#oc: Halaena

[crowofjudgements-blog]

Kaleidoscope

Astarion x OFC Halaena

Content Warnings: Exploration of past traumas, sfw, mentions of sex and seduction

Synopsis: basically the ‘mirror’ scene but better suited for my character!! Please please leave some feedback in the comments, especially on my characterization of Astarion. I’m working on character development and portrayal in my writing so any feedback is welcome and appreciated!!!

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The moon hung its full smiling face high amongst the heavens, silvery strands of light danced across the clearing below as the stars themselves seemed content to watch over the enlivened encampment of mere mortals seeking refuge, comforts for the body is soft and easily bruised. Beyond the fire pit where hearth set ablaze dead centre of the camp, Astarion lounged, snow-white curls haloed in the firelight as he cast a pensive gaze across languid bodies lounging unbidden; for now, the looming fear of monsters in the shadows and curses round every corner had dissipated, enough that they were content. In those days, it was a scarce thing to let muscles relax and forget the blood and viscera that paved young adventurers’ path to absolution. Astarion scoffed as he sipped bloodwine from a crystalline goblet; how fragile peace is, shattered as soon as glass on concrete.

Copper lingered heavy on his tongue, choking almost. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so- secure? It was a fragile, fleeting thing, but to be fed and cared for is to be changed. Gone were the empty recesses that lined his face, hollowing out distant eyes that stared unseeing, unknowing. In its place, resplendency curls silky smooth and oiled, skin dewy, lush and plump as he lost the baseness of his deathly pallor, lips pressed into a petulant purse- though it wasn’t like he could see the change, he still felt it. Even he had to admit, this was good, no matter how infuriatingly easy it came in this place.

The object of his ire was that explosive little wizard, Halaena. Even her name grated at his frayed nerves; how could someone like her, someone unbound to the weirdos and malforms that blanketed camp in their obnoxious presence, choose to come anywhere near any of them with a 50-foot pole? Let alone take care of them, offer shelter, food, and comfort? The premise was enough to pull a carted snort from his chest whenever he thought about it for a moment too long. She had no evident reason to protect them, which meant she likely had her own reasons, and Astarion knew just how dangerous personal agendas could be to the greater good.

Do not get it twisted; the pale elf had no interest in the greater good or the whole lot of them. If he had the means, he would have pursued this adventure alone, guarded; after all, the only thing he truly craved was release, freedom from his cruel master. But- often, he found himself in a rather precarious position. On one hand, he was smart enough to know he was in no position to lead himself to the promise of freedom. Most days, his mind was a complete muddle, too awash with his obsession in finding an escape that he’d likely end up getting himself and everyone else killed before they even made it past the threshold of the Gate. On the other hand, this wizard -strike one right off the bat- just showed up one day and whisked him and a whole band of misfits and strays on this wild adventure, and she seemed to be the one person on this earth that Astarion could not seduce.

Of course, it was in his luck to be stuck with the sexless zealot more interested in ancient tomes and spells over touch, connection. It’s not necessarily that he wanted to bed her; quite the opposite, the very thought of being intimate with someone like that again made bile rise in the back of his throat, made his hands tremble and gaze sharpen. No, he didn’t want to sleep with her, but it unnerved him that she didn’t want to, that she shot down his every proposition kike an arrow to his defences, to the very protection he feared he barely clung to.

She just gave without the expectation of anything in return- granted, she was a wizard, so her curious nature and ascetic ways led them astray much more than he cared for, but that irritant did not erase the fact that this lack of transaction made her presence, her care and light, conditional. If he couldn’t perform, couldn’t be a precious doll for her whiles and whims, what was stopping her from simply abandoning him on the side of the road? He’d be left for dead or worse- left a feast for Cazador and his vultures to pick at until there was nothing left but bone and marrow. It-

Scared him.

He raised his gaze from the brim of his goblet when he heard an underfoot rustle approaching; his gaze fluttered up as he caught sight of pearlescent curls and airy amethyst robes. Snowy lashes brushed against the chisel of his cheeks when he finally looked up at Halaena, and he immediately fell into his role; a placating smile curled at the line of his lips; he softened his gaze and watched with apparent rapt attention as Halaena made move to sit nearby.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” he cooed as she got settled a few paces away, earning a reproachful snort as she sank back on one of his plush pillows. An orchestra of cicadas and quiet nightlife accompanied them, but even the rest of camp seemed to fade when he looked at her. Seeing the soft vulnerability behind her gaze, a clenching twist in his chest tightened. Astarion found Halaena a trivial, enigmatic thing- one that he most certainly did not want to unravel, mind you. He had his own deals and devils to worry about without giving care to her or her big forlorn eyes, or her issues. Gods, just acknowledging her tasted like bile on his sharp tongue.

“Oh, spare me. I see how you glare,” she giggled and shook her head, looking towards him with those eyes. He hated those eyes—big and bright, alighted with a hope that should have long been crushed. He just wanted to take her squishy cheeks in his palms and shake her head, see if there were any actual brains in there or if it was empty, like he suspected. “How is your daily brooding going, hm? Manage to bore a hole through anyone with your eyes just yet?”

“Ha ha, a wizard making fun of someone else for being broodsome? The comedy writes itself,” he retorted, voice dripping with his signature sarcasm and sass, and a fleeting sense of pride bubbled up in his chest at her cloying laughter. He bristled slightly, all ruffled up like a disgruntled peacock. At the same time, he laid back and followed her gaze, finding her eyes fixated where they usually rested: upturned towards glittering stars and the dark expanse of inky night.

“I suppose I can’t be the cat to call the kettle black; I’ll leave that to the poets, I think,” she mused as she looked down, seeing the little trinkets and baubles strewn haphazardly around. There weren’t many signs of Astarion scarce, even in his own space. Instinctively, Halaena reached out a hand to grasp an ornate handle sticking out from under some blanket or other. If her companion noticed, he didn’t move to stop her as she raised the glass to inspect her face.

The shattered glass reflected a kaleidoscopic view of her visage, distorted and wrong. She frowned as she inspected the thing, ornate in its construction, yet broken, unnecessary to keep around. She looked to Astarion then, seeing his eyes reflect a hunger that wasn’t obsessive or indicative of a desire to devour- no, they were bitter and longing, even though he tried to mask it behind a heavy brow. Her thumb brushed over the gilded applique decorating this beautiful thing- a mirror far more beautiful than anything it could ever reflect.

“Vanity is the fall of man, but it is nice to see oneself,” she finally said, not ignorant to the flare of his nostrils or how his shoulders tensed.

“Let it be-”

“How long has it been then? Since- you last saw yourself, I mean.”

Astarion stared at her so long she thought he meant to kill her with the viciousness brimming behind his eyes. His hands flexed at his side momentarily as he struggled to choke back a biting response, something cruel, something to make her feel. Instead, he swallowed down his words and looked at the mirror, gaze intense, before he opened his mouth to speak.

“Long before your mother first set eyes upon her precious babe, I know that much,” he bristled as he plucked his wine goblet from beside him and took a quick, placating gulp. Warmth flooded his senses, and before he spoke again, Astarion let out a grumbled huff. “Not since- well, not since Cazador turned me into this undead creature,” he scoffed, bitterness overtaking any warm lilt and the lingering saccharine taste that usually coated his tongue. She set the mirror aside with an almost wistful nod, her touch brushing against it one last time before her attention shifted back to the pale elf.

“I’m sorry.” The words almost made him snort; so simple and yet intangible in the grand scheme. A single apology didn’t erase two centuries of torment and certainly did not paint him a reflection. He watched her with baleful eyes, pale brows knitted tight as she moved to sit before him on her knees with her hands clasped in her lap. He felt the familiar crackle of the Weave pulsing in the air around them, a sudden shift in the nighttime chill. Halaena looked at Astarion as though her eyes themselves could offer an embrace, seeing into him as though he were pitch as glass.

Finally, she dropped her gaze to a pulsing manifestation of magic erupting from her palms, coiling up her arms as she raised her hand. Instinctively, the spawn jerked away from her magical light, an instinct borne from years running from the sun. But instinct quickly gave way to curiosity as he observed her weaving of magic. Even Astarion, for all his spangled sass and suspicion, could admit there was a kind of beauty in watching the stitching of Weave, especially in her well-orchestrated hands. He wasn’t entirely sure what she was doing, at least not until the energetic amalgamation of magic began to take shape.

Ghostly features took shape; a face moulded like putty in the air with the grace of embroidery, the planes and lines almost familiar to him even now. Pale and resplendent, but ghostly, hollow, a reflection of him written in the Weave. Upon closer inspection, he noticed it wasn’t exact- of course, it matched his essence. He was looking at himself, but the heaviness of his eyes was much softer than he would have expected, alabaster skin imperfect with lines that characterized this reflection with kindness so foreign to him it burned the edges of his ribs, cloying, clawing, even his mouth lacked its usual mirthless smirk, replaced with dewy lips pulled into what could only be a genuine, sweet line, almost a smile, no matter how faint. It wasn’t what he’d envisioned when he saw himself, no hard lines or rugged charm, there wasn’t the barest hint of seduction reflected back at him. This was undoubtedly a warmer, kinder visage. When Astarion’s eyes flickered tentatively, quickly, towards Halaena, he saw a face of curious wonder: pale lashes lined wide, inquisitive eyes, all smiles and bashful interest.

So, again, Astarion was faced with such a disdainful conundrum. She seemed so genuine; where pretty words lie, one cannot simply fake reflection. Quiet moments of introspection, studying dusky skin, wild, kindly eyes that shone back the Weave in reverence, disarrayed curls of near pearlescent white- how he despised the folly of man. His eyes snapped back to the spectral figure lingering in the air, a fleeting memory actualized. “That’s me?” He nearly laughed at how disbelieving he sounded to himself, but all the wizard did was nod.

“Perfectly preened curls and all,” she mused, a warm lilt in her voice as she casually turned the spectre in the air, slow and languid. She watched his visage a while, too- admiring the simple beauty crafted in the thread of her Weave. Such gentle intricacies and reverent touches sculpted into his face. It cast such a pretty purple glow across his features. “I know, in a way, what it’s like to have such a large part of oneself pulled out of them, worse than pulling teeth,” she quirked an edged grin, “I know time heals and all of that, but you know if we don’t have all that much time left I figured; you deserve to see your face at the very least.”

Astarion swallowed hard, his pupils darting between the spectral image and her face, meeting her gaze finally. Vampire and wizard stared each other down unblinking and estranged as though those eyes had anything further to scrutinize one another. After a long silence, Astarion’s mask returned all biting mirth and barely contained resentment. “Right, I get to see my face, that’s it? What do you get? What is it you see here?” His voice came out venomous as he stole his gaze back to the visage.

The quiet stretched like an expansive cavern between them; the crackling fire and bordering camp-wide chatter accompanied the pair before Astarion noticed the slight wavering in the fabric edges of his projection’s face. His brows pulled together as wide eyes sought the last traces of this magic’s hold before his face faded before blood-laced vision. The clearing dimmed, the faint glow of the firelight offering the only illumination as Astarion sank back on his haunches, a twinge of painful longing nipping at the hollow cage of his ribs. He noticed the Drow then, soft gaze fixed on him as she awaited his collected bearings.

“Most times, I just see you.’” Such simple words, simple, were they? If so, why did Astarion’s mouth go dry, and why did he feel the barest traces of a fluttered heartbeat echo in his chest? Such mortality was alien, near monstrous in his vampiric existence. Vulnerability quickly felt like exposure, and the man shot to his feet, eyes ablaze as he glared down at Halaena. His mind stuttered, entirely short-circuited, when he saw her big eyes staring up at him, not a hint of malice behind them- or thought, for that matter.

He let out a strangled sigh before he cast his gaze downward, a hint of melancholy briefly flashing across the furrowed planes of his face before the tension slumped from his pale form. Astarion straightened himself up, looking up at the starry night sky to avoid the wizard’s stare and the darkness that crept around them. “Right-“ he looked like he wanted to say more, needed to say more, but the little star lost its emboldened fury, replaced simply by Astarion, who stood there truly not knowing what he could do. He hated this helplessness, the confrontation of not just her but himself. Words felt biting on his tongue, rationalisation like razors. He was overwhelmed, and so, defaulted on what he knew best.

“I’d love to stick around and chat, darling, but I’m afraid I have rather important things to attend to before the night’s end,” he hissed with a tight-lipped smile and narrowed eyes. I’ll leave you to your conjurations; far be it from me to spoil the fun.” He was about to leave, flee into the forest to drain an unruly bear or something, when he heard her speak up, and he froze.

“The woods are a terror this time of night, Astarion. You can always find me in my tent for an easier meal.” She stood then, craning her head to look up at him. The pair stood together, bathed in a silvery wash of moonlight, and Astarion only nodded after casting his sights away once more. She didn’t push him to look at her, only smiled and nodded in return before she moved past him and headed back to the crimson-gold canvas of her tent set up towards the centre of camp. Astarion didn’t watch her go, instead looking over to the edge of the woods.

The forest beyond the temporary camp comforts called to him, a siren’s song away from the raw, gaping pain he felt incessantly in his chest. He ran a hand through snowy white curls, irritated, tugging on his pretty locks as he raked sharp fingers over his scalp. The trees and underbrush hid a veritable feast—succulent game would put up a fair chase. He could snag some birds for a crunchy snack or fight some big beast for the satisfaction of stealing away his meal, their lifeblood.

He looked over his shoulder towards Halaena’s tent, seemingly undisturbed as it stood sturdy amongst the shadows. He swallowed hard; he’d be a fool to deny that her offer didn’t intrigue him. But that part of him, the recesses of Astarion’s consciousness cautioned him against this inevitability. He’d supped from her before, finding the blood of a Drow quite delectable comparatively, and he’d be lying if he said there wasn’t a pull to that tent, to the tasty little morsel curled up amongst her silks and furs. Dry mouth and twitching hands, Astarion looked back to the forest once more. It loomed large, an imposition ready to swallow him whole. Furs and silks sounded more satisfactory than a romp in the mud for mediocre blood.

Decision made, the vampire turned on his heel and headed toward the centre of camp, where she lay reposed. He stepped upon his broken mirror, left discarded upon his blankets with a telltale crunch of glass splintering and crunching undertow.

[daemontargaryenwhore]

And Halaena looking up to the falling flowers during the funeral was also a foreshadowing bit.

[valaenatargaryensdragon]

Dangerous Secret

pairing: Fanon!Alicent Hightower x Male OC

summary: Daegor Targaryen, brother to King Viserys Targaryen who stabbed him the back in the worst way possible.

Word count: 4,0K

Warnings: Fluff, Angst, cheating, infidelity, polygamy

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Alicent could not help herself but feel nervous as she stood beside Daegor targaryen, her lover and true father of her children. Her children, Aegon, Daenya, Halaena, and the twins Aemond and Aenora and her youngest Daeron stood beside their mother in their best attire ready to welcome their uncle Daegor.

Alicent still remembered the first time she met him when she was sill newly wed and he had traveled for the wedding along with his lady wife who was pregnant at the time, a Dornish Princess Alicent did not bother remembering her name, she had died in childbirth along with the baby during their visit from Dorne. The marriage existed only to keep the peace in the realm.

Alicent went to comfort him seeing it as her duty considering that she was the new Queen of the realm. Daegor had locked himself in his chambers, he held no love for his wife, Alicent discovered that during their conversation but he mourned his unborn child who never got to see the world.

A friendship of sorts blossomed between the two as they got comfort from one another and Alicent used the excuse that being close to Viserys' family would make him love her more, to her father Otto Hightower which made him turn a blind eye on the two. Daegor decided to stay in the capital after that seeing as he had nothing back in Dorne.

Alicent's mind took her many years prior to this day. She was still a very young bride sitting in the library with a book in her lap as she waited for Viserys to finish his small council meeting along with her father.

"All alone, your grace" She looked up at Daegor who was leaning against a bookshelf with his arms crossed eyeing her with a smile. Alicent wanted to deny the beat her heart skipped when their eyes met. She was expecting him to hate her like Rhaenyra and Daemon did after she was forced to marry Viserys.

"Viserys is busy with the small council" Alicent shrugged. Unconsciously she closed the book in her lap and gave Daegor her full attention. Daegor left the doorway and walked over to her and sat down beside her on the bench.

"My brother is an idiot leaving such a pretty girl like you here all alone" Daegor was brave, Alicent admitted that. Anyone else would have rather eaten shit than say such things to the Queen in fear of the consequences. Alicent looked down at the book in her lap shyly and smiled feeling a little giddy at hearing a compliment for the first time in many moons.

"Thank you, your grace" She whispered. Alicent will never forget that day, she cried herself to sleep feeling all kinds of guilt after she had kissed Daegor in that library. Viserys was told that she felt ill and did not even bother checking in on her that night either.

The next morning she visited Daegor's room with the plan of telling him that the kiss they shared in the library was a mistake only to find him sat in front of his fireplace shirtless with only trousers on and a cup of wine in hand. She stumbled through her words as she tried looking anywhere but at him.

He was as smug as Daemon Targaryen, no surprise there since they were brothers. Daegor smirked the entire time she was speaking. He downed his wine and placed the cup on the table before he cornered her and kissed her again. He kissed her five times in a row and each time he asked "Does it still feel wrong?" He would whisper the words in her ear or against her lips. The third time he asked she gave him the answer he wanted "No". He made love to her for the first time then.

Alicent found out she was pregnant two moons later and it did not take her more than a second to know who the father was. She went running to Daegor in tears and shaking in fear. He held her in his arms and comforted her. He was terrified as well, he was scared for a different reason though, she was afraid of someone finding out about who the true father of the child was, Daegor Targaryen, while Daegor was scared that he would lose another child.

So he unconsciously built walls around himself and distanced himself from everyone, even Alicent and his brothers. Many of the smallfolk were shocked to see that Daegor and his dragon would be up in the skies almost every day. Viserys and Daemon noticed the change in their brother as well and Viserys came to the conclusion that Daegor was reacting like this as a defense mechanism after what happened to his wife.

Alicent however felt used and cornered Daegor to accuse him of leaving her after he got what he wanted and that was to dishonour his King brother. Daegor's walls broke at the sound of her sobs and he pulled her in for a hug whispering promises in her ear. Daegor did not plan to fall for the young girl in his arms, he indulged with her at first for comfort but then found himself falling for her.

For the rest of Alicent's pregnancy Daegor was by her side in secret using the tunnels and secret passageways he had discovered as a child alongside Daemon. Viserys rarely visited Alicent if it were not for his own pleasures. Daegor showed her love and care, he helped her bathe at the end of her pregnancy when her feet were swollen and it was uncomfortable for her to move. He stood outside her doors alongside Viserys when she gave birth using the excuse of wanting to support his brother and get some comfort from a birth going well instead of a disaster as it had done with his own wife.

The second Viserys placed Aegon in Daegor's arms he almost burst out crying. His surviving son whom no one would know was his. Daegor took it upon himself to teach the young boy how to walk and talk, the first word Aegon said was Kepa to Daegor much to Viserys' discomfort and that is when the talk of Daegor needing a betrothed and wife and children of his own arose in the council while Alicent was swollen with her and Daegor's second child.

"I wish not to marry brother, I know my luck in such matters" Daegor shook his head as he refused to acknowledge the words of the council members.

"I must insist brother, we have already chosen a worthy betrothed for you" Viserys' words made Daegor's blood run cold. He looked at Otto Hightower or more like Highcunt smirking at him.

"Who is this unlucky woman?" Daegor asked, crossing his arms in front of him as he leaned back in his chair.

"My youngest girl," Beesbury said proudly. Daegor has never met the poor soul. Beesbury let out a shriek that sounds like "Clara". A petite girl who looked just over thirteen walked in with her head bowed down adorning her house colours as a dress. She had light brown hair cascading down her back in natural waves. She looked up briefly as she curtsied showing blue eyes before looking down.

"She is but a child" Daegor argued pointing at the poor girl who was shaking as a leaf. She gulped and looked at her father as if expecting a scolding but he merely chuckled.

"I assure you, my prince, she is a woman grown and had her first bleeding merely a moon ago," Lord Beesbury said. He pushed his daughter in Daegor's direction making her stumble. Daegor was quick to steady the poor child.

"Apologies, my prince" She whispered lowly, voice still holding a childish pitch to it. Daegor felt bad for the poor child but he knew that if he did not marry her then her father would only throw her to another man who could do unspeakable things to her.

Daegor accepted with a heavy heart. That night Alicent went into labour and Daegor knew it was out of grief but he sneaked into her room to meet his newborn daughter, Daenya, and explained to Alicent that he merely agreed to shut Viserys up.

