#and maybe he asks about Jaehaera. maybe he begs for her to not see him like this. how they hated seeing father while he lay rotting and how

[dirtytransmasc]

I think. I think I need Helaena to go see Aegon. I think they have so much tension and hurt and grief and confusion and longing and disgust and at the end of the day, some sad scrap of something that, in certain light, may resemble love, between them.

he is her brother, her husband, the father of her children, of her dead boy-

now here he lay, potentially dying himself.

I need them to look at each other. I need her to do something seemingly mindless. fixing his sheets, taking a cloth and wiping his hands. something that keeps her focus on him, but not on him, not present per say.

they are unable to focus on one another. it hurts. it's foreign. it's not right. they're not sure of how to do it. so she cannot look at him, not in the eye. she cannot sit there and look at him and speak to him. but she can clean his hands. she can fix his sheets. she can exist in his space.

but she's there, and her touch is soothing. he isn't alone.

maybe she speaks, maybe she doesn't. maybe Aegon speaks, maybe he chokes out a fragment of her name, or and "I'm sorry" and she will nod. or maybe he too sits in silence, watching her.

but they're together.

[lullaebies]

Absolutely love your blog! If you're still taking Jaehaera/Aegon III requests what about one where they're in a secret relationship and are keeping it from their families but some shenanigans ensue (maybe they snuck out or something, or someone walked in on them kissing?) and they're somehow discovered? Also please overprotective father Aegon II because yes!

(Preferably an AU where the Dance happens later?)

The gathering in the room feels like a court of thorns, and Jaehaera feels as if she is going to hurl. Standing by her family with her grandmother looking at all around with hawk eyes, she feels if something is about to implode. Aegon had been taken from her side to his mother’s, Princess Rhaenyra. The heiress to the Throne had been most wroth, her, her husband, and her sons waking in the middle of the night for this… issue.

The worst of it all, Jaehaerys had been still laughing with damn near tears in his eyes while telling what he witnessed. She had begged him to leave it be, but then he and Aegon got into an altercation, and now… Ugh!

“So I enter her room because I left my book there—” he looks at Princess Rhaenyra and her family, particularly Aegon. “It was my room once too, do mind— and what do I see if not Aegon the Younger pining my sister against her own closet? The closet, grandmother. He didn’t have the mind to get her against a bed.”

She’s going to choke him.

“Oh, fuck off,” Aegon yells at her twin. “As if she hasn’t told me about you becoming a damn near Rosby stableboy in your visits there—”

Princess Rhaenyra pushes him back to his half-brothers, the lot of the brown haired boys holding their brother of nine and ten, yet only his father manages to stare him down. On the other hand, her father had been gritting his teeth beside her, while mother held onto Jaehaerys’s forearm in warning. Alicent gives her twin a pointed look.

“Mind your words, Jaehaerys,” she says, and turns to look at Rhaenyra and her family. “Prince Aegon, would you mind explaining how you came into my granddaughter's rooms?” 

Aegon licks his lips, and Jaehaera swallows. The story is longer than both of them would be able to admit. Despite the blood feud of the families, they had managed to talk last year at the ball for her and Jaehaerys five and tenth nameday. Even went on a joint ride with Morghul and Stormcloud, and before he left for Dragonstone, they decided on a day to meet again at the Kingswood. Such meetings repeated. They could only afford a day a moon, but those days were all so sweet. Did she do anything wrong? Yes, had been the objective answer, but she couldn’t care for it.

And here he is, in her very own home. They could hardly speak by their family, how could she not ask for a moment of privacy?

Rhaenyra rubs her temples. “Things like these happen at this age, Alicent,” she says. “You are stressing Jaehaera and Aegon both.”

Alicent furrows her brows. “Oh, these things do happen at this age, don’t they?” she asks, glaring. “We had known since we were her age how reputation matters in finding marriage. Your son is three years her elder and should know not to fiddle with a noble girl’s corset strings at the hour of the bat.”

Jaehaera feels some tears well up in her eyes. She doesn’t care for the embarrassment of being caught by now, but this makes her feel a fool. It had been nothing insidious, was it? They hadn’t even kissed until they celebrated the new year. She hadn’t lost her chastity, either. It is not just…

“He came into those rooms because your granddaughter let him in, Queen Alicent,” Prince Daemon says. “You should mind her doings before you lay judgement on my son’s.”

Jaehaera’s father had been standing quiet for the longest while, but with that he flares. “Men had been sent to the wall and got castrated for less, Uncle. If you don’t like my mother’s judgement, perhaps I should see to it?”

She holds onto her father’s arm. Please, let this stop. 

Daemon eyes him dangerously. “See to your own misgivings,” he says. “Your own son laughs at your daughter's.”

“Father, please,” Jaehaera says, when Aegon the Elder tries and almost manages to escape her grip. Her mother and brother come quickly beside them. Her mother stands in front of her father and puts a hand on his chest, warning, while Jaehaerys comes to Jaehaera’s side, a wroth smirk thrown at their grand-uncle’s way.

“I am laughing at my sister’s choices, grand uncle. At least if it had been Viserys, he has my aunt’s pretty face,” he says, backing their father for once. They often argue, but at times they work together, they prove they’re made of the same cloth. “The Seven had laughed at Aegon giving him yours.”

Daemon starts stepping towards them. “You think you are a jester, you defected—”

Prince Jacaerys comes against his step-father to stop him from coming forward, the same ways her mother has to stop her father from doing the same. Her grandmother and Princess Rhaenyra had come to yell at one another, and even the kingsguard had come to get involved. Jaehaera’s body is reduced to shaking, fat tears fully sliding down her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” she says quietly between gentle sobs, the sleeves of a dishevelled dress wiping against her face again and again to try and catch all the tears. Only the family beside her hears, so loud were the voices in the room. Her brother and father turn around, with similarly apprehensive faces. “Please, please stop..”

Behind them, from the other side of the room, Aegon sees her in her pathetic state too. She never was the emotional type, and she had oft hoped he liked it for he had been none too different. The unusual petrification on his face makes her blood feel as if it is running dry, and it feels all gone when the dark amethyst of his eyes fall into what she could only call resigned acceptance.

Aegon, her Aegon, comes by his mother and her grandmother, holding Princess Rhaenyra’s arm. “It was my fault. We didn’t mean to… I took it too far,” he finally says. “I won’t come by her any more, Queen Alicent.”

It hurts more than anything else he could’ve said.

Her mother pushes their father aside to cloak her in an embrace. Jaehaera can only tremble and sob against her mother’s robe.

The room grows silent as Princess Rhaenyra and Queen Alicent agree to not tell The King or all else of the incident; so ill had been King Viserys, it had not been worth ailing her grandfather further with this issue when he had been on the brink of passing. 

All is to be forgotten, and cast away. Jaehaera’s puffy eyes lift from her mother’s shoulder, and catch his gaze one last time before he leaves. He tries to mouth something, but is pushed by his family out of the room.

Jaehaera sinks against her mother again. Even if she banishes the days in the green Kingswood from her thoughts, the scent of the campfire charring wood black will live in her dreams.

[superprincesspea]

Courted by the Dragon

Chapter 10 - Gallantry and Bravery

Aemond Targaryen is both the cause and witness to the greatest humiliation of your life. You would rather die than see him again. Yet summer at court and the precipice of civil war have other ideas.

Masterlist

~~~

The tourney had claimed most of the afternoon, but there were still plenty of hours left before the feast, and you wanted to spend them alone, lying on your bed and staring up at the canopy. 

You just couldn’t stop thinking about the way Lord Glover had died, his body hitting the dirt, and the smile which had filled Aemond’s face. So pleased, no remorse.   

He'd never looked more like a dragon than he did in that moment, and you’d never despised him more either.  

Yet the tourney had been a success, the crowds had cheered so vibrantly, the entire royal box filled with celebration.  

It seemed only you who was disturbed by Glover’s death, and you supposed death at a tourney was commonplace. There had been three others, but they were strangers killed by strangers and Glover’s death felt personal.  

Not just because you’d given him your favour, but because of Aemond. Maybe it was unfair to hold him to a higher standard, but he was no stranger, and you didn’t like to think of him as the kind of man who could kill so easily. So senselessly.  

More than anything, you couldn’t stop wondering if he had killed Glover for you .  

Perhaps that seemed vain, but you could not be blind to Aemond's misplaced affection a moment longer, even if you had no intention of ever returning it. 

Rolling onto your side, you stare out the window and Maris burst through the door with a letter in hand. 

“Helaena has invited us for tea,” she says excitedly, plopping herself on the bed so all you can see is her bright smile. 

You groan, staring back up at the canopy, “can you not go with Cassandra?” 

“She’s had too much sun and needs to rest before the party,” her voice lowers with a small but wicked laugh, “her nose has turned quite red.” 

“You’re cruel,” you say, pushing her shoulder and she laughs again before clinging to your sleeve, her grip tight and desperate.  

“I must find out why Prince Aemond asked for my favour,” she says and, though you’d been wondering the same thing, you can think of nothing you’d like to do less. 

“Why can’t you just go alone?” you say, and she rolls her eyes, still clinging onto your sleeve. 

“You know I cannot be the one to ask Helaena of Aemond’s intentions, it would be far too forward. But if you ask...” 

You groan dismissively as she stands, trying to pull you up. 

“Oh please, please, please,” she begs, “you know I would do the same for you in an instant.” 

Of course she would, there was no end to her scheming especially when it concerned matters of the heart. 

"Please sister,” she begs again, and you know her well enough to realise she will not stop until you give her what she wants. 

So you sigh, and roll from the bed, before striding towards the door and yanking it open.  

“Well , are we going or not?” you say unhappily, and Maris’ smile is so triumphant as she hooks her arm in yours as though she thinks you might change your mind and abandon her at any moment.  

When the guards open the doors to Princess Helaena’s quarters, the first thing you notice is two blond haired toddlers who are playing on a plush rug with their nursemaid. Jaehaerys and Jaehaera.  

You’d never seen them before and wave your fingers, hoping for a dimpled smile. But they only stare, suspicious of strangers, their lips in soft baby pouts.  

The second thing you notice is Aemond and your heart just about leaps into your throat at the unexpected sight of him.  

He’s lying on the chaise; his torso completely bare except for the bandage wrapped tightly around his bruised ribs.  

You know you shouldn’t be looking, but you can’t seem to claw your eyes away as they sink to his stomach, where the tight definition of his abdomen dips below the lose strings on his breeches.  

He normally wears leather, but these are soft, black cotton and his feet are bare, relaxed .  

You’ve been staring long enough for your cheeks to turn pink before you try to retreat back through the door.  

“Perhaps we should return another time,” you suggest, crashing into Maris, who not only blocks your escape but pushes you deeper into the room.  

“You will have to excuse my brother,” Helaena announces, waving her hand to beckon you both out onto the balcony, but Maris makes no attempt at excusing Aemond’s presence.  

She rushes to kneel at his side, her smile more triumphant than when you’d agreed to come here.  

“You fought so gallantly today, my prince,” she gushes, her eyes like two saucers which are ready to plate him up.  

Aemond groans as though her kind words are an insult, before his attention returns to you. 

“Have you come to scold me, Lady Baratheon?” he says. 

Maris laughs nervously, “ why would she do that?” 

“Because your little sister seems to disapprove of everything I do.”  

He presses his hand to his bandage and forces himself from the chaise with a pained grunt. 

“I did not realise his grace held any esteem in my opinion,” you reply, but you know it isn’t true and Aemond laughs softly. 

“Yet you like to give it anyway, don’t you Lady Baratheon?”  

“My preference for the extent of our communication has not changed since the first instance. In that I should prefer to avoid it at all costs.”  

“Yet you are here ,” his voice is louder now, “when there are a thousand other places in the Red Keep, or shall I vacate the entire castle for your solitude?” 

“I would not expect his grace to vacate anything for my benefit. So I will leave, if it suits the princess,” you say, glancing to Helaena and hoping she will intervene in some way because, despite what you’ve just said, you cannot seem to get your feet to move as Aemond stalks closer. 

“I would rather you told me what you thought of the tourney,” he demands. 

You say nothing. Waiting until he’s crossed the room, and you can see every shade of purple which blossoms in the bruise beneath his good eye, as much as you can feel the heat radiating from his bare skin.   

He killed a man ; you remind yourself as your eyes scrape across his swollen lip to where the cut has crusted over.  

“I do not think his grace would enjoy my answer.” 

“Try me.”  

You glance at Maris who’s giving you a pleading look, but if Prince Aemond wants the truth, you won’t sugar coat it for him. In fact, you’ll give it so harshly that he’ll stop looking at you the way he’s looking at you in this very moment. 

His soft pensive expression, almost forcing you to forget how much you’d despised his actions less than 3 hours ago.  

You wind your shoulders back as though you’re a knight preparing to strike a blow. “I found the whole thing to be a spectacle of senseless violence with no use but to pet your own sense of grandeur. Ser Glover was the better fighter and-  

“Sister!” Maris interjects, the word shrill and horrified. 

“No, do go on, Lady Baratheon,” Aemond encourages, his eye levelling with yours, his fingers splaying wider across his ribs. 

“You killed him in cold blood like a petulant child who cannot stand to lose a game.” 

Silence commands the room, and then laughter. Aemond’s laughter, stifled by the pain in his ribs but still there and not at all disturbed by your stark analysis as he returns to the chaise. 

Maris stands, the expression in her eye beyond angry, yet her lips are sealed in a tight line which could never be broken in front of the prince. 

“Come ,” Helaena says, offering her hand for Maris while giving you a harrowing look, “let my brother stew in his self-pity.” 

When they disappear onto the balcony, you know they probably don’t want your company, but you feel as though you cannot leave either.  

So, you resign to follow, but stop short when Aemond reaches out to catch your wrist, the rough touch of his fingers searing across your skin without a glove to mask it.  

You look at his face, then to the place where he’s gripping you so tightly, and it's the same place Lord Glover had touched when he’d kissed your hand, yet the feel is entirely different.  

Glover was trying to seduce you with gentleness, but Aemond’s touch isn’t gentle, its certain , and your heart isn’t just fluttering, its beating so hard you feel it might burst into flames.  

“Your grace?” you whisper, hardly daring to meet his eye. 

“You’re right. Lord Glover was the only man who dared to face me, and he did better me. So I killed him to ensure there was no man in all of Westeros who could ever stand against me.” 

You look at him now, your voice tight, “then you’re a coward.” 

If your words wound him, he covers it well, tugging your arm so you’re forced closer, crouching to stop yourself from falling ontop of him.  

“If only you held yourself to your own lofty standards of bravery, then perhaps you would not spend your time at court skulking in the shadows and pretending you don’t enjoy every second you spend in my company.” 

“I am not brave and never claimed to be and... I don’t need to pretend.” 

"Neither do I, and I don’t give a shit about tourneys or gallantry. I’m no white knight hero from a song and I would kill every man in Westeros if they stood in my way.”  

“If you care so little about tourneys, then why bother competing?” 

A smile flicks across his lips and you regret your question as his hand sinks between the cushions on the chaise to retrieve a handkerchief. 

“I must admit, you have no talent for needlework,” he teases, and your eyes grow wide as you notice the wonky cornflower which is now caked in dust and grime. 

You hadn’t seen him collect it from the end of Glover’s lance, and never imagined he would either.  

When you reach to snatch it from his hand, he shoves it back below the pillow with a taunting laugh, “you’ll have to try better than that.” 

You don’t take the bait. You’re not about to scramble around on top of him for the sake of a handkerchief.  

He can have it, it’s just a piece of cloth so it doesn't mean anything . Yet it also means everything , and you know how much it would upset Maris if she knew it was your favour he kept by his side instead of hers.  

You wrench your wrist back, wanting to at least take your arm from his grasp but Aemond doesn’t give that up either. 

He holds you firm, neither of you saying a word before he chooses to relinquish your arm. Because he decides, not you .  

Hastening to your feet, you grip your skin where his touch had been. 

“If you think I could ever enjoy your company, then you must be completely deranged," you say before hurrying out onto the balcony which now seems like a refuge, except, when you sit at the table, you feel like the arrival of a dark cloud on a pleasant afternoon.  

Maris and Helaena both stop what they’re doing to stare, but they don’t ask you to leave, and you thank the gods for propriety as you drink your tea and pick at your cake as though there’s nothing amiss.  

Still, Maris has not forgotten about your little outburst. So when Helaena excuses herself from the table, she pinches your arm with all her might.  

“Ow ,” you whisper harshly, trying your best not to squeal.  

“You are the worst sister in the entire world!” she hisses, her voice shaky and filled with emotion. “You are ruining my chances with Aemond, is that what you want? For me to be miserable?” 

Rubbing your arm, you can’t meet her eye as you say, “that’s not what I want.” 

"Then can you at least try to be nicer to him?” 

You wanted to scream or shake her, “believe me, if I were nicer to the prince, it would not increase your chances.” 

Her eyes flare brightly, her cheeks hot, “and what is that supposed to mean?” 

You sigh, your words carefully chosen, you’re not trying to hurt Maris. “I mean you are lovely enough for any man to want regardless of their feelings for me.” 

"Well, if you care about me at all, you will apologise to him, or I will never talk to you again.”  

You want to tell her ‘no’, but Helaena returns and Maris’ mind is already made up on the matter.  

So, when it is time to leave, and Prince Aemond is still lounging on the chaise, she jabs you in the ribs with a pointed look before announcing, “my sister has something she wishes to say...”  

You clench your nails into the palms of your hands, and try not to roll your eyes, as everyone in the room focuses their attention on you.  

“Please... accept my apologies for the way I spoke before. I am unused to such… gallantry and bravery .”  

It seemed your traitorous tongue could not be stopped, but Maris was satisfied with your apology, even if Aemond looked as though he could see into the very inner workings of your mind. 

“Such heartfelt words, Lady Baratheon,” he began, “but I cannot accept an apology of which I have no need. If my lady thinks I am behaving like a... ‘ petulant child’ then she must be certain to tell me at her earliest convenience.” 

“Well ...” Maris frowns, forcing a laugh, and looking as though she is completely unable to decipher whether the apology had worked in her favour or against.  

“My sister also had the most wonderful idea of making you a remedy,” she added, kneeling by the prince's side once again.  

“It's an old family recipe for swollen…” she tilts her head, glancing down his body, “muscles and um…” she meets his eye, “ lips.” 

You could die of embarrassment for her, but you’re soon distracted by the amused way Aemond turns to look at you, “a remedy? How thoughtful of my lady.” 

You shift from one foot to other, meeting Maris’ stern expression and feeling as though you might strangle her for concocting such a ridiculous scheme.  

“She will bring it to you before the feast, my prince,” she added as if the mere suggestion wasn’t bad enough.  

“Then I will look forward to it,” he replies, giving her, for once, the pleasure of a genuine smile.  

When you’re walking away from the room and out of sight of the guards, it's your turn to pinch her arm and she does squeal. 

“What remedy?” you demand.  

Maris shrugs, “you said you would try to be nicer to him and I thought it would be a good gesture.” 

You heave a very heavy sigh, “if it is you who wants the prince… don’t you think it should be you who brings him the remedy for his…” you mock her voice in a high falsetto, “swollen muscles and lips.”  

She folds her face into her hands, completely dismayed, “oh no! Why did I say that?” 

“Why, indeed?” you ask, annoyed beyond measure.  

