ELLIPSISM, aemond targaryen

[071] clouds are gathering

A/n:  I would like to start this chapter by apologising for not posting again for two weeks. I didn't expect the update to be so complicated, but the truth is that I have a lot to do this year in school and even when I have time off, I don't really want to dedicate it to writing this book. Again, I started to see it as something I do because I have to, similar to mandatory school assignments, and it doesn't make me happy like it used to. I need some time to myself when I do nothing but read books, watch movies, do anything for fun really. I'm trying to hope that gradually writing ELLIPSISM will be fun again too.

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W A R N I N G
Mature content at the end of the chapter.

. . .

AEMOND TARGARYEN RARELY REGRETTED anything and rarely complained -- at least that's what he tried to do. His mother had tried to teach him and his siblings to be patient and grateful since childhood, no matter how bad things were, and how rarely she followed these rules herself.

He also knew that out of all of them, Aegon also respected the rules the least and he knew how it annoyed his mother, his grandsire and actually the whole Red Keep. Which was why patience and gratitude was one of the things he had learned over the years to be a better son than Aegon, and when he couldn't be patient and grateful he was at least quiet.

And now here he was, sitting on a horse since morning, walking through the muddy forest and patiently listening to the endless chatter of Lord Borros and other men, grateful to be there. All for his impatient and ungrateful brother, who at this time was probably still asleep with some whore in his bed, the crown of Conqueror thrown somewhere on the ground near the empty goblets of wine and discarded clothes.

What a joy to be born as a second son.

". . . a bit complicated, don't you think, Prince Aemond?" Lord Borros asked as he turned on his horse to look at him.

"I think your words explain everything, My Lord," Aemond replied regardless that he had no idea what the lord was asking him.

Borros, however, did not seem to realize this and, on the contrary, was extremely satisfied with his answer. "Anyway, the first lad ended up with a split lip and the second one with a wounded hand, unable to pick up a sword ever again. Hard to say if it's worse to lose looks or abilities, eh?"

Aemond stared at him for a long moment, as if he was waiting to see if he would realise what he said, as even the lords and servants who traveled with them and listened to them had slightly nervous expressions at Borros' comment. But Borros didn't realise it, and if he did, he didn't bother to apologise or cover it up.

"I think that a scar on the face does not mean the end of everything and every disability can be overcome," Aemond said coldly. "Of course, not every man has the sense and determination to do so."

Borros laughed heartily and one of the lords who led the party, trying to find some animal that they could kill, glared at him. Although it wasn't raining that day like the day before, the sky was still dark and the air cold, and most certainly no one wished to get out of bed so early to go hunting. Aemond himself had problems getting up and knew that if he hadn't slept in his room but stayed with Aemma, he probably wouldn't have decided to leave and would have stayed with her.

The night before, shortly before he left, he had even asked her to come with him as it was already known that she was a capable fighter and as Aegon's Mistress of Ships, Borros could not forbid her. However, Aemma insisted that it was a bad idea as if she had to listen to hours of Borros' bullshit with a weapon in her hand, she might be too tempted to use it.