"Are we almost there?" Aemond yelled in
Aemma's ear as Terrax kept a slow pace with the boat in the water. The children had chosen to ride their dragons to Driftmark, with Aegon on Sunfyre and Halaena on Dreamfyre. Aegon had teased Aemond about having to travel on the boat with their parents, so Aemma offered Aemond to fly with her on Terrax, an offer which he happily accepted.
"I do not know, but it can't be too far now." Aemma shrugged her shoulders. She felt dreadfully bored going at such a slow pace, she decided to entertain herself by flying into the clouds.
"Terrax, take us above the clouds." The dragon let out a small huff of breath as he ascended into the sky, flying in small circles. As they broke through the clouds, Aemond let out a gasp of surprise.
"Everything is so peaceful up here." He murmured. There was barely any wind, and the sun shone brightly from the east. The clouds that surrounded them looked like mountains yet they also looked softer than silk.
"It is very peaceful. I love just coasting among the clouds, it is undeniably one of my favorite places." Aemma held her arms in the air as the sun brightened her face and the wind moved her hair.
Aemond had never seen a more beautiful sight as he watched Aemma close her eyes and tilt her head toward the sun. A hot blush crept up his neck towards his cheeks as his breathing got caught in his throat. Aemond opened his mouth to say something, but he was interrupted by Aegon atop the golden beauty, Sunfyre, as they also pushed through the clouds. Sunfyre was slightly older than Terrax, but Terrax grew quickly and strong, making the dragons equal in size.
"Beautiful sight, isn't it brother? Although it's quite a shame you will never see this atop a dragon of your own." Aegon yelled over the wind. Aemond frowned. Why did Aegon have to ruin this perfect moment?
"I would be quite content looking at this view with my betrothed for the rest of my life." Aemond yelled back.
Halaena and Dreamfyre appeared on Terrax's right, opposite Aegon and Sunfyre on his left. Halaena's hair flowed freely in the wind and a wide smile was on her face. She waved to Aemma, who waved back.
"It is a beautiful sight indeed! Shall we entertain ourselves with a race?" Halaena shouted.
"A what?" Aegon yelled.
"A race!" Aemma yelled.
"Driftmark is not too far from here, if we descend from the clouds we would be able to see it!" Halaena was breathless from all the yelling.
"Hold on tight!" Aemma instructed Aemond, who did what he was told.
"Descend, Terrax! Quickly!" Terrax instantly folded his wings in towards his body and dove straight down. Aemond screamed as Aemma laughed. Aemond was sure he was going to die as his stomach felt like it was going to drop out of his feet.
They fell for what felt like minutes, but a few seconds later Terrax opened his wings and began to propel himself forward.
"That's it, Terrax! Do you see the island there? If you get us there first I will let you roam free for a week!" Aemma encouraged her dragon, who seemed to respond well to the idea of his reward as he began to fly even faster. Aemond turned his head and saw Sunfyre and Dreamfyre still a ways back.
"Come on, Aemma!" Aemond yelled. Aemma had never seen Terrax fly this fast, in two minutes Terrax was already searching for a place to land.
He settled for the sandy beach that led up to the gates of the castle. As he landed, sand flew everywhere, which covered Aemma and Aemond as it settled. Aemma climbed off the saddle first and held her hand out as she steadied Aemond.
"I truly did not think flying could feel like that." Aemond said as shook his head, trying to loosen the sand in his hair. Aemma scratched at her scalp as the sand began to itch.
"Should we wait for Aegon and Halaena?" Aemma asked.
"I suppose so. I can't imagine it would take them much longer." Aemond shrugged.
Aemond stood corrected as a few moments later, the dragons descended from the sky and landed on the beach, leaving ample space between them. Aegon and Halaena walked toward Aemma and Aemond, and they made their way up the winding path that led to the castle.
"The Princes Aegon and Aemond Targaryen, and the Princesses Halaena Targaryen and Aemma Velaryon!" The guard that escorted them to the hall where her grandparents, Corlys Velaryon, and Rhaenys Targaryen stood side by side as they awaited the arrival of their guests. Both were dressed in black, and Aemma noticed the grief and sadness etched onto their faces.
"I am so sorry about the loss of Laena, I can only imagine the pain you are suffering." Aemma said as she approached her grandparents, leaving her aunt and uncles as they bowed their heads respectively. Corlys pulled her into a strong hug.
"I cannot thank the Gods enough for allowing you to return to us, my dear granddaughter." Corlys pulled back to gaze upon her.
"Thank you for your condolences, Aemma." Rhaenys said coldly. Aemma pulled away from her grandfather and approached Rhaenys, who tilted Aemma's head from left to right with her hands as she examined her. She let out a small sigh and pulled Aemma towards her in a hug.
Rhaenys knew that Rhaenyra's children were not of Laenor's blood, but she knew he loved them deeply. Whenever she and Laenor corresponded either through letters or visits, he never failed to mention his beloved daughter. In his many descriptions of her, she reminded Rhaenys of Laena; smart, kind, and strong-willed. Gods Laena had been strong-willed, especially when it came to getting what she wanted. When she wanted to marry Daemon Targaryen she refused to take no for an answer. And that marriage led to the babe that killed her.
"Forgive me for asking, but my family has not arrived yet, have they?" Aemma asked. Rhaenys shook her head.
