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damn-stark · 1 year ago

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Chapter 5 Journey to the future

Chapter 5 of Moonlight

A/N- Youre there to annoy Aemond this time around

Warning- Swearing, ANGST, FLUFF, LONG CHAPTER.

Pairing- Aemond Targaryen x Velaryon!fem-reader, Cregan Stark x Velaryon!fem-reader

Episode- Before 1x08

(If you want to be tagged let me know)

————

Fuck. What if he’s ugly?

Worse, what if he’s just like his brother Aegon? He wasn’t when you knew, but that’s it, you don’t know him anymore, he can be just like his brother now. And if that’s the case then your life is ruined, and you’ll live a miserable life.

Unless you save yourself before…

You’ll have to wait and see. But then again…if he isn’t like Aegon will you be able to be what you once were? Close and kind to each other? Or will you be like his mother and father? Distant and like strangers?

If that’s the case then you’ll have to run away too, run back to Cregan and hide there. You don’t want to live a miserable life.

Damn, you want to know what the future holds for you now! But no, life is cruelly slow. You’ll have to wait and see, damn.

You groan at the unknown and glance out of the window gaps, from what you’ve seen already the Red Keep seems a lot bigger than you remember it being. There are also more people working within the yards, making it louder than what you’re used to now. Albeit the one thing that people do have in common with those in Winterfell is that people gawk here too; you can see them trying to sneak a peek inside your carriage. And not only those people out on the streets but everyone from the dock, up to the moment the carriage rolls to a stop in the courtyard outside the castle doors. They’re all curious to see the realms Golden Girl return from the deep north.

As their eagerness runs rampant though, you feel your stomach twist.

“Here we go, Wolf,” you whisper to your kitten. “We’re officially here.” You exhale deeply as you stroke your kitten's gray fur one time before putting him away in his crate.

“I’ll see you later okay?” You try to assure him after he’s spent the majority of the month out of his crate and never far away from you. You also try to prolong going out and coming face to face with your welcome party waiting for you on the steps.

“It’ll be alright Princess,” your handmaiden now assures you as she helps you put the kitten away.

You let out a deep shaky sight and offer her a nervous expression.

“Yes,” you try to muster confidence. “Here goes nothing,”

Nevertheless, your heart begins to race as you anticipate coming face to face with Aemond; who should be waiting to greet you alongside his mother and siblings, as it befits your station, and the fact that you’re family. If he isn’t out there then he’ll be an even bigger asshole in your mind.

“If it all goes wrong then we just write to your friend.” Your handmaiden offers you a clever solution while she shoots you a smirk. But, GODS! It’s not a good time to joke around like that! Especially not about Cregan!

She’s lucky she’s your most beloved friend or else you would fire her.

“Hilarious,” you grumble with a pointed glare, making her giggle as she grabs Wolf’s crate.

From then on, your continuous prolonging finally is cut short as one of the guards outside your carriage door introduces you by your given name first before following with your mighty house, and lastly, your title, cuing your exit.

Part of you tunes it out because of the grip your nerves has on you, but the guard is loud, and you still feel the inklings of your pride seeping back in at the sound of those titles. “….Of House Velaryon, Princess of Dragonstone!”

Fuck, okay.

You draw out a deep breath and look at the carriage door as it’s getting opened. The guard immediately offers you his hand, but you hesitate and let out another nervous breath of air before you take his hand and let him help you down.

Rather than turning to face the people out to welcome you, you can’t help but look at the sky as Astraea flies overhead. She circles the courtyard once with her eyes on you before she flies away as if making sure you were actually safe before she had to leave.

She was your excuse to keep averting your eyes but once you can’t see her anymore you finally give your attention to brick towers that look blander than you last remember. You look at the lonely house banners that are on display, at the few guards that stand firmly at the sides until you have no more excuses, and finally shift around to land your gaze on the Queen, and her family standing on top of the stairs watching you; the princess that she sent away as a little girl, and came back as a woman.

There you stand, and there she stands. The Queen of course stands out the most with her deep red hair, and elegant green dress adorned with gold jewelry. She looks at you as she always had before; with judgment in her piercing gaze.

Even so, you can’t deny she looks quite beautiful, it’s like she hasn’t aged one bit, albeit it has been five years, so there can’t be that much of a change.

The others though?

Nonetheless, suddenly your name is excitedly called out in the stunned silence, when you shift your gaze to look at who called you, to the right you see a woman with silver-blond hair running at you before she attacks you with an embrace that catches you off guard.

“It is great to see you!” She says sweetly, finally letting you recognize her voice at that moment, it’s Helaena!

You pull back and grab her shoulders to study your aunt. “Helaena?” You query with a grin. “Look at you!” You point out as you see that she hasn't lost how kind she looks, or how blue her eyes gleam. She is a bit plumper than before and she does look a bit more timid, but she is still radiantly beautiful.

“Look at you,” she redirects whilst she pulls back to let her hands slide down your arms and grab your hands instead as she studies you. “You’re beautiful.” She comments, making you beam at her.

“As are you,” you counter softly. “And I’ve heard that a congratulation is in order. Twins, that’s amazing news. I have children of my own.” You smirk.

Helaena blinks and her smile fades. “What? Really?” She asks in a quieter voice.

You giggle and point to the crate. “My kitten, Wolf, and my lovely Astraea, of course.”

“Oh!” She sighs with relief, but doesn’t find it as humorous as you did, or as Arra would have.

“That's great.” Helaena acknowledges your joke before pulling back and letting one hand slip off, while she keeps the other still secured around yours to pull you with her. Once you make it to the bottom of the stairs she comes to a stop and strands you there to be looked down upon by her mother and the boys beside her whom you still avoid looking at. It’s just too much to take in, you need time to progress everything slowly.

“Your Grace,” you greet the Queen, while you grab the blue skirt of your dress and curtsy before her. “It’s a pleasure seeing you again.”

You lift your gaze and see her walking down to you, making you stiffen.

“Look at you,” she says in that voice you can’t tell if it’s sweet or condescending. “You’re a woman grown,” she adds and gently grabs your chin. “You’re beautiful.”

You offer her a feigned sweet smile before looking past her after not finding anything else to say to her. However, much to your disdain, the next person you see is Aegon; his pair of eyes creepily studying you gives him away; that, and well he looks like he hasn’t slept in weeks.

“Uncle,” you greet with a fake courtesy and a lazy smile. “It is…”

“A pleasure seeing me as well?” He adds for you since you couldn’t help but pause. And rather than showing your disgust, you offer him a smirk and a stiff nod

“Sure,” you lie sweetly.

Aegon shoots you a smirk and climbs down to stand before you. “Look at you,” he says and studies you again with a deeper smirk.

