#aemond and amara

[scaly-freaks]

Damn all this Aemond talk hfchfsd they could have had it all.

In my head Aemond is eventually a single dad to a girl named Amara. He’s like hahaha I joked about stealing your future daughter’s name for my own but now I named her after you instead hahaha

Aegon would be gagged.

Ngl that's a little creepy but very Targaryen-esque LMAAAOO

Meanwhile Aegon:

[painted-flag]

OF FLOWERS AND DEATH - aemond targaryen

Chapter 3: A Study in Death

☾⋆⁺₊✧ dark elf!Aemond Targaryen x f!human!reader series. ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series masterlist. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ word count: 3.2k ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series warnings: 18+ depictions of violence/gore, eventual smut, warfare, sickness/disease, some moments of misogyny, and mentions of alcohol consumption. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ you begin to settle into your new position in the kingdom and forge tentative friendships.

It was disorienting, waking up in another bed. You had been shown to your room by Helaeana before she went off to sleep herself and it had taken hours for your mind to calm down enough to sleep. Your room was at ground level and made from the same combination of roots and black stone as the rest of the castle. It was larger than your entire home combined. There was a main living space with the most comfortable furniture you had ever sat in. It was all nature-oriented, with hues of green being the preferred choice of colour for decoration. 

The living space was separated by a rise in the floor by a few steps, where your bed was placed horizontally next to a wide set of windows. A desk was placed in front of the windows, along with a bookshelf next to it. There were few books, but you knew with the items you packed it would fill up a good portion of space. Your view was of the palace gardens, where plants and flowers of all types bloomed even under the dark cover of the elder trees. 

Your bed was four posters made of dark oak, all intricately carved in forest imagery. Sheer white fabric draped down on all ends, cocooning you in. Your sleep came slowly as you had tossed and turned for hours the night before. You were in a strange land, surrounded by strange people, with a king who clearly did not like you and had a penchant for killing those he disliked. Naturally, calm had not come to you. 

You had been in a state of being between sleep and awake when soft rapping sounded on your door. Your eyes shot open and you looked around your room. You scrambled out of the silken sheets of your bed and stood in the room, unsure of what to do. You were in a nightrobe that had been given to you, its gentle caress of fabric brushed against your skin. 

“C-come in.” You called out. The door opened and two elves walked in. One who stood on the right was dressed in a light powder pink dress of fine silk with sheer fabric on top that complimented her brown skin with cool undertones. The pink gown had gold embellishments that matched the jewelry draped from her ears and neck. The pink jewel that rested between her collarbones reflected the low lights of your room. Her hair was pin straight and decorated with gold ornaments in waterfall braids that formed a low crown on her head. 

Her companion was dressed in lavender, which happened to be the same style as the pink one. Her pale skin was littered with light and dark freckles that looked like the shimmering fireflies that occupied the grounds outside. Her hair was not done up like her friend's but was curly and a deep amber like the honey you would buy from the market back home. 

You knew there was no getting used to the awe-inspiring looks of the elves. A year here or not, each time meeting one would come with a moment of shock you were sure not to get used to. 

The red-haired one stepped forward, “Good morrow. I’m Amara and this is Liriel,” She gestured to her companion, “We’re to be your handmaids for the time you are here.” 

“Handmaids?” You questioned. You did not think, other than the lodgings you were given, that any other kindness would be extended your way. 

The other elleth pitched in, “We are here to fetch things you need, get you ready in the mornings, and provide company.” That was the nail in the coffin for you. They would provide company for you, a kinder way of saying that everything you did and said was being watched and would be reported to the king. This was Aemond’s way of exerting even more control over you. It was not surprising in the least, but it still made you uncomfortable. 

Another servant stepped through with a silver tray of food; breads, fruits, and cheeses. Your stomach made a slight noise and you became painfully aware of how long it had been since you last ate. The tray was placed down on the table and next to a clear glass pitcher full of water and some matching glass chalices. You moved to inspect the food while Amara and Liriel sat down on one of the couches. They gestured for you to join them and you did, choosing a spot on a chair positioned across from them. 

“Once you’re finished eating, we can get you ready for the day,” Liriel spoke. She shifted her gaze to the large dark oak wardrobe resting against the wall behind you. You had opened it last night to see dozens of fine dresses in a variety of colours and sizes, obviously planned to try and fit the needs of any random guest. However, you doubted the word guest could accurately describe your situation - a prisoner with special privileges felt more like it. 

“Oh! I cannot wait to style your hair. I’ve never done a human’s before.” Amara smiled as she reached out to pluck a cherry from the tray. You were resigned to eating in silence while the two elves chatted away, talking about what it is like to live in the castle. You paid attention but were also focused on the underlying message in your conversation with them. While you had yet to meet many elves, there was always a secret unspoken point when they spoke to you. 

The aspect of your humanness was treated like an oddity. It was something rare and unique to gawk at for a moment before one would become bored and disregard it. You believed yourself to be nothing more than an object displayed on a shelf; meant for entertainment and nothing more. 

You plopped a piece of cheese in your mouth and despite it being delicious, your thoughts bittered the taste.

It had taken an hour for Amara and Liriel to get you ready for the day. Each of them fretted over different aspects of your style, conversing with one another on colours, hues, styles, and jewelry. You had spoken to them many times that you cared little for your own presentation and that you were here on one mission alone; find a cure for the taint. There was no time to fuss over what complimented your undertones or how one particular fabric pattern suited you more than the other. However, you knew putting up a fight and resisting would be pointless and resigned yourself to becoming a doll they could dress up. 

Their intentions were good, but you regretted it the moment you left your room and began to be escorted down the hall. Other elves passed, all servants or members of the court, and they gawked at you. The elvish clothing on you felt wrong and you occasionally tugged on the ends of your sleeves with nervousness. You felt inadequate in any way and just wished to go back to your work, for that was what you could do well. 

You happen upon a set of two doors, not as large as the ones at the grand hall, but still detailed enough that you appreciated the craftmanship. The two guards that had walked you from your room each grabbed a handle and opened it. Inside you could see a large study. Shelves were lined with countless vials, boxes, and chests filled with more ingredients than you knew existed. It was the most exquisite laboratory you had ever seen.  

A door on one of the far ends opened and an elf walked in. He had short silver hair that hung down just past the bottoms of his ears in whisps. He was dressed in dark trousers with high boots. His doublet was made of an emerald-coloured fabric with metal embellishments. His stature was thin but built, and he appeared to be just a few inches taller than you. Surprisingly so, he looked to be a young elf.

“Ah, I’ve been expecting you,” He spoke. The elf waved off the guards, “You can stay posted outside, I can take her from here.” 

He placed down a box he brought in on one of the many tables. His gaze swept over some brewing vials and adjusted some of the fires below them. 

“I am Daeron, the head healer and potions master. I must admit, my sister Helaena did not tell me much about your research, other than the fact that you have been studying the taint.” His eyes, the same shade of blue as Helaena and Aemond, caught yours. He subtly smiled to reassure you, as you had stayed rooted in your spot with your arms wrapped around your stomach. 

“Yes, your grace. I have experience studying the taint’s effects on the land. I am also a healer.” You stepped forward and lowered your hold, letting your arms hang at your sides. 

“That’s good,” Daeron stopped his work and straightened his back, “I’ll take you on a tour and fill you in on what we know.” He gestured for you to follow him and the two of you walked side by side to one of the two doors at the back of the laboratory. Daeron opened it for you and let you walk in first. 

While the grand hall with the throne impressed you, this room far exceeded it. It could not truly be called a room, for it was a vast tower that went up as far as you could see. The walls were covered in bookshelves overflowing with texts. In the centre of the tower was a large open fireplace with a low flame. Around it were a bunch of tables with chairs. 

