Song: Ramin Djawadi - Hodor

Warnings: angst, fluff,

Artwork: Elizabeth Pyre on twitter!

•••

Aemond rushes to his readied horse. His breathing fast in his throat because of the way he ran across the entire castle.

'Up ahead!' A guard yells making everyone halt.

Aemond refrains from mounting his horse when he spots something he wouldn't have dreamed of in a thousand years.

The white stag supporting the princess of Dragonstone towards the gates of the castle. It is indeed as his sister said. The white stag, send by the gods, will save her.

He feels relief seep into his skin and bones at the sight of you. Quickly it gets replaced with panic yet again when the further you get into the light, the more blood seems to cover your body and face.

He drops everything, just like before, to rush over to you as you thank the stag for bringing you back as unharmed as can be.

The stag disappears before Aemond can reach the both of you. You suppose it does not like to be seen, it's rarity putting a target on its back.

'Aemond...' you breath as he rushes up to you.

His hands are all over you the second he reaches you. He tries to spot any of the physical damage, his eyes returning to the blood constantly.

'It is not mine...the blood...' you speak, voice ragged and broken from the screaming and cold air. He wraps his arms around you and kisses your head.

His hand comes up to cup your cheek. He flinches of the coldness of your skin. 'We should head inside...'

He wants to grab your hand but then notices the ropes still bound around your wrists. He growls lowly as anger fills him. How could they do this to you?!

Due to his body heat, you start to shake. Feeling the coldness of your own body now. Aemond immediately removes the cloak and wraps it around you tightly.

'You will get blood on it...' you speak.

'Hush, do you honestly think I would care for that?' He speaks. He turns his head. 'Get the Maester!'

'No, I need to show them... I am not.. weak...' You speak as you begin to walk towards the entrance, Aemond watches you with big eyes.

'You are hurt, Princess-'

'They can't... know that.. need to show.. them...'

'At least let me help...' he pleads. You nod at him to give him permission.

•••

'I hear something!' Baela says, catching the entire tables attention. All heads turn to the door that opens.

It reveals you and Aemond making a few gasp at your appearance. Rhaenyra immediately springs up as well as she can with the huge belly, to hug you close to her.

'Are you hurt?' Daemon asks making you look at him. Your chin is still held high, there's no trace of even one tear and he must say that the pride is swelling in his chest at the moment.

'No..' comes your gravelled voice. 'Blood is not mine...'

'My dear girl...' Rhaenyra speaks as she slowly peels away the ropes, revealing deep wounds. 'Will heal..' you tell her and she nods. 'I am sorry.. this should have never happend...'

You give her a nod as you continue to walk around the table. When you pass Jace and Luc they want to stand up and speak but your hand that shoots up tells them to keep their mouths shut.

'Grandfather...' you speak as you kiss his cheek to greet him like you normally do.

'Grandmama...' you do the same with Alicent.

The rest of the table remains silent until you have joined your seat at the table, in between Heleana and Aemond.

'Y/n my dear, eat and drink.. you must be famished...' Alicent urges you and everyone else to start the dinner finally.

Everyone digs into the food and the wine, including you. The rope burn however makes it difficult to enjoy it. Alicent was right, you are famished, yet you loose your appetite with every painful jab.

'I know I cannot summon you to do anything.. but will you let me take care of you first? You cannot let the pain starve you...' Aemond whispers.

'Yes..' you nod. 'You may..'

•••

'You should be in your knees, thanking the gods that she survived such a cruel deed!' Rhaenyra tells her two boys.

'It was Aegons idea-'

'Does it look like I care about who came up with the idea? You two are foolish for even thinking about doing this to your own sister!' Daemon adds equally furious.

'Did you not see the state she was in this evening?! If she spend even a second more out there she would have died! Then you would not only have our wrath upon you but also that of the queen and her son...'

'Like you care!' Jace speaks up. 'You have never been kind to her so why should we!'

'I have made grave mistakes, yes, but I would never harm her in this way! Your sister and I spoke about the issue and since I've been trying to show her I do care... imagine my anger when I need to hear from Aegon that she has been tied to a tree in the middle of the most dangerous woods in all of Westeros! If Heleana hadn't spoken, we wouldn't even know!'

'You need to be glad she still has some trust left to give to at least one person... because she will never be able to fully trust anyone again, do you understand that?'

'Yes we understand...' the boys nod.

'You best think of a way to apologize to your sister, do you hear me?' Daemon tells the boys and they nod once again.

In the room down the hall, you are sat down on Aemond's lap, the bath you just had cleaned you from all the dried blood and managed to get you to warm up again. But you're not done.

Your head rests against his shoulder while your eyes droop closed every now and then. His warmth and humming making you feel safe and with it, sleepy.

The occasional hisses leave your lips when his fingers smear the thick mixture of herbs onto the wounds on your wrist. 'I should be thankful, that this is all I have...' you speak, your voice already less groggy because of the tea provided by Alicent.

'You should not have anything at all...' his voice is low and strained by the anger he has for his brother and nephews.

'I should not have gone with them...'

'Hmm, but that does not mean you are at fault, you should be able to trust family...' You nod, unable to form a reply.

After he wraps his work in cloths, he looks at you again. 'All done... this should help with the healing.. but it will leave scars... there is nothing I can do to not make them leave scars unfortunately...' He speaks, making you sit up slightly.

'Scars are lessons...' you mutter, he turns his head at you and it's then you notice he is no longer wearing his eyepatch.

'They are...' he agrees.

'Since when do you have the sapphire? It's beautiful...' you reach out to touch it and Aemond lets you.

He knows you to be gentle with touch, with your words not so much, that's what draws him to you. To the right people, you can be so gentle and loving, to those who wrong you, you usually have a vile tongue.

He can't help but close his eyes as your still cold fingers glide over the skin around the scar. He doesn't think anymore but rather acts without thinking.

His hand comes up to slide over yours before he brings your wrist towards his lips and gently kisses the bandage.

Surprisingly it does not hurt, you don't flinch away and you do not urge him to stop. 'Let us get you to bed, princess...you must be incredibly tired...'

'I am...' you accept his help getting up and into your bed. 'I have not thanked you...Aemond...'

'There is no need, Princess... it is my duty-'

'Ah... ever so dutiful...' you smile at him, making him smile. 'Are you certain it wasn't because you missed me?' You joke.

'There she is again... I wish you a good night...'

'Good night Aemond...'