CHAPTER THIRTEEN
❪ devils tongue ! ❫
two years later

Rhaenyra turned to her husband Daemon as he entered the room where Jace was one practicing his Valyrian with Joffrey situated on the floor near the fireplace. Rhaenyra was always delighted to see her husband, but when he handed her a small written scroll, she could feel tension shifting in the air.

She curiously plucked it from Daemons fingertips and unrolled the scroll into her own hands, her eyes scanning each word carefully until a frown settled on her lips. "He means to call into question Luke's legitimacy."

Her eyes drifted down in frustration. "And by extensions – Jace. And by extension my own claim to the throne."

"Vaemond only cares about driftmark," Daemon stated calmly. "And the Velaryon line. He has no call for Aenemera – yet, but she's not the one conquering Driftmark so she's the least of his worries at the moment." He then sighed at the mention of his own daughter while Rhaenyra continued to read the parchment repeatedly. "Has he made common cause with Otto Hightower yet?"

Rhaenyra hummed. "This is what I fear. Rhaenys has flown to court. Surely she cannot be planning to back him?"

Daemon shook his head. "No. Whatever disagreements we may had, she's no cruel — or stupid enough to do that."

"Disagreements?" Rhaenyra lowered the paper and looked at Daemon worriedly. "She believes we had her son killed so that we might marry."

"Yes and yet, she's taken Baela to ward."

"Yes it is Laena's memory she honors. She has no love for us."

Daemon slowly smiles down at his wife. "Has the vipers venom spread so far?" Rhaenyra gazed up at him in a short warning. "Those vipers rule in my fathers name. And they still have our daughter — let us not forget."

"I will never forget that they hold her like a prisoner." Daemon's tone was laced with a more serious tone now but Rhaenyra pressed a gentle hand on his chest. "It's my fault for suggesting a marriage — "

"You did what you thought was right," Daemon reassured gently before placing a hand on her stomach and caressing it gently. "To king's landing then – to defend our sons and see our daughter."

Aenemera closed the book in her grasp and tucked it behind her back as she continued her walk through the gardens. Theo wasn't too far behind as he kept mostly to himself unless Mera would read to him occasionally.

Their personal friendship outside of the protection program had progressed over the past two years. She viewed him like a much older brother and he was always very honest about his opinions whenever she demanded them.

It was nearing the end of summer and drifting into the fall weather. Cold nights and cloudy days before the rain would come to feed the flowers.

The princess wore a deep black dress with hints of red along the sleeves and the cape flowing from off her shoulders. She had a targaryen pin situated at her chest above her heart and her hair had two separate braids to keep it away from her face.

"Theophilus, what are your thoughts on kings landing? We've never spoken if you've missed home or not."

Theo smiled and made his way closer to the princess, walking at her side while his hand hovered over his sword. "I believe that wasn't something for me to discuss. My life before is no longer my princess."

Aenemera smiled at the man before laughing. "What did I say? No secrets between us, I wouldn't have your head for being so honest."

"No but it's about decency," he smiled back.

Aenemera tilted her head at the man curiously, ignoring his honor to keep his word, something she did quite often and would one day get them in trouble.

Theo sighed gently then folded his hands in front of him as they walked. "I will miss my last post, I've been there since childhood and it will continue to hold a place in my heart. But – "

"But?"

"King's Landing is beautiful," he laughed. "Something about the sea here is different. I wasn't sure if I could grow used to the sounds that come from the dragons den, but I've grown very fond of them. It's quite comforting actually."

Aenemera raised a curious eyebrow at the man. "Don't say because you feel powerful around the Targaryen name?"

"In a sense," he admitted gently. "Viserys holds one of the strongest king's guard and I'm more than honored to be protecting his granddaughter. It would truly be an honor to protect this house and fight alongside dragons.

"I appreciate your honesty."

They smiled at one another until Theo bowed in her direction and slowed down his pace, returning back to his regular position behind her to watch every corner of the garden.

She deemed him over dramatic for the constant look-out, but it was he who reminded her of her first words to him before her dragon ride. He'd much prefer not to die at the hand of fire.

Theo heard footsteps coming up behind them quickly and his hand fell to the hilt of his sword until he recognized it to be Aemond. He relaxed his shoulders and watched as the prince snatched the book from behind the princess' back and began to flip through the pages.

"Hey!" She gasped in shock while stopping in her tracks. "Very rude, you could've asked to see it like a normal human being."

Aemond ignored her as he took a stance in front of her. He recognized which book she had been carrying around with herself lately and almost smiled to himself. "Wonderful writing, I must say so myself. Who gifted you this incredible bit of poetry Princess?"

Aenemera rolled her eyes. "Aemond, give it back."

The boy's eye gazed down her figure from the top of her blonde hair to the boots she wore on her feet then handed the book back to her. "Very well, be sure to keep it close. I heard it was one of the finest pieces ever written."

"And who better than my dear husband to gift me something so incredible?" She hugged the book to her chest with her arms and they both began to walk side by side. "If I were mistaken, I'd think he actually paid attention to what I enjoyed reading."

Aemond glanced at the princess from the corner of his eye with a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Theo remained a few paces behind, keeping him silent as he tried not to pay attention to their conversation all while checking their surroundings.

