"Do you think I am a bad person?" The question was a charged one, and Aemond was barely awake to think about it clearly. He remained quiet with his eye closed, trying to ignore it but Elyana swatted his chest.

"Answer!" She ordered, and he chuckled lightly, taking a deep breath and opening his eye to look at his wife. It was top of the morning, and Aemond had ignored his training to stay cuddled in bed with Elyana because frankly he did not wish to let her go ever.

"Elyana, it is so early for your nagging on unimportant topics." Aemond spoke huskily as he stretched his arms. He then took a deep breath and moved to rest his head on her bare chest, nuzzling into it. He almost could not believe she was there in his arms.

"It is important to me, Aemond." She retorted, her fingers running through his hair in a gentle caress. When he did not respond, she pinched his shoulder, making him shoot up to glare at her. "Is this because of what that kitchen troll said? Elyana, you are not vile or evil." Aemond rolled his eye and laid back down on her chest.

"You were eavesdropping?" Elyana asked with pressed lips as he shrugged. "You gave me no choice but to, you were basically screaming at the door to my chambers."

Elyana rolled her eyes at his exaggeration. "We were not screaming, we were speaking." She answered, which only made him chuckle.

"You were speaking, she was stuttering and crying like a child. Truly you are doing yourself a disservice by letting her keep her tongue." Aemond grumbled into her chest.

"Not everything is solved with the taking of a tongue, Aemond." Elyana replied as she looked down at him. His eye was closed, and his breathing was soft as he laid upon her bare chest. She smiled lightly at him because he was the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes upon.

"This would be." He answered. "Darra is only four and ten, Aem. She still has so much to learn. And I hope our talk helps her." Elyana told him.

"Who's Aem?" He asked tauntingly and it only served to annoy Elyana further.

"Could you perhaps not ignore my turmoil? I would appreaciate that." She pressed and Aemond took a breath, lifting himself up and sitting up against the bedpost.

"You are not evil, Elyana. You are spoiled, bratty, mean, and lazy. But inherently evil? No." Aemond yawned completely nonchalantly, and she raised her brows at his description of her.

"I am not any of those things! Gods, if I am so bad then why'd you marry me anyways." She asked angrily, and he sighed then pulled her down to his chest.

"Because those traits are the ones that made me fall in love with you in the first place. You are not like any woman I've met before, you are not a pushover or feeble minded. You challenge me, much to my initial dismay but I grew to love it. Adore it, actually." Aemond was smiling as he spoke, yet he tried not to. Emotions and communication were not his strongest areas, yet for her he would try to make them so.

"I only ever challenged you because you were arrogant and annoying most of the time. I mean, remember when you scolded me when I left your riding pants on when you were shitfaced drunk? That was really stupid." Elyana stated, and Aemond shrugged his shoulders. "I was uncomfortable all night, it was terrible."

"Yeah, well you put me through the Seven Hells and back." Elyana answered with a small smile. That all seemed so far away now though, so insignificant. Never in a million years would she have thought back then that she would end up with this man.

"You put me through much worst. I was utterly obsessed with you and you were frolicking around the castle with Erryk Cargyll. Even when I asked you not to do it. It was hellish." Aemond contested and Elyana scoffed and rolled her eyes almost instantly.

"How was I supposed to know that? You treated me like shit." She answered. Aemond took a deep breath and planted a soft kiss to the top of her head. He regretted it all but now he had her, and now he knew that it was right.

"That does not matter anymore. Because now you are mine, and now I can certainly say that this love that burns within me is because you deserve it."

-

"That man there is Amos Bracken from House Bracken in the Riverlands." Lucia pointed to the courtyard, making Elyana stretch her neck to get a look at a chubby man that stood by the sparing knights.

After breaking their fast, Aemond left to train and Elyana left to find Lucia. The two girls decided to head to the balcony of the courtyard to watch the knights and lords train. Though obviously Elyana only ever had eyes for her prince.

Lucia had taken it upon herself to teach Elyana everything she had to know about court, and to introduce all of the many lords and ladies to her. Elyana was more than grateful that her lady-in-waiting seemed to know everybody due to the fact she had grown up at court.

"That's Lord Samwell Blackwood. Those two do not get along at all, they're always getting in petty fights and bickering over the tiniest of things." Lucia told Elyana in a hushed manner. Elyana looked between the two men and then to Lucia.

"How do you know everything?" She asked her lady, who simply smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Risley Glade is ever so boring, and I do not enjoy Highgarden anymore so mother and I spend many moons at a time in King's Landing."

"What is Highgarden like?" Elyana asked, her eyes lingering on her husband who was sparing with a young squire. Sparing was a loose term, he was mostly beating him to the ground and then ordering him to get back up.

"The gardens are magnificent, but the family not so much. The Tyrell sisters are kind but then you turn around and they stab your back. And Lord of Highgarden is a babe, so not very interesting." Lucia stated as she watched two knights train.

"Who's that man? I remember seeing him when I came to the Keep for tourneys with my father." Elyana inquired, pointing to a scrawny man that was supporting himself up with a cane. He was watching Prince Aemond train intently down in the yard.