“This is the library, well, one of them at least. This one concerns all the information we would need regarding medicine, plants, and magic,” Daeron began as he walked around the space, his footsteps echoed off the cold stone floor, “You will find all kinds of languages here, but we have translators should you need them.” He moved back towards the door to walk back to the laboratory, but you hung back for a moment, eyes still scanning the vast array of scrolls and tomes. 

You turned back around to follow Daeron. He led you through the other door that opened up to a grand hall full of elves in sick beds. Other healers were moving about between the patients, offering medicine and comfort. The sounds of murmurs and coughing flooded the room. 

“This place was an old feasting hall, but we converted it to house the influx of sick patients. While we have a decent understanding of the taint’s effects on plant life, the effects on the body are… different to all previous knowledge we have.” Daeron walked down the centre aisle at the foot of all the beds and you followed. 

“I know it spreads through cuts and other openings of the body,” You added while glancing at all the sick people as you pass by, “Truly my expertise remains with the taint's effect on nature, not the body. I have only met a few people who were afflicted by it and only for a moment.” 

Daeron nodded and stood in front of a long white sheet that sectioned off a part of the hall, “Then I must warn you about what you are about to see, it is not pleasant.” He opened the curtain and walked in, holding it so you could pass through. On the other side were more patients, however, they did not look like the ones you passed. The ones you passed were sick with a common fever, coughing and sweaty, but the ones here had visual effects on their body. 

Wounded elves lay in their beds, most asleep, while the ones who were awake acted caught in a perpetual hell. Their skin looked like glass, shiny under thick covers of sweat but had marked cracks as though it was the bed of a dried lake. There was a dark purple, almost black tint on different areas of each person’s body with their veins protruding to the surface. Some were coughing up blood onto rags as their body convulsed. The sight was grim and you had to suck in a breath to refrain from displaying any signs of discomfort. 

“It burns through the body quickly in some cases, eventually rendering them immobile in some limbs. It occurs at different rates as well. No remedies for pain or other ailments even aid in pain relief.” Daeron turned to you and leaned in, lowering his voice so the others could not hear, “The people in this section have no more than a day or two before they pass. At this stage, all they can do is wait.” 

You looked around at the elves, despair rolling over you in waves. It was one thing to hear of the taint killing but to see it was something else entirely. It was an incredibly sad sight, to watch the life be horribly drained from people that did not deserve it. You and Daeron continued on as he began to name patients and how they got infected. Most were injured while inspecting the taint, others approached because they did not know what it was and suffered the consequences of curiosity. 

“Have you tried moonweed? I’ve seen it make surprising effects on the taint I experiment on back home.” You proposed. Daeron turned to you and thought for a moment. 

“Moonweed is a poison,” Daeron stated. 

You nodded, “Yes, but it is known that some poisons can be used to counteract others. I tried it in an experiment once. Tainted flowers began to grow alive again, but it did not last.” You were solemn by your failed experiment just the day prior. You truly believed it had worked, but when the life faded away and the taint took over again you felt a part of yourself go with it. 

Daeron walked closer to you, awe in his eyes as his hands went up to rest on your shoulders, “Are you being truthful? It really receded?” 

“Well, yes, but only for a moment,” You undermined your work, still reeling from the colossal failure. 

“Genius!” Daeron began. He started to walk away from you towards the exit of this area of the sick ward, “None of our healers have yet to accomplish that. You must go over it with me in the laboratory. What a feat!” His steps had renewed vigour at your words. You got the sense that this was an elf with an intense passion for his study, bordering on obsession by his reaction to your words. 

“Genius for a human, right?” You did not mean to say that as loudly as you did, but it had been feelings simmering under the surface the whole time you had been in the elven kingdom. Whenever people talked to you, their compliments always felt backhanded; as though a human was unworthy of such praise but received it otherwise. 

Daeron looked at you with an eyebrow raised, confused that you would ask such a question, “No. Just genius.” As he walked away, you paused for a moment. Your heart swelled at the compliment and you knew that hopefully, you would be making another friend in this place; anything that could make your stay here better. 

You sped up your walking to catch up with Daeron and walked with him to the laboratory, where the two of you spent the following hours swapping notes and other bits of information. The two of you had to catch up on what the other knew, as being on the same page was crucial. 

The time between you and Daeron passed swiftly. Despite the topic being grim, it felt nice to share information with someone just as deeply invested in the same study as you. His passion for healing was much like yours, though his talent for potion-making far exceeded your skills. The two of you spent hours in the laboratory, bouncing ideas back and forth and scanning through books. 

Over that time, your conversation had managed to move into topics that were not strictly work-related. You had gotten to know Daeron beyond that of the role of head healer. He had an interest in horse breeding and animal care. He had a plethora of pets, including some cats, dogs, an owl, and two ferrets. You had instantly seen a resemblance between him and Helaena, as she had an interest in collecting insects. Your thoughts drifted to Aemond and if he collected anything like his siblings. 

Your feet pattered against the stone hallway as two guards walked in front of you. It was as if your thoughts summoned Aemond himself, for at the end of the hallway he turned down to walk by you. His shoulders swayed with the movement of his gait. His lithe figure was tall and lean. He wore a similar outfit to the one you saw yesterday, all dark leather. His longsword was strapped to his waist and moved back and forth with his steps. His hair was done in the same style of half up and half down. 

The elf king was the most exquisite being you had ever seen, but his reputation threw you off entirely. With the stories you had heard, he was like a spawn from the greatest evils deep under the earth’s surface. Another elf walked beside him, with sunkissed skin and dark hair. Thick stubble covered the bottom portion of his face and you realized that he was the first elf you saw that possessed a beard. He was clad in silver armour and conversed with Aemond. While Aemond did not so much as spare you a glance as he passed by, the man to his side was looking at you with an intensity of hate you had yet to receive from anyone. Even the scornful look you had received from the king the other day was not as odious as this. 

The elf stopped glaring at you to give attention to his king. You nodded with respect as you passed, but you doubted it was noticed. The guards in front of you marched at a steady pace while you maintained a step behind them. After Aemond passed, you released a breath of relief. You hoped that he would continue to ignore your presence for the year you were there, for you did not wish to see what would happen if you were to get on his bad side. 

A burning feeling at the back of your head hit you and you knew someone was staring at you. It felt exactly like the stare Aemond gave you when leaving the throne room the other day. You knew the king was watching you as you moved down the hallway. It was with great relief that it faded once you made a right turn and got out of his sight. 

There was a part of you that wondered why he had been looking, but logically you hoped it was nothing but your nerves tricking you. 

Chapter 4: A Night of Song and Dance Preview

“What about,” You lowered your voice slightly, “The Great War?” It had ended centuries ago, but the scars from such gratuitous violence still cut and the blood still stained the minds and hearts of everyone. Daeron’s eyes darkened for a moment as if recalling it himself. You knew he would have been alive during that period and it once again hit you how odd it was to be among elves. They live so long, and everyone in this room was guaranteed to be many centuries, possibly even a millennium, older than you. 

“All that my brother did was to defend our lands, that is all. What about your people? Are you telling me they did not do terrible things to protect themselves?”

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[witchofhimring]

Aemond Targaryen x Reader HOTD AU (what if women had the same rights as men?)

In this AU women have the same rights as men which changes the history of Westeros. In this story the reader comes from an island off Westeros and marries into the Targaryen family.

I do not know if I will make a book of this concept by I will make headcanons and one shots. Certain aspects will be changed from the books.

This list includes OC's. The next post about this AU will cover Reader's children and grandchildren.

Queens:

Visenya the Conqueror

Parents: Aerion Targaryen and Valaena Velayon

Spouce(s): Aegon Targaryen

Children: Maegor Targaryen

Reign: 1 AC-44 AC

Birth: 29 AC

Death: 44 AC

Canon changes: Rules in her own right and rides Balerion instead of Vaeghar.

