Throughout the Dance of Dragons - House of Dragon

Part XVII - Doubt clouds his mind

"A fog as white as hair will cloud the mind of the heir." Helaena said in a hushed tone as she was sewing. Alicent did not pay too much attention as she walked around the room picking at her nails, waiting for the news of when would Rhaenyra and her family arrive at Kings Landing. But Aemond heard Helaena, he heard her well and clear, he looked at his sister as she was a mystery. Her prophecies never annoyed him and rarely would catch him off guard. Aemond did not find it too weird and he would not make fun of her about it even when they were kids. Most of her prophecies would be ignored by him or would receive a respectful nod because he knew they weren't concerning him. But this time he was more than sure that this certain prophecy was going to somehow affect him.

"Black suits you brother." She said and smiled looking at his black attire "Black is your future." She said and finished the handkerchief she had been making. She fixed the threads and held the black cloth examining it, then turned to Aemond and gave it to him "This is for you." She said with a smile and Aemond nodded taking it. Still in his head about the words his sister had just said and what could it mean. He looked at the handkerchief in his hand and felt his heart beat fasten, his eye widened and stomach turned, he raised his eye back at his sister but she had averted her eyes.

She was smiling at her children and humming, playing with Jaehaeras hair, no longer paying attention to him. Aemond once again looked at the work of his sister: a black handkerchief, corners decorated with delicate flowers and golden threads, no, not just any flowers – lavenders. Those violet flowers which would always and forever remind him of a certain white haired woman. A frown found its way to his face as he was once again reminded of her, reminded that he no longer could spend time with her, reminded that she will no longer be betrothed him, reminded him that he could not have her. And it reminded him how much he had missed her throughout the last few days. His jaw clenched at those thoughts so much that his teeth started hurting. He was irritated and the next person to trigger him would be a poor unfortunate soul.

"Your Grace." Criston said as he entered the room and bowed for Alicent "We got a message that Rhaenyra will be arriving on the fourth day from today." He said and Alicent nodded. "Does the girl know as well?" she asked as she sat down near Helaena "I suppose they have exchanged ravens about the matter." Criston said as he briefly looked at Aemond and then back at Alicent "She has not been seen in the palace since morrow. The knights saw her fly with her beast and she has yet to return." He continued speaking as Aemond did not take his eye from the fire before him. "Make sure to notify me when she returns. Also, is Aegon in the palace?" the queen asked even though she very well knew the answer to her question. Criston shook his head as an answer, he felt sorry that the prince was such a handful. He trained both brothers since they were little ones and Aegon could have been a good fighter if only he had any interest in it, if only he was at least a little bit like his younger brother Aemond.

Even though Aemond was quite the angry character, very ambitious and demanding and somewhat violent, at least he was well read and mannered, skillful with a sword and no taste for depravity. The second son who could have made a good king if only he was born as a first born. Criston enjoyed Aemond and his only concern was the relationship of the young man and the daughter of Rhaenyra, he was certain that the spoiled cunt could corrupt the prince. Cole had multiple times voiced his concerns to Alicent but she only brushed them of, she was certain that her golden boy Aemond would not fall to the side of her childhood friend. He since childhood hated the bastard boys, there is no way he would side with them. But Cole was not certain, especially as he first hand saw how protective Aemond was of Daenaera.

"Sōvēs Vermithor." Daenaera shouted to her dragon as she gripped the reigns in her hands even tighter. With a roar Vermithor pushed himself of a cliff and descended alongside to the sea and flew just low enough for his tail to trail the surface of the waves beneath. Salt water mixed with the wind splashed on Daenaera and she could not contain her small smile. She felt free from all burdens as she and her dragon soared the skies. And as her face got more wet from the splashing water she thought that the salty water running down her cheeks were not only the sea water but her own tears as well. Daenaera was tired of it all, more and more her thoughts had been plagued by doubt about her future, more and more she would find herself thinking that she would rather run away from her family and her responsibilities, start a life somewhere far away where the people had no idea of who she was. She could train with a maester, gather herbs and mix medicine together, she would love that calm life style. And maybe Aemond could run away with her, but what would he do? Common life was not for him, he was to ambitious, he enjoyed being a prince, he wanted to be King. So why should he run? There was no reason for him to do that.