ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴄᴜʀꜱᴇᴅ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ☠♕AEGON II & AEMOND TARGARYEN☠♕

Chapter Five

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The Queen remained distracted.

Today was a celebration of her beloved Aemond's birth, but little Camilla was not here. No one knew where she was.

She stole a look at Larys. Normally, he did not worry about the whereabouts of his sister. They had a peculiar relationship; they trusted each other and Larys understood his sister's oddness better than most. But he sat in the corner tonight, hunched over his cane as various children and servants came to whisper in his ear. None knew where Camilla Strong was.

And Aemond sulked as a result.

"She is fine," Alicent assured.

"You don't know that for sure," Aemond mumbled. He pushed his chair away from the table. "I'm going to find her."

"You will not. I have already sent out--"

The dining hall doors opened.

Aemond stiffened beside her. Camilla stood beside Aegon and a goldcloak. Her downcasted face resembled a caught dog.

"I found them in the kitchens, Your Grace."

Together? Aemond thought. His brother's stupid smug smirk broke his heart. No...Camilla didn't like Aegon... Right?

The Queen approached the children while Larys made his slow approach. "Doing what?"

"The Prince was with a-a serving girl, Your Grace. And Lady Strong--"

The Queen gently cupped the girl's chin. The corner of her lips shined with melted frosting. "Found the celebration sweets, my girl?"

Larys paid closer attention to the welt on the side of her head. "Did you hurt yourself?"

"I fell," Camilla whispered. "After this morning and I don't remember how."

"Fetch a maester," Alicent ordered the guard. She then guided the small girl to the table, to sit across from Aemond.

Aegon was left standing, watching the scene unfold before nails dug into his bicep.

"Go to your room!" Alicent said. She leaned into him. "And if I hear you defiled this child--after I told you not to go near her--not even your father can save you."

With a shove, Aegon stumbled backwards. This was worth it, he reminded himself. Aegon tried to stop the venomous rejection from his mother that engulfed his heart. Aemond looked ready to die when they walked in and put the pieces together. He was a smart boy; he understood.

Aegon was ready to fight Aemond if necessary.

He left the room without another word.

"Does it hurt?" Mother asked. Her fingers ghosted over the bump.

"Not right now."

Alicent looked at Larys, but he was absorbed with his sister. "Will you tell us what happened in the kitchens?"

Camilla shuffled in her seat and his her fingers under the table. "I woke up on the bottom of the stairs. I couldn't remember what happened and I was going to try and find my way back when I smelled sweets." She licked her lips. "I was so hungry. That's when I heard noises from the shelf in the closet. I saw Prince Aegon with a serving girl."

"What else happened?"

Camilla was hyper aware of everyone's stares. Aemond's in particular, burned holes into her soul. "Then the gold guard came. He grabbed me and I knocked over the shelf. Everything broke."

"Shh," Mother cooed. Her hands over Camilla's shoulders stopped the girl's rocking. The last thing she needed was to have another attack. "It's alright. I'm not angry with you."

"Your Grace," the entering maester greeted. "There is important--"

"See to Lady Strong first," Alicent ordered.

The man was taken aback. Had this not been why he was summoned? "Of course, Your Grace."

Camilla's welt was not unlike a soldier's injury. Milk of the poppy was all that could be given, which displeased the queen greatly.

"You mentioned something 'important'," Larys said, steering the conversation away from his sister.

"Ah, yes." The man pulled out a letter from between his long sleeves. "Lady Laena has died. The family and the Crown are expected to attend."

Another death. What a year this was turning out to be.

"Camilla," the Queen broke her thoughts. "Will you be alright here while your brother and I leave for a few minutes?"

"I will stay with her, Mother," assured Aemond. He had no clue where his sudden confidence came from. All he knew was he could no longer sit idly while Camilla suffered across from him while he did nothing.

When his mother and Lord Strong left with the maester, Camilla abruptly stood and went to sit next to the fireplace. Her motions resembled the dead. Aemond would be lying if he said it didn't unnerve him.

But he stood anyway. Camilla did not scare him. Not even with the fire illuminating her black hair and rosy cheeks. He scared himself. He did not want to say the wrong thing and ruin this moment.

"I'm worried it will happen again at Driftmark." Camilla broke the silence. "I don't want to embarrass my brother."

"It won't. I'll protect you."

A shudder raked his body the moment Aemond uttered that promise. The fire almost went out before it crackled back to life. He wasn't devout like his mother, but Aemond couldn't help but think the gods heard his promise too.