#alicent noticing aemond having aegons knife.... girl open your eyes

[hauntingblue]

Weird that helaena didn't foresee this btw she has predicted nearly every tragedy that happens to the greens

[sad-gay-writer]

The Coldest Dragon

Aemond Targaryen X Gn!Reader

Tags- Hurt/comfort, sickfic, sad, angsty fluff, fluffy angst, caregiver

Context: As the months go on, Aemond notices you keep on training hard, even in the evening. Also, despite the feasts you attend, you eat little and lesser every day. He is starting to get worried. So when you fall off Vhagar, after fainting whilst riding with him, Aemond confronts your problem.

Triggers below cut off

TW- Restriction, overexercising, fainting, ED thoughts and purging-Insert your own first and last name Y/n L/n = Your name Last name

Insert your own pronouns if not they/them/themself- gender neutral

You are not a Targaryen but Aemond's future betrothed, so you stay with him in the Dragonstone castle until you are both of age to wed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over the past few moons Aemond had noticed there was something wrong. He knew because you were stubborn, like him, you would have to be confronted about your problem. It was a problem, a disorder. Aemond had read about afflictions of the mind from the books of his Maesters', mostly he had focused on mental aversions to food, which he believes you have. You met all of the criteria after all, because you ate very little or nothing on certain days, then trained for hours until he had to take you inside at near the hour of the bat.

"My Prince, are you feeling well?" A serving girl asked, breaking Aemond's deep thought, whilst he realised he had been sat staring into a plate of sweet meats for the most of the midday feast. "Uh, yes. I am fine, thank you." He muttered back awkwardly, trying to look at other food on the table. Then Aemond caught your eye, trying to pass the plate of sweet meat he smiled. Only to be met with your tight lipped grimace, of which he saw often now at dinner times, in response. "Ah, no thank you my Prince. I- I will just have some vegetables." You began piling vegetables onto your plate, almost amassing a pile which left peas rolling onto the table, rapidly grabbing a whole spoonful of fruits from Dorne as well. Nervously trying to avoid Aemond's fervent look of fear, you began to cut the carrots into increasingly miniscule pieces with your knife aggressively.

King Viserys was at the head of the long table, with Queen Alicent at his side. The two were staring at you, brows furrowed, as they whispered to one another looking at you then each other again. Whereas Aegon, already blackout drunk, did not care for the shaking of the table as you began to saw into the root vegetables in front of you. Whilst Helaena, his sister-wife, stood up and stared off dreamily out of the castle's window before announcing clearly, "The coldest dragon will fall. The coldest dragon will fall," She repeated this until the King motioned for a servant to hand Helaena her sewing and to 'take my dear daughter to her chambers, please'.

As a servant took Helaena away you stood up, hands shaking and dropping your knife onto the table. "May I be excused? I apologise my King and Queen, but I am feeling unwell." Queen Alicent turned to the King, before nodding and King Viserys nodded for you to leave before coughing into a handkerchief from his wife, the Queen.

Turning to leave you heard the scraping of Aemond's chair as he too stood up, this made you walk faster but as you stood up the blood rushed from your head. It left you reeling, barely managing to open the door before you collapsed against the wall in a hidden washer's cupboard. As you heard the door creak open again, hitting the wall with the force of Aemond opening it, running to find you. But Aemond had grown up on Dragonstone, he saw your panting shadow from under the door to the cupboard he had hidden in many times from Aegon as a boy, and carefully stepped inside. Your vision was swimming as the faint feeling overcame you, as you tried to push Aemond away only for him to hold you by the shoulders and kiss your forehead. "My love, what's wrong?" Staring at you with his violet eye, tenderly tracing your face with his pale fingers. "Please, tell me Y/n." Sighing and wrenching your head away from him you muttered, "Nothing. I just felt ill at the feast table." Pulling yourself from his arms you walked off to the Training Area, shivering despite the warm Sun shining into the hallways.

----------------------------many hours later-------------------------------

It was now close to the hour of the bat, still trying to train you were sweating, gasping for air clenching a sword with red knuckles and blue fingers. Above you on a balcony Aemond stood next to Queen Alicent, who was clasping Aemond's hand as he bit his lip anxiously.

"I can't stand to see Y/n destroy themself like this, they barely ate at dinner Mother. But," he gasped supressing his anger, "they won't talk to me about it. Even when I try to help them, like after dinner and I- Seven Hells, I don't know what to do!" Alicent held her son, as he raged silently beside her. "I need to go down there. I need to stop them." Before Queen Alicent could stop him, Aemond ran from her arms and raced down the stairs to where you were; heaving, panting and still attempting to swing your sword at the straw target. "Y/n, stop this now please," He grabbed your frail wrist, all his fingers could wrap around it easily, taking the sword from your weak grip.

"Aemond let me go, I need to continue training-" You cried, as Alicent ran to the both of you down the stairs. "Aemond, stop this now. If you continue this behaviour I shall put you in the dungeons!" He let go of your arm, placing a kiss on your cold hand, and stood beside his Mother-Queen Alicent. Calmly, Alicent turned to you, her eyes softening and smile turning warm she whispered, "My darling child, come to your chambers, it is too late for you to be training now my sweet." You followed as Queen Alicent walked you to your room, leaving when Aemond sat at your feet whilst you were tucked into bed. "Good night, dear Y/n." She beamed kindly, then quietly, " And to you too, Aemond." You thanked her, Aemond paused listening to his Mother's footsteps recede down the hallway then turning to you, a passion igniting in his eyes.