Maegor the Strong

Parents: Visenya Targaryen and Aegon Targaryen

Spouce(s): not decided (I will chose at a further date)

Children: none

Reign: 44 AC- undecided (TBA)

Birth: 12 AC

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is the heir to the Iron Throne. No wars with the faith or nephews. This changes the political landscape of Westeros.

Rhaena the Black Queen

Parents: Aenys Targaryen and Alyssa Velaryon

Spouce(s): Aegon Targaryen, Androw Farman

Children: Aerea Targaryen, Rhaella Targaryen

Reign: TBA

Birth: 23 AC

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Becomes Queen in her own right, is Maegor's successor.

Jaehaerys the Old King

Parents: Aenys Targaryen and Alyssa Velaryon

Spouce(s): Alysanne Targaryen

Children: Aegon Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen, Aemon Targaryen, Baelon Targaryen, Alyssa Targaryen, Maegelle Targaryen, Vaegon Targaryen, Daella Targaryen, Saera Targaryen, Viserra Targaryen, Gaemon Targaryen, Vaelerion Targaryen, Gael Targaryen

Reign: TBA-103 AC

Birth: 34 AC

Death: 103 AC

Canon changes: Succeeds his elder sister. Makes Rhaenys his heir.

Rhaenys the First

Parents: Aemon Targaryen, Jocelyn Baratheon

Spouce(s): Corlys Valeryon

Children: Laenor Velaryon, Laena Velaryon

Reign: TBA

Birth: 74 AC

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Becomes Queen

Laenor the Lazy

Parents: Rhaenys Targaryen

Spouce(s): Rhaenyra Targaryen

Children: Jacaerys Targaryen, Lucerys Velaryon, Jeoffrey Velarion

Reign: TBA- 120 AC

Birth: 93 AC

Death: 120 AC (presumably)

Canon changes: Becomes King. In the books Laenor is born in 94 AC however as he is the elder sibling in the show I moved up his date of birth to be older than Laena.

Rhaenyra the Dragon

Parents: Viserys Targaryen, Aemma Arryn

Spouce(s): Laenor Valeryon, Daemon Targaryen

Children: Jacaerys Targaryen, Lucerys Targaryen, Jeoffrey Velaryon, Aegon Targaryen, Viserys Targaryen, Visenya Targaryen

Reign: 120 AC- TBA

Birth: 97 AC

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Becomes Queen by succeeding her husband.

Daemon the Black

Parents: Baelon Targaryen, Alyssa Targaryen

Spouce(s): Laena Targaryen, Rhaenyra Targaryen

Children: Baela Targaryen, Rhaena Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen, Viserys Targaryen, Visenya Targaryen

Birth: 81 AC

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is consort of Laena and ruling with his wife.

Jacaerys the First & Baela the Just

Parents: Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra Targaryen

Spouce(s): Baela Targaryen, Agatha Hedrow (OC)

Children: Viserys Targaryen, Vaeserion Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen, Aelyanna Targaryen, Amara Targaryen, Visenya Targaryen, Edwin Targaryen (all are OC'S)

Reign: TBA-TBA

Birth: 144 AC

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Becomes King, co-rules with Baela. Marries a second time to Agatha Hedrow (OC).

Parents: Daemon Targaryen, Laena Targaryen

Spouce(s): Jacaerys Targaryen

Children: Viserys Targaryen, Vaeserion Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen (all are OC'S)

Reign: TBA-TBA

Birth: 116 AC

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Becomes Queen

Viserys the First (OC)

Parents: Jacaerys Targaryen, Baela Targaryen

Spouce(s): Daenerys Targaryen

Children: Rhaenyra Targaryen, Alicent Targaryen, Baela Targaryen (all OC's)

Reign: TBA-TBA

Birth: TBA

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is an OC.

Daenerys the Golden Queen (OC)

Parents: Aemond Targaryen, Y/n Blackhalt

Spouce(s): Viserys the Second

Children: Rhaenyra Targaryen, Alicent Targaryen, Baela Targaryen (all OC's)

Reign: TBA-TBA

Birth: TBA

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is an OC.

Daenerys the Golden Queen

Rhaenyra the Second

Parents: Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen

Spouce(s): TBA

Children: A son (more children may be added)

Reign: TBA-TBA

Birth: TBA

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is an OC.

Female heirs:

Y/n of Blackhalt (the reader)

Parents: TBA

Spouce(s): Aemond Targaryen

Children: Daenerys Targaryen, Vaella Targaryen, Jaehaerys Targaryen ,Elarion Targaryen, Hardin Targaryen, Elara Targaryen, Vissera Targaryen, Viserys Targaryen, Alice Targaryen

Birth: TBA

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is an OC.

Alys Strong

Parents: Lyonel Strong (mother unknown)

Spouce(s): none

Children: Aelon Strong (OC)

Birth: TBA

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is an OC.

Cassandra Baratheon

Parents: Borros Baratheon, Elenda Caron

Spouce(s): TBA

Children: TBA

Birth: TBA

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is Lady of Storm's End.

Laena Velaryon

Parents: Corlys Velaryon, Rhaenys Targaryen

Spouce(s): Daemon Targaryen

Children: Baela Targaryen, Rhaena Targaryen

Birth: 94 AC

Death: 120 AC

Canon changes: Is Lady of the Tides

Baela Targaryen

Profile above. Baela was made Lady of the tides after her mothers death and the title was passed on to her second son.

Consorts:

Aegon and Rhaenys

Parents:

Spouce(s):

Children:

Reign: TBA-TBA

Birth: TBA

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is consort instead of ruler.

Parents: Aerion Targaryen and Valaena Velayon

Spouce(s): Aegon Targaryen

Children: Aenys Targaryen

Birth: 25 BC

Death: 10 AC

Maegor's Queen has yet to be decided

Androw Farman

Parents: Marq Farman

Spouce(s): Rhaenys Targaryen

Children: none

Birth: 32 AC

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is consort to the Queen.

Alysanne Targaryen

Parents: Aenys Targaryen, Alyssa Velaryon

Spouce(s): Jaehaerys Targaryen

Children: Aegon Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen, Aemon Targaryen, Baelon Targaryen, Alyssa Targaryen, Maegelle Targaryen, Vaegon Targaryen, Daella Targaryen, Saera Targaryen, Viserra Targaryen, Gaemon Targaryen, Vaelerion Targaryen, Gael Targaryen

Birth: 36 AC

Death: 100 AC

Corlys Velaryon

Parents: Corwyn Valeryon (mother unnamed)

Spouce(s): Rhaenys Targaryen

Children: Laenor Velaryon, Laena Velaryon

Birth: 53 AC

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is the Queens consort.

Rhaenyra Targaryen

View profile above. Rhaenyra served as consort for several years before becoming Queen Regnant.

Agatha Hedrow (OC)

Parents: TBA

Spouce(s): Jacaerys Targaryen

Children: Aelyanna Targaryen, Amara Targaryen, Visenya Targaryen, Edwin Targaryen (all are OC'S)

Birth: TBA

Death: TBA

Canon changes: Is an OC.

Daenerys Targaryen

View profile above. Daenerys served as consort for several years before becoming Queen Regnant.

Rhaenyra the Seconds consort is not yet decided

[lizziela]

The Old Dragon's Prophecies

Aemond Targaryen x fem!OC (Arryn!OC) - Psyche and Eros AU

1748 words

Warnings:

Mentions of sacrifice, nightmares, mental health, mentions of death (small character), non-canon, english isn't my first language - And It'll be added more warnings for each chapter

Reduced to the ashes of the beast, she will be With all the World Westerosi Found in the Arryn’s, his bride will it be And in all places, for her, will it seek What if a sacrifice is made? Remain in place will it all stay

Prologue

Since she was a small child, she heard three things:

The first was how she was the blood of the dragon. Being born from a descendent straight out the House Belaerys, one of the few dragon riders descendent from Old Valyria.