His wedding on poor Clara was in the tradition of old Valyria on Dragonstone with blood upon Daegor's insistence. Daegor refused the bedding ceremony and threatened a Lord who whined like a child would if you took their favorite toy from them. He faked the evidence much to Clara's relief and spent the night in Alicent's bed after sneaking in there.

In less than two years Alicent fell pregnant again and Otto was sent away as Hand. Viserys decided to make Daegor his Hand in Otto's stead seeing as he was the more obedient brother between Daemon and him. Daegor was more than willing to take the position as he was being threatened to be sent to Dragonstone by Otto Highcunt as he grew to call him.

As the years passed Daegor proved to be a worthy Hand and Viserys never once thought of changing him or bringing in Otto again. Alicent gave birth to four more children, first came Helaena who had Daegor wrapped around her finger just as much as Daenya did, followed by twins, Aemond and Aenora, and lastly Daeron.

Daegor grew worried as all his children claimed a dragon except Aemond whose egg did not hatch in his cradle. Aegon had Sunfyre, Daenya had Varos who was as blue as the morning sky and his flames were just as blue and rumored to be hotter than normal Dragon fire. Halaena had Dreamfyre, Aenora had Drakoth who was a green dragon with golden edges to his scales and Daeron had Tessarion.

Daegor filled the boy's time with sword fighting since he refused to torment the poor boy with lessons in the Dragonpit with his older brother and nephews who had taken the hobby of bullying him for not having a dragon. Daegor spoke with Rhaenyra who dismissed him saying they were children playing and in due time they would stop. Daegor took Aemond with him to visit Mirazaer his own she-dragon, she was dark purple with golden eyes and flames. Aemond loved seeing her and would usually ride along his "Uncle" on her with his arms wide open and laughter on his lips.

When Daegor was informed of the incident of Aemond's eye during one of the nights he was staying up for some extra work. He barged into the room just as Alicent drew a dagger at Rhaenyra. Aemond was being looked at by a maester and Daegor knew that Viserys did not punish Luke for what he did. He approached Alicent and wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her away from his niece in one swift move making her shriek a little.

She looked up at him with tears streaming down her face as the dagger fell down on the ground. His own wife Clara sneaked into the room and over to Aegon to comfort the boy as he was slapped back to sobriety.

"I believe Luke should be punished but not as harshly as her grace suggests," Daegor said calmly letting go of Alicent who stumbled a little. She made her way over to her son and kneeled beside his chaise as the maester sewed his eye shut.

"What are you suggesting, uncle?" Rhaenyra pushed her son behind her back to protect him from her uncle.

"I am suggesting a brief exile for him to learn that hurting his own kin is a sin, Niece, I am suggesting that someone should teach your spoiled children some manners for taking a boy's eye out" Daegor answered angrily. He knew that his outburst was noticed by Daemon but refused to meet his eyes and smirking face.

"He stole Vaghar" Luke defended his actions. To everyone's surprise, Daegor burst out laughing making everyone freeze.

"Do you truly believe that a dragon as ancient as Vaghar could be stolen, boy? We do not control dragons and Vaghar chose her rider willingly" Daegor answered. He approached Baela and Rhaena who were huddled together in the corner.

"I am sure my dear niece will ride a dragon mightier than Vaghar if she had the patience and the bravery" Daegor touched Rhaena's chin softly. She smiled slightly and nodded her head.

"Now brother as king it is expected of you to be just and if you are not just with your own family how will the smallfolk accept a King who split his own family?" Daegor asked. Viserys looked down thinking deeply much to the horror of Rhaenyra, the spoiled princess.

Lucerys was sent to Lannisport the next morning amount his dragon with a satchel filled with his belongings, exiled for six whole years. Daegor felt pride fill him as he watched Vaghar with Aemond atop her flying proudly in the sky to spite the boy as he flew away.

Viserys grew sicker and sicker as time passed and Daegor had to take control of the kingdom and he spent more time away from King's Landing than in it in Viserys' stead. But through it all, he did not stop for a second from training his own sons and refused to send Daeron to Oldtown and insisted on teaching him, himself.

Daegor was told to take a second wife as the years passed and Clara still did not conceive any children. Alicent was hesitant before approaching Daegor and telling him that if he wished he could bed Clara and have children from her, have children who could call him Kepa unlike her own who called him Kepus instead. Aemond called him Kepa for a long time after he defended him and idolized him even at ten and six name days.

Daegor was reluctant, he already had six children, healthy and beautiful. He did not need more but when Clara herself came to him crying after being bullied by some ladies of the court he caved and bedded her. Their agreement was broken of not having any sexual relations. Alicent and Clara surprisingly grew a friendship of sorts when Clara began swelling with his child and she was by her side during her labors having no mother to comfort her, having died several years ago.

Clara birthed a beautiful girl whom Daegor named Shaera. She was a tiny girl at birth and seemed to inherit her mother's shortness and definitely her temper, her cries were heard by the entire Red Keep as she arrived with a head full of platinum blonde hair like her father and blue eyes like her mother.

Daegor was proud of her but he felt a little shy walking around with her in his arms since he was no young man and Aegon and Halaena, his own son and daughter were already married to each other and had twin children. Aegon chose to let go of his cups and focus on his sword skills as a relief with the help of Daegor and he brought the gentleman in his son out.

Still, the council was not happy with Shaera's birth, she was no son, and she was no heir. Daegor almost lunged at his own father-in-law when he said that Daegor and Clara should try for a son. Daegor informed him that Clara could die from childbirth but he only replied with "She was born to do this" which sparked Daegor's fury, Clara and him grew some kind of a friendship during their marriage.

Clara voiced her want of another child when Shaera reached her third moon of life and Daegor was shocked that she wanted another so soon and so fast. Shaera was rumored to have some magic in her blood because whoever looked at her fell in love with her, even Viserys asked to see her at least once a day.

By the time Rhaenyra arrived with her family to King's Landing for Luke's petition as soon as he got back from Lannisport against Veamond Valeryon, Clara was swollen with another child while Shaera was sat on her hip gurgling. Daegor took it upon himself to greet his niece and brother along with his family upon her arrival.

"Niece" Daegor nodded his head at the heir of the throne in front of him. She had a weak smile still not over him sending her precious boy away but shockingly Luke seemed much calmer and well-mannered.

"Brother" Daegor turned to Daemon. Daemon gave his famous smirk to Daegor before eyeing Shaera in her mother's arms.

"Finally a child from your blood brother" Daemon teased. Daegor turned to Shaera with a smile on his face. The little girl turned to her father with a grin and held her arms open for him squealing a "Kepa". Daegor took her from his heavily pregnant wife who looked to be struggling with all the weight already.

"Shaera" Daegor introduced. Daemon and Rhaenyra could not help but smile as the little girl grabbed a fist of her father's hair that reached just below his nape and tugged a little.

"Quit a grip on her I will tell you that, she will beat me in sword fighting by her tenth name day" Daegor joked easing his daughter's grip on his hair.

He sat on the Iron Throne during the petition being the Hand of the King. He was kind to both sides not wanting to separate the family even more when his brother the King walked in with the help of his cane. Daegor helped Viserys sit on the Iron Throne as Daemon retrieved the fallen crown from the floor and placed it upon the King's head. Daegor moved back to his wife's side.

Daegor was more than glad that they left Shaera with her handmaiden as Vaemond's head rolled on the floor. Daegor felt his heart drop for a second when Clara clutched his shoulder whimpering in pain thinking she was struck as well by accident only to find a pool of blood by her feet.

"Her labors" Rhaenyra gasped from the other side of the room. Daegor had to stand by Alicent and their children which Clara did not mind and she never questioned his devotion to the Queen and explained it as devotion to his own brother.

Daegor sat by Alicent during the feast Viserys threw in his new son's honor, Aelyx. Daegor was thankful for a son so now he could finally give Alicent his full attention, the woman he truly loved. He had spoken to Aemond beforehand to not start any fights no matter what happens.

Lucerys seemed on his best behaviour along with Jacaerys. Helaena and Aegon were too in love to notice anyone around them as they whispered among each other about their three healthy and beautiful children, Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and Maelor. The dinner went smoothly and the boys were on their best behavior the entire night while Rhaenyra and Alicent reconciled with one another. Daegor and Alicent celebrated in her chambers that night.

Daegor felt his heart stop as he hid behind the walls in the secret passageway to a maid waking Alicent to the news of Viserys' death. Rhaenyra was Queen now and should be crowned soon. Daegor sprinted to his own chamber where Clara was sleeping still in their Marital bed with Shaera on her right sleeping deeply and Aelyx in his crib with his black dragon egg.

He felt hesitant to wake her up and tell her the news. She was horrified and immediately asked for black clothes wanting to be by her husband's side during the funeral. Clara rode with Daegor on dragonback leaving their small children along with Helaena's and Rhaenyra's youngest in the palace. Dragonstone seemed colder as Rhaenyra gave the command to her mount lighting her father on fire with teary eyes and the golden crown on her head.

Now a new question arose, who was the heir? Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey were definitely not pure-blooded children. Rhaenyra wanted to leave the matter for later as her coronation was being prepared in Oldtown for the high Septon to anoint her. Daegor knew that there was nothing in the world that would stop Rhaenyra from putting her brunette son on the throne so he urged his family to Pentos not wanting to see a day where a brunette Targaryen sat on the Iron Throne. Alicent and her children joined them just after the coronation.

What they did not expect was for news to reach them soon that a plague spread around King's Landing allowing The Stranger to claim Jacaerys and Lucerys in their sleep. Daegor knew that left Joffrey to be heir, the poor young boy knew not of how to rule as Rhaenyra grew ill with grief and Daemon got infected as well.

Daegor traveled on Dragonback with all his children, Alicent and Clara followed in a boat neither wanting to ride a dragon. What Daegor did not plan was for the two women to bond on the way to the city and his shock was evident when they walked hand in hand with smiles on their faces.

Joffrey followed his brothers soon and Daegor grew with worry and isolated his children and lover along with his wife in one side of the palace. The maesters suggested covering his nose and mouth when visiting Rhaenyra and Daemon on their deathbeds along with Aegon and Viserys. Daegor had to turn away from his brother to hide his tears from him as he spoke with him, breathless and on the verge of death.

"How is Nyra?" Daemon asked. A series of coughs followed the question.

"She is alright and waiting for you to get better" Daegor answered. The maesters had suggested he kept his distance but all he wanted to do was pull his older brother in for a hug and reassure him that everything was alright and that he would get better.

"How is Dae?" Rhaenyra questioned when Daegor visited her. Their relationship was never the best but he grew sad and his eyes filled with tears at the sight of his dying niece, the girl he used to play with before he had to leave for Dorne and marry his first wife.

"As good as a horse awaiting you to recover" Daegor responded. Only three years into Rhaenyra's reign she passed away peacefully in her bed along with Daemon and their sons leaving Daegor as the heir.

Daegor waited for the plague to be under control and with a cure before traveling to Oldtown and getting anointed like his predecessors before him. By the second year of his reign, he took Alicent to Dragonstone and took her as a second wife. Clara was present at the wedding and the wedding night.

The children were not shocked to hear of the marriage, Daegor and Alicent were not very desecrate during their stay in Pentos and Clara fit in the picture perfectly. Alicent did not give Daegor any more children but Clara did being much younger than both, she gave him a pair of sons only two years apart, Daemon and Viserys.

The realm went into shock when Daegor announced Aegon as his heir being the eldest Prince was his excuse, no one knew Aegon's true parentage except Alicent and Daegor, and even Clara did not know of it. Aegon was a good swordsman and had the mind of a king after leaving his cups behind for Helaena and their children with Daegor's guidance, these children only craved a father's love and Daegor was there to give it to them.

Daenya was married to her younger brother Aemond while Aenora married Daeron to keep the Targaryen blood pure, Daegor saw no need for alliance marriages since the realm was at peace and no one rebelled.

Daegor Targaryen passed away in his sleep aged sixty and three in the arms of Alicent Hightower and Clara Beesbury. Aegon rose to the throne with the conqueror's crown on his head. Alicent found it the perfect time to tell him the truth of his parentage only for him to shock her and tell her that they all knew without needing to be told.

[samieree]

Silver Princess || House of the Dragon

Daemon Targaryen | Aemond Targaryen | Gwayne Hightower

-> Chapter XI

Chapter XII ''The cold''

Valaerya did not try to convince Rhaenyra to stay in King's Landing. She had only been here a day and she had already heard some people gossiping about her sons. She deserved some rest, she and her family. But now they are far from each other again... It is true that they are no longer separated by a whole sea, but again each of them collides with a different everyday life.

She was sitting in a spacious chamber, moving in her hands a small, rectangular handkerchief on which she had embroidered a dragon with black thread and its circumference with the gold one. She made it with her father in mind, perhaps it will fit his model of Old Valyria somewhere. She can't carve a figurine like Daemon, but she could do at least that much.

Talking about Daemon, he was sitting on cushions on the floor with their daughter and playing dolls with her. She remembered the first time Visenya had asked him to play with her, when she had received some dolls from one of the nobles from Essos, with whom they were staying. He wasn't very happy at first, but he didn't want to upset her, so he agreed. Over time, however, he began to like creating stories about princes and princesses, dragons, and knights... Everything his beloved daughter wanted.

"Plince came on a dlagon and..."

"And the dragon ate the princess." Daemon picked up the dragon figurine and brought it closer to the doll he already had in his other hand, imitating the dragon's sounds.

"No!" the girl laughed, stretching out her hand to the dragon figurine. "You still can't do anything right..." she muttered more than she said, and this time it was Daemon who laughed, but didn't hand over the figurine.

"So let me improve, darling." he wondered for a moment, looking from the figurine to the doll. "I know. The prince came on a dragon and ordered him to burn a certain nasty Lord who had locked the princess in a tower. Then they both flew away on the prince's dragon and lived happily ever after."

Val couldn't help but smile when she heard about 'burning the nasty Lord who locked the princess in a tower', because it was obvious that Daemon was referring to Otto Hightower when he said that.

The girl liked this ending much better and praised her dad, even clapping for him. Then she took the princess doll from him and started playing with it and the prince, already creating another story in her head to play with.

"Do you think they'll be back soon?" Val asked unexpectedly, finally stopping crumpling the scarf in her hands.

"No." he replied briefly and without even looking at her, just smiling at his daughter.

A quick and honest answer, probably closest to the truth. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but she had to accept it. Apparently, they are destined to be close only from time to time... At least Dragonstone is close, they will be able to visit each other freely.

"She deserves this rest, but..." she stopped. She didn't want to say out loud that from a political point of view it was a stupid decision.

"But she's the heir and because of that she shouldn't leave." he finished for her and finally looked at her. He reached out with his free hand and took her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. "We'll take care of the Hightowers, we won't let them roam around our home."

"They're already doing it." she sighed. "The vipers have infested this place for good when my father married Alicent Hightower."

"At least Otto isn't the Hand."

Good point, they've taken a bit of a break since Lyonel Strong became Hand of the King, though she wouldn't hold out much hope with it. Apparently he wanted to resign, but the king wouldn't let him, saying he could escort his son to Harrenhal, but he had to come back later. But since he wanted to give up once, he'll probably try again.

"I wouldn't be too happy about it, I have a feeling he'll come back somehow."

"Don't bone it." she sighed again, but looked at her daughter and a soft smile immediately appeared on her face.

The apple of her eye, her treasure, her only child, her beloved. She carried her under her heart for nine months, guarded her, and had never cared for herself as much as when she was pregnant. Little Visenya, her greatest treasure in this world, her greatest love, she didn't love even her sister as much as she loved her own child. This little girl always managed to put a smile on her face, even without knowing how much she meant to her, how much her mother loved her.

She climbed down from the chair and sat on the ground, running her free hand through the girl's silver hair.

"Can I join?" she asked, obviously referring to playing with dolls.

"Take the knight, mom." Visenya replied happily and handed her mother the appropriate doll.

My little princess...

* * *

The servants told her that she would find her father in the gardens, that that was where he wished to eat dinner. In her pants pocket she had a handkerchief she had made for him. While walking through the gardens, she even saw him from a distance, sitting with his sons and the Queen. It's great that someone told them about the family dinner...

She noticed Halaena, who was the only one not sitting at the table, but somewhere outside the blanket on the grass, looking for something in it. She decided that before she went to her father she would see how her eleven-year-old sister was doing.

"What are you looking for?" she knelt down on the grass next to her. Now she could see more clearly how the girl was spreading the blades of grass and looking for something among them.

"The beetle escaped." she replied. "I knew not to go out to the gardens..."

"Maybe I can help you look for it? What did it look like?" she asked, starting to search the grass for the beetle, although she didn't expect to find it. She couldn't watch Halaena sitting alone and no one taking care of her. Since she became a mother herself, she didn't understand how Alicent could not approach her child when it was sitting alone, it had some problem...

"The cold is terrible. I'm afraid of it."

Valaerya frowned. At first she didn't understand what was going on, only after a few moments she realized that Halaena meant that she didn't like gardens because of the cold. It still wasn't clear why she was saying something like that now, especially when Val asked her a question, but... That was just how she was. Sometimes she said things that didn't seem to make sense, and she even got frustrated when others didn't understand what she meant.

"It's only cold at night, and that's if you don't dress appropriately." she replied, gently placing her hands on hers to make her stop searching and look at her. "You have nothing to be afraid of, little sister." she smiled at her and raised one hand to her cheek to slightly lift the corner of her mouth and make her smile.

She even succeeded a little, because a gentle smile crept onto Halaena's face.

"Cold is death." she said seriously, squeezing the hand that was resting on hers. "You're so warm..." she added in a whisper, looking into her eyes.

They looked into each other's eyes in silence for a moment, but Val didn't understand what her sister was trying to tell her, because unfortunately she didn't know what she knew.

"So... What did your beetle look like?" she cleared her throat and said it, resting her hand on the girl's shoulder and forcing herself to smile and push the strange, disturbing thoughts to the back of her mind.

"Princess Valaerya." she heard a voice behind her that was so familiar to her and that she didn't like. She sighed softly and rose from the ground, turning to Alicent.

"My Queen." she said casually, but smiled sweetly. "Seeing my little sister sitting alone, I thought that someone should take care of her." she explained, already knowing what Alicent was probably meaning.

That I dare to spend time with my sister.

"And what makes you think it should be you?"

"We're all family, aren't we?" she answered with a question, and then took a step closer to Alicent, no longer trying to keep a smile on her face. "And we all care about each other very much, don't we? Just like every family should." she added, much more quietly.

"The house of the dragon remains strong, as it has been for the last hundred years." Alicent said in response, forcing herself to smile softly.

Alicent was hard to figure out. Valaerya didn't know how she should treat her, was she her enemy? On the one hand, she didn't like that she had come and sat with Halaena, and on the other, she was now saying something like she was trying to identify with her family. It was as if she was torn between two families and didn't know who she should stay with: her father on the one side, and her husband and children on the other.

And Rhaenyra... Since her friendship with Alicent ended, sisters became closer to each other. She didn't know what the relationship between the heiress and the Queen was like now, but she could guess that it wasn't rosy.

On the one hand, she felt sorry for Alicent. She must have felt lonely here, especially since her father stopped being Hand. She had children, but it didn't seem like she was close to them. Val even would dare to say that her half-siblings were closer to her or random servants than to their own mother.

She was forced to marry my father... Surely she doesn't love him, but her children? Or maybe she doesn't know how to show it?

But on the other hand... She was only her stepmother, and Otto certainly had some bigger plans, he is the type of man who never gives up and always has some idea of ​​how to take advantage of the situation. He may be far away and without so much power at the moment, but they shouldn't underestimate him. Who knows if he plans to put his own blood on the throne? Some people never have enough...

"And it will stay stron for another hundred." Valaerya replied and reached out to grab Alicent's hand, but she quickly withdrew it. Val didn't expect this and froze with her hand halfway. She wanted to show her some support, not give her any reason to be enemies, to make her more sided with the Targaryens... And she cut it off so quickly. "Your Grace."

She curtsied slightly without taking her eyes off her and walked away, heading towards her father. As long as he is alive they are safe, it will be worse after he dies... She doesn't even want to think about it, she remembered the pain of losing her mother... And besides, will the Lords keep their oaths to Rhaenyra? Will Otto Hightower not want to put his grandson on the throne? What if war breaks out?

"Valaerya, my daughter." she abandoned these thoughts when she heard her father. She immediately smiled and curtsied slightly before taking a seat at the table next to him. "I was hoping we could all eat dinner together."