~~~

Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoyed it! As Lady Baratheon, what would you put into Aemond's remedy? Are you softening to him or do you like to see him suffer?

[writingsofwesteros]

All Tyland can think about on the way back to the red keep is how much he’s missed his wife and babies. He even bought presents for all of his girls. Nice new dresses, dolls and even balls. Jae also gets a new ball in the hopes that he won’t steal Tylands council ball and Jaehaera gets a new doll. He brings his wife a new necklace and ring, and once he’s outside the keep he makes the carriage stop so he can pick flowers for all of his girls. He’s just an excited lion cub, as his wife would say.

His family is standing in the court yard, with his daughters dressed in their best waving excitedly at him which he eagerly returns. His mood isn’t even affected by seeing Jae holding his council ball and his wife’s hand. But his heart absolutely drops when he notices Aegon standing near his wife, Aegon was actually there to take Jae away so that Tyland could have alone time with his family. And of course Tyland doesn’t know that all he sees is his king talking, maybe flirting with his wife or trying to seduce her into his bed.

Tyland totally doesn’t stomp out of the carriage like a toddler with the flowers in his hands, no he gets out fast and just hurries over to his babies to hug them and to get a huge sloppy wet kiss from his wife. Aegon congratulates Tyland on finally having the courage to basically eat his wife’s face in front of everyone. Tyland pulls away embarrassed until his gently pulls his face back to hers to give a nice slow kiss, which causes Aegon to wolf whistle at them. His wife tells him to ignore him, and asks if the flowers that were in his hands for the girls and her. He tells her of course they are and proceeds to give the flowers to them.

He also gives Jae and Jaehaera their presents, which surprises Aegon but not his wife for all the grumbling he does about the royal childern she knows he cares for them. He tells his babies that he also got them dresses which will be put into their rooms. His wife already knows that she’ll also get new dresses along with jewelry and whispers to Tyland that he better save his energy for tonight because she’ll give him a good show.

Poor Tyland thinks she’s just going to model her pretty new dresses so he’s completely surprised when his wife walks into their shared chamber dressed only in her new jewelry. She orders him not to touch himself or her and he better not finish until she tells him that he can or they won’t fuck for a week. She dances around the room, making sure that her jewelry catches in the candle light. Tyland is a whining mess on the bed, but she doesn’t care she keeps teasing him.

She only stops when she sees how hard his cock is and red his tip is and how it’s leaking just begging for her take of it. She finally shows him mercy by ridding him and telling him that he’s her best baby and how nicely he’s filling her. But he better wait until she finishes and then he can finish, he doesn’t unfortunately he starts to cry and apologize.

But she shushes him telling that she’ll let it slide this one time because it has been a long time for him and she was being slightly mean to him with all of the teasing she did. She tells him the new punishment is that she keeps going until she finishes, it doesn’t matter if he’s crying from being overstimulated. She keeps her word, and then tells him that they’re going to fall asleep just like that with him in her. Tyland swears he’s died and gone to heaven with how well his wife treats him and just getting to be near his babies again.

ALL OF THIS!

Tyland becoming such a sub is delicious and hot.

Aegon being so bad and doing everything to annoy the Lord.

His wife is so mean , poor thing never stood a chance with such a beauty bouncing on top of him

[in-my-feels-probably]

We’re Burned For Better - Chapter Four

Chapter 4

---

Aelora left the city the next day, as did her family. It had been difficult to leave some of them behind. She knew in her heart that she wouldn’t see the King again, his health declining as rapidly as it was. Her heart ached to see her Mother leave, just after it seemed like her relationship with Alicent was beginning to mend.

It hurt Aelora’s heart even more so to leave behind Helaena. Helaena cried when Aelora told her, upset to see her go, and Aelora comforted her as best she could, visiting with her and her children. Jaehaerys and Jaehaera both clung to her leg, tears streaming down their faces.

“Be good for your Mother, children. I’ll be back before you know it, and we can play with Fynn together. Maybe we’ll even get your Father to join.”

Aelora left Helaena’s room nearly in tears, begging Aemond to pay more attention to her, to make sure she and her children were happy, and away from Aegon’s influence.

A promise is a promise.

He agreed, holding her close. He didn’t say much, just keeping Aelora by his side for as long as he could. In the end, he saw Aelora off with her family, promising to write. Aelora promised to visit on Meraxes. She asked him to visit too, if he was able. After all, he had a dragon, he could go wherever he wanted. He said he would try, and they said nothing else about it.

The family left together, on ships or dragonback. Aelora had to get Meraxes from the cliffs since she couldn’t fit in the dragon pits, so she promised she would catch up. Aemond accompanied her.

On the way, Aegon passed them in the halls.

Aelora couldn’t help but feel a sense of pity as she looked at him. He always looked so melancholy. Reluctantly, Aelora pulled him into a hug. He stiffened, eyes wide, but eventually gave into her touch and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“You be good,” she murmured into his shoulder. “Don’t make me come back and kick your ass for doing something stupid. You know I will.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“I’ll miss pestering you.”

Aegon scoffed into her shoulder, pulling away. He was grinning. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll miss you too. Now, go on.”

She nodded at him, resuming her walk with Aemond. A few halls away from the cliff entrance, Aelora heard a little meow, and scurrying feet. Her heart broke all over again as she turned to see the little ball of fur running towards her, pawing at her leg.

She scooped him up, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “I have to go, Fynn. I can’t take you with me, it won’t be safe for you.”

Tears threatened to spill over, and Aemond quickly took the kitten from her arms, ruffling his fur. “I’ll take him.”

“You will?”

“I happened to like the little devil. I’ll watch out for him until you return. He’ll be fine, I promise.”

Aemond sent Fynn on his way, and joined Aelora at the cliffside where Meraxes waited. Aelora sighed deeply, unable to look Aemond in the eye. They both were quiet for a moment, before she finally gave in.

She threw her arms around his neck, clingy to him tightly. “I’ll be back soon, I promise. You won’t even know I’m gone. You won’t even miss me.”

He let out an exasperated laugh into her shoulder. “Aelora, I’m going to miss you from the second Meraxes leaves the ground. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“Well, don’t dwell on it, then. Keep your time filled. Sit with Helaena, walk with Fynn. Keep Aegon out of trouble. I’ll be back.”

She mounted the saddle, smiling sadly down at Aemond.

Aemond didn’t actually say the word ‘goodbye.’ Aelora supposed it may have been too difficult for him. She most certainly was having a hard time with it, so she didn’t say it either. She just promised that she would see him soon, and took off into the skies after her family.

If only she had known how soon it would be.

—

Aelora reached Dragonstone moments after her family.

Everyone settled in, and Aelora was quick to find everyone. That night, they celebrated her return. She was warmly welcomed by the Lords and Ladies, and she took an evening flight with Meraxes, which Jace and Luke accompanied her on. She visited with her youngest brothers, as well as Baela and Rhaena, who were ecstatic to have another young girl on the island.

Aelora went to bed that night exhausted, but extremely happy. She was trying not to dwell on the life she had made back in the city. She made a note to write a letter to Aemond in the morning, letting him and her family in the city know everyone safely made it home. She drifted off contently to sleep shortly after.

—

The next morning, Aelora was awoken by her Mother’s screams.

She rushed down the hall to see her brothers.

“What is going on?”

Jace stopped her from entering Rhaenyra’s chambers. “Mother has begun her labors.”

“What? She isn’t far enough along!”

“I know! But you must calm down. I was asked to collect you and Luke, we are to report to Mother, she has asked for us. Daemon is in the throne room, all of the Lords have gathered. I am to report to him afterwards. Something has happened, but we must remain calm, for her and the babe’s sake, alright?”

Aelora took a breath, nodding. She grabbed Luke’s hand, who was wide eyed and scared. She let Jace lead them all in.

Aelora’s Mother was in nothing but her blood covered shift, hair wild as she clutched to the beam on her balcony. She was groaning in pain, bent over as she tried to steady herself.

“Mother?” Jace asked wearily.

Aelora clutched Luke to her, grasping the back of Jace’s elbow with her free hand.

Rhaenyra turned to them. “Your grandsire, King Viserys, has passed. The Greens have repudiated the succession and claimed the Iron Throne. Aegon has been crowned King.”

Aelora’s eyes widened in shock, and she let go of Jace to bring a hand up to her mouth. How could this happen? Not a day after she said goodbye, and told everyone to behave themselves. In such a short time, how did it all crumble? Did anyone do anything to stop it? Did Aemond? Her stomach turned at the thought.

“What is to be done about it?” Jace asked.

“Nothing, yet. Jacaerys, whatever claim remains to me, you are now its heir. Naught is to be done but by my command.”

Jace nodded, and Luke and him left the room. Their Mother groaned in pain, doubling over.

“Mother, I will be right back, I promise.”

“No, Aelora–” “I will not hear of it! I will be by your side! I will return in a moment.”

Aelora willed yourself not to cry, stepping out of the room. She followed Jacaerys’s steps, marching into the throne room. She spotted Daemon, stepping past Jace.

“What has happened? Why has Mother begun her labors, it is far too early. And who let that fucking bastard sit upon the Iron Throne?”

Daemon sighed, walking over to Aelora. “Calm down–”

“I will not! Mother is alone in there while you’re out here plotting a war. I understand the importance, but by all accounts, she is now the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Should we not wait for her word?”

Jacaerys nodded. “My Mother has decreed no action be taken while she is abed.”

“It’s good you’re here, young Prince. You’re needed to patrol the skies on Vermax. Aelora, Meraxes would be–”

“Did you hear what we said?” Jace asked, standing by Aelora’s side.

Aelora’s Mother screamed, and she shook your head, turning to go.

“Settle this amongst yourselves, I won’t leave Mother alone for another minute. And for fucks sake, please swallow your pride and do as she asks. No, as she commands. She’s your Queen, now. Act like it. Jace, I trust you can handle this.”

He nodded, and she turned to the other Lords, then to Daemon.

“I am asking that you give me the afternoon, so we can see to it that the Queen is safe. Trust me, I will stand by you as soon as this is over. You will have me and Meraxes. Heads will roll.”