"You must tell me what is wrong, Y/n. You are so frail and you will not eat! I saw how you cut the fruit into tiny pieces at dinner, the table shook."

"Aemond, leave it be. I am not-" You coughed dryly, "Sick, there is nothing ailing me. So please leave."

He looked away, holding your hand tight. "I love you, Y/n L/n. But if you keep on lying to me I won't be able to love what you're doing to yourself."

"You wouldn't understand it, Aemond." You hissed, gritting your teeth and pulling your hand from his, rolling over onto your side to face away from him in your bed.

"What could I not understand? I know about the ailments of the mind, I understand what you are struggling with my love. I am not angry at you, I am angry at what you are doing to yourself!" Aemond's words softened, he reached his hand over to you and tenderly took your hand in his again; pulling you into his chest, your head in the crook of his long neck. "Let's go for a night ride then, to calm us both down."

----------------------------in the night sky-------------------------------

On Vhagar's back you always felt so calm. Her dark green scales helped ground you, as your skin rubbed against the rough texture with the leather saddle you and Aemond sat on. As his strong arms held the reins around Vhagar's wide neck, you felt your stomach drop. You were never afraid of heights but looking over the ancient dragon's wings made you feel sickly, making your head spin as Vhagar flew through the clouds. Aemond loved to fly at night with you, your arms around his waist clenching his hips.

Suddenly, ice cold fear ran through him. Your arms weren't around his waist.

Pulling Vhagar into a nose dive Aemond screamed your name, tears pricking in his eye as he tried to yank the ancient beast beneath him in any direction closer to you. Looking around frantically his eyes found the whole in the clouds where you had fallen through and sped Vhagar down the clouded tunnel. He flew down at such a speed tears streamed down his face, but Aemond couldn't care enough in that moment if he was crying because of that or for you. Then he noticed your pale body, falling through the inky sky. Vhagar roared, a sound that made Aemond's bones shake, pulling him down towards you at a painful speed. The dragon caught you in her mouth, gently holding you with her blunt, yellowed teeth and slowly lowering you two to the grounds of Dragonstone.

As Vhagar carefully placed your body on the grass, the King and Queen were already at your side, Vhagar's roars had woken half the castle. Queen Alicent brushed the damp hair from your face, gasping at the hollows of your cheeks as King Viserys helped Aemond of his saddle to your side. When the Maesters and servants helped carry you to the Maesters' tower, Aemond still held your hand, his breathing erratic with worry. "Aemond, you may follow Y/n until they are placed in the Maesters' chambers but then you must go to your chambers." The King ordered his son sternly, so he couldn't retort.

The Maesters put you down on the bed, stripping your body down to check for any injuries from being in Vhagar's jaws, but instead they found you in worse condition. Your ribs stuck out like sharp knives, almost as prominent as your hip bones. And, your stomach was so shrunken it was like a pale concave. As the servants tried to shut the door on him Aemond pushed his way in, his heart breaking as he saw your starved body. He didn't even care for the Maesters or servants around him when he held your hand and wept. "Y/n, how could I let you do this to yourself?"

Blearily opening your heavy eyes, you groaned and your grip on Aemond's hand weakened but he strengthened his grip, never wanting to let go of you again with tears in his eyes he kissed you.

Over the following moons the Maesters helped you to regain the weight you had lost to become healthy again. It was hard to be told you had an affliction of the mind, being seen as mad by certain servants who gave you odd looks as they cleaned the room around you. But they would always 'leave' their jobs shortly after, or that is what Aemond would tell you. For what's more Aemond was with you everyday when you were confined to your bed in the Maesters' tower, even when you sobbed over flagons of milk and pieces of fruit. Your recovery from your illness was painful but Aemond loved you everyday, despite the fainting and throwing up after eating on the bad days. Then especially when you could sit with him in the Sun under Vhagar's wings.

As you sat under Vhagar's enormous wingspan, lying under her cool shadow, Aemond traced the shape of your lips and smiled when you kissed his fingers. "I love you, Y/n. Never forget that, my dear"

1,831 words

[simpingland]

Taste of Wine and Smell of Lavender // Aemond Targaryen x OC!fem!Dayne

At that very intense dinner with the "Velaryon" boys, Ashara Dayne, betrothed with Prince Aemond wants to know why is he so stuck in the past. Meanwhile, Aemond is surprised by her true character and charisma.

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She ran around the halls with a fast pace, she knew that she was being excessively late tonight. And Alicent was going to be pissed at her. And she was right, when the doors opened again just for her to enter, the first eyes she caught were the Queen's. Even the poor King was already there. Nobody stood to greet her, and the "Velaryon" boys looked at her with a hidden grin. The Targaryen girls looked at her with a raised eyebrows. The princess Rhaenyra side eyed her, as she was previously talking with her husband. Aegon did laugh, and Helaena gave her a sweet smile, happy to see her there. She couldn't look at Aemond, too ashamed of herself.

"Sorry im late, your majesties..." she apologised. "I'd lost track of time, and I didn't know the room the dinner was being held."

"It's alright, dear, take a seat." Spoke the King with a kind tone.

It was not alright, she knew that. This was a special occasion and she just acted like a stupid child, when she was a grown woman, about to get married and a part of the royal house in Westeros. Anyway, she better take her seat, besides his future husband, Aemond.

