Nefarious || Aemond Targaryen

6

126 AC

"Do you really have to go?" Aemma asked her cousin solemnly as they walked through the corridors of Dragonstone, arms linked.

"Grandmother nearly begged me." Baela sighed. "She has been awfully lonely these days with Lord Corlys in the stepstones."

"Yes, I can imagine. And now that he is said to be wounded, what a horrible fate." she responded. She felt bad for her grandmother, she had already lost both children and now was on the verge of losing her husband. "I will miss you though, Dragonstone will not be the same without your company, dear cousin."

"But I will be in fine company, I've heard the men from Spicetown and Hull are quite the eye-catchers." Baela joked.

"Do not jest about men with me for I am forever doomed to this small island where there are no men." Aemma groaned. "At this rate, I'll die a maiden."

The two girls continued to walk around the castle, jesting and laughing about the smallest of things, spending their last few moments together, for on the morrow she would be heading to Driftmark.

Over the years, the two girls have created an inseparable bond. Dragonstone was small and there wasn't much to do, so besides from looking after the children, learning High Valyrian, having lessons with the Maester and riding their dragons, they had to find ways to have fun.  Some times they would steal wine from the kitchens and spend their evenings hidden in one of their chambers as they drank and jested away, other times they would pull pranks on their younger siblings.

The castle was full of life these days. As if six children weren't already enough of a handful, Daemon and Rhaenyra wasted no time in making more babes. She now had two new brothers, Aegon and Viserys. This time, they were visibly Targaryen, unlike her and her brothers. Since Aemma and Baela were the oldest of the lot, the responsibility fell on them to take care of them as well. They didn't mind, they loved them all deeply, but they were absolutely deranged children. Aemma doesn't remember herself being such a pain when she was their age.

It has been six years since the death of her father, six years since she last saw the rest of her family. Aemma was a woman now. She has grown a couple of inches and if even possible, had gotten even more beautiful. At the young age of ten and six, she was charismatic and confident, she was a natural leader. She values efficiency and has a unique ability to reach her goals. With unmatched ambition and drive, once Aemma sets her sights on something, she won't stop until she gets it. She loves a challenge. Yet she held a compassion for others that was truly remarkable, she was a kind soul.

In Kings Landing she would train with her Harwin and Laenor in secret as it was frowned upon. Here in Dragonstone she trained with Daemon. Her mother highly encouraged her training alongside her brothers, the world was cruel a woman needs to know how to defend herself, her mother always said.

Aemma often sparred against Baela in her free time, for her cousin matched her love and ambition for swordsmanship. The two of them were constantly testing each others limits, constantly setting new standards for one another. It was a constant challenge that the two of them enjoyed. Daemon prided himself seeing that his eldest daughter and niece carried his love for the sword. Out of all of the children, he loved them the most, but of course he would ever admit it out loud.

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"Princess, a raven has arrived for you." her maid Joss said as she entered her chambers, handing her the letter. "Do you think --"