"They are expected to arrive early on the morrow. They will be traveling by ship due to the proximity of the islands." She said. Aemma tried to ignore the feelings of disappointment that overcame her. She missed Luke terribly and she knew her brothers would also be grieving Harwin's death. Aemond grimaced at the thought of his nephews coming to torment him.
"The King and Queen are expected to arrive rather soon, we seem to have arrived a little earlier than expected." Aemma said.
"That is alright, your uncle and cousins are expected to arrive within the hour, perhaps you can keep them company until everyone else arrives." Corlys said with a slightly forced smile. A sudden tension weighed on the room at the mention of her uncle Daemon.
"I apologize for my current appearance. We have arrived on dragonback and I fear that sand does not take kindly to being displaced." Aemma said, breaking the slight tension that seemed to arise after Daemon was mentioned as she smoothed out her riding leathers, sending sand cascading down to the floor. Corlys let out a small chuckle.
"It is quite alright Aemma. Show the children to their quarters and have the maids prepare baths for them all." He waved his hand at the guard who stood in the corner.
"Please, clean yourselves up and meet us in the hall in an hour, we will greet your family as they arrive." Rhaenys said as the guard approached the group of children.
"Please, follow me, Your Grace's." The guard led them to their chambers.
Aemma's chambers were right next to Jace and Luke's, and across the hall was where her cousins, Baela and Rhaena, would be staying. Her mother and father, when they arrived, would stay in her father's old chambers which were just down the hall. The King and Queen's chambers were in a different part of the castle along with their children.
As Aemma entered her chambers, she was surprised to see a collection of dresses laid out on the bed.
"The Princess Rhaenys had requested that these be brought to you. They belonged to the Lady Laena. She had figured since you arrived on dragonback that your clothes remain on the ship." The maid said.
"Oh. I see. If the bath is ready you may leave." Aemma said as she ran her hands over the dresses. The one that caught her eye was a flowing dress with sleeves that draped to her knees. It was the same color as the seahorse that was on her family's sigil, a pale sky blue.
After Aemma's bath, she wore her hair loose as she donned her late aunt's dress. She hurried to the hall her grandparents had mentioned. It was a large room with walls adorned with portraits and bookshelves, with a large hearth in the middle of the wall. Rhaenys and Corlys sat in two of the chairs that were angled towards the fire, their voices hushed as they were deep in conversation.
"Excuse me, I apologize for interrupting." Aemma said with a bow of her head.
"Nonsense, Aemma. Come and sit." Corlys waved Aemma over as she timidly approached. He lifted her by her waist and sat her on his knee as he stared into the flames.
"That was Laena's favorite dress to wear when she was your age. You look beautiful." Rhaenys smiled sadly at her granddaughter as she remembered Laena when she was a girl.
"Thank you, grandmother." Aemma said, unsure of whether or not she should say anything else. The three Velaryon's sat in comfortable silence as they watched the flames dance around the hearth.
Aemma wrapped her cloak around her cheeks as the cold air blew in her face. It was rather chilly on the docks as she watched her grandfather limp off of the boat, Alicent trailing behind him. Otto followed after the couple, looking around the docks and letting out a simple "hm" as he took in his surrounding. See Criston followed closely behind the Queen, and multiple Kingsguard trailed behind them as well.
Halaena had knelt down as she picked up a spider that was wandering the beach, Aemond simply stared off into the distance, and Aegon was blowing bubbles with his spit. Aemma craned her neck as she saw another boat begin to dock as well; her uncle and cousins.
Aemma craned her neck to see who was on the deck of the ship, but she could not see much.
As the boat docked and its occupants began to exit, Aemma held her breath as she caught a glimpse of The Rogue Prince, Daemon Targaryen. He had been a man that Aemma heard many stories about, especially from her father and grandfather as they detailed their time in the Stepstones. He was tall and while he was not an obvious warrior, his muscles were present under the thin tunic he wore. Behind him were his twin daughters Baela and Rhaena, who looked like their shoulders would crumble under the weight of their grief. Aemma's heart broke at the sight, she had lost Harwin, but she did not grow up with him as her father. The pain they must feel is entirely different than what Aemma feels and she could only hope she did not have to experience it.
Daemon stalked off the boat and walked straight towards the castle, not even sparing a glimpse towards the hosts and his family that waited to greet him. Viserys limped after him in an attempt to go and comfort his younger brother. Aemma had hoped he would spare a few words, but she knew he must be mourning the loss of his wife. Baela and Rhaena approached slowly, barely acknowledging Aemma and her uncles and aunt, heading straight for their grandparents, who held the girls close to them.
Aemma approached Baela and Rhaena, unsure of who was who.
"I am terribly sorry for the loss of your mother." Aemma said as she placed a hand on one of the girl's shoulder. She turned towards Aemma, her eyes puffy and cheeks slick with tears.
"Thank you. I'm Rhaena." She sniffled.
"My father, your uncle, spoke very highly of your mother. I could only imagine how amazing she was in person." Aemma offered her a sad smile as Rhaena reached out and grasped Aemma's hand, pulling her towards her and Baela.
"Please excuse us. The trip was rather tiring and the the children must want to rest." Alicent bowed her head and left, all of her children trailing behind her, leaving the family to grieve. Baela, Rhaena, Corlys, and Rhaenys mourned Laena, and Aemma silently mourned Harwin.