“Actually,” you add and point at him. “I am honored seeing you here, I mean am I really that special? You got up from your special afternoon nap time just to greet me?” You snicker as you touch your chest with grace, causing him to chuckle.

“I see that the North didn’t take away your feisty attitude,” he retorts. “Good. Good. I was getting bored here.”

You scoff softly and actually offer him a genuine smile, but that quickly vanishes when he opens his mouth again. “Now you must remember Aemond, right?” Aegon can't help but tease you while he puts his hand on your back to lead you up the stairs where Aemond seems to be stuck. And as much as you want to take him all in you avert your gaze out of spite and bow your head because he is nothing more than a stranger to you after he broke your friendship after one year of you being away.

“Prince Aemond,” you greet coldly and hear Aegon stifle his teasing laugh. You expect to hear something in return, you want to hear how Aemond’s voice changed, but he doesn’t say a thing, making you slowly lift your eyes up his…very tall and slim figure.

He’s very tall, and his hair is long too, it goes past his shoulders, but it actually doesn’t look bad, not on him anyway. It looks soft and well taken care of too. And! He's not ugly, that was a foolish concern. He’s majestic and beautiful.

He has a long face, but it’s pretty, well-structured, and his nose is long and straight. His freckles are gone though, bummer, but his lips, they’re thin and pink, and slightly parted. And his eye is the same eye you saw for years, it’s the one thing that hasn’t changed; it's familiar, comforting; his eye is also slightly widened and just set on you.

And finally, after a long moment of stillness and silence, he bows his head and lets you hear him mutter your name in a deeper voice than the one he had when he was a boy, but still gentle and soft.

“Aemond,” you repeat and can’t help from smiling softly at him.

However, that bliss quickly begins to fade as you see his eye shift lower on your face because when you follow his line of gaze, you notice that he’s looking at the long prominent scar he accidentally had made on your cheek, which then leads you to look back up at his face to look at his own scar; noting that his eye isn’t swollen or red anymore, but he still doesn’t have it, he’s actually wearing a leather eyepatch over his eye socket, which adds to his attractiveness.

As you look at his long scar longer though, you don’t find yourself feeling guilty anymore, not like before. Now that you look at it, you can’t help but notice one thing—and maybe it’s silly, but his scar ends where your scar starts on your cheek.

“It’s,” Aemond interjects and pauses for a brief second.

Have you made him nervous?

“It’s a pleasure seeing you again,” he finishes, making your smile revive. However, you then remember what a jackass he’s been and you quickly drop your head to clench your jaw and frown.

“I wish to see my grandfather,” you ignore him and look over at the Queen at the top of the stairs now.

Alicent blinks in surprise and Aegon continues to stifle his laugh.

“But you have only just arrived. You must be tired from your travel.” Alicent quickly says.

You shake your head and move past Aemond to walk inside the castle. “It’s all right he has more precedence.”

Alicent follows beside you and sighs knowing there’s no need arguing against you on this matter. “Well, all right then come with me.”

You hum softly in agreement even if you knew you’d go without her, and as you're walking away you feel a burning sensation on your back, so you instinctively peer back over your shoulder and meet Aemond’s gaze. He blinks in surprise when you catch him, but doesn’t look away. So you do, you make sure he sees you roll your eyes before turning your head away.

He may be handsome, and sexy, but he has a lot to make up for before you can be okay with him. Besides, he still doesn’t replace Cregan.

Oh sweet, handsome Cregan. Just thinking about him makes your body burn with desire, but he also makes your heart sad as you long to see him, and be with him again. Hopefully, you get a letter from him soon, you’ll send one later regardless to let him know you’ve made it.

As of now, your focus drifts solely to your grandfather. The walk to his chambers is eternal since it’s a quiet and awkward walk between Alicent and you—then again you also prefer that to being asked thousands of questions. However the silence does make your mind fill with thoughts of Cregan, and of Aemond and how this relationship is going to work. No matter how handsome he’s grown to be, that doesn’t change a thing about the fact that you’re nothing more than strangers forced to marry.

How funny is that? That eagerness to marry is merely memories now…

But! You can’t let that mess with your mind at this instant. Maybe once you’re in bed you’ll think. Endlessly.

As for now once again you drift your focus back to your grandfather, and on Alicent since she breaks the silence. However, the conversation isn’t pleasant. “I must inform you that your grandfather is not well. His pain forces him to cloud his mind with milk of the poppy for his pain.”

His pain or for her convenience?

Yes, you’ve noticed that the dragon sigils are missing and their place are the stars of…the faith? The new gods? You’re not much into religion, so you can’t be sure, but, whatever, the stars that decorate the halls are just like that big fat star she wears around her neck as if she’s a part of some cult.

“He won’t be as responsive as he once was,” she lets you know.

You hum in comprehension, and when you reach the King's chambers, the Kingsguard opens the doors to let you in. And the moment you’re in the dimmed lifted chamber you come to see his once precious model of Valyria, unkept and covered in dust and cobwebs.

You remember watching him work on it when you were a little girl, he even let you help him most of the time. He always said he loved the company and the help, your presence never bothered him. Plus you loved spending time with him, not only because keeping him company let you skip lessons with ease, but he was always kind and he wouldn't shoot you judging looks like Alicent.

“Come,” Alicent whispers as she guides you past the curtains that block the view of the bed. “It’s okay.”

You’re hesitant, finding your presence to be a bother now, but you also know you don’t want to linger back out of fear, you want to see him, so you slowly follow Alicent past the curtains but end up stiffening the moment you notice how terrible he looks; he’s so skinny, his skin is paler and scaly, a bandage now wraps around half his face, covering one eye, and his hair is practically gone, only a few strands stick to his head.

You almost don’t want to approach, finding your heartbeat elevating as if you’ve grown fearful, but you remind yourself that he’s your grandfather so after a deep breath you finally approach his bedside, noticing when you get close that his breathes are labored now, like if that alone is too much to work.

“Who goes there?” He asks hoarsely and slowly shifts his head to the side to follow Alicent’s figure as she stands by the end table by his bed.

“It is I, husband,” she speaks up quietly and carefully grabs his hand. “I’ve brought a visitor here to see you.”

“Oh,” he groans. “Who is it?”

Alicent looks over at you, and you meet her gaze to share your reluctance.

“It’s okay,” she assures you. “Come, so he can see you.”

You swallow thickly and bite the inside of your cheek as you take a couple of steps towards him so you can be in his point of view.

“Hello, grandfather,” you make yourself known, noticing him lowering his dull gaze to take in your face as you announce your name and offer him a kind smile before leaning in closer. “I’ve returned from Winterfell.”

Your grandfather draws out a labored breath, and you see him study your face in silence. You can’t help but glance at Alicent in confusion, not knowing if he remembers or not, but you find her just as curious to know as you.

