Aemond watched as Elyana read quietly next to him the reading he assigned to her. His one eye was burning her face, and it would not leave her body. No matter how many times he tried to pry his eye off her, he could not. He hated that he wanted to watch her and that he wanted to stare at her.

Aemond's little viewing party was interrupted by a slight knock to his doors, and without him even answering his mother, the Queen, was bursting into his chambers uninvited. Gods he hated whenever she did that. Alicent stopped in her tracks as she noticed Elyana sitting next to the prince, and the maid stood hastily to curtsy as she noticed the queen.

"Your grace." Elyana mumbled nervously as she darted her gaze to the ground and away from the Queen. "Oh... Elyana Rotchamsey, is it? I've been eager to meet you." Alicent said coldly, her eyes darting to the philosophy book the maid held in her hands. Eager to meet her? Why would his mother be eager to meet a maid?

"Yes, your grace." Elyana answered as Alicent gave her a tiny smile. "It is good to finally meet you. You are as pretty as your mother described.... Now will you be so kind as to leave me with my son, dearest?" Alicent asked Elyana. The girl nodded her head and rested the book on Aemond's desk, scrambling off out of his apartments.

As soon as the door shut behind Elyana, Alicent eyed her son dubiously. "Why was she sitting with you on your desk? Were you drinking wine with her?" Alicent questioned as she eyed the desk.

"Because I wanted her to." Aemond answered nonchalantly as he stood to face his mother, who gave him a disapproving look.

"I allow you to have private servants because I know you will not be as depraved as your brother is. I do hope you remain that way. That girl has been through enough." Alicent scolded him as he raised a brow.

"How would you know what she's been through?" He asked, a certain discerning tone on his voice.

"Do you not? Everybody in the castle knows. Her father was a true knight, a high member of the City Watch. How come you do not know this? Have you truly payed her no regards?" Alicent asked as Aemond racked his brain trying to think if he ever asked her. Then he remembered, the day they met... How he dismissed her when she tried telling him about her father's death.

"Huh... I did not know. So she is not some worthless servant picked up from the scums of King's Landing?" Aemond asked, clearly intrigued. So he wouldn't stain himself if he touched her?

"No servant is worthless, Aemond! You treat your help with respect, is that clear?" Alicent berated him, making him roll his one eye ever so subtly.

"Hmm... So if she comes from a good put off family, why is she serving me now? What happened to her?" Aemond asked in confusion. Surely her family must have had some gold, why was she serving him now?

"When her father died, her mother was not able to manage what remained of their fortune and so they lost it all. Those two poor women fell from grace, she lost a father and her life... I took her mother in because I could not bear the thought of those two good women rotting away in the streets of the city." Alicent answered as Aemond hummed.

"So treat her well, and leave her honor intact. She does not need any more falling from grace." Alicent ordered. Aemond could not help the small smirk that toyed at his lips. He was already making plans for Elyana. Good plans.

"I came here to talk about your future bethrothed. We should pick someone soon, Aemond. Your father's death will knock at our door soon and we have to gather as much allies as we can." Alicent told him. Aemond pressed his lips together at the mention of the topic.

"You should court some of the ladies of the Red Keep. The Lannister's cousin, or maybe we could even invite one of the Baratheon girls to the castle. Or how about a Tyrell?" Alicent suggested, making Aemond snarl.

"I do not wish to court some feeble minded lady like Corryne Lannister. I want an intelligent wife, when I do find that in a lady I will let you know." Aemond was stern in his tone.

He had been putting his marriage off for some time now, but only because he had yet found a lady that he felt would fulfill him. He did not wish to marry a brainless lady that would do his every bidding. He wanted a challenge, someone strong and ample minded. Someone that he wouldn't tire of.

"Alright, but time is precious Aemond. Do make haste in finding yourself a lady of high standing  that is intellectually competent." Alicent told him as he nodded his head. "Will you join me and Helaena for lunch today?" Alicent asked her son.

No because he wished to see where Elyana had ran off to.

