taly | 25 | she/they ... rarely but surely posting about all things queer and fun, which may include aftg, wwdits, hotd, and whatever new obsession I develop
As a treat for myself for landing a job, I commissioned the incredibly, wonderfully, astoundingly talented @lonelymagpies to create art of my Aemond x OC fic, The Silver Dragon and when I tell you this is the best treat Iâve ever bought myself, I mean it! Look at them! Theyâre so beautiful! Ugh I love them so much đ„č
All love and thanks and praise to lonelymagpies! And look out for a new chapter of The Silver Dragon thatâs coming tomorrow!
Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Aelora Targaryen-Raengyreon
Content Warnings: Pirate! Aemond Targaryen, Pirate-hunter Aelora Targaryen-Raengyreon, death, grief, madness, possible mention of violence and any other dark content. Read at own risk.
Note: This fic was inspired by @peachysunrize. The idea came from her and I thank her for it.
Words: 2,186
Masterlist
Credit for Dividers: @cafekitsune + @strangergraphics
Summary: âI have a feeling it is done deliberately. On purpose even. Why hunt down every single pirate when you can hunt down the few with the most power? Its captain? She is just as unpredictable, frantic and potent as the ship she owns.â
Aemond-kin slayer, former prince of the House Targaryen, future target of Aelora Raengyreon. Deemed crazy because of those who misunderstand the depth of her grief.
âIt feasts upon the ships, ones which would have stolen from others if it never existed, like a monstrous, ravenous beast.â Aemondâs second-in-command warned.Â
âThere is no such ship. We would have seen it by now.â Aemond rolled his eyes. Not truly believing his own second-in-command would believe in such a flight of fancy.
âListen to me, It has a never-ending hunger. It never seems to cease, neither calm nor hectic. Rumours are going around sayinâŠâŠ.. ItâsâŠâŠâŠ One with the deep ocean. In deep communion with the sea's depths.âÂ
âIf it is one with the ocean as you say it is. How come we havenât seen it before?â Aemondâs sceptical nature took hold.
âI have a feeling it is done deliberately. On purpose even. Why hunt down every single pirate when you can hunt down the few with the most power? Its captain? She is just as unpredictable, frantic and potent as the ship she owns.â
âShe? Are you telling me this shipâs captain is a woman?â Aemondâs eyes narrowed at the thought of a woman alone with a group of hardened men out at sea.Â
âAye. Queer to be sure. A kind of madness that is riddled to the bone on the eve of husband's death, or that is what the maesters will have you believe. I believe she had always wanted it and only her father ever indulged in her unending hunger for the forgotten, the forbidden and the forlorn.âÂ
Aemond scoffed at the mention of a father. Not like his own father was much of one to him. Choosing his older sister, Rhaenyra over his brother, over his sister, over him.Â
There was, is, no love between him and his father. No matter how much his mother wants him to apologise for what he had said about his nephews.
In his mind, he did it to prove a point. What point, you ask? That his father is a betrayer, double-dealer, a viper who wouldnât treat them as his own children like he did for her.Â
âSooner or later they will eat their words and regret what they chose to ignore.â
âA loyalist to the end. Even if my mother would rather have me exiled than look at me.â
âI wouldnât be out here had they married Aegon II to Rhaenyra. Perhaps this wouldnât have been too much of an issue if they exiled Rhaenyra instead.â
Aemond knew it would have happened regardless of how he felt on the matter.Â
And itâs been seventeen months since his last letter from his mother.Â
She must have forgotten about him. Just like everyone else there.
âTo appease her never ending hunger for knowledge of the past, Aeloraâs father, Rhaenar of Raengyreon, had it made for her 16th Nameday. A warship to protect and encourage her pursuit.âÂ
He tuned back in when he heard those words. âHer father permitted such a thing?â he asked, his face contorted in an expression of pure confusion. Bewildered at such a notion.
âOf course. The Raengyreons preserve all information, regardless of where it comes from. No matter how âinsignificantâ it might seem.âÂ
Aemond would have to look into this further. Lest he became another victim among the many pirates she had slayed. The thought of himself and his ship merging with The Defiant. Chilling, terrifying and borderline erotic.
Perhaps not even borderline.Â
Perhaps it wasnât even a secret.
Maybe it was a direct line to get vengeance upon those who had wronged him.Â
What better way to get what you want than to get your enemy on your side?
Perhaps eventually someone willing enough to become his wife?Â
He couldnât deny the thrill of having such a well known individual as his.Â
Claimed by him.Â
He didnât care for the fact that she had been married once already.
He has his sights set on making her his wife.Â
Willing to risk the lives of his crew if that was the price he had to pay in order to get what he wanted.Â
He didnât care if she had children to her previous husband, either.Â
They would be his anyway. No amount of dissuading would prevent it.Â
Nothing and no one would be able to stop him from taking her.Â
If he couldnât be a Targaryen Prince.
Then heâll become a Raengyreon one instead.
The legend that follows her. The stories that linger long after she left. It were more than just tales. And based on pure fact. Told by those who had the fortune or misfortune of coming into contact with her. Some pointed their noses up in disgust at the thought of a noble princess doing dirty, rotten work.Â
Many of them were outnumbered by those who admired her for her work, her efforts into making the seas a safer place for those who wanted to do good, hard, honest work.Â
Men complained about their wives leaving to join her crew in the hopes of leaving a loveless marriage. Outrunning their families to get a better life.Â
Men who loathed her because their daughters wanted to either be with her or become her. Under their breath unleash curses, insults and defame her character.Â
Mainly in the hopes of dissuading their daughters from getting the idea that they were just as influential as the surrounding men.Â
It wasnât like Aelora was trying to make a statement about her status. About her femininity. About her role within her family.Â
She was busy grieving for the loss of her husband. Knowing full well that she now had to raise her children without him. Knowing he wonât see them grow.
She didnât think about the possible implications she could be setting out for those who might look up to her. The thought never particularly crossed her mind.Â
Not even once.Â
Until the moment arrived, a letter from a young woman from down south. A letter who had written to her directly. Five gold dragons inside the envelope.Â
A big nasty pirate had taken by daddy away. I need your help. Please help us. I have five gold dragons if you require payment for your services.Â
Aelora didnât know what to think. Who knows how old this child might be. Too young to be asking for her kind of help, that is one thing for certain.Â
She didnât have the heart to ignore it.Â
So she sent word to her spies to set out and look into the matter.Â
Once they return with a name or a location. They would be setting off as soon as possible.
The Defiant preys upon other vessels belonging to pirates, bandits, assassins, slavers, marauders and thieves. Described as a beast with an insatiable appetite. Its prey deliberately chosen before headhunting those with influence inside those few communities. Targeting the ones who gather the most power among the pirates, slavers and marauders.
The defiant is maintained by the pirate ships, she cleaves through in half with the obsidian blade in the front of the war ship. A blade made from obsidian and dragon bone. The wood of the ships would be used to fix damages incurred, and anything left over would be stored as cargo. Anything of value would be secured in safes to prevent theft from third party groups and individuals. Ensuring nothing of the wreck is left behind once they were done.
Skilled carpenters and blacksmiths on board The Defiant repair and reinforce the ship with the salvaged wood and metal.Â
The ship's design incorporates stone reinforcements at critical points, possibly using stone from the wrecks to enhance its durability and combat effectiveness.
How did she headhunt her targets, you ask? Itâs a delicate process. One handled by Captain Aelora and only Captain Aelora.Â
The spy network itself, established by Captain Aelora Targaryen. The purpose is to gather intelligence on her adversaries and the changing dynamics within the piracy community, as well as to keep an eye on the movements and resources of potential targets for The Defiant.
The network consists of agents placed in various key locations, such as taverns, ports, and other pirate dens, who report back to Aelora with valuable information. Aelora recruits individuals from diverse backgrounds, including former pirates, sailors, and locals with knowledge of the seas and the people who inhabit them.
Other outposts are located in King's Landing, Dorne and the Narrow Seas. One outpost along the docks and a second one inside the city used as a supply warehouse. Aelora's spy network operate through a web of agents who blend into local communities and infiltrate various groups, including pirates, sailors, and merchants.
These agents are strategically placed in taverns, ports, and other gathering spots to overhear conversations and gather intel. Chosen because of what they can offer her and what she can offer them in return.Â
Communication between agents and Aelora is expected to be both coded and discreet to maintain the network's secrecy. The less people knew of it. The more information she could hope to garner from such an established, yet thoroughly unknown network.Â
Fewer eyes on them entailed more eyes looking elsewhere. A win-win scenario both for herself and her contacts.Â
The spy network focuses on monitoring the movements, alliances, and weaknesses of different pirate factions and their leaders. Digging into their personal lives if need be. Blackmail, of any kind, no matter how looked down upon. Aelora will find it useful.Â
As in life. There is no true way of knowing if someone is truly on your side until you have something to hold over them.Â
No matter how many people will call you dishonourable for reaching a low, their morals wouldnât allow them to go down further. If they did their job right the first time. She wouldnât have to do hers.
However, if someone gave her certain parts of information. Preferably, information on new ship designs, weaponry, and trade routes? This would also would be highly prioritised for The Defiant's strategic advantage.
Her crew know one thing for certain, Aelora values intel on shipments of obsidian and dragonbone, crucial, demanded for her ship's maintenance and upgrades.
Today was another day like any other. A day of hunting. A large fish spotted upon the horizon. What delicious fish it were. It has been four weeks since she sent her spies scurrying through the land to find some form of information on the next, âbig fishâ in the seas.Â
Until she received an update on the child who sent the letter. A location. Starting point. A rumour of a pirate ship lurking in the south.Â
Complaints piling on by one, how it ransacked villages and pillaged from merchant ships. How it stood upon wreckage, upon wreckage, leaving a bloody scene behind.Â
Some of the nobility still dare to call her a pirate as well. Citing things like âcruelâ and âunusualâ punishment. It wouldnât warrant such a drastic measure had they done more to protect their subject now, would it?
Aelora hadnât considered the fact her cousin. That he could have very well be the next pirate she would be hunting. Why would she think she would be hunting her cousin? The only information she received from her spies was there was a high value target with a large ship under his command. Another ship.Â
Another boat to feast upon.Â
To tear through.Â
To render it limb from limb.Â
Her warship large enough to tear through anything with her large obsidian glass blade in the front. Dwarfing most other ships around it. People have called her crazy without talking to her. Knowing her.Â
Perhaps she is crazy for following down this path so diligently, rigorously, meticulously. With dogged compassion for those who will never know who she is.Â
The kind of zealous fervour seen by the septa in prayer. She would bring him to his knees. And he will see what it means to cross Aelora Targaryen Raengyreon. For all his posturing. He will never be out of her reach.Â
As like many others. The many she had hunted in the past would indicate.
