The Prince and His Flower

E I G H T Y - T W O

Aemma took a deep breath and glanced back at Jace and Ser Erryk before opening the door to Cregan's solar. He was surrounded by stacks of letters and notes with a quill in his hand. He immediately paused his actions and stood, bowing his head to Aemma and Jace.

"Princess, my Prince, Ser." He greeted them. "I apologize for the disarray."

"There's no need to be so formal, Cregan." Jace dropped into a nearby chair. Ser Erryk stood guard at the door.

"I was hoping you and I would be able to... make an arrangement of sorts." Aemma remained standing, her hands clasped behind her back. "You understand that I am in full support of my mother, but there are certain images I must uphold." 

"Yes." Cregan nodded. "I would also like to inform you that you do not have to uphold those images. Not here, at the very least."

"And I thank you for that. But I must ensure that I am not branded a traitor upon my return to Kings Landing. I fear the Greens will jump to rather negative conclusions about my character." Aemma pulled a chair up to Cregan's desk and sat, motioning for him to do the same. "You have shown me a great kindness, a kindness I will not easily forget."

"I have opened my castle to the Princess of Driftmark; it was merely a courtesy." Cregan rested his heavy gaze on Aemma's face. She frowned, wondering if he was always this blunt or if he truly just did not like her. 

"I see... well it is greatly appreciated." Aemma shifted in her chair. "I do not mean to ask more of you, but--"

"There is not much I would refuse you, Princess." Cregan interrupted, his cold face showing the slightest hint of warmth for the briefest of moments. Jace quirked an eyebrow at him and turned to look at Ser Erryk, wondering if he was seeing the same thing as Jace. "I apologize for my rude interruption. I only mean to serve you in the name of the Queen however I am needed." 

"Swear fealty to Aegon." Aemma picked at the arm of the chair, knowing how great of a task she was asking. "I am almost positive that the Greens have deducted I am here. If I return empty-handed, I believe some of them will brand me a traitor." 

"You do not need to return to Kings Landing, Princess," Cregan spoke after a long silence. "They captured you and held you hostage before forcing you to marry the man who killed your brother. You were married under Gods that are not your own and without your freedom, that seems like a void marriage in the name of honor."

Aemma opened her mouth and closed it repeatedly as she tried to think of what to say. Cregan had a point, but Aemma did not truly follow any God and she was not of sound mind when she married Aemond. On the other hand, she had loved him long before they had married and he had never been unbecoming toward her. Was Aemma truly a prisoner or was she simply being protected from harming herself?

"Honor is a rather flexible thing, I like to think," Aemma said. "My husband is not a cruel man, not to me at least. He is the one who is trying to ensure my protection whilst I plot against his family."

"That is the bare minimum." Jace scoffed. "He murdered Luke, accident or not he is the one who started this war in the first place."

"I will not deny that but he has stood dutifully by my side throughout all of this! He regrets his actions more than you or I could ever imagine." Aemma twisted in her chair to look at Jace.

"If he had simply taken Luke's eye instead of his life do you think he would be so remorseful?" Jace asked. "You speak about him as if he throws himself to your feet every second of every day weeping for your forgiveness. He wanted an eye for an eye but he took more than he bargained for, and now he is sowing the consequences."