𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒.

𝟔

                                      𝟏𝟐𝟕 𝐀𝐂.
-☆-

"...𝐀𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃?"

Aemond stopped in his tracks, looking up quickly to see Astraea, Rhaena, Jacaerys, Baela, Aegon, and Luke staring back at him.

"Astraea." He said, eternally wincing at the obvious crack in his voice.

"We saw. We all saw." Baela glared hard at Aemond.

"There was nothing to see."

"You stole Vhagar." Rhaena squeaked from behind Astraea, obviously upset.

"You can't steal a dragon, she allowed me to ride her!" Aemond argued.

"There are rules," Aegon said, shaking his head, "Rhaena should have been first to try."

Astraea blinked, surprised. She hadn't known the depth of his mistake, only thinking they were outside of their rooms because he'd snuck out from under the gaurd's nose.

"You...did you know?" The brunette girl said softly, glancing down at Rhaena and back at Aemond.

"I—"

"Of course he knew. He knew and he did it because he could without getting in trouble with the Queen!" Jacaerys said with a harsh tone.

"All of you sat there and mocked me for not having the very thing I just achieved! When will it be acceptable?!" Aemond exclaimed, feeling his face get hot.

"I never thought you were less. And regardless, you've taken an important opportunity from Rhaena, who's only just begun grieving her mother. That is wrong, do you not understand that?" Astraea tilted her head, squeezing Rhaena's hand. It was clear where she stood on the matter.

"I promised you we would go to High Garden together with a dragon. We have a dragon now."

Astraea grimaced.

"Well she hates you now, brat. You've ruined that for yourself." Aegon scoffed.

"I never said—"

Rhaena pulled away from Astraea, hitting Aemond aimlessly with clenched fists. Aemond puts his arm up, deflecting the weaker girl's attacks.

"Rhaena!" Baela exclaims as Aemond pushes her sister down, finally having enough. Baela punched him, and then everyone but Aegon and Astraea joined the fight.

"My brother, you've got him wrapped around your pretty finger. He's gone and ruined everything he's built up for himself, hasn't he? Perhaps you made him feel better about himself, a second son." Aegon whispered, patting her on the shoulder.

"It's your fault he felt that way." She mumbled, pushing his hand off and going forward, trying to pull Baela off and deescalate the situation.

"Stop!" Luke yelled, hitting Aemond in the legs, only for him to be kicked away.

"Aemond!" Astraea yelled, pushing him.

"Don't touch me!" He spat back at her, shoving Jace to the ground.

"What are you doing?" She said, staring wide eyed up at Aemond as she knelt on the hard rock, brushing Luke's hair from his eyes and wiping away some of the blood leaking from his nose.

"You're always going to choose them, huh?" The younger blonde Targaryen said, staring down maliciously at Jacaerys. "Stay down."

Astraea gasped as he picked up a rock and kicked dirt into Jacaerys' eyes. She pushed herself up, hitting Aemond harder with the intent of getting him away from Jace. The searing pain across her cheek made her yelp and stumble, bringing a hand to her face as she sat back on the ground.