Aemond waited awake for Alyarra to be back from taking Baelon to his mother's chambers. He sipped a Dornish red as he stared into the fire that burned within the fireplace. He watched as the wood turned into ash, and for a second he thought he saw himself in the fire.

Who he was before Storm's End turned into ash, along with his soul.

His cold eye found the door as soon as he heard it open, his wife coming in and shutting it swiftly after her. "You took longer than I expected." Aemond hummed, his cruel gaze returning to the fire that burned in front of him.

Alyarra was surprised to find him sitting there, still dressed in his day clothes and sipping from a goblet. She gulped and gave him a small smile, which was in vain because he was not even looking at her. It seemed the fire was more interesting to him than she was.

"Queen Alicent did not seem to want to let Baelon go. She says he reminds her of you, she kept singing to him and holding him close to her." Alyarra explained the reason why she had taken so long in her visit to Alicent.

"Did you enjoy yourself? Did Helaena?" Aemond asked, turning slightly to look at his wife. She smiled and gave him a nod. "I did, and I think your sister did too. I might take Baelon to see your mother every night. I think the Queen really enjoys his presence." Alyarra spoke and walked towards Aemond's seat.

"How was your day?" She inquired, resting her hands on his shoulders. She had not seen much of him since she was called to the council that morning.

"Dull. Had to sit in council for hours on end listening to Aegon complain because the Lords of the realm aren't bending the knee as easy as he thought they would." He replied cutly as she sighed. Atleast he was talking to her, which was alleviating for her after the last couple of days.

"You're still wearing your day clothes, let me run you a bath." Alyarra suggested. All she wanted was to help with his stress and his eternal bad mood.

"That sounds lovely." Aemond breathed out and so Alyarra moved to their bathchamber. She was pleasantly surprised to find the buckets already poured in the tub. It seemed Catherryn had poured them in before being dismissed.

Alyarra poured some salts into the water and then some lavender herbs, which she knew Aemond liked the smell of. She prepared it with love and then called Aemond in. She could tell something was bothering his mind, a storm was brewing within him for the last week and yet he never spoke up about it. All she wanted was for him to trust her.

Alyarra helped Aemond off his clothes and then watched as he stepped into the tub she had prepared for him. She turned to leave, because she did not think that he wanted her there. But a wet hand grasped her forearm. "Join me."

Her heart jumped at his request. Maybe there was still hope for them. She nodded slightly and turned back to him, her hands moving to the strings that held her dress together. She tugged them off and stepped out of it swiftly.

Aemond watched his wife with a soft expression on his face. He loved her so much, it hurt. It hurt because he knew he was bound to hurt her like he did everyone around him. And he didn't want to hurt her. She was his precious thing. He didn't want to ruin her like he ruined everyone.

This moment sparkled, and it reminded him of the first time he had ever seen Alyarra fully. That moment, who they were then, seemed so far from now. He grasped for the memories of when everything was simple. Of when he wasn't an irredeemable monster.

He held her hand for steadiness as she stepped into the tub. Then she lowered herself into the water and settled in between his legs, leaning back into his chest. He wrapped his strong arms around her and held her close. She smiled, even if they sat in silence because she had craved and missed this intimacy and closeness greatly.

"I miss you." She whispered, sinking deeper into the water until her body was completely sumerged, seldom for her head.

"I am right here." He lied. He knew he hadn't been there for the last few days. At least not mentally. He wasn't there. He was in Storm's End, his mind reliving the murder of his nephew over and over again.

"I know." Her hands sumerged in the water to trace circles on his thigh.

"Aemond, about Storm's En-" He cut her off, because he did not want to talk about that night.

"No." He said with a certain conviction to his tone. He really didn't want to talk about it. Much less with her. He didn't want to burden her. Didn't want to put the weight he carried on his shoulders on hers. He could carry it himself.

"But love, we've yet to talk about it. I wish to help you. I wish for you to know I am here for you, to listen, to hold you. You need not have to go through this alone. We are a team, you and I." Alyarra contested, her words were a plea. She wanted to be let in, she wanted to bear his pain. She wanted to guard his soul.

"You can not help me, Alyarra. No one can. No one can save me from this damnation. From this hell. From myself." Her heart broke as he spoke his words. She turned around hastily, straddling him to be able to face him.

Her moves made waves of water pour out from the tub but she did not care. She brought her arms over his neck and gave him a silent plea. "Let me take your pain, Aemond. Let me help you. Please." She whispered, her fingers moving to take his patch off his face, revealing who he was to her.

"This silence that has haunted our bedchamber for the last days has been staggering for me. You can trust me, you can confide in me. I am your wife, please." His eye darted from her, to a small stool in the corner of the bathchamber. He wanted to let her in, but he couldn't do that to her. His mind was horrible, he was horrible. He didn't need her to see that.