He didn't look at her, but she did, trying to smile at him. He looked colder that usual, and she understood the reason when she looked at the person in front of her. Lucerys Velaryon was enjoying his dinner at the other side of the table. The boy was handsome, and at the soft lights of the candles and surrounded by his family, remembering that he was the one cutting out Aemond's eye with a knife was hard to believe. She wasn't there when it happened, but Helaena told her all about that night.

Aemond had fault in those events, in her opinion. Not only he took Vaghar, but he was very close to killing Jace, his own nephew. Helaena told her as well about the bullying. But for the gods...every kid carries a pain, that is not excuse for being cruel. She fears for her future marriage, but it was an important political move, her mother and Alicent reminded her about it every day.

"Lady Ashara" called Rhaena, the sweeter twin, apparently. "Have you been to Skyfall lately?"

"Yes, I have, princess. My brother just fathered his first kid...a boy" she told her. How much she missed her hometown. His brother, now the Lord of Skyfall, was the head of the house of Dayne. It was extremely hard to say goodbye this second time she left to come back to King's Landing. She told him about Aemond's ignorance towards her. But her mother, a Lannister woman, told her to stop her weeping and get on the carriage again.

"How sweet, to be an aunt." Said Rhaena. And started a conversation with Rhaenyra.

Ashara swallowed a bit of her wine, and she almost choke at the terrible taste of it. It was not of her likening, thank the Seven, no one noticed. She left the cup on the table and pushed it away from her, not realising that Aemond caught her, and smoothly, he took the cup, giving her his. When she looked at him confused he was already drinking from it. Aemond's cup had another drink, another smell. When she tried, she identified the drink. White whine, uncommon in the Red Keep, very common in Skyfall. She smiled down at her cup and thanked Aemond, pulling her hand in his hand, but he pulled away.

She was not aware of Aegon's insults towards Jace, so when he stood up, she jumped on her sit. And she was scared again when Aemond stood up as well. The boy gave a sweet toast wishing his uncles for the best, but he was clearly annoyed. Ashara couldn't hid it, it made her smirk, and she left out a little snort when Aegon said a soft and humilliating "to you as well". Aemond did look at her then, and she started to look at her own cup as if the wine just started talking. When Aemond sat again, she was saved by Helaena, who stood up to toast too.

"I would like to toast to Baena, Rhaena and Ashara. They'll be married soon..." oh, gods, this was becoming depressing. The smirk fade completely in Ashara's face. "It isn't so bad.. mostly he just ignores you" well, she already knew that feeling. "Except sometimes when he's drunk."

Daemon laughed, and Otto gave her an approval word. But Ashara found that part absolutely devastating. Poor sweet Helaena, married to that prince. Everybody knew about yesterday's rape of that young servant girl. The only hope left for Ashara was Aemond's dignity, something that always separated him from his brother. The Dayne girl's face dropped again and Aemond saw it. Many nights he had seen her leave her food on the plate. She grew quiet on his presence, but with Helaena or the ladies at court he could see her giggleling and talking none stop. But he didn't know how to comfort her, he was not a romantic man, he was a protective one. If only that could be enough. He also got stressed at her, she was always late at everything, spoke way too laud for his likening, was a gossip of great talent, and a terrible horse rider.

Something stroke both brothers when Jace took Helaena for a dance. Ashara found it sweet, but she understood that for them it was some type of dare. She looked at Aemond, who looked at her back for a while and she gave him a smile. Like the ones she had given him for the past three months, the months she had been there.. He didn't return it, because he could sense in her a feeling of disconfort. But he did have trouble looking away from her. That night she looked prettier that usual and he understood why she was late. She also smelled incredibly well, the instant in which she sat beside him, the feeling of hipocrasy in the room left for a bit. He watched her enjoy the wine, she was for sure missing Helaena by her side, and Aemond thought of her as the sweetest sight of the room. The King was carried away from the room, and only Rhaenyra and Daemon stood up. When a pig was brought to the table, Aemond and Ashara heard a little giggle. And they found Luke smirking. She couldn't remember the joke of it, but she knew Aemond was getting tense, and that Luke was a bit of a deadass for such a dumb movement.

Aemond punched the table and Ashara had her second heart attack that night. He brought the cup up, the music stopping at the second.

She was puzzled by his speech, but she did caught the fact the he had insinuated that the boys were bastards of the deceased Harwin Strong. Helaena told her about that as well. Jace got it at the instant and the fighting started. Ashara watched as Aemond received a punch, and he smiled while she panicked. She stared at the fight getting as far away from the table as possible. Helaena was the one pushing her aside until Daemon broke the fight. Aemond walked out of the room, leaving everyone behind, and Ashara left soon after.

She wanted to reach him, to ask him why he had chose violence over a silly boy laughing at him. The House Targaryen was falling a part and he decided to ruin the chance of fixing things. She decided to follow him. It was late and the halls were in complete silence, so she tracked his footsteps without problem. He was heading to the yard, the gods knew why.

"Prince Aemond" she called once she got closer, he walked still.

"It's late, my lady. You should go back to your quarters" he commanded.

"I'm not tired." She refused. Ashara had to run a bit to finally put herself beside him. "I really wish to know what happened there."

"Well, didn't you see? I toasted for my ungrateful nephews and they didn't enjoy it"

"That I saw and that you know. I'm not stupid."

"I didn't say you were, I just thought you were late to the events, as you are well used to."

"Please, stop it."

"What do you want" he finally stopped on his track, pulling himself over her, towering her to make her regret her insolence. She did not, but she did blushed.

