Alyarra Stark had no choice in the matter of her own future. She spent four days in the solitude of her own chambers, hating her husband to be with all the might her body could muster. Hours would pass and all she could think about was how dumb she had been to give him access to her intimacy. How humiliating it was to think about what would happen if her brother found out what had happened, how her girlhood had been touched by Aemond.

And then... in the depths of her hateful heart was lust. A want. She hated knowing that she wanted Aemond. That's the thing about engaging in illicit affairs. What started from secret little garden walks and longing stares turned into a godforsaken mess. And she allowed it to turn into this. She had ruined herself just to feel his touch and what made her furious was that... she would do it all over again.

Alyarra was incredibly lonely, her lady in waiting being the only the only person to accompany her through the days. Catherryn would ask what happened and Alyarra did not dare admit what had gone down.

The pair sat in Alyarra's chambers, sewing together as a knock was heard on the door. Catherryn moved to open the door, revealing Prince Aegon standing there.

"May I speak with Lady Alyarra?" Aegon asked expectantly as Catherryn turned to look at the girl, seeking her approval. Alyarra nodded her head slightly and shrugged.

"Sure." Alyarra answered simply as she stood from her seat, walking over to the door.

"Let us walk the gardens, it has been quite some time since I've visited them." Alyarra spoke as Aegon nodded his head, motioning to the hall.

"How have you been? I've not seen you for days." Aegon asked as the pair made their way down to the gardens. Alyarra shrugged her shoulders. Defeated. That was how she was. Angry. Lost.

"Well. I have been well. And yourself?" Alyarra asked as Aegon shrugged. She eyed his face, noticing how beat down he looked. It looked like he hd not slept for days.

"I will not lie to you. I am hurt by you." Aegon confessed, making Alyarra frown in confusion. She had done nothing to hurt him. Or atleast that is what she thought.

"Hurt? Why are you hurt?" Alyarra asked in confusion as the pair reached the gardens and made their way down the steps of the castle.

"You said you wouldn't marry my brother that night in the city. And now... now your union is all everyone ever talks about." Aegon said in a very solemn tone as Alyarra sighed in defeat. It is not like this was her choice. She had no say in the matter.

"It is what it is." Was all she mustered up to say. She was too over it. She did not want to explain the truth behind it all. She could now only accept her future.

"It is what it is? That is what you will tell me? So you lead me on... you give me all your attentions only to say that it is what it is?" Aegon was getting more angry by the second, and Alyarra could tell. Which was confusing to her because she owed Aegon absolutely nothing. And he was married with children.

"What do you expect me to say? I've done nothing wrong." Alyarra stated as Aegon rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief.

"I thought you wanted me like I did you. And the I have to come to find that you will marry my brother." Aegon huffed out as Alyarra sighed and rubbed her temple.

"I did not want you. I never did. And you shouldn't want me. You have a wife Aegon. Children. Beautiful children. I could never get in between of that." Alyarra was honest but the words only infuriated Aegon.

"Really!? After everything! I saved you from the most dreadful courting! I spent time with you only for you to refuse me? You led me on!" Aegon got feral by the minute, and his anger only made Alyarra more angry. She did no such thing.

"I did not!" Alyarra exclaimed as Aegon suddenly grabbed her shoulders roughly, holding her close to him. It was the most awkward hug that Alyarra had ever experienced. But then, Alyarra caught a glimpse of one of the balconies of the Red Keep. A balcony in which Aemond stood, staring at the pair.

Alyarra knew he hated seeing her with Aegon. And the two were already wrapped in a hug. So Alyarra brought her arms up around his neck, her eyes not once leaving Aemond. "I am sorry." Alyarra said as she leaned in to whisper to Aegon's ear.

"Don't marry him." Aegon whispered as Alyarra sighed. His gaze fell to the floor as Alyarra eyed him. It was clear to her that he lacked true love. Unconditional love.

"I am sorry if I ever led you to believe I wanted you Aegon. But I could never defy Helaena..." Alyarra said as she pulled away from the boy. It was clear he had some sort of issue regarding women. His gaze then met hers again, and without saying a word he just turned around and left. Alyarra turned to look for Aemond in the balcony, but he was long gone.