Aelora walked out of the room, rushing to her Mother’s chambers. She pushed open the door, brushing past the handmaidens gathered in the corner.

“Princess, let us help you,” one of them begged, holding back tears.

Aelora went over to her Mother who was squatted by her bed, holding onto the post. “Mother, you’re going to let me help you.”

Rhaenyra shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. She groaned, clawing at her thighs. She moved to rest on her knees, and Aelora held her forearms, steadying her. The handmaidens were pleading with her to let them help.

“Mother, if you won’t accept their help, you will accept mine. I was here for Aegon and Viserys’s birth, I will be here for this babe, too. What do you need?”

She leaned her forehead to rest against Aelora’s shoulder, gripping her forearms as Aelora held her up.

“Make it stop!”

Aelora felt tears well in her eyes as she ran a hand through Rhaenyra’s hair, pressing her other hand to her Mother’s stomach.

“Rest on your knees, and push. You’re doing so well.”

Rhaenyra cried out, and a gush of blood fell to the floor below, pooling around her thighs.

“Please, help hold me up.” Aelora nodded and moved her hands to Rhaenyra’s waist, moving her weight to lean against her. Aelora grimaced and turned her head as Rhaenyra groaned into her ear, reaching down to try and pull the baby out herself. With a final push, she slumped against Aelora, and Aelora scrambled to catch the baby as it slipped out.

Rhaenyra fell back to sit, and Aelora steadied her as she moved to her side, now facing the handmaidens as well. She looked down to see a pool of blood, with her baby sister resting in it. The baby looked closer to a dragon than she did a human, her body scaly and her features morphed. Aelora looked away, squeezed her eyes tight and took a breath, settling behind Rhaenyra so she could relax against her.

Aelora could hear the handmaidens cry as her Mother picked up the baby, cradling it in her arms. A sob passed her lips, and Aelora finally opened her eyes, leaning her forehead against her Mother’s shoulder.

“She’s beautiful, Mother. You did so well. Visenya was the name you picked if it was a girl, wasn’t it? I think that suits her.”

Her Mother let out a wail, pressing her face into Aelora’s neck. Aelora wrapped her arms around Rhaenyra’s shoulders, gently swaying her back and forth. She could see Daemon enter the room, and she looked up at him in despair.

“I’m so sorry,” Aelora murmured, clutching her Mother tight. Daemon bowed his head, hiding his tears. He quickly left the room, leaving her with Rhaenyra.

She wouldn’t let Aelora in the room with her and the Silent Sisters. Aelora begged her Mother to let her stay, but she wouldn’t relent. She could barely speak without crying.

“I cannot allow it, my love. You’ve done more than enough for me. But I have to do this on my own.”

Aelora nodded, respecting her wishes. She found Daemon later that day, on the beach. He had fallen to his knees on the shoreline, his head bowed low. He had silent tears, running down his cheeks. She approached him, crouching down next to him. She had blood staining the bottom of her dress, it clouding the water where she sat.

She gently laid her hand on his. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could have done something.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “...Was it a girl?”

“It was,” Aelora smiled sadly. “Mother said you would’ve called her Visenya.”

Daemon nodded, resting his head on hers. She could feel tears landing in her. “I am lucky enough to have multiple girls and one truly remarkable daughter. You’ve done more for your Mother today than any father should ever have to ask of his child. I’m glad you were with her, when I couldn’t be.”

That evening, a service was held for Aelora’s baby sister. A funeral pyre was lit for her. Within hours, Lords had come to her Mother’s support, and she was formally crowned Queen in front of the masses. Aelora and all her family, the Blacks, as well as the Lords and knights under their command, bent the knee and swore fealty to her.

That night, Aelora stayed by her Mother’s side for as long as she would allow her to. She held Aelora close, cupping her face in her hands.

“I am so proud of you, sweet girl. Thank you for today. I don’t think I would have made it through without you.”

After Aelora left her chambers to head to her own, her brothers stopped her, and made sure she was alright. Luke hugged Aelora tight as Jace laid a hand on her shoulder.

“We heard what you did for Mother today. I can’t imagine it,” Luke said into her shoulder.

She shook your head. “You both were very brave today, too. You took charge, spoke for Mother when she couldn’t herself. I know it was scary, but you handled it well. You’re going to make fine rulers some day.”

—

The following days were spent planning for imminent war. Princess Rhaenys and Lord Corlys assisted, offering their fleet and dragons as help. Lords around the realm either staked their claim of support, or backed the Greens.

Otto Hightower came to give Aegon’s terms. Among making Aelora’s brothers shields and cupbearers, he proposed that Aelora live out her days in the city as an advisor to him, and a handmaiden to Helaena and her children. Aegon had quite the soft spot for Aelora, although he’d never tell her, and it was clear in the terms he gave.

It took all Aelora had left in her to not call Meraxes and burn Otto to the ground, and tell Aegon to take his terms and cram them down his throat.

Her Mother told Otto that she would have a response for him the following day, much to Daemon’s displeasure. As much as Aelora would have enjoyed watching Daemon take Otto’s head, she was completely loyal to her Mother, and would stand by her in every decision she made.

When making battle plans, her Mother knew she had to get word to the pivotal Lords of the realm, before the Greens sunk their claws in themselves.

Any love Aelora had for the Greens had died along with her baby sister.

While she was sure Helaena and her children were innocent in the matter, the rest of them were to blame. She found it hard to believe some of them could have stooped so low. Aegon and Otto made sense, but the rest of them she didn’t understand. She didn’t know how Aemond was involved in all of it, but she knew he did nothing to stop the betrayal.

As far as Aelora was concerned, they could all burn. Princess Rhaenys would have done the realm a favor if she had just burned the lot of them to ash in the dragonpit when she had the chance.

As a way of moving the plans along faster, Aelora’s brother made a proposal.

“We should bear those messages. Dragons can fly faster than ravens, and they’re more convincing. Send us,” Jace said, standing next to Luke.

Aelora looked across the table to her Mother, watching her contemplate.

“The Prince is right, Your Grace,” Lord Corlys added.

Heads turned to look at Aelora’s brothers, who stood next to their betrothed. Their Mother finally relented, nodding.

“Very well. Prince Jacaerys will fly north. First to the Eerie to see my mother’s cousin, the Lady Jeyne Arryn, and then to Winterfell to treat with Lord Cregan Stark for the support of the North. Prince Lucerys will fly south to Storm’s End and treat with Lord Borros Baratheon. We must remind these Lords of the oaths they swore, and the cost of breaking them.”

Rhaenyra looked at Aelora, offering her a smile. “Princess Aelora will remain here for the time being, and will assist if necessary. I expect Meraxes will be needed in the near future, and she will serve us much better as a weapon for the Greens. The Princess will stay to help decide when the best time for that is.”

Everyone nodded, knowing their positions, and dispersed to do their duties.

Hours later, Aelora brothers, as well as Princess Rhaenys, were ready to leave for the skies. Aelora stood by her Mother as her brothers approached, each being handed a scroll with a message from the Queen.

“If you take this errand, you go as messengers, not as warriors. You must take no part in any fighting…Cregan Stark is closer to your age than mine. I would hope that as men, you can find some common interest.”

Jace nodded, taking the scroll from her. “Yes, Your Grace.”

She turned to Luke, handing him his scroll. She offered him a smile when she saw his uneasy face. “Storm's End is a short flight from here. You have Baratheon blood from your grandmother, Rhaenys. And, Lord Borros is an eternally proud man..he will be honored to host a prince of the realm, and his dragon. I expect you will receive a very warm welcome.”

“Yes Mothe–Your Grace,” Luke said, taking his scroll.

Aelora smiled at him, bringing him into a quick hug. she turned to Jace, who opened his arms for her. She hugged him tight, before stepping back to her Mother’s side.

“If either of you do something stupid and make me come save you, I will wring your necks. Don’t make me have to come bail you out of trouble. Both of you do me that favor, please.”

Their Mother laughed, her brothers smiling. “I wouldn’t have put it in those words, but yes, you’re right. Listen to your sister, my boys. Go to it, then.”

Within the hour, Aelora’s brothers and grandmother had taken to the skies, soaring over the water until they were specks on the horizon.

—

A/N - This chapter has death and mild gore in it, the following chapter will as well. These two chapters are also the last of the recycled content, the rest is new.

[aebi12]

"Sinful Desires" - Chapter 20

In the end, it takes almost two weeks for them to prepare everything they need to be able to leave King's Landing.

Two weeks during which the crows fly carrying letters full of intrigues and conspiracies whose purpose is to create new alliances or reinforce existing ones.

Two weeks that weigh heavily on Alyssa's heart because goodbye is imminent and each day that passes is one closer to the one she will have to say goodbye to the children and Aemond.

“You are such a brave girl,” she says trying to smile at Jaehaera as she puts on her traveling cloak, “Be good to Daisy and the people who are going to take care of you, okay?”

The little girl nods and takes the princess's face in her warm hands, "You?"

"No, darling, I already explained that I can't go," she clears her throat so that her voice doesn't cut off, "It's a trip you have to take on your own, but it will be a fun trip."

“My trip to him?” Jaehaera points to the sky and this time Alyssa can't hold back the tear that falls down her cheek.

“No, another kind of trip,” she replies, placing a kiss on her cheek, “We'll see each other soon, very soon.” She knows it's a lie, but she can't help but say it, even if it's just to try to comfort her aching heart, "Everything will be fine, Jaehaera."

Alyssa gets the impression that the girl wants to cry, maybe even throw a tantrum like she usually did shortly after what happened with her brother, but in the end Jaehaera crinkles her nose in an adorable way and nods. Her eyes show her sadness and her way of curbing her feelings hurts the princess's heart, but she is grateful that the little girl does not cry and rather places her little arms around her neck to hug her.

Aemond waits for her niece to separate from Alyssa before taking her into his arms and leaving the room. He has tried to dissuade his beloved from her decision of not knowing where Jaehaera will be sent, but Alyssa has been adamant in that regard. So, he has limited to ordering her caretakers that, in case something happens to him, they must get his niece back under Alyssa's care.

Maelor is the next to go. His small body wrapped in a dark green blanket, his little hands trying to stick out, his silver hair so telltale… Alyssa sighs as she kisses his forehead.

"Take good care of him, Ser Rickard, I beg you," she pleads, looking at the knight.

“I will give my life for the prince, if it comes to it, my lady,” the man replies without flinching.

His words don't help to calm her down, so she just nods, and watches him disappear through the streets of the city riding his horse.

"Your mother?" she asks when she feels his arms encircle her waist

“She still doesn't want to leave the city,” Aemond sighs, “She and Grandfather don't really believe Rhaenyra will take the capital, they assure me that the White Worm spy network has been eradicated and there's no way Daemon or my half-sister know that I intend to leave for Harrenhal"

Part of her wants to be as certain as the Hightower are, but she knows it's unlikely, “Helaena will be safe here. My mother wouldn't dare to hurt her, but I can't say the same about your mother and grandfather."

“I know,” he snorts, “but I don't know what else I can do, honestly. I tried to make them see reason and convince them, it's not in me of they..."

“It's okay,” she soothes him, placing her hands on top of his, which are still around her waist, “We all make our own decisions.” She feels him shudder at her words and turns around to look at him, "When will you leave?"

"Tomorrow," a shadow of melancholy shadows his good eye, "Cole says we've got everything we need.” Alyssa nods, though she feels a knot form deep in her chest, "I don't want to leave you, you still have time to go with me."

“I need to stay,” she cuts him off, “Let's go.”

She leads him back to their room, and as the door closes behind them, she kisses him.

Their lips join in the familiar dance, his tongue asks for permission to enter, and she opens her mouth for him to freely explore hers. Aemond brushes his thumbs over her cheeks and Alyssa encircles his waist, pulling his body until they are pressed together, her hand trailing up her firm back to his shoulders.

The girl breaks the kiss and descends with her lips along his chin and neck, burying her nose in his familiar scent and letting her tongue explore the sensitive skin of that area, while she feels his arousal hard against her belly.

Aemond's hands close around Alyssa's wrists as she begins working on the buttons on his jacket, "Are you sure?" he asks in a breathy voice, “We don't have to do anything just because tomorrow…”

She cuts his words off with a kiss, "I know," she asserts, "But I want to."

That is enough for him and he allows her to remove his jacket as he takes her by the hips and leads her to the bed. The feel of his body over her ignites a fire inside Alyssa, and she feels the urge to feel him inside her. It's been too long since they were last together and…

Alyssa lets out a little cry of surprise when Aemond's hands travel up her thighs until they reach her intimacy.

"Did I hurt you?" he asks withdrawing his hand

“No, no, I'm fine,” she smiles as she takes his hand and guides it back to her core.

He seems to hesitate, but she takes him by the neck and joins their lips once more. His fingers explore inside her causing her to explode with passion. The sensation leaves her breathless for long seconds which he uses to get rid of his clothes. Alyssa stands up and allows him to remove her dress, her stockings, and her shoes.

Fingers entwined, they return to the bed. Aemond lies down next to her and his hands travel the contours of her body, gently squeezing her breasts and playing with her nipples as his lips attack her neck. Alyssa whispers his name and presses her hips against his erection, feeling him harden against the contour of her bottom.

Aemond deposits kisses on her shoulder and his hands go down her belly until they settle once more on her intimacy, but he only caresses her lightly before lifting one of her legs, taking his member with his hand and directing it toward her entrance.

"Are you sure?" he asks he slowly enters.

She turns her gaze to him and nods. He sinks a little deeper into her, who closes her eyes at the pleasurable sensation of being widened by him. Aemond continues to move slowly, thrusting into her carefully, too carefully for her liking.

"Let go," she whispers hoarsely, "I'm fine."

Aemond seems to doubt her, but finally begins to enter her with a hungry rhythm that shows how much he has missed burying himself in her. With one hand on her hip, he pushes harder and harder. Alyssa muffles her moans into the pillow and Aemond fiddles with her nipples as he feels pleasure threaten to explode in him.

They both sigh their names as he spills into her.

***

The army forms outside the Red Keep the next morning.

Aemond, clad in his black and red armor, looks imposing as he watches Criston Cole the men to advance towards the city gates.

Alyssa only has eyes for him, to record those last moments in her memory, to remember his tall figure, his lustrous hair arranged in a braid in the style of their ancestors, his powerful profile and his eye that seem hard, but that always look at her tenderly.

They have already said everything that needed to be said, so when the army disappears from her sight, Aemond looks up to the sky and she knows that he is calling for Vhagar. Her stomach churns, sudden nausea welling up inside her as a stable boy brings his horse to him. He seems to sense her mortification, because he turns to look at her and her sadness is reflected in his face. Alyssa tries to smile at him and joins their hands for a brief moment.