We would have eaten it together if someone had informed me or Daemon that it would take place in the garden today...

"Visenya wanted to play more, and you know how she is: you can't say no to her. Daemon and I lost track of time, I'm sorry." she excused themselves from it, hiding the fact that no one had told them anything. She had already seen that it hurt her father to see his family divided, so she didn't want to add to his sadness, especially since he was still sick.

"She's pretty as a flower. Like her mother." she smiled at these words, slowly taking the handkerchief out of her pocket, but not showing it to him yet.

"But she has as much energy as a dragon and can be as stubborn as a donkey."

"Just like her mother, too." they both laughed. "When you and Rhaenyra were little, I've heard many times from Aemma how energetic you are and how much you can stand your ground. I only realized this when I was playing with you alone, without her around." she looked down at the memory of her mother. Over time, it didn't hurt so much anymore, but she was always sad that she would never see her again, hug her, or hear her voice. "I still miss her too." he added quietly, placing his hand on her shoulder and squeezing it gently.

He too had to suffer after her death, even if... He was the reason of it. Although after so many years she approached it all, what she saw, a little differently. Choosing between wife and child. The wife will die anyway, since she can't give birth to a child, and at least one of them can be saved... But she should have known about it. She shouldn't have died in fear, not knowing what was happening. It should have been her choice.

"I..." she trailed off. She couldn't say 'I understand', which was probably what he wanted to hear from her ever since it happened. From her and her sister. But she couldn't say it, she couldn't relieve him. "I did something for you. Maybe... Maybe it will fit your model of Old Valyria..." she handed him the folded handkerchief. Viserys removed his hand from her arm and took the gift from her, spreading it out in front of him. "It's Balerion." she added, referring to the embroidered black dragon.

"It's perfect, it will fit." he said, after briefly examining the embroidered dragon. He smiled broadly, clearly surprised and moved by his daughter's gift. "The last dragon who remembered Valyria... He will take a place of honor on the tallest building." "Father..." she began hesitantly, looking for a moment towards Alicent, who was now crouching next to Halaena. "...I have a request for you." She turned her gaze back to Viserys. "It's about the Queen."

~

-> Chapter XIII -> general masterlist -> Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon masterlist

tags: @marihoneywk @watercolorskyy

[talesofesther]

𝔈𝔠𝔥𝔬𝔢𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔞 𝔉𝔩𝔞𝔪𝔢

↳ 𝐂𝐡 𝐭𝐰𝐨: 𝐀 𝐭𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬

Aemond Targaryen x Reader/fem!OC

Series Summary: You made a promise to Aemond once, when you were young and naive, and the only friend he'd ever known; yet you abandoned him before you could fulfill it. Between broken bonds, a betrothal, and flames that still burn deep within you; this is the story of how you fell apart and found each other again.

A/N: This chapter is a little event-heavy at parts, I hope it's not boring, but all is essential to the plot. <3

Word count: 4,9k

Masterlist | Previous chapter

There would be a supper.

The whole family united once again at the Red Keep, Viserys had said; had wished.

You, along with Helaena, Baela, and Rhaena decided to get ready together. Helaena had been a good friend to you during your stay at the Keep when you were younger, and she, unlike Aemond, had been overjoyed with your return; welcoming you with a tight hug and wide smile.

Now, you stood before the tall mirror in the princess' private quarters, slowly twirling in your heels as you held the fabric of the black and gold dress she'd given you.

"Oh, you look divine, it suits you brilliantly," Helaena exclaimed, softly clapping her hands together. She came to stand behind you, clasping a golden necklace around your neck. A finishing touch, as she'd said earlier.

"Are you sure?" You asked timidly, glancing between Helaena and your sisters who sat on her bed waiting for you.

Baela nodded, a smirk stretching her lips, "It's beautiful, sister, dare I say that perhaps you should indulge in gowns and dresses more often." Her tone was playful, she knew you better than that already.

You scoffed halfheartedly, looking down at yourself and the rich dress you wore—intricate golden details were sewn into the dark fabric, the skirt wasn't bulky but it was long enough to prompt you to take care of where you'd be stepping. "I can only imagine trying to ride with something like this."

"Maybe if you spent less time on dragonback and more time being a proper lady you wouldn't have to wonder," Baela teased, raising a brow at you and holding back a chuckle.

Your cheeks warmed up, it was true that more often than not you favored the company of your dragon over other people; finding an easeness to being yourself when her fiery gaze held nothing but devotion for you. Yet you narrowed your eyes at your sister, "And you set a fine example, do you, sister?"

Baela simply shrugged, falling into a fit of giggles shortly after. You, Helaena, and Rhaena couldn't help but join in, as the last rays of sunlight seeped through the thin curtains.

─── ⋄✧⋄ ───

The arrangements for the supper started being made as soon as the sun vanished on the horizon, a large table set with the finest of feasts, illuminated by several candlelights and torches as the maids brought forth tray after tray of fruits, meat, bread, and wine. A small group of musicians even stood at one corner of the room to provide entertainment.

As the King wished, the whole family was indeed present. You and the girls were the last to walk in before Viserys arrived. Baela and Rhaena kept on towards their seats beside Jace and Luke respectively, while you hung back when Helaena tugged at your hand.

You turned to the Princess then, taking hold of her other hand as well. From the corner of your eyes, past the table and the figure of Aegon, you caught a glance of Aemond; his brother spoke with him but he didn't appear to be listening as his eye met yours. He looked at you rather unabashedly, a barely there smile hinting at the corner of his lips as he gave you a curt nod in greeting.

"Tell me you'll be staying."

Halaena's voice captured your attention again before you could react to Aemond, and your gaze fell back onto her.

She squeezed your hands, "For a while, at least," she smiled, a little shy but genuine, "I could use the company."

"I-" You hesitated, unsure if it was even up to you to decide. You settled for giving her what you hoped was a reassuring smile in turn, "I can certainly try to."

It seemed to be enough to lift her spirits, as she let go of your hands to walk toward her seat at one side of the large table, while you headed for the other, closer to your father.

Viserys finally arrived, his chair being carried by four guards as it would be too much effort for him to walk. Everyone stood up, out of respect for their King, father, grandsire, and uncle. The silence was held in the warmly lit room until he was in place beside Queen Alicent.

One of the nearby guards pulled a chair out for you when everyone sat down again and you thanked him with a nod and a smile. You were sitting at one end of the table, just beside Rhaenyra and your father, and Aemond happened to sit at the opposite end, looking directly in your direction.

You refrained from meeting his stare again, part of you could feel the tension lying heavily in the air and, amidst so many other people, you found it best to ignore and avoid questioning and curious glances. Instead, you noticed Rhaenyra looking at you, one hand resting atop her pregnant belly and the other holding her chalice of wine, a gentle smile on her features. "You look lovely, darling."

Glancing down at your hands in timidness, you mimicked her smile; "Thank you, you do as well."

Much like Laena before her, Rhaenyra had always been kind to you. When Rhaenys had taken Baela to ward on Driftmark, Rhaenyra had subconsciously done the same to you, she'd treated and educated you as her own; While Daemon taught you how to handle a sword, she'd shown you everything she'd learned as a young princess at the royal court, as well as lessons in High Valyrian—which you caught on pretty quickly and had the time of your life rubbing on Jace's face, dropping random lines in the old language only to watch him roll his eyes halfheartedly.

Daemon would usually try to hide a smile whenever he caught you and Rhaenyra together, just as he is now.

"How good it is, to see you all tonight," Viserys spoke slowly, his voice tired and taking much effort off him, drawing everyone's attention, "Together."

Alicent suggested a prayer before eating, and so you drew your hands together atop the table and closed your eyes. While she spoke you felt the familiar weight of Aemond's gaze on you; the waters were still murky between you and him, and despite having already exchanged a few words, you still didn't have a single clue of where you stood with each other. Things still felt… strange and out of place, the invisible wall dividing you stood ever so high.

Viserys then proceeded to raise a toast to both Jace and Luke, and their betrothed Baela and Rhaena; with a special mention to Luke being the future Lord of the Tides.

You raised your cup along with everyone else, a small smile hanging on your lips as you inclined it towards Luke before taking a sip; stealing a smile from the young boy in return.

With a tap of his cane on the floor, the King stood up from his seat, albeit with slow and unsteady movements as his body barely supported his weight anymore. "It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow, to see these faces around the table," Viserys spoke, taking a steadying breath between each word as he looked around at every member of his family. "The faces most dear to me in all the world, yet grown so distant from each other in the years past."

At the other end of the table, Aemond's heart bled at the last of his father's words. He clenched his jaw, eye remaining downcast, and observed the gentle flickering of the candlelights atop the table. He refused to look up again as he knew he'd get trapped by how the golden light of the fires highlighted the outlines of your face, as you offered that kind smile of yours ever so freely to the very people who'd once hurt him.

The one-eyed prince wanted to be angry at you, to say he didn't care whether you now favored Rhaenyra's bastards over him. But a more stinging feeling decided to take hold of his heart, and he felt bitter and hurt with envy… and longing.

Viserys then removed his golden half-mask, exposing his decaying face. "My own face… is no longer a handsome one," he jested with a bittersweet grin, "If indeed it ever was. But tonight, I wish you to see me as I am." The King gestured at himself, his voice holding as much conviction as he could muster, "Not just a King, but your father. Your brother. Your husband. And your grandsire. Who may not, it seems, walk for much longer among you."

The room held the silence for a moment, everyone feeling the grim reality hang heavy in the air. Aemond chanced a glance up then, only to find your eyes already on him. The prince gulped, closing his hand into a fist as he held your gaze; gentle, welcoming, caring. For someone who had abandoned him, you still insisted on looking at him with unbridled sympathy.

"Let us no longer hold ill feelings in our hearts," The King insisted, "The crown cannot stay strong if the House of the Dragon remains divided. My firstborn, Rhaenyra, will assume the throne once I'm gone, and I wish her rule to be as peaceful as mine. With her family stood by her side." Viserys weakly hit the table to accentuate his point, looking around himself as everyone remained quiet yet with attention trained on him.

"So set aside your grievances." Around the table people from both sides of the family looked at each other, the unspoken tension still present, anyone would be able to see it. "If not for the sake of the crown, then for the sake of this old man... Who loves you all, so dearly." Viserys finished at last, falling back onto his chair as the exertion of speaking took its toll.

Rhaenyra was the first to raise her cup, in a toast to Queen Alicent, who in turn, raised her own cup to the Princess. Both seemingly rather committed to acquiescing to the King's wishes for peace and unison.

Their sons, however, had diverging ideas.

Aegon had been having quite the fun teasing Jace about his new betrothal, and you nearly choked on your wine when the Velaryon boy suddenly slammed his fists on the table, standing up. You glared at him as you set down your chalice, even if he wasn't looking at you.

At the other end of the table, Aemond slowly got up from his chair as well, keeping quiet yet with a narrowed, nearly taunting eye. You brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of your nose, entirely fed up with the boys' antics.

With a tight smile and a voice bordering on sarcastic, Jace raised his cup; "To Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond, we have not seen each other in years," he glanced in your direction for a moment, yet you couldn't read what his look meant, "But I have fond memories of our shared youth. And as men, I hope we can yet be friends and allies. To you and your families good health, dear uncles." Bringing his cup to his lips, Jace finished his toast with a teasing grin.

You played along, bringing your chalice back to your lips as well to hide a chuckle. Eyes ahead, you held Aemond's gaze while you took a slow sip, watching as he settled back in his chair. Candlelight burned within his pupil, there was a barely there sway to his lips as he took a sip of his drink as well.

"I would like to toast Baela and Rhaena," Helaena started, getting up and holding her cup as she turned to your corner of the table. "They'll be married soon. It isn't so bad, mostly he just ignores you," she spoke, tone soft despite the lamentable words, "Except sometimes when he's drunk."

You shot her a sympathetic smile when she finished, and when she saw you, Helaena quickly added; "And to my good friend," she spoke your name with fondness, "Whom I've missed dearly, and hope to share more days together, before she leaves again."

"I hope so too," you mouthed to her with an even bigger smile, raising your cup high before bringing it to your lips again. The wine burned down your throat in a mix of bitter and sweet, and you turned to Aemond out of instinct, only to find him pointedly avoiding your eyes this time around; his head angled away from you and towards the band at the corner, his blind side now turned to you, eyepatch over the scar that brought telltales of a tightness to your throat and made you gulp down another sip of wine.

A cheerful melody began as the musicians played their instruments. At last, supper proceeded without interruptions; Jace invited Helaena for a dance, many more food trays were brought forth, and your family was happy, laughing and talking and being together as if this had been your normal for the past several years.

Yet for you, there was a gaping wound that was Aemond's absence, a doleful sentiment in your heart at the clear distance that still lingered. He still refused to look in your direction, instead keeping his eye focused on Jace and Helaena as they swirled together. You watched his fingers tap the table rhythmically, posture ever so straight with his hair falling neatly over his shoulders. It felt wrong to be at the Keep and not have him by your side.

You were in the middle of pushing food around your plate with your fork when you heard Luke quietly chuckling beside you; once, twice, and a little louder. The boy had what seemed to be a rather mocking smile on his lips as you glanced at him, with your brows furrowed in mild confusion.

Aemond abruptly slammed his fist on the table, causing you to startle and snap your head forward. The music stopped, and the one-eyed Prince raised to his feet, holding his cup high. "Final tribute," he spoke rather calmly.

Silence lingered in the room, and you could feel tension and apprehension coming back into the air as everyone waited with bathed breath. You glanced around yourself, sitting straighter, but ultimately your attention landed back on Aemond.

He held your gaze for a moment, and he had a smug tilt to his lips but the glint in his eye you couldn't decipher. "To the health of my nephews," Aemond continued steadily, "Jace, Luke, and Joffrey. Each of them handsome, wise…"

There was a pause. With trouble a wrong word away, you knew. You furrowed your brows, shaking your head to Aemond almost imperceptively. He looked away from you then, focusing instead on Luke, who sat beside you.

The one-eyed Prince hummed, and grinned. "… Strong."

"Fuck," you cursed under your breath, feeling the weight in the air pressing down on your chest.

"Come," Aemond chipped, his smile widening and cup still raised high. "Let us drain our cups to these three… Strong boys."

"I dare you to say that again." Jace challenged in the same heartbeat, having stopped his dance with Helaena, his chin raised high and fists already clenched.

"Why?" Aemond turned to him, standing just as tall, "It was only a compliment." He walked towards the older Velaryon boy, a cocky stance and self-satisfied grin betraying his words. "Do you not think yourself strong?"

Aemond had barely said the rest of his words when Jace's fist collided with his cheek in a firm punch, forcing the Prince's head roughly to one side, his long hair flying with the motion yet none of his wine was spilled.

And so the brewing tension tipped over the edge.

Both you and Luke abruptly raised from your seats, chairs loudly scratching the floors. Luke barely managed to take a single step before Aegon unceremoniously pushed him face down onto the table, plates clattering with the disturbance.

Someone screamed; "That is enough!" Yet you couldn't really figure out who, as you hurriedly rounded the table. Why, you weren't exactly sure, but your heart was pounding.

Aemond easily shoved Jace to the ground, turning away with a chuckle falling past his lips as the guards proceeded to hold Jace from fighting back.

Everyone was standing up from their seats, some faster than others. Your father had a bored look on his features while Alicent and Rhaenyra seemed quite alarmed with the small fight unfolding amidst their family yet again, right after the King had begged for peace.

You stood frozen to the stone floor, breath hitching until there was a distant sting in your lungs. You couldn't help but think if both sides of the family were fated to be forever apart. And if you and Aemond were to share the same destiny.

"I was merely expressing how proud I am of my family, mother," Aemond explained without an ounce of shame when Alicent grasped at his arm—as mothers do with misbehaving children, you couldn't help but think.

A low hum fell past Aemond's lips again and he pried his arm free from Alicent's hold, in favor of taking a few steps closer to Jace, bordering on provocative; "Though it seems my nephews aren't quite as proud of theirs."

Jace shook himself free from the guards who had been holding him back. He dashed for Aemond with reckless abandon, a furious expression on his features.

And you… suddenly all you saw was your best friend, blood on his lips and face held together by fresh stitches—doomed with a fate you'd die before allowing to happen again. There was a flame pulsing through your veins, it spurred your feet forward before you even had time to think.

You reached Aemond at the same time Jace did, and you came to a stop between them, one hand flat against Jace's chest, keeping him in place. You stood between them, unafraid, with a fury in your eyes—the same one people kept saying you'd taken after your father.

Seconds of silence trickled by ever so slowly, like drops of the thickest blood. Everyone's eyes were on you yet for the first time you paid no mind to it, narrowing your eyes and glaring through your lashes, you held your ground. Jace clenched his jaw and huffed through his nose, his eyes a mix of confusion and anger.

You could feel Aemond's stare on your back as well, yet you couldn't have a single clue what he was thinking, you only knew it was heavy and insistent. You couldn't know how the one-eyed Prince's heart started thundering inside his ribcage; or how any and all thoughts of striking up trouble had vanished like smoke in the wind when you stepped in front of him, when yours was the hand that stopped the Velaryon boy from attempting to harm him.

"That is enough, Jace," You spoke with a finality that left no room for argument or challenge, leveling Jace down with a step forward, which forced him to take one back and away from Aemond. "We are here to make amends, not make things worse." Lowering your voice, you tried reasoning.

Jace scoffed indignantly at you, he seemed to have other words on his tongue but decided to bite them back. Instead looking at you with a scowl on his face; "You tell him that", he nodded toward Aemond, who stood behind you with a small yet proud smile.

"Go to your quarters. All of you, go. Now," Rhaenyra finally intervened as she and Daemon approached you, shifting a warning glare between Jace and Luke.

The young Princes hesitated, the oldest still holding a staring contest with Aemond. Yet when you refused to move aside he relented to his mother's orders and followed his brother, as well as Baela and Rhaena, to their quarters.

A shaky exhale passed through your lips when, slowly, the adrenaline left your body. Your shoulders slumped and you closed your eyes briefly, hearing nothing but the crackling of the burning torches on the walls and a few distant steps as your family left the room—supper most certainly over now, even if half the meals on the table were barely touched.

Aemond's presence was warm and persistent behind you; you could feel how he had come closer, breath almost fanning over your neck, but you didn't dare turn around. Instead raising your eyes to meet your father's gaze.

Daemon had both hands resting on the hilt of his sword. He regarded you with amusement, if nothing else. One corner of his lips turned upwards. You watched as his gaze drifted up and behind you, his expression hardening the slightest bit in what looked a lot like a warning, before he too slowly turned around and left the room.

You couldn't know if your father's silence meant something good or bad, but right now you couldn't dwell on it. Aemond took a step around you at last, his eye remaining downcast, yet a shiver ran up and down your spine when, as he walked past you, his hand brushed yours.

You kept your eyes trained on him as he slowly walked away, turning right and taking the path to a secluded hallway. After a few seconds of debating, you followed.

─── ⋄✧⋄ ───

Aemond's steps were not hurried, moonlight coming through the tall windows of the lone hallway created a silhouette of his shadow as he wandered. Waiting for something, someone. With hands loosely held behind his back and silver hair almost shining under the soft light, he seemed… serene.

Yet the Prince was anything but, his eye was hazy and unfocused whilst his mind drifted. It had taken him off-guard, how you stood between him and Jacaerys, one hand firmly holding the bastard back; and if Aemond didn't know better, he'd dare say there had been a protective aura to your presence then, undeniable and unwavering, as you shielded him—the mere thought of it left Aemond lightheaded as his heart picked up pace, and he decided it'd perhaps be too dangerous to indulge.

But you had taken his side, nonetheless. Against his own volition, Aemond found himself smiling.

"Had you been looking for opportunities to ruin supper?"

The familiar sound of the one voice Aemond had missed so dearly, for so many years, made him halt his steps. He kept his back to you, only turning his head to glance over his shoulder. He hummed, keeping his voice steady and neutral. "I don't know what you speak of, my words were innocent and true."

The low sound of your chuckle graced Aemond's ears, and he held onto his breath as you came closer. His eye tracked your movements, you circled him with your gaze down and the light of the moon shaping your grin, until you reached the stone walls beside him and leaned back in front of the tall windows.

Caught in your orbit, Aemond was drawn to you, taking one and then two steps after you; he stood before the moonlight and before you. He kept his distance yet never strayed far, trapped between two halves of his heart; one naive and bleeding with longing, and the other broken and still abandoned.

"Oh," You breathed, a glimpse of your teeth showing with your grin, the apples of your cheeks highlighted by the silver haze of the moon. "As innocent as a maiden."

