Nefarious || Aemond Targaryen

10

"A dinner?" Aemma asks. "After Daemon chopped my uncle's head in half in front of the entire court?"

"Yes, it appears so." Rhaenyra answered. "Now listen, all of you... I want you all on your best behavior tonight, okay? I think we've already had enough Targaryen drama for one day."

"Yeah, that means not taking your uncle's other eye out, Luke." Jace jokes.

Aemma cackled. "Jace. Aemma. That's quite enough" their mother scolded. "Now why don't you boys go and spend some time with your betrothed?"

The two boys did as told and went to spend time with their cousins. As Aemma was about to get up to leave her mother called out. "Aemma, wait... I — did you go to your grandsire last night and ask him to help us?"

"What makes you think I did?" She asks, suddenly alert. If word had gotten out about this there would no doubt be turmoil. Only one person knew, Aemond. Aemma cursed to herself, of course, he had probably told everyone by now.

"Because I am no fool, I know you and that complex brain of yours."

"Yes, I did mother, but you have to understand that I —" Aemma began.

"Thank you." Rhaenyra simple said, a soft smile painted her lips.

"What?" Aemma thought for sure that her mother would be mad.

"We would have lost the petition if it weren't for you, sweet girl. I don't know what you told him, but it worked."

Truth is, Aemma didn't say much, Aemma wasn't even sure he was going to show up. She was never one to believe in the power of miracles but maybe, just maybe, they existed. If her mother simply discovered through motherly instincts, that meant that Aemond had kept his mouth shut about the whole ordeal. Who knew that the one-eyed people pleaser could keep his mouth shut.

As the time for the upcoming event draws nearer, a sense of reluctance settles in. The idea of what is about to come doesn't necessarily inspire excitement or anticipation, but rather a feeling of hesitance and unease. It's not dread exactly, but a nagging sense of discomfort that's hard to shake.

Aemma's mind can't help but wander to the potential outcomes and consequences of the event, and what could go wrong. Lately, all she had been thinking about was what could go wrong. As she approaches the dining hall, a feeling of resignation sets in, accepting that the dinner is going to happen. It's like a cloud hanging over one's head, casting a shadow on what otherwise would be a normal day.

Physically, her body tenses up as she reached the entrance, as if bracing for impact. Her stomach churns and her heart beats a little faster, a sign of the anxiety and apprehension that's creeping in. There's a lack of enthusiasm and anticipation that's hard to ignore, a feeling that can overwhelm and color one's entire outlook.

Taking a look at the table ahead, she saw that there was only one spot left unoccupied and much to her dismay, it was right next to Aemond. Great. Her mother and Alicent were both sat at the head of the table, an empty space next to them for the King. They didn't dare glance in each others direction. Aemma took a deep breath before making her way to sit down next to her uncle. She didn't dare say a word.

"Does me drinking surprise you?" Aemond asks as he placed down his cup.

"You do not drink enough."

"You drink more than a Braavosi seahorse." Aemond retorted back.

Aemma slummed back into her seat. Great, she was stuck into a quarrel about how much of a drunk Aegon is. "I drink just the right amount." Aegon defends. Aemma sighed, already knowing that this dinner would take a toll on her sanity. Not wanting to deal with the awkward tension between her family, she filled up her cup to the brim with wine and drank it all in one gulp, just to fill it up again moments after. "And I'm the drunk of the family." Aegon speaks up chuckling at his niece.