Canon fix-it - as the elder sister of Jace and Luke, princess Vaena, heir to the throne, she finds herself jumping in front of her little brother's dagger. Between thundering pain and splashes of blood, she sees Aemond's shock, horror, and panic, as instead of blinding him, the knife embeds its unforgiving blade into her hand.
-exploring the "what if" of Aemond not having any other reason to dislike his nephews and niece except for what his mother has drilled into his head. And he struggles with not knowing which thoughts are his and which are not.-
Aemond's steps were the only sound he heard walking through the dark halls of the Red Keep - aside from the dragonsong outside. Regardless of what his mother thought, he would never think of keeping the dragons restrained in the Dragon Pit. Even he, her son, acknowledged the distant offense of a Hightower having such opinions on their beasts - their power - and a particularly loud roar outside seemed to approve his thoughts. He stopped just for a bit next to the terrace, hands behind his back, leaning in to see which one of them made himself known so close to the castle. And there he was, her dragon, circling the towers as if he owned them , burned black scales covering the bright green of his underwings; the large wings casting even darker shadows that moved from window to window with his flight. Vaerax, beautiful beast, and dangerous, and wild, Aemond thought, reminded at once of the reason he left his chambers a few minutes ago. To find the princess, as he usually seeked to do in nights too full of thoughts and memories.
It would be considered indecent had it been anyone else, but Aemond knew the Crown Princess was allowed a bit more liberty than other noble ladies, for which reason he found himself walking on the main corridor to her chambers. The guards outside her door, one on each side, bowed their heads to the Prince as he approached. If it had been the first time Aemond visited so late into the night, they might have hesitated on his firm gesture to pass - but it was not the first time. It hadn't been the first time in many years, since somewhere around the time Aemond almost lost his eye and the Princess took the knife to her hand.
One of the guards pushed open the door, stepping inside only to announce,
- Prince Aemond is here to see you, Your Grace.
Without waiting for any answer, Aemond stepped through and set his eyes on the princess who stood up, slightly surprised, clutching a soft shawl around her shoulders. Something about her almost pulled at Aemond's smile, yet he did not budge. With a slight bow of his head, and a rigid stop a few steps away from her, his eyes thoroughly analyzed her as if she was the one who came to see him, not the other way around.
- What a delightful surprise, my Prince. Though, should i say surprise when your visits are more and more often these days ?
- I see i m not disturbing you, Princess. Though, one could say you've grown accustomed.
Aemond's reply was not harsh, nor soft. His voice was stuck in the same indifferent, almost quiet tone. He laid eyes on the table behind her, seeing old Valyrian books opened and scattered over used quills and papers. Just as he expected, princess Vaena was studying, reading, as a proper heir should. Aegon, his older brother, never did it. He never even mastered High Valyrian, which filled him with disgust and ironic amusement. Their mother dared hold Aegon so high and mighty when he couldn't even speak to his dragon in their mother tongue ? Pathetic, Aemond thought. My brother will never be a true Targaryen.
Princess Vaena, still dressed in her court gown, with a thin silver crown upon long, dark locks of hair, turned to follow Aemond's eyes, and his hand, as he picked one of her drawings off the table. Something stirred in her chest, seeing him in her chambers, alone, with his hand so familiar, so intimate in her belongings.
- Two dragons. he mused, holding the paper closer to the candlelight. You had a particular inspiration tonight, Princess, though i can't be sure who the other dragon beside Vaerax is.
- Vaerax does like to play with all other dragons, she replied, with a soft chuckle, stepping behind him. Smaller than him, her head reached his arm, enough to see the drawing he was looking at. She only glanced up when his head turned down to her, with that same contemplative, studying look in his eyes. Though the other dragon in my picture is a bit too big to be anyone else than Vhagar, isn t she ?
- I should feel flattered, then, Aemond replied, lowering the drawing to the desk, though perhaps a flight together these days would help the Princess refreshen her mind of how Vhagar truly looks. She could capture it better in her next drawing, that if she desires it, of course.
- Maybe a visit tomorrow during the day would also help the Prince see the drawing more clearly, she shot back with a velvety voice, crossing her arms, since i do think i captured Vhagar as true as my own dragon.
Aemond chuckled for the first time that night, liking the particular tone of voice she had when she bit back at him, even in that elegant, irritated way of hers. Holding his hands at his back again, he turned to her fully, meeting her eyes. Light, amethyst eyes, clear and oh so beautiful. She was staring up at him as if waiting for another banter, her hand loosening the shawl over her shoulders to show the pale expanse of her shoulders over the black gown she wore. Instead of teasing her again, Aemond spoke more quietly this time, almost a whisper.
- Ēdrugon kostan daor (I couldn't sleep). Bāngor lī jor bōstis, se lēda jor runor dāerior. (The nights are longer than others, and more filled with thoughts).