“Ah,” he then startles you. “Sweet granddaughter. My, how you’ve grown.”

You look down at him and can't help but grin and then reach over to grab the hand that Alicent lets go.

“I'm very happy to see you,” you say softly without that same hesitance. “I’ve missed you.”

“And I you,” he responds. “It seems our project has been abandoned since you left.”

He still remembers...

You smirk softly. “So I've noticed, perhaps, now that I will be here, I can come and restore it. It’d be a shame to let such great effort go to waste.”

He hums softly and nods very slowly. “That would be great.” He exhales deeply and his grip loosens whilst his gaze shifts around. “Where’s your mother?” He asks suddenly. “Why did she not travel with you?”

You share a confused look with Alicent, and she responds by stepping in and reminding him where you were. “She was in Winterfell, my dear. Rhaenyra has been at Dragonstone.”

Your grandfather lowers his gaze and instead lifts his hand to rub his head and groan. “Oh,” he whispers. “Yes, that’s right.”

You tighten your grip and add on sweetly. “Winterfell is such a lovely place. The snow is cold but beautiful. And I went to the wall...” You trail off before you can reveal things that can give away any bit of your relationship with Cregan. “It’s truly breathtaking. Liberating.” You quickly redirect yourself, catching the corner of his lips tug upward just slightly.

“Yes,” he mutters, “you always dreamed of adventure. Just like your mother once.”

You smile in awe and find yourself glancing away and catching Alicent’s faltering feigned smile. When she notices your gaze she fixes herself and offers you a bitterly sweet smile.

“If I could,” you add lightheartedly and return your attention to your grandfather. “I’d travel the world on Dragonback and feast on different foods.” You giggle.

He hums and the corner of his lips lift more but that alone seems like too much of a strain.

“Perhaps it’s time we let him rest,” Alicent catches you by surprise—“and you need rest too,” she directs at you. “A month on a boat with rough waters isn’t pleasant I imagine.”

You sigh and give in without a fight because you are indeed exhausted. “Yes,” you agree and let go of your grandfather's hand to instead plant a kiss on his head. “I’ll visit when I can.”

“Yes, please do,” he strains to say. “I will wait.”

You pull back and smile softly, finding peace and pride in the fact that he remembers you in his poor state.

Yet you also feel bothered that Alicent had to intervene and end it so abruptly. Why? You were enjoying each other's company…

Hm.

Was she bothered he was so taken away with your visit, or was it something else?

——

*LATER THAT NIGHT*

Right now if you were in Winterfell, you’d be preparing or already be with Cregan past the castle walls or in his chambers talking, kissing, and cuddling. He’d whisper sweet nothings, or he’d just hear you talk about what comes to mind or the gossip you’ve read from your cousins or brothers. You’d be each other's comfort after a long day. You’d be in his arms, or he’d be in yours. You’d be with him.

Instead, now you’re in your chambers at King’s Landing with just your kitten to keep you company as you read all alone. Your handmaidens had already left for the night, so you’re truly alone. Bored.

However, a soft knock then raps on your door, piquing your curiosity. Could it be Vanessa, your main handmaiden with envoys?

“Come in,” you say eagerly and close the book to put it aside and sit up before resting your arm on the couch's headrest to twist around and face the door.

Nevertheless, you then come face to face with Aemond.

Its Aemond at this time?

You rest your chin on your hand and then slightly tilt your head as you breathe out, noticing that he stands frozen in front of the closed door with his lips slightly parted again, and his eyes widened a bit as if in awe. You muster a feigned smile and catch him swallow thickly, letting you assume that you’re making him nervous.

“Did you miss me terribly?” You ask teasingly.

Aemond lowers his gaze and exhales before he meets your gaze again with a more collected look. “I—”

“Because it doesn’t seem like you did,” you cut him off abruptly and turn back around. “Why did you stop writing?” You get to the point while you pick up the book you were reading. “I kept writing even after you didn’t and I never got anything back, it’s as if I was writing to myself.”

Aemond’s boots approach, making your kitten rush to your lap to avoid the tall scary man.

“It was never my intention,” he finally breaks his vow of silence, causing your gaze to slide to him. “I got busy.”

You narrow your gaze and see his gaze falter away from you, letting you know he’s lying. He's always had a tell.

“Liar,” you call out and put the book back down to cradle your kitten instead. “But if you don’t want to give me the real reason then that’s okay I’ve come to terms with it a long time ago.”

You haven’t, you’re still pissed but if it gets him to leave then good.

Yet…he doesn’t.

“What do you want, Aemond?” You ask and lower your gaze to Wolf to begin petting him. “It’s late.”

You can see him standing there awkwardly from the corner of your eyes.

“I imagined you to be up on the roofs,” he interjects, making you blink in surprise. “It was your favorite spot.”

“Was,” you deadpan. “I can’t find the same joy in that anymore. Besides, what good is it enjoying it alone? It’s not like you went…did you?” You drift your gaze to him and see him avert your gaze and shake his head.

“No,” he mutters. “Why would I?” He redirects with a little less patience and while he clenches his jaw, causing you to look past the fact that he might be lying and snap back.

“What? Are you mad now? You? What reason for?” You quip. “It’s not like I was the one that stopped writing.”

“You did,” he counters and snaps his gaze to you to pierce his glare. But instead of mirroring his anger right away you can’t help but wonder if he continued to read the letters you sent?

“After 3 years,” you remind him with your anger faltering, but not completely disappearing. You’re still pissed. “And 2 of those years I wrote to myself. You were my friend Aemond, I was alone in Winterfell! You felt alone here but you had your family close, I couldn’t even hold mine when my father died,” you pause and that glare shifts to a pained look you were supposed to hide. “I waited for you to write with eagerness, you were my solace, but you forgot about me. So no, you don’t get to be mad at me. I’m the only one who’s supposed to be mad!”

You snap your eyes away and stand up to hide your angry tears that begin to form, whilst Aemond gets up and takes a step towards you. You hear his lips part, but before he can say anything the door opens.

“Princess—oh, I’m sorry, I didn't know you had a visitor so late,” you recognize Vanessa say.

You draw out a deep shaky breath and shake your head. “He was just leaving, Vanessa. Don’t worry.”

You hear Aemond huff, while Vanessa approaches cautiously. “I’ve brought your envoys that just came.”

You turn to face her with an eager smile and take the two scrolls she hands you with haste. “Mother,” you reveal who the first scroll is from. “And…” you trail off and slowly begin to grin as you recognize the Direwolf sigil stamped on the scroll; Cregan.

It’s from Cregan.

You share a happy smile with Vanessa, but when you catch Aemond approaching the small table your happy smile falls in a flash out of fear he will somehow find out your deep secret.

Nevertheless, rather than getting close to you he approaches the small table in front of your couch and places a small box down before he turns around swiftly and storms out.

