Come Back To Me

Chapter 15

"Seven hells, how are you this uncoordinated?!" Aemond groaned when her heel accidentally stomped on his toes. She stumbled back, cursing under her breath.

"I'm trying!" She scoffed.

"To what? Break my foot?" He narrowed his eye, but she just rolled hers and started back at the beginning. "Explain something to me, princess. You moved effortlessly fighting-."

She was about to turn the wrong way and he abruptly grabbed her shoulders and roughly turned her the opposite way.

"While fighting Ser Cole, yet you dance like a cripple almost." He continued on, thankfully this time she didn't step on his foot again.

"It is far easier to kill someone than dance with them." Her eyes remained on her own feet, careful to remain on beat with him. He noticed and quickly lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"You won't be staring at your feet at the wedding, so I'd suggest you keep your head up." He said sternly, but never removed his fingers from her chin. He kept his eye on her as they continued, her body moving slightly awkward. She clenched her jaw, but knew he was right. She kept his gaze begrudgingly, very uncomfortable being so close to him especially in this manner. His hand lowered for the lift, but as his hands touched her waist her feet tripped over each other and she stumbled back.

"Fuck!" She groaned as she caught her balance. She clenched her fists tightly at her side, taking a deep breath. "This is pointless. I'm done."

"Did I say we were done?" He chuckled, extending his hand out for her. But she didn't move. He stood straight, placing his hands behind his back as his face turned more stern. "The problem isn't your feet."

"What?"

"You say it's easier to kill and when you fight, you're light on your feet and move smoothly. You managed to dodge most of Cole's attacks, because you anticipated anything." He explained.

"Are you saying if I try to kill you the gods will bless my dancing ability?" She laughed, but he only clenched his jaw.

"There is no such thing as trust in a fight. And you know that. You say Daemon trained you, and you trust him?" He asked, but she only nodded. He extended his arm back out to her. "Then I need you to trust me."

She snorted, but his face didn't budge once. "I fear I'll never dance if that's the case."

"I'm serious, Daena."

"I am too! You expect me to trust you after everything you've put me through?!"

"I expect you to trust me in spite of what I did to you." He kept his tone steady with a hint of demand in his voice. Any humor vanished from her face as she considered him.

"Fine." The words were like poison as she mumbled them with a sigh. She rejoined him, keeping her head up and starting the dance from the beginning. This time when he went in for the lift, there wasn't an issue. It wasn't clean, but it wasn't a flat out failure. They continued on and on the last step, he gave her a slight nod.

"Not great, but better. We'll work more on it on the morrow. Hmm." He simply said before walking back towards Vhagar.

"I think I should be fine now." She called out but he just laughed.

"Wear a dress for our next lesson. It'll help." He replied as he mounted his dragon, giving her one last look before he disappeared into the skies. She rolled her eyes, but slumped down in the sands.

She casually tossed rocks into the waters as she thought more about what he said. Trust? Trust Aemond? How the hell was she expected to do that? She knew he was right, though she'd never admit it. Nor did she wish to admit to her family she needed their help for something so simple.

They'd spent hours working together and he was somewhat patient with her. Though every time she'd step on his feet it was clear as day he was ready to snap.

Then she thought about what her mother told her about Aemond. He was the one that prevented her from marrying Aegon. The very same Aegon that forcefully kissed her last night. But why? Her brothers didn't really say much about Aegon being a monster, which made her wonder if he was always that foul. If he wasn't, why prevent a betrothal between them?

Right now she didn't want to talk to Aemond about that. But there was someone who would know more.

"You lost the wager, hence you buy the first pint, Jacerys." Daena nudged at her brother as they finished their first pint of ale. The two of them snuck into the city while everyone else was at supper. She wanted to do anything to avoid her mother's scorn and Jace more so wanted an explanation for the training yards.

He tossed the barmaid a gold dragon and signaled for another round. "So do I get some form of explanation for earlier, sister?"

She smiled to herself. "Daemon has been training me for years now secretly. Usually before everyone wakes."

"And you didn't think to tell any of us?" It was obvious he was hurt that she kept this from him. Especially judging by the way his eyes dropped to his lap.

"I couldn't. Mother has always been so adamant about keeping me safe and away from any danger, I just...I didn't want to give it up, so I kept it a secret." She sipped her ale quietly while he processed her answer. "I was so tired of everyone looking at me like I was made of glass and that I would break over the slightest thing."

"None of us wanted to lose you, that was all." He finally said, though he understood her point.

"And now you don't have to." She raised her mug with a smug smile, making him finally loosen up and laugh. They clinked their mugs, downing more of their ale before they slammed them down onto the counter. "Can I ask you something, brother?"

"What is it?"

"Why didn't you tell me about Helaena?"

His whole body went tense at the mention of their aunt. "I don't know what you mean."

"Oh, Jace! Don't lie to me." She shoved at his shoulder. "I told you my secret, now tell me yours."

He sighed. "There's nothing to tell. We were to marry, then we weren't. We were just children."

"But you loved her...I see the way you look at her at supper." She placed a reassuring hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You know you can tell me anything, Jace. I won't tell a soul. I swear it."

"Really? Is that how this works?" He scoffed, yanking his hand away. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion over his agitated state.

"That's how it always works. I'm your sister."

He smirked to himself. "And does being my sister mean you have to be the reason I lose so much?"

"Jacerys, I-."

"Just drop it, Daena." He tossed another gold dragon onto the counter as he rose, but she grabbed his arm. Her eyes demanded an explanation. "Yes, I loved her. And when mother told me she planned on announcing our betrothal, I was...gods, I was the happiest boy in the realm. Just to hear the next day she was going to marry Aegon...because of you."

"Mother said it was Aemond that caused that, not me." But he just shook his head and laughed sarcastically.

"And I wonder why he could've possibly done that." With that, he left her sitting in the tavern alone.

"What in seven hells just happened?" She mumbled to herself. None of it made sense to her. Her plan to solve this puzzle ended with the pieces scattered everywhere instead.

She finished her ale and stormed out the tavern, but instead of heading back to the castle, she snuck down to the shores. She found her rowboat and made her way to her hidden spot. When she came to shore, she looked up at the sky and closed her eyes, feeling a warmth building in her heart.

Come fly with me.