No one is truly out of her reach. No pirate can ever hope to escape her once the scent of their blood reaches her nose.Â
The poor wretch, the poor devil, would know what it means to be targeted by a pirate hunter with a thirst for pyromancy.Â
âWe go south. To where the noise calls and the blood sings. We go south.â Aelora declared holding up the wanted poster of a pirate named, âAemond Targaryenâ written in block letters. âDead or Aliveâ on the bottom with the substantial reward of 40,000 gold dragons.Â
âWe will take a dive ourselves. See if this weasel will sing a delightful tune, eh?!â Aelora egged on.Â
Her crew eager to take the hunt as seriously. If not more so. Whoever this pirate may be? They were in for a most rude awakening when they discover The Defiant is coming down from their outpost near Old Valyria. Just to hunt them down.Â
He is the cause of her sufferings. He took her dragon, her betrothed, and her father. Now, he will also take away her future by having to marry him.
With so much history and bad blood between Rhaena and Aemond, their forced union has everything to fail, except that the proximity will make them discover that perhaps they have more in common than it seems.
Three days have passed since the second night they spent together.
Since she woke up alone in the prince's bed again.
And in those three days, even though she could have already started working on her new duties or visited the other courtiers, she preferred to stay in the Tower of the Hand, waiting.
Waiting for him.
Hoping he would call her back to his chambers, hoping to see him and share more moments with her husband.
But, in these three days, she hasn't even seen him.
If the prince has been coming and going from the Tower, he has done so in such a way that Rhaena has not noticed his presence. And though she mentally told herself that Aemond was probably busy with his many duties as Hand of the King, she could not help but feel ignored.
âThe prince is not in his chambers,â the guard informs her as Rhaena stops near the door that, she now knows, opens directly into her husbandâs chambers.
The girl ignores him and turns, suppressing the pang of disappointment and walking as quickly as she can toward the stairs.
She needs a change of scenery. She needs to get out of the Tower or she will die of boredom. She needs to clear her head, and re-engage her mind. So, she heads toward the gardens, toward the sea-view gazebo where she has arranged to meet Marianne.
âRhaena!â Her lady runs the last few meters that separate them, melting her in an embrace that leaves her almost breathless, but she returns it with the same spirit. âI know it is only been a few days, but I felt your absence very much.â
âThe feeling is mutual,â she assures her once they break the hug, following the girl to the chairs and the small table full of sweets and drinks that she has surely previously arranged.
âI would have gone to visit you days ago, but my aunt forbade me to do so. She said it was not appropriate to bother a newlywed,â Marianne makes a face and takes the teapot that is in front of them, pouring two cups of a sweet-smelling infusion.
âI figured as much,â Rhaena nods, taking the cup and drinking a couple of sips, grateful that the liquid warms her body as the days in the Keep are getting colder, âIt does not matter, we are here now, I want to know everything I have missed in these days of absence.â
âNot much, actually,â Marianne sets her cup aside, âSeveral of the nobles have already left the castle, my aunt among them.â
âOh, I wish I could say goodbye to Lady Johanna,â she says regretfully.
âShe asked me to pass on her good wishes on your marriage. She could not stay because with winter so close, she wants to be at the Rock as soon as possible.â
âOf course,â Rhaena nods.
âThe nobles who did stay are currently in the Royal Forest taking part in the hunt for your wedding.â
Rhaena had completely forgotten that a hunting party had been organized.
âWhen did the party leave?â
âA couple of days ago.â
A couple of days. She canât help but wonder if, perhaps, the prince had decided to join the party. Maybe that was why he was absent from the Tower.
âRhaena? Are you okay?â
Marianneâs voice breaks her from her thoughts.
âWhat?â
âYou tell me,â her friend frowns, âYou suddenly seemed⊠lost in thought. Is⊠is everything okay?â
âYes, it is,â she says, sipping from her cup again.
Marianne meets her gaze, and when Rhaena sees genuine concern reflected in her friendâs eyes, her façade crumbles. âWas it really that bad?â she asks quietly, finding Rhaenaâs hand and squeezing it in a comforting gesture.
Rhaena bites her lip and shakes her head, âIt was not bad at all,â she admits, feeling her cheeks flush, âIt was⊠Aemond wasâŠâ she does not know exactly what to say to Marianne or how to begin to describe in precise words everything she had experienced, âI really enjoyed it,â she finally says.
Her friendâs eyes widen in surprise, and after a few seconds, a small smile forms on her lips, âBut that is good news!â
âI do not know,â she sighs.
âWhy not? If you and the prince understand each other in the⊠physical sense, it will help your relationship to improve and become stronger, donât you think?â
âI thought the same,â she admits, closing her eyes for a few seconds, âBut AemondâŠâ Marianne does not press her, but waits for her to continue. âAemond does not seem to like my company.â
âNonsense!â
âThen why has he ignored me all these past days? Heâs only summoned me to his chambers twice, and then nothing. Not even a polite word or a note explaining his absence from the Tower. I have been alone in that place, bored and⊠I do not know why I am so surprised, really. He did not pay me any more attention than necessary during our betrothal. I do not know why I thought that would change now that we are married.â
Rhaena shrugs, trying to downplay it, although the bitterness in her chest says otherwise.
âIt is true that the prince is often cold and distant,â Marianne agrees, âBut, Rhaena, he put himself at risk by participating in the tourney so that he could kill Ser Corwyn because he thought he had corrupted you. And before that, he could not stand the idea of ââyou getting close to him. I think that shows that, in some way, he cares about you.â
âDoes he? Or was it just his wounded pride that caused him to act in such way?â
âNo, I do not think so,â she repeats with conviction, âI donât know to what extent, but I know that the prince shares yourâŠâ
âDo not say feelings,â Rhaena cuts her off, sighing, âI do not want to talk about this anymore. Aemond and I are married and Iâd better put my⊠expectations aside. Besides, realistically, no couple is expected to share every night together or get along perfectly, right? Iâd better focus on my responsibility, and for that, I will need your help.â
âTell me then,â Marianne smiles, âWhat do we need to do?â
Rhaena fills her in on her conversation with Alicent, âI will meet with the royal butler tomorrow, he used to help the queen dowager, so now he will assist me and Iâll arrange my new schedule accordingly to my new position.â
âSounds exciting!â Marianne squeals, âDo you think youâll need more ladies in waiting? Because I have a suggestion or two. Oh, and we will definitely have new engagements! That means new dresses and jewelry.â
Probably,â she smiles, feeling further encouraged by her friendâs contagious cheer.
Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of a horn and the distant sound of dogs barking.
âI believe the hunting party has returned.â
âShould we go see them?â Rhaena asks, inwardly hopeful of meeting Aemond.
âThey will probably appreciate your welcome,â Marianne nods.
Rhaena agrees and links her arm with her lady, walking merrily as they discuss how best to handle the commitments they will undertake from now on.
When they reach the courtyard of the Keep they are greeted by the sound of horses, dogs, and two carriages carrying three enormous stags.
Rhaena receives the greetings of the nobles, chatting pleasantly with them and smiling politely.
âWho shed the first blood?â
âThat honor went to Lord Bracken.â
âBut it was I who felled the largest of the stags.â
A voice unfamiliar to Rhaena reaches them. Beside her, Marianne suddenly seems nervous, moving closer to her as she lowers her gaze.
âLord Blackwood,â Rhaena greets when the young lord finally reaches them, âCongratulations on your feat.â
âThank you, Princess,â Blackwood bows before looking to her friend, âLady Westerling.â
âMy lord,â Marianne greets as well, smiling politely.
There is a moment of silence as Rhaena notices Lord Benjicotâs intense gaze on her lady.
âWas the hunt what you expected?â she asks, trying to break the tense moment.
âThe royal woods did the trick, yes,â he nods, âThough the ones at Raventree are rather nicer, if I do say so myself.â
âI suppose we are all biased when it comes to our home.â
Lord Benjicot smiles and, looking away from Marianne, who remains silent, continues the conversation, exchanging the usual pleasantries with Rhaena and even mentioning his grandmother.
âI have tried to convince her to return with me,â he admits, âBut she says her duties as mistress of the castle are over now and that I should find a Lady Blackwood soon if I need one so desperately.â
Rhaena giggles, but she doesnât miss that Marianne is looking increasingly nervous. So, after entertaining the nobles a little more, she makes an excuse for them, and begins the journey back to the Tower with her friend.
âShould I be worried?â
âWhy?â
âBecause you acted very strangely while we were talking to Lord Blackwood,â Rhaena stares at her, âYou seemed⊠I do not know⊠uncomfortable,â Marianne does not deny it, she just sighs and there is a pained look on her face, âWhat is it? Was he unkind to you?â
âQuite the opposite,â there is a moment of hesitation and finally, she adds, âI think he wants to marry me.â
âExcuse me?â Rhaena gasps
Marianne clears her throat, âLord Blackwood has been corresponding with my father, showing interest in me,â she explains, âMy aunt thinks⊠she thinks that if Lord Benjicot were to ask for my hand, it would be a good idea to accept his proposal.â
âBut⊠what about Daeron? Lady Johanna is aware of your feelings for my cousin.â
âShe is, but she thinks choosing Lord Benjicot would be more suitable because we do not have too many relations with that part of the realm andâŠâ she shrugs, âWe were on opposite sides during the war. It would be a way to continue to strengthen ties of peace.â
âThat is totally unacceptable!â her indignation causes her to stop in her tracks, âMy cousin is a Targaryen prince.â
âI know, I know,â Marianne tries to appease her, âIt is not me you have to convince,â she lets out a nervous giggle, âI just wish⊠I hope Prince Daeron really thinks of me as a possible bride, and shows his interest soon. I do not think I can oppose my father if he decides to betroth me to Lord Blackwood.â
âFear not, it wonât come to that,â she assures, âI will not allow it. I am a princess now,â this is the first time she refers to herself by her new title, âWife of the Hand of the King. If I decide that you will stay by my side as my lady-in-waiting, your father wonât be able to refuse. You will stay here with me and of course you will marry Daeron. He is clearly interested,â when Marianne looks at her, honey eyes full of hope, she continues, âHe danced with you several times during the wedding. No gentleman goes to such lengths if he is not courting a lady.â
Marianne does not say anything, simply squeezes her hand and encourages her to continue walking.
***
âThe hunting party has returned, my prince.â
âMmm,â he nods without looking up from the scroll he is reading.
