The Prince and His Flower

F I F T Y

Aemma lay in her bed, facing away from the door. Her eyelids had scabbed due to her wailing, and her throat burned anytime she tried to say anything, so she remained silent, the only sound filling her chambers were her wails and cries.

Her lips were cracked and bleeding, her eyes sunken into her face, and her skin had taken on a greyish tint due to her dehydration. Aemma could barely muster the energy to keep herself alive, and she prayed the end would come soon.

Aemma did not turn as her door opened, for her ribs still caused her great pain. 

"Aemma?" Helaena's soft voice called out.

Aemma remained silent.

"I'm not going to force you to do anything, Aegon said you bit him, and I like my hands uninjured." Helaena chuckled awkwardly. "I was worried about you. Everyone is worried about you. Aemond is-" Helaena was cut off as Aemma began to sob once more, her frail shoulders shaking.

Helaena said nothing as she crawled in behind Aemma, wrapping her arms around her. Aemma allowed Helaena to embrace her, her tears still flowing. The two girls remained like that for hours, until Aemma had no more tears left to cry. 

"Please, drink some water." Helaena urged, bringing the cup to Aemma's lips, but Aemma turned her head, letting the water spill out onto the sheets. "The children want to see you; they're scared."

Aemma glanced up at the mention of Helaena's children. They were just innocent little things, worried for their beloved Aemma. 

Aemma held her hand out for the water, her throat burning as she drained the cup and set it down. She let out a cough, grabbing her sides as pain ripped through her.

"Are you alright?" Helaena asked, her eyes filled with concern as she reached out for Aemma, who shrugged away from her touch. Of course not, you all usurped my mother's crown and then murdered Luke, Aemma thought to herself. She knew Helaena had no part in it, nor did her children, but the betrayal hurt all the same.

"I... want to... see him." Aemma croaked, holding a hand to her throat as she attempted to say more. "Let me... see him." Aemma could not believe what happened to Luke to be true until she saw it for herself.

"I don't think they will let you out of the Keep. He's in the Great Sept of Baelor, the Silent Sisters are working over him." Helaena said as she timidly sat on the edge of the bed. Aemma turned away and stared at the ceiling, wondering how much it would hurt if she starved to death.

"He won't go anywhere, just rest." Helaena grabbed Aemma's hand but frowned when Aemma pulled her hand away. 

"Get out," Aemma whispered. "Now." Helaena opened her mouth to say more, but Aemma held up her hand to silence her. Tears prickled Helaena's eyes as she left, sparing one last look at her best friend who lay broken before her.

Aemma did not know what were dreams and what was real anymore, they all blurred together; days and nights, alive and dead, it was all the same. She could feel herself getting weaker, her will to live was gone, and all she did to pass the time was wail. 

Alicent entered the room, letting out a small gasp as she took in the state of Aemma. 

"Oh, my darling." She breathed as she pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. Aemma didn't bother to drag her eyes to the Queen, still staring at the wall. "I'm sorry," Alicent said, tears falling down her cheeks. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

Aemma glanced toward Alicent, a frown on her face. You didn't mean to steal my mother's crown? Aemma thought to herself. How dare Alicent sit there and weep after all she had done. Luke was dead and Alicent was crying?

"I can't lose you, please. Not you too." Alicent begged. Aemma was good, she was nothing like Alicent. Alicent wondered how someone so good, so pure, could ever go through such heartbreak. "We never meant for this to happen, Aemond never meant for this to happen. It was an accident." 

"An accident?" Aemma asked, coughing from the strain on her vocal cords. "He murdered-" Aemma stopped speaking as she began to sob, the pain in her chest where her broken heart resided becoming too much to handle. 

Alicent watched as Aemma cried, her heart breaking. She would give up everything just to make Aemma happy again, but she knew it was not possible. Aemma's heart was big, but half of it belonged to Luke. When he died, part of Aemma died, and it was obvious she would never be the same.

Alicent reached out to comfort Aemma, but stopped once Aemma flinched away from her touch. She watched as Aemma shook and sobbed before it was too much for her to handle and she fled the room.

"Bring the Princess something to eat, and offer her something for the pain," Alicent said to Ser Rickard Thorne, a member of Aegon's Kingsguard. Ser Rickard nodded, mumbling a "Your Grace" as he left to complete his tasks. 

Aemma did not know how long she had laid in that bed, but she did not care. She only wished the Stranger would come to her soon enough, and grant her the sweet release of death.

A\N This chapter is short but I'll make the next one nice and long for you guys