"I have things to do mother, I will join you for dinner." Aemond answered coldly. His mother gave him a small smile and a nod of her head, planting a soft kiss on his cheek and leaving his apartments.

Aemond awaited until he knew she would be far away from his apartments and then made haste to exit them. He found Ser Erryk standing at his door as usual. "Have you seen where Elyana went?" Aemond asked him stoicly. The knight seemed taken aback by the question, and quite confused but Aemond cared not for him and his little crush.

"Answer." Aemond ordered.

"I did not see where she went, my prince." Erryk answered, and Aemond knew he was lying but he decided to leave it. He was not going to waste his breath on his knight.

"Find her and bring her to me. Now." Aemond growled and then turned on his heel, stalking off down the hall. He stopped in his tracks and turned to Erryk.

"I am going to the courtyard to train, bring her there." Aemond ordered and then disappeared down the hall.

Aemond did not wish for Elyana to leave his side. He wished for his servant to remain loyally by him, so he could feel her close. For reasons he did not know, he wished for Elyana to be by him at all times now where he could keep his eye on her.

-

Elyana was sitting at her desk in her servant quarters as Darra lounged in her bed. After leaving Aemond's apartments, Elyana came back to her own as she had nothing to do and Darra had decided to join her. They were just talking about nonsense when suddenly a small knock was heard at the door.

"Yes?" Elyana called as the door opened to reveal Ser Erryk. He peeked his head into his chambers, shooting Elyana a small smile as he spoke. "Prince Aemond requests your presence." He informed her.

"Again? Isn't he with the Queen?" Elyana asked the knight. "The Queen has left his chambers. I believe Prince Aemond headed down to the courtyard to train, nonetheless he wished for your presence." Ser Erryk stated. Elyana pressed her lips together in clear disdain and nodded.

"I will speak to you later, Darra." Elyana told the girl as she simply smiled and nodded. Elyana and Ser Erryk walked together to the courtyard.

"Is everything alright with yourself and the prince, Elyana?" Erryk asked suddenly as Elyana huffed.

"I guess? He wanted to teach me philosophy? I do not know what that man thinks about half of the time." Elyana breathed out, making Erryk frown in confusion.

"Teach you philosophy? I've not heard of him doing that with previous servants..." Erryl trailed off. Suddenly curiosity creeped into her body at the mention of other servants before her. She had forgotten others held this position before her.

"What did he do with his previous servants?" Elyana asked the man as he shrugged. Did he use them and discard them like objects? Did he hurt them? Was she going to suffer the same fate?

"I am not sure. Frankly, you're the one to hold the position the longest. Most times he would be ferally screaming at them to leave after about a few days. Somedays they would quit on their own because he was so terrible..." Erryk trailed off, his gaze meeting Elyana's, with a look of pity.

"I am gutted you most serve my master... I-I know he can be quite an ill-tempered man." Erryk whispered softly, his strides stopping as they had reached the doors that led to the courtyard.

"Well... It is what I was assigned to do. And it's not that bad, truly. He mostly ignores me, or orders me to sit with him silently." The statement  made Erryk frown. And Elyana wasn't all that truthful, as she let out the one time he used his sword to threaten her life. Why would he want his servant to sit with him?

"Well you know I am always only a door away. I know I am sworn to the prince but... I do not wish for you to be hurt. You are far too special a woman for that." Erryk said softly. The statement moved Elyana deeply. It was easily the sweetest thing a man had ever said to her.

"Erryk... how kind you are. There is nothing I could ever do to repay the kindness you have shown me." Elyana answered genuinely. Her insides were fluttering with an unknown emotion. A welcome one.

"Let me take you out tonight. Just the pair of us alone, into the city." Erryk whispered, low enough so that only Elyana could hear. Take her out? But Erryk was a member of the Kingsguard... He could never have a woman.

That did not stop Elyana from nodding her head in agreement. "Of course! I would love that." She smiled sweetly, earning a grin from the knight. She had forgotten that she was called upon by the prince, as she was lost in the feeling of warmness Erryk had created for her.

