Nefarious || Aemond Targaryen

5

The sun had risen in Driftmark, yet not a single soul had gone to sleep. Everybody was tired yet nobody could fall asleep, not after witnessing what just happened. The castle was bustling. Word of the Queens outburst already spreading all over the seven kingdoms.

Aemma sat next to her two brothers, as the maester did his best to heal her. Joffrey had just woken up so she was rocking him, at least he won't have to live with the memory of this terrible night. Nobody said a word, nobody knew what to say. All they wanted to do was confront Aemond, nobody was meant to get hurt. Yet here they were, hours later, Aemond had no eye, Lucerys had a broken nose, mother had a gash in her arm, the rest were covered in bruises.

Aemma couldn't help but think about Aemond. How he was probably in so much pain that not even milk of the poppy would ease it. She thought of paying him a visit, but she was probably the last person he wanted to see. Even if he didn't mind seeing her, Alicent would probably threaten to take her eye if she even got close to her son.

"You will scar, but the wound will heal. Valyrian steel cuts clean." Said the maester as he, for the second time this very night, sew shut a gash.

The doors to her chambers open and her father comes rushing in. "Gods" is all he says when he sees the image in front of him. "Is everyone alright?"

"A broken nose is the worst."

"Thank you, maester." Rhaenyra sighs. "Leave us." She turns to Aemma. "Aemma, take your brother's to their chambers, they have already found enough trouble today."

"Yes, mother."

All three of her brothers had gone to sleep, yes Aemma remaind wide awake, not an ounce of drowsiness in her whole being. She thought for a moment before letting her heart take over. Knocking three times on the prince's door. He opened it, surprised to see her, for she was the last person he was expecting. She was surprised see him so nonchalant considering everything that has happened. She half expected him to be laying in bed, maesters not leaving his side and a knight assigned to his protection 24/7. He had a bandage around his eye, it was dirty with blood.

"Aemma."

"Uncle... umm, may I come in?"

He was skeptical at first, but he nodded and cleared the way for her to enter. She saw that he was already packing his things. "Leaving already?"

"I don't fancy spending anymore time in the place where your brother blinded me." He snaps back.

"No, I know." She sighed. "I just expected you to be, I don't know—"

"Laying in bed, weak?" He finished for her. "Go on, say it. You think I am weak. Am i right, niece?"

She began tapping her fingers together behind her back. She wasn't expecting any sort of hospitality from him. He had every righto to be mad. "I wasn't going to say that." She croaks. Looking back up at him. "Does it hurt?" She asks, what a stupid question to ask, of course it hurts.

He could sense she was being genuine. "Not really, I've drank milk of the poppy, it helps."

Tears swelled in her eyes. "I'm so sorry." She whispers. "I tried to stop them, I didn't want— you didn't deserve this happening to you."

Aemma blinks back the tears, clearing her throat, realizing that she was vulnerable in front of him twice in just a couple of hours. Something she promised herself she would never do. Aemond stared at her, not sure of what to say. He wanted to hate her, he really did. She defended her brother when her brother was the one who did this. But he couldn't hate her. When the King asked her what happened she had spoken the truth, she didn't twist the story like her mother did. She was different. "Um, you should probably finish packing, I don't want to be a hassle. Safe travels, uncle."