- Skorke jor runor, nya dārilaros ? (Thoughts of what, my Prince ?) she replied, her voice lowering just like his, the air suddenly becoming charged with more than banter and wordless conversation. She liked Aemond's voice when he switched to High Valyrian, and he liked how her eyes looked when he did. Their mother tongue - what made them the blood of old Valyria, a language only they could understand.
In response, his eyes dropped to her hand, the scar of taking Luke's knife instead of Aemond running from both sides of her palm to her wrist, to her forearm. A cut that would never fully heal on her milky skin; Aemond did not know what he truly felt about it, even after all this time. Understanding, the princess smiled softly, taking her scarred hand to Aemond's cheek. His cold, indifferent facade dropped to show the truly vulnerable prince beneath, his eyes fixed on hers with furrowed brows, as if letting her see the torment he felt every night. Dropping his head into her hand, his own came over hers as if afraid the deep gash still hurts.
- Skorkiri zūgī jor runor kipi? (Why do you still think about it?) she whispered, her thumb caressing the skin under his eye, as if glad the scar wasn't there, but on her hand.
- Skorkiri kostan daor? Banti mēni avy jepmen. (How could i not ? You chose me that night.) Closing his eyes under her fingers, Aemond then took her hand into his own, larger ones, to study the delicate wrist and palm that considered him higher than even herself that night. His own brother , his own mother , his father, have never even thought of going to such lengths for him. This is the thought that has tormented him ever since. He was always the second son, the forgotten prince, regardless of his efforts. Yet the crown Princess, his sweet niece, chose him that night. Over herself, and over her brothers' attack.
- You were stupid to do it, Aemond whispered, his thumb feeling the ridges of her scar.
- You said that before, she replied, but you had no mistake to pay for with your sight. Maybe with your life. You know i never regretted it.
- No, but i did. I still blame Lucerys for this, the prince said, with an intensity in his eyes that should have reflected hate. Yet it didn't. He was more confused than anything, confused at the hate he was programmed to have yet had no reason for.
- Do you really think that, Aemond ? she asked, soft voice bringing down whatever hostility he tried to hold onto.
- Vaena, he whispered, as if pleading with her, her forearm still delicately in his hands. They hurt you. You, of all people, for me, of all people.
- Anything different than this would have hurt me more. Hate hurts me more than this.
The prince's eyes deepened, seeing the frown on Vaena's face. He knew what she was telling him, of course. Hate, the hate he should harbor for his nephews, for her. The hate Alicent harbors for Rhaenyra, the hate she fears one day would break the realm apart and their house to shreds. The fear that the only thing that could bring the House of the Dragon down, is itself.
Aemond's brows furrowed as he tightened his grip on Vaena's hand. He knew what she was asking from him, yet he didn't know if he could give it. He was torn apart - he was made to think otherwise, yet the truth was right here in front of him. He had no reason to be hostile, neither of them had. Was he so easily manipulated ? To turn on his own house, because a Hightower told him to ?
Her voice pulled him out of his troubled head again.
- Bōstiar dāri, (stay longer).
Opening his eyes to hers, he found himself nodding before he could process the thought. The night was quiet, calm, and he heard once again the dragonsong over King's Landing. But it was peaceful this time, and it seemed even the dragons had settled down to rest for a bit. He couldn't handle the silence on his own anymore.
And so he lowered her hand down and poured the both of them wine from a forgotten pitcher on the balcony. He was used to reading Valyrian poetry too, after all, and it sounded better in her chambers, with only the candlelight as witness.
looking for some new writing partners on discord!! i’m 25f looking for 21+ writers (: timezone is gmt so bonus if we’re in a similar timezone!
right now i’m looking for some specific fandoms — game of thrones, a knight of the seven kingdoms, and house of the dragon! i have recently started reading asoiaf (very early days) and it really got me in the mood for this universe
i would love someone who will write male and female characters (i will too). ideally some cc x oc or cc x cc pairs but i might be convinced for something oc x oc. i would love a multi-muse plot with lots of drama behind it. dark themes will be included due to the universe. i am happy to double!
there are too many characters and ideas to put in a post so please like if you’re interested in plotting together :)
hello everyone! i am currently searching for ANY enthusiastic writers to write with me! 😭
right now, i’m specifically looking for someone to write game of thrones with me, as i’ve been having so much muse for my male martell oc that i’ve been absolutely dying to write!
for miscellaneous things, i don’t mind doubling up at all! we could do oc x cc or oc x oc, mxm, mxf, i genuinely don’t mind! i also really love engaging with my writing partners outside of just plotting, whether that’s gushing over our oc’s, making pinterest boards, playlists, sharing headcanons, or just talking about our characters in general.
if you’re interested, give this a like and i’ll get back to you as soon as i can! :)
