Ride or Die | V

"I've always loved you."

.... WHISPERS OF DRAGONS

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I sit in my chambers the next morning, the air heavy with the silence of dawn. The book of Valeriya, written in the ancient language of my ancestors, lies open in my lap. I sigh, the weight of history pressing down upon me as my gaze drifts upwards to the ceiling adorned with dragons, their scales shimmering in the faint morning light.

I had seen Father yesterday, but he seemed distant, a shadow of the warm, smiling man I remembered from years past. His eyes, once lively and bright, now held a frostiness that chilled me to the bone. I suppose the ongoing civil war between the Greens and the Blacks has left little room for joy. The laughter and lightness that once filled our halls seem as distant as the stars above.

The conflict has raged for so long now, it feels as though the land itself has forgotten the sound of peace. I close the book with a soft thud, the echoes of battles fought and lost whispering through the pages, and wonder if we will ever find our way back to happiness.

A knock on my chamber's iron door jolts me from my reverie. "Come in," I call out, my voice steady despite the sudden interruption. The door creaks open, and there, framed by the heavy timber, stands a figure with a pale face and even paler eyes. "Aemond," I say, standing up and laying the ancient book on my bed. My fiancé hurries over, enveloping me in his arms, his embrace a sanctuary from the storm outside.

"I'm so sorry," he murmurs against the shell of my ear. I can hear dragons growling in my mind, but I block them out, focusing instead on the warmth of his presence.

"Why are you sorry?" I ask, kissing his cheek gently before drawing back to look into the deep blue abyss of his eyes. "I... I should've known my brother would be such a jackass. He was directly embarrassing you. I wanted to rip out his eyes, see if he would be kinder then." He shakes his head, his gaze shifting away to the flickering flames in the fireplace.

"I'm sorry I let my father put you through anything," he adds, his voice tinged with regret.I blink, surprised. "The king did nothing; he was kind, if anything. And Aegon... well, he's being set to rule the Seven Kingdoms. I get that that's weighing him down like bricks. But your sister..."

 I smile, the thought of her bringing a lightness to my heart, "Rhaenyra is a great woman. We're happy to have her among us."

Then, stepping away from him, I move back to my bed. "Why don't you come here, sleep off that worry you have?" I suggest softly, patting the space beside me, inviting him to let go of his burdens, if only for a while.

He smiles, a fleeting thing, but it's there, and it makes my heart soar. I might not love him as romantically as he loves me, but I am fond of him, genuinely so. Yeah, and that is making your mind slow, White One, rumbles Tairn in my mind, and I chuckle—not forcing him out, but this time, I actually just want to be with my fiancé.

"Come," I beckon again, and slide aside so that Aemond can get any space he needs. He sighs, his shoulders slumping, then he comes and sits down but immediately draws me against him, nuzzling his nose into my shoulder. "I missed you so much, my love," he says softly, then kisses my neck. I yelp a bit at the ticklish feeling but let him continue, even though Tairn is sending his emotions through—anger pouring off it, but I've become pretty adept at distinguishing which emotions are mine and which are not.

In this moment, nestled in Aemond's embrace, the outside world—with its dragons and wars and tensions—fades away. Here, in the quiet solace of our shared warmth, I find a peace that even Tairn's stormy presence cannot disrupt.

Then, with a gentle push, Aemond lowers me back against the mattress, and I let out a surprised breath as he continues to lavish my collarbone and bare shoulders with kisses. The fabric of my nightgown, delicate and thin, offers little barrier between his lips and my skin.

"I've always loved you, you know," he says before drawing back to look into my eyes, his own filled with a depth of emotion that pulls at my heart. "I couldn't bear the thought of marrying any other dragon rider on this continent than you." His words, sincere and heartfelt, warm me more than any fire could.

He leans in and captures my lips in a slow, soft kiss. I smile into it, kissing him back, letting the world around us fade away. In this moment, it's just Aemond and me, and the dragons and wars that usually occupy my thoughts seem distant, unable to touch the peace we find in each other's embrace.

"May I?" he asks, his hands hesitating as they drift towards the hem of my nightgown. I giggle, amused and touched by his enduring respect.

"We've been engaged for over nine years, Aemond, and you still ask permission?" I tease, raising an eyebrow playfully. His smile broadens, a mix of affection and mischief lighting up his eyes."I'm a gentleman when it matters, though Vhagar says that's a weakness," he replies, his tone light, echoing the playful banter between us.

I giggle again, shaking my head in mock exasperation, and open myself up to him. "Do your worst, dragon rider," I challenge, my voice a soft whisper that fills the space between us with an electric anticipation.

His response is a laugh, warm and rich, before he leans in to meet my challenge, his actions speaking louder than words ever could. In this private world of ours, where love and laughter intertwine, we find a respite from the relentless demands of our destinies.