The second was hearing her Septa Maeryn gossiping about her lady, Mellara’s mother, how she was a mad woman: that hallucinated and had the strangest dreams. Because to her Septa, there was no such a thing as a dragon dreamer that her lord talked so much about, trying to relieve his wife from the terrible rumours.

And the last and third thing, how she was the most beautiful out of her siblings. All 5 children of Lady Amara and Lord Arryn were handsome when young, and after years, they grew to be the most desired Lords and Maidens from the Vale. Even the youngest, Bennard, with only seven years of age, were considered to have been blessed with his mother’s beauty, just like his older siblings.

Lady Amara Arryn, borne Celtigar, was the grand child of the last woman who bore the last name Belaerys that was known in all Westeros. She didn’t get to meet her grandmother, with her having died when her own father wasn’t even close to adulthood, with his age closest to Bennard than Mellara’s.

Although, he told her tales about the fearless woman, who people gossiped, that could control and create bonds with dragons, even if they weren’t hers. Some would say that she could read the dragon’s minds, but he would always say that this part was the creativity of the people minds. Amara’s father, and grandsire, would talk every other day how she got her grandmother’s spirit and gifts, having tried to talk to a rogue dragon herself when she was younger than little Bennard during their diplomatic travel to Dragonstone one time. And they only showed up more after she got older and started realising that the dreams she had weren’t normal ones, they were dragon dreams after she predicted the almost death of her dear uncle, her father’s younger brother, during a usual hunt.

Mellara knew her mother’s dreams were enigmatic visions, she never believed the words her old Septa, who didn’t try to understand anything other than the syllabus she taught the Arryn Children. She couldn’t describe how she understands her mother’s troubled mind, she just knew.

To help with his wife’s burden, her husband would try and instruct her to write what she saw in her dreams, especially after Mellara’s birth, when the visions became more and more frequent. He would try and persuade Amara to write anything she could remember, even if most of them were extremely fogged after the terror’s they could show. After writing it down, Lord Arryn would send her journals to his most trusted maesters, trying to get them to decipher what she saw and what plagued her so badly, the things that filled his Lady with dread.

When Mellara was close to ten years of age, she heard the screams of her mother from across the private wing from the Arryn’s wing on their castle. The next morning, she heard her father comforting his wife about the most recent dragon dream, the one she could be sure were the doom of her dear family, especially her youngest and precious daughter.

At that time, Mellara was growing into a fine Maiden, being the fourth child and the youngest girl of the second Lord Arryn, the only Lord Arryn with heirs. It was strange for her to be on the receiving end of endless attention. Because of her beauty, because of her mother’s dreams, because of her uncle fruitless marriage…

She had two older sisters: Teresa, the eldest child, almost of age of marriage at the time their mother started having her terrible horrors about Mellara, with ten and eight years of age. She was 8 years Mellara’s senior. And Elyssa, who was the middle child of five, being 3 years younger than Teresa.

Whispers were heard through the Arryn castle, about how blessed she was with her mother’s beauty, the beauty the Maiden herself gave to her family, looking more like an angel than human. People would say crazy things about how if the Targaryens looked like the Gods made flesh, the small branch of Valyrian blood that run through the Arryn children made them look just as godly beautiful. But even the Arryn-Valyrian blood couldn’t be compared to Mellara, once she was the most beautiful of them. She had to have had the Maiden’s blessing before she was born.

After Mellara’s eleventh nameday, her mother told her about the secret they whispered through the halls, the terrifying dream that plagued their family, and Mellara was the protagonist of it. Amara finally told her youngest girl (now not the youngest child anymore, once Bennard had been born close to a year at the time).

What her mother told Mellara terrified her, but Amara was sincere with her child. Mellara was not to be wedded to anyone, she was told. But to not become a Septa as well. A decision that did not look good at the eyes of Westeros, especially once the girl was beautiful enough to be coveted even at the age of eleven. Though their family didn’t have much of a choice.

Her mother’s dream never changed during the years since she had it, Lady Arryn told her daughter: it always started the same, with her child now grown, and imprisoned by a Beast. She couldn’t see it, and a strange and soft voice would always affirm that the girl was protected. But the feeling she got during the dream always said otherwise. That her baby was in danger, that she wasn’t safe, that she fell into the viper’s den. And that Beast was the cruellest of them all.

But at that point, not only the soft and caring voice continued saying that Mellara was alright, now the girl talked to her mother directly in her dream, with words of safety and care.

Then the vision would change, and her fears would now be shown. The Beast, besides his creator, would light Mellara’s on flames. And now she could only feel, not hear or see, only feel her daughter’s anguish. It wasn’t from the flames pain; it was an emotional hurt, it felt like betrayal.

The dream then was narrated by the Valyrian Goddess, Meleys and Vhagar, was right beside her, saying everything she needed to know.

It terrified her mother even more, to be face to face to those deities, that her Valyrian side of the family tried hard to worship still. And it terrified even her father, the man with his faith strong to the Seven.

For that reason, Lord Arryn made his eldest son, Dorren, a young man of ten and eight at the time, swear to protect his sister from her terrible fate, from the fate of being burned alive, of suffering a huge betrayal, as his mother dreamed.

Close to eleven months after Bennard’s birth, the Lord Arryn, their father, succumbed to a winter fever after a trip close to the North, something unknown to the maesters from the Vale.  After a few months, the Lord Harrold Arryn, the Lord of the Eeyrie, her father’s elder brother, also died from an illness that plagued him most of his life. Leaving Dorren to assume the Arryn seat.

Being now the newest Lord Arryn himself, he oversaw his sisters, making him now the one responsible for their engagements and betrothals.

Close to two months after being the new Lord, he married his older sister, Teresa, to the third in line for the Royce seat, after the late Lady Rhea Royce, Ser Garin Royce. And Elyssa, three years after, was given to a second son of Redwyne, Ser Torrhen Redwyne. The two, now married women, left at the Eeyrie Castle their two brothers and younger sister, who now was close to her four and ten nameday.

The story that ran around the Vale was that how good of a match the two Arryn girls had made, with honourable men, and how it was a feat to their Lord brother and the remembrance of the promise Dorren have made to their father, to look after his girls.

Although carrying a toll of a young maiden, already ready for marriage since her 15th nameday, but who still hadn’t a wedding date in sight. The opposite, only refusals made by her brother on her behalf. That rumour made de closest houses cautious about what the family of a formerly second son of the Arryn household could be hiding, once the whispers of the dreams were prohibited to leave the Castle.

The most common assumption was about their heritage, about how there was a curse, who passed since the Belaerys to the Arryn’s by blood.

The rumours around the Vale weren’t without a fundament, and completely wrong. It wasn’t a curse inherited after the last Lady Belaerys, although the actual curse wasn’t placed yet, both Mellara and her mother were just waiting for the time to come and retrieve the younger Arryn girl from her family. From her mother, Lady Amara, who was every year more and more apprehensive about the fate of her sweetest (and unbeknownst to her other girls) and favourite daughter.

And every day, of every week, the same dreaded dream would plague her more. And time by time she felt her daughter’s emotion even more vividly as if it was her own. It was the same message from the gods, with the same feeling of terror every time she woke up in cold sweat looking for her daughter’s chambers, afraid she had been taken during the night. That they had finally taken her from her home to marry that monster.

She was always afraid during the final time of her dream. When she heard the same rhyme, like a lullaby for children that always get stuck into your brain and nothing else can make it stop.

She always heard the words while she saw her daughter lit up in flames, silently, as if she couldn’t feel anything physically.