Once you don’t hear his footsteps out in the hall, you put Wolf down and can’t help but take the box he put down on the table out of curiosity. Yet you don’t open it right away, you're too nervous.

“Well,” Vanessa says eagerly. “Open it.”

She gets closer and you meet her gaze before you look back at the box and sigh before you open it, and the moment you gasp softly when you see a fascinating golden ring held inside.

Seven hells.

It’s so beautiful! And so elegant too! It’s slightly heavy, but worth the weight.

The golden band glimmers against the firelight, and the mesmerizing oval-shaped blue sapphire it holds completely catches you by surprise and steals your breath away. Not only that but around the sapphire are shiny white pearls as well, adding to its beauty, and letting you know he hasn’t forgotten what you like and dislike.

“Gods,” Vanessa murmurs.

You slowly slide the ring on your right ring finger, finding that it fits perfectly. And as you admire the ring you then see a note in the box and pick it up to read the sentences it contains.

“I remembered you liked the most glimmering jewelry. Welcome back home.” - Aemond

Instead of pushing towards his forgiveness, reading this makes you more mad.

Is he trying to buy you off now? Pretend he wasn’t an asshole?

Fuck him. He can shove this up his ass.

You yank the ring off and shove it back in its box along with the note.

“What are you doing?” Vanessa asks as she notices how quickly your emotions change. “What's wrong?”

You huff and instead focus on your letters. “It won’t be that easy,” you grumble. “He can’t just buy off my anger. I’ll give it back to him tomorrow. For now,” you sigh and sit back down on your couch, “I’ll read what my mother and Cregan sent instead.”

Vanessa parts her lips but leaves it be, knowing too well not to argue with you about these matters. Instead, she bids you her goodnight and leaves you be, letting you read the kind and sweet words Cregan and your mother sent alone. And given the day you had you actually find a moment to eagerly write back to them about your day and the month you had on sea.

Once you’re done, however, you still find yourself bored and left with a bit of energy so you continue to read and cuddle with your sleeping kitten. You think about Cregan as well, about his lips, the feeling of his touch on your flesh, and you ache for him. Who knew you’d miss him so much that it would actually pain you?

Does he feel the same way you wonder? Does his heart weep for you as much as yours weeps for him? Or was it all fake?

You fall asleep on that thought. You don’t even make it to bed, the book lulls you to sleep as your memories and thoughts keep you company—And it’s while you’re fast asleep though that someone actually creeps in; Aemond.

He thought you were still awake since your candles were still on, and well, he remembered you liked to stay up very late. He thought you were too upset to answer or acknowledge him so he let himself inside, that’s when he finds you passed out on your couch with your gray kitten sleeping on top of your chest.

Aemond should’ve left, he was, but you captivate him. Even as you sleep he can't help but admire how precious and peaceful you look, how that breathtaking warmth that flowed from you continued to do so even as you slept.

He watches you, this changed person before his eyes, and wants to say that he did in fact miss you; your company, your kindness, and your beauty that compared to nothing in this shit city. He wants to tell you that he did miss you, and he wishes nothing more but for your forgiveness, so you can be friends again, so you can smile at him again, so he can finally kiss you, and so he can finally marry you. He wants you to know that, he needs you to know that.

As for now though, as you sleep, he caresses your cheek with this knuckle before picking up the book you left beside you and places it on your table. You don’t have a blanket on so he takes one from your bed and makes sure to carefully cover you at least halfway so you’d be warm and so he wouldn't drown the small kitten with the sheets. He then turns to leave, but finds a scroll with the Direwolf wax stamp and grows curious.

Who might it be that wrote to you from Winterfell? A friend? A male friend?

He reaches for the sheet of paper out of the temptation to read who it is, but he stops himself just as his fingers are going to grasp the sheet—You’re already so angry at him, if you were to find out that he went through your things you’d be even more pissed and not even acknowledge him at all. So he lets it go and steals one last glance at you before he leaves.

——

*A COUPLE DAYS LATER*

“…And may there be a solution to this match, I don’t want to be in a pitiful marriage. Please,” you finish your prayer and open your eyes to look up at the bleeding face carved on the weirwood tree.

Sometimes prayer helps your mind, or at least you’ve found that it does. Yes, religion isn’t something that most of your Targaryen ancestors dive into too much, but after living in Winterfell, you’ve found comfort in talking to the Old Gods. Besides, now as you live at the other end of the country it feels like it connects you to Cregan, and well the Heart tree seems to be your only friend here. No one talks to you here—Maybe climbing on Astraea and flying to your mother or Cregan isn’t a terrible idea, you think to yourself with a deep sigh before you stand up and turn to head back inside.

However, the moment you turn you jump slightly as you get surprised by Queen Alicent’s presence.

She notices you get startled and quickly excuses herself. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to startle you, I just didn’t want to interrupt. It seemed like you were praying.”

You draw in a deep breath and nod.

Did she hear what you just said? Hopefully not.

“Yes,” you respond kindly and clasp your hands in front of you. “I was.”

Alicent hums and begins to walk over to you. “I never knew you were much for religion,” she points out.

You glance back at the tree and shake your head. “I wasn’t, but after I lost my father I…felt lost. Lady Karstark turned me to the Old Gods for help, and thanks to her I found how to accept my father's death. I found…comfort speaking to them, praying.” You smile softly and see her lips turn to an actual genuine smile that slightly surprises you.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Alicent says while she stops just a few inches away from you. “If only more could think like you.”

What does she mean by that?

You scoff softly and speak your mind without shame. “You can’t force religion. Some people find comfort in other things, people, themselves. We just have to hope they find a light in the darkness somehow.”

Alicent holds your gaze and sighs softly without losing any of that genuine intruginess she just found for you. “You’re right,” she whispers her agreement.

You hum and raise your eyebrow to probe. “Excuse me for asking, but is there a reason you were searching for me?”

You’ve only been stranded all alone in your quarters for what feels like an eternity, why has she come now?

And why is she grabbing your hands?

She keeps surprising you by pulling them towards her, causing you to glance down in confusion.

“Now that you’re here, I think we should start planning your wedding,” she reveals, making you grow rigid and feel as if you were splashed with freezing water.

“Like what colors you want the flowers. The dress. Who will you want to invite? It should all be exciting considering Aemond and you are friends already. Many don’t have such luck as the two of you.”

Only if she fucking knew. If only she knew.

“You are getting along are you not?” She pulls just on the right strings that make you bite the inside of your cheek and hide the truth as best as you can.

“Quite well.”

Alicent smiles wider. “That’s good to hear,” she says with relief and then lets go of one of your hands to fall by your side and lead you out of the Godswood with your other arm hooked around hers.

