a forbidden flame, helaena targaryen
pairing: helaena x female!reader
summary: in the midst of a forbidden romance, reader and princess helaena risk everything to be together, only to be betrayed by helaena’s brother. captured and torn apart by king aegon's wrath, reader faces solitary confinement, holding onto their love amidst despair and uncertainty.
warnings: angst, turmoil, captivity, imprisonment
my etsy shop: camelot's scribe | letters from your favorite character
the castle was quiet, the flickering torches casting long shadows along the cold stone walls. moonlight spilled through the high windows, illuminating the path ahead as you made your way through the labyrinthine halls. your heart raced with each step, the thrill of your clandestine mission coursing through your veins.
you paused at a corner, peering around to ensure no one was coming. the risk was high—if you were caught, the consequences would be dire. but the reward, the sight of her, made it all worth it. you took a deep breath, steeling yourself, and continued.
heleana’s chambers were at the end of a long corridor, guarded by a single door that seemed to pulse with the secrets it held. you knocked softly, the sound barely audible. a moment later, the door creaked open, revealing heleana’s familiar face. her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her violet eyes sparkled with excitement and worry.
"y/n," she whispered, her voice a soft caress. she stepped aside to let you in, closing the door quickly behind you.
you were in her arms before you could speak, the warmth of her embrace banishing the chill that had settled in your bones. she held you tightly, her breath hot against your ear. "i’ve missed you," she murmured, her lips brushing your skin.
"and i you," you replied, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. there was so much you wanted to say, so much you couldn’t put into words. instead, you pressed your lips to hers, the kiss gentle but full of longing.
heleana’s hands roamed your back, pulling you closer as if she could meld you into one being. you lost yourself in her touch, in the sweetness of her lips. every stolen moment with her felt like a dream, too beautiful to be real.
but reality always intruded. she broke the kiss, her eyes filled with a mix of love and sorrow. "we can’t keep doing this," she said, though her grip on you didn’t loosen. "if aegon or anyone else finds out..."
"i know," you said, cupping her face in your hands. "but i can’t stay away. i love you, heleana."
her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she leaned into your touch. "i love you too. more than anything. but it’s dangerous."
"we’ll find a way," you promised, though you had no idea how. "we have to."
heleana nodded, a single tear slipping down her cheek. you kissed it away, tasting the salt of her sorrow. "stay with me tonight," she pleaded. "just for a little while."
you nodded, and she led you to her bed. you lay together, limbs entwined, hearts beating in sync. the world outside the room ceased to exist, and for a few precious hours, it was just the two of you.
as dawn approached, you knew you had to leave. you kissed her one last time, memorizing the feel of her lips, the way her body fit against yours. "i’ll be back," you whispered, though the words felt like a promise you might not be able to keep.
"be careful," she replied, her voice breaking. "i can’t lose you."
you nodded, pulling away reluctantly. you slipped out of her chambers, the weight of the forbidden love you shared heavy on your shoulders. as you made your way back through the castle, you prayed for a day when you could be together openly, without fear.
the next evening, as you prepared for another secret meeting with heleana, you were summoned by queen alicent. you felt a shiver of dread as you entered her chambers, unsure of what she wanted from you.
queen alicent was seated at a large table, her piercing gaze fixed on you as you entered. "y/n, sit," she commanded, gesturing to a chair opposite her.
you sat down, trying to mask your nervousness. "you wished to see me, your grace?"
"yes," she said, her tone icy. "i've noticed your frequent absences from your quarters at night. is there something you wish to confess?"
your heart pounded in your chest, but you kept your expression neutral. "i have been restless, your grace. the castle walls feel confining at times, and i find solace in wandering."
alicent studied you for a long moment, her eyes narrowing. "i see. it is dangerous to wander alone, especially at night. you should be more careful."
"i will, your grace," you said, inclining your head respectfully.
"you may go," she said, dismissing you with a wave of her hand.
you left the room, your mind racing. did she know? or was it just a coincidence? you had to be more cautious.
as you approached heleana’s chambers that night, a figure stepped out of the shadows. it was aemond, heleana’s brother. his intense gaze bored into you, and you felt a chill run down your spine.
"aemond," you said, trying to keep your voice steady. "what are you doing here?"
"i could ask you the same question," he replied, his voice low and dangerous. "but i already know the answer."
your blood ran cold. "i don’t know what you’re talking about."
he stepped closer, his eye never leaving yours. "stay away from her. if you care about heleana’s safety, you’ll end this now."
"i love her," you said, your voice trembling with emotion. "i can’t just walk away."
aemond’s expression hardened, his lips curling into a sneer. "then you’re a fool. aegon will not tolerate this. he will make sure you suffer, and he will destroy heleana in the process. do you want that on your conscience?"
your resolve faltered, but your love for heleana burned bright. "i can’t abandon her."
"then you will both perish," aemond said coldly. "i will not warn you again."
with that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving you alone in the dimly lit corridor. you took a deep breath, steeling yourself, and knocked on heleana’s door.
the door opened, and heleana’s eyes widened in surprise. "y/n, what’s wrong?"
you stepped inside, closing the door behind you. "aemond knows."
her face paled. "did he threaten you?"
"he warned me," you said, taking her hands in yours. "but he also cares about you. he won’t betray us."
heleana looked relieved but still worried. "we have to be more careful."
you nodded, pulling her into your arms. "we will be. we’ll find a way to be together without risking everything."
she clung to you, her fear palpable. "i can’t lose you."