“I'll see you again,” she tells him, trying to muster as much conviction as possible.

He just nods, approaches her face and places a kiss on her cheek before getting on his horse and leaving the castle.

Alyssa stands for a few minutes in the courtyard, her heart fighting to contain the pain of his absence. Without her nephews and without Aemond this place is not her home, but she has to be strong and endure what comes.

Instead of going to her room, where only memories await, she goes to the training yard and practices her aim for a long time. After that, she visits the bookstore and tries to keep her mind occupied with the many volumes on the shelves.

The next two days, Alyssa tries to repeat her routine. She visits Helaena at times, but the queen shows no change in her condition and her despair seizes her when she receives no response from her aunt. The princess wonders if she should perhaps go visit the king, but is put off by the presence of Alicent and Otto. She has tried to avoid them the past few days, nothing difficult to do, considering that her presence is not a pleasant one for them. So, she rules out a visit to the king, although she knows that Aegon seems to have improved and that he spends more hours conscious and without needing the milk of the poppy, his company does not justify endure his mother's comments and looks.

Alyssa prefers to wander the corridors of the palace, the gardens and the library aimlessly and thinking about Aemond, the children and her mother.

It is not until three days later that the city bells are rung and dragons are sighted flying around King's Landing. The city enters a terrible state of turmoil. Alyssa watches from her gazebo in the garden as four familiar dragons soar across the sky and settle near the Dragon pit. The few remaining members of the city guard are aware that it is not Vhagar or Tessarion, so with the help of Alicent, they try to defend the castle as best they can.

Alyssa knows it won't help. King's Landing now belongs to her mother.

Taking the castle is easy when the city gates are opened for her mother's army. During the few minutes of combat and, as she finds out after, several members of the Gold Cloaks betray Alicent and help her stepfather to enter the Red Keep triumphantly with her mother.

Alyssa's heart races and her hands shake as she follows one of her mother's guards, who found her in the garden, now leading her to the throne room.

“Princess Alyssa Velaryon,” announces the knight at the door.

The girl takes a deep breath before entering and she holds her breath as her green eyes meet her mother's violet ones.

Rhaenyra immediately descends from the throne and moves towards her with open arms, ready to embrace a bewildered Alyssa, who releases a breath she didn't know she had been holding when she feels her mother's hands caress her back.

“Mother,” she sighs as she hugs her back.

"Alyssa," Rhaenyra cuts the contact and watches her, placing her hands on her cheeks. The princess notices how tired she looks, "I didn't think I'd find you here."

She nods. She already imagined that her presence in her Fortress would be a surprise to her mother, as much as her warm reception is to her.

“I…” she cocks her head, not sure how to start or what to say.

"Where is your lord husband?" asks suddenly the amused voice of Daemon, whose presence she had not noticed, but who has suddenly appeared near the throne

"Shouldn't you know that?" answers Alyssa

When her eyes meet her stepfather's, anger rises within her. The man directly responsible for the death of Jaehaerys, for the suffering of Helaena and her little niece… the princess must restrain herself from running to one of the guards, taking the sword from him and plunging it into her stepfather's face to erase that smirk.

None of the three say anything because guards enter protecting Alicent and Otto. Rhaenyra pulls away from her daughter and her posture changes, her gaze darkens and the contempt she feels for both of them is visible on her face.

"Where is the false king and his heirs?" Rhaenyra asks one of her guards.

"We have not been able to find the usurper or his children, Your Grace."

"What?" Her voice sounds full of indignation, "There is no way he could have hidden in his condition."

Alyssa watches Alicent and Otto, both of whom seem quite pleased to be in a situation where they could end up dead. Suddenly their reluctance to leave the castle and get to safety resonates with the girl. Perhaps they had planned this without considering telling Aemond, perhaps they had wanted to make sure that her mother really made it to the city before they hid Aegon and gave up, but why hadn't they made it to safety?

"Based on your expression, I assume you don't know about my half-brother whereabouts”, her mother's voice brings her out of her thoughts.

Alyssa turns her gaze to her mother and shakes her head, “I have no idea where he might be. Until a few days ago he couldn't even get out of bed without help."

Daemon lets out a curse and Rhaenyra directs her rage at Alicent and Otto, ordering the Dowager Queen to be placed in shackles and that Otto and other members of the Privy Council be brought to one of the courtyards to be immediately executed for treason.

“Mother,” Alyssa moves to her side, trying to make only Rhaenyra to hear her, “wouldn't it be wiser to hold them as hostages? They might come in handy later."

"Not an option," Rhaenyra replies, "Traitors must get their punishment."

Alyssa wonders if at some point her mother's anger will be directed at her as well, considering what she had called her a traitor in her last letter. Rhaenyra seems to be thinking something similar, because she places one of her hands on her chin and gently lifts her up.

"I'm sorry I wrote that letter," she says quietly, "Rage took over me and I didn't consider the damage I could cause you."

“We'll talk about that later,” she shakes her head, though inwardly her heart warms at her words, “I think you're too quick to kill them anyway. They are important lords, surely if they kneel…”

“No, there's no way they'll be spare,” she cuts her off, “I understand your mortification, but I will not change my mind, Alyssa. Otto Hightower and his intrigues are the cause of Jace being dead," her voice cracks, "He will pay for his crimes."

Alyssa nods, but her gaze drifts to Alicent's. Rhaenyra follows her gaze and her daughter can swear she hears a soft sigh leave the queen's lips.

Although her heart has hardened over the past few months, it is still shocking to watch how Otto Hightower and Jasper Wylde are placed in the courtyard, and how two of her mother's knights promptly cut off their heads. Despite everything, satisfaction courses through Alyssa's body knowing that they will be spared from Otto's intrigues from now on. And that her brother's death has been avenged in some way.

"What about Tyland Lannister and Larys Strong?" she asks her mother when they leave the yard

She makes a disgusted face, "Lord Lannister will be sent to the dungeons until he tells us what happened to the royal treasury."

"There is a problem with that?"

“Only that it’s gone,” her mother smiles glumly.

Alyssa turns to look at Tyland Lannister, who is being led along with the Grand Master towards the dungeons.

"And Lord Larys?"

“He’s nowhere to be found,” Rhaenyra snorts, “Sneaky rat.”

"Will Queen Alicent also be put to death?" she can't help but ask

"No," she replies, shaking her head, "I will spare her life because of my father's esteem for her, and because she took good care of him during his last years."

Rhaenyra's response takes her by surprise. She hadn't expected mercy to be extended to the Dowager Queen. Her mother seems uncomfortable, so Alyssa decides to change the course of their conversation when they reach the throne room.

"Mother, can I see my brothers?"

“Of course,” she nods and orders a guard to lead her towards the children's room, “I must…” she makes a vague gesture with her hand, taking in the room.

“It’s fine,” she replies, “but I'd like to talk to you later. In private”, she adds as she observes the figure of her stepfather approaching them.

Rhaenyra frowns, but she ends up agreeing. Alyssa follows the knight into Maegor's Holdfast, and as the man opens the door for her, the familiar figure of Joffrey runs towards her.

"Sister!" says the little one as he hugs her knees

"Joffrey, my love!" Alyssa takes her brother in her arms, although he resists at first, as well as he resists her kisses, while he laughs

“I'm not a baby anymore,” he says indignantly as she places him back on the ground, “Mother let me fly on Tyraxes to get here.”

“I saw you,” smiles Alyssa, “I'm so glad to see you, Joffrey.”

The boy smiles and they both go over to where Aegon is playing with his wooden dragons. The little boy raises his hands to her saying her name and the princess is so relieved to have been recognized by him. Tears escape her eyes as she hugs the little boy, feeling his little body and his baby like scent.

"Why are you crying, sister?" Joffrey asks, confused.

“Happy tears,” she replies as she wipes her face and sets the boy down.

“Mother said that you had married,” says her brother, “that now you have a husband and that is why you no longer lived with us.” A lump forms in her throat, and she ends up nodding at what Joff tells her, even though it's not entirely true, “Where's your husband? Is he also a dragon rider?"

“Yes, he is,” she gives him a brief smile, “But he's not here. He is… he had to go somewhere else”

Joffrey frowns. Despite his short eight years old, she knows that he understands the situation better than expected, and surely he is not satisfied with her answer, but he does not press to know more.

“I was in the Vale for a while,” says the boy, “Our cousin Rhaena accompanied me on the trip.”

"Really? But what an adventure,” this time he smiles more eagerly," And what is the Vale of Arryn like? Is it as pretty as they say?”

Joffrey embarks on a tale of the Arryn household, Lady Jeyne, his training, his first flying lessons on his dragon.

"I was fulfilling the mission that Jace gave me, to protect the Vale from attackers," he says puffing out his chest with pride.

“You must have done very well,” Alyssa replies, clearing her throat and trying not to think of Jace.

"But now Jace is gone too, as is Luke," a shadow of sadness passes through his eyes, "Mother says that it is I who must lead our family now."

“And I know you'll do a great job,” she assures him as she ruffles his hair, “But what do you say we go for a walk in the gardens now? The last time we were here you probably didn't visit them."

Her brother seems buoyed by the idea and the subject of her family is left behind as they stroll through the bushes and flowers. Joffrey and Aegon understand each other very well despite their age difference, and Alyssa joins their games trying to offer them her best version and not think too much about how things will continue from now on and with her mother sitting on the iron throne.

***

“You could have done more for my father”

Alicent's voice is reproachful, her hard gaze landing on Alyssa's, who wonders why she decided it would be a good idea to go check on her before going to dinner with her mother.

"Why would I have had to?"

“Because we treated you kindly while you were in our… care,” she replies scathingly.

Alyssa snorts, “You did it out of convenience. Your father thought it would be good for your side to have me as an ally, besides you were never kind to me, at best tolerant. Not to mention that your father was the one who plotted that ruse with the Triarchy and…”

“Enough,” Alicent cuts her off, her shackles clicking as she tries to raise a hand, “You must convince your mother to let me at least see my daughter. I don't trust the people around her and you know how much she needs me."

In this, Alyssa agrees, but she remains silent.

“Use your new position and ask her,” Alicent insists, “I need to know that Helaena is okay.”

"My new position?" Alyssa looks at her blankly.

"Aren't you now the heir to the Iron throne?"

"I… what?" her face shows all the surprise she feels, “I am not…”

"In the absence of your older brother, does not the crown fall on you?" inquires Alicent

Alyssa falls silent again. She hadn't thought until that moment about the succession, about who would rule after her mother, her thoughts had been totally focused on the damn war they were going through.

“You are older than the other… the other little one who was born here in the Keep,” the Dowager Queen continues, “If your mother can be queen, surely you are now the Princess of Dragonstone.”

“I'm going… I'm going to make sure Helaena has everything she needs,” she manages to say before leaving the room and heading towards her mother's quarters.

As she walks through the halls of the fortress, her head spins at what Alicent just told her because, technically, she's right. It is her who should inherit the Iron Throne after her mother. And if so, perhaps there would be a hope for peace, perhaps her mother would accept her marriage to Aemond and they could finally unite their families.

But when she reaches the small room where dinner is set out, a banquet of buns, sweets, cakes and meat, her thoughts become confused when noticing her mother's upset expression, for Rhaenyra is staring off at some fixed point in the room and not even notice her arrival until she steps up beside her.

"Mother? Are you okay? Something happened?" asks quietly as she sits in the chair next to her.

It seems to take a few seconds for Rhaenyra to snap back to reality, until she finally shakes her head from side to side, "Nothing that can't be easily resolved."

"Are you sure?" The princess doesn't sound entirely convinced, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

“Only if you know where my scum half-brother hid the money from the royal treasury,” she retorts bitterly.

Alyssa forms an “oh” with her lips, “No, I'm sorry, mother. I don't… I never took an active part in Aegon's decisions or his court” her mother gives her a significant look that makes her blush and Alyssa clears her throat, “I thought you were pressuring Lord Tyland to resolve those doubts”

“The bastard is proving more loyal to his false king than one might expect,” she lets out a smirk, “Never mind. Lord Celtigar will take care of that. You don't know how relieved I am to have you here."

"I'm happy to see you, mother," Alyssa takes her hand and interlocks their fingers, "To see you and my brothers"

“We all miss you very much. When I found out that you were…that you were here, along with my half-brother,” Rhaenyra closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, “You caused great pain and disappointment to all of us.”

“I didn't come here by choice,” she defends herself, “I was willing to be Lord Manderly's ward. It was Aegon who brought me here against my own will."

"But you stayed here by choice"

Alyssa ponders her answer. Had it been her choice? Maybe not at first. But after... after she had chosen to forgive Aemond and continue by his side. Though if she hadn't, they weren't going to let her go either, they were ready to marry her off to one of their allies. Or perhaps they would have made her a prisoner. She could tell all of this to her mother, make excuses, say that it was never her intention, but it all sounded so false. If she had wanted to leave, Alyssa could have found some way to contact her family, if at least really tried.

“Yeah, at the end of it all, it was my decision,” she says quietly.

Her mother's face contorts with anger and pain, "Even after everything that happened"

“I suffered with everything that happened,” she clarifies as she feels her breath hitch, “I was devastated and…” she shakes her head, not wanting to remember the terrible feelings of those days, “I found a way to forgive him”

“I clearly underestimated your passion for him,” she sighs, speaking more to herself than her daughter, “I thought his hold on you wasn't that deep, but I was wrong. I'll fix it, don't worry, it's not too late yet. My half-brother marches to Harrenhal and he will find his end there, as he is so willing to." Alyssa feels her heart break into a thousand pieces and her eyes fill with tears, but she doesn't plan to let any fall. Her mother's fingers tighten around hers and the look Rhaenyra gives her is full of pity, as if she felt compassion for her daughter, "I'll fix it, don't worry."

The girl prefers not to ask what her mother thinks she'll fix, so she removes her hand from her grasp and helps herself to one of her scones, trying to nibble on the sides of it, though she is not really hungry.

“What is it that you wanted to tell me in private?” Rhaenyra asks after a few minutes of silence.

"Oh?" Her question takes her by surprise, as absorbed as she was still in her previous words.

"You said you wanted to talk to me in private"

“I, uh…yes,” Alyssa takes a sip of her wine and hides her hands under the table as her nails dig into her palms. During the afternoon she had been thinking about how to start the conversation with her mother or direct her towards the point that she really wants to make her understand, but her visit to Alicent and what Rhaenyra had just said to her have erased all her thoughts and ideas from her mind, "It's about Helaena"

"Helaena?" her gaze seems doubtful

"Have you seen her?" she asks meeting Rhaenyra’s eyes

"I know that she is confined to her rooms"

"But you haven't seen her"

"No, Alyssa, I haven't seen her, why would I?"