"Excellent. I will look for you as I did yesterday." Erryk stated, with Elyna nodded without objections. "Let us head into the courtyard, I do not wish for the prince to be upset with you." Erryk stated and pushed the large wooden doors that led to the training yard open.

Elyana had never been in the training yard before, and soon all of her senses were overwhelmed and overstimulated as her eyes darted through the scene. Knights of all shapes and sizes would train with each other fiercely. Erryk and Elyana would stand by a corner as the girl gaped at the ruthless knights. Then her gaze found blonde white hair moving steadily through the yard.

She gulped as she watched Aemond handle his sword flawlessly. He was sparing with a man she had seen before in the castle, Ser Criston Cole. She knew the man to be the Queen's protector. And she knew him to be an arrogant prick. Those were her father's words after all.

The knight was well talented, but Aemond was ruthless and reckless in the way he moved. He was quick and stealthy, and even if Elyana wanted to pry her eyes off him she could not. She was completely enthralled by the way Aemond moved. Something inside her was shifting, something deeply rooted within her. She gulped and she watched Aemond's face as he handled himself around Criston.

Her mouth parted open just the littlest bit as her breath hitched in her throat. The way he licked his lips, the way he looked at his opponent like a predator, the sweat glistening on his face... It was all ethereal. He was angelical. She felt her her stomach and something a little lower tingling as she watched him. Fuck, she wanted him to look at her with the same hunger.

"He's pretty good." Erryk pulled Elyana out of her little daydream easily. His voice was a good reminder of where she was.

"Yeah, he is." Her voice was small and meek. The people around her cheered as Aemond finally bested Criston. As he lowered his sword from Criston's neck, his one-eyed gaze found Elyana. His face was stoic but she could have sworn there was a smirk that had threatened to crawl unto his face as he spotted her.

Aemond walked slowly yet menacingly towards Erryk and Elyana, sizing his own protector up. "Care for a little training, Cargyll?" Aemond asked smugly.

"Oh... If it is your will, my prince." Erryk responded dutifully. "It is." Aemond stated as Erryk nodded his head. Elyana watched as Erryk dubiously walked to the weapon's table and grabbed a practice sword.

Elyana could not help but feel nervous for him. She saw how Aemond had beaten Criston, and it only meant that he could also beat Erryk. But Erryk was a member of the Kingsguard, he was just as talented as Aemond. Was all she could say to encourage herself.

Criston is also a member of the Kingsguard and he was beat. And then she discouraged herself.

She watched expectantly as Aemond flung his sword rapidly and ferally towards Erryk. There was almost a certain anger in the way he flung his sword. Elyana was impressed in the way that Erryk would dodge the prince's attacks. Erryk was fast and stealthy, just like Aemond was. But Aemond had something in him... an anger. Why would he be angry with Erryk?

Elyana yelped as she watched Aemond play dirty. He had kicked Erryk's shin and sent him to the floornin pain, bringing his sword to his neck. The people around him cheered, but Elyana was quick to rush to Erryk's side.

"Are you alright?" She asked him, going down on her knees to meet his gaze. The knight gave her a faltering smile and a nod of the head. "I am... Just wasn't expecting that." He breathed out, rising to his feet with the help of Elyana.

Aemond was seething as he watched Elyana grab unto Erryk's arm as she helped him rise up to his feet. Who the fuck did his servant think she was? Was she fucking him? Was that why she cared for him? The display was a slap to the face for Aemond. Her gaze met his and she could instantly sense that Aemond was furious at her for some reason.

"You. My chambers. Now." He growled at her. Barked at her as he walked past her, his shoulder violently hitting hers, almost sending her plummeting to the ground. Elyana's heartbeat raced in her chest as she look up at Erryk, who had a worried expression on his own face.

Had she done something to displease him? How?

-

Author's note:

Aemond is just a tad but obsessed with her. But why? Why would he care about s servant?

And then there's sweet Erryk... Just a sweet sweet man. I do not wish for him to be hurt. Are you guys team erryk or aemond?

Thank you as always for reading!