"The night had been much too dull for my tastes, my lady. Wouldn't you agree?" Aemond raised a brow at you, fighting a grin of his own.

"Perhaps I would, had you not taken away my chance of toasting you and your remarkable sense of decorum." The smile on your lips gets a little loose having Aemond so close again, "Or lack thereof," you teased; he seemed oblivious to the warmth you felt.

Aemond clicked his tongue, glancing away and then back at you, "Shall I grab us two cups of wine then? Aegon tells me I should drink more anyway." If the light of the moon weren't so silver and bright, you would've seen the pink dusting his cheeks ever so lightly.

Another chuckle escaped you and Aemond almost joined you. And for a small moment in time, it was easy. For a moment, you were both eleven again, young and carefree and laughing together. Always together.

But the cold wind of reality seeped through the open windows.

"Se dārys eptan syt lyks," You spoke, becoming quieter and more careful as your smile dropped a little and your gaze raised in hopes of finding his. ('The King wishes for peace.')

Aemond pursed his lips, blinking once, twice, and you wondered if he felt it too. He took you in with a guarded stare, hesitating, until; "iksis bona skoro syt ao iōrtan rȳ nyke se nādrēsy?" His voice was tight yet devoid of much sentiment. ('Is that why you stepped between me and the bastard?')

You lowered your head with a sigh, avoiding his eye again and focusing instead on the ends of his long hair and how the silver strands contrasted with his Targaryen blacks. "Don't call him that," you mumbled.

"Why?" Aemond inquired in the same heartbeat, a little louder and urgent, "Because you've grown so fond of them over the years you've-" He choked on his own words, unable to speak them out loud as he felt the heartache inside his chest and around his throat eat him alive.

"Aemond." And oh, the sound of his name in your voice could make him crumble. You spoke it all soft and tender, and Aemond didn't know his name could be uttered with such devotion. You spoke as if you cared, as if you had never left. It felt like a cruel kiss over his gaping wounds.

You pushed yourself off the wall you were leaning against, one hand slowly wanting to reach for him. "I could never forgive them for what they did to you, but they are… family now."

But Aemond took a step away, straightening his posture and clearing his throat. The one-eyed Prince strived to keep his face devoid of any emotion, even if it was nearly impossible as a sharp pain started from the depths of his skull and eventually surrounded his scar—he knew a pounding headache would soon follow too, as it always did.

"Why did you do it?" Aemond mumbled, voice stiff.

You regarded him with an unreadable look for several moments, and then; "I don't know." You spoke in an almost unheard breath.

It felt as if a dragon stood in the lone hallway with you, threatening to burn both you and him; the heat of its flames looming in the corners since the first time you saw each other again. With your heart in your mouth, you asked what perhaps both of you had been avoiding until now.

"You stopped sending me letters, why?"

It caught him off guard, you saw it in the way Aemond turned his head from you with a grimace, his jaw tight. "It became pointless... after such a long time. Did it not?" He looked at you again only after he spoke, there was something accusatory in his eye; or that's what he wanted you to see.

You mulled over the words, and something akin to boldness—or desperation—urged you to take a step closer to him. "Aemond, our time apart," your lips hung open and you fidgeted with the fabric of your dress, "I never meant for it. It was never my intention to stay away for so long." You promised, looking Aemond in the eye after seven years of only ever seeing him in your memories and dreams.

Aemond's face did something complicated, like he was sorting through how he should feel about this. His brows scrunched and you could hear his breath catching as he stood unmoving.

"My father… he thought it best that I didn't leave Dragonstone on my own." You ran your tongue over your dry lips, "And I… didn't fight him." The last of your words were spoken with a defeated sigh, loaded with regret.

"I could have gone to you," Aemond uttered, almost whimpered. The corner of his lips raised in a half smile that held nothing but pain as his eye pooled with unshed tears that blurred your silhouette. "Had you only asked."

Both of you hung by a thread under the weight of how much you'd missed each other, how much you wished for nothing more than to fall into a forever embrace; and yet, none of you felt entitled to it. You were finally within arm's length of each other again, yet it felt like you'd never been further apart.

"Perhaps I should have," you whispered to him, and it felt a lot like a loss, of something you'd only just found again.

For a moment you and Aemond held each other's gazes, both filled with tears of sorrow and longing; and even so, both reaching the mutual agreement that something had been lost.

Time.

The time lost couldn't be returned, the distance still lingered, and rebuilding would take time and care.

Aemond still believed you'd stopped caring for him, sometime during those seven years. An evil part of his heart sometimes whispered to him that you never did care, that you were like the others, and he feared that perhaps the only friend he knew wasn't even his to lose.

And you now believed that Aemond held only resentment toward you, that your connection had been forever stained; and you couldn't help but feel guilty for it, for not fighting harder to come back to him.

If only you and he knew the depth of the love you still felt for each other, things would be ever simpler.

⋆* ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

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[damneddamsy]

renegade | aemond targaryen x oc (part v)

-> (18+, sexual themes, mdni)

Celebratory feasts with the royalty had always been nasty business. Like all the others before, the temper of the sons intermixed with the impulsivity of the daughters, would be documented in blood and destruction. This particularly small gathering of families was one hosted to commemorate the union of Prince Aemond and Princess Aemma, improvised quite similar to their secret wedding. It wasn't short of inordinate food and drink, the table replenished to make up for the wedding feast that never occurred.

Aemma was a mire of misery, plagued with a terrible headache as a result of insomnia, and barely focused on the brewing consternation between the families. The Hightowers had sharpened their aims on her. Aemond, on the furthest end of the table, had crises of his to take notice.

Halaena did; she squeezed Aemma's thigh to get her attention. "You're too fragile. Retire for the night."

Aemma bared an appreciative smile and laid her hand atop Helaena's. "Thank you, Hel, but it would be impolite. Especially with the grandsire in attendance."

A weakened King Viserys raised his shivering glass in a toast, his words an effortful rasp. The room quietened to heed his word.

"A toast to a true Targaryen wedding in secrecy, my good Hand tells me. My son, Prince Aemond, to my granddaughter... Aemma." Her name was a pained whisper. "As spirited as the woman she was named after. Congratulations."

The table lifted their glasses with mumbles of half-hearted 'congratulations'. Jace and Luke remained frozen, staring daggers into their plates. It was Daemon who exclaimed a loud 'hear, hear!' for everyone else. Aemma sent him a grateful smile.

Aemond offered up the slightest of nods and sipped from his glass, finally glancing at Aemma. Awareness flickered in his eyes when he saw the way she restlessly cupped her neck. They were seated too far apart for him to reach across and comfort her.

Aemma, upon her turn, dutifully flourished a convincing smile. Her voice came out clearer than she expected. "Your blessing warms our hearts, Your Grace. We are much obliged," she said on behalf of her and Aemond.

"Yes," the king breathed heavily, "let us hope your union will bridge the rift in the House of the Dragon."

Aemond cleared his throat and carelessly raised his glass, heedless of the fact that the king was yet to conclude his toast. Aemma watched him, curious rather than shocked.

"I'd like to raise a toast," he announced then met her gaze. "To my sworn friend, now wife. Aemma, I'd relinquish life itself for your ideals. Perhaps it is only an appropriate time to inform everyone that in nine days, my wife and I are to voyage across the Narrow Sea and start a new life on our own."

Daemon was the first to react. He downed his whole cup. Then it was a rush of brief, confused reactions. Alicent had settled back on her chair, gritting her teeth. Rhaenyra was speechless, watching Aemma's face guardedly. When she was presented with a favourable joy, she returned a little smile. Jace and Luke were intently eyeing their mother's response in disbelief. Aegon, somewhat proud of the iron balls on his little brother, sipped his glass silently. Helaena listlessly played with her spoon.

"Unexpected," the king sighed, almost pained.

"And what of yours and the princess' commitments to the realm?" Otto regarded, the most conscientious on his part.

Aemond was anything but contrite. "Find another second prince to finesse and another princess to breed."

"Aemond," Alicent cautioned. "That sort of talk is unfit for—"

"Our decision is final," he mentioned, loud enough to suppress his mother's voice. "The plans have been laid, pacts have been struck. My wife has but one condition—to seek her mother and His Grace's blessing on our safe travels."

The king gasped out, nodding through a tremor. "Aemma."

Aemma leaned toward him with an accepting bow of her head. "Grandsire."

"I see... no reason to restrict this decision. Does your mother, your future queen, agree to this?"

Aemma expectantly glanced at Rhaenyra whose expression remained unsullied. She had asked for so much from her mother, this seemed like a steep ask. To be apart from her for who knows how long. But her mother had promised her once to allow her to follow her heart and live as she pleased. She only hoped the princess remembered her oath.

"Prince Aemond," Rhaenyra called instead, flitting her prudent eyes to him. "This is all rather sudden. I have to ask: why the hurry?"

Aemond simply stared back. "I dislike idling."

"I can understand the haste in taking my daughter to wife. I will accredit it to the thrills of youth and passion. But this," she tapped her finger lightly on the table and tilted her head, "this seems like subterfuge. A dire one. Do you mean to stymie my heir's ascent to the throne under the veil of expedition?"

Jace made a scoffing noise out of his nose, smirking to himself. His mother had finally struck gold.

Aemond's jaw flexed. "'The basest of accusations."

"Still a conceivable one."

Aemma interfered, pressing down on the bridge of her nose, attempting to restrain an explosive headache. "Might I suggest we confer this in private? This is a festive gathering, certainly no place to—"

"No, Aemma. I must speak this for all to hear. They all question our precocity to accomplish this," Aemond said through his teeth then glanced back at her mother. "I swear this to you upon my devout esteem for your daughter. If she is ever to be installed as heir and the time of her reign arrives, I will ensure she acts in good conscience. I will stand with her, queen or not."

Rhaenyra's unblinking stare outmatched Aemond's, who had to look away to attend to Aemma's exclaim.

"You owe no explanations," Aemma said to Aemond, bewildered. Then she addressed the table, her tolerance slipping. "This is not a court session. There is no justice to be offered. All we ask is support. Support from our families, do you not understand?"

"You ask us to offer support in making yourself scarce from orders of the court?" Alicent finally spoke up, her tone adamant. "As prince and princess of the realm, your regiment is necessary to the throne. Abscond all you wish, your place remains here."

"Then we will abdicate," Aemond declared abruptly.

"Aemond, please," Aemma tried to calm him.

"Are you mad?" Rhaenyra hawked at him, grated to a passive growl. "Surrender my daughter's birthright!"

"Cease this insolence," Otto shouted at all of them.

His Grace bashed his staff to the ground to silence the table. "Again with the dissension! One night of..."

The sounds were tuned out, and Aemma rested an elbow on the table and stroked her forehead. The discomfort was almost unbearable now. Her stomach rolled and the world shifted beneath her.

She felt a cold hand on her cheek followed by Helaena's quiet voice. "Come. Let us leave now."

Aemma didn't even have the strength to nod or thank her. As she wobbled to her feet, with Helaena's hand secure around her forearm, in their periphery, Daemon and Aemond's chair dragged out in unison.

"Send for a maester," Aemond commanded first.

Daemon had halfway crossed the floor to Aemma. "Allow me."

"I'll take her," Helaena cautiously declared to all, her voice final. She repeated it to herself while their audience drew in a breath. "I'll take her."

X

It was Princess Helaena who forbade anyone from entering the princess' chambers that night and the day after, except for the maester with his concoctions and the servants with their timely meals. The timid princess proved to be as inflexible as her brother and Her Grace when need be. Even Princess Rhaenyra stepped aside to her orders.

No one heard or knew what occurred during those hours between the two princesses, but it was said to be the last moments of respite that they would share as the eldest daughters of two distraught bloodlines. There was a time when Princess Helaena's daughter, Jahaera, had joined them inside, hanging in the air as a sweet reminder of their childhood.

Prince Aemond, increasingly aggravated, patrolled his wife's doors to receive his sister the next night, ready to make an entrance inside. He would not have any more of this detachment.

Helaena placed a restrictive hand on his shoulder. "She needs to rest."

He desperately tried to see between the cracks in the heavy doors. "What is the meaning of this, sister? It has been a day. I'm being driven to the edge."

"It seems that it has been days since our Aemma has had a proper night's rest," she divulged, leading him across the door towards the balcony that opened into the sprawling floors of the Holdfast. "Everything has transpired so quickly. Unbeknownst to her, anxiety plagues her mind. I can share her worries a bit."

Aemond swallowed hard. "Of our journey?"

"No. Of that both of us are confident," Helaena murmured, her mind miles away. "It's her brothers. Caught in the crossfire. You know how that feels."

Immediate anger spiked in him. "Mad cunts," he hissed. "You'd think I've degraded their sister, the way they see it."

"Take yourselves and leave in peace," she said, preoccupied with her thoughts. She finally looked at him, her eyes beseeching. "Don't stop, no matter how much it entices you to stay. We have given this malice to more."

"Helaena." It was strange for him to say his sister's name, almost a gentle consolation. He knew of his sister's mind and her vulnerabilities in marriage. "You're the only family I'll be leaving behind."

She flashed him a smile. "Strangely, I believe that. There lies greatness ahead of you, little brother. And my life is here; in beasts and bone." She tilted her head to Aemma's door. "Go and see. Try not to wake her."

Her room reeked of the stables as he silently entered, so different from the tasteful lavender Aemond had come to crave, and surely enough, Seasmoke the direwolf was loyally relaxed at the foot of the bed. His sister must've brought him in secretly to put Aemma's mind at rest with an old companion. Aemond scratched the whining wolf's ears, who skipped off the carpet to rub at his waist for some praise. He had once been clueless about accepting attachment from a beast other than his dragon, but Seasmoke had grown on him.

"Good boy, Seasmoke. Sȳrī gaomagon," Aemond appreciated in a whisper. At least the beast had provided some semblance of comfort in his name. (Well done.)

"Demās, lykirī," he instructed. Seasmoke complied, perching back on his hind legs. (Sit, calm down.)

Seasmoke had become impressive, both in height, speed and strength. During their years in the Keep, Aemma and Aemond raised the wolf to be a loyal friend, their living toy of sorts. After Aemma departed and bestowed him to Aemond, he trained a vicious watchdog out of the animal, under the request of the Kingsguard, a fearsome hound that would stand for battle as a dragon. Now that Aemma had returned, Seasmoke must've regressed to what he had once been, what he truly was, just meant to comfort a lonely soul.

Behind them, Aemma slumbered calmly, hiding her eyes away from him. Merely some years ago he had laid beside her, on an evening like this, neither of them mortally wounded, vowing to write to each other every day, sharing a relentless embrace.

Tempted to her bare bedside, Aemond undid the buckles to his sword and dagger, and shed his overcoat and shoes, but hesitated with his eyepatch. He inhaled a shaky breath. This girl had persevered against her family for him, she had weathered a storm to wed him; a wayward eye wasn't going to send her screaming. He was determined when he skimmed it over his head and tucked the straps into his pocket.

He pushed the curtains aside and sank in next to her, mindful of her slumber. Aemma appeared just the same as when she was awake, implying that she lacked the deceit in her to conceal her emotions from everyone. What you see is what you get. Guileless, untamed, and real.

Unable to withhold himself, he entwined his fingers between hers, until he could feel their wedding scars unite once again, and brought it to his chest safely. He rolled onto his back and let his vision go black. Nothing weighed him down, held him back, or restricted him. It could've been moments or even hours, he had never felt such leisure. This was what awaited the rest of his life.

X

"So that is the infamous sapphire. Like Symeon Star-Eyes?" Aemma's velvety dulcet woke him.

He snapped his head toward a moonlit Aemma, who was fascinated and well-rested. She lay on her belly, silvery hair mussed from sleep, a pillow under her chest and arms while letting her hand rest with him. She looked like a painting, with the waving curtains behind her and the sky's reflection on her warm skin.

He stroked a finger from her cheek to her chin. "How's your head?"

"Intact," she jested.

"I see."

"Can you?"

He pinched her chin. "So much wit in such a little girl."

She giggled. "Not so little anymore, my friend."

He brought the back of her hand to his lips, hiding a softened grin. He'd forgotten he had written to her about the sapphire in his eye. It was absurd to think this bothered him now.

"You remembered my letter," he said, his voice thick from sleep.

"I remember every letter," she corrected. "My favourite stories of the warrior prince and his vicious dragon." She mimicked the soar of Vhagar's wings with a quiet 'whish'. "Soaring into the clouds. I used to read it and imagine myself instead. Quieted so many of my troubled nights."

He reached out to stroke a hand at her scar. "Because of this."

She dropped her head into the pillow to muffle a groan. "It ruins everything. As if bleeding every moon doesn't suffice, I've to experience an arrow through my head all the time."

He grunted his exertion to lean over and kissed her tousled hair. "You poor lamb."

She sourly jerked her hand out of his. He chuckled at this and pushed a few more kisses into her hair.

"Next moon, I'll have an antidote ready for your use."

She lifted her head, curious. "Since when do you dabble in potions?"

"No potions." He stroked her, all the way from her waist to her insteps. "Me."

She snorted. "What might you do? Vex me to distraction?"

"I have my secret ways."

Swayed by the surreal feel of her underneath him, he began to spread his kisses over the arc of her neck, the wing of her shoulder, down the lune of her spine, all while his sneaking fingers gathered up the soft linen of her nightgown to stroke her even softer thigh. Aemma twisted a little to witness him press a kiss at the dimple between her hips. Grinning, he sloped up to catch her in a kiss, taking her by surprise.

When he felt her thighs clench under his touch, he impatiently pulled away and flipped her on her back until she was all splayed out for him.

"It's about time I peeked at my stakes, hmm?" And then Aemma watched him bend between her legs for said stakes. 

"Aemond," she tried to mutter through the nervous lump in her throat.

"Ssh, my love. Trust in me."

His singular eye was deep-set, way too intense for words while the other glimmered dimly under the candle lights. So, unreadably intense. When she brushed a hand through his hair, he sank his teeth into the soft skin of her inner thigh and pulled. A slow moan came rumbling out of her.

His sinful motives started with his fingers climbing upwards on her thighs, lips following close behind. Her blasted nerves couldn't see him without turning every shade of red, but her audacity was gratefully more persuasive. 

She watched him through parted, gasping lips as he propped her knees on his shoulder, long fingers drawing back the hem of her nightdress until it was bunched around her abdomen. Obscene, she thought as he kissed her, right there, right through the material of her underwear, his tongue giving it a taste. A nice, long taste.

They locked eyes while he still tasted her slowly; delectably. Again, her own tongue went dead and her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

"Fuck," she dragged out a hiss. She palmed her mouth, shocked by the expletive.

Aemma could feel his whispering chuckle—right into her sex—and the sense that his forehead met the bed linen to muffle it.

She bit on her pointer finger, sheepish. "Sorry."

"No, please," he laughed deeply, "I enjoyed that."

Every part of her stiffened when she felt him nudge her again, her hands gripping at his hair. His plush hair, the strength of his nape, and then his flexing jaw. She didn't feel her underwear leaving her, but he was right there, within reach, his hands perching her knees in position. 

"Jaes," he murmured, "just beautiful. All this for me." (Gods.)

She raised her head once again to have a look and instantly wished she hadn't.

"I've dreamed of this..." he drew out in a reverie.

Aemond indulged, sucked, licked, and bit at her like a king on a feast. She moved his rumpled hair out of the way to see him there—slow, soft, loving thrusts into me and his single violet eye half-closed in heady bliss. Just tasting, savouring, remembering. And she felt it at her core, skin prickling up at the sensation. 

She clawed her hands up his hair, giving out the most pretentious cry for more. His hands went from wild to desperate; smoothing the inside of her thighs, sliding under her dress to caress her breasts, brushing up her neck. The noises he was making with his mouth on her; it was an explicit, incessant reminder of something tense. Something that would not stop edging.

She was about as close as 'fuck' is to a vulgarism when he pressured that immaculate, mind-blowing, soaked-up spot. So soft, so searing, so good. She inhaled an inhuman breath, toes flexing in the air as his suck-eat pulsations increased—and the slow climb was the best part. She knew she was coming up onto something wonderful.

She hoped he heard how soundly she was making love to his name for him. "Oh, please. Please, gods—"

She didn't get to finish that. His hand glided across her breasts, and her neck, and curled around it. She let her head hang back when he made the most luxurious sound she had ever heard him give out as he pushed two of his long fingers into her mouth. 

Impulsively, she circled his wrist—there was nothing more than she wanted to be filled. She wanted Aemond everywhere she could physically feel, even mentally if possible, and she made love to his fingers as best she could.

