GAEMON TARGARYEN
CHAPTER II: the calm after the storm

The next morning, Gaemon had woken up earlier than usual. It was just after dawn, and as he sat in his room breaking his fast, he did not feel tired at all. It had been late when he went to bed and early when he had awoken.

And yet he felt more alive than ever.

The events that had transpired last night had left him shocked, but also with a stupid feeling in his tummy. He felt as though he himself could turn into a dragon and soar in the skies. The way Jace had stood up for him... If Jace was a girl, perhaps he would call it butterflies. 

But Jace is a boy, and he betrothed to Baela. He is Baela's. Gaemon sighs as he stuffed his mouth with egg, and chugged some wine down afterwards. He doesn't like the taste of wine, but it is all he ever drinks. The water is not safe to drink, as it is green. And water is not supposed to be green.

Others drink the water, but Gaemon refuses to poison himself with dirty water.

A knock on his door. A beat. He opens the door and finds Rhaena standing before him. He sighs. Had he expected someone else? Nonetheless, he smiled at his sister. "Good morrow, brother. Are you well?" He smiles at her as she sits down on a chair in his room.

"Good morrow to you as well. I am fine, thank you." He sits next to her. "And how are you? Did you sleep?" Rhaena nods. "I slept very well. Baela drew me a picture of my egg. Gods, I miss Dragonstone."

"We are only here for another fortnight, sister, do not fret." Six moons away from home had been long, but they were finally almost free. "Have you got any letters from grandsire?" Gaemon held a few letters in his hands. They were all from their grandmother. 

Lord Corlys Velaryon had been fighting in the stepsons for nearly six years, and usually he would send his grandchildren a letter every moon. But since they had arrived in King's Landing, the letters had stopped. "No, but grandmother writes that everything faires well back home." Gaemon hand's his grandmother's letter over to his sister. 

"Vermithor so missed the sea air. As do I." The mount of the Old King had become accustomed to life on Dragonstone once more, so much so that he was uneasy being back in the Dragonmount in the great city. He had lived on the isle for a long time, but that had been over half a century ago.

"Don't brag so much, Gae, it is not a good look for you." Rhaena jested, but Gaemon could see on her voice she was saddened by the undying fact that she had no dragon. If it had not been for Aemond, she could have ridden their mother's dragon... 

But then Gaemon reminds himself that Vhagar chose Aemond, for whatever reason. A dragon is not a slave.

"Want to go out riding?" Rhaena nodded.

"Let's go find Baela, Jace and Luke! Surely they'll want to join us." Gaemon shakes his head. "No,  let's just go together, just the two of us. I can only do with your company. It has been too long since we have done something together, sister." She smiles at him as they leave the chamber, heading to the stables.

They both mount a horse, Gaemon a beautiful white mare while Rhaena mounts a brown stud. They ride together with Ser Rickard Thorne, a member of the Kingsguard. As the son and daughter of Prince Daemon, the King's own brother, as well as the stepchildren of the heir to the Iron Throne, they had to be protected at all times. Gaemon had always found it stupid.

They rode far ahead of their protector, and soon enough they reached the dragonmount. As they approached, Gaemon could here Vermithor's roars already. Ser Rickard had a hard time keeping up with the two, but eventually he caught up to them as they were dismounting their horses.

"My Prince, my Princess, Lord Commander Criston told me we have to be back in three hours time. Is that okay?" Gaemon nodded and smiled at the Kingsguard member. "Of course, Ser Rickard. We'll be quick."

Rhaena and Gaemon shared a look at the mention of Ser Criston Cole. Both of them despised him for obvious reasons. What he had done to both Ser Laenor and Princess Rhaenyra... It was inhumane. 

"Of course, my prince," Ser Rickard says, as Gaemon's smile beams brightly. "Vermithor!" He yells out, as he sees his mount leaving the dragonmout, walking towards him and Rhaena. "Are you ready, sister?"

Rhaena nods. Though she possesses no dragon of her own, she has ridden with their father and Gaemon and Baela oft enough to know exactly how to ride one. Gaemon sometimes thinks that Vermithor likes his sister better than him. Mayhaps that is because she reminds the beast of Queen Alysanne, their great-grandmother. Gaemon smiles at the thought.

Gaemon does not count how long they are in the sky for. Each moment lasts eternally. He loves the feeling of soaring so high in the sky that men look like sheep. And sheep look like bugs.

Gaemon and Rhaena were perhaps close than either was to Baela. But that was mostly the fault of their dragon eggs. Gaemon's and Rhaena's eggs had not hatched, while Baela's had. So while their elder sister would go out riding with their parents, they were left alone in the Driftmark library, reading to their hearts content.

But of course, since their mother had died, they had lived on Dragonstone. The death of their mother had hardened each of the siblings in their own way, and it had brought them closer together as well.

And yet, Gaemon and Rhaena both held a deep love and respect for Baela, as much (if not more) as they held for each other. Because they were siblings. They were the children of the Rogue Prince and that showed. Daemon Targaryen was evident in each of his children.

