" Tell me what happened?"

Vaemyra stands before her father, the King's Guard and the Hand, still in her dragon-scented clothes, inside the candlelit room of her bed chambers where her husband's body has just been removed and will be soon prepared for his funeral.

" Someone climbed in through the window and killed him," Vaemyra lies without a second thought.

" Did you see their face?" Viserys asks, to which his daughter shakes his head, then he turns to his guards, " Search the grounds. Our killer might yet still be here."

As the King's Guard departs, her father hobbles closer to her whilst using his cane for balance.

" I am sorry for your loss, Vaemyra," He utters softly, " Ser Arthur was such a fine man."

" Indeed," Vaemyra lies once more as she nods.

Viserys gives his daughter a gentle kiss on her head, before hobbling out of the room with his Hand, and just while Vaemyra thinks she'll be all alone, she turns around to see the Queen standing by her door.

The two women lock eyes, and speak no words to each other. Alicent seems to know exactly what happened, or at least has her suspicions. And if anything... she's quite envious. Of course, she's grown to love her dear husband... but marriage has stolen so much from her. It's given her a loving family... but at what cost?

" Goodnight, princess," Alicent utters.

" Goodnight, my Queen," Vaemyra nods.

In the days that come, Arthur's funeral is nothing special. Sure, people mourn his loss, but for Vaemyra, it's all for show, for what she truly wants to do is celebrate. She doesn't want to pretend to be sad for a day, sad about her husband being murdered, because she's the one who killed him in the first place. But, nonetheless, she presents herself the way the public wishes to see her-- as a grieving widow.

By the end of the day, she's sat with her sister, who holds her hand as the two girls overlook the sea together.

" How are you feeling?" Rhaenyra asks.

" Sȳz (Fine)" Vaemyra responds simply.

" Sepār sȳz? (Just fine?)" The heir questions.

To which Vaemyra slowly turns her head to lock eyes with her sister.

" Ao gīmigon skoro syt gaoman daor ilimagho (You know why I do not mourn)"

Rhaenyra nods as she understands her sister's words. After all, Vaemyra had to confide in someone during the hellish escapades of marriage.

As the sisters sit on the bench, just enjoying the solitude and the salty sea air, they're soon joined by Rhaenyra's husband.

" Princesses," Laenor nods as he places his hands behind his back, " Should I offer my condolences?"

" They're not needed, Laenor," Vaemyra responds, then turns her head to face him, " But thank you for asking."

Laenor gives a gentle smile, before he steps forward and grabs the sister's intertwined hand, and places a kiss on both their fingers. He then steps away to give the girls more time together, and away from the crowd.

" Borros has been looking for you all morning," Rhaenyra notes.

" Let him," Vaemyra sighs, " It doesn't mean he will find me."

The day ends without any notable events. The people mourn, and Vaemyra pretends to, and by the time she's back in her room, a smirk dances upon her lips.

She's gotten away with it all, and for another year, Vaemyra thinks she'll never be married again. And she thinks nothing of it when her father sends her on a diplomatic mission to Dorne. To her, it just means that she's growing older and assuming more duties. Vaemyra makes sure to give some love to Freya before she departs. As much as she loves her, Freya is not the dragon she will be riding. She scratches underneath Freya's jaw, making her groan with delight. With a smile on her face, Vaemyra hops onto Drea and settles herself in the saddle, before flying off into the Westerosi heat and heading south to that of Dorne, home to House Martell.

She's greeted by the head of House Martell who, in turn, introduces her to his younger brother.

" Prince Allares Martell," The man greets as he plants a gentle kiss on her hands.

" It's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Allares," Vaemyra utters as her cheeks are painted the faintest shade of pink.

" Come, allow me to show you Sunspear."

Vaemyra is quite blown away by the landscape around her. Allares gives her a tour and shares the history of nearly every piece of brick within the palace. He leads her through the grounds and watches her eyes sparkle in delight. They end up in the middle of the palace, where a feast takes place.

" I cannot imagine that your trip to Sunspear is strictly for... pleasure," Allares notes as he stands before her.

" You are correct. Though my trip has still been quite... pleasurable," Vaemyra smirks as she steps forward, " I come on behalf of the crown."

" And what does the crown wish for?"

" An ally."

Allares almost scoffs.

" Princess, you are aware of the history between our two houses, yes?" He asks.

" Extensively," Vaemyra nods.

" Then how can you expect House Martell to possibly consider the crown to be an ally?" Allares questions, " Your people have not exactly been very kind to mine."

" You are correct," Vaemyra affirms, " Yet Dorne still lacks Naval protection, which the crown can provide."