The news of new robberies against the nobles on the Kingsroad, this time closer to the Stormlands, creates a feeling of anxiety within him.
If only Vhagar were able to fly, he thinks as he puts the scroll aside. If his dragon were whole again, he could fly to those lands and ensure that the attacks were nothing more than isolated accidents committed by peasants desperate for gold.
âWhat beasts did they manage to capture?â
âDeer, my prince. And boars.â
Aemond raises his face to the maester, nodding again, âSee that the trophies are delivered to the nobles before the beast meat is distributed among the people of Flea Bottom.â
âMy prince?â the surprise is clear in the manâs voice
âDid you not hear me, maester?â Aemond replies, irritated, âI ordered the deer and boar meat to be distributed throughout the city.â
âYes, yes, of course, as you command,â the man responds quickly
Aemond stands and leaves the room, heading towards the Tower.
The guards greet him and, as he enters his chambers, giggles reach his ears from the small private parlor. Rhaenaâs he manages to identify immediately, the other sounds strange to his ears.
Stopping to try to listen to what they are saying, he debates whether or not he should get closer so he can discover who is accompanying his wife. The past few days he has managed to get in and out of the Tower without running into her, determined as he is to remain steadfast in his resolve to avoid her as much as possible. But nowâŠ
The laughter resumes and he falters at the melodic sound. Closing the distance to the small hall, he enters unannounced, watching his wife and her lady-in-waiting sorting through the contents of several chests.
There is a moment of silence as both women watch him, clearly in awe, until Lady Westerling clears her throat and curtsies.
âMy prince.â
Aemond takes a few steps further into the room, âWhat is all this?â
His good eye is trained on Rhaena, who raises her eyebrows in his direction, her face denoting a mix of indifference or disdain.
âThese are my belongings,â she explains finally, âI am arranging them in my new hall.â
Aemond nods. Silence falls over the room again. He and Rhaena stare at each other for a moment before she takes a book from the chest and places it on one of the rows of shelves.
âI was helping my lady,â Marianne interjects, âBut it is getting dark now, so I should better get back to my chambers.â
âNo need, you could âŠâ
âGood idea, Lady Westerling,â Aemond interrupts.
Rhaena rolls her eyes and purses her lips, though she does not protest. Westerling bows goodbye to her, whispering words he canât understand from the distance.
Aemond looks around. The room isnât too different from the ones he uses, and yet this room feels more homely to him than the dreary surroundings he lives in. Probably, he thinks, because of the splashes of color from the flowers Rhaena has surely arranged. Or the tray of steaming tea and cakes served on the table.
The prince turns his study back to Rhaena, who picks up another book and reaches out to put it back in its place. A grimace of pain appears on her face as she does so.
âAre you hurt?â he asks, frowning.
âIt is just a passing ache,â she replies, shaking her head.
She does not elaborate further and basically ignores him as she continues with her work, the mask of indifference still painted on her face. Aemond begins to grow impatient as the silence lengthens, and he drums his fingers on the surface of the small table louder and louder.
Another minute passes until Rhaena sighs and speaks, âIt is Morning. She continues to curl around my shoulders, only she is not as light as before.â
âMmm,â Aemond takes a few steps towards his wife, âThe Tower is no place for your dragon, she will grow larger andâŠâ
âI know your position on the matter,â she cuts him off, her violet eyes suddenly serious, âI will not send her to the dragon pit. At least not yet.â
âMmm.â
Rhaena slams the book she has been examining shut and faces him, âStop making those sounds and just say what you want to say!â
Her anger amuses him. Aemond smirks and pulls a book out of the chest. âThese are in High Valyrian,â he observes.
âMost were purchased in Pentos,â she explains, taking it from his hands and placing it on the shelf.
Aemond stares at her. He has never heard her speak High Valyrian, not even to her dragon. He wonders what her voice sounds like when speaking her native tongue.
âAre you listening to me?â
His wifeâs voice brings him out of his reverie, âNo, what were you saying?â
Rhaena rolls her eyes again, âI said there is a matter I wish to speak to you about.â
âI hear you.â
âIt is about Daeron,â she begins.
Aemond raises his eyebrows at her, âWhat about him?â
âWell,â his wife looks down for a moment and frowns, clearly considering how to continue, âIs about him and Marianne.â
The subject seems to make her somewhat self-conscious, because she fiddles with her rings, as if she doesnât know how to continue. Aemond remains silent, although he has an idea of ââwhere Rhaena is going with this. Finally, and after long seconds of silence, she sighs and faces him.
âLast time you told me that your brother seemed to like the idea of ââmarrying Marianne.â
âIndeed.â
âAnd that is why I thought he would soon speak to my friend about the matter, but he hasnât yet. I know you said that the king had toâŠâ
âThe king approved the idea,â he cuts her off, âYour lady-in-waiting can marry Daeron.â
âThat is good to know,â the corners of Rhaenaâs lips lift in a small smile.
âIs that what you wanted to ask me about?â
âNo, not exactly,â she denies and bites her lip nervously. Aemondâs good eye flicks to her mouth at the gesture and a sudden urge to lift his hand and free the lip from the prison of his teeth surges through him, but he suppresses the desire and folds his hands behind his back. âI wanted to know if there was anything you could do to speed up the betrothal.â
âWhy would I? Those matters are not of my concern.â
His voice sounds sharper than he intends and Rhaenaâs face takes on a look of dismay, her eyes suddenly bright.
âYes, of course, I understand.â
Aemond, expecting more insistence from her, is surprised when she simply accepts his answer and continues with her work. A feeling of guilt and bitterness rises in his chest at her lack of usual vehemence.
âWhy would you want me to intervene in the matter?â
âNothing, really,â she answers quickly and shrugs.
Aemond grimaces, annoyed by her words and annoyed because he wants to know the real reason for her request. And, especially, annoyed that he feels affected by having brought her to the verge of tears.
The voice inside him, the one that has guided him the last few days and that advises him to stay away from Rhaena as much as possible, tells him to simply accept her words and leave her alone in her chambers.
But he cannot do it.
âI want to hear your reasons,â when she doesnât respond, he steps closer to the girl and places his hand on her chin, turning her face towards him, âRhaena,â her name sounds almost like a warning.
âI do not want to lose my best friend,â she finally admits
Aemond frowns, âWhy would you lose her?â
âBecause her father is going to marry her off and send her away if she does not have a marriage proposal that will keep her here in the capital,â her voice breaks and, without thinking much, Aemond moves his hand to her cheek, gently caressing his thumb along her jaw. Rhaena tilts her face, leaning into his touch, closing her eyes for a moment. When her lips brush the inside of his palm, an electrifying sensation runs through his entire body, so she breaks contact instantly, and crosses his hands behind his back once again.
Aemond clears his throat before speaking and looks away from Rhaenaâs already wide eyes and flushed expression, "Why are you afraid of that just now?"
âLord Benjicot has been sending letters to Marianneâs father.â
âBlackwood?â Rhaena nods, âDo you think he is interested in marrying your lady?â
âYes. And surely Lord Westerling will accept his proposal if no other that would outdo her comes along.â
âMmm,â the prince mulls on her words, âHis affront at the tournament was not enough for him, apparently. Now he wishes to marry the lady my brother showed interest in.â
âWell yes, but this goes beyondâŠâ
âI know,â he nods, suddenly annoyed, âWe must remind the noble houses of the Crownâs influence. Aegon and I will speak to our brother to have him do his duty as soon as possible and take your lady as his wife.â
Rhaena frowns, âDaeron agrees, though? You said he was open to the idea. Do you think⊠do you think he actually likes Marianne?â
Aemond raises his eyebrows, âDoes it really matter?â
Rhaena opens her mouth to respond, but he cuts her off.
âMy brother will make a fine husband for your lady. And she is everything one would expect from a future wife of a Targaryen prince. You should not be concerned about the rest.â
Rhaena nods slowly, âI suppose you are right.â His wife offers him a half-smile before continuing, âThank you, Aemond. I know I should not ask you, but I would not want to lose Marianne.â
âYou wonât,â he assures her.
âShe is the only true friend I have here,â she continues, âHer company has made life in the capital much more bearable. The Keep, and especially this Tower, can be very lonely and sadâ
Rhaena meets his gaze as she says this, her expression filled with reproach. Reproach towards him or towards their situation? Aemond swallows and shakes his head. Is this her way of telling him that she desires his company? That she⊠misses him?
No.
No.
Surely it has nothing to do with that.
âOf course,â he says simply, âBut you do not have to worry about it anymore.â Rhaena seems to want to say something more, but he turns his back on her, âItâs been a long day. Best leave that to the servants and get some rest.â
Without waiting for a reply, he strides across the room and closes the door behind him, needing to keep his distance to continue his resolve to get away from Rhaena.
Summary: People would remember their story. Even decades after they were gone, Septaâs would tell young children about the one-eyed dragon prince and his sweet wife as if they were a part of a fairytale, too good to be true for the harshness real life possessed.
Aemond meets a young girl who quickly becomes his most cherished friend and changes the course of history.
Word count: 11.5 K
Warnings: Fluffy, Aemond finally makes a friend, characters will be aged up next chapter, reader is from a made-up house
AN: This is my first time writing for HOTD and I'm excited and terrified to share this story with you. I've had this idea in my head for so long and decided to finally get it out. Hope you enjoy xx
Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Epilogue
~~
He was used to playing for second best.
In his short life he became used to disinterested gazes, murmurs of his supposed cold heart and fits of rage, avoidant steps when he passed, the curse he possessed as the scarred second son.Â
But never from her.
She looked at him as though he put the stars in the sky. She looked at him as if he was the reason the sky bloomed with breathtaking colors in the early morning.
He felt himself unworthy of her attention and affection, something she was aware of, and she would hold him and tell him all the love she gave him was very much deserved.
It was a sentiment he always had trouble not disputing instantly.Â
She made his miserable heart full.Â
Aemond couldnât believe his luck himself for the sun that entered his world and brightened his life.Â
He never believed he was worthy of her love.Â
And she spent her entire life trying to prove him wrong.
~~
It was a beautiful, sunny, cloudless day.
A day Aemond was dreading.Â
It wasnât often their family made trips away from Kingâs Landing. His father was King and most visitors made the effort to come to the Capitol and spare them the effort of a visit, but a sudden trip had their entire family uproot their usual routine and he found himself hating every moment of it.Â
Being dragonless, he was left to endure the crashing waves of the sea that made his stomach turn.Â
âThis place is disgusting.â Aegon said the moment they landed on solid ground.Â
âAegon.â His mother admonished with a steady glare. âThe Ixtal Islands are a beautiful place and theyâre home to one of the most powerful houses in the seven kingdoms. You would do well to show them some respect.â
âNot like theyâll offer me anything of importance.â He muttered bitterly. Rumors had spread of his mother and fatherâs desire to wed him to his sister Heleana, his future already planned for him.