"The truth..." she tried to raise her voice but it was harder than she thought. "Something there has triggered you to the point of ruining the last chance of this family to make amends."

"You speak as if you were part of this family, as if you had been here all this time." He gave her his back, walking slowly towards the training section of the yard. Only a few torches left to illuminate the place.

"I do know things...I haven't waste my time here all this months." She kept following him, but a bit further than before. "I will be part of it soon, as well..."

"Well then, you go and found out, my lady. There's no need for me to be the one informing you. So...fuck off, my lady."

"The fuck I'm going!" She screamed. She left Aemond turning around, surprised by the sudden outburst of the lady. "I'm tired of rumors about you...My body, my loyalty, my entire life has been handed to you. The least you could do is tell me why did you make such a comment. It's fucking treason, Aemond."

He wished to be alone in the yard and do a bit of fencing before going to bed, leaving his anger out of the bed. But with this little bitch throwing facts at his face it was impossible to do that. He could threaten her, but there where already two miserable woman in his family, and he hated the men that hurt them, Aemond's biggest honor was to find himself different to them.

"The pink thread..." he spoke softly. "Aegon, Jace and Luke gave me a pig when I was a dragonless kid"

"I heard Luke laugh, but I still don't understand why" she felt brave enough to get closer to him.

"They put a fucking pig in front of us. And that fucking little bastard started laughing" he explained. She was starting to understand where he was going. "He ripped my eye, with no consequence at all and up until this day he has the nerve to laugh at me."

"My prince, Prince Lucerys is a stupid teenage boy. Everybody knows he's a bastard, you can not take offense of such a... moron." Aemond smiled at such a mean insult.

"But that moron is the fucking heir of Driftmark. He's going to be married to a true Velaryon girl, and two fucking eyes"

Ashara didn't know what to say. The stories she was told made her disagree with Aemond. He did wrongs and this was immature. If only she could make him reason...but sadly, Aemond did not had her as a priority, so her opinion was nothing to him but a bother.

He watched her struggle. "What are you plotting now?" He asked. He had seen that face, the one she put every time she couldn't speak her mind during dinners. It was the face she put when Aegon said the most disgusting story of the day. Or when Helaena was out of her reach for gossiping at feasts.

"Can I speak my mind? Truthfully?" He nodded. "You are wasting to much time and spirit at pitying yourself, my prince."

"Pitiying?" His tone was an angry one and she became nervous but kept on talking.

"You are older, bigger, smarter and way more powerful that those boys. He took your eye because you were about to fucking kill his brother. If Helaena is right, that night at Driftmark you claimed a dragon with no protection and you made Jace, Luke, Baela and Rhaena bite the dust of the floor unarmed. You are the rider of Vhagar, a dragon of the fucking Conquest. The dragon rode by Visenya, the best Targaryen fighter in it's history. It must be a tragedy to lose an eye of the face being a boy. I was burying my dear father on the ground when I was a girl, and I would give both eyes just to speak with him again. If you think you are missing something for the eye you lost just open the other one fucking left."

She pulled away from him, fearing his reaction, but he did nothing but nod. She decided to continue, feeling as if she just scolded too much. "You think of me whatever you wish, but what you do concerns me, my prince. If I have to give you a family I have to protect it as well. And tl9ur family is in the future, not in the past. Is not in Driftmark, nor in the other side of the table giggleling. Your family is what is important and your family is me and I'm in front of you. I know you see me. Stop looking away. Please."

She swallowed. Worrying about his reaction she looked at the floor. Silence invaded the yard.

"I ignored the Daynes were so bold..." he finally said.

"They are when they have a sword in their hands."

"But you have no sword."

"It might be the half Lannister in me, my prince."

"Right, I forgot..." he got closer to her. "I have payed way too little attention to you. I knew you speak way too much, but I never thought I would enjoy that."

"I'll take that as a courtesy" she blurted.

"But you don't know, not really. You don't know how it feels the need to cover half of your face to hide the disgusting wound made by a little bastard. What you know is that you are going to spend the rest of your life with such a dishonour beside you."

"What dishonor, my prince? I will never be ashamed of something which I'm not guilty" she corrected him, again, she put her hand over his arm, this time he didn't pushed her away.

"If I showed you my eye you would walk away in fear."

"Do it, I might go fuck off, just like you wanted."

He took of the patch, showing her the stone buried in his eye, or the hole where his real eye was missing. She smiled at him, and he frowned.

"It's a very pretty stone, my prince... it shines beautifully with this little light."

"Are you pitying me, Ashara?"

"No...in fact I'm kind of scared of you." She admitted, making Aemond smirk.

"Don't be. I didn't know you were such a sharp tongue girl...kept laughing at Aegon at dinners and I might end up loving you." This made her laugh, and she promised to do that. She did look pretty at the light of the torches as well, but he preferred her with the sun above her, her features illuminated and her smile fully displayed. "Do you know something about fencing, my lady?"

"I forgot the little I had practice as a kid."

"Want to learn?"

"I don't really like Ser Criston much, I'm afraid." This made Aemond laugh because she spoke in a tone of complete honesty.

"Then I'll have to teach you."

"Alright...don't know if Queen Alicent will approve." She half joked.

"I won't tell her. We will met here late at night, so no one see it."

"That's a very nice offer after everything I have said to you... I feel like there's a trick."

"You think that because you are half Lannister. But there is a condition."

"I was right then." She smiled. Aemond put both of her hands around his shoulders, and he put his hands around her hips.

