The Prince and His Flower

F O R T Y - T H R E E

Daemon stood in the doorway, sadness and grief etched into his features. He watched the way Rhaenyra rocked their daughter as Aemma sat quietly by her side. Daemon had wanted to be there for his wife, but when he heard her scream like she never had before, he felt something he had not felt in a long time; fear. 

Laena, his Laena, died in childbirth, and he could not imagine the same fate befalling his beloved Rhaenyra. Daemon slowly walked to his wife, his eyes falling on his daughter. She was still, and it was obvious she had been born much too early. Her skin was scaly, her head misshapen, and nubs on her back that looked like they could have sprouted into wings. 

Daemon kneeled beside his wife, placing a delicate hand on his daughter's face. A face that would never know what a terrible world she had been born into. Daemon glanced at Aemma, sitting by her mother's side so dutifully, and anger filled his heart. The only reason Aemma was ordered to stay in Kings Landing was so that she could watch the Greens, and she couldn't even do the one simple task. Instead, she broke bread with them and allowed them to lull her into a false sense of security that even a blind man could see. She may not have murdered her sister herself, but Rhaenyra wouldn't have been under so much stress if she just did her job.

Aemma felt horrible, her guilt weighing heavily on her heart as she stared down at her little sister. It was Aemma's fault for not seeing the Greens' betrayal sooner, she could have stopped them, and prevented everything. But she was just a stupid girl with childish dreams. 

"Go," Daemon said, not looking up from his daughter. He could not stand Aemma's presence, his heart aching as he tightened his grip on Rhaenyra.

"Aemma, go find your brothers. Everything will be okay." Rhaenyra said, choking back a sob as she bounced her baby that never even had a chance at life. She looked up from Visenya to Aemma, her face wet with tears. "It's okay, Flower."

Aemma silently left the room, her face empty as she searched for Jace and Luke.

"Aemma?" Jace asked, looking up from the parchment he was writing on. "What's happened?" His eyes filled with worry as he took in the blood on her gloves and dress.

"Mother is fine," Aemma said, choking out a sob. Jace stood, instantly taking his little sister in his arms. "She's fine." Aemma sobbed in relief as she collapsed in her brother's arms, hating herself for how relieved she felt, even after her sister died.

"The babe?" Jace asked as he walked Aemma to his bed, sitting down next to her as she cried into his chest.

"Our sister. She was... her name was Visenya." Aemma said, silently reciting prayers for her lost sister. 

"Visenya. A beautiful name." He said, rubbing circles on Aemma's back. He was saddened at the news, but he was more focused on his distressed sister that still lived.

"It's all my fault." Aemma choked out, covering her face in her hands. "I should have known!"

"Don't ever say that. Everything the Greens did was of their own volition, they would never let it be known what they were planning, much less let it be known to you." Jace said, gripping Aemma's shoulders as he forced her to look at him. "They did this, and they will pay."

Aemma said nothing as she leaned on Jace, wondering if he truly meant his words, or if he just wished to comfort his sister. 

Jace wanted to shake Aemma, hoping to knock sense into his sister. He wondered how she ever got into her head that this was all somehow her fault. He said nothing as he stroked her hair, waiting for her sobs to turn into quiet sniffles. 

"Do you think it will come to a war?" Aemma asked, fearing she already knew the answer. 

"I think it already has," Jace said, his mouth set in a thin line. Daemon had already begun planning, and soon enough armies will rise. 

"I left Terrax," Aemma said, jerking herself away from Jace. "I left him there!" Aemma had ordered the dragontrainers to chain him, so that he may not follow Aemma to keep her promise to the Queen. She could only imagine what they had done to her dragon. 

"Terrax is a dragon of monstrous size. He rivals Vhagar herself, the Greens will not be so quick as to try and attack him." Jace said, placing a comforting hand on Aemma's leg. How Terrax grew so massive so quickly, he did not know. But he knew if it came to the battlefield, Terrax gave them the advantage.

"You don't know that! The Greens are capable of anything, they usurped Mother's throne right in front of us!" Aemma said, her sorrow quickly turning to anger at their betrayal; Aegon's, Alicent's, and Aemond's. Especially Aemond's. 

"Aemma, I assure you, if they tried to hurt him, he is more than capable of defending himself," Jace said, brushing Aemma's hair out of her face. "I promise you, everything will be okay."

Aemma calmed slightly at her brother's words, leaning her face into his hand. 

"Where are Luke and Joffrey?" Aemma asked, wishing to see them. 

"I think they are in the gardens," Jace said, kissing Aemma's head. "Will you be alright?"

"I always am." Aemma gave her brother a tired smile as she turned to leave. Jace watched her go, wondering if Aemma truly meant her words, wishing he could understand what went on in her mind. He worried for his sister, who always seemed so perfect in an imperfect world. She had gone through far too much too young, and it showed on her face, the dark circles that seemed to have taken up permanent residence on her face were a good indication. 

"Aemma!" Joffrey ran to his sister, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Has something happened? Everyone's acting so strange." He frowned as he looked up at her.

"Nobody told him?" Aemma asked, looking to Luke who kept his eyes cast at the ground. "Joffrey, our grandsire, the King, has passed. Mother is to be the new Queen." Aemma stroked his hair, leaving out the fact that the Greens usurped the throne, and they were on the verge of war.

"Oh," Joffrey said, his face full of thought as he tried to make sense of what Aemma was saying to him. "Okay."

Aemma smiled at her little brother and took his hand in hers. 

"Is Mother okay?" Luke asked, biting the inside of his cheek. "Did she have the baby?"

"Joffrey, go find Jace. I think he was looking for you out by the Outer Bailey." Aemma said, kissing the top of his head as she sent him off.

"Why was Jace-" Luke asked, a look of confusion on his face, "What happened?"

"Mother is fine, but the babe... our sister..." Aemma's voice trailed off as the image of Visenya's scaled skin flashed in her mind. "Stillbirth." Aemma tried to push down the guilt that washed over her.

"But Mother is well?" Luke asked. 

"Yes." Aemma rocked on her heels, unsure of what to say. 

"If you think it was your fault; it wasn't." Luke pulled Aemma into a hug. "You could never have known what they were planning."

"I should have." Aemma struggled to hold back her tears as Luke essentially read her mind. 

"Don't say that. You are here, safe. Mother is safe. I would sacrifice all of my future brothers and sisters only if it meant you two were safe." Luke felt guilty at how much his relief overshadowed his grief for his younger sister. 

Luke and Aemma held each other, both knowing what the other was thinking. Some hearts understand each other, even in silence.