His mood was immediately soured at the realization that none of the beauties he saw on the Island shore were his intended, but that wouldnât stop him from having his fun.Â
âWhy are we even here?â Aegon whined immaturely, making his mother suppress yet another eye roll in response.
âThe Lord of Ixtal is an old friend of your father.â
âI still donât understand why that demands my presence here.â Aegon rolled his eyes.
âOur council is in need of a new Master of Coin and your father is considering his dear friend. We are here for negotiations and our family is nothing if not loyal. Your father, our King, needs us.â Alicent answered shortly.Â
Aemond was excited to finally see the Island he had read so much about. He knew their history, their riches and goods they traded with the entirety of the realm. The Ixtal Islands were the most plentiful and prosperous house in the realm and he was in awe to see his readings come to life before him.
It was the socialization he dreaded.Â
Nobles would look at Aegon with respect, respect he didnât deserve even being the first born son of the King. Helaena would be regarded with reverence, a comparison to the Realmâs Delight.Â
But he was nothing more than a second son, easily brushed over.
Daeron was still just a babe, too young to understand the slight they possessed not having been born first, but Aemond understood all too well.Â
Their family was escorted into a grand throne room and Aemond was in awe of the intricate ornaments that decorated the hall and he briefly wondered why Kingâs Landing was where the most powerful man in the realm sat when this place existed.
His wide eyes eagerly took in every sight in front of him, admiring how the vast forest behind the castle casted a mystical green glow on the room from the giant window sitting behind the intricate gold throne.Â
âViserys!â A cheerful voice called and for the first time in a long time, Aemond heard his father laugh, a genuinely delighted sound as he embraced his friend.
Aegon shared a brief look with him, his shock at hearing his father's laughter clear in the way he furrowed his brows in bitterness.
âItâs been too long, my friend.âÂ
âAlicent, always a delight to see you, my dear.âÂ
Aemond noted the blush on his motherâs cheeks as the charming lord embraced her. He shifted on his feet as his siblings were introduced. He knew what came next, the flippant dismissal was familiar yet it stung each time.Â
He looked up as the Lord shook hands with Aegon and gave Helaena a polite nod, her body language giving him the signal she wasnât comfortable with anything else.Â
As he stepped in front of Aemond, he suddenly felt two feet tall under the manâs gaze. Until he smiled. It was a gesture filled with warmth he hadnât been expecting.
âAemond, a strong name for a strong lad.â The lord clapped his shoulder and Aemond felt his body straighten, his confidence reappearing the second he realized he wasnât going to be passed over yet again.
He looked up at the Lord with a smile, feeling more respected by the stranger in front of him than he ever had from his own father.
âYou remember my wife,â The Lord gestured to a finely dressed woman who smiled and bowed to them courteously.Â
âMy son and-â The lord stopped abruptly, suddenly noticing the absence of the person who was supposed to be next in line and looked to his wife who was already wincing, having expected the abrupt drop in conversation due to their eldest daughterâs absence.
âMy apologies, my daughter has lived here all her life yet still feels the need to explore.â The Lady of Ixtal explained, the lack of anger in her voice that gave way to begrudging acceptance made it obvious this was a common occurrence.
Viserys laughed and looked at his friend.Â
âYou could not possibly think your children would give you any trouble, would you?â He chided sarcastically to the Lord who could only laugh in delight at his beloved daughterâs antics.Â
Aemond watched the interaction with wide eyes, intrigued by the sense of ease that surrounded everything.Â
If they were in Kingâs Landing and he was late to an event, his mother would have his hyde.
Suddenly, the great doors slammed open and an armored knight was seen running into the room, his hand latched onto someone small who was giggling in delight.
âMy Lord, My Lady, I am so sorry, she wanted-â
âItâs quite alright, Ser Jerrod. I know my daughter could not have made it easy for you.â The Lord dismissed the unnecessary apology and smiled down at his daughter who smiled somewhat sheepishly as she passed by to take her place in line.Â
She smoothed her hands down the front of her silk dress and stood straighter, putting on the air of the perfect and primed daughter, as if they hadnât all just seen her enter in a tizzy five minutes late.
Her mother looked down at her and leaned over her brotherâs shoulder to pluck a leaf from her disheveled hair. Her eyes widened slightly, fearing retribution for her antics, but her mother only raised a teasing brow, silently admonishing her.Â
The girl brushed her messy hair off her shoulder and finally moved her gaze to their guests, a smile coming to her face as she met the eyes of the silver haired boy in front of her.
Aemond was rooted to his spot, his expression one of perplexed confusion. The smile she sent him, the gesture which was so simple - and usually faked by most at court - was blinding.Â
He was taken aback by the fact that she hadnât looked at the powerful presence that was the King or the Queen faithfully at his side. She hadnât looked at Aegon, Daeron or even Helaena, the only girl close to her age in the room.Â
She looked at him first.Â
She smiled at him first.
It was a gesture that wouldnât mean much to anyone else, but to him, it meant everything, it lifted the veil of neglect he was so familiar with from his shoulders, leaving him to feel lighter than before.
He listened as the Lord introduced his daughter and he ran her name over and over in his head, feeling his cheeks heat, a blush easily coming to his face as she greeted everyone, but her stare came back to him, smiling shyly.
~~
âThis place is beautiful.â Helaena spoke dreamily as she took in their surroundings.Â
They were granted leave to look around while the servants prepared to set up the welcome feast.Â
Aemond couldn't take his eyes off the white sand and the crystal blue water. He breathed deeply, relieved to smell nothing but fresh flowers and ocean water and not the filth that permeated Kingâs Landing.
âFather should take over this place.â Aegon mused, earning looks of disdain from his siblings, which he easily shrugged off. âWhat? Itâs much better than our shithole of a home.âÂ
Aemond rolled his eyes at his brotherâs crass nature and kept walking, praying Aegon would somehow get lost or at least get bored of his company and leave.Â
The sound of a loud laugh caught all of their attention and they walked their way through the lavish gardens to find it. Aemond suddenly became nervous as he saw the children of the Lord and Lady of Ixtal.Â
The oldest son was playing some sort of ball game with his younger brother. The youngest sibling was reading quietly with her Septa. But the eldest daughter was nowhere to be found.Â
As they stepped forward, the youngest son straightened and nudged his brother to stop. Catching sight of the young Targaryen princes and princess they let the ball they were playing with drop to the ground as they bowed respectfully.Â
âHello.â Helaena spoke brightly and the two young boys were helpless against her sweet nature and they both smiled and greeted her warmly.
âWhereâs the other one?â Aegon asked rudely, looking around for the pretty girl from earlier who was missing.Â
Aemond grit his teeth, praying Aegon wouldnât drive her away before he even had the chance to speak to her.
âSheâs in her tree.â
âHer tree?âÂ
The oldest brother pointed to the enormous willow tree behind them.Â
He called out to his sister, alerting her to the presence of the royal children and just seconds later, Aemond watched with a slowly growing smile as a lithe form began to descend the ancient tree.Â
She was slightly out of breath as she jumped the last few feet to the ground, brushing her already tangled hair out of her face as she practically skipped towards them.
As if her Septaâs teachings and her motherâs scolding from that morning had finally caught up to her, the smile on her face fell slightly, remembering she was in the presence of royalty. She slowed her pace and curtsied slightly clumsily as she came before them.Â
âIt is lovely to see you all again. I hope you are enjoying Ixtal.â
Aemond felt his face heat with a deep blush at the sound of her voice, the slight accent he heard capturing him instantly and he wished nothing more than to take the book from her young sisterâs hands and demand she read it to him just so he could continue to hear the beautiful sound of her voice.Â
âYour home is lovely. Iâve never seen anything like it.â Helaena spoke, breaking him from his thoughts. She moved towards the girl, the two of them engaging in easy conversation.Â
Aegon began speaking with the two brothers, learning the rules to the ball game they were playing, the young boys instantly getting along. Which left Aemond to stand by himself.Â
He shifted on his feet anxiously, contemplating if he should leave and find his mother. Heâd at least have someone to talk to then. The pit in his stomach that grew as the familiar feeling of loneliness settled over him broke abruptly at the sound of the beautiful voice again.
âWould you like to sit?â
He looked up, his eyes meeting hers and for a moment, he wondered if she had actually been speaking to him. His gaze found Helaena who was now kneeling to talk to the youngest of the children who was mesmerized by her lavish dress.
Which left the oldest daughter alone and her gaze on him.Â
He swallowed against the lump in his throat and stepped forward slowly, his heart racing as he took a seat on the bench next to her.Â
âWhat are you writing?â He asked after clearing his throat, wincing to himself at the nerves that lingered in his words.Â
âDrawing actually.â She corrected. âAnd not very well by the looks of it.â She shifted closer to him to show him the sketches in her notebook, the scent of lavender invading every one of his senses as her shoulder brushed against his.
