Come Back To Me

Chapter 8

"I don't give a shit about tourneys." Prince Aemond smirked as he wielded his blade triumphantly against Ser Cole's throat. He looked past his mentor where he saw the two boys he'd be eager to finally face after so long. "Nephews. Have you come to train?"

Jace and Luke froze in place within the crowd once their one eyed uncle spotted them.

"Open the gates!" A guard shouted just in time, distracting everyone behind them to see their uncle, Vaemond Velaryon, marching proudly in with his men.

The older man smirked at the dark haired Velaryon boys as he passed by them. Aemond joined in the pride Vaemond felt in that moment. Pure fear coursing through Jace and Luke's veins as their eyes switched from the marching men back to the Prince.

Aemond eyed them eagerly with his sword planted firmly in front of him. His eye narrowed slightly at the two boys when he noticed it was just the two of them.

"Shame my niece isn't here to defend you again. Where is she anyways?" Aemond challenged, but Jace straightened up at the mention of his sister. But right on cue, a voice over the wall caught their attention.

"I AM PRINCESS DAENA OF HOUSE FUCKING VELARYON. NOW OPEN THE FUCKING GATE!" Daena shouted in irritation.

"Open the gates!" A guard shouted with a suspicious laughter in his tone. The remaining crowd in the yard turned once more to the doors being pulled wide open. Gasps quickly filled the yard and Aemond's mouth dropped at the sight before him.

Jace and Luke's eyes went wide as their sister was stomping in through the gate, soaked head to toe and her teeth shattering through the curses she muttered under her breath. Her fists were bawled tightly at her sides with her nails digging harshly into her palms. She saw her brothers instantly and stormed right up to them in a fit.

"Where is Daemon?!" She nearly shouted as Jace quickly removed his cloak to cover her up.

"Daena, what are you doing here?! Mother said you were to stay home." Luke still couldn't quite believe his sister came to support him. He couldn't tell whether he should be relieved or scared, especially with who was directly behind them.

"Where is Daemon? I'll not ask again." She growled as she pulled the cloak tightly against her shivering body.

"Not even so much as hello for your dear uncle, princess? Such terrible manners, I must say." Aemond spoke up, finally pulling her attention. Her eyes went past her brothers to the boy she'd heard so many vile stories of over the years. Now he stood before her a grown man, proud and arrogant even after all this time. Just as Baela said.

She brushed through her brothers with a tight smile on her face and hands tied behind her back, stopping only when she was standing directly in front of him. His eye scanned her, curious to her attire. If it wasn't for the finer design of her corset, she would almost look like a commoner. She wore a loose, ruffled shirt underneath with only what he assumed was a single layer of a skirt judging by the way the soaked fabric clung to her hips. "You're Prince Aemond, I presume?"

"Come now, niece. How could you possibly forget me?" He taunted her, but to his surprise she laughed. His face stiffened when she began to compose herself enough to speak.

"Of course. Forgive me for not addressing you upon my arrival." She turned away slightly from him before swinging her fist directly at his face, sending him to the ground and knocking him out cold.

Ser Cole rushed over with his blade withdrawn. "That is treason, attacking the Prince!"

"Put your fucking sword down. Gods, I don't even need my memories to know who you are, Cole. Please inform my uncle when he awakens in the next few minutes that I hope that was a proper enough greeting I felt he deserved from me. If that isn't to his satisfaction, he can start wearing a second eyepatch." Daena rolled her eyes at the guard dog practically frothing at the mouth with rage over the precious prince lying on the ground. She spat down at him before storming into the halls of the red keep, where she hoped to find Daemon.

Jace and Luke caught up to her quickly and were beaming with joy over seeing Aemond get what he deserves, especially from their sister.

"Sister, what are you doing here?" Jace finally asked when the high of a win washed away.

She looked down at Luke with a proud smile and wrapped her arm around him. "I won't let anyone harm my brothers. Ever."

"But what if...what if I don't want Driftmark?" Luke asked sheepishly. Jace's face dropped, understanding the feeling all too well.

"Well, if that's the case, we know of other ways to lose a title and then it can go to Joffrey. We can live out our days on Dragonstone and throw marvelous feasts together while our brothers become boring in their politicking." She squeezed him tightly with a giggle in her voice. Luke smiled up at her sweetly. She always did have a way of bringing light when he felt himself slipping into darkness.

"Also, if you don't mind me asking, why are you wet?" Jace chuckled and she returned to her disgruntled state from earlier.

"Oh, our stepfather is to thank for that. His genius plan to sneak me in." She grumbled.

"Daemon planned for you to be here?" Jace asked.

"Yes, and right now I want to give him the same greeting I gave our uncle just now." She picked up her pace as they went up the stairs.

Aemond woke just as quick as Daena said. He was up within minutes, groaning from the burning pain on the left side of his face. She'd managed to hit directly onto his scar. Though it had been many years since he'd been wounded, every now and then it would be almost impossible for him to endure.

"Apologies, my prince. I had no idea that was the princess. She was dressed so...commonly." Cole said plainly when he saw Aemond jolt up.

"Where did she go?" Aemond winced through the pain as his hand covered his scar.

"Her and those bastard brothers of hers went to go find their stepfather, Prince Daemon. It seems neither of the Strong boys were expecting her arrival." Cole explained.

"Hmm." Aemond mumbled as he remembered every last detail of her from the moment she walked through those doors. Something wasn't right and he was determined to find out what it was.