audacity || aemond targaryen

chapter 6: hunt

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"IS THIS SEAT TAKEN?" maelina looked up and smiled as she saw rhaenyra standing over her. she had been sitting under the weirwood tree for a while already. after spending the night in helaena's chambers, she had changed into a different dress and was now waiting for the departure of the hunting party.

"no, of course not.", she watched as rhaenyra gathered up her skirts to sit next to the girl, "i fear good company has become quite scarce lately." the princess chuckled at this and leaned her back against the trunk of the tree.

"i'm not surprised." her gaze wandered to the book on maelina's lap.

"what are you reading?" the redhead turned the book between her hands before handing it to the woman.

"it is merely some book aemond gave to me after i complained about having nothing to read." at the mention of her half-brother, rhaenyra snapped her eyes from the book toward the redhead's face.

"hm.. i was surprised to see you two this well aquatinted and.. affectionate." before she could stop herself, maelina scoffed at this and grabbed the book from rhaenyra who had held it out to her.

"i guess you could say that." rhaenyra raised an eyebrow at the girl, before a victorious grin erupted on her face.

"i knew it! you do not truly wish to marry aemond at all, do you?" just as maelina was about to answer, aemond entered the courtyard, walking straight towards the two woman, who assumed a standing position.

"princess rhaenyra, my betrothed.", he bowed his head, "the hunting party will depart now, per my mother's request i have come to bid you goodbye." maelina only nodded in response.

"i wish you good luck with your hunt. i hope you'll be able to shoot something." aemond raised an eyebrow in question.

"why would i not be able to?" maelina shrugged.

"perhaps your aim is not as accurate with only one eye."

"perhaps your understanding is not as accurate with only one ear, or you would know that i have a perfect aim. ser criston has said so himself many times." rhaenyra scoffed at the same time as the lady of lothraet.

"ser criston is a bootlicker, i hardly believe his presumptions to be trustworthy." rhaenyra quietly snickered st this comment.

"do you believe yourself to have a better aim?"

"you have seen my aim, you know i do, but maybe you want me to prove it?" aemond let out a huff of frustration, not having forseen a simple goodbye ending in an argument.

"as amusing as that would be, you would first need a weapon."

"what makes you think i do not have one on me right this moment?"

"this is getting ridiculous, goodbye to you princess, and to you my lady disdain." aemond turned around, not willing to put up with this discussion anymore and before she could stop herself maelina already called after him.

"take care not to get propositioned to by too many men!" her betrothed threw her an annoyed look over his shoulder she retorted with a grimace and he disappeared to leave king's landing. "if this was not answer enough, yes my princess, i do not wish to marry him, i would frankly rather be executed, but it is my duty." rhaenyra smiled at the girl, who's grin had faded as soon as aemond left their view, and put a comforting arm around her.

"i understand this feeling very well, but i'm sure you two will reach an agreement." maelina nodded with a weak smile.

"let us talk of something else. I will not let this one-eyed demon ruin my three days of peace." the princess patted her shoulder in approval as they made their way to the front of the castle. there, the men had already started mounting their horses. luckily, ser gabryael had spotted his daughter beforehand and walked towards her. she let go of rhaenyra and wrapped her arms around her father. he pressed a kiss to her forehead and after also saying goodbye to rhaenyra, made his way towards his horse. with a frown maelina noticed a limp in his walk and apologizing courtly she left the princess's side to catch up with merther who was about to follow her father.