"In exchange..." He whispered in her ear. "I want a taste of your lips."

She moved one of her hands to touch his face, softly, feeling the beard growing a bit in his chin, invisible to the eyes, and she caressed the eyebrow from his missing eye. She kissed the temple from the missing eye's side and when Aemond felt her breath reaching his lips he moved to caught her our of eagerness, but she smoothly moved away and smiled at him. Finally, she connected her lips to his. It was slow, wet and warm, with a mix of red and white wine.

His family was right there, under the moonlight, kissing his brushed cheek, the patch on the floor and her hands on his neck. She smelled of sweet lavender.

[aebi12]

Sinful Desires - Chapter 9

Alyssa's green eyes are fixed on Aemond's good eye and, for a few long seconds, everything around her seems to disappear.

That is until his perplexed expression gives way to a wince and Aemond looks down at his stomach.

Alyssa imitates his action and that's when she notices the knife. Why are her hands around the knife? Why is there a knife in Aemond's stomach?

Memories come rushing back.

Luke.

Lucerys is dead.

Alyssa removes the weapon from Aemond's belly and looks at the bloodstained blade before letting go of it and listening as the metal clangs on the floor.

Chaos suddenly breaks out.

Aemond gasps as he staggers back, his hands trying to cover the wound.

Someone yells. A woman. But she does not have time to find out who is it because the queen mother pushes her hard, making her fall in her attempt to reach her son. Alicent's expression is one of utter terror as she holds the wounded prince.

"Aemond" the desperate queen turns to the maester, who rushes towards them.

Alyssa tries to get to her feet, but suddenly feels a sharp pain in her head as Aegon grabs her hair and forces her upright, "Treacherous bitch," the false king hisses furiously, "I'll make you pay dearly for what you just did,” he assures as his free hand closes around her throat.

"Aegon! Let her go!”

The words are spoken by a weakened Aemond, who attempts to break free of his mother's grasp and tries to walk towards where Alyssa continues to be subdued by his older brother, "Aegon, I warn you..." he manages to take a few steps in the direction of his princess, but strength begins to leave his body and he cannot finish what he was going to say or go any further.

"Guards, quickly, take the prince to his chambers," Alicent orders, "Helaena?"

Alyssa watches the guards take Aemond away and her stomach sinks inside her.

For a brief moment her desperation to follow him and make sure he is okay washes over her, but there is not much she can do. Mainly because Aegon keeps squeezing her neck as he takes his anger out on his niece.

He's not worth your concern, the voice in her head whispers. The rational part of her brain makes itself heard and Alyssa concentrates her efforts on trying to breathe and hit Aegon without much success.

"Let her go immediately!" Otto Hightower chimes in with an authoritative voice, “Have you lost your mind?”

Aegon removes his hand from her neck and Alyssa sucks in a long breath before starting to cough.

"Have you forgotten who she is?" she hears Otto say before an annoying buzz fills her ears.

The two seem to exchange a few more words before Aegon pushes her against one of his guards and leaves the throne room.

Alyssa is still trying to breathe normally when the guard grabs her elbow and forces her to walk. The princess wants to resist, but her strength seems to have left her, so she simply walks with the man through corridors of the Red Keep that she does not recognize.

It is not until the air grows stale that she notices that the light also seems to have dimmed. Alyssa becomes more aware of her surroundings and realizes that they are in the dungeons. She tries to recognize some of the people who are imprisoned there but the light is so dim that she can't make out their features. The guard gives the jailer an order and the man lead them to one of the few empty cells, opening it to allow him to throw the girl inside.

Alyssa staggers, but she does not fall. She quickly tries to turn to stop the guard from closing the door behind her, but it is too late. The jailer looks at her curiously before disappearing into the darkness.

"I demand that you release me!" her voice echoes off the stone walls and gets no response. The young woman clings to the bars and tries, in vain, to loosen them; "I am Princess Alyssa Velaryon, daughter of the rightful queen of Westeros"

Once again, silence is her response. "I'm a princess of the realm, you cannot leave me here" she continues to say, even though she knows inside herself that it is useless, "Let me out immediately!" Alyssa repeats her commands a few times before giving up and dropping to the floor, still clinging to the bars of her cell.

Tears fall involuntarily.

Alyssa tries to control her sobs, she knows she cannot allow the greens to bend her will, she shouldn't let herself be intimidated by the circumstances... but it's easier to think about it than to actually act that way. Especially while being locked in a disgusting hole and left to her own devices.

The princess tries to wipe away her tears, but she stops looking at her hands, Aemond's blood still smeared on them. Seven hells! what had she done? How had she lost control of herself to the point of almost killing him? How had she had the courage to bury the knife in his body? What if… what if Aemond really did die? The thought of it terrifies her. He couldn't die, it hadn't been such a serious injury, had it?

The taste of bile fills her throat, and she crawls to the corner of her cell to empty the contents of her stomach. The nauseated feeling subsides after a few seconds and she carelessly wipes her lips with the sleeve of her dress before turning back to the dim beam of light that reaches near the bars.

It is a punishment from the gods.

The thought comes abruptly to her mind and Alyssa accepts it as true, because everything she is experiencing can only be a divine castigation for her betrayal towards her family. She had been well warned by her mother of Aemond's cruelty. Even Daemon's words made sense now despite the fact that she had dismissed them at the time, captivated as she was by the memories and illusions of a fleeting night.

It is a punishment from the gods because despite everything, you worry about what might happen to him.

