The Gentle Queen: HOTD

Training Yard|4|

"This is the stuff Lynoel is learning together and training together. Knock each other down, then pick each other up, and you'll certainly form a long-term friendship," Viserys said, smiling up at his hand as his wife approached the balcony with Aemma, who was happy to be their

"That is the goal, your grace," he said, greeting the queen with a bow. The two had an understanding and some sort of respect. She liked that he truly wanted the best for the crown and realm, unlike her father, and that his position kept her father away from her and her children, but she hated that his son was the father to her grandsons.

"Soften your knees and keep your feet light," Criston advised Aemond as the young prince hit the hay dummy with a wooden sword.

"Mama, please, can I train with the boys? I want to be a fighter, not a princess." Aemma pleaded, grabbing her mother's hand, but before she could say anything, the king laughed.

"That is no place for a princess, Aemma. You are a woman, not a fighter. You are supposed to be soft-spoken and elegant, reliant on your husband." Viserys cut in, shaking his head, amused at the idea of his sweet Aemma wielding a sword.

"Rhaenyra is not soft-spoken; she's kind of a bitch, especially to Mother the Queen," she countered, making Lilly giggle slightly.

"I suppose you can train with them as long as you keep your lessons up," Lilly told her second-oldest daughter, who beamed at the news before the smile she held fell.

"No, she will not ruin herself," Viserys hissed, and his wife just rolled her eyes.

"Visyena and Rhaenys were both fighters and queens, as were many other Targaryen women, but I suppose as you age, you forget such things, my king." Lilly countered smugly before turning to her daughter.

"Go ahead and inform Ser Criston, my dear," she whispered, winking at her daughter, who giggled before rushing down the stairs, and at the dornish knight, who smiled at the princess.

"Mama said I get to train with you guys." She beamed up at him as he hummed, looking up at the queen, who seemed to become more beautiful with each passing hour. The queen saw the questioning look and just nodded, confirming the princess was right and making him nod.

"Very well, Princess, go over to Ser Arryk; he has started teaching Daeron the beginnings of wielding a sword. You will join them," he gently told the princess, who nodded and rushed off to the cargyll knight and her brother.

"Don't stand too upright, my prince; you'll get knocked down," Criston advised Aemond before noticing Aegon stopped his attempt on the hay dummy and was gazing at a few ladies, making him chuckle as the young prince had become more aware of the other sex.

"Aegon," he called, raising a brow at the prince, who smiled sheepishly, opening his arms wide as Ser Harwin Strong, the commander of the city watch, entered the training yard.

"I've won my first bout, Ser Criston. My opponent sues for mercy," the prince joked, making the man smile slightly.

"Then you'll have a new opponent, my lord of straw; let's see if you can touch me, you and your brothers," he said, gesturing to Daemon and Aemond, seeing as Maelor was not there, which confused him.

"Before we begin, Aemond, where is your twin?" He questioned the young prince, who shrugged, not entirely sure.

"Rhaegal was throwing a fit; he had to go down to the dragon pit to calm him down; apparently he wasn't happy with lunch," Daemon told his father figure, who chuckled knowing the boy's dragon was temperamental and had a thing for trying to eat the dragon keepers when unhappy.

"Right, let's get on with it," Criston said before engaging in a fight with the three brothers, with Daemon being the only one to give him some sort of challenge.