𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐃 + 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧

𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐧

The dark trees stood like a wall before her, unmoving against the harsh gale. She was with the troupes of lords armed with spears and some with bows, eagerly awaiting the beginning of the hunt. It was common for the women to come along and Maella planned to make the most of that tradition. Men held hounds by the collars, snarling and teeth bared at the scent of their prey.

Her father stood tall amongst the lords, his silver flaming hair jumping out of the stream of golden blondes, browns and blacks. King Viserys was far too ill to go on a hunt, so Aemond Targaryen, in the company of Otto and Alicent Hightower, who both went in his place. Of course, Kingsguards followed in pursuit. Daemon Targaryen was also to be found amongst the crowds, Jacaerys Velaryon at his side. And so, the doors to the woods across the Blackwater were opened and the hunting party was off, hunting hounds weaving through the brush with noses to the ground.

The trees were like giants, a dark and tenebrous shadow cast upon the large group. Luckily, she still did not believe in the magical race, otherwise she would have been beside herself with fear that they would break free of their ancient wooden bonds, sweeping up the nobility in one fatal movement. She wondered if the children of the forest had seen it before. 

Each family split into their own garrisons, a bit of a competition starting. Maella was waiting for her father to finish speaking to Otto Hightower, gently stroking a hound that sat beside her, but after a few minutes they made their way over to them through the dense ferns covering the ground. At the sight of the Hand following, her hand paused, acsmall frown on her face. The hound growled.

"We have decided that Princess Maella will accompany Prince Aemond on the hunt," The Hand said, Maella gave her father a shocked look, displeasure clear on her face. She had thought it would be just her and her father, hunting through the woods like they used to do back home. Of course, the perennial woods of Mount Starfall were far thicker than the Kingswood, whispers traveling with each gust of wind. Aemond didn't seem too happy either, but he failed to voice his grievances. Queen Alicent gave her father an expectant look, causing him to sigh and leave the two alone.

There were a few moments of silence as they trekked through the brush, Aemond with a spear in hand, gaze focused in front of him. She made no effort in being quiet, not caring about his goals as he had not spoken a word to her. Maella lifted her skirts to step over a thick log, foot purposely landing upon a large stick, giving the perfect crack that echoed throughout the forest. She smiled smugly to herself as she dropped her skirts and kept moving.

"Would you keep quiet?" He asked snappishly, turning around to face her. She glanced at the spear in his hands then back to his face. "A hundred pardons." She feigned innocence and walked right past him, "Well? Are you coming? We want to catch something, don't we?" She teased, walking backwards simply to entice him. 

He scoffed, stepping over a small bush as he followed after her like countless men before him. "Look, I'm not entirely happy with these circumstances either, but we could at least try to make them enjoyable."