Alyssa cannot help it. Her treacherous heart twists inside her as she imagines him up there, lying on his bed with a pool of blood around him, suffering from a wound she had inflicted on him.

Aemond is your enemy, an enemy who has caused you the greatest pain. He murdered your brother. Your poor Luke.

Her sweet Lucerys. Why were the gods so cruel? Why had they been allowed to enter this world together if they were to be separated this soon?

Alyssa had spent the last few weeks dreading the thought of saying goodbye to her family, but she would never have imagined, not really, that it would be a permanent goodbye. Hadn't Jace and Luke made plans to visit her?

I’m going to miss you every day. That's what she had told him the last day they'd spent together. And if Alyssa closes her eyes she is still able to remember the scene in its entirety: the sea breeze, the wind blowing their cloaks, her brother's fearful smile, the comfort of his embrace.

Comfort she will never enjoy again because Luke is dead.

For the first time since she got the news, the weight of what it really means falls on Alyssa. Luke is gone. And she wasn't even there for him in his final moments. She hadn't even felt or sensed the moment when her other half had ceased to exist. Had Luke thought of her in his final moments? What had Aegon said? Arrax was no match for Vhagar. The princess swallows hard as she tries to imagine the scene, and a wave of rage washes through her at the thought of the enormous beast that was Vhagar. And the rage extends to her rider.

If Aemond dies, her brother's death will be avenged.

But even if Aemond dies, nothing will bring Lucerys back to life.

The pain will still be there, most likely it will multiply if it turns out that he also leaves this existence.

Alyssa hates herself for feeling that way, but she can't help it because her stomach clenches at the prospect of Aemond losing his life.

It is all your fault. For loving him, for not following the rules and sleep with him, for not listening to your mother, for asking Luke to be brave when he clearly didn't want to go to Storm's End.

All your fault.

Her heart begins to pound violently in her chest and air escapes from her lungs. Alyssa tries to breathe through her mouth, but this doesn't seem to help much. The voice inside of her continues to tell her that it is all her fault and her tears well up again. What is happening to her? Is this the end of it all? Because if it is, she's willing to accept it without protest. Anything to stop living in this nightmare of pain and regret. Her hands suddenly begin to shake and Alyssa grips one of her wrists with her other hand so tightly that she digs her fingernails into her skin until it bleeds. Pain is welcomed. The pain is even fully deserved. The princess drags her fingernails down her wrist again and she closes her eyes as she feels the sting of her skin as it is ripped.

One, two, three more times.

Her wrist becomes a maze of scratches.

A minute later her heart seems to calm down and her breathing normalizes.

But the pain is still there.

***

“You said that the wound was not serious"

Helaena watches the fear on her mother's face. Her brother has been unconscious since the night before despite Maester Runciter giving him only a few drops of milk of the poppy.

“The cut is not that deep, Your Grace, and it did not compromise any vital organs, but…”

"But? Speak at once,” demands Alicent, brushing aside her usual polite tone and looking at the maester as if she wanted to pounce on him and force him to magically heal Aemond.

“I cannot explain why the fever does not decrease. The wound does not seem to be infected, there's no logical reason that explains why the prince hasn't woken up."

Her mother makes a little noise of despair and squeezes her brother's hand tightly as she strokes his face and whispers things she can't understand.

"Is there anything else we can do, maester?" Helaena asks as she carefully rises from her chair.

"Not at the moment, my queen" replies the man, "We can only wait"

Alicent shoots him a furious look and Helaena interrupts before her mother gets exalted again, "Thank you maester, we'll call you if we need you"

The man quickly leaves the room and Helaena walks over to her mother, who is once again totally focused on Aemond.

"You should go rest" she tells her softly as she gently places her hand on Alicent's shoulder, who is surprised to feel the touch of her daughter. Helaena feels a bit uncomfortable by her reaction, but she doesn't take her hand away from her, "You heard the maester, we'll have to wait"

"I cannot leave him alone" she replies, shaking her head.

Helaena sighs and looks at her younger brother, his face sweaty and paler than usual, eyes closed, expression uneasy, as if he were dreaming of something that hurts or displeases him.

"Maybe we should allow Alyssa to be here with him."

Alicent stands up and turns to look at her in disbelief, “How can you even suggest such a thing? Do you want her to finish what she started and kill your brother?"

"I just think there must be a reason why Aemond hasn't stopped calling her name."

"It is because of the shock he experienced before fainting," her mother replies, "Surely he is just repeating the name of the person who hurt him, my poor son."

Helaena controls her tongue. She knows there is no use in trying to reason with her mother. Alicent only sees what she wants to see and conveniently chooses to ignore the fact that Aemond had embraced Alyssa so familiarly in the throne room or that he wanted to defend her from Aegon before passing out.

"Well, whether it is shock or guilt or something else," Helaena continues, staring at her mother, "I think Aemond just does not want to wake up." The words come out of her mouth naturally and she knows they are true. Something is tormenting her brother and her niece seems to be to blame for it, “Alyssa should be here. Her presence can soothe him”

"No, Helaena, your suggestion is out of the question."

“A guard can be permanently watching her. Although I think she won't try to hurt him again, she was just stunned by the news of her brother, which is understandable."

Alicent shudders at hearing the last words. Helaena knows that her mother is still very affected by what happened with Lucerys Velaryon. Aemond shudders in his sleep as well, and the Queen Mother turns her attention back to him, sitting down beside him once more. But when her brother mentions her niece's name again, Alicent sighs and Helaena decides to insist.