“I was thinking of one thing,” you interject sweetly so she won’t see through your hesitation. “Rather than having the wedding right away. Why not…wait six months,” you suggest. “It’s just been so long since Aemond and I have actually been together, we’re strangers now, I want to get to know him better.”

Alicent stops walking and faces you with confusion that causes you to grow nervous.

“Wait?” She repeats and then grabs your hands again to whisper. “Is there something wrong?”

Shit, can she see why you want to hold back the wedding?

“No,” you quickly rebuttal with a lie. “Of course not. I just…want us to be as we were before I left.”

Alicent draws in a deep breath and leans in closer, making you stiffen and grow intimidated by her again for the second time.

“I will tell you something,” she breathes out. “I don’t know if your mother has ever told you this, but there are some responsibilities that we as women of high nobility must bear. That we can’t escape from no matter what position we’re in. We have to raise our heads up high and follow the straight path.”

That sounds miserable but a logic she praises.

“This is one of those times,” she finishes saying.

You’d argue, tell her that you feel disgusted hearing that, but you can’t argue with the Queen and someone who won’t find sense in your argument. There’d be no point in wasting your breath or growing even more grieved.

Besides just past her shoulder you spot Aemond entering the Godswood, leaving no room for further discussion.

Alicent notices your attention drift away and follows your line of gaze, spotting her son and his eyes directly on you, so she doesn’t waste any time at all to look back at you with yet another feigned smile. “Start planning, the wedding will be in 2 months’ time.”

She gives your hands a gentle squeeze before she lets go and leaves you standing there with just Aemond to keep you company now.

“Was she pestering you?” He asks once his mother is out of earshot, and as if nothing happened a few nights ago; It’s so irritating!

You would try to stop being so angry but you clench your jaw and shake your head. “She was just reminding me of my responsibilities. Have you come to do that too? I remember you being close to your mother. Or have you come to apologize?”

Aemond breaks away from his spot and shakes his head. “No,” he says.

You raise your chin and curl your lip to a scowl. “No,” you feign a laugh and approach him as well. “So what? Am I just supposed to forget what a fucking asshole you were and act like a fucking paid-painted whore?”

Aemond swallows thickly and stops, bringing you to a stop close to him with a watery gaze brought by frustration.

“No,” he simply deadpans, making you even angrier because he doesn’t argue because he simply submits.

You want him to argue, yell at you, and counter back, but he just stands there looking all pretty.

“No, what?” You snap back. “Tell me. I want to know why you stopped caring about me?”

Aemond lowers his gaze and shakes his head. He probably would have added more, but you snapped and instead dug your hand in the pocket of your silk blue dress and pull out the present he had given you to shove it on his chest.

“Keep it,” you sneer and wait for him to take it in his grasp before you shove past him. “I won’t be bought off. And just because we live together does it mean we have to cross paths.”

You pick up your skirt and storm away with no room for argument. However, just as you make it out of the archway you run into Aegon. “Trouble in paradise? That’s a shame you two were close. Perhaps—”

“Shut it,” you cut him off without a care in the world that he is your elder and uncle. “Why don’t you go back to drowning in your cups, that’s—” you quickly cut yourself off as an idea comes to mind. “Actually,” you add bluntly.

Aegon blinks in confusion but grows curious. Before you share your idea though, you notice exactly who you wanted to see; Aemond walking out of Godswood, so you can’t help but smirk smugly and then meet Aegon’s gaze with that same smirk. “I’ve been trapped in my chambers for what feels like all my life.”

Aegon scoffs. “That’s an exaggeration.”

You ignore him and grow louder so Aemond can hear. “Why don’t we do something fun?” You suggest batting your eyelashes since that’s what would work with Cregan. “Like go to town…or better yet!” You exclaim and grab Aegon's hand. “We race with our dragons. See who’s the fastest?”

Aegon glances past your shoulder at his brother watching and listening to the interaction. You look back too and notice Aemond’s disapproval of your offer, you see him clench his jaw and glare at his brother, and Aegon sees it too, so you insist. “Come on, it’s way too boring here. We need to do something fun.”

Aegon meets your gaze and begins to mirror your smirk. “Fine,” he gives in. “I accept. Just don’t weep when I win.”

You scoff in amusement and pull your hand away from his as you shake your head. “I won’t because I don’t lose. I’ll meet you on the cove behind the castle, that’s where Astraea is.”

Aegon huffs out and flashes you a half grin. “All right, but if you bail, you'll owe me.”

You begin to walk back and rebuttal him. “If you lose you’ll owe me.” You flash him a grin before you turn to head to Astraea without bothering to change into your riding outfit. And just as expected, Aemond follows you. This time he actually shows emotion and grabs your wrist to stop you and turn you to him.

“<Don’t play into Aegon's whims,” he says in High Valyrian. “He is not good company to keep.>”

You scoff. “<We’re not married yet, you don’t get to control me. Besides, why should I take your advice? We’re not friends, remember?>”

You yank your arm away and roll your eyes before you shove past him and continue towards your destination in a snobby stride that makes him watch you for a lingering moment before he trails after you. Once you arrive at the Cove you beam at your beautiful purple-scaled dragon and embrace what you can of her head.

Astraea leans towards you, making you stumble back and laugh. “I hope the dragon keepers haven’t come to try and lock you up,” you tell her whilst you pull your head back to look her in the eye. “I’ve told them you hate chains. You’re too much of a free spirit, aren't you?”

You stroke your hand down her jaw and stop your hand as you reach the cream-colored horns that decorate the bottom of her jaw—Astraea’s head is shaped just like your mother's yellow dragon, Syrax, actually. They have the same four-shaped horns that grow out of their head, except the horns on Astraea’s head are pointed up and purple, and Astraea also has smaller cream-colored horns on the bottom of her jaw.

“She’s a lot bigger for her age,” Aemond tries to make conversation, but luckily Aegon and Sunfyre are approaching from the horizon. Albeit they’re not fast enough, and so as to not make this more awkward you share your theory to his comment.

“She was never chained and kept underground in Winterfell. There's far more freedom there for her to roam the skies and hunt without worrying about people.”

“Well, I can imagine,” Aemond quips smugly. “It’s just savage so far north.”

You should be the bigger person, but you grow petty over his comment because even though that's not your birthplace, even if most of the time it’s blanketed in snow and an icy chill, the North is breathtaking and the Warden is far more so. Five years was like a lifetime, so it feels like home, which is why you can’t tolerate his slander.

“The only savagery they have is their cold weather, racism, and judgment from those who aren’t brave enough to venture so far north, but you’ll find wolves are far nicer than snakes.”

You spare Aemond an icy glare, and he parts his lips to counter but just ends up closing his mouth and swallows back thickly with discontent.