In Baela's fierceness, in Gaemon's bravery, and in Rhaena's wit.

In the way they all had a burning fire in their eyes. The blood of the dragon runs thick, and each of them had a healthy amount of it.

⭑

Once they had reached the Red Keep once more, they both reeked of dragon. The best course of action now was to take baths and try to dispose of the smell, but there was no time. Gaemon had his lessons to attend to, and Rhaena had foolishly promised Visy she would teach him how to speak Valyrian. 

The siblings said their goodbyes, as Gaemon made his way to the library, where he found Jace, Luke and Joffrey, waiting for him. They were tutored here by a maester, one whose name Gaemon had never bothered to remember. The man who quite advanced in years, and his health was not all too well. It was more like he was watching them, to keep them out of trouble, than that he was learning them anything. It was mainly Jace and Gaemon who had been teaching Luke and Joffrey about things such as mathematics, Valyrian, other languages and so on.

Jace always did very well in mathematics while Gaemon was exceptionally well in Valyrian. The two complemented each other in that way - almost completed each other. 

"Try it again, Joffy." Jace told his little brother, who sighed. "I don't know it, Jace. Does it mean... Fire?" He asks, his eyes shot up at his brother. Jace shakes his head as Gaemon walks in. "Gae!" Joffrey shouts as he runs towards Gaemon, whom he gives a hug. "What is the word you must learn, Joff?" Gaemon asks his stepbrother, who takes him by the hand and back to where he was sitting, to show him the word he had been trying to translate. 

Gaemon whispers it into Joffrey's ear. "Castle!" Joffrey excitedly says, while Luke shakes his head angrily. "No fair! Gaemon can't help you." Gaemon smiles as he sits down left of Joffrey, with Luke to the right of him. Next to Joffrey is Jace.

The maester isn't even here today, so he does not have to worry about being late. Luke and Joffrey do not seem to mind, if they have even noticed. By the look on Jace's face, it is clear he had noted Gaemon's lateness.

"Can I speak to you for a moment, Gaemon?" he nods at him, and Jace takes his hand as they walk out of the library. He holds it longer than he has too. Gaemon almost blushes at the thought.

"What is it, Jace?" Gaemon asks, while casually combing his hair with his hand. "Why are you so late? Our 'lessons' began half an hour ago."

Gaemon shrugs. "I was out riding." Jace looks... hurt? Gaemon is unable to tell from his face, but he's far from happy, that is for sure.

"Without me?" Jace's voice cracked. A beat. "Who were you with, then?" Had Gaemon done something wrong? Jace's tone was almost accusatory.

Gaemon did not know what to do, but laugh. This was entirely funny to him. 

"What's so funny?" Jace asked, crossing his arms.

"You are." He giggled, almost. Jace was acting like a bitter child. When instead, at four and ten, he was almost a man grown. "I was with Rhaena, Jace. You should relax. I would almost think you are jealous." Gaemon said, smiling brightly at Jace. Twas a funny jest, to be sure, but he would not like it if Jace would jealous. There was nothing to be jealous of, of course. But still.

"Jealous? What have I got to be jealous of, you daft-" In that moment, Gaemon smiled so brightly. He pushed Jace's hair back with his hand, bringing a red glow to Jace's face. He was embarrassed. "Sweet prince, calm down. Let us continue the lesson, yes?"

Jace answers not, but he goes into the library once more, where Aemond is sat now, with Luke and Joff out of sight. Surely the moment Aemond had walked in, they had ran away. Only two and ten, and nine, they were scared of their uncle.

Rightfully so. Even at his large age of five and ten, he was afraid of his uncle. Though Aemond was only three years his senior. Still, he was terrifying.

Yet now he sat there, a book on his lap. His single eye shot up at them with an amused smirk on his face. "Lord Strong, My Lord of the Seahorses." He says, standing up. He closes the book as they walk towards him. Gaemon tries his best to remain calm. He must. Aemond is a joke compared to them.

Jacaerys will one day sit the Iron Throne. Aemond is merely jealous that Jace will have everything Aemond has ever wanted. He breathes in and out, as he smiles. "Good morrow, Cousin Aemond. Have you joined us in our lessons? I am afraid Lucerys and Joffrey have grown bored, but Jacaerys and I would do well with your company."

Both Aemond and Jace looked at him, both terribly confused.

But quickly Jace understands what Gaemon is tyring to do, and thus plays along with this charade his cousin has started. "Yes, Uncle, if that is your wish, we would be happy to make room for you."

Aemond left quickly then, without saying another word.

All alone, Jace questioned why Gaemon had done that.

"How'd you know it'd make him leave?" Gaemon shrugged at Jace's words.

"Simple. A bully only holds power over you so long as you let him bully you. To rid yourself of one, simply take his power."

"And what, pray tell, is Aemond's power over us?"

"The fact that we react. He wants a reaction, Jace, he wants you to be mad and for me to cry. That is what makes it fun for him. So by being polite and courteous-"

"We are taking away his power!" Jace finishes for Gaemon, who nods.

"Exactly, Jacaerys. You understand my point very well."