Innocence// AEMOND TARGARYEN ✔️

Chapter Twenty-four

The boys did not resolve their dispute at the library and carried that anger to the training field.

And as expected, they let out their frustrations whilst they duelled which at first started out as an aggressive fight but then later turned into a violent show of display with both boys landing fatalistic blows which resulted in the involvement of the king's guard to have the princes dragged apart to put a halt to their fight.

Both Aemond and Daeron were severely hurt and were escorted back to their respective chambers whilst Criston sent for the maesters.

Eirlys was later made aware of this and immediately left whatever she was doing to check in on them, visiting Aemond first.

The boy had a deep cut on his left upper arm and a large bruise on his torso. He had another cut near his right temple that wasn't as severe but was still left uncleaned. He was lying down on his bed when she entered his chambers, his shirt and eye patch amiss. His boots were carelessly kicked to the floor and his hair was tied back messily into a bun.

The princess winced when she laid eyes upon the deep shades blues and purples of the bruise, now sprawled against his even toned abdomen.

She instinctively grabbed the bowl of water by his bed and pulled out a handkerchief to dip into the water.

"I thought you said it would be a civil conversation" she asked as she went to sit beside him on his bed and gently wiped away the dried up blood on his face.

"The conversation was civil, the dual however was not" Aemond shrugged, trying his best to not wince when she accidentally wiped against the cut "but it's nothing too alarming; just few bruises, scratches and broken arms"

"What" Eirlys' gaze snapped away from his wound and back toward him "you broke an arm? Why isn't it in a sling?"

"Well I-"

"Which arm is hurt?" She asked again as she examined both arms, hoping to figure out which was the one that was injured "which arm did you break?"

"Daeron's" Aemond nervously responded as he looked away for a moment.

"Aemond Targaryen what is wrong with you" Eirlys snapped with disbelief as she put away the bowl and now blood-stained handkerchief "he is your brother"

"I didn't do it with intent" Aemond defended himself as he sat up straight only to wince in pain because of the sudden movement "I got carried away"

"You need to have a hold over your rage" she gently placed her hand on his shoulder to urge him to lie back down on the pillows.

"I am quiet patient" he told her without any expression "but I do not tolerate anyone talking about my betrothed in the manner that he did. Brother or not I will deal with them the same way"

"I can handle things pertaining to me just fine" she sighed "now if you'll excuse me I must-"

"Do not tell me you are going to visit him" Aemond groaned in annoyance, acting like a child.

"And what if I say that I am?"

"I don't want you to" he turned to look at her as he reached out to hold her hand "stay with me, please"

This wasn't about her just visiting Daeron.

Aemond wanted her near him, especially since he'd just fought with his brother over her. He was so afraid all of a sudden of losing her all over again.

He recalled the night he'd lost his eye.

How Eirlys had held his hand as the maester stitched the wound shut.

How genuinely concerned she was of him.

And then how she left his side to stand with her brother's, one of which had taken his eye in the first place.

Even now, he was injured by his own kin and Eirlys was in thought of going to visit Daeron.

He wouldn't force her to wait, but he desperately wished she would, for once, stay by his side.

"Alright" she shifted closer to him "but no more fights"

"I can't promise you that" Aemond grinned at her "you know I would kill for you"

"You can't resort to using the sword each time someone angers you"

"Which is why I also have a dragon at my disposal" Aemond winked.

Eirlys rolled her eyes as she chuckled at his response.

"Does the king know of what happened?" She asked "that both his sons almost slit each others throats?"

"Not yet. He grows weaker by the day. I doubt mother would want to further antagonise him by giving him the news of his sons turning against each other, not that he would care" Aemond sighed as he recalled the king's diminishing health "and his memory is starting to fail him"

"Is that so?" Eirlys seemed puzzled as how his current condition could affect his memory.

"Atleast that's the conclusion I've come to. The other and only explanation being that he was never much of a father. The latter option stings" the older boy muttered "the other night I was reading to him about the histories of old Valyria and when I was done he thanked me and called me Daemon before correcting himself "

"Well he did correct-"

"And then proceeded to call me Aegon" Aemond sounded so horrified as he recalled the events "I have been maimed for life but being mistaken for Aegon was something I took a much greater offence too"

The two continued their conversation with Aemond still fondly holding on to Eirlys' hand.

Alicent, as soon as she was made aware of the incident that took place between her sons, was left troubled.

She wasn't aware of Daeron's fancy toward the young Velaryon princess nor did she ever think that both her sons would resort to putting each one to the blade to win her over.

This sudden rivalry between them was dangerous and if found out by the others, word would spread and could be used to divide their house further.

The wedding between Aemond and Eirlys needed to happen fast to avoid any further conflict between the princes.

She would not allow the family to be torn apart on account of the boys' desire for the princess.

She sent for her father to discuss the issue before she could talk to Aemond and Eirlys about it.

She hoped the matter of the wedding would not arise anytime soon since she was already preoccupied with matters pertaining to the king's health.

But it was clear that the wedding couldn't be delayed any further.

She brought out some parchment from her drawer and reached for the quill and ink to write down the things she would have to attend to once the preparations for the wedding ceremony were to commence.