The Prince and His Flower

F I F T Y - N I N E

Aemond, Otto, and Aegon shoved open the doors to the Queen's apartments, pausing as they took in the scene before them; Alicent was being untied, Helaena was sobbing over the body of Jaehaerys, and the guards stood around Aemma as she sobbed, holding a decapitated head.

"How could you let this happen?" Aegon yelled, grabbing the guard that was supposed to be standing watch at the door. "To my own son!" Aegon shoved the guard aside as he marched over to Jaehaerys' body and dropped to his knees next to his weeping wife. 

"Aemma!" Aemond made his way to his wife, who turned toward him at the sound of his voice. Her mouth and nose had been bloodied, and the entire front of her dress was soaked in blood. "Did they hurt you?" Aemond cradled her face in his hands as his eye roamed for any injuries.

"No. He tried to-" Aemma dropped Cheese's head and buried her face in Aemond's chest, sobbing. "I tried to save him." 

"They left this note." Alicent held the note out to Otto, who read over it before grabbing a glass and smashing it against the wall.

"What does it say?" Aegon wiped his tears and snatched the note from Otto. 

Tell the One-Eye Prince his debt has been repaid.

"You!" Aegon turned to Aemond and marched toward him. "This is your fault!" 

Aemond gently pushed Aemma away as he took the note from Aegon, his eye widening. Aemma took the note in her bloody hands and gasped softly. 

"No!" Aemma began to cry as the reality sunk in; her family had done this. They had gotten revenge on an innocent little boy who had nothing to do with what happened. They murdered Jaehaerys over an accident. Her mother had disregarded her letter pleading for peace.

"Clear the room! Now!" All the guards exited, leaving only the family, and the two dead bodies that littered the floor. "Aemma, tell me you didn't do this." Aegon had tears in his eyes as he turned the face the woman whose hand held his heart in a vice grip.

"I didn't do this! I swear it... I swear on Luke's memory." Aemma grabbed Aegon's hands. "Let me find the man who did this." Aemma pondered what she would do to Blood once she found him. Aegon looked down at the blood that now stained his hands, then back to Aemma's bloody face.

"I won't send you into danger." Aegon shook his head and dropped Aemma's hands. "You." He pointed to Aemond, too mad with grief to even look at him. "Find the man who did this, or don't come back at all."

"I will go with you." Aemma grabbed Aemond's arms. He tore his eye away from his brother to his love, and offered her a small smile to comfort her.

"My love, it is not safe." He squeezed her arms.

"I do not give a shit what you think," Aemma pulled away from Aemond and turned to Aegon. "Let me go with him, and we will find the man who did this." 

"Go. Be quick." Aegon had already sank down to his knees beside Helaena as they cradled their son's headless body. Jaehaera and Maelor were by Alicent's side, wailing. 

"Bring me my sword." Aemma could not make her pain and scars go away, but she would have this man begging and pleading for death after she found him.

"I want him back alive." Aegon reached out and placed his hand on his son's chest. "Everyone, leave."

Aemma, Aemond, and Ser Arryk walked through the secret passageways of the castle, listening closely for any indication of the large man. 

"He could be halfway to Dorne right now." Aemond frowned, the side of his face lit up by the torch Ser Arryk held. 

"Or he could be here. We should head into the city." Aemma nodded at the fork in the passageways, one that led to the city and the other that led to the library. Aemond nodded and followed behind Aemma, his hand gripping his sword tightly.

"Do you think your family knows you're alive?" Aemond asked. 

"I sent a letter, begging for peace." Aemma frowned, wondering if her letter had instigated the turn of events.

"Hm, it appears they did not approve your request." Aemond hummed. "Did you tell them... the truth?" Aemond paused, not knowing what to call the incident.

"I did. I begged them not to seek revenge. Now Jaehaerys is dead, for no reason. Luke died, for no reason. It seems my mother is intent on keeping up with the senseless killing." Aemma sighed wearily and rubbed a hand on her neck. "If we don't find him..."

"We will. And then we will make him pay." Aemond couldn't think of what he would do if they did not find this man. The guilt of knowing his beloved nephew was dead as a result of his actions was nearly too much to handle. 

"I'm going to kill him." Aemma stated, her voice flat and monotone. 

"The King wants him alive, Princess." Ser Arryk spoke up.

"If I cared for your input, Ser Arryk, I would ask." Aemma snapped. "We will bring him back alive, but not unharmed." Aemma had already begun planning out what she was going to do to Blood when she found him. 

"Apologies, Princess." Ser Arryk returned to sullen silence.

"Do you think they watched before they acted?" Aemond asked, knowing Ser Arryk would not be able to listen in.

"They knew about the passageways." Aemma paused and held her hand up as she strained to listen to the faint sounds of scratching. Aemond tilted his head, hearing it too. 

Aemma held a finger to her lips as she began moving again, much slower and quieter. As the sound grew louder, Aemma's heart began to race. Heavy footsteps echoed through the tunnel, and Aemma took off sprinting in the direction of the sound. She held up the skirts of her dress as she ran, afraid of falling. 

"No!" Blood; Aemma could recognize that voice anywhere. "Please!" He pleaded as he ran for his life. Aemma began to catch up to him, his back just in her view. 

Aemma fumbled at her side for her dagger as she sprinted, growing even closer to Blood. She raised her arm above her head and threw the dagger, smiling as she heard Blood scream out in pain. The dagger had caught him in the leg, and he was still attempting to crawl away when Aemma appeared over him. 

"You are nothing." Aemma bent down and plucked her dagger from his leg, smiling once more as he screamed. "Beg."

"Please, Princess! I was only following orders!" Blood begged. Aemma frowned and bent down so that she was eye level with the man.

"Terrible." Aemma clutched her dagger as she held the point to Blood's eye. "Who told you to repay this debt?" 

"Aemma." Aemond said, breathless as he and Ser Arryk finally caught up with her. Aemma ignored him and kicked Blood in the stomach, pushing her boot into his side and forcing him to roll onto his back. 

"Who?" Aemma stepped on his groin, twisting her foot as he screamed in pain, but refused to answer. Aemma removed her foot and held her dagger over his cock instead, putting the slightest amount of pressure that had him screaming. 

"I should have raped you until you begged me to kill you." He spat. Aemma pushed the blade deeper, threatening to puncture skin. "Okay! It was Prince Daemon! He gave the order!"

"And how did he give you these orders?" Aemma asked.

"I told you what you wanted to know, please!" Blood begged once more. 

"If we take him to the Black Cells, they'll be sure to get more out of him." Aemond grabbed Aemma's arm, but she shook it off.

"You murdered a little boy." Aemma spat in Blood's face before stomping on it, breaking his nose. 

"Aemma, let us take him back." Aemond grabbed her arm, harder this time. He would not betray Aegon's request, not after he was the reason his son was dead.

"Very well." Aemma turned to look at her husband, and Blood sighed in relief. "On second thought..." Aemma turned back to Blood and carved out his eye in one swift motion. "Now we may return." Aemond watched as Blood screamed and clutched at his face, blood pouring between his fingers, and he smiled, knowing his wife was the one who did it.