KING'S LANDING
The morning of her seventeenth name day, Hira found herself in the gardens surrounded by friends she held dear to her heart. Dressed in a floral ao dai, she admired the hard work that went into transforming the gardens into the perfect venue suitable for the dancing ceremony.
Paper decorations lined the tree branches and blue petals were scattered across the ground. A rectangular short-legged table was set up under the stone pavilion with cushions underneath for seating.
The kitchen staff, directed by Ming and Jade, prepared all the dishes she favoured. From bao buns, to lamian with mixed vegetables and summer rolls wrapped in delicate rice paper. A tray holding desserts of apas, oblong-shaped biscuits with a layer of brown sugar, as well as fried, caramelised sweet potato treats called camote cues.
The breeze was right and the sun beamed above them. The smell of sea salt lingered in the air, overlooking Blackwater Bay. Jade hired Braavosi musicians to play tunes throughout the morning and late into the afternoon.
"And how are you this morning, cousin?" Ming passed a glass of tapuey.
Hira sipped it slowly, savouring the flavour of rice wine. How they managed to import such an expensive liquor, Hira will never know.
"Beyond pleased," she responded.
And she was.
When she dressed herself this morning, she stared into the looking glass and contemplated for a while. She looked no different to yesterday and felt no different. She was still the same Hira who went to bed that night.
Though, she was far more content after yesterday's events with Aemond. For all Hira did to avoid the princeling, her uncle led him right back to her. Hira unintentionally reached up to her neck, stopping herself at the last second when she realised the action. Although this time the reason was the ghost of Aemond's touch that still lingered, rather than the need to comfort herself through harsh, self-inflicted means.
"My brother was sprouting a similar grin when he returned from your flying adventure yesterday." Helaena noted, appearing from behind. She wrapped her arms over Hira's chest and rested her chin on her shoulder.
An unusual development between the two. Hira had always respected Helaena's aversion to touch, yet she welcomed it all the same when Helaena initiated it first. It wasn't light touches here and there, but full blown hugs. Arms wrapped around her, often clinging to her body.
Hira was used to the touches, for her ladies often conducted themselves in a similar manner. Perhaps her cousin had picked up the same habits.
She made no comment, simply smiled sweetly, if a little secretive, at her cousin.
Helaena grinned in response, squeezing her tightly before strolling to join Jade and Linh by the table.
From the corner of her eye she found Aemond strolling into the gardens with Aegon in tow, the latter most likely having been forced by his parents to join. The brothers were bickering, which was nothing new.
"Must he join us?" Ming asked in Lengii, a frown on her face.
"By the king's command," Hira disputed. "Keep the wine as far from the drunkard as possible, we need no disturbances today."
"Cousin! Happy name day. Well wishes and good health and all that crap to you."
Aegon leaned in to embrace her, but Aemond yanked him away by the back of his tunic. He reeked of wine and it was only morning. How in the world where these two related?
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The Passion of a Thousand Suns | Aemond Targaryen
Fanfiction❛❛ Aemond yearned for her, that much she knew. It was a pity duty held a crown over her head, for Hira would have gladly fallen into his desire. ❜❜ - Hira, known to the Seven Kingdoms as Daemon's bastard daughter. In Leng, a Princess, a daughter of...
