14 Calm before the storm

"Only Adella ever knew Aemon the man, not the perfect prince or the peerless warrior we all knew. Only she knew the human that he was flaws and all" - Prince Aegon Targaryen.

111AC

The sky was drowned in amber light as the sun was swallowed into the horizon. The light was fading, and the city noise was lessening the people were drawing into their homes to rest. The flea bottom was still alive. The noise and moans drowned the streets. The putrid stench of moral decay was flooding the mind of every right-minded man.

Flesh sold like bread where the women were bad and the men were worse, a stain on the city of the king but also the place where the prince plays.

Looking over it all was a young man sitting on his balcony of the Redkeep watching the city sway. He had a mischievous look on his face

Aemon pov

Looking over at the city, I couldn't help but smirk at the chaos I was about to let loose. This was going to be my crème de la crème, my masterpiece of all the things I had done so far.

I look to my left, seeing Aegon, three name days old, messing about with his wooden horse toy and playing at Adella's feet as she read to Helaena, who was sitting on her lap, enjoying herself.

Knock knock

"Come in," I answered. Emilia entered the room with her usual stoic look plastered on her face.

"Prince Aemon Queen Alicent wishes for Prince Aegon and Princess Helaena to be brought to her." She speaks in a neutral, flat tone with no hint of emotion.

"I see. Take them to my mother then." I spoke in an equally detached voice as she picked up Helaena from Adella's lap and carried Aegon out of my chamber, leaving me and Adella alone in my chamber.

"So, what are you planning?" I heard Adella speak, her voice filled with intrigue and anticipation.

"Why do you think I'm planning something?" I said, acting aloof.

"Don't play coy Aemon. I saw the way you were looking at Daemon when he put that twig crown at Viserye's feet. It was a lion looking at a deer, and to answer your question, you're too silent, which means you're up to something because otherwise you never shut up around me or your siblings," she said in a matter-of-fact way.

"I see, maybe I have become too predictable either way. I'm not the only one you should have focused on. The way Daemon was looking at Rheanyra was frankly revolting," I said, my voice bitter.

"I see, so you believe he's making his move on her to grasp power. Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough; she'd be ruined for any man, and he'd lose his head if the king found out." Adella said in an uncertain tone

"My dear Adella you underestimate that man's ability to stick his head into the sand and pretend nothing is wrong; he's made Rheanyra his heir, and he's done nothing to consolidate her position. He's made the mistake of sending that idiot around the realm to find suitors whom she insulted and ignored whilst stepping on lots of egos, and he's still done nothing to get her an alliance; he wouldn't kill Daemon," I said in a disappointed voice.

"I see where you're coming from. Now men may follow a woman, but they won't follow a whore." Adella said it in a calm manner.

"Exactly, so when she does sleep with the man, I will make sure that ends her reputation at the very least, destroying any chance she has at an alliance," I said in a calm voice.

"Sometimes I do wonder: wouldn't it be easier for me to just kill those three and leave the realm to fall into Aegon's hands? A simple knife to the sleeping king, princess and rogue paedophile would do it," I said. In a tired voice

Adella gets up, her emerald eyes glowing as if a fire had been lit in her very soul. She walks over and hands me a peach, taking one for herself. Taking the peach, I bite into it and spit it right back out.

"Are you trying to poison me? Who gives someone a soft peach, they should be hard," I said in an irate voice.

"You have so many flaws, Aemon. If only people looked closer and not just at the surface, they might see what I see," Adella said in a dangerously low voice, getting closer to me.

"What is it you see, Adella, if not what everyone else sees, the genius boy, the warrior's incarnation?" I asked quizzically.

"Don't insult me. I have been with you and see deeper like your mother. I can see your greatest flaw," she said agitated whilst looking me dead in the eyes, her emerald eyes shining dangerously.

"That would be," I asked in a calm voice.

"Your careless disregard for the sanctity of life; you view human life as just a tool to get your own way, and no life is sacred to you, not even your own; that may make you dangerous, but it also makes you extremely reckless," she said. She took a small bite from her peach, savouring the taste.

"I see you are partly right; however, if my goal is to preserve my family's lives, wouldn't that mean I care about life the most, so much so that I'm willing to preserve it?" I spoke, challenging her.

"Don't frame it as an act of selflessness; we both know that was stupid. What's next? Will you start wars to preserve peace? It's all an illusion; otherwise, you wouldn't even dare think of doing something as foolish as assassinating those three, not now, not when it would take you from me and from all those you love? Recognising your weakness is a must for you; we can't afford any mistakes." She expressed her disappointment and anger clearly. visabel

"You are right, and I do recognise my flaws. That's why I have you to anchor me and bind me to reality so I don't do reckless stupid things, and it was just a thought I wouldn't ever leave you alone," I said, hugging her

She had really not liked my thought of ending the dance early by killing those three. I mean, I see her point; it would most likely lead to my death at worst or exile at best for me, leaving her alone must have really annoyed her.

"I see, so I'm the one bringing you to reality. That is a way to put it. I do what I do so you can do what you do, but don't for a moment think that you can leave me, she said, grabbing my tunic in her hands. "You're mine now and forever". She spoke in a calm voice, but her glowing eyes dared me to disagree.

I nodded my head in affirmation.

"Good, so as your anchor, I must tell you, your taste in peaches is terrible. Soft and sweet is the way," she said, switching from her serious demeanour to a playful one.

Matching her demeanour, I replied, "Is that really should I ask Viseyes to put you on the small council because of your understanding of fruit? Master of fruits does sound good, no?"

"How cruel wanting to subject me to that dull environment, and I thought you loved me," she said whilst in mock tears.

"I do now how about you play that harp of yours and put your voice to good use?" I say

She raised her eyebrow but acquiesced and walked over to the harp she would often play for me and started playing as I let myself drift into the melody.

-THE END -

Hey guys how did you like this chapter I had a bit of writer's block so this was all I could think of let me know how you liked it by commenting

So a bit of change in plans chapter 16 is probably going to be the one where the cannibal dragon bonding starts so yep it was meant to be 15 but I needed to push it back for a bit cause of the block in how to write his taming of that Dragon so enjoy please comment and let me know how you liked this chapter please comment for the love of god

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