And the words were:

Reduced to the ashes of the beast, she will be With all the World Westerosi Found in the Arryn’s, his bride will it be And in all places, for her, will it seek What if a sacrifice is made? Remain in place will it all stay

That's the prologue of a multi-chapter fic I am currently writing.

I hope you like it.

We writers love to hear about the feedback, so please say what you think about it.

Hopefully I will be able to post more frequently!

Dividers by @zaldritzosrose

[sapphire-writes]

Let's spread some positivity! Tag some of your fellow content creators here and let them know why they are absolutely amazing!❤️

ohmygoodness I love this idea! here are some of my faves at the moment; if there's anyone I've missed that's my bad, this fandom is full of so much talent!! ❤️ here's who I've been obsessed with lately in no particular order:

@oneeyedvisenya ~ rae, my ride or die, my slowburn, smut, Aemond QUEEN! one of the first accounts I ever followed you know how obsessed I am with your fics & I love that we're both so feral and unhinged about that one-eyed grump 🫶🏻 you're so incredibly talented I'm always in awe!

@undertheorangetree ~ karina, good GOD! under the god's eye HELLO?!?! you are so incredibly talented my friend I'm so glad I found your work!! ❤️

@randomdragonfires ~ sam!! your writing is incredible you are truly the queen of angst in my eyes like have I read something of yours without crying?? who's to say??

@humanpurposes ~ gee, the talent, the modern Aemond---- need I say more? My Heart Belongs to Daddy is a constant reread for me!

@hamatoanne ~ anne, your work literally has me in a chokehold good GOD queen of modern smut fr

@valeskafics ~ bel, the range, the writing, the smut, the OG modern queen hello?? you literally write like you're running out of time I'm so impressed by your dedication to your craft!! incredible!

@ewanmitchellcrumbs ~ ange, good lord what can I even say?? your work is so iconic whenever I see you've posted I immediately start giggling knowing I'm in for a treat

@barbiedragon ~ fae, you own modern Daemyra in my eyes, the way you write them is so *chef's kiss*

@asumofwords ~ tee, the sublet *takes deep breath* what are you doing to me bestie?!?! you're so insanely talented I am obsessed with you and your fic!!

@scalyfreaks ~ daisy, good GOD! I am so beyond obsessed with Aegon x Amara, started with burning jasmine and have followed ever since. me and my friend irl have a joke that burning jasmine is canon in our minds lmao "get scalyfreaks in the writer's room!" you're so insanely talented I'm continuously impressed by your writing!

@cyeco13 ~ bestie, your art is incredible! you are so insanely talented I love seeing you post! you also made me a fanart for my story which I cannot thank you enough for!

@theoneeyedprince ~ justine!! a refined taste, need I say more?? you are so talented my friend and I can see how much of your heart and soul you poured into this fic! love to see your comment

this fandom is full of so many talented writers and content creators so happy to be a part of it! ❤️

[dulcewrites]

Are you planning on putting the modern Aemond and Amara story on AO3 as well? 

I’m guessing you mean Aemond and myrah. If I ever write something substantial enough for sure. Most of the ideas I had were pretty short tbh and easier just to keep on here

[killawayfanboys]

Things I've decided for the "epilogue" of my HOTD fic: *Aka, 5-6 years after the main storyline*

The civil war between the Greens and the Blacks still happen, just this time Aemond is on the Blacks side. He's come to resent his mother, and her attempts to usurp the throne from Rheanrya piss him off. Both Rheanrya and Daemon took him and Lucian in as their own "children" or at least part of their immediate family. Plus they have no judgement about the relationship going on between the four boys, they just live with it. Aemond still hates his mother after what she had done to Lucian (slitting his throat, forcing him to forever lose his voice). So, when the civil war began he's quick to join in... And so is Luke.

By now the four have gotten married to one another and have had three children. The oldest his Aemond's biological son, Alexandrys, or his nickname Alex. The middle is Jace's biological daughter, Amara. And the last and youngest son, Theo was collectively adopted. The two biological children come from a decision made by the four, as Lucian can't physically bare children any longer due to his surgical procedures. The four of them decided that in order to have children they'll use surrogate maiden wives... Alex looks practically identical to Aemond. And Amara looks like a female version of Jace, just with green eyes instead of purple. Theo is an outlier with black hair and golden eyes. Regardless they all love their children.

During the early months of the civil war, Luke gets majorly injured in battle, which sends him home. Ironically Luke loses his right eye just like Aemond, although his wound is a little more gruesome, as the scar trails all the way down his cheek and across his lips as well. In the beginning stages of recovery, Luke's health declines rapidly and he become incredibly susceptible to sickness and infections. He constantly flips from being healthy to bed ridden with another major illness. Lucian always helps him recover whenever he's sick, but the whole thing puts a strain on the family.

Aemond is still gone, being gone for a little over a year, still fighting in the war. This also doesn't help the family. The constant worry about whether or not Aemond was alive causes an extreme amount of stress on the family. So much so that Jace slips into alcoholism and is distant from his family. He doesn't stick around the castle for very long, only really coming home to sleep drunk out of his mind, or for the occasional sober meal. But otherwise? Jace is negligent. Which causes Lucian and Jace to fight, constantly. As Lucian is overburdened with the responsibility of taking care of the three kids and a bed ridden Luke more often than not. Lucian ends up relying on Rheanrya and Daemon's support a lot to get by.

During the years the four have learned a type of sign language to communicate, a language called the Silent Voice. Lucian also learns to write, which facilitates a constant back and forth messaging between him and Aemond as the war goes on. Sending ravens as often as possible to one another...

One day Luke gets very sick and almost dies, which causes another huge fight between Lucian and Jace and Lucian ends up saying something he regrets. Jace storms off a stubborn man and disappears... For over a week. When he's finally found it turns out he had only meant to leave for the night and cool off, before returning the next day. However this particular night Vermax was acting specifically feral and ended up tossing Jace from his saddle before trying to catch him. Vermax's talons sink into Jace's arm, leaving it wounded beyond fixing. Daemon sets out to find him and when he does Jace is on the brink of death, kept only alive by Vermax's constant care. Jace survives, but his arm is amputated because of it. This event humbles Jace, and he stops drinking and starts being a proper father to his children and a husband to his lovers. Eventually he designs his own prosthetic and has it made for himself, replacing his entire arm. (I've added in a small character trait about Jace that he's actually really into designing clothing and fashion)

The beginning sections of the epilogue will be written as the back and forth messages between Aemond and Lucian as they send letters. As a way to ease the reader into the future before having Aemond come home.

When Aemond returns home, a lot has changed. Lucian's hair is extremely shorter and he's starts wearing glasses because his eyes are beginning to decline. Luke of course lost his eye, a wound Aemond actually hasn't seen yet, he's also taller, the tallest out of them all. His hair is longer and because of being under so much stress that year he also looks the oldest of them all, with a full beard and strands of his hair turning silver. And Jace of course, has lost an arm, something extremely surprising for Aemond because Lucian never wrote about it in his letters. Jace is also thinner, as recovering from such an injury took a lot out of him. His hair is also longer, now pulled back in a loose ponytail, and he also has deep burn scars across his neck from the situation with Vermax as well.

Aemond also looks a bit different as well, he trimmed his hair, now it only reaches his shoulders instead of his lower back. His skin is tanned from being out on the battlefields. On his hands, the tips of his fingers are tinted permanently bluish black because of the harsh North environment, constantly getting frostbite and healing from it. He also has a bunch of new scars along his body from fighting. And a lingering stiff leg because it had been repeatedly attacked during the war.

All in all though, the four of them are as healthy as they can be, each one recovering from their individual injuries. And they're just happy that Aemond is home, especially the kids who missed their father.