Aemond shook his head slightly. "I refuse to burden you." He said sternly, and this made her take a deep breath. She didn't respond, instead she nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck. He was caught off guard in a good way. Her proximity was an antidote for his mind, and for a moment he wasn't fighting a war in his brain.

For a moment he was himself. He was Aemond. Not Aemond One-Eye. Not Aemond the Kinslayer. He was himself. Just Aemond holding Alyarra. "I love you. I promise." She needed him to know that she loved him, she would always love him. No matter what happened.

"I love you too. And I am sorry. I do not deserve your love." He confessed as his arms tightened around her, he was scared that this was just a dream and that she would disappear.

But she didn't. She remained in his arms, in the arms of the man she trusted more than anyone in the world. Even when he hurt her more than anyone in the world.

It started with a small kiss planted on his neck, then followed soft nibbles on his ear. She took deep breaths whilst Aemond's hands roamed her body, and she felt herself become nervous. She did not want ruthless sex.

Aemond engulfed her in a possesive kiss, seemingly ready to devour his wife whole but she pulled away slightly. She wanted him, but she was not going to suffer.

"Gentle... please?" She whispered, which made Aemond sink back into the water. His face dropped as his mind drifted to the bruises he had left on his wife days prior. He hurt her, and now she had to beg him to take her gently.

Alyarra noticed him deflate, and so she brought one hand to his cheek, her thumb swiping over the outline of his scar just under his eye. "I need you, husband. Just gentle." He did not move, scared to hurt her.

So she took it upon herself to guide him. She kissed him slowly, rocking her hips against his in a slow yet steady manner. Aemond loosened up, and brought his hands to her hips, guiding her movements. Alyarra gave him a small smile and a nod, lifting herself ever so gently.

Aemond took a deep breath, guiding her back down and introducing his member through her folds. As they continued their intimate moment, Aemond whispered sweet words of encouragement and praise into her ear. "That's it, my love. Take all of me inside you." Alyarra moaned at the feeling of having Aemond like this.

She rode him gently and Aemond wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close into him, deepening their kiss. "Take all of it," he whispered between breaths. "Give yourself over to me completely."

Alyarra moaned as she began moving back and forth a bit more erratically, now craving the feeling of Aemond inside of her more than ever. "Faster." She whispered and he did not need to be told twice.

Aemond began thrusting harder and faster, each movement sent shivers through her body. His lips trailed feather-light kisses along her neck and collarbone, making her moan softly. "That's right, my love... take my cock like the perfect wife that you are."

The water splashed out of the tub and unto the floor as their movements became more erratic, and then Aemond let out an uncharacteristic whimper when he felt her clench around him. He shot his seed deep into her, as her movements stilled when she too came over him.

They each took deep breaths as they stared into each other's eyes. Alyarra saw him, the glimmer of who he really was. A glimmer of who she really loved, of the man that she adored.

She kissed him deeply, still feeling him within her. And then she nuzzled her face into his neck. She never wanted to let him go. She feared that when he exited the bathchamber, he would return to his coldness.

-

Alyarra woke up the next day still cuddled into his arms, and she felt the happiest she had been in a few days. She breathed gently, not wanting to disturb his sleep. She watched him sleep, and he looked just so peaceful in his slumber. She really couldn't keep the small smile that crept unto her lips as she watched him.

Maybe they weren't all that broken. Maybe this could still be fixed. Maybe he would let her in again. She was happy with the night before, happy that he listened and was gentle with her. Happy that he let her take the lead.

"You are staring, darling wife." He mumbled, his eye still closed. She smiled lightly as his eye fluttered open to look down at her.

"Can't I stare at my husband?" She asked, her fingers trailing small circles on his chest. He hummed, giving her a small smile.

"I love it when you do." He whispered, his fingers toying with a few strands of her hair. Alyarra sighed into his chest, she was so happy she could burst. She missed this proximity more than anything.

"Can we stay like this forever?" Alyarra whispered, softly kissing his chest and nuzzling her head into it lovingly.

"I would like nothing more." He replied and she felt like she was back when they were perfect. Back when there was no impending war looming in the air.

Their little moment was interrupted by a loud knock on their bedchamber. "Prince Aemond, there is a situation at court. We need your presence urgently." Alyarra frowned when she heard Criston Cole's voice through the door.

Could it really not wait? Aemond groaned and gently removed Alyarra from on top of him. "I will be there shortly." He spoke sternly as he moved to the dresser.

Alyarra stood up and helped him into his day clothes, fastening his doublet as slowly as she could just so he couldn't leave. "Do you reckon something has happened?" She mumbled as she looked up at him expectantly.

"Perhaps Aegon is throwing another fit because another lord has sworn fealty to our whore half-sister." Aemond spat as he went to sit in Alyarra's vanity desk so she could do his hair.

