A Dance Of Scales And Shadows | Aemond Targaryen x OC

Part 7 - The Feast

Aika spent the morning walking in the gardens admiring the flowers all over the place. She almost fell asleep in the balcony last night, but woke up in her room. According to her guard, Aemond brought her back. She was tired of thinking about him and thought the flower smell would make her forget about everything.

She spotted Jace marching towards her seemingly in a good mood and probably having something exciting to tell her.

"How are you feeling today? Did you sleep well?" he asked sounding sincerely interested.

"I am feeling great thank you my prince," she replied returning a sweet smile.

"I wanted to fly with Vermax and wondered maybe you would like to join me with Starlight!" he said shyly.

The two of them soared high in the sky, with the dragons dancing above the clouds. Starlight was such a gentle one, even in the sky her wings would move very neatly, while Vermax was flying loosely, flopping wings here and there. They raced, they danced, all midair.

✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧

Aika was getting ready when Aegon stepped into her doorframe.

"So, as I understand you are not backing up," he started.

"No, and I plan to leave with them to Dragonstone tomorrow," Aika replied.

"I assume you didn't talk to Aemond last night."

"Oh we talked, he doesn't care... Like at all.. Whatever we assumed was wrong," Aika turned to face him. She had annoyed expression, a bit angry and irritated. 

Aegon knew he better not ask any more questions concerning Aemond. Deep inside he just wished to smack him for his incompetence and for making her this sad.

"Let's head to the dinner, I think we are late."

✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧

The dinner started better than Aika assumed it would be. The king said a toast, followed by Rhaenyra and then Alicent. Besides few remarks thrown here and there everything was peaceful. 

The music played and everyone was drown to the feast, enjoying food and each other company. Jace was seated besides Aika. 

When Heleana joked about her marriage she felt bad for not asking Aegon to treat her better the other day. Jace excused himself and asked Heleana for a dance. Not only Aika didn't mind but she found the gesture sweet. Clearly her brothers had other opinions though.

Shortly after King Viseris excused himself, the music stopped and Aemond raised his cup for a toast. Aika raised her toast as well. 

"Final tribute," he started "To the health of my nephews. Jace, Luke, and Joffrey." His glance met the queens, but he continued. "Each of them handsome, wise," Aemond took a little pause, "Strong."

"Come...let us drain our cups to these three Strong boys," he said again.

Jace already angry stormed towards him and challenged him to repeat. When he  said "Do you not think yourself as Strong?" and got a smack on his face.

Luke tried to go towards Aemond as well but Aegon stopped him and smashed his head on the table. It was chaotic for a moment as guards, Daemon and sir Christon interfered, as well as the queen and princess Rhaenyra. 

Aika was the only one seated as the boys got all over each other fighting. 

Aemond was about to punch Jace when a glass shatter was heard. It startled him and he looked for the source of it gazing at Aegon. Then another one was heard this time as if something was dropped on the ground. Aegon looked at Aika, thus everyone else following his gaze.

Aika stood there with a bloody hand and the remains of two glasses before her feet. One of the glasses was surely broken inside her palm out of pressure, while the next one that shattered more was thrown by a force o the ground. She looked at Aemond as she stood up, picked one more cup and threw it near his feet.

"Call the maesters the princess is wounded," Alicent ordered one of the maids.

"Go to your rooms right now," Rhaenyra ordered her and Daemon's kids. 

Aegon stood there with his hand placed behind his head. Like a silent admission of regret. 

Aemond wanted to say sorry but he didn't feel sorry at all and he didn't think that would solve anything, judging by how angered her beloved looked right now.

Aika didn't wait for the maester and walked out of the room, ordering for the maester to come to hers. She wanted no longer stay there.