[thecambriaone]

current mw?

of course !

helaena targaryen, aemond targaryen, jacaerys velayron, harwin strong, laena velaryon, baela velaryon, sansa stark, robb stark, cregan stark, ned stark, catelyn stark/tully, tyrion lannister, daenerys targaryen, gendry (game of thrones/house of the dragon) armand, gabrielle de lioncourt, nicolas de lenfent (interview with the vampire/the vampire chronicles) maximus (fallout) stephanie brown, barbara gordon, tim drake, dick grayson, duke thomas, dinah lance, john constantine, rose wilson (dc) finn, rose tico, han solo, leia organa, cal kestis, greez dritus, leia organa, doc (star wars) martha jones, rose tyler, donna noble, rose noble, amy pond, rory williams, bill potts, clara oswald, yasmin khan, graham o’brien, ryan sinclair, kate lethbridge-stewart, jack harkness, rogue (doctor who) betty cooper, archie andrews, jughead jones, dilton doiley, sabrina spellman, cheryl blossom (archie comics/riverdale) rebekah mikaelson, kol mikaelson, freya mikaelson, amara, tatia, tom avery, stefan salvatore, finn mikaelson, bonnie bennett, josie saltzman, lizzie saltzman, landon kirby (the vampire diaries/the originals/legacies) kate bishop, thor odinson, loki laufeyson, tony stark, peter parker, bruce banner, pietro maximoff, lorna dane, erik lehnsherr, charles xavier (marvel) maeve millay, william grace/man in black, clementine pennyfeather, charlotte hale, bernard lowe, hector escaton, caleb nichols (westworld)

[scaly-freaks]

Oh my God, now you've got me wanting Aemond with amara no matter the consequences I love Aegon too but like damn he'd take such good care of her omg if you ever make even a tiny one-shot ill eat that shit up cause like they're adorable but also in the same aspect I don't even wanna imagine Aegon's reaction or actions towards that bcs they'd either be really worrying or just straight up sad

Aaahh maybe one day, a little oneshot, where Aegon isn't mentioned because then my heart will break :((

If it happened in the current timeline, and Aegon ends up in love with her, yeah it'd shatter him. He'd remove himself from the picture entirely and leave for the States and not speak to his family unless it's over the phone on holidays. He'd definitely know he can't be around them anymore and see her with Aemond, so he'd do the sadder, more responsible thing and just vanish from their lives :((( And that would destroy Amara because she'd blame herself for ruining the family like this, especially when Alicent is holding back tears at Christmas after she's spent the whole time on video call with Aegon begging him to move back to England.

[painted-flag]

OF FLOWERS AND DEATH - aemond targaryen

Chapter 8: Marked Flesh

☾⋆⁺₊✧ dark elf!Aemond Targaryen x f!human!reader series. ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series masterlist. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ word count: 3.8k ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series warnings: 18+ depictions of violence/gore, eventual smut, warfare, sickness/disease, some moments of misogyny, and mentions of alcohol consumption. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ Mysterious markings appear on the bodies of infected patients that leave you stumped in your research. In another turn of events, drunk words draw you into the enigma that is the royal family.

It was another day in the elven kingdom. You were dressed that morning by Amara and Liriel - who did not speak about the stunt you had pulled. Surprisingly so, your venture in the woods was not spread around. You wondered if Aemond was keeping it secret for his own sake. It would be embarrassing to admit a human was able to sneak past his guards and escape the castle. It could be just as easy to sneak in as opposed to sneaking out. 

You were glad he kept it secret regardless, for you wished not for the trust built between you and some elves to be broken. Revealing it to everyone would hurt not just your reputation, but Aemonds. It was, in a slight sense, relieving to have a mutual standing with the king. A draw was more like it. 

A smile made its way on your face as you approached your first patient visit of the day. Lyra was sitting in bed, staring up at the vaulted ceiling that spanned the length of the hall with intricately carved stone. The chandeliers glittered with light, casting the hall in a yellow warmth. 

“And how is my favourite elf?” You asked as you placed her food on the small wood table beside her bed. You snuck a bit of peach slices into the meal, as they were her favourite. 

Lyra’s wide and glistening eyes turned to you. Despite her obvious pain, she was still chock-full of wonder, “I have a question.” 

“And what is it, sweet girl?” You sat on the edge of the bed. She rolled up the sleeve of her white flowing dress. She exposed the upper portion of her bicep and revealed the inner area by her armpit. On the delicate skin were dark lines. They each moved in succession to one another, like scratches. 

“May I?” You questioned with your hand reaching out and she nodded to permit you. The pads of your fingers traced the markings gently. This was not something you had noticed in the other patients, nor was it in anything you read. They were gnarly and ridged, composed of rough marks.

You brought out your notes and wrote about it. You went through the standard questions you ask all the patients each morning - how are their symptoms, has anything changed, how much sleep did they get, and a few others to gauge how bad the taint has infected them. 

“I’m scared.” Lyra’s voice broke you from your focus. You looked up at her to see a faraway look in her eyes. 

“Of what?” 

Lyra then made eye contact with you and spoke plainly, “Death.” 

You were left unable to answer. What could be said to comfort a dying child? What possible words could be used to cover that void of fear? You put down your notebook and reached to grab both of her hands and rubbed the knuckles gently. 

“I want to say you are brave - and you are - but darling I wish you did not ever have to be. The healers and I are working tirelessly for a cure, just hold on. Can you promise me that? After I will take you wherever you wish to go, our little adventure.” Your smile was forced as you tried to keep your composure around her.

Lyra’s face lit up at your words, “Wherever I wish?” 

“Of course,” You ruffled her hair gently and got up from the bed. You stayed to make sure she broke her fast and then went about the rest of your rounds. 

For each patient you visited, you inspected their inner upper bicep and found the same strange markings that were on Lyra. You took note of each of the markings and asked the same questions, hoping that you could find a connection between everyone. After collecting that information, you rushed to the laboratory. 

Daeron was already there as he looked through a pile of books on one of the tables. He muttered to himself - a frequent habit of his to organize his thoughts. You coughed to catch his attention and not startle him. 

Daeron turned to see you, “Ah, how is the adventurer today?” He teased about your recent venture into the woods. 

“You know?” You sighed loudly. Daeron laughed and picked up the book he was looking for. 

“Helaena was told, so naturally, she told me.” Daeron gave you a mischievous smirk. You were not entirely surprised by that. The royal siblings seemed close, especially Daeron and Helaena. 

“Please, let's move on from this. I have some new findings.” At those words, Daeron perked up and approached you. You handed him your notebook to read what you wrote about the markings. “This came to my attention this morning.” 

You waited as Daeron flipped through the few pages. Occasionally he would look up at you and then back down. You could tell he was taking it all in and searching all the previous knowledge he had. 

“Curious,” He muttered, “Peculiar…” Daeron handed you the journal back and paced the laboratory. One of his hands gripped his chin in thought. You watched the elf contemplate for a few moments as he went back and forth. In a quick moment, Daeron snapped his fingers. He glided across the room and reached for a dusty old book. He opened it and started to frantically flip through the pages with determination on his face. 

“They almost look like…” He trailed off as the parchment pages turned. He stopped at a page and let out a hum of approval, “Like these.” He placed the book on a table in front of you and double-tapped the drawings on the page. You leaned in to take what he was presenting you. 

You saw similar markings, but these lines had been inflicted by a knife to the skin, not randomly appearing on them like the patients. You scanned the words and became even more confused.

“Casting marks?” You questioned. 

Daeron brushed a strand of silver hair out of his face, “Blood magic. When you cast strong enough enchantments, it demands a sacrifice of your blood.” 

“But the marks on the patients were not carved… they appeared.” Your brows furrowed. 