Alyarra took a deep breath and adjusted her dress, leaving the gardens to go back to her room. But as she reached her apartments, she was met with Aemond awaiting for her by her door. He was like the plague, absolutely everywhere.

"What were you doing with my brother, Alyarra?" Aemond asked, venom dripping in the tone of his voice. His stance was menacing and he stood in the way of the door, so Alyarra could not go into her chambers.

"Move." Alyarra ordered as he continued to stare her down, his one eye raking over her body.

"You've not been out of your chambers in days and the one time you come out is to be with Aegon. And then you get angry whenever I accuse you of being fond of him." Aemond spat as Alyarra rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Well Aegon isn't forcing me into a marriage with threats." Alyarra spat back at the prince who rolled his eye at her antics.

"You're lucky he has yet forced himself unto you like he has hundreds of servants." Aemond stated simply, making Alyarra gasp at his accusations. Why would he say that? Was there any truth to those allegations? There had to be, Catherryn had also alleged something similar.

"Move Aemond." Alyarra tried shoving him away from her door but could barely move him. He was way stronger than her. Instead he grabbed her arms to keep her in place. His touch was as always a welcome one to her body.

"I am not the evil one here Alyarra. When will you see that?" Aemond asked in a hushed tone, his face just a mere inch away from hers. She hated him. She hated the way he made her feel.

"Let me go." Alyarra whispered as Aemond brought his lips to her forehead, planting a soft kiss on her head.

"As you wish." Aemond responded softly and let her go. He gave her a faint smile and just walked away from her. Alyarra watched as the man disappeared as he turned a corner, a feeling of faint disappointment lingering on her stomach.

It was unlike him to give up so easily. Maybe he had no more fight in him. And maybe that was for the best.

-

The next day was a blur of loneliness and Alyarra being taken care of by Catherryn, until night came. A letter was delivered to the lady's apartments. A letter from the North. Alyarra was excited to read it. Her eyes raced through the letter and at first it was just a vague congratulations from Cregan on her betrothal.

If only he knew.

And then the letter took a rather dark turn... The Lady Arra had gone into labor, and it had taken a horrible turn. The labors were too harsh on the already sickly woman, and she had perished. Alyarra had to read the scroll about ten times before the news finally dawned in on her.

Alyarra was devastated. Small tears fell from her eyes and stained the scroll. She cried in mourning and in sadness for the lady. Arra was wonderful, kind, and beautiful. She had always been amazing to Alyarra, she was the big sister she never had. Their time spent together was always a good one, and now she was gone.

And then her mind shifted to her brother, how broken he must feel. He was now completely alone in Winterfell, with no family except for a newborn babe. Cregan needed Alyarra. She had to be there for him.

Alyarra was quick to burst out of her chambers, her tiny feet were fast and steady to carry her all the way to Aemond's apartments. She had to take leave for Winterfell. She had to be there for her brother, he needed her. And her new nephew needed her.

Alyarra knocked on the door wildly and it opened to reveal Aemond, who had been reading just a moment before. A frown happened upon his face as he looked at the lady in pure worry.

She was so devastated that she could barely stand, she plummeted forward making Aemond catch her in his strong arms for support.

"Alyarra what is the matter? Why are you crying? Did somebody do something?" Aemond asked huskily as he looked around trying to get a sense of why Alyarra was crying into his chest. Worry filled his body as he tried soothing the girl. And then anger flooded his senses. Whoever had hurt her would die.

"She's dead. Lady Arra is dead." Alyarra cried as it dawned upon Aemond. Her brother's wife had died. Aemond kissed Alyarra's head and rubbed her arms, trying to soothe her as she cried in mourning. He had no doubt that Alyarra was fond of her sister-in-law.

"I am sorry my love." Aemond whispered softly as Alyarra clinged to his chest. She despised him but somehow she found herself looking for him when distraught. She found herself clinging to the man she wanted to hate for dear life. And she found herself feeling safe.

"I have to go back home Aemond. Cregan needs me. He is alone." Alyarra said as she pulled away from his chest, her bloodshot eyes meeting with his cold eye. The prince pressed his lips together and sighed.