Now that you got that out of the way you drift your gaze to Sunfyre landing, and watch Aegon descend from his seat to meet you halfway

“We fly around the walls and turn around the rock there,” you point at the large pointy rock ahead. “And end back here. And the only rule is no biting.”

Aegon scoffs. “I thought you didn’t like rules,” he remarks.

You begin to wander to Astraea’s side and counter back smugly. “Yeah, well I don’t feel like getting eaten in half today, so, no biting.”

Aegon begins to head back to his dragon as well and points something out. “Fire?”

“Aegon,” Aemond warns, but Aegon ignores his brother. You hum and glance away to think, debating whether to trust him or not.

But what fun would it be if there wasn’t some danger? “Sure,” you let him have what he wants. “But not directly of course.”

“Of course,” Aegon repeats and shoots you a smirk.

Since there’s nothing more to add, or at least you don’t think, you shoot him back a genuine and competitive smirk for the first time. However, of course, your good sportsmanship only lasts until you break into sprints toward your dragon's sides, because after that you shove him to the side to reach Astraea before he can reach Sunfyre.

Aegon reacts with a booming chuckle and tries to shove you back, but you swerve and instead jump on Astraea’s elbow to quickly scale up her arm whilst Aegon does the same on Sunfyre. When you reach your saddle you don’t even bother hooking on, you just nudge the handles forward and have Astraea take flight. When you look back you see the gorgeous golden dragon stumble in the water before he flaps his pink wings and ascends to the sky.

Little can be said about Aegons character and looks, but his dragon is by far the best thing he actually has, he’s so beautiful and you're a little envious he got to bond with such a beautiful dragon. You’ll never admit that to your own dragon though.

Nevertheless, you peer back and catch Aemond with a scowl formed on his face, but you only encourage it further because that’s exactly what you desire from him, a reaction, something to know that he’s paying attention and that he might care.

So if he won’t fight back or apologize you’ll do things to spite him. That's why before he’s out of view behind the cove walls, you throw him a mischievous smirk before Astraea flaps her wings and flies faster. However, since Sunfyre is older and a bit slimmer than Astraea is, he catches up quickly and now Aegon challenges you right by your side.

You stay side to side, neither of you being able to advance past the other for a few good minutes until you’re over the Oldgate because that's when Aegon and Sunfyre suddenly break away and cut through the middle of the city instead of completing the circle like agreed.

“You fucker,” you laugh before you push the silver handles to the side, causing Astraea to quickly make a sharp turn and follow after Aegon and Sunfyre.

Rather than falling at their side though, Astraea and you dive, letting you feel the rush that makes you feel as if your heart is getting dragged to your throat, and as if you’re going to fly off your saddle. It’s kind of terrifying, but you feel free and that overcomes the fear and fills you with thrill.

But just before Astraea can hit anything, she swoops back up and starts to skim over the ceilings, casting a large shadow to cover the streets you rush over, rattling the unstable things below, and startling those unfortunate enough to be out on the streets. But you don't care, you’re too caught up in the rush to care, you just care about beating Aegon, so when you manage to be just under Sunfyre, you pull back on the handles, causing Astraea to then flap her wings and shoot up.

And the moment you get close, Astraea bumps up on Sunfyre’s wing, making him stumble to the side, and letting you gain the advantage to get past them and look back at your opponent, catching Aegon’s bewildered look.

You counter his look with a grin before you focus ahead, noticing that it looks like you’ll have the advantage and win. But just as you're above the street called The Hook, a shadow casts over you. You try to encourage Astraea to fly faster, but just as she flaps her ginormous purple wings, Sunfyre dives down and cuts you off, causing Astraea to come to a skidding stop and throw herself back before she can bump into them.

Luckily she didn't fling that far back or else you would have dangled over the fucking city. It was just terrifying for a moment, it felt like your heart stopped, but it was also exhilarating.

However, it seems like Aegon and Sunfyre are going to take the advantage of their opportunity and win this race—but! You won’t lose to creepy Aegon! Thus when you’re supposed to circle around the rock across the cove, you counter their cut-off with a dirty move just like he would've done.

Instead of following after Aegon and circling the rock, you have Astraea make a sharp turn and fly towards the cove. Once you have leeway you snap your head back and see Aegon shake his head with a half grin on his face.

You shoot him a wink and throw your arms up as Astraea flies low and turns to the side to skim her wing in the water. But in order not to crash into the cove wall or Aemond still waiting in the cave, Astraea quickly straightens out and dives in the water to slow herself down, soaking you entirely as water splashes all over you, and accidentally splashes onto the shore and rolls in the cave, but stops just at the tip of Aemond’s boots.

“Whoa!” You exclaim and swing your leg over the saddle. “What a fucking rush!”

Just as you’re climbing down your dragon, Aegon lands just as rushed as you. When your feet hit the ground, he exclaims. “You played fucking dirty!” He chuckles as he also begins to climb down. “I never knew you had it in you!”

Rather than looking at Aegon as you walk to him, you look over at Aemond and meet his gaze. He doesn’t look away right at that instant, his chest rises and falls deeply before he clenches his jaw and frowns softly for a split second before he rolls his eye away from you and watches his brother approach you.

You should have felt bad, after all, you know how much of a burden Aegon is on him—you can’t say if it’s the same as before, but you remember how much Aemond followed his older brother to take care of him. You also know that Aegon upsets him in a lot of ways, but right now you actually feel pride to get such a disapproving reaction. You relish in it.

He does seem hurt though. You can’t be certain, he’s so stoic now that you’re having some trouble reading his expressions. But maybe if he is truly hurt by this action that fills you with so much pride then he’ll argue back, or talk, or laugh with you like before.

“I owe you now,” Aegon breaks you from your train of thought and turns your attention to him. “What do you want?” He asks as you both meet in the middle.

You tap your chin and shrug. “I don’t know.” You mutter as you begin to walk around one another out of rushing excitement that still pumps in your veins. “Maybe another race soon. Or! A trip into the city!”

Aegon claps his hands. “Better yet!” He shouts. “A tourney in honor of you and Aemond. Think of it as a wedding present from me.”

You stop walking and falter as you’re reminded of what’s meant to happen, what’s going to break you from Cregan, and what will stop him from going to your mother in six months—and sure when he told you that idea it sounded bad, you didn't want him to get into unnecessary danger, but after sailing away, now that you're here, longed for him, and met Aemond the stranger rather than the friend, Cregan’s idea is all you can hope for. You want him to fight for your hand and whisk you back to him.

Can he do it before you wed?

“As long as I can participate,” you play off your faltering excitement.

“No,” Aemond cuts in and stomps towards Aegon and you. “No. There are hundreds of reasons why that’s a bad idea. We don’t need a tourney.”

Who does he think he is talking for you? Maybe if he tries to reconcile then he can interject, otherwise, you’ll keep fighting him.