“It is only what they looked like to me,” Daeron spoke, “That is all.” Both of you stood in contemplative silence. You placed your sketchings next to the book and looked back and forth. They were exact, except for the fact that one was cut into skin and the other were black lines. 

A dull throbbing emerged in your head. Prior to this, you were confused, now even more so. It seemed that every time you made good headway, something came to stop it. There was almost intentionality in the changing of the taint. A change brought about by its wish to survive and destroy everything. 

“More information to keep you up at night.” Daeron broke the silence. You glanced towards him. 

“I just wish I brought all of my supplies with me. There might be something there.” You wondered about the possibility of something in your home helping. It was cluttered with items, ingredients, books, and trinkets you had collected in your years of research. While the laboratory and library here had surpassed expectations, you longed for the small room of your home. The quiet peace you got there and your ability to work for longer periods - not having to speak to people and just focus on what you needed to get done. 

Daeron patted you on the back, “I’m going to see what the marks look like on the patients.” He stepped back from you and approached the door to the hall. You were left to think, though mostly you just stared.  Frustration built up in you. A phrase you had gotten used to floated through your mind. One step forward, two steps back.

The bustling hall of elves was filled with merry music and chatter. It marked another week since the last dance. In that time, the bridge between you and other elves strengthened - particularly your relationships with Helaena and Daeron. They had been rocks in your stay in the kingdom, always aiding when needed. Amara and Liriel were not relaying your talks to the king, as Daeron reassured you. After, you allowed yourself to get closer to them and spoke on more personal topics. Truly, it had been a long time since you had others to call friends. 

You had yet to get close to Aegon, as he was often about on some adventure and never in the castle. However, he made it a goal to be present at all of the celebrations. He had stalked in to see you, Daeron, Amara, and Liriel at one of the tables. You wished Helaena was there, but understood her aversion to large crowds and loud noises. As Aegon approached, you saw that he carried a sack in his hands. 

“Lovely ladies!” While not drunk, there was an air of aloofness to him. He noticed his brother at the table, “Ah, you as well.” 

Daeron rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair, “Should we be worried about whatever you are carrying in that bag?” 

Aegon feigned offence, “It burns me that you think lowly of me. In fact, it is good.” He reached in and pulled out a brooch. It was gold and embedded with jewels to resemble a honeybee. He handed it off to Amara. 

“One for you,” He said with his voice pitched up slightly. Aegon pulled another one out, this time it was silver and blue in the shape of a butterfly. “One for you.” He gave it to Liriel. 

Aegon reached you, “And for the lovely human that pissed off my brother and gave me a great laugh,” He pulled out a brooch that was made of silver. It was a beetle with their wings out. The wings were made of emeralds with the base of the bug being a large sapphire. He passed it to you and you felt the weight in your hands. Cool and surprisingly heavy for such a small object. 

“And you stole these from where?” Daeron interjected. 

“Not theft, brother. I won them in a gamble at some pub… uh, ‘the Merry Maiden’ no, that wasn’t it. Uh, ‘the Gilded Goblet’... no not that.” Aegon’s brows furrowed as he tried to recall the pub's name, but you understood he was likely too inebriated to remember where he was. “Helaena picked the dragonfly one, but I thought the others could make some fine gifts for my friends.” 

Liriel placed her brooch down on the table, “You simply wanted to give them to us?” 

“Alright,” Aegon sighed, “I was hoping one of you could make sure I reach my room tonight and not end up passed out in some room or field. I need to wake up early tomorrow.” You exchanged a look with Daeron, him hiding his smile behind his goblet. 

“I will,” You volunteered. Aegon smiled and thanked you before wandering off - likely to the nearest keg. 

“You will regret that,” Amara warned you in a joking tone, “Last time I tried to get him back to his room, I had to drag him down a hall by his boot.”  You looked to Liriel and Daeron for confirmation, to which they nodded vehemently. You sat back in your chair and sighed before taking a swig of your drink. You were begging to wonder if that was the best decision. 

Daeron got out of his chair and held his hand out to you, “Care for a dance?” 

“Of course,” You placed your hand in his and he escorted you to the floor. Many of the elvish dances are a lot like the ones back home, so you were glad there was not an extreme learning curve. “Have you spoken to her yet?” You remembered his confession the last time you two danced. The supposedly enchanting elf huntress he always treated consumed a large portion of his mind, yet he had been too embarrassed to far as to tell you her name. 

Daeron looked around the room with a faint blush on his cheeks, “I’m working on it.” 

“Ah,” You slowly nodded, “Yes I can see how much progress you have made.” Your sarcastic tone earned you a look of funny disapproval from him. 

“And what about you? Any person back home?” Daeron asked as he spun you around. 

You could not hold back the laugh that slipped from your mouth. You unclasped your hand from his and covered your mouth at the sudden outburst, “No. The options available are… less than desirable.” You tried to find the most gentle words to use and Daeron seemed to understand while he spun you around again. In just a short moment, the smile on Daeron’s face morphed into a serious one. 

You raised your brow at him as he stopped dancing and the two of you stood there. You turned to where he was looking and nothing could prepare you for what you saw. Aemond was right there, with his hands clasped behind his back and a smug look on his face. He never came to these dances, from what you heard, so why was he here now?

“Forgive me, brother,” Aemond spoke to Daeron, “I shall step in.” The blood in your veins turned to ice. Daeron looked at your reaction and stepped close to you. 

“We must discuss a bit of research,” He intervened. 

Aemond hummed, “I am sure you two will have plenty of time on the morrow.” He held his hand out to you and you knew there was no way to deny him - especially in front of the eyes of all the elves in the room. You placed your hand in his and were surprised at the feeling. The skin was cold and rough, his hand larger than yours. Aemond nodded to his brother before moving you away and proceeding to dance. 

The feeling of him being so close reminded you of the sword he held against your throat, yet little fear came over you. He smelled of burning wood and parchment, with something akin to a medley of spices. Aemond did not speak but carefully guided you through the steps. Confusion was not a good enough word to describe your bewilderment. This was the only time you had ever seen him operate with a modicum of respect and possibly kindness. 

That sentiment died the moment he spoke. 

“You two needed to discuss research? Am I correct in guessing that your little adventure was for nothing?” Aemond taunted. The two of you spun before going back to the calm back-and-forth stepping. Other elves around you kept a portion of distance from the king and granted him more leeway on the dance floor.

You knew you had to remain as calm and poignant as possible, “No, your grace,” You would never outright address him as king for as long as you could, “We have yet to begin testing the flowers.” 

“I would advise not to be disappointed when it fails, but I am sure you are used to it.” Aemond’s smugness always managed to dig deep. You could not help but wonder, in all the years of his life, how nobody had yet to knock some sense into him. While none of the other royal siblings had spoken about it, you surmised there had to have been parents or some guardian in their youth to raise them. His siblings were kind, why was he not? 

“Then why did you save me?” Your question caused him to look at you. A glint of confusion shone in his eye. “You wish for me to fail, I could have then and there in that forest. Are you so selfish in your hate towards my kind that you would jeopardize a possible chance of saving and curing your people?”

Aemond’s grip on your hand and waist tightened, though not greatly enough to cause discomfort, “I did not jeopardize anything. If you can recall, I did save you.” His voice lowered in both volume and pitch. 

“Then why?” You questioned again, “Why did you save me?”

“You forget easily, I already told you,” Aemond reminded, “For my sister.” 

“For your sister?” Your tone was not convinced. Ultimately, if you looked at him closely, he looked just a tad nervous. There was an underlying feeling of anxiety in the way his eye darted around the room. He acted indifferent, but there was only so much falsity one could use before they ran out.

“You ask a mighty amount of questions.” Aemond deflected. 