His eyes looked over the shaky drawings of flowers and the willow tree she had been sitting in just moments ago.Â
âTheyâre beautiful.â
She smiled and the sight was enough to leave Aemond thankful that he was sitting.Â
âDo you draw?â
âNo, nowhere near as well as you.â
âYou must be shit then because these are awful.â
Aemond choked on his breath at her words, his wide eyes looking over at her in shock. She had a carelessness to her that he thought he wouldâve found arrogant, it was certainly how he felt about the other ladies at court who were so brazen before him.Â
But he found he could only feel enamored by the girl beside him.Â
A quiet laugh escaped him, his stomach flipping in ways he had never felt before.Â
âTheyâre not so bad.â He spoke quietly, his nerves reverting him to his bashful nature.Â
âYouâre quite the flatterer, Aemond.â
No words came to him, he was left to stare back at her, completely taken aback by her easy nature and blinding smile.Â
She continued to show him her other sketches, the conversation between them flowing easily, something that Aemond had never experienced.Â
Later, as their guards escorted them away to prepare for the feast, Aemondâs ears rang with the sound of her laughter, leaving him to hope he would hear it again before he had to leave.Â
He spent the night with a smile on his face, behaving more animatedly than he had in all his life. Alicent had looked at her second son with barely contained emotion, delighted to see him so at ease.Â
She was so caught up in her emotions, she hadnât even noticed how his eyes never strayed too far from the eldest daughter of Ixtal.Â
~~
The mischievous island girl was known to walk around the halls of the castle at all hours. It had happened so often for so long the guards didnât bother to stop her anymore and no one batted an eye when they saw her wandering.Â
She made her way to her parents chamber hours after she had been put to bed.Â
She couldnât stop the thought in her head and she had to see it through.Â
With a smile to the guard at her parentâs door, she strolled in as if it were her own chamber. Her parents looked startled for all of a second before they sighed in resignation.Â
âShouldnât you be in bed, Darling?â
âI was.âÂ
Her father huffed out a laugh. âSo what brings you here, Troublemaker?â
She let out a breath, her shoulders straightening, as if portraying herself as proper would help her cause.Â
âI want to go with you to Kingâs Landing.â
Her request did not go over as easily as she wished, she spent the next hour arguing with her parents, pleading her case. She may have overstated how much her decision to learn more about court, but her parents did not need to know her desire lay purely with her need to explore what the Capitol could offer.Â
Her parents knew she loved to explore and the chance to see a new part of the realm was too tempting to not indulge her in. Her parents loved her more than anything, they loved and doted on all their children in ways that left Lords and Ladies from other houses to scoff and roll their eyes in disdain.Â
They couldnât say no to her.Â
By the next morning, she stood at her fatherâs side as their ship sailed to Kingâs Landing, her arm linked through his, her head filled with the wonders of what this new place would have to offer.Â
A smile grew on her lips as she pictured the shy boy who had complimented her drawings and her excitement began to grow.Â
~~
She was more reserved than she had ever been as she sat beside the table of royals. King Viserys had planned an extravagant welcome feast for the Lord of Ixtal, his new Master of Coin and his daughter to welcome them to Kingâs Landing.Â
She had never experienced so many Lords and Ladies approaching her before, giving her their hand to shake and curtsey before them in greeting. It felt as though she had never truly existed until she made it to the Capitol, where the matters of the court actually held weight and prospect.
Her father had regaled many a knight and Lord over the course of the night, leaving her by his side to sit quietly, the overlooked daughter. She knew the power her house held, she knew the reason most Lords gave their good fortune to her father was to ensure their trade routes would continue prosperously. She knew she was nothing more than fodder at her fatherâs side.
She picked at her food unhappily, contemplating her decision to venture so far from her home, so far from what was comfortable. Her eyes rose from her plate, surveying the large throne room before her, catching sight of her father in talks with a large group of Lords from around the realm.Â
With a heavy sigh, knowing she couldnât interrupt her father, her eyes moved to the head table where the Targaryen family sat.Â
The head seat where the King sat was empty, he was busy at her fatherâs side. She let her eyes roam over the queen, taking in her quiet servitude and demure presence. Her gaze fell to the heir, Princess Rhaenyra sat with her husband Laenor Valaryon, her brows quickly rising at the sight of the brown haired children sat beside the silver-headed wedded pair.Â
Her eyes fell to Queen Alicentâs children, a small smile growing as she caught the gaze of Princess Helaena, the quiet girl sparing her a wave to which she eagerly reciprocated.Â
She was never one to fade into the background and she eagerly took the Princessâ gesture as a sign of goodwill, standing from her seat to make her way to the head table.Â
Helaena beamed at the girl as she approached, oblivious to her elder brotherâs lustful intrigue and her younger brother who sat up straighter as the girl approached.Â
âHello, my Lady, I hope Kingâs Landing is treating you well.â Helaena greeted the girl happily.Â
âIt is lovely, Princess. I am sincerely grateful to your father for allowing myself and my father to reside in your home.â
âWe are delighted to have you.â Helaena assured her. She fidgeted with her hands for a moment, her face turning bashful for a moment. âThe ladies of the court will be gathering tomorrow, you should join.â
âIâd love to.â She responded eagerly, relieved to know her newfound solitude would not be long held.Â
âYou should join us for breakfast as well. I can show you my collection.â Helaena added excitedly.Â
âBy the Gods, Helaena.â Aegon groaned beside her.Â
âCollection?â She asked, staunchly ignoring the prince sitting next to the blushing princess.
âMy insects. Iâve collected quite a beautiful group of them. Iâd love to show you.â
Helaena had a lovely innocence to her she was powerless against.Â
âIâd be delighted to see them.â She told the princess sincerely, hoping she had found a friend in the eccentric girl. âIâve also heard wonderful things about your library. Iâm eager to read the works about Valryian history and the Targaryen dynasty. There are only rumors where I come from.â
Aemond sat forward in his seat, his eagerness to interject himself finally coming to a head.
âI can show you to the library.â Aemond offered, finally making his presence known.Â
âOh, I wouldnât want to take you from your duties.â
âYou wonât.â He insisted, positive his face was blooming with a pink blush as her attention now lay on him. âThere are many books that have not been translated, I would be happy to read them to you.â
He seemed to melt under her gaze that watched him curiously.Â
âYou would do that?â
âOf course.â He insisted.
âThat would be wonderful.âÂ
He was thankful he was sitting because her smile would have knocked him off his feet.Â
By the next morning, as soon as the sun rose, he was sitting in the library, anxiously anticipating her arrival. He didnât have to wait long until the door creaked open and her eager eyes took in the vast shelves around her.Â
She greeted him with happiness as if they were long time friends, causing his stomach to flutter in ways he had never felt before.Â
âThis is incredible.â She mused, eyeing the many books she had to indulge in.
They spent the afternoon together, her at his side as he read the Valryian texts of their history, stopping every few minutes to answer the many intrigued questions she had.Â
Aemond was sure his face was on fire, he had never blushed so hard. No one had ever taken such an interest in him, no one had ever paid so much attention to him, no one had ever bothered to listen to him.
But here she was, this girl at his side, eager to know more, asking question after question, trusting him to give her the answer. As soon as he began to fear he had spoken too much, taken too much of her time sheâd drawl out âtell me moreâ or âwhat happened nextâ and he was rooted to his seat, turning to the next page as he explained the history of the Targaryen dynasty to her eager ears.Â
He had never felt so important.Â
~~
Kingâs Landing proved to be just as wondrous as she dreamed it. Granted, it didnât have the luxurious beaches or sprawling forests her home did, but she was just thrilled to be exploring a new corner of the world.
Aemond had quickly become her closest ally. He had taken to showing her every inch of the place he thought she would enjoy, dragging her along to the mazes of gardens, the weirwood tree, the luxurious Sept, but her favorite had to be the library. She had spent many late nights with Aemond at her side, perusing through the many ancient works of Valyrian history.Â
It fascinated her, but she couldnât deny she loved to hear Aemondâs voice as he read to her, enthralled with stories of Aegon the Conqueror and his two sister-wives, stories of ancient dragons and their riders, of wars long passed.
A week into their stay, as she broke her fast with her father, she was practically bouncing in her seat, shoveling her food into her mouth as quickly as she could, eager to get the meal over with so she could meet with Aemond and Helaena, the two of them quickly becoming her closest confidants. Â
âSlow down, my love, youâre going to choke.â Her father warned with a chuckle at her enthusiasm.Â
âSorry.â She mumbled through the food in her mouth, causing her father to grimace at her very unlady-like behavior.Â
âYour eagerness wouldnât have anything to do with a certain Targaryen, would it?â He asked slowly, his knowing smile teasing her clear affection for the young boy she was growing closer to each day.Â
âHelaena and I are good friends.â She shrugged, effectively dodging her fatherâs prying. He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat, watching her thoughtfully. He had no idea where she had gained such a witty mouth, it certainly wasnât from him or his sweet, quiet wife.Â
She finished the rest of her breakfast at record speed and hopped out of her seat, pressing a quick kiss to her fatherâs cheek.
âIâll see you at dinner!â She called out over her shoulder as she skipped to the door.Â
âBe safe!â He called out, but she was already racing down the halls. He looked to the guard at the door pointedly who nodded and trailed after the rambunctious girl.Â
She slowed her pace once she reached the courtyard, suddenly very aware of the many eyes that would be on her if she was caught sprinting through the halls. She spotted a head of silver hair by the gates and she beamed, throwing all care out the window as she began to jog towards him.
âAemond!â She called out and watched as the boy turned to her, his own smile growing at the sight of her.Â
âTook you long enough.â He jested playfully and reveled in the dramatic scowl she sent him.Â
âIâm not late. You are just an insane man that voluntarily wakes with the sun.âÂ
It was so small, something so miniscule, but it still managed to make his heart race. Knowing she remembered a small detail about him, no matter if it was something that was so inconsequential, was something he couldnât wrap his head around.
He hadnât expected it to affect him the way it did.
~~~
She found herself with Helaena in the gardens, finding any bugs she could for the enigmatic
princess. Digging a jittery bug out of the dirt, her nose scrunched in distaste as the many legged creature crawled over her hand.
âWhat is this thing?â
Helaena peered over curiously and a wide smile beamed on her face.
âThatâs a beetle.â
âTheyâre not poisonous, are they?â
The princess laughed in amusement at the widened eyes that met her gaze and she shook her head. âNo, youâre safe.â
The girl nodded and, though still on edge, was less stressed as she held the bug in her hands.Â
Helaena, preoccupied with her own bugs, stole frequent looks at the girl next to her, noting the unease in her eyes. She smiled lightly and leaned in close to her.
âYou donât have to do this with me. I know not everyone likes the things I like. I can do this by myself.â
The girl looked startled by her words, a frown growing on her usually bright features and she looked down at the bug in her hands again, her eyes shifting from a look of disgust to one of determination, as if she could force herself to not feel grossed out at their existence.
âI like being here with you.â She said softly. âI donât really have anyone else here.â
Helaena frowned, the thought of her brother immediately coming to mind and the smile that would grace his usually sullen face every time he was with the Island girl. As if she had conjured him herself, she looked over her shoulder, noticing him coming their way.
âHello, Brother.â She smiled, though it was futile as his attention was locked onto the beauty beside her.
âHello.â He spoke, though his eyes never left his sisterâs friend. âWhat are you doing?â
âFinding bugs. Would you like to join?â
Helaena, having expected a ânoâ, given it was always Aemondâs answer anytime she asked him for help digging through the gardens, was shocked as he took a seat among them and dug his hands in the dirt before them without question.
The Princess watched with barely contained delight as her brother and friend immediately started conversing as if she werenât there, the comfortable ease between them thriving.Â
Usually she would feel slighted by such an occurrence, but rather than feeling ignored, she was happy to see her brother, who was usually so serious, look completely unburdened. She worried about him, about how tightly wound he was, but since the Lord of Ixtal and his daughter had come to Kingâs Landing, she had noticed his demeanor change, as if he could finally take a deep breath and release the things that so often held him down.
