CHAPTER TWO
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

"My sweet girl," Rhaenyra whispers to Aenemera.

Her daughter lays with her on the bedding while Rhaenyra rests after childbirth. Joffery is wedged between them both comfortably, Mera was holding onto one of his fingers before drifting to sleep.

Rhaenyra smiled down at her children while playing with her daughter's long blonde locks. Moments like these were core memories for Rhaenyra. Each birth of Mera's siblings, she laid with her mother to bond with them both, only to fall asleep together in response. It was the most Mera ever felt comfortable and safe, always in her mothers arms.

Giving birth to Aenemera was Rhaenyra's biggest accomplishment.

She wasn't worried about gender, or who would claim the throne after her, she didn't worry about the future battles they would have to face. When Aenemera was born, Rhaenyra felt like her life was simply at peace; as if her mother gifted Mera to her.

Rhaenyra refused to let the midwives take care of Mera. She wanted to do it herself, which caused them to bond beautifully.

Mera never cried, never screamed, but looked at everything with pure delight and curiosity. She was amazed by just about anything, even the dragons. As a toddler, Mera followed her mother around, holding hands and waving at the people that would pass them.

Viserys called Aenemera a true Targaryen vision.

Aenemera awakened from her slumber and stretched her arms up, the babes grasp slipping from hers but stayed still and dreamt.

"Sorry mother," Mera smiled sheepishly.

"No apologies necessary," Rhaenyra promised. "You two sleep well in each other's presence."

Mera grinned wider. "I'm a miracle worker."

Rhaenyra nodded in response, her delicate fingers slipping through Mera's blonde locks. "I hate to burden you, but would you take your siblings to the dragon's den? Keep an eye on them — your uncles will join you."

Mera paused and became motionless before turning to her mother. "Of course." She slipped out of the bed and fanned her dress down before smoothing her hair out. As she quietly exited the room, Rhaenyra watched after her with a small smile.

It wasn't a secret that Aenemera didn't get along with her uncles, mainly Aemond, or maybe she just strongly disliked men — boys.

While her uncles and brothers joked about, Mera was mostly with Helaena.

Mera and Aemond had difficulties... agreeing, to say the least. There were two sides to every coin, and it was very rare that they could meet in the middle.

Aemond and Aegon always played around by teasing her siblings about their hair. They would mention how Mera "barely made it into the targaryen acceptance chain." Aenemera would catch Aemond laughing behind her back sometimes — causing her to throw a few punches a few years back.

Aemond couldn't tell if he was annoyed or impressed.

Mera always stood up for herself and it didnt matter who it was against.

Besides their boardline hatred and annoyance for each other, Rhaenyra was seeing something else. Something that may bring some form of peace back to the Targaryen name. To settle the rumors and continue on with the Targaryen bloodline.

But she knew Mera wasn't going to like it.

Aenemera entered the dark building with her hands clasped behind her back and her boots clicking against the pavement, making her presence known to the boys.

Aemond looked over his shoulder, immediately rolling his eyes, Aegon looked as well and grinned. Aegon never had a serious problem with Mera, but he did enjoy watching her beat down his baby brother.

Lucerys turned and smiled wide, running up to his older sister and reaching for her hand. "Jace is practicing! Come!"

Aenemera squeezed his hand and walked towards the small crowd. "Going well I see?" She questioned Jace, her right arm weighing over Luke's shoulder.

Aegon yawned. "Barely."

"Come to torture us?" Aemond leaned forward, capturing a peak at the princess before scoffing.

Mera turned to him and stared at him sharply, but made no comment in return as one of the dragonkeepers spoke in valyrian. "Call Vermax to heel, Prince Jacaerys."

Jace's valyrian was slightly weak and in need of more work, but his fear and nervous nature is what caused his orders to come off bland.

Vermax responded by taking a daring step forward and roaring in the childrens direction.

"Speak strongly, my prince," the dragonkeeper stated. "You must be able to control your dragon – like Princess Aenemera and Prince Aegon."

Jace looked off towards his sisters direction and she gave him a reassuring smile. Aemond rolled his eyes once more, something he constantly did in Aenemera's presence. One time she told him if he did it much longer, his eyes would get stuck. He hasn't learned yet.

When Jace finally got his dragon to halt and stand down, the dragonkeeper turned to him with proud features. "Well done."

Another dragonkeeper appeared from the tunnel with a white goat on something similar to a leash.