"So fucking good, Aemma," she heard his quiet, hot and heavy growl, muffled with a mouthful of her. "So good..."

The broad, rugged muscles on his shoulder put on a show for her under his shirt, crumpling and rippling, adding to his speeding-up tongue. Another hot flush of red charged up her body.

Then his tongue brought over fellow fingers, and they barely had work cut out for them. She was way too compressed and close to care, and she gave out a wordless cry as he pushed those long, thick fingers in at a speed she couldn't place a term on because that would be immoral. Deep, fast strokes and the size of his fingers were, she hoped, comparable to other parts of him. She sucked back a moan that bubbled to her lips. 

And that was the end-all, be-all. Aemond came onto his stakes, and Aemma went bursting apart. In the vigour of her world focalizing on that single spot between her legs, she crushed Aemond deeper into her, her fingers tight fists in his hair and her mouth agape in a choked scream. Behind her eyes, there were specks of little floating suns, a need to hold him even tighter, and the colours started to drain from around her. 

The first thing Aemma saw when radiance returned was the flushed, compelling, beaming, smiling face of the man who owned all of her. The upsurges of pure pleasure did not wane and she wallowed in it. She listened to him come up for air, kissing his way up again, rolling his tongue around her belly button, and momentarily intensifying her climax. 

"I've never seen someone look as enchanting as you did, moments ago," he whispered into her ear, burying his face into her neck.

She blinked, attempting to find the pace of her breathing. "That was..." she drawled with an unchecked hum.

"Not the end," he finished for her, rising on his knees. "Just a taste of what's to come."

Aemond was hypnotic, aglow and leering as he peeled off his shirt, wrists crossing at his abdomen. And it made every wicked something in her head want to come true. Her eyes gradually mapped down from his broad shoulders, her trembling fingers tracing at his rigid muscles, the jagged streaks of combat bruises, hungrily lapping up past his weathered, masculine strength, and the ultimate V muscle that was almost an arrow pointing straight to his...

He chuckled softly, catching her wandering hand. He stroked the base of her fingers, knuckles, and joints, conducting them with tiny lightning strikes.

"Always so curious."

She managed a mischievous smirk. "Then come here and indulge my curiosities."

"Gladly, dearest."

And his hands began to roam everywhere, as if stricken by her command. Strong, pinching, teasing, feeling, tracing, heading from north to south on her body. Resting his arms on either side of her head, grinning like the devil, his fingers slowly traced down her arms, that minute touch resonating in her sex.

"You amaze me," he murmured.

Despite all that teasing, she felt him. Her eyes snapped open to his, dark, wide and studying her. It was a simple bump, poising against her, tough and ready. He rested his forehead against hers.

He moved in; slowly, gently reverently. There was resistance, a whole lot from her, bringing forth a subdued, mellow pain. Since she had never done this before, she placed this as the pain of familiarizing—her body slowly climatizing to the feel. The feel of him, the weight of him, his wickedly strong muscles moulding against her. His energy was intense and unfathomable compared to her weak knees and lead tongue. 

"Aemma," he called to make sure.

Just then, she flexed harder around him. His light eyes blazed like reams of fire.

"Too afraid, are you?" she challenged.

"Never," he laughed under his breath.

It couldn't all be coincidences, with the timing and his body, because they were flawless. He was welcome as he pushed on further, gaining his fill of her. His face strained, forehead wrinkling, eyes briefly flickering shut. She took all the credit for making that happen. She accepted him gladly, adding a small inherent squeeze, and flashing her dark eyes at his. 

What should she be telling him? Could she ask him how he was feeling? If he was okay? Was she okay?

His grin was monumental. "You have taken me so well, my love."

She was utterly derailed. He felt so good. It was an inaccurate term to use—he was paradisiacal. She didn't think anyone could have felt this whole even with this age-old action. He was all hers at that moment. And if she were being honest, damnably honest, he was all up inside her. She could feel him inside, so deep, a space of her that she didn't think needed to be freed before.

His hips rolled into hers at a delicate speed, laboured and painstaking. All the evidence of teasing disappeared, jaw taut with tension.

"Breathe through it, Aemma. I'm here," he guided softly.

She gulped, unable to answer. Truly, she didn't have enough air to make one. To be fair, she was stretched to capacity. She couldn't take the weight of him. Flickers of white light appeared in her vision and it wasn't until his face started to blear that she realized she wasn't breathing. She breathed noticeably louder, splitting the beautiful, magical stillness between them, trying to exhale while enduring the stings around her ribs.

"Aemma?" he asked, slightly panicked now.

So when his unease swivelled to hazy apprehension, she choked out and gripped his arms closer—"Wait, stay with me. I can do it."

He stroked a thumb at the edge of her eyes, kissing the slant of her nose. "Ssh, I'm here. Whenever you are ready. We've got the rest of our lives."

She whispered an eager plea, "I want you. I want it all."

Their eyes held for a glorious moment and engraved an intrigue between the lines as their breaths fused in the intensifying silence. Neither of them backed down, never repressing and taking it all. He was still very much inside, growing harder with every passing moment. 

She was buzzing alive, practically convulsing, as his pressures gradually climbed in speed, still so soft and careful.

Which drew a languid, roguish smile alive on his handsome, sweat-matted face. He lifted a quizzical eyebrow, moving his hips in, in, in. Circle, push, circle, push—a giddying pattern that had her reeling off the wire. 

His vast hands were around her throat, establishing dominance, guiding himself entirely into her, tongue plunging forward for a breathy kiss. Her fingers and nails ploughed into his back, nearly drawing blood, when he did. He didn't even flinch or care, bearing it all.

He pulled away from that hungry kiss, hips rolling into a more punishing, daunting rhythm—and oh. She couldn't think. He was pushing her higher and higher until she felt little sparks start to explode from the tips of her fingers, elbows and toes. But, the feeling was only getting louder. His groans were so low, so dark in her ear. 

"There's my sweet girl," he whispered silkily, hitching her knee around his hip. "You want me?"

She nodded desperately. "Yes."

"You have me. You always have," he promised.

Her gasps were timed to his moves, thrusts gaining sweet, beautiful friction. Her fingers twisted into his hair, seeking an outlet for his beautiful, unbearable pleasure. It was building, getting close to that sensation again, oh so close...

She relaxed her stiff spine, sinking into the mattress and feeling him ram right into that spot. She bit her lip to contain a ridiculously high-pitched noise, willing her eyes open into his, burning like onyx flares in the violet night.

He glanced up, eager. Ready. Prepared. His arms curled as if attempting physical exercise, resting beside her head. When a soft wheeze left her, his lips were at her ear, reassuring her, relaxing her tense muscles. His head ducked again, almost inspecting them. 

"C'mere. I have you now," he breathed out. "Eyes on me, alright? Only me."

Awestruck, excited, a bundle of nerves, she watched him. 

Powerful thighs bearing hers, Aemond pressed her hips back until she was gently propped up on the pillows, hungrily attending to his all-consuming flow and determined muscles covered in sweat. She was completely restricted now, not needing to slake her appetite, because, as he had said, he had her. He sank and sank, again and again, abdomen crunching with his power, unearthing, slamming, her sweet spot tingling, and just like that, she came apart.

All white shots of lights, ringing noises, toes curled and pointing, and his name a clement prayer on her lips. Until her black-and-white world fled back into colour, he began to move again.

He kissed a tear away from her temple before his watchful gaze began to hunt hers—for hope? Promise? Something worth it? She simply stared back, mouth twisting in sweet agony as he continued his now quickened pressures. Her name was all he could breathe or think. With every muscled laboured, thrusts more unyielding, face rigid, power intense, eyes hazed over—Aemond came. Firm and heavy, falling limp over her. 

They fell back together, utterly spent, wrung out, exhausted and essentially immortalized. Whatever the true definition for that held. Between the film of fierce pleasure and indulgence, she decided that had a hold upon heaven. Tremendous, dark heaven.

Two big, lavish, beautiful, majestic climaxes and they basked in the afterglow together. She turned her head to clutch him at his neck, grab him forward to kiss his lips sweetly. Delicately, quietly, more and more, until her breathing steadied.

Aemond stroked her nose against hers, all sated by sex. "Pleasure becomes you, my love."

Aemma sighed dreamily, tracing the hollow of his cheek. "You've made your astounding mark on me. Can we go again?"

He pulled back to stare, dumbstruck. He didn't see a trace of humour in her eyes.

"You could take the bed this time," she offered.

He scoffed in disbelief. "Amazing. I applaud your energy, dearest wife. Have you ever swung a sword before? I could do with a new sparring partner with that sort of verve."

She laughed. "You could never best me if I were your partner. I'd have you on your back in an instant."

"You have me on my back right now, darling. Rode you half to death, did I not?"

He grunted a chuckle when she playfully smacked his chest.

Aemond continued to mumble. "In all honesty, I truly did not think I would survive this with you. I expected my heart to give out because of... hmm." He rubbed at her waist, his voice still thick with desire. "These legs, these eyes, these lips, those lips—Seven hells, this is my fantasy fulfilled."

She put a hand over her face to hide a blush. "You can simply get away with saying things like that?"

When he flashed her a smirk, she shook her head dubiously and tried to close his evading mouth with her hand.

"Just as you can simply get away—with requesting to use my cock—as your—let me speak!—your toy?"

"Aemond!" she hissed.

He laughed. "Ssh. Lay closer."

He pulled her into the curve of his arm, curbing her chagrin. Aemma sank her chin into his shoulder to watch him shut his lone eye and become at ease.

He felt her fingertips glide near the blemishes in his eye socket. Her cold fingers upon the hot skin, it was paradise. He tried hard to stay still when she got too close to inflammation that continued to cause agony on certain days. She must've sensed something amiss because abruptly her touch disappeared.

"Would it make you feel less lonesome if I took my eye out for you?" she asked, tongue in cheek.

A side of his lips lifted. "Perhaps. Make it my wedding favour."

She gasped, laughing. "You brute. You like that?"

"I wouldn't dare," he calmed her, drawing her closer to him. "Then again I can make even with your brother's."

He expected her to sense the sincerity in his voice, but such was Aemma's perspective of him. The conciliant, faithful friend who respected her. He worked hard to seal up that vengeance in front of her. What doesn't concern her will not break her. Not while he lives and breathes.

True to herself, Aemma let it slide harmlessly, treating it as good fun. He heard her laugh. "Can you imagine—little Luke, running about with an eyepatch?"

He barely broke a smile. "You'll never know."

X

read part vi here!

seasmoke the direwolf, watching this go down like: mom? dad? wtf are you guys up to 👁️👄👁️

I hope you all felt their love as much as I did <3

[blitzosblog]

Marigold Sky - Part One

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x OC Aliya Martell

Summary: Aemond is to be wed, alliances and loyalties hang in the balance and soon an unforeseen union rears it's head.

Warning: Targaryens and Hightowers and mention of alcohol

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

Aemond stands in the centre of his chambers, dressed in his signature black leather tunic and trousers, his face adorned with a new black leather eye patch, looking at himself in the mirror when a young serving boy enters.

"My prince?" he speaks in a quiet unsure voice. Aemond turns, looks at the boy, and says, "Yes?".

The serving boy replies, "The Queen has requested you come to the throne room at once".

Aemond stands tall and follows the boy out of his chambers and to the throne room, he sees his father atop the throne as his mother and siblings stand off to the side, Alicent turns to face him with a smile.

"You look perfect..." She says in a quiet voice as she straightens his clothing out and looks up at him, she takes a deep breath, "These young ladies and their families have travelled a long way to come see you, so please, be on your best behaviour and be polite" she says.

"Of course, Mother" Aemond says quickly and stands beside Halaena, soon the hall is filled with many high born families, from The Baratheons to The Freys, each house has come for a chance to have their daughters selected by Prince Aemond himself.

Aemond looks over the crowd as he is forced into conversation after conversation with lords, ladies and their daughters alike, having shaken the hand of almost every man in the room and bowed his head so much he feels as though his neck may snap at any moment. He tries his best to hide away in corners and drink his wine but is always found by some 'suitable' lady seeking his hand, he finally takes place by his mother who is in deep conversation with her own father, suddenly a small group across the hall catches Aemond's eye, they have deep tan skin and raven hair, they all seem to stick to one another instead of talking to everyone else; aemond turns to his mother.

"Mother?" he calls out in a whisper, and she turns to him.

"Yes?" She asks, Aemond points at the group across the room.

"Who are they?" He asks, Alicent's face hardens a little as she finally sees the group Aemond is pointing at.

"That group is House Martell of Dorne," She says.

"Dorne? Did you invite them?" Aemond asks in a curious voice.

"I don't believe so, Taragryens and the Dornish do not have the best history, I do not know why they are here..." She replies before taking a deep breath "Let us go introduce ourselves" she says quickly before grabbing Aemond's hand and walking over to the group.

"Hello, I am Queen Alicent, this is my son Aemond Targaryen" Alicent introduces herself and Aemond, a tall male member of the group turns and smiles but does not bow, none of the Martells do.

"Hello. I am Prince Moran Martell, and this is my wife Princess Cassia Martell" Moran introduces himself and his wife, who steps forward, she smiles at both Alicent and Aemond before speaking, "This is our daughter, Aliya" she says as they both part to reveal a younger looking girl, hair down to her waist, black as night, skin the colour of caramel, she is wearing a beautiful golden dress, not so much a gown as it flows and has a light look to it, with small red jewels and sleeves the went round the backs of her arms, Aliya steps forward offering a small smile to the two hosts, as Aemond looks upon Aliya he can't help but stare at her beauty, the confidence in which she carries herself.

"Hello, I am Princess Aliya Martell, it is a pleasure to meet you" She speaks; he voice strong and steady, no traces of nervousness or worry in her tone, Aemond smiles and reaches his hand out awaiting hers, but she does not accept it, Aemond quickly puts his hand down, straightening his posture.

"Hello Aliya-" he begins to speak.

"Princess" Aliya interrupts Aemond, he stops in his words and looks at her in confusion.

"I am a Princess, not a Lady" She says, head held high. Aemond smirks.

"My apologies...Princess Aliya, it's a pleasure to meet you" He says looking into Aliya's eyes, they look at one another for a moment, before Aemond speaks again.

"May we have a moment?" He asks gesturing to an empty set of chairs, Aliya glances over before wordlessly going over to the chairs, Aemond is quick to follow, thanking Aliya's parents and then sitting with Aliya.

"So, tell me about yourself" Aemond says sipping his wine.

"What do you wish to know?" She asks.

"Your interests, dislikes, something to get to know you better" He answers relaxing into the chair.

"I enjoy archery, reading, art, I dislike events such as these actually" She says as she straightens the skirt of her dress.

"Oh, is that so? Why are you here then?" He asks glancing at her over the rim of his chalis, she smiles and looks back up at him.

"Politics" She says.

"Politics? What does that mean?" he asks.

"As you know Dorne and the Targaryen have a sorted history, our two families, our two lands are at odds, my ancestors did not wish for peace between us, but my father is like yours...peaceful, he wants peace between our worlds..." She explains the details of her appearance, Aemond listens intently to her words, then nods.

"Understood, so you do not want the wealth, the power and you certainly do not need, let alone want the title of Princess..." He says in a slow and unsure voice.

"No, Dorne had a mighty wealth, we have enough power and no like I said I am already a Princess" Aliya replies and then stands up, Aemond quickly stands with her.

"You seem interesting enough, talk with my father...if you wish for this to go forward..Goodbye Prince Aemond" Aliya speaks quickly and then walks off before Aemond can reply, Aemond watches her leave.

As Aemond processes the encounter suddenly Moran Martell himself appears in front of Aemond himself.

"Prince Moran" Aemond says quickly, Moran stops Aemond.

"My daughter told me of your conversation, she has explained the reasoning behind our appearance so you understand what we want" He says.

"I do." Aemond replied sternly.

"Good, now you may choose...one of these..Ladies or My daughter, and yes if she is your...wife, she will live here in Kings landing, however she will come back to Dorne whenever she wants, she will carry on her archery and art passions here, she will never be disrespected and if you ever hurt her in any way, I will come for your head" Prince Moran speaks in a clam yet eerie tone, making his intention clear to Aemond. Aemond stands tall and nods.

"Of course, I will be making my decision soon"

"Good we will hear from you soon then" Moran says and the pair bid one another goodbye before parting ways. Aemond watches as the Martell's leave together, the large wooden doors closing behind them as they leave, Alicent walks over to Aemond.

"What happened?" Alicent asks looking up at her son. Aemond keeps his gaze on the door, a look of curiosity and excitement in his eyes.

"I believe a proposal has been made" He says finally looking back down at his mother.

"A proposal from whom?" She asks excitedly.

"Aliya Martell"

"Martell? Well you will also receive many other offers so you can-" She begins talking only to be cut off by Aemond.

"I will accept, I will marry Aliya Martell" He says in an overly confident tone. Alicent looks at him for a moment, before nodding in understanding.

"we shall make the announcement tomorrow" She says leaving Aemond where he stands.

[materialki-ff]

Wurdest du eigentlich schon zurück gefragt? :D

✨ WishWednesday ✨oder ist es einfach nur ein anderer wip wednesday, in a way? :D egal! Gibt es faceclaims die du sehr gerne einmal nutzen würdest (aber noch nicht dazu gekommen bist?

Auch dir danke und da wir Havanna Rose Liu auf unserer Liste gemein haben, die girlies angeführt von ihr. :D

Havanna Rose Liu

tbh Bottoms habe ich noch nicht gesehen. Um genauer zu sein, habe ich sie noch in keinem Film oder einer Serie gesehen. Durch Pinterest bin ich eines Tages über sie gestolpert und ihr Look sowie ihre Vibes gefallen mir sehr. c:

Louisa Harland

Orla McCool ist einfach so cool? 😔Hauptsächlich kenne ich sie aus Derry Girls und irendwie wirkt sie so normal, basic und gleichzeitig einfach nicht? Bisschen unkonvetionell but not really? Ergibt davon irgendetwas Sinn? Vielleicht denke ich mir das auch nur, weil sich Orla einfach so in mein Hirn eingeprägt hat. :D

Charithra Chandran

Danke Edwina Sharma und wer auch immer für's Casting verantwortlich war. I love Edwina, I love Charithra — what more can I say? 😔 Würde ich Dune Prophecy nur für sie schauen, ganz gleich wie groß oder klein ihre Rolle ist? Hätte ich bloß HBO lol. Na ja :') auf Amazon Prime gibt's übrigens Date mich Billy Walsh! Sehr süß und with my girl Charithra in der Hauptrolle. Freue ich mich auf One Piece S2? Yes, yes I do. Ich hoffe irgendwann ergibt sich die Gelegenheit.

Phia Saban

Kann ich House of the Dragon legal schauen, ohne auf eine Freundin angewiesen zu sein? Nein. Kommt man irgendwie an HotD content vorbei? Nein. :') Das was ich von Halaena sehe sieht immer so unheimlich interessant und gut aus. Anyway, Phia. Ich liebe besonders diesen Look von der letzten Promo. Lil bit whimsy.

Zugegeben habe ich für diese 4 sogar schon Pinterest boards erstellt. Dort ist nichts, nur ein kleiner Ordner mit ein paar Bildern, damit ich sie in Zukunft nicht vergesse. Mein Problem ist nämlich, dass ich mir immer FCs speichere, sie dann aber nie wirklich nutze, weil ich dann für einen neuen OC Pinterest durchforste bis ich jemanden mit dem richtigen "vibe" finde. 😭

Ella Purnell würde ich auch sehr gerne verwenden, genauso wie Asha Banks und Bae Suzy. Nur haben die (noch) keine eigenen Pinterest Boards.

[prpfz]

👾 Hello! 25+ person here, looking for 18+ partners for my hero academia/boku no hero academia, hazbin hotel, AND house of the dragon!

For these, I would prefer canon x canon ships. OCs are great, don't get me wrong, but this is just what I'm craving at the moment.

I am good with AUs and canon settings.

I will put a an asterisk next to any role I prefer to play. If there is none, I don't have a preference.

Side Note: I play EVERY canon character as a switch. I prefer to play against other switches, though you're welcome to like even if you play an exclusive bottom or top (because I'm a pushover).

I will write ship names if I know the ship has a name.

Of course, good with dead dove themes, as likely gathered from the list of fandoms I'm searching for. I am also good with omegaverse and writing multiple ships or threads if you wish.

Literacy Wise? I match partners. I can write past the discord character limit, but I can also write just a few paragraphs. I'm good either way.