Aemond looked at the dirt beneath his fingernails and mourned at what his night routine would be subjected to, but he found he didnât care all that much. The stolen glances to the girl beside him had all sense of propriety out the window.Â
âDo you do this every day, Princess?â She asked the Targaryen who shrugged shyly.
âMost days. I find I prefer the company of bugs over people.â
The bark of laughter that left her had both the siblings smiling, her joyful nature contagious.Â
Aemond was transfixed, until he heard his name and he was forced out of his daydreams. He looked up at Aegon who was standing before them, judgment painting his features.
âWhat are you doing here?â
âWeâre digging for bugs, Brother.â Helaena answered innocently, her eyes thankfully locked onto the caterpillar on her finger so she didnât see how her brother rolled his eyes in disdain.
Aemond glowered at his brother, his mood dampened, his protectiveness for his sister rising involuntarily whenever he was around. He hated seeing Helaenaâs eyes dim with every one of his hurtful words.
The Island girl looked between the siblings, beginning to understand just how different they were to her and her own siblings. The more time she spent with Aegon, the more she disliked him. She looked back at Aemond and frowned, noticing the dower expression grow on her friendâs face, and she called his name.Â
âHmm?â
âWhat are these?â She asked, her dirt covered fingers trailing over the petals of the flowers in front of them, diverting his attention from Aegon.
âMarigolds.â He answered quickly, as if he wanted her to be impressed by his knowledge. âYou donât have these in Ixtal?â
âNo. Itâs a shame, theyâre beautiful.â
Aemond bit his lip, his heart racing as she moved back to digging for bugs. He ignored the nerves that coursed through him and reached out to pluck the flower.Â
âHere.â
She looked up and her eyes widened, her cheeks burning as he tucked the flower behind her ear, his shy smile mirroring hers, his hesitance clear, but his bravery clearer.
Aegon scoffed, rolling his eyes at the pair.Â
The noise caused them both to glare at the older Targaryen, their eyes narrowed in annoyance.Â
âYou two are pathetic.â
âItâs not our fault your pea sized brain cannot comprehend the idea of caring for someone other than yourself.â She snarked easily, making Aemondâs eyes widen as he nervously looked between her and his brother whose face twisted in anger.
Thankfully, his brother was smart enough to know not to start a fight with her and he stomped away, most likely in search of more wine.
âYou shouldnât do that.â Aemond mumbled, his worried eyes lingering on his brotherâs figure as he stormed off.
âDo what?â
âAntagonize him.âÂ
âSomeone needs to knock him off his high horse. Why canât it be me?â She shrugged, perfectly content to be the antagonist in Aegon Targaryenâs life.
âBecause I donât want anything to happen to you.â
âWhy would anything happen to me?â
âBecause⊠heâs⊠itâs Aegon.â He stressed, as if his brotherâs existence was enough explanation.
âYes, and heâs an absolute cock.â
Aemondâs eyes widened, not expecting the vulgar word to leave her lips. Helaena giggled and leaned into the girl at her side. His shoulders slumped and he allowed himself to laugh, amazed yet not surprised at her ability to evade him of his worries.Â
~~
A body crashed into her as she turned the corner, almost knocking her off balance, but arms that quickly wrapped around her waist stopped her from falling to the floor.Â
She recognized the boy immediately.Â
âAemond.â She greeted breathlessly with a smile. He pulled away from her instantly, taking a step back to create space between them, his head bowed downwards, avoiding her gaze.Â
But she saw the tear streaks through the stains of ash on his cheeks. Her smile fell and she stepped towards him, her hands gently lifting his chin, though he vehemently refused and harshly pulled himself away from her.Â
âWhat happened?â She asked, trying to keep the hurt from her voice at his avoidance, something she had never experienced from him.
âNothing.â
âAemond.â She admonished gently. She hated when he acted like this, so unlike the kind boy she knew.Â
He kept his head down and she sighed heavily, crossing her arms over her chest.Â
âI wonât leave you alone until you tell me what happened.âÂ
Aemond huffed and side stepped around her to continue on his way to lock himself in his chambers and wallow, but she was too quick. She grabbed his hand to stop him and pulled him back towards her.Â
He spoke her name, the groaned pronunciation indicating he wasnât in the mood.Â
âI just want to go to my chambers.â
âFine. We can go together.â She said simply and linked her arm through his as they began to walk.
Aemond let out a long breath, his annoyance flaring for a second, but the moment he looked over at her it faded away into nothing. He brought his arm that was linked with hers closer to his chest, as if needing her touch to soothe his nerves.Â
He thought he wanted to be alone. After his mother had brushed off his tears and scolded him yet again for venturing through the dragon pit, he just wanted to wallow by himself, but with her arm in his, her steady presence at his side, he found he wanted nothing but to be with her.
Once they made it to his chambers, he reluctantly let go of her and practically slumped his way to sit on his bed, his head bowed down to his feet, his brother and nephews' latest prank ruminating in his head, causing shame and anger to cascade over every inch of him.Â
âAre you going to tell me what happened now or am I going to have to force it out of you?â
Aemond huffed at her words and began to fidget with his fingers, focusing on the sand that lingered on his skin rather than meeting her inquisitive gaze.Â
She rolled her eyes and moved to sit next to him on the bed, brushing the sand from his hair.Â
âWere you in the dragon pit again?â
He nodded wordlessly and she felt something inside her clench. She would never understand the hole in Aemondâs heart, how his lack of a dragon made him feel so worthless.Â
âThey said they found a dragon for me.â He mumbled, causing her to look over at him with concern, her stomach sinking at the hurt she heard in his voice, knowing his dreams hadnât come true that afternoon.Â
She knew it could only be a cruel prank at his expense.Â
âThey gave me a pig.â
Her shoulders slumped, her hand reaching out to grab his, intertwining their fingers with an ease as though she had done it a million times before. She had only held his hand a few times and it made Aemond blush bright red every time, even now as he wallowed.Â
âIâm sorry. They shouldnât be so cruel to you.â
âTheyâre right. Itâs pathetic, a Targaryen without a dragon.â
âAemond-â
âMaybe Iâm not worthy and Iâll never get a dragon, maybe thatâs why my egg never hatched. I donât deserve it.â
âStop it.â She spoke sternly, gripping onto both his hands in an effort to calm him down from his ranting. âYou are every bit as good as any one of them, dragon or no dragon.â
Aemond sighed shakily and moved his gaze back down to his shoes, feeling as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.Â
âWhat if I never find one?â He asked quietly, as if afraid to speak the possibility out into existence.Â
âYou will. I know you will.â She assured him, though it did little to release him from his sadness. âThere are plenty of Targaryens that didnât claim dragons until later in life.â
Aemond gave her a plain look, to which she just smirked. Serves him right for teaching her about his family history.Â
âAemond, weâre young, we still have so much life to live. Itâs not over because you donât have a dragon yet. You have so much time to find what youâve always wanted.â
The breath that escaped his lips left him feeling lighter, his hand finally gripping hers back, sending a bashful smile her way, hoping it was enough to convey how grateful he was for her.Â
He didnât think he could ever find the words to tell her.Â
âYouâd be with me, wonât you? For my first ride?â
âYou would want me there?â
âOf course I would.âÂ
She smiled and he was powerless but to return his own. âThen Iâll be there.â
~~
Aemondâs glare was steady on his face, his eyes locked onto the Strong bastard that twirled her around.Â
How dare he ask her to dance, how dare he touch her, how dare he make her smile.
His disdain for his nephews was clear, they certainly didnât give him much reason to be cordial, but this was the last straw. Seeing Jacaerysâ hands on her made his blood boil.Â
Those damned nephews of his had already stolen her away from his side that afternoon. He could only watch helplessly as she played around with the bastards and spoke politely to his half sister Rhaenyra.Â
He almost resented how sweet his friend was. He loved her kind heart, he just hated when it extended to his elder half sister and her sons who he despised.Â
He hated when Jacaerys and Lucerys stole her away from his side. It was happening more and more as they became closer. He felt like he was losing her, the more times she spent breaking her fast with his eldest sister and her brood, the more he dreaded every moment away from her.Â
She was his only friend, the only one he felt truly understood him, or at least made the effort to. Losing her would mean losing the only shred of happiness heâd managed to find for himself.Â
He averted his gaze from Jace and the Ixtal girl, the sight of both their bright smiles becoming too painful.
âThey seem to get along well.â His father mused, prompting Aemond to torturously follow his gaze to the pair yet again.Â
His heart began to race at the insinuation, at the knowing look in his fatherâs twinkling eyes.Â
âYes, he seems to be quite taken with her.â Rhaenyra noted with a loving smile.Â
âTheyâd make a fine match.â His mother added. Aemond looked to his mother, betrayal in his gaze. His mother knew how much his friend meant to him, she knew someone so precious shouldnât be shackled to a bastard.Â
He refused to hear another word. His chair screeched loudly against the floor as he abruptly stood and made his way out of the room as if there were no air left for him to breathe. They couldnât take her away from him, they couldnât give her to that bastard.Â
He raced to his chambers, hoping he was quick enough that no passing guards could see the tears forming in his eyes.Â
By the next day, he found himself in the gardens, his eyes locked onto the open book in his lap as he read and re-read the same sentence over and over, his racing mind not allowing him to focus on the words in front of him.Â
The dread he had been feeling since the night before had not dissipated in the slightest.
âAemond!âÂ
His heart leapt within his chest at the sound of her voice. His hopeful eyes looked around the garden before landing on her and a feeling of lead settled within him, bringing him right back down to his dour mood as he noticed Jace and Lucerys beside her.Â
She motioned for him to join but he just shook his head softly and moved his gaze back down to his book.Â
He let out a long breath, trying his hardest to ignore the bitterness that grew in his heart, one that was all too familiar from before he met her. He startled slightly as a body slumped next to him. He looked up and his eyes widened slightly at the sight of her looking at him questioningly.
âWhy are you sulking?â
âIâm not sulking.â
She breathed deeply, as if disappointed by his obvious lie. âWhy didnât you join us?â
He shrugged, he couldnât very well tell her the truth about how he despised his nephews and seeing her with them was like a dagger to the heart, how he feared losing her, his greatest friend.Â
âI didnât want to intrude.â He spoke softly.Â
Her eyes narrowed at his words, her gaze moving to the two Velaryon boys who were talking quietly amongst each other, their curious eyes occasionally drifting to her and Aemond.Â
She knew there was tension among them, the way they seemed to side with Aegon and play along in the cruel pranks he would play on Aemond always made her stomach twist. She suddenly felt guilty that she had never considered how it would make Aemond feel to be forced in their vicinity after how they treated him.Â
She turned to her friend and shuffled closer to him.Â
âYou could never intrude.â
Aemond looked over at her, but quickly averted his gaze, finding it just too much to look in her eyes while she sat so close to him.Â
âYou donât have to stay with me. If you want to be with them, I wonât stop you.â He spoke quietly. The last thing he wanted was to make her feel smothered by him.Â
âIâd rather be with you.â
Her answer left him using all of his willpower to keep himself from marching directly to his father and demanding a betrothal this instant.Â
She chose him.Â
No one had ever chosen him.
