The Prince and His Flower

F I F T Y - T H R E E

"It's a lovely day, isn't it?" Helaena asked, stepping onto the balcony where Aemma was currently about to leap from. "I love hot days like this."

Aemma's smile disappeared from her face as Helaena intruded on what was supposed to be the final moments of her life. She had been so ready to see it all end, but she thought of how Helaena would fare after being the one to witness it.

"The sun is beautiful; it reminds me of you, so bright, so warm." Helaena smiled to herself. "No, I think you're more like the moon. Definitely the moon." Helaena was not worried for Aemma's life; she had seen how it would end, and it was not here.

"Jaehaerys and Jaehaera are here to see you, come on." Helaena held her hand out, waiting for Aemma to take it.

"No, thank you," Aemma said, her eyes glued to the spikes below. What awaited her after was a mystery, but at least she would be free of the pain and suffering she was forced to endure.

"No?" Helaena scoffed. "You love them, and they love you. They need to see you."

"No." Aemma shook her head, wondering if she just let go of the ledge whether or not that would be all it took.

"Get off the ledge." Helaena's voice was firm, like the one she used when her children began to misbehave. "Aemma, get off. Now!"

Aemma said nothing, her fingers loosening on the stone behind her.

"Aemma!" Helaena screamed now, fear in her voice. "Stop!"

Aemma paused as she heard Helaena burst into tears, her sobs filling the silence.

"Please, get off." She said as she cried, wondering if her dreams had been wrong. "I can't. I can't. I need you."

Aemma turned to look at Helaena, who had crumpled to her knees, hiding her face in her hands as she sobbed. Aemma's state had taken a toll on Helaena, a bigger one than she thought. Helaena loved Aemma with her whole heart, maybe even more than she loved her children. Aemma had been with Helaena for years, sharing their dreams, and telling each other their secrets. She made Helaena feel safe, she made Helaena feel many things, but she always made her feel safe.

"Aemma!" She sobbed to herself, rocking back and forth, terrified that if she opened her eyes, she would find the ledge empty.

Aemma felt something twist in her chest as she watched Helaena sob for her, but Aemma could not put a name to the feeling; was it guilt, shame, or simply empathy? Whatever the emotion was, it overcame Aemma's urges to join her brother, and instead, she climbed back over the ledge to comfort her sister.

Helaena gasped in relief as she felt Aemma's arms around her, pulling her up and into her arms. Helaena turned and sobbed into Aemma's chest, feeling every bit a fool. Aemma had lost everything, yet here she was comforting Helaena, who sobbed as if she had been the one who was in Aemma's place.

"Aemma, oh Aemma." Helaena buried her face in the crook of Aemma's neck. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be the one crying-"

"Stop talking," Aemma said as she rested her cheek on Helaena's shoulder. Aemma's heart which threatened to fall apart was held together by the small woman in her arms, who felt the same way.

The two girls stood like that until both their tears had dried, then they simply kept each other silent company, laying in each other's arms until sleep took them.

Sleep had taken Helaena, at least. Aemma lay on her back, staring out the window at the moon. She wondered if it was a clear night sky wherever Jace was, and if he too was looking at the moon.

Jace stared at the moon, wondering if Luke and Aemma were looking upon it at the same time he was. He wondered where they had gone after death, and if they were together. His breath came out steaming, and the cold Northern air nipped at his cheeks. He relished in the pain, and made no move to return inside, knowing the pain his little siblings faced had been much greater.

"You should come back inside, Your Grace. The North is not known for its warm nights." Cregan Stark said, his face solemn as ever. Jace did not turn, his eyes still glued to the moon. "Your siblings would want you to be warm."

"My siblings want nothing; they're dead," Jace replied flatly, his heart wrenching every time he spoke the words aloud. "Leave me, my Lord."

Cregan nodded and retreated back inside, knowing the dead Prince and Princess were a sensitive topic for the boy.

"Luke and Aemma are dead." He spoke the words aloud once more, savoring the way his heart wrenched and the lump in his throat felt so thick it could choke him. He should have been there to protect them, to save them. He wondered if they died from the fall, or if the icy waters had been their fate. He wondered every single night if it should have been him that died, and every night he concluded that it should have.

A/N Okay so next chapter it'll be Aemma getting the news that she and Aemond are getting married so we'll see how she reacts to that. Do you guys want me to make Aemma less depression central? I hope you guys aren't bored of all her sad thoughts. Also I hate this chapter and might rewrite it.