My Hero Academia:

Dabi x Hawks (dabihawks)

Endeavor x Hawks (endhawks)

Monoma x Shinso* (monoshin)

Bakugo x Todoroki (bakutodo/todobaku)

Bakugo x Shinso (bakushin)

Toga x Ochaco

Hazbin Hotel:

Lucifer x Alastor (radioapple)

Alastor* x Charlie (radiobelle)

Alastor* x Husk (radiohusk)

Alastor* x Vox (radiostatic)

House of the Dragon:

Rhaenyra x Alicent

Rhaenyra x Aegon

Aegon x Helaena

Aemond x Helaena

Jacerys x Halaena

Daemon x Aemond

Alicent x Daemon

Alicent x Aemond

Alicent x Aegon

Jacerys x Baela

I would love it if you could contact me through passenger pigeon, but instead....like this post! I'd prefer to write on discord, so we'll likely talk and then exchange discords after some initial planning.

give a like and anon will get back to you

[aphrodisiac-siren]

Innocence- Aemond X OC

Summary: War is an ugly thing; Something that is common knowledge to all and yet something people resort to anyway when conflicts arise. It was not something Eirlys Velaryon wanted though, nor what Aemond Targaryen wanted as well. It was a war they were dragged into, and suffering they had to endure for crimes they were innocent of.

Warning: non-con sex, under-aged intimacy.

Masterlist

Part 2

It had been a few days since the incident at the training field and the tension among the boys hadn't died down completely yet.

Even as their families had all gathered together to mourn the death of Daemon's wife, lady Leana, the young princes couldn't find it within themselves to set aside their dislike for each other, doing everything they could to avoid any conversation.

"If Eirlys turns out like our sister, I will lose all hope in this world" Aegon commented to Aemond who watched the two girls talking a few feet away from them.

Helaena was admiring a spider, occasionally stating a few informative things about the arachnida while Eirlys leaned away from the eight legged creature, slightly terrified and not wanting to be in close contact with it.

"What's the point of having a pretty face if you're constantly mumbling things that don't make sense" Aegon continued with a smirk "what good is a mouth that talks about nonsense instead of being put to other good use"

"What are you saying?" Aemond asked, clueless as to what his brother was trying to say.

"Gods you're so stupid" Aegon muttered under his breath before taking another sip of his wine "do you not have certain thoughts about her, Eirlys?"

"Well she is my betrothed" Aemond obliviously answered, not knowing the lewd context with which his older brother was questioning him "of course I think about her, she's my closest friend"

"With a slow brain like that it's no surprise she's your only friend" the older boy rolled his eyes at his brother's obtuse response "now excuse me, I need more wine"

Aemond looked back at his older sister and his friend, slightly unsure of what they found so fascinating about that spider.

Slowly, each one of the family members headed inside as the servants busied themselves to light the candles to illuminate the castle after dark.

"Princess Eirlys" he called out, using his formalities to address her while in company of other nobles "a word?"

"My prince" Eirlys followed his lead to the stone ledge of the little balcony that overlooked the waves meeting the sand on the beach.

"Do you want to accompany me on a stroll?" Aemond asked, his gaze fixated on the sandy dunes in the distance "just a along the shoreline and a little further away from the beach"

"Right now?"

"Yes, just the both of us"

"We aren't allowed to leave the castle during the day unchaperoned" The younger girl reminded, keeping her voice down "let alone going out by ourselves after dark"

"Fine" Aemond sighed, slightly disappointed "I'll see you inside after supper"

"Don't be away too long" the princess gave him a gentle smile.

"I won't"

Aemond never met Eirlys after supper, he'd not even returned as soon as he'd promised.

The princess had waited up for him in their old nursery, which was now used as Aemond's youngest brother's; Daeron.

She read a few books to pass the time and tried to work on her valerian until it was time for bed.

The princess had barely gotten a few hours of sleep before she was woken up by Halaena, informing her of the queen's wish for them to be present in the King's old study, which was now nothing more than a gathering hall.

The girl sleepily got out of bed and put on her dress robe as she followed the older girl out her chambers.

Even at this late hour, Eirlys noticed the castle was awake. She was half expecting for someone to inform her of an attack, because of which perhaps they'd woken her up to seek refuge in the one of the bunkers beneath the red keep.

Upon the girls' arrival, one of the King's guards opened the doors for them, allowing them to enter before shutting the doors once again.

Eirlys took note of her Queen Alicent sitting next to a maester who was probably tending to someone. His back faced the princess, shielding whoever was sitting in front of him. The girl also noticed her brothers standing near the far end of the room alongside Baela and Rhaena, who all looked like they'd gotten into a scuffle.

The princess left Halaena's side to go and ask her siblings what had happened but a much gruesome sight had captured her attention . Her fast paced steps halted to a stop when she laid eyes on Aemond, who's face was covered in blood, his left eye now stitched shut and the skin around it blistered and swollen.

The boy quickly tried to turn away, not wanting her to see his face with the way it looked now but the maester held the boy's jaw in place while he continued to sew shut the wound.

"What happened" she gently held the boy's hand, loosely sliding her fingers under his palm that rested on the armrest of the chair he was sat in, afraid that she might inflict more pain on his already bruised knuckles.

Aemond simply winced in pain as his hand squeezed hers unconsciously, not quite able to respond to her just yet.

"Were they attacked?" The girl sweetly asked the queen, the genuine concern she felt evident in her tone. She bent on her knees, resting her chin on the armrest so she could get a better look at the maester stitching the wound.

"Yes, he was" the woman responded, emphasising that it was solely her son who was entitled to the sympathy Eirlys was showing "it will heal will it not maester?"

"The wound will heal" the old man assured as he tended to the injury "but I'm afraid the eye is lost your grace"

Aegon made his entrance, half asleep or perhaps half drunk, it was hard to tell.

He yawned as he stumbled a few of his steps before standing by his mother's side.

Alicent's emphatic expression quickly transformed into that of rage when her gaze shifted from Aemond to Aegon. She slapped the boy hard across the face, catching the young princess Eirlys by surprise who flinched at such a harsh gesture.

"Your brother has been brutally attacked while you were away drowning in you cups" the queen snapped at a very surprised and slightly clueless Aegon "when will you learn to be responsible over a good for nothing drunk"

"Jace, Luke?" Rhaenyra ran in with Daemon who stayed at the doorway. She ran straight to her sons to examine the injuries.

Eirlys' grandparents also joined the rest of them, concerned about Baela and Rhaena.

King Viserys was the last to arrive along with the commander of the king's guard.

Rhaenyra looked toward her daughter, to inspect of any injuries. Her gaze stayed fixated on her as if she were making sure her daughter was truly fine, to which Eirlys responded to by walking toward her mother so she she could assure her she was unharmed.

Aemond slowly let go of her hand as the princess walked away from him, hoping that she would stay by his side instead of going to stand with her brothers.

The king was not pleased about their entire mess of brother against brother, blood against blood.

"What exactly happened here" the king demanded.

"They attacked me!" Aemond yelled from across the room, turning to look at his nephew. He momentarily glanced at Eirlys to let her know it was them who had started all of this.

"He attacked Baela" Luke argued.

"...broke Luke's nose"

"You punched me"

"That is a lie"

"He stole Vhagar!"

"You think my son's telling the tale?"

Everyone began to yell, eager to be heard over the other, creating quiet the commotion.

"It was an accident" Rhaenyra tried to defend her son.

"An accident? Lucerys brought a blade to the ambush to kill my son" Alicent raised her voice, not at all willing to hear anything from the princess.

"It was my children who were attacked and forced to defend themselves" Rhaenyra stepped in front of the three kids "vile insults were levied against them"

"What insults" The king questioned.

"The legitimacy of my son's birth was put to question"

"He called us bastards" Jace softly said from behind his mother to which Aemond looked away quickly to hide the smirk creeping to his lips.

"My sons are in line to inherit the iron throne your grace" Rhaenyra stepped closer to her father "this is the highest of treason. Prince Aemond must be sharply questioned over where he heard such slander"

"Over an insult?" Alicent sighed with annoyance "my son has lost an eye"

The king ignored her before turning to Aemond.

"Aemond" he spoke sternly "where did you hear such lies?"

The boy's gaze shifted from the king to his mother. But the prince knew better than to blame her in front of everyone and add to the mess that was already at hand.

"It was Aegon"

"Me?"

Viserys was on the brink of losing his temper and it had become evident. He wanted answers and was getting no where.

"You, boy, where did you hear these lies?" He asked only to be met with silence. By this point the king was furious "Aegon! Answer me!"

"We know father" The boy meekly replied "Just look at them"

Aegon didn't really care much about them being possibly bastards, he'd grown rather fond of their company. Yet in that moment he couldn't deny the obvious truth.

"Let me make this quiet clear, anyone who dares question the birth of Rhaenyra's children, should have his tongue removed" The king looked around, making it quiet evident that he was being serious "this terminable infighting must cease at once, your king demands is! Now, you will all make your peace and put this behind us"

"That is insufficient" Alicent walked away from her son "Aemond has been permanently damaged, goodwill cannot make him whole"

"I know" the king sighed "but I cannot restore his eye"

"No because it's been taken"

"What would you have me do?"

"There is a debt to be paid" she coldly responded "I shall have one of her son's eyes in return"

Eirlys looked up at the queen in shock, not expecting her to resort to such a drastic judgment.

"My dear wife.." Viserys tried to reason with her.

"He's your son Viserys" Alicent's voice cracked "your blood"

"Do not let your temper to guide your judgment" The king warned, not siding with his wife on the solution she'd suggested.

"If the king won't seek justice then the queen will" Alicent's voice grew harsh "Ser Criston, bring me the eye of Lucerys Velaryon"

Eirlys pushed Lucerys behind her and while Rhaenyra held her hand.

"you will do no such thing"

"You can choose which eye to keep" she turned to address the younger boy "a privilege he did not grant my son"

"Alicent" The king called out, his patience running thin "This matter is finished"

The queen did not seem too pleased about his disinterest in his son being maimed and for being told off in front of everyone. She swiftly reached for the Valyrian steel dagger strapped to the king's side, quickly unsheathed it before marching upto Rheanyra.

"Mother!" Luke called out, alarmed as the princess turned around to hold the arm the queen had the dagger in, away from her.

It was chaos unleashed again. The guards rushed to separate the two while Criston was making his way toward Alicent only for Daemon to stop him.

"You've gone too far" Rhaenyra struggled to hold Alicent's arm away from her.

"I? What have I done but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, the law while you flout it all to do as you please" Alicent's voice faltered "Where is duty? where is sacrifice? its trampled under your pretty foot again" she went on "And now you take my son's eye and even to that you feel entitled"

"Exhausting wasn't it?" Rhaenyra spoke calm and coldly while she did her best to maintain a certain distance between her and the queen "Hiding under your cloak of righteousness? Well now everyone sees you as you truly are"

Alicent had finally snapped after years of growing hatred and frustration. She brought down the dagger and sliced the princess' arm from elbow to wrist before the two were finally pulled away from each other. She let the dagger fall as she looked around to take in people's expressions, most of who had started to think she was going mad.

"Do not mourn me mother" Aemond's voice broke her out of her daze "it was a fair exchange. I may have lost an eye but I gained a dragon"

"This preceding is at an end" the king stated before walking away, completely tired and annoyed.

~

The morning after was just as glum and tense.

The servants in the castle had all heard of the event that took place and each tried to sneak a glance at the wounded prince, treating him like some sort of spectacle up for display.

Aemond hated it, both the stares and how he looked now.

"It'll heal" Eirlys tried to sound enthusiastic as she reached for his hand to offer some solace "it may take a while but-"

The girl had decided to visit him, despite her brothers asking her to just leave him be. And as much as she loved her brothers, she loved her friend Aemond as well and wanted to see how he was doing after being badly injured the night before.

"I won't Eirlys" Aemond sighed "I've been maimed for life"

"Aemond-"

"I'm sure you don't wish to marry me now" he looked down at their hands, observing how cautiously she was holding on to his "I look hideous"

"No of course not" the princess responded, the thoughts never crossing her mind. She was filled more with concern over anything else when she first saw him. And even now, all she was worried about was how painful it must be for him to endure all of it.

"I wish you hadn't called them bastards" she softly muttered as she gently traced his knuckles with the tip of her finger "you promised you wouldn't say it"

"I promised I wouldn't say it around you" the boy clarified "they accused me of stealing a dragon. How do you even steal a dragon? You claim one, and if I wasn't meant to ride Vhagar, I'd be burned until I was dead"

"You didn't have to chose a dragon that belong to the girls' late mother" Eirlys tried to explain "and then proceed to be rude about it"

"Your brothers really have a knack for turning the story around in a way that makes me the villain" the boy scoffed in disappointment "and you just take their word for it"

"But-"

"I've just claimed myself a dragon" he went on "the largest one alive. Couldn't you be a bit happy for me?"

"But they're not the only ones at fault here" she spoke "if you'd been nicer-"

"If I'd just done this or just done that. it's always my fault isn't it?" he snapped, his voice starting to falter with each word as a wave of emotions washed over him "I've just lost an eye and been blinded permanently and yet you still find reason to vouch for them. When will you start to look at things from my perspective? How I'm the one they tormented for never having a dragon, something clearly out of my control. How I'm the one they bully for it, how I'm the one who has lost an eye"

Aemond looked away and covered his face with his hands as tears began to stream down his face, his shoulders shaking as a result of his crying.

"W-why won't you ever stand by me l-like that" he managed to ask in between his sobbing "you're supposed to be my f-friend, you know that I w-would defend you"

Eirlys felt her heart clench.

She'd never seen Aemond lose his composure and cry before. She nervously wrapped her arms around him, afraid that she might hurt him if she hugged him too hard.

"I'll always stick by you" she sadly told him as he leaned against her, melting into the hug while he continued to cry, unable to bottle his emotions any longer "you know that"

"Then for once, believe me. I was the one who was attacked first" he told her, his head leaning on her shoulder "I only acted on it after it, I swear this to you"

"Alright, I believe you" she gently squeezed his shoulder as a way of assurance.

She held him in a close embrace until he stopped crying, wiping away at his tear stained face before he cleared his throat.

"Do you want to know about how I claimed Vhagar?"  He sheepishly asked as he sat up straight, but still refusing to fully look at her to avoid the princess seeing his face.

"Tell me everything" she eagerly responded, leaning forward slightly in anticipation for Aemond to tell her about how he'd finally got himself a dragon.

The princess patiently listened, quiet invested in his story of how she was hostile at first but then let him climb into the saddle, following his command to take flight.

He gushed in excitement about how the rush of adrenaline filled him as he soared amidst the closed while the cool night's breeze blew against him. How he'd almost fallen out the saddle and how despite it being his first time flying a dragon, he managed to somewhat learn how to manoeuver the large beast by himself.

"Perhaps one day we could fly together" he suggested "when I'm fully trained with how to control her"

"Me? Fly Vhagar with you? I don't think Ember would like it very much" Eirlys informed, referring to her dragon "and I doubt Vhagar would either"

"Oh nonsense, if I like you, so shall she" he tried to assure her "besides, it'll be just one flight. What could go wrong?"

"A lot of things apparently"

"You'll be fine" Aemond waved her off "just trust me"

"Oh I trust you" the princess gave him a look with equal measure of uncertainty and mischief "I don't trust Vhagar"

"She'll warm up to you" he simply stated with a confident puff of his chest "I know she will"

Aemond and Eirlys continued on their little debate about Vhagar. Eirlys smiled subconsciously as she looked at Aemond enthusiastically rant on and on about the dragon. She was happy that at long last, Aemond had no reason to feel exiled.

The news of Laenor's death came as a shock to the young Eirlys.

The girl was informed of her father's passing a few moments after she woke up and the rumours had already begun to spread, saying that the princess Rhaenyra played a part in ordering the death of her husband.

Eirlys was not one to pay much heed to servants' gossip but when her mother informed her of her decision to leave for Dragonstone and wed Daemon, the young girl began to have her doubts.

Since Eirlys was betrothed to the young prince Aemond, she was to stay at the Red Keep, as queen Alicent's ward.

Eirlys did want to be with her family to grieve the loss of her late father, but duty came before all else and the princess wasn't left with much of a choice with regards to where she would take residence.

Aemond did try to offer some consolation but there was nothing he could possibly say that would provide much comfort to a person who'd just lost their father.

In the days that followed, he tried to provide some distraction to keep her mind preoccupied from the grief. He'd help her with her valerian, ask her to watch him train with Vhagar and on some occasions, had her take lessons in archery along with him.

Aegon did try to be of some help as well but his only solution was to drink wine and Alicent did not approve of his ideas.

Halaena sometimes sat with the girl during the late hours of noon to teach her embroidery, something the younger girl was not as good at; as they watched Dareon play with his toys.

It had been a few years since Eirlys had said goodbye to her family. She was fourteen now and had gotten some what accustomed to living without her mother and brothers by her side.

She was presently sitting in Aemond's chambers, the both of them reading a book.

"Z-zirila iemny maz-verdatan leda zihon riña" Eirlys struggled to read the text, pronouncing a handful of the words incorrectly.

"Zirȳla iemny mazverdatan lēda zȳhon riña" Aemond repeated, emphasising on the words she'd mispronounced "it means her belly swelled with his child"

"Oh" she simply stated before she paused for a few moments, her mind lost to her thoughts.

"How does one come to be with child?" She asked, completely clueless "I've heard they have to kiss-"

"No," Aemond looked at her like she was daft "I overheard someone say they have to sleep together"

"How does that even work?" Eirlys tilted her head in confusion.

"I don't know" Aemond shrugged, now slightly intrigued by the discussion "I suppose they have to sleep in the same bed and then on the morrow the woman will be with child"

"But that's-" the girl huffed in annoyance "what if you're in the woods or someplace else and it's cold, and you have to hold the person next to you for warmth to fall asleep? I don't want to be with child just because I was cold"

"But if you're in the woods you won't be asleep on a bed silly" the prince quickly responded.

"Why does a bed play an importance?"

"Like I said, I don't know. I just heard one of the servants say something like "he took her to bed and they slept together a few nights after as well" when they were talking about that wet nurse who got pregnant"

"Your mother must know" Eirlys asked hopefully "I mean she's got to, she's had four children already"

"I am not asking my mother this" Aemond rolled his eyes "you ask her and then tell me"

"She's your mother" Eirlys argued "you do it"

"Well I won't, let's find someone else who'd know"

"Aegon might" the princess stated, as she closed shut the book, no longer interested in learning the language momentarily.

"Aegon?" Aemond's expression switched from interested to disappointed while he picked up the book and stood to go and put it back on the shelf "he's an idiot, all he does is drink wine and sneak out the castle after dark"

"And he's older" Eirlys tried to persuade the boy as she walked toward him "he must know. Just ask him about it, doesn't hurt just to inquire"

"Alright" Aemond sighed in defeat, not really knowing who else to ask.

"Aemond?" Eirlys called out, another question coming to mind "if a kiss doesn't leave you with child, why do people do it?"

"I think people who are close enough who want to deepen their bond do it" he tried to think of a reason "probably just a show of affection"

"Well, we're close" she looked down at her hands on her lap "and we've never..."

"Hmm, I suppose we haven't" Aemond recalled, as he nervously glanced at her "d-do you want to, perhaps try?"

"I don't mind" Eirlys innocently shrugged as she turned to look at him.

The two of them nervously leaned in, eyes fluttered shut.

"Wait" Aemond softly called out as he quickly opened his eye, Eirlys doing the same "where do I put my hands?"

"I- i don't know" Eirlys answered as she too suddenly felt it awkward having her arms just dropped at her sides "should we just hold hands?"

The boy held both her hands in his, her palms facing down and his facing up, similar to how one would hold their partner's hands while they recited their vows at their wedding.

The two once again closed their eyes and leaned in, Aemond gently pecked Eirlys' lips before they both pulled back.

"Is that it?" She asked, not sure what to expect in truth.

"I uh" Aemond nervously rubbed the back of his neck "I thought it was alright, don't see the fuss about a kiss like the way they mention in books"

"I know" Eirlys agreed "it's just... so simple"

The two of them didn't really think much of it later, not really expecting it to be so bland. They quickly began talking about something else, the topic of kissing slowly losing their interest.

"I was thinking about getting a jewel in place of the eye I lost" Aemond told the princess as he pointed to the eye patch he had begun wearing.

"Really? That'd look amazing"

"I know" he smiled, proud at the little idea he had "I was thinking of which one though, perhaps an emerald?"

"No, too much green" the girl disapproved as she remembered the green vests he so often wore "how about a sapphire instead?"

