The Love of Dragons (HOTD)

Knights Honor

I stood in the court yard of the castle wearing a simple long red dress and long sleeves that were loose at the ends. I wore a black like laced corset top that had strings that draped down to my knees. My black shoes and the ends of my skirt were filthy with dirt and mud as I had been playing around with my brothers and uncles. My siblings were training with swords as was Aegon and Aemond. The boys swung at dummies with wooden swords. Ser Criston watched the four boys on the opposite end of the yard. I sat in the dirt fumbling with the end of a wooden sword while Ser Harwin stood above me watching my siblings. He stared down at me with a soft smile as I examined the sword.

"You know, Aemma. You are more then welcomed to join your brothers." Harwin suggested pointing out at the boys.

"Queen Allicent said girls aren't meant to play with swords." I mumbled recalling the time I had tried to sword fight with Helaena and ended up hitting her on the head. The queen screamed at me in anger. Ser Harwin ushered for me to stand up and I did so. He leaned in and whispered in my ear.

"Never listen to a word that woman says." Harwin murmured silently in my ear. He pulled back and offered me a wink. I nodded my head in agreement before running to a practice dummy and swung my sword like I had seen done by many others.

"Ser Harwin, you should know better then anyone that girls aren't meant to train with boys. She'll get hurt." I could hear Ser Criston mock as I continued to swing my sword.

"I believe that Aemma can handle yourself quite well." Harwin responded. I smiled looking up to Ser Harwin. My attention turned to Aegon as he gave me an unamused look.

"Aegon." Ser Criston announced causing the Prince to turn to the knight.

"I've won my first bout, Ser Criston. My opponent sues for mercy." Aegon joked swinging his wooden sword around.

"Well, you'll have a new opponent then, My Lord of the Straw. Let's see if you can touch me. You and your brother." Criston smirked at the two prince's in green stepped forwards. My siblings and I stood besides Harwin and watched the scene before us. We watched as the two boys struggled to land even one hit on the fully grown knight.

"Ah. weapon up, boys. Give your enemies no quarter." Harwin ordered my brothers as he grabbed me and pulled me to his side not wishing for me to be involved in whatever was going on.

"It seems the younger boys could do better with a bit of your attention...Ser Criston." Harwin suggested walking to the other side of the training yard.

"You question my method of instruction, ser?" Criston questioned irritatingly.

"Oh, I merely suggest that method be applied to all your pupils." Ser Harwin suggested with a light shrug. I gave Aegon a stern look as he shoved my little brother out of his way.

"Very well. Jacaerys... come here. You spar with Aegon. Eldest son against eldest son." Criston appeared as if he wanted to say something towards Harwin but instead he yanked my twin by his armor and pulled him roughly to the center. I glared clutching the wooden sword in my hand, wanting nothing more then to bash it into the knights skull.

"It's hardly a fair match." Ser Harwin declared attempting to even the odds.

"I know you've never seen true battle, ser. but when steel is drawn, a fair match isn't something anyone should expect." Ser Criston insulted as Harwin walked back to me and Lucerys.

"Blades up. Engage." Ser Criston ordered as the two boys went back and forth. Aegon clearly overpowering my twin. I attempted to step forward wishing to help Jace but Harwins strong grip on my sleeve kept me in place. The boys grunted out as Aegon shoved Jace to the ground. Suddenly Lucerys ran at Aegon screaming and swinging angrily as I ran up to my brothers side and assisted him up from the ground. I helped my brother up as Luke held his own. Suddenly, Aegon shoved one of the practice dummies onto my little brother.

"Foul play." Harwin hissed protectively. The knight pulled Jace to him and offered words of wisdom and guidance trying to reassure the boy.

"You!" Aegon shouted in rage as he charged at my brother. I watched in confusion as the boy that I had grown up with swung at my twin as if his intention was to kill him.

"Close with him. Press him backward! Close with him! Stay on the attack! Use your feet! Don't let him get up. Stay on the attack!" Criston ordered Aegon aggressively. Aegon kicked Jace to the ground and continued to swing at him. Even though it was evident that Aegon had won.

"Enough!" Harwin ordered pulling Aegon away from Jace.

"You dare put your hands on me!" Aegon screeched in rage. I instantly ran up to my brother and made sure he was okay. I gave Aegon a disgusted look as I assisted my twin up from the ground.

"You forget yourself, Strong. That is the Prince." Criston gestured for a fuming Aegon.

"This is what you teach, Cole? Cruelty to the weaker opponent?" Harwin asked with frustration. I stood in between my two brothers and glared at Aegon who completely brushed off my angry look.

"Your interest in the princeling's training is quite unusual, Commander. Most men would only have that kind of devotion toward a cousin...or a brother...or a son." Ser Criston mocked with a smirk plastered across his features. My eyes widened as Ser Harwin immediately swung on the fellow knight. I instinctively grabbed Jacaerys and Lucerys and pulled them away from the dispute. Harwin knocked Criston to the ground and continued to throw punch after punch. The knights face was bruised and bloody but Harwin didn't falter. It took four guards to pull Ser Harwin off of Ser Criston.

"Say it again! Say it again!" Harwin barked in furry as the four men dragged him off. Even with a bloodied face Criston laughed laying on the ground. I stared from my two brothers besides me to Aegon and Aemond who stood directly across from us.