“We want one,” you rebuttal Aemond. “Let’s do it, in a month's time. I’ll be too busy after that.”

Aegon shoots Aemond and you a smirk. “Let’s do it.” He closes the deal.

You flutter your eyes to Aemond and shoot him a deep mischievous smirk that matches Aegon’s, and only pisses him off more.

——

*LATER*

How infernal is this place?

The beauty you once saw in King’s Landing has snuffed out, the fun you once had where you could find it doesn’t amuse you anymore, and the once twinkling lights are dull.

Sure being here before feels like being trapped in a pretty golden cage, no matter how much freedom you have compared to others, but you found an escape; maybe it was because you were content living with your family, and Aemond was kind and a sweet friend, but you managed to find it.

Even then it never stopped you from longing for more though. No matter how many distractions you had, no matter how much you had, you still longed for more, you still felt trapped, and that feeling lingered with you until you became intimate with Cregan that night on the edge of that breathtaking wall.

All your golden walls fell that night.

Maybe it was the company or the love and passion that ended that endless search for more, but they fell and you felt everything you wanted, you had everything you wanted, and it felt like you were a part of something bigger because Lady Arra gave you the chance to help the people, to be apart of the community. You could hold weapons without being scolded or rushed off; sure most of the time it was just in the company of Cregan, but you didn’t feel restrained. Now being back here, in this tall castle with no escape, without Cregan, those golden walls are up once again.

You just want to feel it again; that rush, that breeze that blew you back, that escape and the fascination. But there’s only one way you can find that here, or at least a sense of it, and it isn't on the roofs, no, it's in your own quarters, on top of your balcony’s railing. Your chambers were high enough from the ground to feel at least of lick of what you crave.

“Oh don’t be such a worrywart, Wolf,” you tell your grey kitten that sits all pretty on the balcony floor, whilst you take your heels off and throw them aside. “I’ll be fine. And it won’t be for that long.”

You shrug off the light blue overcoat you wore over your nightgown and throw it aside so you don’t trip on it, and then proceed to grasp onto the railing with both hands.

As if actually worried about your sudden actions, Wolf lets out a loud meow and walks over to sit closer to the railing.

“No,” you express your thoughts out loud as if you’re responding to the kitten. “Cregan wouldn't disapprove. He’d just say “Darling, I’d advise you not to do that. You’re mad.” And I’d just laugh it off and do it.”

Wolf meows back and you nod as you begin to push yourself up. “Yep,” you groan. “He’d just tell me to be careful afterward.”

When you manage to have both feet on the sturdy railing your body wobbles, but you quickly tighten your grip around the stone railing. “Fuck,” you giggle nervously and wait until you’re somewhat stable enough before you slowly unwrap your hands from the railing and gently push yourself up to your given height.

“See, Wolf,” you let out another nervous laugh. “Nothing happened.”

There isn’t a strong breeze here, not now anyway because it’s summer, but you still manage to sway.

“Oh,” you gasp and get ready to crouch and grab the railing, but when you see the twinkling city past the walls that surround the castle, you relax your shoulders and find your balance.

You forbid yourself from looking down out of risk of feeling fear, so you keep looking ahead. You draw in that sweet scent of the soft summer breeze and slowly unfurl out a deep breath.

From all the way up here, hundreds of feet above the ground, above the city, the firelights lit along the streets, in the people’s houses, and in lively taverns look like twinkling stars and you can’t help but smile in admiration.

From all the way up here, balancing on the railing, feeling the breeze hit you, seeing everything so small below you, helps your longing for more. It mends your boredom.

“See, nothing to worry about,” you tell Wolf.

If only Cregan was here too. It would make this much better.

“What are you doing?” The sound of Aemond’s voice startles you.

You snap your head back and see him standing behind the balcony doors.

“You fucking scared me,” you grumble with annoyance. “Don’t you knock?”

“I did,” Aemond huffs. “You didn’t answer.”

You quirk your brow. “Then why did you come in?” You ask.

Aemond presses his lips together and hums before he completely ignores your question and repeats his. “What are you doing? Get down from there.”

You begin to smirk mischievously instead and roll your head ahead to glance at the city again. “Do you remember when we would sneak up to the roofs at night? You were always too overly cautious but you joined me on the top anyway.”

Aemond takes a step forward, but stops just under the balcony’s door frame, causing Wolf to get up and drag himself closer to you.

“This isn’t the same thing,” Aemond argues. “Get down from there.”

You laugh and peer back at him. “That’s the longest I have heard you talk to me after 5 years. You have a very soothing voice.”

Aemond blinks in surprise as you catch him off guard just like you wanted, so the corner of your lips lifts to a smirk.

“Come up with me and I’ll consider being your friend again,” you ignore his command.

Aemond stays looking serious so you move your leg over the other to begin to turn, causing Aemond to break away from his spot and rush towards you in case you fall.

“Stop—”

“I’m okay,” you cut Aemond off and successfully turn around to face him. “See, you need to relax.”

Aemond sighs. “Are you drunk?” He asks out of nowhere.

You briefly squint your gaze and remark. “Why would you say that? I don’t need to get drunk to have fun.”

“Are you sure? Your taste of company today says otherwise,” Aemond grumbles.

Is he jealous?

You genuinely flash him a smile as you roll your eyes. “It was only once. Trust me, I still don’t like your brother.” You let him know. “I'm just…” you pause and sigh. “Trying to feel something.”

Your smile fades and you wonder if he can see right through this facade and see the pain you harbor.

“Join me?” You ask.

Aemond shakes his head and instead offers you his hand. “Get down. You’ll fall.”

You look back and then grin at him. “Fall?” You taunt and begin to raise your hands.

Aemond lets out a deep sigh and takes another step closer to try and snatch your wrist, but you pull away quickly and laugh instead, causing him to finally react in the exact way you want.

“This is not a game,” he snaps, and this time your kitten walks to his side as if agreeing with him, while you only pretend to agree with Aemond with a deep exhale while you also reach over to take his hand. However, just as he’s going to grasp it you pull away and begin to laugh again.

Nonetheless, this time in doing something so reckless you actually lose balance and your laugh dies quickly and gets replaced by a frigeneted yelp. And for the first time your life also actually flashes before your eyes like people say happens before death so you do the only thing you can think of and quickly reach out for Aemond as your body gets pulled back by gravity, accepting in that moment that Aemond was right. But you don’t say that out loud.

Luckily the gods are on your side and Aemond manages to wrap his hand around yours and yanks you towards him with a force you didn’t know he had. Now rather than falling back, you fall on him as he loses balance and falls back to the ground.

For a moment after, you just stay on him with your head pressed against his chest as you try to collect your heavy breath, and calm your racing heart.

“Seven hells,” you laugh nervously. “You fucking saved—”

“Is this some joke to you?!” Aemond cuts you off with his voice laced with venom.