~

Aemond and Eirlys had decided to spend the day by taking a stroll through the gardens.

It had been a couple of days since their first kiss, that neither of them even considered as their first since it was just an innocent peck that didn't really bring much of a change in their relationship.

Aemond had got the jewel Eirlys had suggested fitted into the empty socket just that morning and had decided to retire the eye patch for the day, eager to show off the vibrant blue sapphire.

"It feels a little weird" he told her as they walked on the pathway next to the bushes, referring to the sapphire "but I like the way it looks"

"I told you the sapphire would suit you well" she smiled, taking credit for it "did you have that conversation with Aegon?"

"No" the boys huffed as he recalled their curiosity regarding how a woman came to be with child "I haven't been able to ask him about it yet"

"You're stalling" the girl threw him a nasty look "I tried asking one of my handmaidens but they refused to tell me"

"What about Helaena?"

"I asked her last night after supper" Eirlys told him "but she responded with a rather complicated statement that I could not decipher"

"Ah yes, my sister has a tendency to speak in riddles sometimes" he heaved a sigh "wonder why she does it"

"She's been helping me lately with my embroidery though" the girl pulled out a handkerchief that was tucked away in her dress sleeve "look"

Aemond gingerly took it from her grasp as he examined the embroidery on it that Eirlys was so eager to show him.

"Well that's a nice um" Aemond struggled to figure out what it was exactly that she'd tried to design with the colourful choice of threads "do you wish for me to be honest or should I instead reward you with false flattery?"

"You're such an arse" the princess snatched the handkerchief back from his grasp as Aemond chuckled at her gesture "those were supposed to be tiny butterflies"

"Emphasise slightly more on the word 'supposed' my lady" the boy grinned down at her "so here's another thing you can add to the list of things you're not good at apart from high valerian"

"I hate you" Eirlys grumbled as she quicken her pace and walked away from him.

"Hey-" the boys laughed as he jogged up to her "you know you love me"

"Qogralbar hen" (fuck off) Eirlys snapped at him.

"Impressive" Aemond grinned, annoying her even further with that shit eating grin of his "is that how you speak to your future husband, princess?"

"Perhaps you shouldn't be such a nuisance to your future wife, my prince" Eirlys side eyed him.

"This is going to be one of those marriages, isn't it?" the prince chuckled at the thought "where we're constantly bickering playfully amongst each other that others might mistake for enmity"

"Oh please, this isn't playful. I quiet genuinely hate you" Eirlys jested as she tucked away the handkerchief "one day I'm going to feed you to Ember"

"No, I'm going to feed you to Vhagar" he corrected.

Aemond found it amusing watching Eirlys get annoyed at the things he said just to poke fun at her. He found it even more hilarious when she, in that annoyance, came up with more insults to hurl at him.

Once they were bored of the view the gardens provided and the repetitive sarcastic mocking, the two of them decided to head back to their chambers for the evening before it was time for their supper.

Aemond walked Eirlys to her chamber, trying his best to not poke fun at her.

"I'll see you after supper?" He asked as he held the door open for her "Dareon's nursery"

"Weren't you supposed to talk to Aegon" the girl reminded.

"Fuck" the prince grunted in annoyance, not really wanting to be the one to ask "he's just going to call me an idiot for not knowing. Can't you ask him?"

"No, I cannot" Eirlys sweetly smiled just to tick him off "ask him tonight and then tell me on the morrow after we break our fast"

"The things I do for you" Aemond rolled his eye.

"I agreed to marry you" Eirlys jabbed a finger at his chest "I think at the very least you could ask your older brother a simple question"

"Then don't marry me" the boys shrugged.

"Alright" Eirlys responded nonchalantly "but first go and talk to Aegon. There's no way out of this for you"

"I hate you" Aemond looked away.

"You know you love me" Eirlys quoted him as she leaned forward, placing a hand on his chest before she gently kissed his cheek "I'll see you on the morrow"

Aemond sighed as a small smile graced his lips. He turned around to walk back to his own chambers once Eirlys had shut the doors to her own.

The two of them had been the closest of friends ever since they could remember. And even though she'd never kissed his cheek before, the innocent gesture wasn't much of a surprise. They had grown so close over the years that by now it was almost natural with their increase in age.

The young prince found himself smiling as he walked all the way back to his quarters, suddenly unsure why that tiny little gesture of her kissing his cheek made something momentarily flutter in his chest.

~

As expected, Aemond was met with the usual teasing and insults when he asked Aegon about the question both him and Eirlys were curious about.

"You are so stupid it physically hurts" the older boy exaggerated "honestly, am I supposed to believe you are my brother?"

"Are you done making a fuss about it?" Aemond sounded annoyed "or are you just going to keep at it instead of actually telling me"

"Hang on" Aegon held up a finger to silence his brother as he chugged down an entire goblet of wine "I'm going to take you someplace-"

"No that's not-" Aemond sighed as he looked at his brother "I don't want to go on a little trip with you, just answer what I-"

"You'll see for yourself" Aegon smirked as he rummaged for something under his bed before standing up again and tossing some old clothes to his brother "wear this"

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see"

Aegon snuck out the castle, this time taking his little brother along with him. He carefully managed to sneak past the guards, having done this many a times before.

The prince walked through the now-very-familiar city streets, knowing every turn and alleyway by heart.

He walked up a few stairs and through some narrow lanes until he reached a street lined with half naked women, eyeing everyone passing by and calling after them in an attempt to seductively lure them.

"Where are we?" Aemond nervously asked as he inched closer to his brother.

"A whore house" Aegon casually responded "this one is of my favourite establishments"

"I don't think.." Aemond trailed off as he clutched his older brother's cloak "we should go back"

"You're six and ten brother" the older prince slapped his brother playfully on the back "it's about time for you to be as educated as I am"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Aegon didn't respond.

He simply walked toward the door of the house, swinging in open and pulling his brother along with him.

Aemond could practically hear his heart pounding against his chest as he followed his brother through the dark hallway preoccupied by people who were pressed up against each other, moaning profanities that echoed throughout the narrow space.

"Prince Aegon" a woman smiled at the boy "I see you've brought company"

"Ah yes, this is my little brother" the prince pulled Aemond forward "it's his first time so send him someone who's patient enough to show him the reigns"

"Mhm" the older woman eyed the young boy up and down as she looked behind and yelled out someone's name, probably the whore who'd serve as his entertainment for the night.

"You wanted me to answer your question didn't you?" Aegon smirked as he handed the lady a handful of gold coins "time to get it wet"

Aegon ran off to find a girl to pleasure himself with while Aemond was guided to a room.

To say the young boy was nervous as he was shoved into a room with a naked woman awaiting him would be an understatement.

The boy stood frozen as she took her time undressing him, muttering things like "it's alright" and "calm down" as she guided him to the bed to teach him the things a man was supposed to do for a women in bed, which in turn answered the question he'd been curious about regarding pregnancy.

About halfway through, Aemond shoved her off him, making haste to grab his clothes and to dress himself, quiet eager to leave and uncomfortable with the places of himself her hands and mouth had explored.

"Where are you going my prince?" The lady asked, surprised that one of her customers wasn't satisfied with her service, ignoring the fact that Aemond was still only a boy.

The prince did not bother to answer her question.

He ran out the establishment and made his way back to the castle, using the same route Aegon had used earlier and one that Aemond was surprised he remembered so well.

Upon his arrival, Aemond rid himself of the rags Aegon had given him and wore his usual attire.

The young boy's mind was muddled up from the events that took place. The things he saw, the things he experienced, the things the whore told him.

He felt so sick, disgusted even.

He never wanted any of this, and in that moment he regretted even going to Aegon for answers. His mind was replaying everything all over again as his heart continued to pound against his chest.

He aggressively shoved open the doors and ran to the only person he felt safe with.

Not caring that the hour was late, he knocked loudly against Eirlys' door.

The princess took a few minutes to get out of bed and answer whoever was on the other side of the door.

"Aemond?" She called out sleepily as she rubbed her eyes "what's wrong?"

The boy opened his mouth to talk but wasn't sure what to say. There was no way in seven hells he was going to tell her whatever just happened.

Unable to communicate what he was feeling, he just hugged her, still trembling; something that Eirlys noticed.

"What happened" she asked again with an undertone of concern as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I can't be alone right now" the boy's voice faltered "can I sleep here?"

"Of course"

Eirlys grabbed a pillow and a blanket and placed it on the little mattress by the window.

"You can have the bed" she sweetly told him "I like the night sky anyway"

"No it's alright, we can just share" Aemond took the pillow from her hand as he crawled into bed.

"But" Eirlys recalled what Aemond had told her a few days ago "if we sleep in the same bed then I'll get-"

"You won't" the prince quickly responded, knowing exactly what she was referring to "I uh, I was wrong about that"

"Oh" Eirlys slowly walked to her bed and sat on the edge "did you ask Aegon?"

Aemond was reminded yet again of the place he was taken to by his brother and quickly cleared his throat to break the long silence.

"I did"

"And?"

"I really don't wish to talk about it" he told her, his voice almost pleading "please"

The girl sensed a certain discomfort and didn't pry any further. She silently got under the covers and adjusted her pillow.

She leaned in to kiss the boy's cheek as she said good night but Aemond responded by quickly flinching away, taking her by surprise.

"What are you doing?" He asked, sounding almost terrified.

"I-I was only kissing you goodnight" Eirlys tenderly told him, feeling suddenly shattered by his response.

"Oh" he muttered "I see"

She didn't lean in a second time to kiss him and instead just rested her head on her pillow.

Aemond rolled to his side so that his back was facing her as he shut his eyes, desperate to fall asleep so that he could be free from his thoughts.

The boy finally drifted off into a dreamless slumber, while he tightly clutched his tear stained pillow.

[dulcewrites]

ok hear me out ,, I don’t know whether you liked CRA or not, but recently rewatching it gave me an idea ! modern AU aemond (or whoever ur feeling) x reader inspired by CRA. you’ve got the family drama, the family slag (aegon) , the only tolerable family member (halaena or maybe even laena) and there’s so many members of this family i feel like it could work rlly well. alicent being the mother aemond takes reader to meet (this is a first since maybe aemond hasn’t had many serious relationships) . the whole hightower targaryen velaryon family is LOADED and reader is just this final year college student (or maybe she has a job) and she’s totally at a loss lol

idk who would be getting married (maybe rhaenyra or an oc!) but i just think the whole thing sets up really well

Ok I like it, Picasso!

I have other stuff to finish, but modern Aemond is interesting to me. Probably bc Aemond in general is lmao. I would want to have something to differentiate it from osftsb. Though I do imagine that reader maybe having money (not to the targs degree obvi…maybe her parents are doctors or tenured teachers idk bc dance is expensive). But yeah I’d want something there to set it apart

But I think it would be fun to write Alicent being a bit cold. Like that’s MOTHER, and I think she has so much empathy, even when she shouldn’t. so it might be fun to have her be a bit calculated when it comes to her kids… especially Aemond, who’s her baby.

Random but I think them meeting through the an unlikely source would be cute. Maybe a grease sort of situation where Aemond goes on vaca with the targ kids (their parents: viserys Alicent laena and daemon nyra and harwin) make them bond. And they meet there but think it’s gonna be a fling. She ends up going to one of laena’s art gallery openings (laena is an artist in my head) and sees Baela/rhaena hmmm. Just a thought

Or fashion student rhaena asks reader to model clothes for her.

[crowofjudgements-blog]

Soror mea, connexa per dolores

Halaena 🤝 Karlach:

Having awesome mom’s who tried everything in their power and life to protect their little girls only to be slain and forced to watch her suffer from the afterlife 🥰

While Karlach isn’t her love interest THIS TIME I literally yearn for the sweet embrace of the forbidden kiln over here 😔

Also introducing my main BG3 oc Halaena Daimos 💀

A Seldarine Underdark exile forced from her home after her contact with the Weave caused a significant explosion of arcane energy and killed a bunch of people. Now she’s a Wizard female drow in a world that despises her very essence, constantly torn between following her mother’s path to Eilistraee and personal choice or yielding to the will of Mystra (both goddesses directly play a huge role in Halaena’s life)

In other words, she’s just a girl and she did nothing wrong, your honour 😔

P.S. Daimos ain’t her last name, you’ll have to find Qilué to figure that out 😉

[daemontargaryenwhore]

Another character who spoiled the whole show, just like joffrey

[valaenatargaryensdragon]

Dear Uncle

pairing: Fanon!Halaena Targaryen x Male OC

summary: Rhaegal Targaryen has finally returned from his long trip of flying around the world on his dragon, Helfyre.

Word count: 2,4K

Warnings: Fluff, falling in love, incest, the word Whore was used several times, mention of alcohol

Masterlist 1

Masterlist 2

Rhaegal grinned at the sight of king's landing finally coming to view. He stirred Vyraxes towards the dragonpit where guards were waiting for him with a horse. He knew that his brother's health has been very fragile and he has been sick for many years now, according to Daemon.

The horse ride did not take long since Rhaegal was eager to see his family, he was merelt thirteen when he left on his journey of travels and seeing adventure and now he was a man grown. Viserys and his wife were standing by the gates awaiting his arrivel.

"Brother" Viserys smiled as much as he could with his mask on. Rhaegal's heart broke at the sight of his mighty king brother.

"Your grace" Rhaegal bowed to his brother. Viserys waved him off and pulled him in for a hug. Rhaegal's eyes wandered behind Viserys noticing his nieces and nephews along with Daemon and their children.

"You have been missed dearly, brother" Viserys pulled away and looked over his brother. Rhaegal has long hair reaching just below his shoulders and it was identical to Daemon's hair. However Rhaegal's eyes mismatched just like their mother's eyes, one amethyst and the other blue. He was tall and lean from training and he had his sword, Silverlight, was on his belt.

"I have missed you as well brother, I see your children are not little anymore" Rhaegal moved his gaze to the three silver haired children behind Viserys, three boys and one girl.

"Do not dare skip me, brother" Daemon teased stepping forward. Rhaegal's smile became brighter at the sight of his favorite brother.

"I would not dare" Rhaegal pulled Daemon in for a hug as they laughed with one another. Rhaenyra noticed Alicent fuming expression at being ignored by the new prince and smirked.

"Are you not going to greet your uncle?" Rhaegal turned to the four children. He called them halfbreed being half Hightower and not pure Targaryen. The ahort haired prince stepped over first with a smug smirk on his face.

"Aegon I assume" Rhaegal smirked right back at him. Aegon nodded his head and pulled his uncle in for a hug, he had been very young when Rhaegal had left and had no memory of his uncle, not even a shadow of one.

"I am shocked you left your cups, dear nephew" Rhaegal whispered in Aegon's ear. The latter pulled away with a glare and moved back to stand in line. Then stepped the one eyed prince who had an emotionless face, Rhaegal sympythised with the prince who got no justice in place of his eye.

"Uncle" Aemond mere nodded and moved back in line, not one for physical touch Rhaegal noticed. Daeron stepped over next still a very young boy and bowed his head at his uncle.

"You have grown boy" Rhaegal patted the young man on his shoulder. His gaze finally fell on his second niece who was staring at himshyky almost. She stepped over and gave him a small smile, she barely remembered him unlike Aegon she cherished memories from her youth.

"Welcome back uncle" Rhaenyra broke the staring contest and pulled Rhaegal in for a hug. He patted her back but resumed staring at Halaena who was looking at her hands shyly.

"I believe Rhaegal is tired and in need of some rest" Viserys broke the awkward silence. He ignored the glare his wife was giving him for not addressing the fact that Rhaegal did not acknowledge her presence.

"I fear I have forgotten my way around here, may I borrow Halaena to show me the way?" Rhaegal kept on an innocent facade on which decieved even Daemon. Halaena's head snapped up at the mention of her name and eyed her father awaitinghis answer. Viserys nodded too tired at this point to argue.

Rhaegal held out his arm for his niece to take. They walked in silence for a second until they were a good distance away from the rest of the family. Rhaegal reached into his pocket and pulled out a small book, it was as big as his palm and no more.

"Here" Rhaegal held it out to his niece, of course he had presents for everyone in the family. Halaena's eyes widened noticing he was trying to hand her something.

"What is that, Kepus?" Halaena asked. She took the book in her fre hand and looked up at him. Rhaegal remembered Halaena as a baby but now she was a woman grown and his heart hammered in his chest whenever he tookn a glance her way so he decided to keep his gaze on the way they were walking in.

"A book of all the bugs and insects in Dorne, I know there are no books pf them here" Rhaegal answered. Halaean removed her hand from his elbow and scrambled to open the book curiously. Her steps did not stop as she looked at the first page which was about some type of beetle.

"Thank you a lot, Kepus, I will read it with you in mind" Halaena looked back up at him with a genuine smile on her pretty face. They came to a stop in front of a door, he remembered as his own room.

"Is that all I get?" Rhaegal smirked down at her. Halaena blushed and looked at the wall behind him. A couple of seconds passed in complete silence and Rhaegal was about to open the door and just walk in accepting that Halaena did not find his joke funny but she surprised him when she stretched on the tip of her toes and placed a small kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you, Kepus" She whispered. She turned around and hurried down the corridor leaving him frozen beside his bedchambers. Rhagael touched the place her lips touched earlier before stepping into his room.

"Your bath is ready, my prince" A handmaiden was already there preparing his bath. He did not answer and opted to concentrate on removing his belt which held Silverlight. He placed them on the sofa in front of the fireplace.

"Do you need anything, my prince" The handmaiden asked turning to face him. He shook his head which she took as a signal to leave him alone. Rhagael removed his tunic and followed by his linen and pants.

He let out a small sigh as he sunk down in the tub and leaned back enjoying the smell of the oils the handmaiden had placed in the water. He loved Helfyre but he grew bored of the smell of dragons and wet air from the rain they encountered on the way here.

Rhaegal fastened the last button on his black tunic when a knock on the door broke his cocintration. He called "Come in" As he fastened his belt around his waist securing Silverlight. He turned to see who walked in and froze at the sight of Halaena in her beautiful blue gown, it had some embroidery on it that matched the color of her hair that was tied back in a beautiful style.

"Kepus, I firgured since you do not remember the way to your bedchambers then you must have forgotten the way to the ballroom" Halaena spoke shyly. Rhaegall noticed her fidgeting with her fingers in front of her. He smiled and stepped over to her.

"You are right my dear niece, I seem to have mixed maps of the many palaces I have been to in my head" Rhaegal held out his arm again for her. She smiled shyly and linked their arms together and lead the way out of his room followed by their guards.

"I must admit Halaena, you look quit beautiful in this dress" Rhaegal whispered so their guards cannot hear. Halaena looked down at her dress with a blush on her cheeks.

"Thank you Kepus, you look handsome as well" Halaena responded. Even from a distance Rhaegal could see some of the guests arriving to the feast his brother orginized in his honor.

"Forgive me for interfering Kepus, but where is your lady wife? Has she not ucompinied you here?" Halaena looked up at him with a curious gaze. She always questioned her mother about him but never recieved an explination or any type of answer.

"I am unwed niece, my betrothed passed before our wedding and I remained unwed since then" Rhaegal answered. He was once betrothed to a beautiful girl from the house Arryn, a cousin of Aemma's, but she passed very young from a fever and Viserys left him be when he left on his travels after that. He did not love but he held some respect for her, they were two children back then.

"I apoligize, I should not have asked" Halaena gasped horified. Her free hand slapped up and over her mouth as if she wanted to block the words from coming out but it was too late.

"It is alright Halaena, it has been many years" Rhaegal chuckled. He patted her hand over his elbow to comfort her. She removed her hand from her mouth and nodded slightly. They were announced before stepping into the room.

Even from the doors he could see the furious look on Alicent's face as she sat beside Viserys on the head table. He stirred Halaena over to the table and bowed before his brother.

"Thank you, your grace for going through all this trouble for me" Rhaegal yet again ignored Alicent. Halaena removed her hand from his elbow when she noticed her mother's glare move to here.

"It was the Queen who orginized everything" Otto Hightower said. Rhaegal turned to him with a discrete glare on his face. He wanted to punch him in the face for speaking during a conversation Rhaegal was having with his brother.

“Thank you your grace, I am sure you spared no expense even your own health” Rhaegal sent Alicent a fake smile. She grinned proudly at finally being recognized and addressed by the prince.

“My dear husband missed his brother and I knew he would want a huge feast to welcome you back, my prince” Alicent replied. Rhaegal moved to take his seat beside Viserys with Daemon on his other side.

“Dorne did you good brother” Daemon joked eyeing Rhaegal’s tanned skin. He has been touring everywhere not wanting to miss any beauty in this world and ended up with sunburns several times.

