The Prince and His Flower

S I X T Y

Aemma held Helaena as Jaehaerys' pyre burned. Sunfyre and Dreamfyre curled around each other as they let out anguished roars of grief. Aegon watched as the flames danced in the air, hoping his son knew how much his father loved him, even if he didn't always show it.

"My boy, Aemma!" Helaena wailed into Aemma's chest as she turned away from the flames. Aemma watched as the toy knight she had placed onto the pyre turned to ash.

"I want this war to end." Aegon turned to his family. "In fire and blood." He would have happily given Rhaenyra his crown if it meant he could live out the rest of his days peacefully, but now they killed his son, and they woke the dragon.

"Aegon," Aemma called out from Helaena's side. She wanted to tell him to forgive her family, to show them mercy. But she couldn't because she knew they had murdered Jaehaerys over a misunderstanding. Her mother and Daemon may not be innocent in this war, but the children were. "Let me bring new terms of peace to them." 

"They had their terms of peace, they rejected them. They killed my son." Aegon looked back at his son's pyre as it burned.

"They lost a son too!" Aemma surprised herself at her sudden outburst. "Luke was innocent just as Jaehaerys was. Don't let any more blood be shed, please." Aemma begged him. If war were to break out and something were to happen to Jace or her little brothers, Aemma would not be able to handle it. 

Aegon battled an internal war; he knew the Blacks would not hesitate to start a war, but as he listened to Aemma's pleas, his conscience grew even heavier. 

"You may send one letter. If they so much as lift a finger against me, there will be war." Aegon turned and marched down the grassy hill, surrounded by his Kingsguard.

Aemma glanced toward Aemond, who was watching the pyre burn with such an immeasurable amount of sadness in his eye, it made Aemma want to forgive him there and then. 

"It's all his fault." Helaena stared at her brother with a look full of hatred. "He killed Luke, so they killed Jaehaerys. I hope he dies the most painful of deaths for taking my son from me." Helaena then rested her head on Aemma's chest and continued sobbing.

"He didn't mean to kill Luke; we both know that. I told my family myself; they sent Blood and Cheese." Aemma wondered if her mother thought her letter was forged, or if she simply pushed Aemma aside as an afterthought.

"I would like to rest now." Helaena wiped her puffy eyes and turned to leave, followed by Alicent and Otto, who guided away Jaehaera and Maelor. It was just Aemond, Aemma, and the guards now, the smell of burning incense filling the air.

"Aemond," Aemma called out softly, taking his hand in her own. Aemond hummed in acknowledgment but kept his eye glued to the pyre. 

"This is my fault." Aemond shut his eye, turning to face his wife. "I do not want your comfort; I should be comforting you."

"Yes." Aemma wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. "But I think you need it more than I do." She hated that she was here, comforting the man that had murdered her brother, but right now, the man in her arms was just a man, mourning his beloved nephew.

"I need you." Aemond rested his cheek on the top of her head, his arms wrapped around her waist. "I don't deserve you. I killed Luke, I deserve nothing."

"The biggest loss in my life was due to you, and for that, I will never forgive you." Aemma felt Aemond stiffen at her words. "But we both know you didn't mean to do it. My heart will never heal, the hole will never close over. There is no one to crawl into my bed when the dark becomes frightening, nobody to comfort me when I am scared."