Within two years time, the couple had both grown heavily once they reached the age of fifteen. Although Aenemera's birthday was just a few days away and Aemond was older by just a few months, she had grown into a true lady with the blood of a Targaryen.

Her height still never matched Aemonds, not since they were children and always fighting toe to toe. She had stopped growing officially once she reached 165 in centimeters while Aemond grew like a beanstalk, his full height reaching intimidatingly at 182.

His hair was much longer now – nearly the same length as the princess. He wore all black most of the time now in full leather no matter the occasion while Aenemera tried to wear something with a spark of color — with the occasional blue or white.

Although Theo had no right to speak his mind, he very much did acknowledge that they were a pure sight to come across. Their fighting tendencies had slowly burned out during the past years and no one truly knew why, but it caused a lot of headaches to lessen.

Aenemera grew to be more lady-like and fought past her short temper, although she would have a few brief slip ups that would cause a strong stern look from the queen.

Aemond kept to himself most of the time unless he was in the courtyard training with others and doing small tasks for his mother that would cause him to travel outside of King's Landing.

It was becoming more normal for both teens to share moments like these during the day.

Aenemera looked over at Aemond for a brief moment and noticed his sword weighing on his left hip. The weapon tapped against his thigh as they walked in silence. She raised her eyebrows curiously at the boy. "Why must you carry that thing around? Planning on taking down a troll in the gardens?"

Aemond followed her gaze down to his sword and placed his hand over the hilt before raising his eyebrows. "It's not in my nature to harm the princess."

She quickly punched his arm and he smiled gently at the girl. He then pulled the sword out slowly and held it in both hands, facing Aenemera. "It's the one thing I'm good at, so I wear it proudly."

Mera glanced down at the blade and inspected it quietly with her eyes, then her fingers reached out and carefully glided across the steel. "It's impressive," she hummed.

"Would you like to try?" Aemond asked while peering down at the princess curiously.

She widened her eyes and glanced up at him with shock. "You mean — to handle it?"

He nodded. "We'll take a walk to the training yard."

"That's not very lady-like of me."

He smirked at the girl while putting his weapon away. "That's what makes you so vastly different from the others."

The couple made their way to the training yard with Theo still lingering behind in silence. Others were seen training and using makeshift bodies to wack their weapons with. Aenemera turned to Theo and handed off her book with a smile. "For just a moment."

Theo bowed and stepped off to the side with her book in gentle care while Aemond brought her up to one of the hay-filled bodies just waiting to be used.

He pulled out his own blade and held it out for the princess to take. She nervously grabbed onto the hilt with a gentle hand and Aemond placed his hands on her shoulders, shifting her body in a better stance.

"Try not to hurt yourself," he smirked playfully while taking a few strides to the side and folding his hands behind his back.

Aenemera rolled her eyes at the boy before taking in a short breath then raising the sword upwards and taking a gentle swing towards the body.

Aemond titled his head curiously and watched as she pulled it back before taking another weak swing.

"Here," he spoke to the girl before coming up beside her and placing his hand over hers. "Use your upper biceps for strength." His free hand caressed her arm gently and she quickly looked up at him from the sudden touch but his eye remained focused on the body used for practice.

"Hold tightly and swing backwards like this," he guided her hand backwards while forcing her fingers to grasp on tightly. But as he felt her stare linger onto him, he glared down at her gently with a warning. "Pay attention, Aenemera."

"I'm sorry," she apologized before focusing her attention back on the sword.

Aenemera took a step backwards and raised the sword, following Aemonds directions after he quickly stepped away. She swung harshly at the fake body and the blade stuck between the hay, a large smile forming on her lips.

Aemond softly smiled at her girl with his eye drifting towards the ground. Aenemera took pride just by one swing and it didn't go unnoticed by her old friend Maverick who started walking over while clapping.

"Look at you!" He spoke with glee, now bowing respectfully at the girl. "Ready to fight in battle, I see?"

Aenemera turned to him and smiled wide with a small laugh. "If it deems fit. Just a few more lessons and I'll be taking you on next."

Aemond's eye flickered towards the boy and his gentle smile quickly faltered as he watched them bask into a playful conversation with nothing but smiles. His gaze flickered towards Theo who was still nearby and noticed the man watching Aemond curiously.

"I'll make you a blade one day, fit for a princess."

"Bladesmith as well? I wasn't aware a knight in training could have so many qualifications." Aenemera laughed wholeheartedly.

"I tend to keep myself busy," the boy blushed while tucking his hands behind his back. "But let's start with something smaller, yes? I believe I can conjure up something."

Aenemera shook her head and gazed down at the weapon in her grasp. "You're too kind." She knew the sword would be too dramatic for a princess and she would much prefer to have a knife similar to the one she had growing up.

Aemond came up beside the princess and gently took the sword from her grasp as he gazed down at her. "I must turn to my mothers calls." He placed the sword back into its hold and Aenemera visibly frowned at his mention of a departure.

She nodded once then smiled at the prince, "of course. Tell her I look forward to our later lessons."

Aemond nodded in silence and turned away, leaving the princess alone in the training yard as he jogged up the stairs. The mention of his mother was false but he needed to step away for some time.

The tugging in his chest never set right with him when Maverick came into the picture but he never had the courage to send him away when he brought so much happiness to Aenemera. Moment's like this with her would remain brief for a while.