"Because she's your sister," answers immediately, "Because you always referred to her affectionately, because it would be necessary if you witness with your own eyes the state she's in, the state your husband lurched her into"

Rhaenyra shifts uncomfortably in her chair, “There's no need for such a thing. I didn't mean for Helaena to suffer, but… your brothers, I couldn't just let it go. The pain I suffered from losing them, there is nothing comparable."

“I don't deny your pain,” Alyssa replies, “That's not what I wanted to talk to you about, but Daemon's cruelty. Mother, it disgusts me to see him next to you. What he did…” she lowers her head, “He traumatized your sister and a little girl”

Her mother shudders, "I admit it was a messy business, but…"

“I know you weren't part of that shame,” Alyssa is quick to say, “but he did it on your behalf. Daemon introduced two criminals to this palace, vile men who threatened Helaena and her children with reprehensible acts. Mother, he was just cruel, it was low, it was not revenge, it was a way to get rid of the heirs”

“What did you expect him to do?” Rhaenyra asks fiercely.

"That he went straight to Aemond, perhaps," she replies in kind.

Violet eyes meet green and there is a shadow of doubt that crosses her mother's gaze.

“Mother, you don't need Daemon. You are queen in your own right, the lords of Westeros have sworn allegiance to you, you have heirs to ensure your legacy, you have dragons, there is no need to have him by your side. He is a bad element”

"A bad element," Rhaenyra giggles, "Daemon is loyal to me, Alyssa, he strengthens my claim."

“He practically turned you into a kinslayer”

"Enough!" the fire of rage flames in her eyes, “I won't argue with you about Daemon. I don't understand why you two can't get along, but he's not leaving, Alyssa. My half-brothers would get exactly what they deserve. This is a war that they themselves sought."

"It's not too late to finish it yet" she is encouraged to propose, although her voice falters

“Finish it? Search for peace?” her mother laughs again, “My half-brothers could have had places of honor in my court, but they preferred to betray me. There is no way we can reach a peace agreement, I don't trust them and you and your brothers will never be safe as long as they are alive. All of them."

Alyssa shudders at the implications of her statement. The princess wants to continue her attempts to dissuade her mother, but a servant informs her that her presence is necessary in the council chamber and her mother immediately takes her leave, leaving her alone with her sorrows.

***

Alyssa doesn't get a chance to talk to her mother alone again.

The queen is always busy with council meetings or holding audiences for the lords or citizens of King's Landing. The first few weeks, Alyssa goes to the throne room to be informed of what is happening in the city, but after long hours of listening to different problems from the common people or the nobles, and in addition to not being able to stand the presence of Daemon, who remains near her mother on the throne looking at everyone with a smirk of amusement and smugness, she prefers to return to the refuge offered by her brothers.

Mainly young Aegon, since Joffrey is under the tutelage of her mother's maester and knights, who keep him busy with his lessons in the library or in the training yard. Alyssa can't help but wonder if this is the answer to Alicent's question about her possible status as heir to the Iron Throne.

“I like this one,” the sweet voice of her little brother brings her back to the reality of the playroom, where Aegon is playing with a wooden dragonfly that was one of Jaehaera's favorites. A wistful smile appears on Alyssa's face as she thinks, not for the first time that day, of her little niece.

“It's a dragonfly,” she tells him as she flies it with her hand.

Aegon runs across the room making it fly and Alyssa hugs her knees as she feels the pain return to her head. The last few days she had done nothing but feel unwell. It had started with a small case of indigestion, then a bloated belly, and now a headache. Her discomfort used to pass with the hours, but even so it was very uncomfortable to wake up some days nauseated or feeling dizzy if she ran after her little brother.

"Are you feeling ill, princess?" Talya asks, looking at her pale face.

"The head, again," she admits with a sigh.

"I'll go get your tea"

“Thank you,” she smiles at the woman and takes a deep breath as she watches her brother.

Talya soon returns with the tea, and Alyssa rushes to drink it. The warm liquid soothes her insides, and she sighs again, "It's not what you're thinking," she says when she feels the maid's gaze.

"I think nothing, princess"

“I am not with child,” she says anyway. And it is true. She had drunk the moon tea the morning of Aemond's departure, so there was no chance of a baby growing inside her. The princess attributed her symptoms to the exhaustion and stress that she experienced every day.

Because every day she woke up with the fear that something would happen to Aemond, that he was injured or had been captured. Fear also extended to the life of her little nephews, who were somewhere in the kingdom and she had no idea if they were well protected or if they were cared for as they should. Fear settled inside her every morning and it was like a monster that eating her alive, with small moments of calm like when she could freely enjoy her brothers or when she read to Helaena.

Helaena, who was still as lost as ever, but who she cared for personally as Alicent was still confined to her rooms.

“You should get some sleep, princess,” Talya proposes, “You look thinner and paler every day.”

Alyssa follows her advice and tries to rest for the next few days, her body even seems to recover and her spirits improve a little when she finds out that Daemon will leave the city.

“Your mother insists on your presence in the throne room,” Talya tells her as she helps her into a red gown.

As Alyssa walks over, she watches the long line of people waiting for an audience with her mother, all looking tired, hungry, and even angry.

“Mother,” she greets, curtsying and ignoring the others present.

"Alyssa, good, we were waiting for you," Rhaenyra, who has Aegon in her arms, steps down from the throne and stands next to her husband, "Daemon will leave the capital today"

"Will he?" she asks feigning interest

“I’ll go hunting your betrothed,” he says gravely, “His adventures in the riverlands are coming to an end.”

Her heart stops momentarily when she hears Daemon and she can't help but look at him, though she hates that he wallows in her obvious concern.

“My half-brother has caused us enough trouble already,” Rhaenyra states.

Alyssa looks between her mother and her stepdad and bites her tongue to keep from blurting out something she's going to regret later. Rhaenyra and Daemon have a quick conversation in High Valyrian before saying goodbye. A young woman, whom Alyssa knows is called Nettles, approaches her stepfather and they leave the throne room together. Her anxiety worsens when she realizes that, in addition to Caraxes, Aemond is also going to have to face the Sheepstealer.

As Alyssa's mind tortures her with the uncertainty of the future, her mother announces that two other men, the riders of Silverwing and Vermithor, will also be leaving the city for the Reach to confront Ormund Hightower and Daeron.

After that, the doors of the throne room open and the villagers begin to enter to receive an audience with their queen. The complaints are the same: the lack of food, the businesses that do not prosper, the high taxes that suffocate the population, the lack of space to house the refugees who flee the riverlands.

“Prince Aemond will wipe out all the fertile lands if he keeps burning everything in his path,” says a thin woman with a foreign accent whom Alyssa doesn't know, “Unrest is growing in the city.”

“And we haven't been able to receive support from the Reach either,” Lord Celtigar continues, “Your Grace, perhaps it's time to…”

Her mother nips in the bud any hint of a possible peace agreement, “Daemon and the other dragon riders will take care of that very soon. It's just a matter of waiting."

***

But as the weeks turn to months, it becomes clear that the situation is getting desperate.

Alyssa hears new news about riots in the city every day, and when she asks her mother about the possibility of helping the town with resources from the palace, she flatly refuses.

“They are your people, mother,” she insists, “if we can somehow help them…”

Alyssa is cut off as the throne room doors open to reveal two young women who are announced as Lady Rosby and Lady Stokeworth. The young women curtsy to the queen before asking to be recognized as heirs to their respective lands due to their status as older sisters and the early death of their fathers. The request clearly causes mixed reactions among the court, which expects Rhaenyra to rule.

“Thank you for coming, my ladies. The queen will let you know her decision,” says Corlys Velaryon

When both young women leave the room, her mother ends all hearings and engages in conversation with her advisers on the best decision to make.

"You cannot name them heirs, Your Grace," says Lord Celtigar, "It would set a bad precedent for the kingdom."

“I agree with Bartimos,” approves Corlys Velaryon, “It would allow for other houses with similar situations to request a review of the succession. A son should go before a daughter."

“Indeed, your Grace. The Rosby and Stokeworth titles had better pass to their younger brothers."

“But those boys are just kids,” Alyssa dares to say.

"Let them be appointed guardians to ensure the proper functioning of the lands," says Lord Corlys, "When the children are grown, they may take their proper titles."

Alyssa meets the gaze of her mother, who seems very conflicted listening to her counselors. The men continue their arguments until the queen relents.

"It doesn't make any sense," Alyssa looks between the lords and her mother, "If my mother can ascend to the throne, certainly other noble ladies are capable of assuming the responsibility of running their ancestral homes."

But she knows it is a hopeless battle. She is aware of the precedent that her mother set by legalizing Corlys Velaryon's supposed grandchildren instead of Driftmark passing to Baela, his legitimate heir. She knows that it is not in the interest of any lord of Westeros to set aside his privileges to give them to a woman.

Alyssa giggles awkwardly and feels her mother's gaze on her. The princess climbs the steps until she gets close to the throne, "I suppose the same will happen to me, right mother?"

"Alyssa..."

“Just tell me the truth, mother, please,” she asks as her fingernails dig into her hands, “Did you choose Joff over me because he's a man or because I didn't follow the path you hoped for me?”

“Joffrey is more suitable to be the heir”

Alyssa doesn't know what to make of that answer. When it becomes clear that her mother will say no more, she adds, “Know that I have no interest in reigning. I don't resent my little brother because you have named him heir, I just want to know if it was because of me, because of what I did or the fact is that you never considered me suitable for the succession”

Her mother doesn't get to answer because Maester Gerardys rushes into the room with a letter in hand and urgent news from the Reach.

“It’s the dragon riders, Your Grace,” he reports, “The…they betrayed you and joined your half-brother Daeron and Ormund Hightower. The Reach is under Green control now."

A wave of fury emanates from the figure of her mother, who is soon yelling expletives about the treacherous bastards and their filthy tricks. Alyssa takes a few steps back, wondering if the two riders’ actions were the result of Aemond's efforts to buy their loyalty. Most likely, it was. And perhaps now that they had the Reach in their possession, they could negotiate, perhaps Daeron would meet with Aemond and so they could…

"I'll kill them all," her mother exclaims decisively, "A reward, that is."

"Reward?" Lord Celtigar asks, "For whom?"

"For whoever brings me the heads of the usurper's children," Rhaenyra explains.

Alyssa turns to her with a horrified expression, "No, mother, please don't."

Her mother silences her with a look, "Let knights inquisitor go throughout the kingdom, I want the head of the traitorous bastards loyal to the usurper, I want the head of his children too"

A pair of guards bow before leaving to spread the news to all corners of the realm. Lord Corlys rushes out as well, and the maester and Lord Bartimos Celtigar are quick to leave them alone.

“You are making a grave mistake,” Alyssa says, her voice choked with fear and pain, “You were never a cruel woman, mother, please.” Her mother doesn't seem to want to hear her, “They're children, mother, they're babies, please, I'm begging you,” her tears fall and Rhaenyra finally looks up at her.

“They are traitors, they deserve to be punished,” she replies, her voice cold and full of rage.

Alyssa furiously wipes the tears from her face, “If anything happens to those children, I will never forgive you, mother. Never” she sentences before leaving the room.

***

The situation in King's Landing takes a turn for the worse for her mother when winter finally closes in on them. The discontent of the population is general and although food enters the city, taxes take most of the people's money.

Alyssa, who hasn't sought her mother's company or attended an audience in the weeks since their fight in the throne room, learns what's going on from Talya.

"Your grandfather has been thrown into the dungeons for helping his grandson Addam run away with his dragon before your mother took him prisoner."

The princess finds it extremely strange to hear the maid refer to Corlys as her grandfather, "I didn't know my mother distrusted ser Addam"

“She does, and she also distrusts the girl, this Nettles,” Talya continues as she brushes her hair, “Although there is another reason for it.”

"What reason?"

"They say, that is... there are rumors, but they say you stepfather Daemon has a close relationship with Nettles"

Oh. Alyssa understands what those rumors mean.

“It wouldn't be the first time Daemon has taken a lover,” the girl reflects, “I always had the impression that my mother was aware of that as well, why would it be any different with Nettles?”

"I don't know, princess," Talya's capable hands braid her dark hair, "I only heard that you mother wrote to Lord Mooton demanding that he put an end to her problem once and for all."

Alyssa shuddered. Surely her mother hadn't done that, had she? She couldn't blame Nettles for whatever was going on between her and Daemon, besides it would be foolish considering that the girl is a dragon rider.

“In the streets the situation is no better,” the woman continues, “Lord Celtigar is hated by the common people, who can barely feed themselves. They refer to him and you mother without a speck of respect."

"I'd rather not hear the names they're called by," Alyssa clarifies, standing up, "Come on, I want to go visit Helaena."

Talya nods and follows Alyssa back to her aunt's rooms, who continues as usual, oblivious to reality. When they are at the end of the hallway that leads to Helaena's door, Alyssa pauses as she watches the strange woman with the foreign accent come in to visit her aunt. Her presence, which she had almost forgotten since she hadn't seen her again in several months, seems strange to her.

"Who is she?" asks Talya

“Lady Mysaria,” she informs her, “She is practically considered the master of whispers in your mother's council. Surely you have heard of her, they call her…”

“White Worm,” Alyssa finishes almost on a breath as her mind snaps together the pieces of information Aemond had given her long ago about the foreigner who had hired Jaehaerys' assassins.

Alyssa runs the last few meters to the room and carelessly opens the door, causing it to hit the wall. Her gaze falls on Mysaria, who has a cruel look of satisfaction on her face as she whispers something in Helaena's ear.

“Get away from her,” Alyssa orders, striding up to her aunt.

“As you command, princess,” she replies with a chilling smile, “I already said what I had to.”

"You're a…"

"Maelor"

Alyssa stops speaking when her nephew's name is called, not by Talya or Mysaria, but by Helaena.

"Helaena?" she asks in amazement as she looks at her and examines her expression, "What's wrong...?"

"Maelor!" the queen repeats, her eyes filling with tears and her pain contorting her gestures, "I couldn't… I couldn't protect Maelor."

Alyssa looks at her blankly, "No, Helaena, your son…"

"Dead. Maelor is dead,” the queen turns to Alyssa and seems, for a few seconds, to recognize her, “My son is dead,” she repeats again before beginning to cry uncontrollably.

"What did you say to her? What did you do to her?” the girl turns to Mysaria, who watches the scene with joy, "Talya, go get the guards, this woman is a criminal."

The maid rushes out of the room and Alyssa hugs Helaena, trying unsuccessfully to calm her down. The scene becomes achingly familiar and it takes her back to that terrible night.

“Her son is dead, torn to pieces by a mob,” says Mysaria, still standing near them, “His head was sent by an ally of your mother, along with the body of the knight who guarded him, a few hours ago.”