“Mother, please, I really think that…”

“Go rest, Helaena, in your condition it is not convenient for you to have strong emotions. Aemond will be fine, I'm sure the gods will help us."

Helaena looks down at her bulging belly and caresses it. Her baby moves calmly under her touch and she smiles before leaving her brother's room.

But she does not follow her mother's advice and goes to the training yard where she knows she will find Sir Criston.

"Sir Criston" she calls after approaching where he trains some young guards

"My queen" The knight seems puzzled as he watches her

 "I want you to take me to Princess Alyssa's chambers, I need to speak to her," she says in her best commanding voice, an imitation of the tone she's heard Aemond use so many times.

"Your grace, the king ordered the princess to be sent to the dungeons."

"What?" Helaena gasps, shocked at the prospect of Alyssa locked in one of the cells.

"King's orders" repeats Sir Criston

"Aegon," she snaps back between her teeth and sighs, "Take me with her," she orders turning to the knight.

“Your grace that place…”

"Sir Criston, your queen orders you to take her to the princess"

The knight seems to hesitate, but Helaena holds his gaze and eventually relents, as she knew he would.

"As commanded, my queen"

***

Alyssa stays up all night.

The cell is damp, cold, stinking and has a lot of straw that she could use as a bed, but she prefers not to resort to that.

Besides, it is not like she is sleepy either.

She feels tired, yes, but every time she closes her eyes the image of Luke falling into the sea appears before her, so she prefers to stay awake.

The guard appears suddenly with a plate in his hand which he slides through a small opening between the bars.

"Help me out of here," she says to the man, "Help me get to Dragonstone and my mother will reward you greatly."

The man chuckles and walks away from her. Alyssa sighs and looks at the contents of the plate, an unappetizing gray substance and a loaf of stale bread. The mere sight of that food turns her stomach, so she pushes the plate away.

How long can she continue like this? She knows that at some point she will most likely have to give in and eat that thing. Her stomach is already roaring with hunger and the truth is that she doesn't remember when was the last time she ate. Her body is also getting weaker, although she doesn't know if it's due to crying the night before, lack of sleep, or some disease that makes her bones ache.

She does not really care.

Alyssa hears a small noise in her cell and watches a rat approach the plate she pushed aside. The girl clings closer to her corner by the bars and she covers her mouth with her hand to keep from screaming. She hates these animals, she fears them even, and having one so close to her produces a horrible feeling of distress and disgust inside her.

The rat doesn't seem to pay too much attention to her, it just nibbles the bread. Alyssa keeps an eye on it and she is so focused on the disgusting animal that it takes her a while to realize that someone has called her name.

"Alyssa!"

Helaena Targaryen stands before her, her tall frame bathed in torchlight, her usually dreamy expression now replaced by one of worry and wonder.

"Helaena" she replies standing up slowly, her legs aching and numb from sitting for so long.

"Guard! Open this cell immediately” orders her aunt with commanding voice

“My queen, king Aegon…” Sir Criston says, but she cuts him off.

"Your queen orders you to open this cell and release my niece immediately"

The jailer suddenly appears behind them, looks at Sir Criston who nods and uses one of the many keys he has in his possession to unlock Alyssa's cell.

“I am so sorry, I had no idea you were here,” Helaena says as she walks over and extends her hand to Alyssa.

She doesn't know what to say so she simply takes the young queen's hand and lets her guide her back to the surface and the already familiar parts of the palace. The maids and other lords of the court watch them with open curiosity, but she ignores them, her interest not focused on whatever it is they whisper.

“You will be more comfortable here,” Helaena says as they enter a room.

It takes Alyssa a few seconds to recognize that it's the same one where she stayed the last time she was in the palace. The room where she and Aemond…

"Must I stay here?" she asks looking at the queen

"I'm sorry," she sighs, "I wish I could help you get back to your mother, believe me, but my power and influence is limited."

Alyssa nods and doesn't explain that she misinterpreted her words, that the only thing she was asking is not to be confined to this room so full of memories.

"I believe you" she ends up saying and tries to smile at her. Though she is no longer in a cell, she knows that she is still a prisoner.

“I will ask Maester Runciter to treat your wounds,” Helaena continues, “And I will also order water for a bath and something to eat.”

Her aunt continues to speak, but she disconnects from her words and approaches a mirror on the dresser. Her reflection shows how messy she looks, and not only her hair or clothes, but her body. There is a purple bruise on the side of her forehead that extends to her eye, her upper lip is split and swollen, and her neck… the mark of Aegon's hands is still visible on her neck.

A couple of maids enter the room and help her out of her clothes and into the tub. The girl observes that her legs are also full of bruises, but she doesn't care too much so she just closes her eyes as she feels the hands of the young servant girl gently rubbing her body.

A beautiful long-sleeved steel-blue dress is waiting for her when the bath is finished, “It was my mother's”, says Helaena who is sitting on an ottoman on the other side of the room, “I am afraid none of my dresses will fit you for the moment”. She smiles nervously as she caresses her swollen belly.

Alyssa nods and walks over to Helaena, "Why are you being so nice to me?" she asks her. In other circumstances she would not have suspected her aunt's attentions, she always considered her the gentlest of Alicent's children, but she can't help but mistrust now. “We are at war and I am your prisoner. Surely I am not deserving of all this kindness"

Helaena seems to consider her answer for a few moments before speaking, "I think Aemond would be relieved to know that I am taking good care of you."

