Innocence// AEMOND TARGARYEN ✔️

Chapter Forty-one

Eirlys didn't know how long it had been but she was still sunk on the floor, crying whilst Aemond rocked her gently, occasionally pressing a kiss to the head.

"I'm sorry that I upset you" he'd apologised earlier quiet earnestly.

Not for creating havoc during dinner,

Not for offending her brothers, who he could care less about,

But solely to her because it vexed her.

Eirlys know that presently it was the wine that was making her cry. She was happy of course, that Aemond wasn't shallow enough to hate her simply because she wasn't a true born daughter, but she knew she wouldn't be bawling on the floor about it if she were sober.

Gods she shouldn't have drank so much wine.

"Eirlys"

Both her and Aemond looked up to see the queen, in her nightgown looking down at them.

How long had they been here?

"What's the matter- oh" Rhaenyra too rounded the hallway after Alicent, while being dressed in her sleeping attire.

"We wanted to come see you" Alicent spoke as she offered a smile "to make sure you were alright, we know the events at the dinner upset you"

"What are you still doing out here" Rhaenyra went to crouch beside her daughter "the boys are already abed"

"Aemond" Alicent sharply called out his name and the boys winced, he knew that tone far too well, though he'd not heard it for many years "you are to be confined to your chambers for a whole day"

"What-" the boy looked up at his mother, cheeks flushed with embarrassment "I'm four and twenty mother, you can't-"

"Oh I can and I will" she too sat on the floor "off you go, I will look after Eirlys"

Eirlys bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. It was almost comical seeing the queen mother scolding her grown up son as if he were still only a boy.

Aemond groaned in annoyance, before he stood up. He looked at Eirlys, as of to ask if she'd be alright.

She nodded a 'yes' to which he gave her a slight smile and left.

"Shall we have a cup of tea?" The queen asked the girl, talking to her as if Eirlys was five once again "maybe some cake? That might lift your spirits"

Eirlys wanted to tell them that the dispute between her and Aemond had already been taken care of but she did want to eat that cake the queen was offering.

Besides it was rude to turn down an invitation from the queen.

"I would like that very much, thankyou" she politely accepted the queen's invite.

She stood up and walked in between her mother and the queen, who seemed to be getting along just fine after the dinner.

Atleast it brought the two of them together.

Alicent offered one of her own nightgowns for the princess to change into whilst Rhaenyra undid her hair and began to brush it.

"I wish the boys could put aside their animosity once and for all" Alicent said as she poured the hot tea into some cups.

"And the temper- gods save me" Rhaenyra sighed "felt as though we were in an ale house"