"Shut your mouth!" Alyssa orders, “That's not true, that is just vile inventions of yours," she says, though her voice cracks and her heart is pounding so hard in her chest that her hands begin to shake, “Don't listen to her, Helaena, it can't be true.”

"But it is" laughs the woman

Talya returns with a couple of guards. Alyssa watches both men, Mysaria and Helaena. Could she be telling the truth? She needs to know.

"You," she says pointing to one of the guards, "Take care of Helaena, you're coming with me."

Alyssa then places a soft kiss on the top of her aunt's head and quickly goes to Mysaria, giving her little time to react before grabbing her hair forcefully and beginning to drag her out of the room.

"Cheap whore," she hisses furiously, "I'm going to throw you in the dungeons for your crimes"

She does not know if it is her fury that gives her the strength to carry her to the throne room or if is the woman who does not resist her efforts. Anyway, Alyssa walks into the room and carelessly throws Mysaria to the floor.

"What does this mean?" Rhaenyra asks looking at her daughter.

“This… woman,” Alyssa begins, “she's a murderer, she's the one responsible for what happened to Helaena's children. And not content with that, she went to disturb her delicate condition with cruel lies."

"No lie, Your Grace," says Mysaria.

Her mother's expression changes, and Alyssa recognizes a shadow of understanding in her. Alyssa walks away from Mysaria and goes to her mother.

"It's not true, is it mother?" she asks in a small voice, “Maelor, the son of Helaena…”

Her mother does not respond. Desperate, Alyssa looks at the other faces in the room, Maester Gerardys lowers his head in shame, and his gaze drifts to a bulge at the other end of the throne. The girl's eyes recognize the cloak, once white, now stained with blood, mud and who knows what else. Next to the body, a small sack with…

No, no, no. It couldn't be true.

Alyssa loses her balance and is about to fall. When her mother goes to help her, she backs away as she shakes her head.

Then a woman screams.

Screams fill the throne room, and the guards gather around Rhaenyra. Alyssa, oblivious to her mother's calls, runs out and follows the direction of the screams, which lead her to the entrance of Maegor's Holdfast.

"No, princess, don't see her, it's better not to see her"

Talya's arms catch her before Alyssa can walk through the door.

"Helaena?" she dares to ask, though she fears the answer

Talya doesn't need to answer because she has tears in her eyes. Alyssa, already without strength, allows herself to be held by the maid and permits her to lead her in the opposite direction.

***

Darkness.

All Alyssa remembers after entering her room is darkness.

She must have passed out at some point because she wakes up in her bed with no recollection of going to bed.

She doesn't have the strength to get up or leave her room.

Her mother visits her a couple of times, but she doesn't speak to her. Joffrey also seeks her company and is disappointed to find her so sad, especially since he doesn't understand what put her in that state.

“You must overcome the pain,” Talya tells her one afternoon, “You still has plenty of reasons to live for.”

Alyssa wants to ask her what those reasons are, but she knows full well that the woman is right. It's just that it's so much easier to just ignore everything and continue sleeping.

“The queen…” Talya hesitates, “The dowager queen would like to speak with you.”

Alyssa cocks her head, surprised by what Talya has just told her. She hadn't thought about Alicent or if she knew about what had happened with Helaena… her heart aches at the thought of Helaena. She should never have left her in the care of that guard, she should never have walked away from her. What would Aemond say when he learned of his sister's death? Alyssa had assured him that he would take care of Helaena. And she hadn't kept her promise.

“I don't think I can see her,” he admits.

Talya says nothing, but helps her sit on the bed and hands her a tray of food.

Alyssa spends the afternoon wondering why Alicent would want to see her. And the idea consumes her so much that when night falls she goes through the corridors in the direction where she remains confined. The guard seems hesitant to open the door for her, but finally does.

"You are here"

Alicent's voice comes to her muffled across the room. The Dowager Queen walks towards her and Alyssa takes in her appearance, her threadbare green dress and her disheveled hair, her swollen eyes and the raw wounds on her hands.

“You asked me to come over,” she replies quietly.

"I'm worried about Helaena," she says as she reaches up to her side, "They…they forbade me from going to her funeral."

Funeral? Alyssa had been so caught up in her grief that she had completely forgotten about her aunt's funeral.

“I don't know what I can do for you,” she admits.

"Take her to the sept," Alicent requests, taking her hands suddenly.

“To the sept? Helaena is…was a Targaryen. Her body will be bathed in dragonfire."

“But not by your mother's dragon,” Alicent's eyes flash with pain and fury, “She never cared about her siblings. My girl… my girl deserves to be sent to the gods by someone who loved her. Let Aemond or Daeron do it. Don't let it be anyone else"

“Queen Alicent…”

“I'm begging you, Alyssa. Take her to the sept, ask the septon and the Silent Sisters to care for her and my grandson until my son Aemond returns."

After that, the woman returns to her place in the shadows and ends the conversation. Alyssa stands for a few seconds, watching her, before leaving her room.

***

Her mother is not opposed to the idea of taking the bodies to the sept, mainly because her paranoia is so ingrained within her that she fears an exit outside the Red Keep, and since Syrax, the only dragon with a rider who could have served to cremate the bodies, will not be participating, she lets Alyssa and some courtiers close to Helaena form a small funeral procession through the city.

Blue roses adorn the carriage in which Helaena and Maelor are carried.

The entire city seems to gather behind the princess and the ladies of the court, silently accompanying their beloved queen. Alyssa makes the painful journey to the sept leaning on Talya, who looks genuinely sad, which reminds her of times when she recalls seeing the redhead maid near Alicent's daughter growing up.

As the Silent Sisters move the bodies to a crypt in the sept, Alyssa whispers parting words to two of the people she loved the most, before heading out into the cold morning.

The people are still gathered near the sept, and now that the procession is over, Alyssa sees the unhappiness and pain on their features. And then there are the whispers. The girl can't hear what they say, but she hears her mother's name and Helaena's name being repeated several times.

“We'd better get going, princess,” Talya tells her, urging her onto the carriage.

Arriving at the Red Keep, Alyssa goes straight to her brother's room. Joffrey is engrossed in reading a book of children’s stories, and his look of concentration eases her heart. Aegon, on the other side, goes to her with the dragonfly in hand and asks her to play together. She does her best to entertain her brother.

As the hours pass, her pain is easing and her mind clearing. She needs to get over it. She needs to form a plan because one thing is clear, she can't stay in the castle any longer. Her mother is irreducible, she will never forgive her brothers or cede the crown to Joffrey. There is no hope of reconciliation. Rhaenyra is no longer who she remembers, her pain and loss have transformed her and Alyssa can no longer stay with her without resenting her. It will be better to stay away from her. It will be better to return to Aemond and fight by his side until fate, inevitable fate, brings the two women closer again.

“The queen orders you to go to Maegor's Holdfast right now,” a guard says suddenly.

Alyssa is surprised by the order, but she does not intend to argue, so she takes Aegon in her arms and together with the maids, she walks with Joffrey to meet their mother.

As they move into the palace, the princess knows that something is wrong. There is an atmosphere of fear and bewilderment among the courtiers. The knights go back and forth, hurrying and whispering among themselves.

"Do you know what happens?" ask Talya

"It's the people of the city," she tells her quietly, "There are riots in Flea Bottom."

Alyssa can't ask any more because they enter the living room, where a very nervous Rhaenyra takes Aegon in her arms.

"Mother, what's going on?"

"Don't be afraid, it's nothing," she tells them, "The gold cloaks will stop the riots, I'm sure."

But it turns out not to be true.

As the hours progress, more guards get lost in the city and do not return. The small contingent that her mother had for protection of the capital turns out to be insufficient against the fury of the townspeople, or so Ser Luthor Largent informs them.

“The crowd is heading towards the Dragonpit, Your Grace,” says the man, “They are urged on by the Shepherd, a crazy old man who claims that the dragons must be killed.”

"No!" it is Joffrey who speaks, "Tyraxes is in the pit, nothing bad can happen to him, mother we must do something"

"Shh, Joffrey, calm down," Rhaenyra hands over to a sleeping Aegon in Alyssa's arms, "It'll be okay."

"Maybe it would be good if you and your dragon help us put things in order," the knight proposes.

Her mother shudders, “No, no, I haven't ridden Syrax in a long time and…” she looks at her son, “No, you… you've got to get that scum to back off.”

“Your Grace, there are too many and…”

"Mother, we must help," Joffrey frowns and looks at Rhaenyra, “the people won't be able to do anything against you and Syrax." Alyssa looks between her little brother and her mother, "I can go, I can defend the city"

"You will not do such thing! You are just a child, not a warrior, it is dangerous out there."

“Mother, I think you should go,” she finally says, “The situation may get out of hand and…”

Shouts and noises fill the fortress. There are a few minutes of uncertainty as another guard enters to report that the crowd is outside the palace with the intention of entering.

“Mother, we have to do something,” Alyssa looks desperately at Rhaenyra, “Could you…”

"Where's Joffrey?" Rhaenyra interrupts her

"What?" Alyssa looks around and doesn't see her little brother, "He was here a moment ago"

Rhaenyra calls her son and searches the entire room, without finding him.

“I'll go find him,” Alyssa says, and she makes as if to place Aegon in her mother's arms.

“No, no, I'll go,” Rhaenyra looks into her daughter's eyes, “Do not leave your brother alone at any time, don't trust him to anyone else, Alyssa. I'll be back with Joffrey."

The princess nods and feels her mother's cold fingers gently take hers for a few seconds. The contact is brief, but her sense of regret stays with her as she watches her mother leave the living room in search of her brother.

Alyssa cradles Aegon and paces the room, waiting, waiting…but a loud noise startles her and she suddenly feels Talya's hands around her shoulders.

"You have to go, princess," the woman urges her

"I can’t, I have to wait for my mother"

“The castle gates will be falling soon,” the woman shakes her head and looks back. Alyssa looks too and suddenly she is aware that there are no more guards guarding them. Where have they all gone? "The people are angry, they think that you mother killed Queen Helaena"

"That's absurd!"

"Princess, you must go"

"No, Talya! Joffrey and my mother…”

“It's too late,” the woman looks into her eyes, “I'm sorry, princess, but it's too late, he’s gone. You can't help your brother and your mother can't help you."

Alyssa understands the meaning behind her words and has a thousand questions. How it happened? What happened? Why…? But she swallows them all, as does her pain, and she looks down at Aegon, her last little brother.

The noises, screams and the smell of something burning reach her. Alyssa clings to her brother's body and follows Talya, who leads her through passageways in the castle that she has never been through before.

“You must be strong and go in search of prince Aemond,” the woman says in a whisper.

“What will happen to you? Why do not you come with me?" Alyssa asks as the passage opens into a small room where Talya appears to be searching for something in a cupboard.

"I'll be fine, it's safer for you to travel alone, you'll attract less attention," the maid places a small bundle of clothes in her hands and a bow with a quiver full of arrows, "Come now, we don't have much time."

Alyssa has a thousand questions again, but now is not the time. She so she follows Talya until the passage opens into one of the Keep's courtyards. Once there, she places a very large cloak over Alyssa and Aegon and pulls up their hood.

"Take one of the horses and follow the King’s road to Harrenhal," she tells her, "Be strong and don't look back."

"Talya..."

"Good luck, princess"

And luck seems to be on her side, because as Alyssa makes her way through the streets of King's Landing, no one pays attention to her as everyone heads in the opposite direction.

With tears in her eyes, fear wanting to settle in her mind, and knowing that the journey ahead of her will be utter madness, Alyssa urges her horse on and leaves the city.

[runningmunson]

Hii!! If requests are open could I get an aemond and reader fic where theyre in an arranged marriage and she loves him but doesn't think he loves her back and she gets insecure bcs of what the people at court are saying?? happy ending and a love confession please! Thanks💕

The Life You Dreamed

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Female!Reader

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: insecurities?, angst to fluff

Masterlist

Falling in love with Aemond was as easy as breathing. He was a gentleman, strong, intelligent, and handsome. Everything you could want in a husband, he possessed. So no, falling for him wasn’t hard.

Continuing to love him, however, was like breathing in the cold morning air- difficult and painful. You could feel your chest tighten every time he resisted your attempts to show him how you loved him. Whether it was the many times he pulled his hand away from yours or when you begged him to join you at night only to wake as the sun rose to find he never went to bed with you. He could be gentle and kind one day, then distant and harsh the next. 

Just like your lungs so desperately craved air, you crave to feel Aemond’s love. 

It was one of those latter days where he would perform his duty the way he was taught but show no real care towards you. He escorted you, arms linked, into the hall where the royal family was celebrating the name day of Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. Your chair was pulled out, and his hand led you to sit next to his mother. Short pleasantries were made before the food was served.

Not long after, the music and dancing commenced. Alicent made her way around to greet all the Lords and Ladies who came to celebrate. Aegon, who was already drunk before the event started, had surprisingly dragged Helaena to the dance floor. That left you and your husband alone at the table. He had barely even said more than a few words to you since you got there. You had hoped he would ask you to dance, but you were not so lucky. 

You felt the disappointment creep in as you watched the happy faces of those dancing in front of you. How you only wished to feel Aemond’s arms around you as you danced around the room, to have a taste of the joy these people must have felt. 

You were drawn out of your thoughts to find Lord Tully standing in front of you. You figured he was there to talk to Aemond but left shocked when he held his hand out and asked for you to dance. You turned your head to see Aemond’s reaction and saw nothing but his typical neutral exterior, so you stood and walked around the table to accept his request. 

“I would be happy to dance with you, Lord Tully,” you smiled brightly at him. He led you to the dance floor and placed one hand on your waist while the other grabbed your hand. You spun around the room together, laughing at one another's jokes and enjoying each other's company. 

It wasn’t often that a man seemed genuinely interested in what you had to say, so you tried to take advantage of the moment. However, it was hard to ignore the harsh stare of Aemond. If he didn’t like it, then he should have just asked me to dance, you thought.

After a few dances, you grew tired. “I think I am going to sit this one out and grab a drink.” 

You walked toward a table that housed the wine and poured yourself a drink. There was a small group of ladies not far from the table. You could hear bits and pieces of their conversation.

“I heard someone spotted the prince leaving a brothel the other night yet again,” Lady Tyrell spoke. This piqued your interest, knowing you liked to hear occasional gossip of the people in the courts. You figured they must be talking about Aegon. It was common knowledge that your brother, by marriage, was not faithful to his wife and often sought comfort in wine and women.

“Maybe that is why her belly has yet to swell with child despite them being wed for some time. The poor girl can't possibly satisfy a real man such as himself,” Lady Tyrell continued, causing the other ladies to giggle. 

