Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? / Aemond Targaryen / House of the Dragon

21. Pummel

"Hello my sweet what are you up to?"

"I was going to take joffrey to watch the boys train." Maeve answered. "But hes got a dirty butt so maybe you take him instead." Maeve held out her littlest brother. Rhaenyra chuckled running a hand over her head.

"You just want to watch the knights and Robbie train." Rhaenyra decided

"No." Maeve whispered. "Aemond." She admitted. "And Aegon." She added quickly not wanting to sound like she had a crush but she certainly did. "All the boys really. You know see their training and how jace and luke are doing under cristons training...."

"Go on then." Rhaenyra agreed.

''Soften your knees. Feet light.'' Criston instructed when Maeve came running up. He wrapped an arm around her. "When am i going to get you out here to train beautiful?" Criston questioned she smiled up at him leaning back into his legs.

"I wouldnt be proper." Maeve countered

"You are the heirs heir darling girl. You should know how to protect yourself." Criston corrected.

"But i have you," maeve countered. "When im queen one day. You will be my sworn sword."

"I will be a bit old by then. You will want someone younger." Criston realized. But he couldnt wait for the day his daughter became queen.

''Keep your feet light and your hands heavy.'' Harwin instructed stepping forward

"Whats that even mean?" Vaera questioned as she passed with Helaena.

"Down in the dirt where they lay." Helaena answered.

"I reallt wish you would give me a straight answer every now and then." Vaera mumbled.

''This is the stuff, Lyonel. Lads that learn together, train together... knock each other down, pick each other up. They will certainly form a lifelong bond, wouldn't you agree?'' Viserys questioned happily. Vaera waved up at him brightening his day instantly.

''That is the hope, Your Grace.'' Lyonel agreed softly having already lost the king's attention.

''Don't stand too upright, my Prince. You'll get knocked down.'' Criston warned and Aegon let out a grunt of distaste. ''Aegon.'' Criston began.

''I've won my first bout, Ser Criston. My opponent sues for mercy.'' Aegon said pompously.

"You havent fought against me." Robbie countered.

"You are easy." Aegon assured.

"Doubtful," robbie corrected stepping forward.

"Come on Skylar you against me." Draegon declared. Skylar lifted his blade.

"You are better in the skies cousin." Skylar countered.

"Says you," draegon huffed.

''Well, you'll have a new opponent then, My Lord of the Straw. Let's see if you can touch me. You and your brother.'' Criston offered. Maeve grumbled taking a step back but blushed when aemond smiled her way. Rhaenyra so badly wished Maeve would have fallen for draegon or robbie. Not alicents boys.

Aegon and Aemond stepped forward, sparring swords lunging at criston but he was skilled warrior. The princes were yelling and grunting as they lunged and failed to knock criston down. Maeve cheered out for criston while robbie chuckled passing off a training sword to Petyr.

"Cant beat an old man." Robbie decided.

"Hes not old," maeve defended.

''You're gonna have to do better than that.'' Criston added. "Even for an old man." He smirked back at robbie.

"I want whack at you next." Robbie challenged

''Ah. Weapons up, boys.'' Harwin remarked coming up to Rhaenrya's children. ''Give your enemies no quarter.'' Harwin glanced over at Criston and Aegon and Aemond, avalons children, davinas children all training and being instructed and yet jace and luke seemed to always be standing around lost during lessons.

''It seems the younger boys could do better with a bit of your attention... Ser Criston.'' Harwin remarked and Criston turned to him stiffly as aegon jumped up brushing himself off.

''You question my method of instruction, ser?'' Criston asked calmly.

''Oh, I merely suggest that method be applied to all your pupils'' Harwin suggested nodding to Jace and Luke.

''Very well. Jacaerys... come here.'' Criston agreed ''You spar with... Robbie.'' Criston decided.

"Gladly." Robbie agreed. Criston knew that Davinas children were better trained and better disciplined when it came to their drsgon training and battle training. He had feeling it had to do with daemon wanting to turn them into little warriors and davinas need to be surrounded by dragons.

''Eldest son against eldest son.'' Criston remarked. Harwin looked over robbie. He knew the skill of the boy. Harwin helped train robbie at davinas request. He was way beyond jaces skill level

''It's hardly a fair match.'' Harwin remarked.

''I know you've never seen true battle, ser, but when steel is drawn, a fair match isn't something anyone should expect.'' Criston remarked smugly. ''Blades up. Engage.''

It was no real fight. Robbie moved forward and jace stumbled back. Robbie kept pushing and jace crawled away.

''Come on jace you gotta try harder than that." Robbie remarked. Criston moved to robbie as Harwin moved to Jace.

''Plant your feet. You have a height advantage. Use it.'' Criston whispered. ''Advance on him...''  robbie nodded and continued forward and lunging down on Jace.

''Close with him. Press him backward!'' Criston encouraged as Jace tried to get up, tried to scurry away. ''Close with him! Stay on the attack! Use your feet!'' Criston went on, Harwin glanced back at him nervously.

"Robbie," petyr whispered and robbie eased back.

''Don't let him get up.'' Criston shouted countering robbies tender heart. ''Stay on the attack!'' Robbie glanced back lowering his sword but cristons words had gotten into harwins head and he ran at robbie.

''Enough!'' Harwin shouted pulling robbie back from Jace. Robbie went flying and maeve screamed hands flying to cover her mouth.

''What the fuck man?" Robbie demanded.

''You forget yourself, Strong.'' Criston said calmly. ''That is the Prince.''

"And my mother would whip your ass into tomorrow if she found out you threw me to the ground." Robbie added

''This is what you teach, Cole?'' Harwin countered ''Cruelty... to the weaker opponent?'' Harwin got down picking up the sparing swords.

''Your interest in the princeling's training is quite unusual, Commander. Most men would only have that kind of devotion toward a cousin... or a brother... or a son.'' Criston mused and Harwin charged at him. How fucking ironic coming from criston.

''Get back!'' the kingsguard yelled pulling the princes away as the men dueled.

'' Say it again! Say it again!'' Harwin demanded as he was pulled back, Criston lay bloody on the ground but a smirk on his face. Maeve screamed running to criston and dropping before him.

''Thought as much.'' Criston muttered spitting up blood.

"Da- ser criston." Maeve whimpered. He grabbed her hand.

"You alright princess?"

"Im not the one that just got pummeled."