[ This is enormously difficult for him to write. He writes and rewrites it several times before finally sending. ]
I apologize for my appalling behavior in the maze. My anger toward our father has little to do with you, and I had no right to fling such accusations.
If you might be willing to allow me another opportunity to make peace, I would be grateful. Regardless, you will have no further trouble from me. We are, despite everything, blood.
[ She refrains, somehow, from commenting about how a man would choose the largest living dragon as their name. ]
To which part are you referring? The moment you said you wished to kill me, or when you threw a dagger at my head? No, you did not.
What is to stop you from flinging your anger upon me when it suits you? I feel these apologies may be made with such frequency that they lose their meaning. Do not give promises you cannot keep, brother.
If you are not troublesome, are you truly my blood?
My promise is to refrain from inflicting harm upon you. My temper is a losing effort. I will surely speak out of turn again, though in lieu of another tedious speech, perhaps there is something else you would ask of me. I am better in matters of action.
True enough, though some of us are worse than others. [ A beat. ] That was not in reference to you.
Can you say in earnest that, in your anger, you did not intentionally throw it so close to my ear as to ensure that I felt it?
Then I accept your words, your apology and extend one of my own. I did not thank you for your help, I am doing so now. I would ask for your honesty in a matter. What you said before, what did you mean by it? You spoke as if our father did not delight in having sons.
Is this how our conversations are meant to go? You assuming that I will immediately take offense? [ Without a doubt, she made a face at the words. Though his apology is sincere, she will not soon forget his scathing remarks. ]
[ He doesn't expect her apology, nor does he expect her question. It takes a bit of time to process, but she's owed this. ]
I cannot recall a single time he so much as looked at any of us. He was a ghost to all but you, even to his second daughter and her children. You, however, had no hand in this. I acknowledge that now.
Perhaps not if I am able to curb my insatiable desire to throw daggers. [ That was a joke. ]
You were an easy target. I suppose I've always resented you a little for his treatment of us. [ To put it lightly. ] And in truth, seeing you and my mother at this age is difficult to process. I'm uncertain where any of us stand now, or what use I am to either of you. [ ... why is he telling her all this? Anyway. ]
Well then, I'll simply have to disarm when I see you coming.
Nyke va moriot gaomagon. GΔ«da lo mirri gaomagon daor raqagon ziry.
Some things often wither on the vine and though we may not be as close as we once were, that does not mean I wish her ill. I am young but not naΓ―ve, I know well what distanced us.
[ Just when it looks like he may be left out again: ] We are blood, Aemond, is that not enough? Your use is to allow me to know and understand a child grown.
You would be the first. I am not so easily outwitted.
You have no intention of divulging my future, do you? I would have chosen eggs for your cradles. [ Meaning it isn't up for debate; he must not be telling her the whole of it, which makes her even more suspicious. ] What are you hiding?
Tell me that again when you have known me for a time. [ There is no delay in her reply. ] There are worse fates than death, such as when Her Grace finds you are providing me with lessons. When do we begin?
You don't want that. I was told my own future, and it was no easy thing to hear. [ He still has nightmares sometimes. Not that he's admitting that. ] Besides, I know little. We rarely spoke.
Very well. Did she say as much? Or are you anticipating her concern?
We begin as early as tomorrow morning if you wish to wake at dawn.
And when did you become adept in knowing my desires? You did not even know my face. You knew enough that you were willing and eager to take my life, so you are being intentionally vague. It is maddening.
[ But amazingly she doesn't press for further details. Yet. ]
Do you think me foolish? I would not tell her, I speak from experience. A dragon would be a far less fearsome opponent.
Dawn. [ Oh, the face she is making right now. ] Why do I feel as if I am being tortured for something I did not do?
[Rhaenyra will find two boxes outside her door. Kelson has not signed it, but instead sealed both with red sealing wax with the signet of Gwynedd, a rather familiar lion, rampant guardant. Inside one box is a set of two stilettos. Inside the other, is a box of cookies, should the thought of bloodshed make her peckish.]
Tell me truthfully. How often do you lose that temper of yours? I have my suspicions.
Why would she feel disappointment with you? Or is that yet another secret you refuse to share with me? We will still be strangers several months from now at this pace.
[ There's a small delay there, for reasons. ]
You will regret offering me these lessons more than I will loathe waking before dawn.
There are no crowns, titles or favors to be won here, yet you still wish to cultivate? You continue to surprise me, Your Majesty.
It should come as no surprise, but I do not fear danger. My brother insists on teaching me to use the blade and waking at dawn to do so. I have yet to decide his fate.
My roommate lives elsewhere on the grounds, I can do what I will with his half of the room.
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text, @vhagar
I apologize for my appalling behavior in the maze. My anger toward our father has little to do with you, and I had no right to fling such accusations.
If you might be willing to allow me another opportunity to make peace, I would be grateful. Regardless, you will have no further trouble from me. We are, despite everything, blood.
no subject
To which part are you referring? The moment you said you wished to kill me, or when you threw a dagger at my head? No, you did not.