You pull your head back and meet his gaze as you remain on top of him. “What?” You snap with a forming scowl.

“Your life?” Aemond counters.

You scoff and push yourself off him to stand to your given height on stable ground now. “My life isn’t a joke to me,” you argue as you watch him tower over you as he stands. “But you are!” You sneer and point at his chest roughly. “You pretending that everything is fine, that you didn’t just disappear from my life should be a joke. Is that what you want to hear, Aemond?” You raise your voice and glare at him.

You want him to fight back just as he was now, but he just watches you with that…narrowed gaze you find alluring.

“Fight back,” you shout at him and push him back. “Fight back and don’t make me believe that you don’t care. Because now that I look at you, now that I see this new person before me, that’s all I feel from you.” You finish and stumble back as you begin to heave.

Yet he drops his gaze and stays quiet and that infuriates you more. “Fight back!” You bellow. “Fight back! Fight—”

“What do you want me to say?” He interrupts you and steps towards you, making you step back. “That being apart from you has been the bane of my existence? That you have plagued my thoughts every single moment since the day I left you!”

He catches you off guard and steals your breath.

“Not a day went by where I didn’t almost have my mother summon you here.” Aemond keeps saying while he takes another step forward and you take one more back, but bump into the railing now as you watch him with disbelief.

You just didn't expect him to actually say anything.

“Then…” you mutter and swallow thickly whilst you watch as his hands lift to reach for your cheeks, but end up hovering near them. “…say it,” you say breathlessly. “Say you care about me. Not by gifts or spontaneous visits, tell me you care and I will stand with you. I will stop fighting this match, I will…” you try to speak but you struggle to finish what you want to say. “…I will be what you need. I will be yours. Just tell me…please.”

Aemond nods softly and licks his lips before he finally says the words you have been craving to hear. And as always he speaks softly. “I care. I have not stopped caring. I…love you.” He finally says and cups your cheeks to pull you in for a forbidden kiss that leaves you stunned.

The only man you have ever kissed has been Cregan, feeling the taste of new lips mold with yours is odd. Yet you can’t get enough, you close your eyes and grab his jaw to deepen the steamy kiss. Aemond presses you back against the railing as he kisses you with a burning passion and an urgency as if this entire time you’ve left him starving for the taste of you.

Albeit just before this can go any further, it feels like you’re betraying Cregan so you pull away from the kiss and instead press your forehead against Aemond.

He however presses a soft kiss on your forehead before he slides his hands around you instead.

“Forgive me,” he interjects as he begins to caress your back. “I have been acting like a jerk.”

You pull back to meet his gaze with a questioning look. “Why did you stop writing? I waited for you to write.” You finally ask your long-awaited question that has been slowly killing you.

Aemond averts his gaze to exhale deeply before his eyes slowly drift up to your cheek where your scar is carved, letting you know exactly why he stopped writing.

“It wasn’t your fault,” you assure him and press your hands against his chest so he can feel comfort radiating off you as well. “You didn’t do it on purpose, I got in the way. It was an accident.”

Aemond drops his gaze and shakes his head. “It doesn’t mean that I still didn’t hurt you,” he mutters. “How could I pretend like nothing happened? Like it wasn’t me that scarred you forever?”

“Well,” you try to cheer him up. “I quite like my scar now. I mean now that it’s not swollen and red.”

You tilt your head and muster a smile so he can see you’re being honest. “You could have just told me.” You whisper softly.

Aemond slowly lifts his eyes to meet your gaze. “It wasn’t that easy,” he admits bashfully. “I’m afraid I’m not so good at talking as freely as you can.”

You giggle. “You’re lucky you have me back then.”

The corner of his lips tug to a smile, and you grow curious about how his own scar turned out. And not the visible one that trails over his face, but the one he hides under his eyepatch.

“Can I see?” You're brave enough to ask.

Aemond stiffens and hesitates for a while before surprising you by stiffly nodding his head and then raising one hand to pull the eyepatch off his face, letting you see the blue twinkling sapphire that sits in his eye socket like a beautiful haunting reminder of what was taken, and what happened that unfortunate night, but not scaring you off, you’re actually fascinated, and also caught by surprise.

Now that you see the sapphire he carries you recall the ring he had given you; the one with the oval-shaped blue sapphire in the center of the pearls, and now you feel terrible for throwing it back at him.

“You know what,” you speak sweetly, causing chills to run up Aemond’s spine at the mere sound of something so beautiful and rare to hear from anyone. Not even his own mother speaks to him so sweetly or as soft.

No one has ever shown any appreciation for the scar in the way you do as your soft fingertips trail his scar. “I like it,” you coo. “It suits you. You look…sexy.”

Aemond drops his gaze and his lips twitch to a wider smile.

“You don’t have to hide it,” you assure him softly and take his eyepatch from him to throw it inside the room. “Not with me.”

Aemond meets your gaze with a soft look he’s even surprised he can achieve, and one you haven’t seen on him before. It honestly makes you giddy as well as flustered, but not timid, you manage to press a kiss on his lip before you press one on his cheek just under his sapphire eye.

He quickly cups your cheeks again, and you begin to smirk. “Can I have it back?” You mention. “The ring you gifted me and I rudely threw back at you.”

Aemond scoffs but doesn’t hesitate to dig into his pocket and pull out the small box again. He proceeds to open it for you and pulls out the impressive ring.

“I do like gifts,” you say as you put your hand out to let him put the ring on your ring finger on your right hand. “I love it,” you praise him giddly. “The pearls are my favorite. As well as the sapphire—actually one time my grandfather Corly’s said he fought a pirate that had a ruby for an eye,” you run your mouth and lift your hand to watch the sapphire twinkle against the firelight. “He stabbed his sword in his face and then gave the ruby to my grandmother. Pretty impressive.”

You grin as you admire the ring on your finger, and when you look over to meet Aemond’s gaze you notice a smile on his handsome face, and once again you grow flustered. “I thought you’d like to know,” you mumble nervously and pull away to walk to your bed. “Would you stay with me tonight? We can catch up, or just sleep.”

You peer over your shoulder and bat your eyelashes. “What do you say?” You press seductively.

Aemond holds your gaze and slowly follows you whilst protesting without any effort. “I'm not allowed.”

You scoff. “So what? We’re grown up now and you’re the son of the king,” you feed his ego to twist his decision your way.

“You can do whatever the hell you want. But then again I can’t force you, so it’s up to you.” You trail off smoothly and reach your bed to sit on the edge and await his answer with your leg over the other.

Aemond stops walking when he reaches the foot of your bed and glances at the front door before meeting your gaze and offering you a faint smile. “Fine,” he gives in. “I’ll stay.”

“Good,” you whisper and flash him a grin.

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