“I went crazy from the amount of sun there” Rhaegal replied taking a sip of his wine. Daemon chuckled shaking his head and turned to look at Viserys on Rhaegal’s other side.

“Look what those Highcunts did to him” Daemon whispered. Rhaegal sighed sadly as he watched his brother use one hand to drink his wine. Rhaegal wished he could find some cure to help Viserys but his sickness was unknown.

“What can be done?” Rhaegal shrugged. He wanted noting but to jump over the table and punch Otto Hightower. He downed the rest of his wine and slammed his cup down on the table.

“Go find some maiden brother and unwind” Daemon joked. Rhaegal would never do that, to be honest he never felt any kind of pull towards women much, yes he had some whores here and there but not even close to Daemon.

“I am alright and in no need of unwinding” Rhaegal replied. Daemon let it go and turned back to Rhaenyra, his wife. Rhaegal always wondered if he would ever marry a relative like his family’s traditions. However when he became betrothed at nine name days he let that thought float away. But after seeing Halaena he did not mind thinking that way again.

Rhaegal stood up from his seat and descended down to mingle among the people attending the feast in his honor. Many lords and ladies through themselves on him for different reasons, the lords wanted favors while the ladies wanted his attention. Rhaegal gave one of the ladies a smile and slithered away. His gaze landed on Halaena sitting beside her mothered and her whore of a brother looking bored. So he made his way over to her again.

“You will honor me if you allowed me a dance with you, niece” Rhaegal whispered to her. Halaena’s head snapped in his direction. Alicent was watching the two closely, she was disgusted by the ways of the Targaryens and would rather die than let her own daughter marry a relative.

“The honor is mine, Kepus” Halaena placed her hand into his and got out of her seat. They descended down the stairs and to the dance floor. Rhaegal did not shy away from touching her and doing the right moves of the dance.

He ignored the burning glare or Alicent and Otto as he glided with Halaena around the dance floor. She giggled as her dress flared around her. Rhaegal grinned at the sound and he wanted to stay in that moment forever even though he still knew nothing about his little niece.

Rhaegal felt every nerve in his body shake but he refused to show it to anyone especially the guards that opened the doors to him or Alicent and Otto who were standing on either side of the king after he had requested a meeting with him.

“I requested to speak with the king not his wife and hand” Rhaegal hissed glaring at the two of them.

“His majesty does not make decisi-“ Otto began but Viserys raised his hand silencing him.

“Leave me and brother alone” Viserys ordered. Alicent and Otto had no arguments and left the room angrily.

“What is the reason for this meeting, brother?” Viserys questioned. Rhaegal’s nerves returned and he had to swallow the lump in his throat so he does not stumble through his words.

“I will not beat around the bush Viserys, I want to offer a betrothal for myself and your daughter Halaena” Rhaegal answered. Viserys’s eyebrows furrowed in shock, when did the two have time to meet but there was no need for that because Rhaegal liked his niece more than he thought he could when he first met her after he spent the entire night dancing and conversing with her throughout the feast.

“But she is betrothed to Aegon” Viserys stated.

“I know but who will be better to her?” Rhaegal answered cheekily. Viserys chuckled as a sense of deja vu hit him. The circumstances were different and much more innocent this time around but it seems his daughters were destined to marry their uncles.

That day the kingdom received the news of the betrothal of Prince Rhaegal and his niece Princess Halaena. Aegon was relieved that he did not have to marry his sister and he could still be free to his cups and whores.

[targaryenrealnessdarling]

A Mother for a Son

Summary: As Aemond leaves for a campaign at Storms End, he leaves his very pregnant wife struggle to bring their child into the world, suffering the consequences | Mini-Series Masterlist

Warnings: Childbirth, Death, Major Angst, tbh this is pure angst and nothing else to it I just like making myself sad, sorry

You hissed in pain as you tried to stand up straight, one hand instinctively resting on your lower back. A deep inhale didn't help matters either, but you felt maybe it was better than trying to soldier through the tightness. One hand was clamped around the handle of the chair, feet shuffling to go to sit in front of the fire and as you slumped into the chair, finally feeling the relief and pressure off your feet, your hand rested on the large bump on your belly. The infant inside as if feeling the touch of its mother kicked back, hurting slightly but it still bought a smile to your face.

"I wish you would not take your time, little one" you muttered, eyes wandering to the crackling fire, its heat almost soothing you through your thin nightdress. These days you had no use for heavy evening dresses, the past few weeks you had been confined to your nightdress exclusively as the pregnancy progressed to the end.

Your eyes fluttered open as your felt his hand on your swollen belly, your own lifting up to hold his arm lovingly, eyes meeting his lilac one. He looked down at you with such admiration and your heart swelled with love feeling his hands rub the bump.

He was dressed in his leathers to ride, braced for the cold that the storm outside would no doubt bring. Despite this, he knelt at your side, taking your hand to bring tenderly to his lips, peppering small kisses to your fingers, your palm and eventually on your unborn child. Your first child.

Your fingers delicately rubbed across his cheek, the only sound was the fire crackling and he wanted nothing more than to just stay with you, take care of you, for he knew how much pain you were in so late into the pregnancy.

"Must you go" you ask your husband. His eye opens to meet you again, a soft, sad look on his features.

"I must" he answered sadly, seeing your response, "I wish I did not have to, especially seeing the pain you are in, gevie ābrazȳrys"

You chuff at his words, "I do not feel beautiful. I feel like I am going to burst and every time they kick it hurts tremendously" you answer. Aemond smiled and looked back at the bump,

"Iksan qrīdrughagon, gaomagon daor ōdrikagon aōha muña, zaldrītsos" he says, making you smile.

The baby seemed to respond, a small kick appearing in his direction, earning a quiet laugh from you, "They heard you. Blood of the dragon indeed"

He seemed to linger by your side for a moment, taking your hands in his, a worried expression was clear on his features.

"I worry about you, my love. This is our first child, and you seem to be in such pain"

"Aemond…" you respond, touched by his concern. A concern that most husbands would not have for their wives. You reached out to his face, thumb grazing over the bottom of his scar. His lids seemed to flutter at your touch before meeting you again, as if in such bliss. "…my love, do not worry. Your mother has an army of midwives and she herself has had four children, I am in good hands"

There was a pause as you sat up in the chair, "Our child gives me strength, if they are anything like their father" you smile and so does he. Aemond seems to find this answer satisfactory as he leans up and gives you a tender kiss to your lips, feeling the warmth from your face on his. His hand rests on your jaw, pulling you further towards him as if wanting more, making your smile against his kiss. He pulled away and rested his forehead against yours, eyes focussed down on you,

"Please be careful" you say and he nods. He turned to leave, his hand lingering on yours for a moment before doing so, almost not wanting to leave, whether it be a small voice in his head telling him or not. He looked back once at the door, relishing the view he had before him. His pregnant wife, sat in front of the fire, smiling back lovingly at him. He nodded to you, muttering 'my lady wife' before leaving.

You felt a heaviness in your chest as he left, more in the hope that he would not be reckless once out on Vhagar. He could so often get carried away, you thought to yourself. Outside, the wind howled loudly and you could see the dark grey clouds in the sky run across the sky quickly, the rain creating rivers, you had not seen a storm this bad in King's Landing for a while. One could not tell if it was morning or evening, it was so dark with clouds.

A day had passed in King's Landing, but nobody would have known it. The storm raged on and on, the sun had yet to make an appearance and you had not heard a word from your husband. You stood at the window, hands tied together with anxiety, looking out at all the trees barren of their leaves, the wind having stripped them of their greenery. You took a deep breath, a kick from the baby landing straight on your bladder and you quickly took a seat at the window.

"Heed your father's warning, little one" you say, one hand rubbing over the large bump, remembering the way Aemond had spoken to the unborn child.

A knock at the door broke you out of this trance, Ser Criston Cole stepped in, "Yes?" you inquire.

"Queen Alicent, Princess"

You nodded and he stepped aside to allow the Queen to enter your chambers, a worried look on her features. She had her hair down as if to go to sleep but was dressed with a silk green robe over her, hands clasped together she offered a small smile which you reciprocated.

"You look tired, my dear" she said, coming to sit beside you once the door had closed. Your hand was still supporting the bump as if the weight was pulling down on you, you nodded.

"It is so, your Grace. I do not sleep at all with the weight of the baby" you answer, letting out a small groan of pain.

"I am sure the worry for my son is not helping your condition" she said, this is when your eyes met. You nodded sadly, looking out the window now.

"I worry about him, your Grace. Although you must also, I imagine. He is your son" you offer her a smile.

"Yes…" she trails off, "…I remember the day he was born. He was an easy labour, an easy child, seldom crying"

This made you smile, of course he would have been a good child. As if the gods had formed him themselves, you could only wish the same for your child.

Alicent had always been good to you and she was ecstatic to find you with child many moons ago. Of course, she already had grandchildren from Halaena and Aegon, but this time it was different, she was more attentive, almost overly so. Aemond had been the same when you informed him, excited but restrained somewhat. He often ran you baths to soothe your aching body, dressing you in moments of weakness, you could not have wished for a better and more attentive husband. His kindness astounded you. 

You went to say something, when a pain hit you in a new place, sending a shock of pain through your hips. You moaned out in pain, louder this time, clutching your thighs and leaving marks where your fingers had been.

"What is wrong, my dear?" you heard Alicent say, but her voice was muffled through the wall of blurred pain you were still experiencing. That had been different, you thought, and your mind raced with the possibilities. The pregnancy was nearing its end and this was the thought that worried you the most, your hands began to shake in fear.

"Something is wrong…" you said quietly, so hushed thar Alicent had not heard you as you starting to slowly kneel to the ground, one hand in front to stabilise yourself.

Alicent herself got on the floor in front of you so as to hear you better, one hand placed at your arm in comfort. Your hand brushed your thigh and you pulled it from beneath your nightdress to find that your entire palm was bright red with blood, Alicent was now silent, taking one wide look at your hand and then into your eyes.

Your eyes had welled up with tears, some for the pain and some for the fear, but you met Alicent's eyes.

"Something is wrong" you said more clearly now.

The wave of pain began just then and like a military operation, midwives surrounded you, setting down dark towels on the bed to place you on top. As you were laid on the bed, the pain worsened and you kept screaming out with every contraction, the midwives and Alicent attempting to calm you down without any help whatsoever.

Now, the room had filled up with a dozen people, two of which were the Hightowers huddled in the corner. Alicent's face was red with worry and he kept rubbing her hands together, speaking in low voices with her father,

"This is not usual" Alicent said to her father, he shook his head, eyes every now and then landing on you reeling in pain on the bed, "even with four children, father, I know that this should not happen"

"Has word been sent to Aemond?" he asked, Alicent nodded her head quickly, "What has been said"

"That the Princess has begun her labours"

"Good, it would be best to leave the in-depth details"

You shook your head, wanting the pain to just cease, muttering under your breath Make it stop, make it stop. You pulled yourself to your knees weakly, grasping the bed frame, being upright making the pain slightly less unbearable. You could feel the pressure of the baby trying to make its way out, this feeling remained through the next contraction.

"Where is my husband!" you scream out, Alicent is at your side immediately, holding your hand,

"He is on his way back, my dear, you are doing brilliantly" she said, you held her hand tightly. Through your blurry vision you saw Halaena had entered the room, perhaps to offer some support, but the thought left your head as quickly as it had entered as another quick contraction ripped through you like a dagger.

"I need him, I need him now. Something is wrong, Alicent…" all pleasantries of titles were thrown out of the window as the pain seared through you, like a hot poker had been pressed harder and harder into you.

"You are doing well, my dear, I know it is painful but you just have to push" she said. You swear you could hear the wood splinter as you grabbed the bedframe again, fingernails dug deep in it to alleviate the pain inside your body. The midwife sat behind you pulled your shift to your waist to examine.

The midwife slowly approached Otto in the corner, "She is not progressing quick enough, we must consider the possibilities"

Otto looked sadly at Alicent, who as if knowing exactly what they had been talking about, turned back to you, placing a cloth to your forehead, face and chest now shining with sweat.

"Listen to me, my dear. You have to push for us, okay?" she instructed, motherly instincts now kicking in.

"An eye for an eye…" Halaena said quietly from the corner, nobody having heard her, "…a mother for a son…"

"I can't…" you reply, breathless, "…it hurts…please…where is my husband…" you ask in between breaths, contractions ramping up again. You looked over to Alicent, tears streaming down your face, her look was fierce now. She knew the pain of a child, she knew how the will wavered during labour and this knowledge seemed to spur her on to support you.

"You can" she simply said and you took a deep breath, pinning your eyes shut and pushing with all your might. Various hands reached at you, some in joy at finally seeing the head of the child you had so long laboured for finally appear. You gripped Alicent's hand tightly, taking in another deep breath to push once more.

"Just a little more, Princess!"

With one final scream and push, you felt the baby vacate you and an empty feeling dawned upon you. You found you were still gripping the bedframe hard, face still shining with sweat, body still shaking.

"Congratulations, Princess. You have a very healthy boy" once of the midwives said as they cleaned your baby. You heard his cries but they never registered, you still felt completely dissociated, dizzy…

Your back met the back of the bed, finally being able to lay down after so much toil, Alicent had a sad look on her face, still dabbing your forehead, "Well done" she said quietly.

Your heavy eyes landed on the midwife next to you, who was handing you the small bundle which your weak arms gratefully took. You looked down at the tiny human in your arms, with little wisps of hair on top. The child was barely bothered about the trouble it had caused and had its thumb in its mouth, breathing quietly. You could not help but smile down at the child, your finger running over his cheek slowly, they were flushed with the loveliest colour.

Aemond would be thrilled, you thought.

You looked up to Alicent, she was craned over, doting on the child already, "He is wonderful, my dear. Well done"

You smiled weakly, eyes fluttering closed, "I feel…tired…" you say weakly. Alicent furrowed her brows, seeing your face go pale slightly and arms go weak. Her eyes found the sheets and pulled them back, only to find the entire bed soaked in blood.

"Get the maesters, now!" Alicent said, but your senses were too blurred to notice what she had said, or how you were feeling. You could not explain how you felt exactly, there was pain to be sure, but it was disappearing second by second and a warm feeling was replaced. Feeling weaker by the second, Alicent quickly took the child from your arms, your hand instinctively went to reach out.

"Where is…Aemond…" you ask, his name ghosting on your lips over and over as midwives rushed out and maesters rushed in. But you barely noticed as your vision faded, smiling as you imagine Aemond with his child.

The next few hours were a blur for the Red Keep. Alicent had confined herself to her own chambers, sitting disassociated in her armchair, the child now with the maids for care. Opposite her sat her father, Otto, who was also absent-mindedly staring into the fire. The storm had finally passed, leaving just the dark night sky behind, scattered with stars and the big bright moon.

Alicent bit her lip to stop herself from crying, fingers grasping the arms of her chair tightly.

At the door, Ser Criston, "The Prince is back, my Queen" he simply said. With lightning speed, Alicent raced up, Criston Cole not far behind, briskly walking through the Red Keep's corridors to meet her son before anyone else.

At the end of the hallway, Aemond had rounded the corner, looking wet through and heavy. He met his mother's eyes, but he seemed vacant and Alicent felt her heart panic, did he already know? She thought to herself.

She ran to her son, taking his cold hands in hers. His mouth hung slightly open as if to say something, "Aemond, what happened? You are freezing" she said hurriedly. It took a few moments for Aemond himself to have the courage to face his mother, to find the right words for what he had done…

"Mother…" he finally replied. Alicent was surprised when she found his eyes, he looked as if he was going to cry, his face was wind struck, hair still damp and his voice was barely a whisper, "…I fear I must tell you…the terrible thing I have done…" he said.

Alicent gripped her son's hands tighter, behind her Halaena had stopped to stand next to Criston Cole, this made Aemond's mind rush slightly, why were so many people anticipating his return…unless they knew.

"Do not worry about that now, let us get you warm-"

"I lost control" he simply interrupted, Alicent fell silent, furrowing her brows.

"What do you mean?"

"I was just trying to frighten him…I…." he trailed off, his eyes found the floor, a spot of rain fell down his face.

"Aemond, what happened" Alicent asked, just wanting a straight answer.

Aemond could no longer process it and fell to his knees, Alicent held his head against her as if in protection of her large son, "Luke…"

A wave of realisation hit Alicent at what he meant and she looked behind her at Criston and her daughter, Halaena was already looking down muttering to herself, a mother for a son, a mother for a son. It was only here that Alicent had realised what Halaena actually meant and her face went white as a sheet, her hand still being grasped by her son, kneeling on the floor.

After gathering some part of himself, Aemond stood finally, allowing the servants to take his soaked coat away from him.

"Where is my wife?" he asked quietly, taking a breath. There is was, the fated question. Alicent was silent again and almost stood stock still in her place before realising Aemond was walking down the corridor to his chambers, where he knew his wife would be.

"Aemond!" Alicent shouted after him, "Aemond, stop!"

Ser Criston joined in the chase, going to push Aemond back out the room as soon as he had entered, attempting to shield him from this hurt. But it had been too late.

His eyes scanned the room for a moment, there were many maesters and maids in the room before him. The maids all paused to give the Prince a curtsey before resuming their duties, before continuing to wash the blood stained sheets in the pink water before them. The sheer sight of this horrified Aemond, making his heart sink into his stomach.

Criston's hand had been on his chest the entire time, "My Prince, it is best you leave" he said, making eye contact with Alicent who was standing by the door, a sad expression on her face.

Aemond did not violently break free, but simply stepped forward into the room. His face was still, mouth slightly agape as he saw a bloodied figure laying in the bed, but still not confirming who it may have been.

The maester who was hovering over the figure turned to the Prince, "My Prince, please, we are preparing the body-"

Aemond had ignored everyone and continued over to the bed. His breath died in his throat when he saw you, his wife, the entire bottom half of the bed caked in dark blood. You lay there on the bed, eyes slightly opened and your bloodied hand reaching out for nothing, Aemond had realised now he had fallen to his knees on the floor before the bed.

"No…" is all he said, his hands shakily reached out to take your outstretched one, surprised by the still and coldness of it. He felt the hot tears begin to spill down his face as he looked upon yours, "….my love, please…"

He could not help the feeling of guilt that spread in his chest, consuming his heart. Whether he liked it or not, he had become a murderer, a kinslayer, in a mere night. He had taken away someone's son, so his son took away his wife.

He felt the desire to avenge your death, but the tears flowed quicker with the knowledge that nobody was responsible for your death, except for him. He knew women often succumbed to blood loss and infections from childbirth, but thought that because of your pure soul and the unwavering love you had for him, surely you would be exempt from such a cruel fate.

 Aemond did not leave you the entire evening until forced to by the maesters and the sisters.

How the gods could be cruel, he thought, when confined to his own room. He had not even dared look at his newborn son, fearing he may inflict some kind of doom on him also. Or maybe he feared he might push guilt onto the baby for your death. He had what any noble gentleman wanted, a son. But he did not feel any richer from this and was instead consumed by loss for weeks.

When he eventually spurred up the courage to see his son for the first time, he could not shift the ghost of your face that was visible in the child's features. He only felt empty. Like a part of his soul had been ripped from him. Perhaps this part of him would be lost forever.

Alicent never saw her son again as she knew him before.

[genz420]

Masterlist

House of the Dragon 🐉

Aemond Targaryen 🗡️

The Fire That Burns Within Us - Finished

The Blood Of The Dragon, The First Men, And The River 

Beauty of Scars & Flowers

Daeron Targaryen  ⛺️ 

Daeron x x Betrothed!Reader

Percy Jackson ⚡

General Headcannons 🧡 

First Date Headcannons

Their Favourite reality TV show

Movie Night Headcannons

Small way they tell you “I love you”

How they Confuse their feelings

First Date Heacannons PT. 2

Their Favourite Type of Music

Guilty Pleasure Media

Dealing with a drunk reader Headcannons

Percy Jackson 🥞 

Rainy days with Percy

Alabaster C. Torrington 🃏 

Alabaster C. Torrington x reader Headcannons

Alabaster x daughter of Hestia!reader - date drabble

Alabaster x daughter!of the Fates Headcannons?

Cabin 1 🌧️ 

Cabin Headcannons

Cabin 7 ☀️ 

Cabin Headcannons 

Cabin 9 🔨 

Cabin Headcannons

Cabin 11 ✉️ 

Cabin Headcannons 

Cabin 12 🍇 

Cabin Headcannons

Cabin 13 💀 

Cabin Headcannons

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Beauty of Scars & Flowers

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