He tied the goat onto a metal ring to keep it from running off and Jace began to fidget in excitement. Vermax turned to the goat, becoming interested immediately by acknowledging it as food.

Jace tried to call him back into position, but Vermax wasn't willing to listen.

Aenemera wanted to jump in and help, but she knew he needed to learn on his own, much like she did years ago. She didn't have much trouble with Baeselyx, he was more obedient to his rider, but some dragons are harder to train than others.

"You must hold mastery over your dragon, my young prince."

Jace turned to his older sister now, seeking some kind of reassurance. Aenemera looked at him and slowly inhaled, before releasing that breath steadily. He nodded.

Aemond, who was watching the interaction, whisper shouted towards the girl. "You're not supposed to be helping him!"

"Lyka!" She hissed at the boy. ❪ quiet ❫

"You two are arguing in my ear," Aegon mumbled.

Jace turned to the dragonkeeper, a lingering smile on his face. "Can I say it?"

The man nodded silently and Jace stepped closer to Vermax, cautious not to get too close but shouting the word, "Dracarys, vermax!"

The dragon turned to the goat, accepting Jace's words and setting the animal on fire before jumping in to eat the now cooked meat. Aenemera clapped proudly for her brother and he brought her closer to engulf her into a tight hug. She was always the most supportive of her siblings.

Once the siblings turned away, Mera turned to Aegon and Aemond. Aemond looked as annoyed as ever, with a mixture of some kind of sadness, and it would only make sense for it to be because he didn't have a dragon yet.

Any time they were down here to train their dragons, Aemond showed clear visible discomfort.

"You're a mood killer," Mera stated.

The boy curled his upper lip and snapped in response. "Shut up!"

Aegon chuckled before placing his arm over his brothers shoulder. "Aemond, we have a surprise for you."

"What is it?" He grumbled.

"Something very special!" Luke grinned wide before disappearing into the black hole where the dragons came through.

"You're the only one of us without a dragon." Aegon explained, pushing his brother forward to follow after the child. "Indeed." Aemond sighed, his eyes glued to the floor. "—- And we felt bad about it," Aegon nodded to Jace. "So we found one for you."

Aenemera raised her eyebrows and began following him in worry. "Lucerys? Where are you going!" She crossed her arms firmly over her chest as the boys took a stance beside her now.

"A dragon? How?"

Aegon shrugged. "The Gods provide."

Aenemera looked at Aegon. "You worry me, occasionally." She deadpanned, in which he responded with a teasing wink.

Just a few moments later Luke came running back up from the den while holding onto a large pig. Aenemera's jaw dropped within a single heartbeat. The boys giggled — except for Aemond.

The big had crafted wings attached to its body. Snorting and scruffing its nose against the floor, not paying attention to any of its surroundings.

"Behold! The pig dread!" All three boys applaud at once.

Aegon threw an arm around his brother. "Be sure to mount her carefully. First flights always rough." Aenemera rolled her eyes and turned away. "Mittys." ❪ idiots ❫

On the way back to Aenemera's bedroom, Aemond rushed behind her and purposely bumped their shoulders together. She furrowed her eyebrows at the boy and quickly rubbed at her bruised arm. "Do you mind!"

The boy spun around, slowly walking backwards, dirt and ash covering his face and clothes as he sneered in her direction. "Think you're pretty funny don't you?"

She stopped moving before dropping her arms to her side. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

The boy used his sleeve to wipe some dirt from his nose and marching towards her. At this age, they were the same height currently, and they easily met toe to toe with their noses barely touching.

Mera instinctively bobbed her head backwards, her nose scrunching from the smell that reeked from him. "Good Gods, Aemond! Go bathe will you!"

"The pig was very clever —- witty I might add."

"Im glad?" Her left eyebrow arched. "It wasn't my idea you know?"

The boy chuckled sarcastically. "I'm sure you had parts of it."

Aenemera nodded, glancing up towards the ceiling before shrugging her shoulders in agreement. "You know what? You're absolutely right, I stayed up all night coming up with that stupid clever plan just to get under your skin." Aemond glare at her worsen. "You really are the brightest!"

As Aenemera meant to take a step around him, he quickly followed and stepped in front of her again. "Don't make me cut out your tongue for that," he whispered in a unsavory tone.

The girl glared at him, not moving in inch in her place. "Nyke dare a." ❪ i dare you ❫

Aemond inhaled heavily and took one single step back before continuing his walk down the hall in silence. This was the most that they spoke on average —- it was never a normal conversation, and each word was filled with hatred.