Something in the young queen's look makes her suspect that perhaps she knows more things than she lets on, "Aemond, is he...?" The question leaves her lips before she can stop herself and Alyssa finds herself anxiously awaiting the answer.

"He is not well" Helaena admits, her face giving way to an expression of genuine concern.

Her heart constricts and Alyssa reaches for her injured wrist once more, but the sleeve of her dress prevents her from feeling her skin, "I did not mean to hurt him terribly," she admits quietly, looking into Helaena's blue eyes.

"I know," she nods, "The maester says it wasn't that serious of an injury, but he hasn't woken up yet." Helaena struggles to stand up and takes Alyssa's hand, "He hasn't stopped saying your name."

The information produces in her a mixture of relief, irritation and something else that she prefers not to examine.

"Help him, Alyssa, please" asks Helaena.

"What can I do? The maester…”

“I think he does not want to wake up, but I know your presence will help him,” she says, “I know he…”

"Aemond killed my brother" she replies with a hard voice, "Don not ask me to take care of him in his convalescence when it was he who with his actions made me do what I did"

"I know it is not fair what I am asking of you, but Aemond is my little brother," Helaena pleads, "And he needs you."

Her mind is once again at a crossroads. What is she supposed to do? Should she listen to Helaena and go to be with Aemond or should she simply ignore his calls and leave him to his fate?

"He needs you" repeats Helaena

"I'm sorry, Helaena, but I can't"

Disappointment marks the queen's face, but she nods and doesn't seem like she's going to force her to do something she doesn't want, “I'll send for the maester. And I'll ask the guards to take you to Aemond if you change your mind."

***

The maestre arrives several hours later.

Alyssa has done nothing but sit by the window not really looking at anything. Her thoughts torn between her mourning and Aemond.

"I am sorry, princess, I couldn't come earlier"

She lets the maester examine her face and apply ointments to her wounds, although she refuses to drink milk of the poppy and lies to him when he asks if she is in too much pain, because the reality is that her head has not stopped throbbing since hours ago, but she prefers not to mitigate that feeling.

"Thank you maester"

The man starts sorting out the medicine bottles and Alyssa can't help but ask about him.

“How… how is the prince?”

The maester looks at her curiously before replying, “Not very well, I'm afraid. The wound must be infected because the fever continues to appear "

“Surely there is something you can do,” Alyssa replies.

“I have already done everything I know to be affective”

The maester leaves the room, leaving a worried Alyssa once again on the verge of internal struggle. Would it be wise to visit Aemond? Wasn't that the least she could do when she was the cause of his bedridden condition? What had Helaena said? I think he does not want to wake up. She was certain that her presence would help him recover faster.

Alyssa stands up and takes a few steps toward the door, but she stops short. Isn't this better? Does it not help her mother's cause that Aemond no longer participate in the war? Without Aemond and Vhagar, her mother would easily take the throne. Besides, this would be her vengeance and no one could blame her because she has the right to avenge her brother, right?

But should she avenge Lucerys by becoming a kinslayer in the process? The idea disgusts her. Alyssa feels nauseated for having entertained such ideas. Even with all the rage she feels towards Aemond, how could she wish him dead? How could she stand by and do nothing to try to help him after spending the last few hours consumed with guilt over her hurting him?

No. Aemond could not die. At least not because of her.

Alyssa opens the door and goes towards one of her guards, "Take me to the prince"

Helaena must have really given them instructions because the white cloak nods and starts walking ahead of her. The other guard follows close behind and they walk silently to Aemond's room.

"Queen's orders" says the guard to his partner who stands in the prince's door

Alyssa enters the room, which is bathed by the fireplace and a couple of candles, creating a rather gloomy atmosphere. She makes her way to the huge four-poster bed where she watches Aemond lying in a state of uneasy unconsciousness. The sheets cover half of his body, but the top part is exposed showing the bandages on his abdomen area.

"Thank the gods you came." Helaena suddenly appears in her vision.

"I don’t really know…"

"You don't have to explain anything," she says, "Just stay with him, please."

Alyssa nods and takes a few steps closer to Aemond's bed.

Having him this close and watching him so vulnerable makes her heart skip a beat and guilt invades her mind again. Aemond writhes between the sheets and a pained grimace appears on her face. Alyssa doesn't give it much thought and she sits on the edge of her bed as she takes his hand.

"Aemond," she says quietly next to him, "Aemond, can you hear me?"

He says her name in a dream and she suppresses a smile as she turns to look at Helaena, only to find the room empty. At what point did she leave? Certainly, she hadn't noticed her absence.

Alyssa looks back at Aemond and brings her other hand to his forehead, caressing his head gently, “You better listen to me and wake up. You cannot go. Not yet" She says firmly. “You can't let yourself be defeated by a wound, do you understand me?"

Her voice cracks, and Alyssa takes a clean cloth from the table and wets it to wipe his feverish skin, "We still have a pending conversation, you and I."

Which is true.

She needs to know what exactly happened at Storm's End. She needs an explanation, if there is one, about her brother's death. She needs to know what his last moments were like.

Or perhaps her mind simply needs to use that as an excuse to be here, with Aemond, when she knows full well that the most sensible and loyal thing to her family would have been to stay in her room.

It does not really matter now, because she is already here and Alyssa knows there is no way she is going to be taken away from him, at least not until he wakes up. So, the young princess does something she hasn't done in years, not since she was a little girl.

She sings.

Alyssa sings to him, asking with each song for him to come back to her.

***

"My love for you was greater than my wisdom."

Medea