ELLIPSISM, aemond targaryen

[063] the truth will harden you

TO SAY THAT the journey back to the Red Keep was strange was putting it very mildly. The truth was that it took seemingly an eternity since both Ser Arryk and Aegon still sometimes resisted their captors and thus made it difficult for Cole and Aemond who held them while they walked.

Ser Arryk was unable to hide his annoyance, although Aemma wasn't sure if he was more angry because he failed his task as he didn't kill her or because his brother didn't help him and run away instead. She assumed both. The important thing was that when Cole's grip on him became even tighter while he kept him as far away from Aemma as possible, Arryk finally gave up and continued on his way without a word.

As for Aegon, he resisted much longer than the guard in front of him, and Aemond wondered a few times if this was his sign to let him go and say it was unintentional. But when Aemma appeared on Aegon's other side and gripped his arm with the hand that was not holding her bleeding wound, Aegon stopped fighting even though the protests did not stop rolling from his mouth.

"There is still time," he kept repeating, looking pleadingly from Aemond to Aemma. "If you let me go now, I'll find a ship and you won't see me again."

"If we let you go, Cole will notice and catch you himself," Aemond muttered as he glared at Cole who looked back at them almost every ten seconds.

Aegon still didn't give up. "I'll be faster than him."

"No, you won't."

"Then you and Aemma will hold him back!"

"No, we won't," Aemma interrupted the conversation with a scoff and as he turned to her she let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, Aegon, but the only way we could let you get away would be if no one knew we did it. If we do it as blatantly as you suggest, the consequences for us will be way worse."

"I didn't think you were someone who was worried about the consequences," Aegon stated dryly. "Since when are you the responsible type?"

"Since I have to work with people like Aemond and Cole to find you," she retorted, returning the glare Aemond sent her. "I don't know if you've noticed, but if I'm not responsible, no one will be."

"What are you even doing here? Helaena cried yesterday because you were supposed to sail with Stark to the North," Aegon asked her and although Aemond's gaze focused on his surroundings again, he still listened intently as he was also interested in her answer.

Aemma glanced at Aemond as if she knew he was listening, but then turned her gaze back to Aegon. "I didn't plan to travel with Ben but to take Helaena and the children and fly with them to Winterfell on Meraxes and Dreamfyre. But plans changed last night."

The oldest Targaryen Prince frowned in confusion. "Why?"

"Because I was there when the King died. And I heard what he said before he died," Aemma replied, her face relaxed and look meaningful. "He wanted you to become king."

After her words, Aemond looked at her, carefully studying her expression, looking for even the smallest detail that would confirm that she was lying, but to his great disappointment, Aemma's face was more honest than when she was actually telling the truth. Despite that, the look she sent him, albeit unreadable and quick, looked as if she was checking whether he believed her too, and that, at least in his eyes, confirmed that she was lying.

But Aegon didn't think in that way, and Aemma's meaningful look and kind voice were able to melt away his doubts in a second.

"Are you serious?" he asked her hesitantly, but not in disbelief. "You stayed here and went looking for me because you believe his words?"

"He was our King and even if his choice of successor changed at the last minute as one of the few people who heard him and a member of House Targaryen it is my duty to defend your claim until others believe too, isn't it?" she shrugged and looked forward as it it wasn't a big deal.