Nefarious || Aemond Targaryen

17

"Headache and aching joints are treated with sweet-smelling herbs such as rose, lavender, sage, and hay. A mixture of henbane and hemlock are applied to aching joints." the Maester explained as he showed Aemma vials containing each herb.

Just as she requested, she was having lessons with the Maester about healing and herblore. They were in the healing chambers, in front of her was a large table covered in books, vials and candles to illuminate the dimly lit room. The amount of specific herbs used in remedies was copious.

"But you must be wary about how much hemlock is used. Hemlock must be used with extreme caution since even small amounts could cause untoward affects. The amount needed to migrate from a therapeutic to a toxic dose is very small." he continues.

Aemma had always found the art of healing fascinating, and she had been greatly excited to begin her new lessons, but no matter how hard she tries, she just wasn't able to focus this morrow. She found her attention always drifting away to past days recent events, overwhelmed with everything that had happened.

A million thoughts raced her mind. The first thing being the occurrence of the previous day. The kiss. How he after had asked her to marry him, how she just left him under the willow tree. The feeling of guilt she felt for not returning the feelings he shared for her even though he was the perfect man for an arranged marriage.

She thought of how she enjoyed the kiss, but something didn't quite feel right. Most importantly she thought of their friendship and how now it was most likely ruined. Even if he was able to surpass her fleeing his company, it would never quite be the same again. For a moment she even pondered asking her mother if she could marry him, at least he would spare her from marrying an old lord who would only fuck her once a month and beat her. But she couldn't use him, she cared too much for him to use him.

"Coriander is used to reduce fever. Stomach pains and sickness are treated with wormwood, mint, and balm." continued the Maester.

But the kiss wasn't the only thing that was on her mind. Her thoughts wander to her night with Aegon in Flea Bottom and her encounter with the witch, more specifically what the witch had told her. "You are not as strong as you think you are". She knew that the commoners of Flea Bottom had knowledge of her and her brothers parentage, but something in her told her that the witch knew what she was referring to.

She knew that the last thing she should be doing was paying mind to something a creepy old woman told her on the streets of silk, but she just couldn't help herself. Was Harwin Strong not her father? She knew for a fact that it wasn't Ser Laenor, for they shared nothing in common.

Aemma had always been a perceptive child, always aware of her surroundings even when she didn't intend on being. Ever since she could understand what was going on around her, she noticed that even though Ser Harwin loved her and acted like a father figure towards her, there was something different about the way he would be with Jace and Luke. Something she never payed any matter to, except for now, and now that she thought of it, she couldn't take her mind off of it.

"Lung problems are treated with a medicine made of liquorice and comfrey. Cough syrups and drinks are prescribed for chest and head-colds and coughs." The Maester continues with his lesson, completely oblivious to the fact that he was speaking to himself.

As if that weren't enough, she was also succumbing to the pressure of having the future of the crown depend on her and only her and now that Aegon had drunkenly told her that the Queen and Lord Hand planned on usurping the throne, Aemma was worried. The King desired his first born daughter to inherit the throne, one and twenty years have passed since the birth of Aegon and not once did he speak of his wish to make Aegon heir.