The Bastard Prince

3

In the early morning I try to see to the king but the servants and guards would not allow it, I frown and rub my face tiredly as I spent most of my night catching up with Aegon and Aemond then reading to the king like old times. He was asleep the whole time but it brought me comfort.

I knock on Helenas chamber doors and walk in, a guard follows me in to make sure I dont hurt the Princess.

"Maelor, what a happy surprise." I smile at her as she sits and sows. I sit on the floor with the twins and play with them." I surly thought you would leave with your family."

"You are my family to Helena, so Is Aemond and Aegon." I tell her and she hums.

"I know."

"It is our fate, I think, to crave always what is given to another. If one possesses a thing, the other will take it away." She speaks up and I frown.

 "What is that supposed to mean, love?" I ask her and she just smiles at me.

The door swings open with out a knock and I jump up and stand in front of the small family hand on the hilt of my sword. The queen and the hand walk in and I relax my muscles.

"Where is Aegon?" The queen asks.

" Not here." Helena tells her mother.

" He's not in his rooms. " The hand says looking down on Helena, I step in front of him making him take a step back.

"And he's not here." I spit at the hand.

"Father." Alicent speaks up as the hand walks out.

"What's happened?" Helena asks and Alicent sits next to her.

 "Your father... " She starts and I close my eyes and shake my head. I was just with him last night.

"There is a beast beneath the boards." Helena says.

" Tsk. Oh, my dearest love." Alicent says and try's to touch her but Helena slaps her away.

Aemond soon walks in. Alicent orders a guard to fetch sir Cristian and she doesnt give anydetails untill he gets here.

"Prince Aegon's not to be found within the castle walls, Your Grace. Your father has sent Ser Erryk into the city to find him. Ser Erryk knows Aegon. He has the advantage." Sir Cristian speaks.

"I trust again to you, Ser Criston, and to your loyalty. Aegon must be found, and he must be brought to me. The very fate of the Seven Kingdoms depends on it. " Alicent whispers something to the man that I could not hear.

"I'll come with you." Aemond speaks up.

" That would not be my desire, Aemond. If anything has happened... "

"Cole needs me, Mother. Ser Erryk isn't the only one who knows Aegon's doings. Maelor should come to, if anyone can convince Aegon to do anything its him." She stares at me wearily.

"I will bring the prince back unharmed, even if I have to drag him screaming and crying." I tell her and she still stares with a certain look in her eye. I walk over to her and whisper to her." I know what you have planned, I do not wish to be king and I do not wish to see my mother happy, I will bring the king to his thrown." I tell her reaching for her hand and laying a kiss on her clammy hands.

She sighs and I can see the stress fall from her shoulders.

"Alright. Move quickly." She tells us, I grab a cloak and head out with the other two men.

"Aegon brought me to the Street of Silk on my 13th name day. It was his duty as my brother, he said, to ensure I was as educated as he was. At least that's what I understood him to mean." Aemond speaks as we walk among the smallfolk.