~~
She was bored out of her mind. With Aemond and Helaena gone to Driftmark for Lady Laenaâs funeral, she was left without her closest confidants, leaving her little to do in their absence. She wished sheâd been granted leave to attend the funeral with them, but her father had never met Laena and had been tasked with extra duties while the King was gone, leaving her to stew in her loneliness.
She was curled up on the settee by her bed, her sketchbook in her lap as she scrawled out an attempt at drawing Dreamfyre, to horrible failure.Â
A soft knock on her door made her lift her head and she sat up straighter when her father entered. The look on his face made her stomach twist, dread falling upon her like a crashing wave.Â
She got to her feet quickly, feeling unsteady on her now weak legs.
âDarling, there was an⊠incident on Driftmark.â
She swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart racing. âWhat happened?â
âI wasnât privy to all the details but all I know is that Aemond has been injured.âÂ
The breath was knocked out of her and at the first sign of her face crumbling into despair, her father crossed the room and held her tightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as the first sob broke free.Â
âIs he alright?â
Her father let out a long breath at her hiccuped words, holding her tightly. He knew his daughter had certain affections for the young boy, but hearing her now made him realize just how deeply she cared for him.Â
âThe Maesters say he has lost an eye.âÂ
A shuddering breath escaped her and she suddenly felt faint. She had no idea how, what could have unfolded, who would dare to do something so barbaric to him.Â
The next days were spent in agony. She barely left her chambers. Every time her father came to check in on her, he found her sitting by her window, her gaze locked onto the horizon, waiting eagerly for the Targaryen familyâs arrival.Â
On the third day of her lonely torment, she finally spotted it. Dragons on the horizon. She was on her feet in a second and racing down to the courtyard. She was out of breath and disheveled by the time she made it, but her pace only quickened when she saw Helaena with her mother.Â
She called out to her friend and Helaena let out a breath of relief when she saw her, her arms opening for her as she approached.Â
Helaena didnât let many touch her, but she was one of the lucky few she allowed.Â
âAre you alright? Whereâs Aemond? Will he be ok?â She fired off questions, not even able to get a breath out through her frantic words.Â
âItâs alright, my Darling. Aemond will be fine.â Alicent consoled her, placing her arm around the shaking girlâs shoulders.
âWhere is he?â
âHeâs been taken to the Maesterâs solar. Heâll have to spend some time there while he heals.âÂ
âWhat happened?â She asked breathlessly.
âWhat I told him.â Helaena interjected calmly. âHe gained a dragon, but he had to close an eye.âÂ
She looked at Helaena with shock. âHe⊠he claimed a dragon?â
She couldnât make sense of the despair, relief and joy she had felt all at once. Knowing Aemond and his endless plight to gain a dragon, she knew he would see it a worthy trade, but the thought of him injured, permanently maimed, made her want to crumble to the ground below her.Â
After bidding goodbye to Alicent and Helaena, she made her way to the Maesterâs wing of the Keep. She was denied entry, but she was determined to not let it stop her. Each day, at the crack of dawn, sheâd drag herself out of bed and, before even breaking her fast, would make the trek to the Maesterâs wing and ask to see Aemond.
She was refused each and every day, but it did little to deter her. She kept trying.Â
It had been weeks since she had seen Aemond. Her heart was aching without the presence of her best friend, without the boy that made her smile like no other could.Â
On the fifth day of the third week, as she made the familiar walk to his door, the guard stopped her, as usual, though his words were different.
âThe Prince does not wish for any visitors.âÂ
She frowned. It always used to be the order of the Maesters or Alicent, claiming her son needed his rest, but now it was Aemond himself refusing her.Â
She couldnât pinpoint it exactly, but she knew she had felt her heart crack in a way she had never felt before.Â
She walked away from the door with her head bowed in defeat.
The hurt she felt mirrored Aemondâs own. Refusing her made him ache, but the thought of her seeing him as he was and looking at him with disgust was unfathomable and he would delay that inevitable despair as long as he could.Â
He sulked in his bed, the dour expression on his face one that had been constant for weeks.Â
His mother was by his bedside as she had been for weeks. He couldnât stand to see her wince or her teary eyes everytime she looked at his ghastly scar.Â
She had been trying, in no subtle terms, to get him out of the room, even going as far to bring up his friend, the one he longed to see yet dreaded ever seeing the same look on his motherâs face on hers.Â
âItâs been a few weeks. Sheâs been worrying herself sick.â His mother told him, making his already weak heart more fragile.Â
He stayed silent, his frown deepening in despair.Â
âAegon and Helaena will be heading out tomorrow to Ixtal. You should take Vhagar and join them.â
Aemond shifted uncomfortably. He knew his friend was leaving tomorrow, to visit home for her motherâs name day. They had all been invited, but with his fatherâs fading health and his motherâs refusal to ride on dragonback, it left just Aegon and Helaena to join the festivities.Â
âAemond.â His mother prompted again, the disappointment in her voice clear.Â
âI donât want to go.â He mumbled, one of the few sentences heâd managed over the past few weeks.Â
His mother sighed in defeat and didnât bring it up again for the rest of the night, leaving him to his solitude as he preferred.Â
The next morning, Aemond lay in bed, the wound over his eye itching gratingly. He longed to claw at the wicked scar, to scream in anger, to enact his vengeance on that Strong bastard. The fury festered in him like the open wound on his face, red and flaming.Â
The soft sound of his door opening and closing made him stir, assuming it was his mother yet again. As he lazily turned his head, dread settled in his stomach, his remaining eye widening in horror at the sight of her, the one he longed for yet resisted.Â
She froze in her place at the door, her jaw falling slack, a shaking hand covering her mouth as a hitched breath escaped her at the sight of him.Â
Aemondâs face twisted in agony. This was exactly what he wished to avoid.Â
âWhat are you doing here?â He asked angrily, tears forming in his remaining eye.Â
âI just wanted- I wanted⊠weâre leaving soon.âÂ
It was faint but he heard it. Fear. The stuttering of her words, the quiet, almost docile way she spoke that was so unlike her was like a hatchet to his heart. The look on her face was even worse. She could barely make eye contact with him.
âGet out.â He spoke lowly through gritted teeth.
âAemond, I-â
âGet out! I donât want you here!â He screamed at her, tears steadily falling down his cheeks.Â
Her own tears began to fall, her face twisting with agony. He hated it. He didnât want her pity, he didnât want to see the disgust on her face that everyone would face him with for the rest of his life.Â
âLeave me alone! I never want to see you again!âÂ
She let out a sob and turned on her heel, leaving the room with haste.Â
Aemond slumped back in bed, placing his hands over his face, ignoring the way it made his eye ache, and he cried for what he had lost.Â
Not just his eye, but his love, his happiness. His everything.Â
~~
She stood on the balcony of the banquet hall, breathing in the fresh ocean air. She missed home. She had thought of this moment for weeks, had been eager and excited to finally visit, yet now that she was there, it was bittersweet.Â
The sound of the waves werenât as peaceful as she remembered. The food she ate wasnât as delicious as she remembered. The music and the dancing wasnât as exciting as she remembered.Â
âDarling?â
She turned to see her mother approaching, concern written across her face as she moved to stand next to her daughter, her arm crossing over her shoulders, bringing her in close to her side.Â
âAre you alright? I thought Iâd see you dancing all night.â
âIâm fine.â
The Lady of Ixtal looked to her once vibrant daughter worriedly. She was far from the girl that had left all those months ago. From all the letters she had sent, it seemed her daughter was having the time of her life in Kingâs Landing. The girl she saw now wasnât the one who had gleaned nothing but happiness.
âWas it not what you expected?â
She stiffened, the need to defend her friends and her new found home rising. âNo, itâs- Kingâs Landing is lovely.â
Her mother sighed. She had gotten a short re-telling of the last few weeks in the Capitol from her husband and she was starting to put the pieces together.Â
âI couldnât help but notice your friend isnât here.âÂ
She looked up at her mother, her wide doe-like eyes giving everything away.Â
âAemond?â
She felt her cheeks heat and she turned her attention back to the view before her, focusing on the waves of the ocean, mirroring her breathing with each crashing wave.Â
âHeâs not my friend anymore.â She spoke quietly through the lump that grew in her throat.Â
âFrom what Iâve heard, it sounds as though he is going through an awful time, something no one, especially someone so young, should ever have to endure. People donât exactly act rationally when they are hurt. It is easy to speak things that are untrue in that state.â
She stayed silent, taking in her motherâs words thoughtfully. It was easy enough to explain, but it didnât lessen the hurt she felt.Â
âYou can stay here if you wish. The Gods know I would love to keep you in my arms, but I donât think that is truly what you want.â
She let out a shaking breath, her mind a mess as she thought of her life in Kingâs Landing, of what sheâd be leaving behind. But, if Aemond was being truthful and he didnât want to see her or be her friend anymore, what would her life be like there?
âI donât know what to do.â
âYouâll figure it out.â Her mother assured her. âOr else weâll have a dragon landing on our shores demanding you come back.â
The smile on her motherâs face made the hurt inside her melt away slightly. Her conviction that Aemond would forgive her for her intrusion, that he would bring her back into his life and his arms made her hopeful.Â
Her mother was never wrong and she prayed she wouldnât start now.Â
~~
She clutched onto Helaenaâs waist as they flew on Dreamfyre back to Kingâs Landing. No matter how thrilling it was to ride a dragon, no matter that she felt as light as a feather, that she could touch the clouds and feel as though she was in a magical, untouchable realm, it felt wrong.Â
Her first ride shouldnât have belonged to Helaena, it shouldnât have been with Dreamfyre. It wasnât what she promised.Â
As they dismounted, Helaenaâs hand held hers and stayed, holding tightly as they made their way from the dragonpit to the Keep, as if knowing her friend needed the comfort.Â
As they parted, Helaena promised sheâd spend the day with her tomorrow, knowing she needed the distraction from Aemond.