"Perhaps." She mumbled as she fixed his hair in a neat half up ponytail. She then moved to place his eyepatch over his eye. "Aegon is a man-child. He deserves nothing, and much less the throne." Aemond breathed as his eye watched Alyarra through the looking glass.

"Maybe you should be the King." Alyarra shrugged as she finished up Aemond's hair. She didn't mean anything by it, she just knew he would like to hear that.

"I know I should. And you my Queen." Aemond stood, towering over his wife as his one eye tore into her intensely.

"Did you know I love you?" He asked in a low whisper. Alyarra smiled shyly and nodded, elated to hear the words. Elated at the reassurance.

"I know." She smiled, stepping into his embrace. Aemond kissed the top of her head and sighed. Stepping back softly and turning to the door. "I will try and be back soon, yes?" He asked as he opened the door to their bedchamber.

"Yes, my love." Alyarra nodded her head eagerly. He headed out the door swiftly, leaving her alone in their bedchamber.

Alyarra moved to her vanity desk and brushed out her bed hair. She hummed quietly a song and then waited for Catherryn to come to her chambers to help her dress.

She sat in the balcony for about an hour, and then she heard a knock at the door. Alyarra frowned and moved to the door. "You don't have to knock, Cathe-" She frowned when she swung the door open to her chambers and Catherryn wasn't there. In her stead was a young frail girl.

"I-I...um... the Prince Aemond sent me to help you today, my lady." Alyarra frowned at the young girl's words.

"Who are you? Where is Catherryn?" Alyarra asked as she eyed the girl. "My name is Lucy, my lady. The Lady Catherryn is um... she is not available." She spoke nervously.

"What do you mean?" Alyarra asked as she looked at the girl, her heart beating faster with each passing second.

"I think it best you head to the Great Hall, my lady."

-

Alyarra hurried down the corridors of the Red Keep with Benjamin in tow. Her heart was beating as fast as it had ever beaten. She took deep calming breaths as she hurried inside the Hall, her heart dropping when she saw her lady, her best friend, being held by Ser Criston Cole.

Catherryn's face was tear stained, and Alyarra's eyes widened when they landed on her. Alyarra looked around the Hall, only the important lords were present. Then near the throne stood Aemond, Alicent, and Otto. And Aegon was sitting the throne.

"W-What is the meaning of this?" Alyarra asked nervously, and she did not care if she was interrupting something. She looked at Aemond, who frankly looked furious as he stared at his wife.

Every lord turned towards her, and Catherryn looked relieved when she saw Alyarra standing there in the Hall.

"Ah! Perhaps the Lady Alyarra Stark can shine some light on the crimes of her lady-in-waiting." Tyland Lannister spoke first.

Alyarra's eyes widened at the word 'crimes', and her heart quite frankly dropped to the Seven Hells. "What crimes?" Alyarra wavered, her eyes darting all over the room.

"The crime-" The hand cut Tyland Lannister off.

"Ser Tyland, let me explain to our dear Lady Stark what has happened." Otto Hightower spoke. And Alyarra could feel her hands trembling, though she tried remaining as calm as she could.

"Lord Larys Strong was in the raven tower, sending his usual letters, where he found Lady Catherryn Mormont. When she saw him, she hid her letter, and quickly went to raven it. Lord Larys sensed something was wrong... so he intercepted the raven before it could fly..." Alyarra knew where this was going.

"The letter was pure treason. Let us quote the letter... 'Father, Lady Alyarra and I are not in agreement of the usurper cunt that is calling himself King these days. I have written to Cregan asking for asylum but to no avail. We want out of the Keep, away from the war. We will not wait until Queen Rhaenyra comes with fire and blood to avenge the deceased prince. Please help'." Otto read from the scroll he held in his hands.

Why did she have to call Aegon a cunt? Fucking hells. Alyarra took a deep breath, looking at Catherryn who was angrily staring at Aegon sitting in the throne.

"Your lady claims that you are not in agreement with the King Aegon's claim. She calls him an usurper and a cunt. That is treason, Lady Alyarra. She claims to want asylum away from the war. Were you scheming to leave your husband and join the rebellion?" Otto asked and Alyarra was now staring at Aemond, who didn't meet her eye.

"We were not scheming. We just wanted asylum away from the war to protect my son!" Alyarra contested frantically. She felt all eyes on her, judging her, glaring at her.

"I am loyal to Prince Aemond. I would never scheme against him, neither would Catherryn." Alyarra pleaded, her eyes traveling to Aemond. He still would not meet her eye, and she knew then that he was furious at her.

"She called the King Aegon an usurper and a cunt. It is treason!" Ser Otto spoke angrily and before Alyarra could respond to defend her, Catherryn was already screaming in rage.

"And I would say it again!"