" At what cost?"

" Let us first start with some wine."

Allares chuckles at her words, but pours her a cup of sour Dornish wine for her to enjoy along with the food that he handpicks for her. Allares gives Vaemyra a taste of everything Dorne has to offer, and she gladly accepts it all. He hand-feeds her green grapes from a vine he picked himself, and cannot help but stare as the juice spills down her lips.

Allares, captivated by Vaemyra's beauty and charm, can't resist the temptation any longer. He reaches out with a silk handkerchief and gently wipes the droplets of juice from her lips, his touch sending a shiver down her spine.

" I must be going," She mutters.

" You cannot leave before I have the pleasure of sharing a dance with you," Allares recounts as he takes a step forward.

Vaemyra hesitates, her mind filled with conflicting thoughts and desires. She knows that indulging in a dance with Allares could potentially complicate matters, but there is a magnetic pull between them that she finds hard to resist. The allure of the moment sweeps her away, and she finally gives in to the temptation. A soft smile graces her lips as she extends her hand towards Allares.

"Very well, Prince Allares. A dance it shall be."

Allares' face lights up with delight as he takes her hand in his, his touch warm and gentle. The strains of music fill the air once more, the melodies wrapping around them like a velvet embrace. They move together, their bodies swaying in perfect harmony, lost in the rhythm and the intoxicating energy of the dance. As they twirl and glide across the floor, a palpable connection forms between them. Vaemyra feels a sense of liberation and exhilaration as they move as one, guided by the music and their shared desires. In Allares' arms, she finds solace and a respite from the burdens she carries. Their gazes meet, and in that moment, they communicate without words. There is an understanding, a recognition of the deep yearning they both share. Vaemyra sees a flicker of vulnerability in Allares' eyes, an echo of her own hidden desires. It is a fleeting but profound connection, one that lingers in the air around them. The dance continues, and with each passing moment, Vaemyra feels her heart opening up, shedding the walls she has built to protect herself. Allares, too, reveals glimpses of his true self, sharing pieces of his soul with her through the language of their movement.

As the music begins to fade, their steps slow, and they come to a gentle stop. They stand there, breathless, their bodies still entwined, gazing deeply into each other's eyes. In that silent moment, the world around them seems to vanish, leaving only the undeniable chemistry that crackles in the air.

" I do hope this is not your last visit to Sunspear, princess," He mutters, his voice low and husky, " To never again gaze upon your beauty would truly be hell on Earth."

Vaemyra's breath catches in her throat as she listens to Allares' heartfelt words. The intensity of his gaze and the sincerity in his voice stir something within her. She feels a powerful connection forming, one that surpasses the realm of political alliances and familial feuds.

"I cannot deny the allure of Sunspear and the company I find within its walls," She replies, her voice barely above a whisper, "To bid farewell forever would indeed be a great loss."

Allares takes a step closer, his hand gently caressing the curve of Vaemyra's cheek.

"Then let it not be a farewell, but a beginning," He suggests, his eyes filled with a mix of longing and hope.

His words make Vaemyra's heart flutter and pound in her chest. She feels herself blush, all the way up to her departure.

" Until we meet again, Princess Vaemyra."

Vaemyra's return trip to Dorne comes after she sends Laena a letter, trying to rekindle something that may not yet be there, even if she doesn't hear back. But her time spent with Prince Allares more than makes up for it. He treats her, well, like a princess. Feeding her by hand, guiding her through the palace and showing her his homeland, having Dornish dresses made specifically for her, of which she wears whenever she visits, for she frequents Sunspear often.

Every few weeks or so, Vaemyra returns on dragon back in Sunspear, and is happily greeted by her prince. Their adventures continue for quite some time. Nearly a year passes before Vaemyra's final trip to Sunspear comes to pass, only she's not aware of that fact. She sees Allares' solemn face, but he doesn't tell her just yet. He takes her to a private place. He takes her to a private corner of the gardens, surrounded by lush greenery and a small deck with grand columns before he finally breaks the news.

" I am to be married... to another woman."

Vaemyra's lips form a frown, her brows furrow just the slightest as her breath hitches. She doesn't know what she was thinking. She never knew if their escapades would last... but she hoped they wouldn't come to an end so soon.

" Is this my last trip to Dorne?"

" For the foreseeable future... yes."

The princess takes a shakey breath, feeling her nose tingle as her eyes fill up with tears. Allares takes notice, and steps forward to gently wipe away her tears with his thumb.

" Do not shed tears for me, my dragon," He whispers.