What is to stop you from flinging your anger upon me when it suits you? I feel these apologies may be made with such frequency that they lose their meaning. Do not give promises you cannot keep, brother.
If you are not troublesome, are you truly my blood?
no subject
My promise is to refrain from inflicting harm upon you. My temper is a losing effort. I will surely speak out of turn again, though in lieu of another tedious speech, perhaps there is something else you would ask of me. I am better in matters of action.
True enough, though some of us are worse than others. [ A beat. ] That was not in reference to you.
no subject
Then I accept your words, your apology and extend one of my own. I did not thank you for your help, I am doing so now. I would ask for your honesty in a matter. What you said before, what did you mean by it? You spoke as if our father did not delight in having sons.
Is this how our conversations are meant to go? You assuming that I will immediately take offense? [ Without a doubt, she made a face at the words. Though his apology is sincere, she will not soon forget his scathing remarks. ]
no subject
[ He doesn't expect her apology, nor does he expect her question. It takes a bit of time to process, but she's owed this. ]
I cannot recall a single time he so much as looked at any of us. He was a ghost to all but you, even to his second daughter and her children. You, however, had no hand in this. I acknowledge that now.
Perhaps not if I am able to curb my insatiable desire to throw daggers. [ That was a joke. ]
no subject
[ But so is she. For someone who once thought herself forgotten his words give her mixed feelings. ]
Yet you placed the blame solely upon my head in the maze. What has changed? Do not tell me you have grown sentimental overnight, it does not suit you.
That I cannot promise, I am both prone to and delight in verbal sparring.
no subject
You were an easy target. I suppose I've always resented you a little for his treatment of us. [ To put it lightly. ] And in truth, seeing you and my mother at this age is difficult to process. I'm uncertain where any of us stand now, or what use I am to either of you. [ ... why is he telling her all this? Anyway. ]
Well then, I'll simply have to disarm when I see you coming.
no subject
Some things often wither on the vine and though we may not be as close as we once were, that does not mean I wish her ill. I am young but not naΓ―ve, I know well what distanced us.
[ Just when it looks like he may be left out again: ] We are blood, Aemond, is that not enough? Your use is to allow me to know and understand a child grown.
You would be the first. I am not so easily outwitted.
no subject
[ His mother was close with Rhaenyra? This is the first he's hearing of this. He'll have to hound Alicent about it later. ]
I don't think you understand just how fiercely that single statement has been contested. We weren't given dragon eggs for a reason.
It has a certain appeal, I grant you. [ A beat. ] Do you still wish to learn the sword?
no subject
You have no intention of divulging my future, do you? I would have chosen eggs for your cradles. [ Meaning it isn't up for debate; he must not be telling her the whole of it, which makes her even more suspicious. ] What are you hiding?
Tell me that again when you have known me for a time. [ There is no delay in her reply. ] There are worse fates than death, such as when Her Grace finds you are providing me with lessons. When do we begin?
no subject
You don't want that. I was told my own future, and it was no easy thing to hear. [ He still has nightmares sometimes. Not that he's admitting that. ] Besides, I know little. We rarely spoke.
Very well. Did she say as much? Or are you anticipating her concern?
We begin as early as tomorrow morning if you wish to wake at dawn.
no subject
[ But amazingly she doesn't press for further details. Yet. ]
Do you think me foolish? I would not tell her, I speak from experience. A dragon would be a far less fearsome opponent.
Dawn. [ Oh, the face she is making right now. ] Why do I feel as if I am being tortured for something I did not do?
no subject
You are the one who should be taking mine[ That next part about his mother actually makes him chuckle. ]
I'll tell you a secret in good faith. Facing down every unclaimed dragon in the realm was far easier than facing her disappointment.
Because Ser Criston made ME rise at that hour for training. So too shall you.
no subject
no subject
Why would she feel disappointment with you? Or is that yet another secret you refuse to share with me? We will still be strangers several months from now at this pace.
[ There's a small delay there, for reasons. ]
You will regret offering me these lessons more than I will loathe waking before dawn.
text | un: visenya
I prefer cake. [ Not quite a jest, she will enjoy them all the same. ]
Is this to make up for the fact that you were unimpressed with the quality of the ring I chose for you?
text | un: Gwynedd26
The quality of the ring was so fine I would have hated to damage it.
In all truth I have made few friends here who might be worthy of gifts. I merely wish to cultivate those who are.
And our esteemed hosts seem to have a predilection for throwing us in rather dangerous situations.
Everyone deserves to be able to defend themselves.
I rather thought an entire armory might be too much for a first gift.
Nor would it fit in your room.
no subject
Do you intend on going into battle with it?
There are no crowns, titles or favors to be won here, yet you still wish to cultivate? You continue to surprise me, Your Majesty.
It should come as no surprise, but I do not fear danger. My brother insists on teaching me to use the blade and waking at dawn to do so. I have yet to decide his fate.
My roommate lives elsewhere on the grounds, I can do what I will with his half of the room.