"Scary little man, that one. Lord Larys Strong of Harrenhal. I do not trust him, not one bit." Lucia stated as she leaned towards her. Elyana narrowed her eyes on him and watched him watch Aemond.

"Why?" Elyana inquired and Lucia simply shrugged her shoulders. "He is short, and my father says that historically short men are most likely to betray you. And he's overall just creepy, look at him."

"Look Lucia, that Lord is rather handsome." Elyana pointed out a young lord in the yard. Elyana had taken it upon herself to find Lucia a man to court her. But each man Elyana thought handsome, Lucia dismissed.

"El... you have to understand. I like older men, they know better." She laughed and Elyana's eyes widened. "Lucia!" Elyana hissed and swatted her shoulder.

The girls laughed but then Elyana noticed Larys Strong coming up the steps to the balcony. Lucia was distracted with two squires sparing but Elyana could not keep her eyes off Larys as he made his way through the seats, stopping right in front of the two girls. Elyana could feel her heart racing and it almost felt like it would beat our of her chest.

"Lady Elyana Rotchamsey, what a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Larys spoke as he sat down right next to her. Lucia snapped her head towards Larys and gave Elyana a warning look, then she returned her gaze back to the yard.

"Lord Larys, is it? Pleased to meet you." Elyana replied with a curtly nod and a smile. The man returned the smile and then shifted his gaze to the yard, precisely to Aemond.

"Indeed it is. I wished to congratulate on your nuptials to the prince. Tis an unlikely yet good match." He spoke slowly, it was almost a whisper meant to stay between the two of them.

"Thank you, my lord. You are sure kind." Elyana said with a hint of sarcasm in her tone. Larys gave her an unreadable look and then sighed as if thinking of something.

"I wonder, does a scorpion sting when they fight back?" Elyana frowned at his odd question. She prayed for the man to just disappear from besides her but instead he continued his questioning. Lucia tugged ever so slightly at Elyana's skirt, as if trying to tell her something.

"Or do you reckon they strike to kill?" He mused, turning to look at Elyana intently. "What do you think, Lady Rotchamsey?" Larys wondered inquisitively.

"Uh... mayhaps they sting as a warning and then they strike to kill?" Elyana answered and she ignored Lucia's warning, her attention was fully on Larys Strong now and his oddness. "Perhaps. But if attacked more than one time, it is better to kill than to keep stinging."

His words resonated with Elyana and she got a haunting feeling that the man was alluding to her own life. "Are you trying to tell me something, my lord?" She asked him but he only smiled once and stood up from his seat.

"I know what tis like being the odd one out at court. If ever my help and expertise is needed then do consider me. I am ever so loyal to the royal family." And with that, Larys was limping away from her. Elyana turned to Lucia with a frown.

"Was that not strange?" Elyana asked Lucia, and her lady instantly nodded her head. "I am telling you, that man is scary and untrustworthy." Lucia stated.

Elyana shifted uncomfortably on her chair, her gaze returning to the yard where Aemond was now speaking with Criston Cole. Did Larys mean something specific? Did he know about Darra and her transgressions? Was he hinting at Darra's execution? How could he even know? He did not know Elyana, so how could he know about her personal life?

Elyana was deep in thought when suddenly Lucia grabbed her arm and gasped loudly. "House Lothston banners! Your sworn shield has arrived!" She pointed to the banners that entered through the gates of the Red Keep and into the courtyard. Both girls stretched their necks to look at the men that had just arrived. Elyana watched intently as a boy dressed in knightly armor came forth to Ser Criston.

"Let us go down!" Lucia stood up hastily and grabbed Elyana's arm, basically dragging her down the steps of the balcony and into the yard. Aemond watched as his wife came down the steps and instantly he was moving to stand besides her. After Erryk Cargyll, he was wary of all and any knights that came close to her.

"Ah... Lady Elyana, meet your sworn protector. Ser Conrad Lothston." Ser Criston motioned to a scrawny looking boy, and instantly Elyana was worried. Those little arms were supposed to protect her? No mind though, her husband was enough protection. "Tis a pleasure to meet you, my lady." Conrad said with a small smile.

Aemond watched Elyana closely, trying to gauge her reaction to the boy in front of her and he was pleased when all she did was give him one nod in acknowledgment. "Ser Conrad." Elyana stated and then Lucia was whispering in her ear.

"He is handsome." Lucia hissed and Elyana cringed. "He is skinny." Elyana answered in a whisper, turning her head away from Aemond so he would not hear her talking of the physique of another man.

Aemond heard though, and he was not pleased at all. "Ser Criston, why don't you give the boy a tour of the keep and a rundown of his new duties?" Aemond asked and Criston was quick to nod, motioning Conrad to follow him.

Elyana watched as her knight and Criston Cole went inside the Keep and then she turned to Aemond who was already looking at her with a hardened expression on his face. "Come with me." He stated sternly and stomped off inside the Keep like a child. Elyana turned to Lucia and rolled her eyes. "Sorry Lu, seems like I have a child to tend to." Elyana spoke and without much contest from her lady, she was off to follow Aemond inside the Keep.