She smiled, though it wasnât as bright as usual, and with a wave, they parted. She stepped into her chambers and sighed heavily, mourning what her time in Kingâs Landing would hold.Â
She moved to her bed, content to hide under the covers for the rest of the day, but she stopped, noticing a bundle of flowers on her desk. She frowned, she certainly hadnât put them there before she left.Â
She stepped closer, her fingers gently tracing along the soft petals. They were perfectly bloomed and freshly plucked, most likely just placed on her desk mere minutes before she arrived.Â
It suddenly struck her.Â
They were marigolds.Â
She remembered the flower Aemond had tucked behind her ear, the ones he would bring her on occasion simply because he knew she was fond of them.Â
Her heart began to race, her stomach flipping at the merest notion that it couldâve been from her best friend. She picked up the bundle, inhaling their fresh scent with a small smile.Â
She noticed the slip of parchment below them, the simple words in familiar handwriting brought tears to her eyes.Â
I am deeply, truly sorry.
I didnât mean a word of what I said
Please forgive me
- Your Aemond
Her breath hitched, her chest feeling tight with sorrow.Â
The words he had screamed at her that day hurt her deeply, yet the thought of not having Aemond by her side, not having him as her friend, was unfathomable.
She spent the remainder of the day in her chambers, picking sparsely at the food her father had sent to her, knowing she wanted her solitude. By the next morning, having thought of nothing but Aemond all night, she was determined to see the end of their rift.
She dressed quickly and stepped out of her chambers, determined to march her way straight to Aemond, but she was stopped by her guard.
âThe Prince has requested your presence in the gardens.âÂ
The crease in her brow that signaled her determination smoothed out, leaving nothing but hopeful nervousness as she quickly made her way through the halls of the Keep. She ignored the looks of disdain from the ladies of the court as she raced past them, ignoring the whispers of her undignified behavior.Â
They were the last things on her mind.
Her heart was racing within her chest as she approached the gardens. She walked the familiar path, one she had taken countless times, to get to their usual meeting spot. Her feet came to an abrupt stop as she turned the last corner and saw him sitting on their bench, the one they always congregated to over the months together.Â
Nervous butterflies fluttered within her as she approached him.Â
She called out to him softly, cursing herself for how her voice shook in hopeful anticipation.Â
Aemond turned to face her and she was shocked to see the eyepatch across his face, covering the angry looking wound she had seen that morning in his chambers.Â
Her heart ached at the sight of the red scar that peeked out from the patch. It looked painful and the reminder of what he had gone through, what his own nephew had inflicted on him made her want to cry.Â
He spoke her name in greeting, giving her a small, weak smile. He winced slightly, the pull of his cheeks causing his scar to flair with pain.Â
Her chest tightened at the sight of him. He seemed smaller, as if he sat hunched over, trying hard not to take up too much space in the world.Â
âIâm sorry.â She blurted out before he could speak. He looked up at her incredulously, his stomach twisting at the despair he saw on her face. âI shouldnât have just barged into your chambers. I knew you wanted privacy and I ignored your wishes and Iâm sorry. I never meant-â
Aemond spoke her name breathlessly, stopping her rambling apology. He had never seen her so frantic before, it was unnerving to him, nothing at all like the lively girl he was used to. And it was his fault.
âYou donât have to apologize.â He told her softly. He looked down at his hands that fidgeted in his lap, shame overcoming him as he thought back to that day, when he had yelled at her so callously. He had replayed that moment over and over again in his head for days and it was torturous each time.Â
He couldnât get the sight of her tears out of his head. To know he was the cause was his greatest shame.Â
âIâm sorry.â He spoke earnestly, looking her in the eyes intently, hoping she would believe him. âI never should have spoken to you that way. Iâm so sorry I made you cry. I never will again, I promise.âÂ
She let out a long breath, his words stirring something inside her she couldnât recognize.
He frowned deeply at her lack of reaction, shuffling over and patted the space next to him on the bench, motioning for her to take a seat beside him.Â
She moved slowly, hesitantly taking her seat next to him.Â
âIâve never seen you that angry before.â She spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper as she recalled that dreadful day.Â
Aemond sighed and bowed his head.Â
âIâŠâ He started but soon found he had no words, no excuses for how he had treated her. Nothing would ever make it ok, never to her. âI hated to see you look at me like that.â Was the only thing he could think to say.
âLike what?â
âLike you were horrified of me.â
âI was horrified.â She said and he felt his insides turn to stone, his throat tightening with emotion. âBut not of you. Never of you.â She added quickly, causing him to look over at her, his eye wide and shining with unshed tears.Â
âBut-â
âAemond, the thought of what happened to you, the thought of you in pain⊠it hurts me.âÂ
The vice around his heart lifted instantly. His mind was spinning with the insinuation of her words.
âYou⊠youâre not-â
She reached out, taking his hand in hers, causing words to fail him.
âI could never be afraid of you. I could never feel disgusted by you, I could never think any less of you, or whatever other horrible thing you think I feel for you now. No scar will change how I care for you.â
The weight that had been suffocating him for weeks now seemed to lift just the slightest, allowing him to feel as though he could finally take a breath.Â
He let out a shaking breath and tightened his hand in hers. She smiled softly and leaned in closer to his side, letting her head fall to his shoulder, letting him revel in her closeness.
He hated the stares he got from the ladies at court, he hated the winces, the horrified gasps as he passed them. He hated the worried looks he received, as if he was seconds away from collapsing like a weak mannered child.Â
But none of it mattered.Â
She still cared for him, she was still by his side, her hand in his.
Even the burning fury he held for his nephew seemed dim in the wake of the pure delight he felt in her presence.
âBut, if you ever raise your voice to me like that again I will smack you.âÂ
Her threat, that held no anger in the slightest, made him laugh and duck his head against hers as his body shook with each breath of laughter.Â
His first laugh since the incident.Â
From then, they were closer than ever. One was seldom seen without the other at their side.Â
The Ladies at court through the two of them were just about the most darling thing they had ever seen. Yet, not everyone was rooting for the threads of young love to flourish.Â
Alicent watched her son in the training yard with a frown. Her second son, so dutiful and so smart, was becoming distracted. Her eyes never strayed from him as he neglected his own lessons to play around with his friend, watching with a scowl as the two of them laughed together, as if there was no care in the world.
The sight of the young girl in the training yard was enough to leave her appalled, but her sonâs willingness to indulge in such unseemly behavior was worrying.Â
âWe cannot let this go any further.â Her father spoke from beside her.Â
âI canât very well tell him he cannot be her friend. It would devastate him.â
âLet them be friends, but make it clear that is all it will ever be. Aemond canât get any ideas about marrying this girl.â
Alicent chewed on her lower lip anxiously. The thought of tearing her son away from such happiness turned her stomach, but the thought of him marrying a girl so unpredictable was just as unfortunate.Â
âWould it really be so bad? We could gain leverage with her father.â
âIxtal is a neutral house. They have never taken a stand in any war, that wonât change now. We cannot risk Aemond allying with a house that could not give us leverage for Aegonâs claim.â Otto hissed angrily.Â
Alicent wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes falling back to her son, taking in the sight of his smile while she still could. She doubted it would be a common sight once he was forced away from the Island girl.Â
But they all had a duty to perform.
~~
Her arm was looped through his as he guided her past the dragon pit.Â
âWhere are we going?â She asked, looking over her shoulder at the structure that housed the mighty Targaryen dragons they had just passed.Â
âVhagar doesnât stay there. She doesnât fit.â Aemond explained, a slightly smug smirk crossing his features as he subtly boasted about his newly claimed dragon.
Her smile twitched slightly, her nerves suddenly overtaking her. Sheâd been hesitant when Aemond offered to introduce her to his mount, but the reminder of the great beastâs sheer size had the beginnings of fear creeping through her veins.Â
Noticing the subtle shift in her expression, Aemond tightened his grip on her arm.Â
âI would never put you in danger.â He assured her. âVhagar is bonded to me, she can feel what I feel for you and she would never hurt you.â
âIf I could hear that directly from Vhagar I might be able to breathe properly.âÂ
Aemond snickered and led her forward excitedly.Â
Soon, they arrived at the crest of the hill, Vhagarâs enormous form coming into view. A shuddering breath escaped her when she came face to face with the historic dragon that fought in wars long before her time.Â
She could barely comprehend such a beast of her size existed among them, that the sweet boy beside her commanded her or even willingly approached her.Â
âRelax.â Aemond told her softly, moving out of her hold so his hand could take hers, intertwining their fingers.Â
The pair of them stepped towards the sleeping giant. She watched, mystified, as Aemond spoke a few words of Valaryian, the dragon's eyes sleepily opening, her large head lifting towards them.Â
She felt her body freeze, the blood in her veins running cold as the mighty dragon looked past her rider, her curious gaze landing on her. A low rumble shook the ground, Vhagarâs protest to the stranger before her.Â
Aemond soothed his dragon, placing an affectionate hand on her snout as he spoke soft commands.Â
She doubted a few measly words would suddenly convince Vhagar that she wasnât a tasty snack, but she could only watch, her eyes widening as the dragon became disinterested by her presence, laying her head back down on the warm grass she had been slumbering on.Â
Aemond looked over his shoulder at her prone form several feet back and smiled, motioning her to come closer.Â
She shook her head adamantly, her feet frozen in place.Â
He spoke her name, holding his hand out to her.Â
She looked to his hand and then to his dragon and back again, contemplating the risk to her life.Â
âDo you trust me?â Aemond asked and her tense shoulders sagged. She had no reason to doubt her best friend. With one look in his eye, she knew he would never let any harm come to her.Â
She took slow steps forward, her fear not allowing her to move any quicker.Â
She reached out and took Aemondâs hand in hers as soon as she was close enough, holding on tightly.
âItâs alright.â He assured her.Â
He guided her hand toward Vhagar, watching the girl beside him closely, gaging every expression that crossed her face in a matter of seconds. From fear, to doubt, to disbelief and suddenly to awe.Â
A shaky laugh left her lips as her hand softly rested on the rough scales of Vhagarâs side. Pure delight was etched across her face as she pet the mighty beast as if she were nothing more than a house cat. Aemond saw how excited she got when one of the many stray cats that roamed Flea Bottom ventured their way into the Keep.Â
The excited smile she wore now as she pet his dragon was the same one he saw when she would cradle those strays.Â
The thought made him laugh and he leaned in close to her, letting his head rest against hers.Â
Seeing her now, fearless by his mountâs side, only confirmed what he already knew.Â
She was meant to be with dragons. Meant to be with him.Â
~~
I will hopefully have the next chapter out within the next couple of days! And yes, every chapter is going to be long, I have no control. Hope you liked it xx
aemond targaryen is betrothed to the heir to highgarden, and when he discovers she has been left blind by a childhood illness he decides their marriage is ill fated, but cecily tyrell has different ideas.
