The Gathering Storm | Aemond Targaryen

Chapter 5

Haera had afternoon tea in the gardens just as Haelena had promised, the two of them perched under the shade of a large cherry tree as they watched Haelenas twins play with her handmaiden a few feet away.

The two sat there and talked until their rears grew numb and the wine flowed heavy in their veins, Haelena eventually retiring to her chambers with the twins for a much needed nap.

That's how Haera found herself wandering the keep, eyes raking over every alcove , statue and brick as if she was trying to find everything that had been changed since her family left.

Her journey was only interrupted by the distinct sound of swords and shields clashing followed by shouts and yells. Exiting the cool halls of of the keep and stepping into the blistering heat of the afternoon sun, Haera looked down onto the training yard. Her brothers were down there, watching as two men sparred in a circle of cheering bodies. Making her way down the steps slowly, she never took her eyes off the fighting. Not the violet one nor the brown one. It was a one in a million gaze that no one could match.

When she reached the bottom of the steps she stopped, leaning against the stone railing quietly as she observed.

The two sparring were easy to identify. The first being Criston Coke and the second being the one eyed prince himself. Aemond moved quickly, almost like a striking snake as he dodged each blow and retuned it just as fast.

He had gotten better since the last time she had been here. According to rumors he was the best in the Keep, at least when her uncle wasn't around.

Or herself.

At some point Aemond had managed to disarm Ser Criston, his Morningstar clattering across the ground as Aemond gave him a harsh shove backwards almost as if annoyed.

"Is there anyone in this hellhole capable of wielding a weapon?" He growled, staring daggers down at the member of the Kings Guard he had just sent to the ground.

Gods, his ego had grown just as much as his body.

Haera should have turned and left at that moment. She should have gathered her skirts and marched back up the stairs.

But then again she was known for stirring things up, so stirred them up she did.

"Might I have a go?"

In eerie unison all the heads in the training yard whirled to look at her, whispers going up around her as she walked slowly across the somewhat muddy ground, going as far as to fake a trip on her way towards the ring of onlookers, get a wave of chuckles as she passed her brothers.

"Haera this isn't a good idea-"

"Lucky for you Jace I'm not known for my good ideas." In fact she was notoriously known for only having bad ones.

As she stepped into the ring she once more met the gaze of Aemond, the same neutral expression gracing his features. He stared at her a long moment.

"My Prince, I would not recommend dueling with a lady. Your mother would not be ple—"

"Keep your mouth shut Ser Criston." Aemond finally spoke, not taking his eye off of Haera. "Grab her a sword."

A moment later a blade was placed in her already stretched out palm, the two having yet to break eye contact as Aemond spun his sword thrice in hand, pacing his side of the circle.

"No one will judge if you are having second thoughts niece. You can still walk away with your dignity still intact."

Haera only smiled, settling into a fighting stance as she raised her sword and settled her weight into her front foot, her left turned ninety degrees outwards as she folded her empty hand behind her back.

"I've never been one to back out from a fight. It's one of my many charming qualities, ask my uncle Daemon."

Seeing that she was not backing down, Aemond let out an almost amused hum and then without warning he lunged forward, but Haera was quicker. Her feet sliding swiftly across the ground as she blocked his blow. Lifting her sword high she ducked under his arm, his own blade swinging down behind her as she spun once more. Aemond turned quickly and swung once more. Haera dipped and weaved right as he was about to reach her and slashed downwards with the sword. Aemond parried with one of his leather gauntlets and Haeras blade made a thin slice through the oiled leather. 

"I thought you were supposed to be the best here?" Haera mused, twirling once more as he blade struck Aemonds once more, the metal singing as they both pushed their weights into it, their faces inches from one another.

"If you thinking you're the best, you are sadly mistaken. Bastards don't count."

The storm inside Haeras chest gathered at his words, the metal of the two swords screeching as she slid the blade upward with a fierce swiftness before twisting out of his way.

Tossing the sword away she managed to catch Aemond off guard as she quickly dropped and sweeped her leg in a low arc as she spun, kicking his legs out from under him in one fast move that had him hitting the ground hard on his back.

Gathering her sword once more, she plunged it into the ground next to her uncle. "Call me that again and I'll shove this blade in between your legs."

Ignoring the way the whispers stirred around her, Haera gathered her muddied skirts in her hands and departed the yard, her brothers quickly going to follow behind her.

"You should have just let him win."

"Why? He wanted a challenge so I gave him one. Plus you heard what he said." Haera breathed, taking the stairs two at a time back to her apartments. "I will admit I almost let him win but then he said that and I decided against it."

"You'll be lucky if he doesn't say anything to the Hand or the Queen-"

"Oh please-" stopping in her tracks before the large oak doors to her room, she turned to her brothers, "Aemond has an ego the size of his fucking dragon, he wouldn't dare admit to his mother that he was bested by a princess in a dress. And if he does say something what are they going to do? Execute me? He was the one who chose to fight me. He's the one who agreed to put a sword in my hand."

Using her back to push open the wide doors, she let her brothers enter before her. "What about the other lords and ladies watching?"

"Let them speak. I don't want to be set into history as some bland princess. You think I got the name Storm Princess on Dragonstone by just walking around and acting like every other lady? I want people to know that it would be unwise to get on my bad side."

A moment later the doors behind them opened once more, Anya stepping into the room partially only to stop when she saw all three of the Velaryon siblings.

"Forgive me, should I come back later?"

"Nonsense Anya, you know my brothers." Haera beckoned her in, once again watching the way her eyes bounced to Jacaerys from a quick moment. "Is there something we can help you with?"

"Oh, no your mother just sent me to inform you that you all are to be attending dinner tonight with the Queen and her family."

"Will our grandfather be attending?"

"I do not believe so. He is on strict bed rest from the maesters."

Haera nodded, "of course, thank you Anya."

It seemed the day wasn't even close to being over.