You were confused at first. Aegon already had children with Helaena, so the only other prince is Aemond. Tears began to form in the corner of your eyes when you realized they were talking about you and your husband. Why would Aemond be visiting a brothel? You no longer felt well and wanted to leave.

Your eyes searched the room for Alicent and found her with Aemond, who was still at the head table. Your feet carried you over there as you tried to force your tears away. “Your grace, I am not feeling well and wish to retire for the night.”

“Of course, dear. I hope you feel well soon,” she pulled you into a hug.

“I shall accompany you then,” Aemond said and stood from his seat.

You shook your head, “That is not necessary, my prince. I do not wish to take you away from your niece and nephew’s party. My handmaiden will attend to me.”

Aemond raised his brow when you called him my prince. You haven't called him that since before you were wed after he requested you call him by his name. He took notice of your shining eyes in the candlelight and your withdrawn posture and knew something was wrong. 

“I would still like to accompany you. If we may be excused, mother?” Aemond stood firm, almost begging you to challenge him. You gave in and bowed your head to the queen. He offered you his arm, but you turned away from him and made your way to your chambers, knowing he followed not far behind. 

Aemond closed the door once you made it inside. You paced nervously, afraid to confront him about what you heard. He spoke up, “What troubles you?”

“Have you been visiting brothels?” you asked bluntly.

“What?”

“I overheard Lady Tyrell say people have witnessed you leave a brothel. She figures that is why I have yet to bear your children, that you visit those horrible places because I cannot satisfy you,” you could feel your throat tighten as a sob threatened to come out. 

Aemond stormed over to you, “That is rich coming from Lady Tyrell, seeing as her Lord husband has fathered several bastard children. And no, I have not been visiting brothels. I have been with no other woman but you since we wed. I am not my brother and truly offended that you think so lowly of me.”

“Then why do we not have children yet? Why do you refuse to bed me most of the time? There has to be some logic for all of this!” you cried out.

“I do not believe this to be the true reason you are upset. What else troubles you so much that you falsely accuse me of something so vile?” Aemond was beginning to get angry at this point. He did not like when his integrity was questioned. 

“I mourn, Aemond! I mourn for the life I wish to have,” you said but didn’t look at him. Your red-rimmed eyes were faced toward the window. 

“You mean a life without me as your lord Husband?” Aemond stared at you with a clenched jaw, his hands clasped firmly behind his back. 

You shook your head, “I think you are mistaken. I mourn for the life I wish to have with you.”

“What do you mean by that?” He questioned.

“Aemond, I desire nothing more than to have a happy and loving marriage with you. I don’t want to question whether I am the only woman you share your bed with. I want to have your children together and grow old with you. It has been difficult for me to come to terms with the fact that it will never happen,” you sighed. Tears flowed free and landed on your cheeks as you let the pain crush your heart once more. 

“Why- why would you desire that with me?” Aemond stared at you in shock. He couldn’t believe you possibly wanted a real life with him. You turned to face him. 

You walked over to him and placed your hand on his face, slowly running your thumb down his cheek, “I love you, Aemond. I do not know why it is such a surprise that someone other than your family by blood could ever love you. I know I do not have your love, but that is a burden I have to carry alone.” 

“Oh, my sweet wife. The only one who is mistaken is you. I have all but yearned to hear these words from your lips, for you to say you feel the way I do,” Aemond felt his anger fade, and relief flooded his body. 

“You love me?”

“Yes, I love you. I have from the moment I laid my eyes upon you,” he took hold of your hands.

“But why can you be so cold sometimes? Why is it so hard for you to show me you love me like I have been trying to do to you?” you questioned, wanting nothing more but to understand him.

“I do not know how to show love. I’ve never had an example of what true love should look like and only ever known how my parents treated each other and me and my siblings. But truly, it is no fault but my own, and I am sorry for how I acted. I am so sorry that you have had to question my love for you,” his face turned into a frown, embarrassed at his actions.

He continued, “I want nothing more than the life you dream for us. I want days spent in bed making love to you. I want to dance the night away with you. I want a family with you, to watch our children grow up and have children of their own. I want to spend every day loving you as we grow old together.”

You couldn’t help but cry at his admission, knowing you prayed to the gods every night for this moment. “Do you promise?”

“I swear on my life that I will give you everything you have ever wanted as long as I am by your side,” he wrapped his arms around you to pull you closer, placing his lips on yours. You spent the night dreaming of the rest of your life together. 

—

Taglist: @cullenswife , @wrendermeuseless , @darylandbethfanforever9

[ttargarycn]

Until I Found You

Aemond Targaryen x Female Stark Reader

Summary: You’re one of Halaena’s ladies-in-waiting and it’s Jaehaera and Jaehaeys’ nameday celebration feast. What could happen if you dance with Prince Aemond Targaryen?

Warnings: 18+ CONTENT BELOW, f!receiving oral, m!masturbation, p in v, reader being a virgin so this is their first time.

Word count: around 5k

Writer note: I haven’t proof read this yet so I will come back to fix mistakes. I’m posting this at 4am lmao. Please don’t be afraid to send requests or any critique, I’d love to hear what you have to say.

“Are you excited for the feast?” Y/N asked the four-year-old princess Jaehaera Targaryen, as she was braiding her white hair for the girl’s nameday feast. Usually she would be with Halaena, helping both the twins getting ready for their nameday celebration, but Jaehaeys was throwing a tantrum. So Halaena asked her lady-in-waiting to get her daughter ready whilst she practically battled with her son.  

“Do you think there will be cake?” the princess replied, whilst looking at the young lady-in-waiting in the mirror.

“Well, what cake is your favourite?” she inquired, knowing the girl’s favourite cake changes by the day.

“Lemon cake!” Jaehaera shouted, with a big smile. Y/N laughed at the princess’ enthusiasm, struggling to finish the braid with all the wriggling Jaehaera was doing, now excited at the prospect for some lemon cake.

Y/N lightly scolded the girl with a smile, “Stop your wiggling for a moment, princess.”

“Sorry, Y/N.” She replied, now having lost her smile as it was now upside down, scared she had caused her mother’s friend to mess up her hair.

Y/N noticed the princess’ now saddened look and reassured her, “It’s okay, Jaehaera. We all get excited over lemon cake now and then.” Which caused Jaehaera to start to smile again. “Did I ever tell you about the time your mother and I ate so much lemon cake that we fell asleep against the Weirwood tree by the castle walls?”

Jaehaera laughed, “Did anyone find you two?”

“Thankfully I did.” A voice replied by the princess’ chamber door.

“Uncle Aemond!” Jaehaera screeched, like Y/N having not heard the prince come through the door. Fortunately, Y/N had finished the princess’ hair so the girl jumped off her chair and ran towards her uncle. “We didn’t hear you come in.”

Y/N watched the Aemond pick up his niece and hold her on his hip, she thought he looked awfully handsome today. Well, she thought he looked handsome every day, but he looked different today, maybe he has a new coat? Or did he do his hair differently? She couldn’t decide, all she knew was that he was the most attractive man in the Seven Kingdoms. He would argue, of course, say that his scar and lack of eye made him look like a beast. But Y/N honestly thought it made him look more attractive than if he had his left eye.

Aemond gave Y/N a small smirk before he said to his niece, “Your mother asked if I could come fetch you and Lady Stark, she had finally convinced your brother to go to the feast.” He smiled at the woman and greeted her, “Lady Stark.” Which she smiled at him in return, a blush forming on the apples of her cheeks that she begged the gods he wouldn’t see.

“Was he being grumpy again?” Jaehaera asked.

Aemond gave a small chuckle, “A little bit grumpy perhaps.” which made the princess giggle while covering her mouth, concealing her little mischievous laugh, as if she did something she wasn’t supposed to.

Y/N walked towards the bench by one of the big windows where the shoes Helaena had picked out for her daughter were. Almost knowing the woman would ask, Aemond placed his niece on the ground so that she could get her shoes on.  “What was the matter?” Y/N asked him.

Aemond stayed where he was, watching Y/N with his niece, admiring how gentle she was with her, wondering how she would be with children of her own one day. “Something about not wanting to wear the trousers Helaena had made for him for his nameday.” He smiled.

Y/N laughed before replying, “Is he ok now?”

“Well, now he’s wearing ones that barely fit him but he’s coming nevertheless.”

“Well, that’s the good news.” Y/N replied, smiling at the prince. Having finished getting the Jaehaera’s shoes on Y/N asked the princess, “Are you ready?”

The girl looked around her chambers, biting her cheek in thought, “I think so. What do you think?” she asked the woman next to her, having thinking of her as her second mother.

“I think so too.” Y/N smiled, getting to her feet, Jaehaera doing the same. She motioned towards the door, “Come on, princess, let’s see how your brother is doing.”

Jaehaera grabbed Y/N’s hand as they walked towards the chamber door. As they were walking down the hallway to Helaena’s chambers Y/N could feel the prince’s hand on her lower back, gently guiding her, as if she didn’t know these hallways like the back of her hand. His touch was so light she could barely feel it, but the warmth she felt blossom through her body with the slight affection from him made her blush lightly. As they were about to enter Helaena’s chambers Aemond removed his hand, although the warmth had gone from his touch, she still felt the ghost of it as he lingered behind herself and the Jaehaera.

Queen Alicent was the first to notice the three come through the doorway and first greeted her granddaughter, “You look beautiful Jaehaera!” the princess giggled, giving a little twirl after letting go of Y/N’s hand, her yellow dress swooshing around her as she did so. “Lady Stark sure did a wonderful job on your hair.” Alicent gave Y/N a thankful smile.

Fortunately for Y/N, Queen Alicent liked her, well she thought she did. Alicent was never good at hiding when she had a distaste for someone, so you’d know immediately if she didn’t like you, but Y/N never had an inkling she was in the Queen’s bad books. In truth, Alicent was glad her daughter had someone by her side that didn’t think she was insane. Helaena had been mumbling prophecies since she was just a small girl, maybe a little older than her twins, and people of the court had always thought she was a little weird for it. Y/N never did, she would write down the things her friend would say. One that stuck with her was before Aemond lost his eye. Aemond had come to his mother after his brother Aegon and his nephew’s Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon played a prank on him as he was the only one who hadn’t had a dragon yet. They presented him with a pig with fake wings stuck on and called it the “Pink Dread”, very distasteful really. Alicent told Aemond he will have a dragon one day, but Helaena commented “he’ll have to close an eye” so quietly that Y/N almost missed it. Low and behold, when he gained a dragon, he lost his left eye to his nephew Lucerys. Ever since, Y/N has been keeping notes of them.

  Lords and ladies took their turns in going up to the Prince and Princess to give them their nameday gifts, however it was usually Heleana or Alicent that thanked them for them since the twins were preoccupied with the cakes and biscuits in front of them. Jaehaera was especially happy to see what she thought was hundreds of lemon cakes in the hall, the young girl couldn’t believe her eyes!

Y/N was drinking some wine and talking with Lady Madilyn of house Crabb, another one of Halaena’s ladies-in-waiting, gossiping about the hideous dresses some of the ladies were wearing when Madilyn suddenly paused and a smirk grew on her face.

“Don’t look now.” she said, with her cup covering her mouth, “But I think someone has their eye on you.”

Y/N sniggered, “I doubt it, they’re most likely looking at you!” She suggested, always being jealous of Madilyn’s tall stature. “Unless, I have some potato on my cheek?” Y/N asked her, turning her left cheek to the taller girl.

Madilyn laughed, “No, no you���re fine! You don’t have any potato on your face.” Which caused Y/N to let out a sigh of relief.

“Who is it then?” the Stark woman inquired, not really believing the older woman of two years.

Lady Crabb raised an eyebrow as she teased, “A certain one-eyed Targaryen with an eyepatch perhaps.”

“Maybe Helaena asked him if he’s seen me, maybe? It wouldn’t be in that way.” she suggested.

“Have a look for yourself and tell me that’s not the look of a man that isn’t interested in courting you.”

And so, Lady Stark did, but subtly. First, she looked to her right and acted as though she was looking for someone, until her eyes slowly drifted to the royal table, where her Y/E/C eyes met a violet one. She couldn’t force herself to look away, and it seems as though he couldn’t either, even though he was caught looking at her. Y/N felt her mouth slowly part as she noticed the look in Prince Aemond’s eye, it wasn’t a friendly look-per-say, but it wasn’t an unwelcome one at that. It was the look Y/N dreamed about seeing in his eye when she was alone at night and couldn’t get him out of her head. She’d often think about how skilled his hands were with a sword when she’d see him practice with his brother or Ser Criston Cole. Sometimes she’d think about what else his hands could do. She imagined him between her thighs with those hands. She would think about his slender fingers touching her clit lightly, teasing her folds until she begged for him to touch her the way she wanted. She’d always imagine this exact look in his eye as he’d toy with her, his pupil dilated so much you’d struggle to see the violet of his iris unless you really tried to look for it. His eye portrays a thousand words but all she can see is the lust in his eye, the lust for her. And for her-

“-you want to dance?”

Y/N was brought back to the feast suddenly when Madilyn shook her lightly.

“Huh?”

Madilyn laughed, “I said, ‘do you want to dance?’”

“Oh, of course! Yeah, yeah, absolutely.” Y/N stammered, completely lost in Aemond’s eye and the want for him that she forgot she was around hundreds of people.

Madilyn finished her last bit of her wine and placed hers and Y/N’s already empty cup down onto a nearby table, and made their way into the crowd of people dancing to the upbeat song. Y/N looked towards the royal table, in hopes of seeing Aemond again but she couldn’t see him sitting next to Aegon anymore. She assumed he must’ve gone to talk with some Lord about whatever it is men talk about, and started to dance with Madilyn. However, that short staring competition between herself and Aemond had left her with a tingling sensation where she begged the gods for him to touch at night. It resulted in her having to try and forget that stare so she wouldn’t get more worked up over it.

The two women were enjoying themselves, especially Madilyn since her favourite song was playing; which she expressed very loudly into Y/N’s ear. So caught up in the song they almost didn’t notice Lord Jorran of house Bayle come up and ask Madilyn for a dance – he apologised profusely for interrupting them. Madilyn looked at Y/N, silently begging her.

With a smile Y/N replied, “Of course my Lord.” Before she walked away from the pair, she noticed Madilyn mouth ‘Thank you’ over Lord Bayle’s shoulder. For being a tall woman, and still growing, according to the maesters, Lady Madilyn found it hard to find Lords that would marry her because she was taller than most. There were rumours that the woman was part giant, maybe she was, who knows. Her whole family is tall, it’s just a common trait of House Crabb. However, it was very difficult for Madilyn to court someone who wasn’t intimidated by her stature, who rather admired it. Lord Bayle was shorter than Madilyn, but only by a few inches. Y/N hoped the gods were blessing her friend with a caring man, she deserved it.