"you won’t," you promised, holding her tightly. "we’ll find a way."
as you lay together that night, you couldn’t shake the feeling that your time was running out. but you would fight for every moment, for every kiss, and for the love that burned bright and fierce, even in the darkness.
the tension in the castle grew over the following weeks. aegon’s suspicions were evident in his sharp glances and probing questions. alicent’s watchful eyes seemed to follow you everywhere. but you and heleana continued to find ways to be together, your love a secret flame that refused to be extinguished.
one night, as you made your way to heleana’s chambers, you heard voices coming from within. you paused, listening intently.
"you’re endangering us all," aemond’s voice said, low and urgent.
"i love her, aemond," heleana replied, her voice breaking. "i can’t help it."
"you have to end this," aemond said, his tone cold and unyielding. "aegon is planning something. he’s determined to find out the truth."
your heart raced as you listened. you had to warn heleana. you knocked softly on the door, and it opened almost immediately.
heleana’s eyes widened in surprise. "y/n, what are you doing here?"
"i overheard," you said, stepping inside. "aegon is planning something. we have to be careful."
aemond’s expression hardened further, his gaze icy. "you need to leave. both of you. if you stay, aegon will find you and make you suffer."
"we have to go," heleana said, her eyes wide with fear. "we have to get away from here."
"where will we go?" you asked, feeling a surge of desperation.
"dragonstone," heleana suggested, desperation in her voice. "rhaenyra will protect us."
aemond’s eyes flashed with anger. "do you think rhaenyra will welcome you with open arms? you are risking everything for a foolish dream."
heleana looked at her brother, tears in her eyes. "will you help us?"
aemond stared at her for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "i will help you escape. but do not think this is the end. you will always be hunted."
that night, you and heleana fled the castle with aemond’s help. you rode through the night, your hearts pounding with fear and exhilaration. as dawn broke, you saw dragonstone rising in the distance, a beacon of hope.
as you approached the gates of dragonstone, a group of soldiers blocked your path. aemond’s expression turned cold and triumphant as he stepped forward, signaling the soldiers to seize you both.
"aemond, what is this?" heleana cried out, her eyes wide with betrayal.
"i warned you," aemond said, his voice icy. "you should have listened. aegon will not tolerate this... disgrace."
the soldiers grabbed you and heleana, forcing you to the ground. you struggled against their grip, but it was futile.
"aemond, please!" you begged, desperation lacing your voice.
"you brought this upon yourselves," he said coldly, turning away as the soldiers dragged you back toward king's landing.
the return to the castle was a blur of fear and despair. as you and heleana were thrown into a cell, you clung to each other, your hearts breaking with the realization that your love had been your undoing.
days passed in the cold, dark cell. aegon visited once, his eyes filled with a cruel satisfaction as he taunted you both.
"you thought you could escape me?" he sneered. "you will pay for your defiance. both of you."
heleana tried to comfort you, her voice trembling as she whispered promises of a better future, but you both knew the truth. there would be no escape, no happy ending.
one night, as you lay together on the cold stone floor, heleana’s tears mingled with yours. "i’m sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "i’m so sorry."
you held her tightly, your own tears falling freely. "i love you," you said, your voice filled with pain and determination. "no matter what happens, i will always love you."
as the days turned into weeks, you clung to that love, finding strength in each other even as the darkness closed in. your love had been a forbidden flame, burning bright and fierce, but now it was a flickering ember, struggling to survive.
and as the door to your cell creaked open one final time, you faced your fate with heleana by your side, your hearts united in a love that would never be extinguished, even in the face of death.
aegon’s suspicions finally culminated in a brutal confrontation. the king, flanked by his guards, stormed into the cell where you and heleana were held. his face was twisted with rage, and his voice was cold as ice.
"y/n, you have bewitched my wife and brought disgrace upon this house," he declared. "you will be punished for your treachery."
"aegon, please," heleana pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "she did nothing wrong. it was my choice."
"silence!" aegon roared. "you have been corrupted by this... harlot. guards, take her away."
the guards seized you, pulling you away from heleana’s grasp. you struggled, desperate to stay by her side. "heleana! no! please!"
heleana’s screams echoed through the halls as she tried to reach you, but aegon’s grip on her was unyielding. "you will be dealt with later," he said coldly to his wife. "but this one will suffer for her sins."
the last thing you saw as you were dragged away was heleana’s tear-streaked face, her cries of anguish haunting your every step. you were thrown into a separate cell, the door slamming shut behind you with a finality that crushed your spirit.
days turned into weeks, and you were left alone in the darkness, the memory of heleana's touch the only thing keeping you sane. you clung to the hope that she was safe, that somehow, she would be spared.
but as the days passed, that hope began to fade. you were isolated, punished for loving too deeply, and the world outside your cell seemed to grow colder with each passing moment.
and as the darkness closed in, you held onto the memory of heleana, your forbidden flame, knowing that your love, though condemned, would burn bright and fierce in your heart forever.
author's note: do you want a letter from helena? check my etsy for detailed personalized letters from any character you wish. click the link below:
✨ Step into Your Favorite Shows & Movies with Personalized Letters from Beloved Characters! ✨ Surprise the fan in your life with a unique an