selcouth | aegon targaryen (ii)

chapter thirteen

Aemond Targaryen was born to be King, but cursed with being a second son. His brother was a menace, always doing what he ought not to. Sometimes he even believed he hated him, but hate is a strong word. The Seven, in their divine wisdom, would frown upon such visceral animosity directed towards kin, even one as tumultuous as his brother.

Beside the tempest that was his elder brother, Aemond's sister emerged as an ethereal being – a paragon of virtue and grace. Aemond couldn't help but ponder the enigma of their shared lineage, questioning the very essence of how his mother, a woman of seemingly divine providence, could conceive someone as disparate as him.

Aemond was sure Aegon wished he was the second son. After all, despite being a prince, he had more freedom than his older brother, only he didn't take advantage of it. Instead, he spent his time training, studying and thinking. Aegon didn't seem to enjoy doing any of those things. He couldn't help but think - if Aegon used his time in such a scandalous way and he was always being controlled, how would he behave if he wasn't the heir to the throne?

Targaryens were complicated like that. They do say the Gods flip a coin when a Targaryen is born, and apparently, Aegon's coin landed on the wrong side.

As he stood there, waiting for Sunfyre to descend upon the Dragon Pit, Aemond couldn't shake the nagging thought that it should have been him representing the king on the journey to Winterfell.

For what felt like an eternity, he observed the majestic flight of Vhagar, the dragon's wings slicing through the air in a mesmerizing dance. His impatience grew, fueled by the anticipation of Aegon's return. At last, the distinctive roar of Sunfyre reverberated through the air, announcing their arrival. Aemond's gaze fixated on the creature as it touched down with a resounding thud. The golden scales gleamed in the moonlight.

As Aegon dismounted from Sunfyre, Aemond approached with a sense of duty. He waited patiently. Once Aegon's boots touched the ground, Aemond offered a nod of respect before assisting Hyacinth in descending from the dragon's back.

"Good evening," Aemond greeted them as he searched for Hyacinth's face, trying to see if she was alright.

"Brother, I didn't know you would be waiting for us," Aegon took off his cloak and handed it to a passing servant. Aemond couldn't help but notice how he didn't look at Hyacinth to check if she also wanted to hand her cloak to someone else. Being the gentleman he was, Aemond did it for her, holding her fur cloak in his arm.

Aegon shot Aemond an amused glance, "Always the chivalrous one, aren't you, brother?"

Aemond ignored the remark and handed the cloak to a passing servant. "Courtesy befits a Targaryen, brother," he replied with a calm demeanor. "Hyacinth, you look well."

"Thank you, Aemond, but I am inclined not to believe you. It was a long flight and my hair is surely a mess. How was your day?" She inquired, as Aemond extended his arm to walk her towards the waiting carriage. 

Aemond's eyes met hers, and a warm smile graced his features. "The day has been pleasant, Lady Hyacinth. I spent it overseeing some matters in the city and enjoyed a brief flight with Vhagar. The skies are serene tonight."

"Yes, they are," Hyacinth agreed. 

With the assistance of a servant, Hyacinth ascended into the carriage, followed shortly by the Targaryen Princes. Seated by the window, she offered a smile as Aemond took the place beside her, while Aegon positioned himself on the bench across from them, his arms crossed, and his attention directed out of the window.

Aemond, curious about her day, inquired, "How were the negotiations?" However, Aegon, ever the assertive one, responded on her behalf.

Aegon sighed dramatically, "Oh, just the usual Northern squabbles over territory and pride. Nothing that can't be settled with a bit of dragonfire, or so I suggested."