Y/N was slowly making her way through the crowd and her shoulder collided with the back of a drunk lord and she was pushed into someone. She almost fell to the floor before someone caught her, “I’m so sorry! My Lord-” She paused when she looked up and saw Aemond’s eye already looking at her. “I mean, your grace.”

“Are you ok, my lady?” he asked, eye looking up at where the drunk was that accidently bumped into her, a frown forming between his brows.

‘My lady’ rung in her head.

‘My’.

She shook her head and laughed, “Yes, sorry. Just a dancefloor mishap, it happens.” She saw the frown slowly disappear, but not quite. “Would you like to dance?”

That seemed to bring him back as his eye was back on hers and his eyebrows raised as he said, “I was about to ask you the same question.”

“Well, I suppose you were too slow.” She teased with a small smirk.

That stupid smirk came onto his lips, “I suppose I was, my lady.”

Feeling confident, she doesn’t know what came over her, but she guided the prince back onto the dancefloor by the hand, and a quick look over her shoulder to make sure he wanted to come. That damn look was slowly coming back to his eye. She knew she was going to be done for when they would dance together.

With their hands a breath apart from one another’s in the air, they danced in circles in time with the slow music that had come on. They couldn’t help but gaze at each other, admiring what was next to them in such small proximity. When the dance required it, he put his hands around her waist and lifted her in the air and then back on the ground. The feel of his hands around her waist made her hoped to the gods he didn’t see the blush that creeped up her neck and flushed her cheeks. Inside she silently begged for that touch again.

“Your dress is very beautiful tonight, my lady.” He complimented her as they kept dancing. The green dress she wore was new, she had it made specifically for this evening and she had never been gladder she had it made.

“Thank you, my prince.” If there were fewer candles, she would’ve missed the slight flush to his cheeks at her calling him ‘my prince’. “Green is one of my favourite colours.”

“What other colours do you like?”

“Purple.” She replied, looking into his violet eye.

His lips parted for a second before he stepped closer, anyone watching would think they were husband and wife. “Well, I for one think you should wear green more often.” He glanced down at her lips for a second before looking back into her eyes and added, “You look ravenous in it.”

She looked at his lips without realising, and was about to reply when Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, announced that the prince and princess were retiring for night – which meant Y/N had to help helaena with the children.

The Hand’s announcement shook Y/N out of the trance her and Aemond were in and she curtsied to him and said, “Goodnight, my prince. And thank you for the dance.”

Aemond, who looked like he didn’t want her to leave, held onto her right-hand and brought it to his lips, kissed the back of it so gently it felt like a butterfly landed on her hand. “Goodnight, my lady. And the pleasure was all mine.”

Y/N tried to hide the smile that tried to fight its way onto her lips as she made her way to the royal table, where Helaena was, along with Madilyn, the twins and Alicent. The king had clearly already retired to rest since he wasn’t feeling well that morning. Fortunately for Y/N, it seemed as though no one in the royal family had seen what was going on between herself and the prince Aemond. Well, she thought so since no one had brought anything up.

  Once Madilyn and Y/N had helped put the prince Jaehaerys and princess Jaehaera to bed, they went to their own chambers for the night. After locking the door to her chambers, Y/N took off her jewellery and placed them carefully in front of her mirror. Seeing the delicate silver snowdrop necklace she wore tonight in front of her reminds of home. It was the necklace her mother, Gilliane Stark gifted her when she left Winterfell to come to King’s Landing when she was just ten and one. It was the same necklace her mother was given the day she left Deepwood Mott, where her family the Glovers reside.

Since she hadn’t had a chance to write her brother Cregan Stark back yet, she got all the items ready to write to him on the table by her large window that overlooks the vast ocean.

Just as she wrote ‘Dearest brother, Cregan’ she heard a knock at her door. At first, she thought she imagined it since it was quiet, and the scratching of the quill on the paper overshadowed the knock. So, she thought nothing of it. Until there was another, but a little louder. Confused, given the hour, she slowly walked to the door.

“Who is it?” she questioned, honestly scared someone was there to murder her.

“It’s Aemond.”

What the- Does he know what time it is?

After a little debating in her mind, Y/N unlocked the door. “Are you ok? Is Helaena alright? The twins?”

“They’re fine, my lady.”

There it was again. ‘My lady’.

“Why are you here then?” she asked.

There was a moment where he didn’t reply, just stared into her eyes as she clutched the door open.

“Can I come in?”

Y/N was confused, but she trusted Aemond, and she knew he’s never hurt her, so she agreed. “Yes, of course.”

Once she stepped aside, he walked in, his hands flexing as he went.

After she closed the door, as quietly as she could, so she didn’t wake anyone who slept in the same corridor as her, she turned to look at the prince.

He was walking around her chamber, and had stopped at the table she was just writing at. “How’s your brother?” he inquired.

Feeling a little nervous being alone with him she crossed her arms across her chest to protect herself, even though she knew he wouldn’t harm her, “He’s good, thank you. Said this Winter has been difficult for them, but they’re managing.”

“I’m glad he’s well. Hopefully this Winter will be over soon.” Aemond said, now looking out the window.

“Why are you here, Aemond? It’s late, perhaps we can talk in the morn-”

“I can’t stop thinking about you.” He stopped her.

She stared at the back of his head. “Pardon?”

“I can’t stop thinking about you.” He repeated, slowly turning his head to the right so he could see her over his shoulder, looking at her still near the door. He turned around and slowly started walking towards her. “I’ve never felt like this before. I know I saw other people feeling like this but I didn’t think I could. That was until I found you. And ever since our dance I can’t help but feel like there’s something between us, and I know you feel the same way.” Her lips parted, but she didn’t know what to say. He became as close as they were in the dance, when they were staring at each other’s lips. “Tell me to stop, and I will. and we’ll forget this ever happened.” He was so close, yet so far. Their noses almost touching. “Tell me to stop.”

She stared into his eye for a second, and his into hers. His begging her to reply.

“Please… don’t stop.” That’s all it took for Aemond. His hands went to either side of her face and pulled her to him, claiming his lips with hers. Her hands resting on his, holding him there, which he enjoyed. His lips parted so his tongue could lick her lips, asking to dance with her tongue. She parted her lips and their tongues danced together, at first battling for dominance but Aemond won it in no time. The assault on her mouth and the passion of it caused a moan to come out of her mouth which caused Aemond to smile against her lips.

“I wanted to kiss you so badly in that fucking hall.” He said once they came up for air, his hands still holding her face and hers drifting to his, being careful not to get too close to the scar.

“I wanted to kiss you too.” She revealed, pulling his face back to hers, sticking her tongue into his mouth which caused a deep chuckle to come from his throat before he did the same.

Slowly they began to drift over to her bed, but before he could lay her down, he pulled their lips apart, panting, “We can stop if you want to, don’t feel like you-”

“Aemond. Just shut up and undo my dress for me.” she panted, her hands going to his jacket, tugging at it to indicate him to pull it off.

Gods, she had been imagining this night for years and she can’t believe it was happening.

He roughly turned her around, his lips going to her neck, kissing it whilst he pulled and pulled at the strings at the back of her dress. The corset being a pain in the arse so much he was considering tearing them open with a knife; until it came free and the dress pooled around her feet.

Y/N toed off her shoes, going to turn back around to face Aemond in her under-dress when he grabbed her by the neck, forcing her to look into his eye over her left shoulder, pressing her against him. She didn’t know if she could feel a dagger in his pocket from how hard something was pressing into her.

“Can you feel what you do to me?” He asked into her ear.

Her eyes widened as she realised what was pushing into her lower back, “Is that your manhood?”

He chucked, “Yes, my lady. I can’t explain how difficult it is every day when I see you around the castle, looking as beautiful as you do, with your eyes looking at me the way they do, so innocent. Gods the number of nights I’ve spent thinking about how tight your cunt is.”

Her eyes widening at his words, thinking if he thought of her the same nights, she thought of him. She rubbed her thighs together to relieve the tension building by the second.

“I’ve thought of you too.” She revealed to him, his eye now looking into hers. “I’ve thought of your fingers, your mouth…” she trailed off.

“What about my cock?” he asked, squeezing her throat a little, coaxing an answer out of her.

She choked a bit before answering, “Yes, I’ve thought about it.” She swallowed the spit in her mouth before adding, “But I’ve never seen one so I don’t really know what it should look like.”

Aemond smiled, “Do you want to?”

“Yes, yes please.” She all but begged, accidently pushing against his manhood which caused him to groan.

In a second he pulled her under-dress up and over her head, revealing all herself to him.

“Can I touch you?�� He asked, one hand on her waist and the other lingering near one of her breasts.

Her breath was getting heavy with anticipation, “Gods, please Aemond. Please touch me.” Barely a second later his hand was holding her breast, squeezing, pinching the nipple between his thumb and forefinger, causing a moan to slip out of her lips.

He licked up her neck to whisper into her ear like it was a secret, “I love the sounds you make, even though I’m barely touching you.”

She whimpered and he continued his assault on her breast but soon that hand drifted to her waist, with the other, and without her realising, he was on his knees. He bit her bottom, making her yelp, and he chuckled again before raising to his feet, walking in front of her.

“The Gods were having an incredible day when they made you.” He said, admiring her body, flushed face and slightly bruised lips.

“Aemond.” She said, which caused him to look at her eyes, “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

“Disrobe your prince then, my lady.” He told her, holding his arms out.

She pulled off his jacket, his tunic (she stopped herself from admiring him) and just as she was about to go for the tie on his breachers, his hands caught hers. She looked up at him, suddenly thinking she did something wrong.

“Not yet, pet.” He said, before picking her up and throwing her onto her back on the bed, where she let out a yelp in surprise. Just as she crawled up to the pillows, he was crawling on top of her. Kissing his way up as he went. Started at her ankles, working his way up to her shins, then her knees, then slowly up her thighs until his face was in front of where she needed him the most. His eye locked onto hers, his tongue wetting his lips. “You’re going to have to be quiet. Do you think you can do that?” he asked her, and she vigorously nodded her head, biting her lip. “You’re going to have to do more than that, sweetheart.” He said before to dove into her pussy. Kissing her folds with such force she jumped up in surprise that she bit her lip so hard it drew blood. “Gods, you’re so wet, soaking.” He smiled against her.

Slowly he inserted his tongue into her cunt, moving it around in a figure eight and pushing it in and out. Soon he included his fingers, his forefinger stroking his clit so hard that she had to bite down on her arm to stop her screams. He moved that finger to her cunt, where his tongue was and inserted it into her as well, curling it up into her which caused Y/N to gasp. After a few minutes he added a second finger, and then a third and soon she was clutching onto his hair pulling so hard she’s surprised she didn’t make him bald. She felt that coil in her lower stomach building and building, she was almost there and he knew it, he could feel it.

“A-Aemond… I’m-I’m close.” She gasped, pushing his face impossibly closer to her cunt, while she looked up at the ceiling, thanking the gods for this.

“Do you want to cum?” he asked her, and she nodded vigorously. He removed one finger, “Tell me, pet.” She looked down at him, and when she didn’t answer straight away, he started to remove the second one.

“Yes, yes! Aemond, I want to come! Please, please, I’m so close!” she whisper-shouted at him, pulling his hair tighter that made him groan.

Suddenly he had three fingers inside her, fucking her with them so hard and fast her climax was reaching. What sent her into the bliss was his thumb playing with her clit. Luckily, she turned her head in time and buried her face into the pillow, covering her screams of his name.

She didn’t have much time to recover before she was flipped onto her stomach, her ass up in the air with his hands clutching her hips. She didn’t even realise he had removed his breachers and shoes until she felt his manhood near her sensitive wet hole. She turned her head as best as she could, so she could see his cock, she wanted to touch it.

“Aemond.” She panted, and he stopped what he was doing. “Can I feel it? Please?”

He flipped her back onto her back, her legs wide open with him kneeling between with his cock in his hand, stroking himself. She couldn’t believe the size of it! Would it fit? He was long, a lot longer than she expected one to be. He was quite girthy as well. She had heard from Madilyn that every man’s manhood was different, but Y/N thought he was impressive.

Voicing her thoughts she asked, “Will it fit?”

“Hopefully.” He replied, before adding, “Do you want to touch it?”

Looking up at him with an agape mouth she asked, “Can I?” and when he nodded, she slowly reached out to him and stroked him like she saw him do.

When she first touched him, he let inhaled sharply. She thought she hurt him and when she looked up at him alarmed, he reassured her, “It’s very overwhelming, having you touch it.” this caused her to smile, feeling like she had some power over him. She spent a few minutes stroking his cock and rubbing her thighs together, going faster on him when he aided her but stopped when he said, “Honey, you need to stop before I cum.” And she did, immediately hoping he’d fuck her, as she was wet again. As if reading her thoughts, he flipped her back onto her stomach with her ass in the air. Aemond was on his knees, his cock touching where his lips and fingers were not 5 minutes ago, rubbing up her spine and down to her ass, squeezing it for good measure.

Soon Y/N got impatient, “Aemond, are you going to fuck mE?!” She started to screech until her face was buried into the pillows again as his cock slowly moved between her folds and into her soft walls.

“You’re so tight! Seven fucking hells!” He said, ever slowly pushing her cock further into her tight cunt as she squeezed him with every inch. Once he bottomed out, he stopped moving, giving her a chance to become accustomed to him inside her. “Tell me when you’re ready for me to move.”

After a minute or so she panted out, “I’m ready, p-please fuck me, Aemond.” His name was moaned out as he slowly pulled out almost all the way and then pushed back in, doing it over and over again, getting fast her, and faster and faster.

Once they got into a rhythm he pulled up, one of his hands was on her waist and the other around her neck. He panted into her ear while thrusting harder as he went, “You’re so perfect. Your body is made for me. You’re mine, you belong to me. Do you hear me?” When she nodded the hand that was on his waist moved down to her clit and he played with it until he could feel Y/N’s walls quivering around him. She bit her lip so hard again that she drew blood, this time it was slowly dripping down her chin, but Aemond turned her face so he could lick it off of her. That only made her cum harder, squeezing his cock as she did, but it only made him cum as well, painting her cunt with his white ropes of cum. When he pulled out and some of his and her cum that dripped out of her, he pushed back in.

They both lied on their backs on the bed, staring at the ceiling, panting. “I’ll send some moon tea to you tomorrow morning.” He said, knowing she wouldn’t want to give birth out of wedlock.

“Thank you.” She panted back, slowly falling asleep. She didn’t notice when he carefully pulled the pins out of her hair and placed them on her nightstand. Nor did she notice when he put her under the covers. Or the kiss upon her forehead paired with the three words everyone wants to hear from someone they love, before he left her to sleep in peace.