"Of course. We will leave on Vhagar's back first thing tomorrow. We will be there in no time I promise you." Aemond told her as he caressed her back lovingly. Alyarra frowned slightly as she looked up at him

"We? You want to come with me?" Alyarra asked in shock. She was surprised he would even offer to use Vhagar.

"Of course I do. I am not leaving you when you clearly need me the most. And we will reach your home in no time if we ride on my dragon. Trust me, it is for the best." Aemond said softly as Alyarra slowly nodded.

Aemond did want to be there for her. But he also was afraid that if Alyarra went to the North alone, he would lose her.

"Here, let me get you into bed. You can rest and I'll order a tea to calm you down whilst I inform my mother of the most devastating news and our plans." Aemond whispered as he tried guiding Alyarra to his bed. The girl didn't budge, making Aemond turn to look at her.

He stepped up to the lady, cupping her face gently and giving her a small smile. "Let me take care of you love... At least for today." Aemond whispered softly as Alyarra took a breath. The way he called her love made her weak in the knees.

"Okay..." Alyarra agreed skeptically. Aemond led her to his bedchambers, and they were just what she had expected. The space was dark, gloomy, and certainly majestic. His bed was the most grandest one she had ever seen, and she was sure it was very comfortable.

"You can lie down if you wish. I'll order the tea I mentioned, and I will get your lady to bring you some clothing so you can stay with me tonight." Aemond said as Alyarra only nodded her head. He was acting so sweet. And it reminded her of the Aemond she met when she first got to King's Landing. The caring one, the one who would teach her about history and spend all pf his time with her.

Alyarra laid alone on his bed as he left to do all that he promised. She was going back home, like she wanted. This was her chance to speak to Cregan, to break this marriage off. Thinking about being under her brother's protection made her happy.

But did she truly want to break this off? She had been so angry with Aemond's actions for the past weeks that she forgot about the man he could be, about how caring he was. She forgot the way he made her stomach twist in excitement whenever he was close to her. She forgot the way his eye would glisten in admiration whenever he looked at her.

It was quite perplexing when she thought about it. She hated that she wanted him, and she tried pulling every reason she could find to keep herself away from this man but somehow she found herself running back to him.

Tea was delivered to the lady and a nightgown was brought for her by Catherryn. She tossed and turned on the bed and soon enough Aemond had came back to his chambers. Alyarra turned to look at him, earning a small smile from the prince.

"You were gone a long time." Alyarra spoke softly making Aemond smirk as he undid the fastenings on his shirt.

"So needy, Lady Alyarra?" Aemond taunted as he let his shirt fall to the ground, revealing his toned chest. Alyarra's eyes wandered around his body, he was just so beautiful.

"I just thought you would be back sooner." Alyarra mumbled as he licked his lips, his own eye going over her body that was now only covered by a thin nightgown.

"I was with my grandsire. He was helping me ready everything for our departure tomorrow. He sends his condolences, and he will make sure to send word to Cregan himself. He will do what he must to help the Starks through this terrible time." Aemond explained, making Alyarra smile sadly at the mention of her brother.

"I thank you for what you are doing for me. I really am sorry for imposing this all on you out of the blue." Alyarra apologized as Aemond moved to sit down next to her on his bed. He brought his hand up to her face, his thumb gently caressing circles on it.

"It is no imposition. It is my duty as your betrothed to care for you and your house. And I take my duty gracefully my love." Aemond said simply as Alyarra smiled slightly.

"I will draw a bath. Will you join me?" Aemond asked as he stood up, holding his hand out for Alyarra to take. Her mind was reeling but her body wanted.

She eyed his hand carefully. She gulped as she ran through all the possible outcomes that could come out of joining Aemond in a bath. If Aemond had never kissed her, Alyarra would have gone along with her righteous life. She could've have gone on as she was, but gods Aemond made her feel something.

And thanks to that,  Alyarra Stark took his hand. She willingly danced with the devil.

-

Winter is coming you guys! What do you think of this chapter? What do you think of Alyarra's toxic feelings about Aemond? What do you reckon will happen in the bath? What do you reckon will happen in Winterfell?

I adore seeing your comments!