He was walking hurriedly down a corridor and Elyana grabbed her skirts to follow him, her feet moving rapidly whilst she tried to catch up to him. Aemond turned a corner and when Elyana finally caught up to him and turned it too, she was grabbed and flipped into the wall aggresively with a feverish kiss following. She sighed into it and snaked her arms around his neck, pulling away to look up at him.

"I thought you were due for a reminder of who you belong to." He whispered into her ear, and the hairs on her arms shot up instantly at the feeling of his breath on her body. "Oh really? Is it because I looked at another man?" She teased, but his eye only grew dark at the notion. Of course it was.

"Indeed it is. I saw you looking at your little knight. I did not enjoy that, not at all." Aemond leaned down and kissed her neck, nibbling at the sensitive skin and Elyana wanted to die at the pleasure of having his lips on her body.

"Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that jealous mind of yours." She breathed out, closing her eyes and trying to guide her breathing as her arousal only burned deeper for Aemond.

"I wish you could see the things that I think about. You would not believe the things I think about doing to you. Half of them haven't even happened yet." He whispered, his hands roaming freely around her body. "Aemond if someone sees..." She warned when his hand moved to cup her breast over her gown.

"Nobody will see, darling. And if they see... I will take their eyes. I just need you." He breathed out, his hands quickly ripped her gown down her shoulders to expose her breasts to his wild eye.

Elyana leaned her head back into the wall, her desire burning much deeper than any logic or common sense. He lifted her skirts and moved her undergarments to the side, his fingers finding way into her slick effortlessly.

She moaned at the feeling of his long fingers going at her clit whilst he leaned his head down to bite and kiss her neck. "You are everything. Everything." He breathed as he leaned back, watching her face contort with the pleasure his fingers were mercilessly giving her. 

"I thought I was nothing." She smirked, and only worked to make him plunge his fingers deeper into her wetness. "You are my everything." He reinstated, and the assurance only made her desire run hotter than before.

"I need you.... please." She whined, and he did not need to be told twice. Aemond pulled away and tugged at the strings of his trousers, pulling his throbbing member out and bringing it to her heat without any warning.

Aemond pushed into her and began slowly thrusting her, fucking her into the wall. When his pace picked up, her moans of pleasure only became louder so he moved one hand to cover her mouth. "You have to be quiet, sweetly. We wouldn't want anyone to see you getting fucked in a corridor." He whispered, sending her over the edge.

It did not take long for them to reach their peaks together. And when they did; Aemond remained unmoving inside of her, resting his head on the crook of her neck as he panted. "I swear... I will take you in every corner of this godforsaken castle."

-

That same night, Elyana attended a feast in name of some lord she did not care for. She was accompanied by Lucia, and the pair stood by a corner of the Great Hall whispering amongst themselves whilst Lucia drank from her goblet of wine.

As Lucia spoke to her; Elyana's eyes followed Aemond who was speaking with his brother and sister, standing ever so dutifully by their mother. Then her eyes found Otto Hightower, who was engaged in deep conversation with Larys Strong, and almost instantly she could feel something going on in her heart. A gut feeling.

She watched the two men intently, and every so often, Larys would glance her way without any emotion apparent on his face. Elyana sipped her honey tea as she watched the nobles dance in the middle of the Great Hall, until her elbow was grabbed and she was pulled from Lucia's side.

Elyana looked up to Erryk Cargyll staring down at her with clear disdain on his face and she sighed. She did not need this right now. "Why did you do that?!" He hissed, making her roll her eyes.

"Erryk... I've chosen Aemond. I am fine and content with my decision. Will you please stop berating me?" She asked, sipping her tea once more.

"No, I mean why would you kill Darra?!" Her heart dropped when she heard those words, and her face twisted in sheer confusion as she looked up at the Kingsguard. "I did not! Darra is fine, I saw her last night." Elyana stated nonchalantly.

"Darra is dead, Elyana. She was poisoned, by you I assume!" Elyana's eyes widened in horror, and instantly she snapped her head to Aemond who was still talking to his siblings. Would he do this without her permission? No... surely Aemond would gloat about it to her if he would have killed her.

"I did not do this, Erryk. I swear it! I-I..." Her hands were basically shaking as she looked around the Great Hall and then backed to Erryk. She took a deep breath and then her eyes found Larys Strong, and for the first time in the night, he had acknowledged her.

Larys shot her a smile and a curtly nod, and then she knew. Elyana knew exactly what had happened to Darra. 'I am ever so loyal to the royal family.' She felt her breath being knocked out of her body as Erryk continued on his talking. She wasn't listening. Was this Larys' twisted way of showing his loyalty to the new consort?

She was staring directly at Larys Strong, her mind working overtime at the notion of Larys poisoning Darra. Erryk left her standing there with a shake of his head, yet Elyana did not care if he thought she had done it. All she could do was stare at Larys Strong.

And he stared back at her. Elyana took a deep breath and then a small smile made it's way into the corners of her mouth.

Elyana gave him a nod and then she moved to stand next to Lucia again. She had nothing to do with it. Her hands and Aemond's were clean, and that was the most important thing.

-

Author's note:

Ser Conrad Lothston