“I wouldn’t be good at what I do if I was bad at asking questions.” You raised your eyebrow as a silent challenge. He turned his gaze back to you, a subtle fire in his eye. Before he could make a retort, you spoke again, “You did not answer my question.” 

Aemond scoffed, “Get used to disappointment.” 

You gave him a feigned and innocent look of confusion and kept your tone polite, “Did you not start this very conversation saying I was used to disappointment? Do you forget easily?” He did not appear to like you and disliked how you used his own words against him. The music came to an end and he pulled away from you as if burned from the contact. 

He looked as though he was going to speak, but chose not to. Aemond stalked off and passed through elves that immediately parted and bowed their heads. While making a big deal of not tolerating anything, he sure did let you get away with a lot. Why must he go out of his way to make you miserable? Does he not have a myriad of tasks to tackle as king?

It was not until he disappeared from your vision that Daeron approached.  

He gripped your shoulder with a worried expression, “Aemond said something horrible, didn’t he?” 

You gave him a reassuring tight-lipped smile, “Just the usual.” Daeron sighed with disappointment and wrapped his arm around your shoulders to guide you off the dance floor and back to the table with Amara and Liriel. Daeron pulled out your chair and you sat down. When you were gone, food had been brought to the table and you settled in to relax and talk with your friends.

You had lost track of the hours as the night passed. Despite Aemond’s attempt to spoil your night, it was significantly better than the last celebration. It was only a week ago, but you had been so new to the castle and unsure of yourself. Now, you had felt stronger after making good connections. It was incredibly fun to bond more with them. 

Since elves lived such long lives, they were never short on stories to tell. Naturally, time passed quickly. Daeron had just finished speaking when you saw Aegon in the distance. He stumbled towards the grand doors that were left open, his clothing somewhat dishevelled.  

“Excuse me, but I am tired and it looks like Aegon may accidentally take a tumble down a flight of stairs if he is not watched.” You pushed out your chair, bowed your head goodbye to them and rushed to the prince. He just made it past the threshold when he stumbled and fell on his knees. You reached him and put one arm across the upper part of his back and the other on the front of his stomach. 

“Ah,” His lopsided smile greeted you, “My saviour.” 

“Come on, let's walk,” You helped to lift him and began a wobbly trek down the halls of the castle. The two guards assigned to watch you followed closely behind. 

The walk took longer than it should have, given that Aegon fell multiple times and it took great strength to get him up again. You wondered if you should ask the guards for help, but decided against it. Every time you had tried to talk to them previously had been met with absolute silence. You had to ask him for directions to his room, which took him a long time to remember. 

Once you reached the door to his quarters, you resisted a loud sigh of relief. You leaned him up against the stone wall to open the door. After another few minutes of struggle, you managed to get him onto his bed. He yawned loudly and stretched out his arms. 

“I am sorry you have to deal with me,” Aegon mumbled. 

You were caught off guard and confused by his words, “What makes you say that?” 

“Helaena is so smart and Daeron has his success in healing. Aemond is the king and I, well, I am a drunk.” Aegon shakily moved his hands to gesture to his body. You removed his boots and placed them at the foot of the bed. 

While you were pouring water into a chalice to place on the bedside table, you thought of a response, “You do not have to be a drunk.” 

“But that is what I am good at.” You moved to sit on the side of the bed, your feet lifting a few inches off the floor. Aegon’s eyes were half-lidded.

“Gods know he won’t remember this,” You whispered to yourself before you raised your head to look at him, “Do you know how many of my people would kill to live as long as you? To learn and grow, to hone skills and make a difference? You have been given a gift, don’t waste it.” Your tone bordered on harsh, but you reeled it in. Something told you deep down that lashing out at him would only make the situation worse. There was no guarantee that come the morrow, these words would stick, but it was better than saying nothing at all. 

You got off the bed and made your way to the door. Your hand gripped the wrought steel handle of the wooden door. When you opened the door and allowed the torchlight of the hallway to seep in, Aegon called out your name. You turned to him to see him on the bed still, but his face looked as though he had more clarity. 

“My brother is not bad, just confused in his way and lashes out,” Aegon spoke.

“What?” You questioned. Your grip on the handle tightened.

Aegon rose slightly to fluff the pillow below him with a huff, “I saw him speaking to you. It is not my place to say, but he is not what he tries desperately to convince people of.” 

“And what is that?” Your query was met with a beat of silence. The distant shouts of the party were long drowned out, nothing but the crackling of the hearth and buzzing of the fireflies outside occupied the room.

“Evil.” His words echoed in your head. 

You gave him a shaky smile, though your heart was not fully in it, “Get some rest, Aegon.” With that, you left his room and closed the door. For a few moments, you stood unable to move. The family you had been exposed to since your meeting with Helaena was more complex than you could have imagined; a fine distraction you did not want to sink into and distract from your research. However, your curiosity had always been your greatest strength and weakness.

Chapter 9: Home and Hearth Preview

“I do not hate you,” Your words caused him to stop. You were slightly fearful, but it waned with each passing day, “I do not know you enough to hate you.” 

“But you have heard enough,” Aemond’s voice had dropped back down to a natural volume, contrasting his combative attitude from before. He shifted on the saddle and scanned the darkened forest.

“Stories, yes, but I doubt them more with each day. I have not seen you gut anyone, or drink the blood of your fallen foes, or anything else like that.” You reasoned. Your fingers brushed the purple petals of the flowers in front of you.

Aemond looked away from you and towards the flowers on the ground, “How do you know I do not do those things?”

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[scaly-freaks]

Not you leaving us high and dry. Evil. Loved the aemond x amara, I feel bad for him tbh. And of course cannibee the icon.

Ahahahah...I thought we needed a bit of a breather ><

I suppose I do too. It wouldn't be easy to find out the girl you've been crushing on since you were a kid has the hots for your older brother who's always been at odds with you. But Aemond is made of very strong stuff (pun intended).

[scaly-freaks]

ok but aemond and amara???? that scene was so sweet 😻😻 and jaehaera mentioned 🗣🗣🗣

Ahaha yeah it really was! He was so sweet with her (he's not with people except for Hel and Amara). And YAAAYYYYY Jaehaera manifested, future baby girl is now being mentioned, watch out Mummy and Daddy (and get your shit together a little bit)

[scaly-freaks]

let aemond and amara kiss, daisyy!!! jk!! unless!!! jk fr amaegon 4ever i love them your honor.

I almost made them kiss in the latest chapter until I was like wait no she's about to go batshit over Aegon and this Aemond is too impactful not to make her forget about all that which would change the trajectory of the story *-*

[scaly-freaks]

The new chapter! Amazing, amazing and amazing. Aemond is breaking my heart he’s so CUTE! I need him and Amara together just to piss Aegon off but then I think about how heartbroken he’s going to be once Amara eventually goes to Aegon and I don’t want that so I’ll take what I have *sigh*

But honestly what a cutie

Yeah, I get very iffy about storylines where the love triangle is between two brothers and a love interest because I will always put sibling relationships over something like that (if me and mine wanted the same person, I'm not sacrificing them for the love interest who might not even work out).

But realistically, Amara would never even have gone for Aegon if not for the unique set of circumstances and messed up brain chemicals on the night that put her in his arms. She doesn't want to mess up the dynamic she has with the Targs, bc if she and Aegon don't work out, after having seen them take him back again and again, she knows who will have to phase themselves out of the group (her). For the same reason, I think she'd never even consider being with Aemond because of the guilt over feeling attraction to the brother he's always at war with.

[scaly-freaks]

i love the idea of aemond chasing fake amara into her room and chasing real amara out of her room lmao

your fic is actually the best. i'm so invested !!!

That man's mind is all over the place (I'd feel sorry for him but he's scary and my girl is small and terrified so I'll save it!) Thank youuuuuu <3333