Tales Of The Heart [Aemond Targaryen]

CHAPTER TWO

"Where does it take you?" He was keenly watching me.

"To drown," I chuckled bitterly. "It tries to drown me, but I never submerged in it, as mother always pulls me out of my sleep by then." I wiped my face as a smile took over recalling how my mother always saves me.

"Hmm...what does it say when it calls you?" His gaze didn't waver from my face.

"I don't know...the words are faint but it's something in high valyrian." I really never understood those words. He gave out a long sigh.

"I think we should return to Pentos now," He stared at the sea as he stood from his place and his hand reached out for me. "Come on, it's starting to get dark." He firmly grabbed my hand and I followed him inside.

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120 AC~

SEVEN MONTHS LATER

The sky was convulsing with the force that flew through it. Every now and then, we will hear the ear splitting snarls of my parent's dragons. My mother wanted to be on dragonback today and soon father followed her on Caraxes whilst me and my twin sisters stood among Pentoshi lords of some sort. I only recognized one who was our host and landlord of the manse.

Today, My parents invited them to dinner. I wanted to oppose it but couldn't. Now they are entertaining themselves by seeing the world's largest battle dragons fly with their riders.

As I looked upwards, Caraxes caught up to Vhagar as my parents flew beside each other only for mother to direct Vhagar further up in the sky and I heard her scream something to her dragon.

"Dracarys." The dragon opened her mouth as fire came out in Caraxes's way, only for father to take the dragon in between the fire and as everyone gasped, only for him to come out of it, untouched.

I smiled at them and moved away from the crowd towards Aiday, as she took me inside the manse.

Later in the evening, the table was filled with different delicacies while all the chairs were occupied. My appetite seemed never good in front of a lot of people but I was just eating to get past this dinner. Prince Daemon was sitting at the head table, with mother on his right and Rhaena beside her while I was on his left and Baella by my side. The foot was occupied by the Pentoshi magister and his family on either side.

"We are fortunate in our cook, Your Excellence," My mother being the humble host, she is. "There's a plum-cake yet to be served, which will have us fighting over the crumbs." She smiled towards me, well I fought over its crumbs more than once.

"Then before we come to blows," The magister's voice startled me as he raised his glass. "A toast to Aegon the Conqueror, your exalted forebear, who joined our cause against Volantis in the Century of Blood," My parents exchanged a look. "On the great dragon Balerion, he flew to our aid in Lys and burned a fleet of enemy ships, thus turning the tide." At the end, my father rose to his feet holding his glass in one hand that made everyone hold out their glasses.

"Aegon the Conqueror," As he said, everyone raised their glasses, "To Aegon." and emptied their glasses while I kept my glass back on the table.

"This brings me to some business." I rolled my eyes, can't he eat in silence and let others as well. "A proposal I wish to make in the spirit of honoring our storied alliance." This sounds suspicious.

"If your aim is to marry one of our daughters, Your Excellence, you might have said so and spared us the history lesson." I looked at my mother while Baella asked a clear question 'what?' while Rhaena sheepishly smiled. Twins are already betrothed, that leaves them with only me.

Me. Suddenly, my appetite dissolved.

"I would not count myself so deserving, my Lady Laena," This weirdly made my father chuckle. Mother smiled reassuringly towards me while Baella scrunched her face towards her.

"I wish to offer you permanent residence here in Pentos, this manse I would gift it to you, outright, along with its farms and lands, the vineyard and the wood." Now the dowry is being discussed, impressive. "The tenants would pay their tributes annually to their new Targaryen lord. You would have your freedom of the city and the harbor, as befits your royal station."

He took a pause only to be encouraged by my father, "Continue." This seemed to disappoint my mother.

"Lys and its allies rise again. The Triarchy has made common cause with Qoren Martell of Dorne. At any moment, they may turn their sights north." He eyed all of us. "Your family has dragons, three now, mayhaps four in the future." He said, indicating towards my mother's now visible belly bump. "My aim is to protect Pentos from the lustful eye of the Triarchy. Aid Pentos in this, as Aegon once did...and my gratitude will fill your cup and overflow it."

My mother placed her hand on the table, as she said "Your Excellence, we are travelers. We've already extended our visit here-" Only to be stopped by Daemon, placing his hand on top of hers, as they had a change of glances between them.

"It's the most generous offer," He took a dramatic pause which made me mentally scoff. "And one we will certainly entertain." My mother slipped her hand out of his.

Times like this, I can't help but wonder how can someone be so greedy and selfish even after being the Prince of a realm.

Rest of the night passed in a blur as I retired to my chambers.