Anya had her ready within the hour, this time in a dress that actually fit and looked good on her. She had done the same hairstyle as before, the long braid swinging gently against her back.

There was a knock on her door halfway through breakfast, Anya moving quickly across the room to pull it open and reveal her brother. Her maid sharing a look with him that had Haera raising an eyebrow from over the lip of her cup.

"Thank the gods, I was praying you weren't in that absurd dress again." Jace let out a sigh of relief as he crossed the room and stepped out onto the balcony where she was having breakfast.

Haera took another sip of her morning tea, watching as Jace leaned against the table, stealing a grape as he did.

"How did you fare sleeping in the noisiness of Kings Landing?"

"Fine, and you?"

Jace sighed, tossing the grape into his mouth. "There was an incredibly loud owl outside my windows last night. I was somewhat tempted to shoot him with the crossbow that was left in my room."

"You poor thing." Haera grinned, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now why are you here?"

"We're expected in the throne room in an hour so Queen Alicent can properly welcome us back."

Rising from her seat, Haera ran her hands down her dress. "That is pointless. We all know it will be insincere."

"Yes but unfortunately we are royalty and have to do this." Jace flicked a grape across the table, the small berry hitting his sister in the stomach.

"I'm not overly fond of being royalty. I would be rather content living in the mountains with Stormdancer."

"Yes but unfortunately you cannot." Jace rounded the table, offering his arm to Haera. "Now come along. I need your help pulling Luke from his bed. Mother doesn't want him to be late."