Allares carefully kisses the top of her head, her eyes lulling shut as he does, then opening as his thumb strokes her cheek. No words are spoken, for a moment of silence is given. A moment of mourning. Mourning of what could have been, but never was. Mourning of what wasn't meant to be.

" We still have today," Allares mutters as he kisses her cheek.

" Then I suppose we should remember this moment," Vaemyra suggests as his lips trail down to her neck.

And everything is so... nice.

The opposite of what she's used to.

With Arthur, everything was so rushed and forced.

But with Allares... everything is gentle. All his touches are meaningful, and all his kisses are passionate. A fire ignites between them as their clothes are stripped, and Allares pleasantly surprises Vaemyra when his lips move down to her core. A shiver of pleasure runs up her spine as her eyes clamp shut.

But then, it's Vaemyra's turn.

She gets on her knees as he stands up. It doesn't matter that Vaemyra is inexperienced, for Allares loves any touch she will give him. He grabs her hair to pull her away then bends down to connect their lips, allowing each other to taste themselves.

Vaemyra straddles Allares's hips while their lips are still locked and sinks down, sending a moan out of their mouths. She moves in the way that feels right to her, moving up and down, or grinding against him. Allares then flips them around so Vaemyra is underneath him. He keeps a steady pace while his lips fight with hers, tongues classing and saliva falling down their chins. And only when Allares feels satisfied with how many orgasms the princess has received does he allow himself to spill his seed deep within her cunt as he moans into her mouth. The two stay like this until the sun sets, together and naked in the gardens. Allares just holds her, occasionally peppering kisses along her skin.

But it's the last moment they will ever have together.

Vaemyra and Allares hold each other in the gardens, before they place their clothes back onto their bodies and Vaemyra mounts her dragon. She gives Allares one final tear-filled glance, before the pain becomes too much to bear, and she flies off on her dragon to go back to King's Landing.

As Vaemyra soars through the skies on the back of her dragon, her heart heavy with sorrow and longing, she can't help but feel a sense of emptiness. The once vibrant and vivacious princess now feels as if a piece of her soul has been torn away. The knowledge that Allares will belong to another woman, while she is left behind with nothing but bittersweet memories, weighs heavily on her.

Back in King's Landing, Vaemyra finds herself consumed by a profound sadness. The days blend together as she plunges into a deep depression, unable to escape the haunting thoughts of what could have been. She seeks solace in the bottom of countless wine goblets, losing herself in a haze of drunkenness as she wanders through the city streets.

One particular district becomes her refuge—the Street of Silk. Known for its brothels and pleasures of the flesh, it offers Vaemyra a temporary escape from her sorrow. She seeks temporary companionship, trying to drown her pain in physical pleasures, if only for a fleeting moment. The nights blend into one another as she becomes a regular visitor, seeking oblivion and distraction in the arms of strangers.

But with each encounter, Vaemyra finds no solace, only a deepening sense of emptiness. The physical acts are hollow, devoid of the passion and connection she once shared with Allares. Each morning, as she wakes with a throbbing headache and a profound sense of regret, the weight of her actions settles upon her shoulders, amplifying her despair.

Days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, as Vaemyra continues her self-destructive path. The once radiant princess is now a mere shadow of her former self, lost in the abyss of her own despair. Her once vibrant spirit dims, and the spark that once burned brightly within her begins to fade.

Amidst Vaemyra's darkest moments, her family remains a constant presence in her life, each member responding to her pain in their own unique way.

Aegon has always had a lighthearted and carefree demeanor. He views Vaemyra's drinking escapades as a form of amusement, believing her to be a 'fun drunk.'

Aemond, on the other hand, harbors a secret infatuation for Vaemyra. He is captivated by her beauty and spirit, and his admiration only intensifies.

Helaena, the gentle and nurturing sister, is deeply empathetic towards Vaemyra's pain. Helaena becomes Vaemyra's pillar of strength, offering a shoulder to cry on and a compassionate ear to listen. She provides soothing herbal teas to help alleviate the symptoms of Vaemyra's hangovers, and she is always ready with a warm embrace and gentle words of encouragement.

In the wake of Vaemyra's depression and desperation, Rhaenyra's focus has primarily been on tending to her own children. While she may have noticed the changes in her sister's demeanor, she has been unable to grasp the depths of Vaemyra's pain and the desperate need for support.

Even Alicent is more observant than Rhaenyra, though the Queen cares more about the influence Vaemyra has over her children, especially considering how young Aegon has been mirroring his sister's drinking habits. Viserys is far too preoccupied to notice his daughter's pain and suffering, or perhaps he has just turned a blind eye to it.

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