ᵈʳᵃᵍᵒⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ

˖⁺‧₊˚🪽.° ༘

[ the queen demands ]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐫𝐚'𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬. Jace stood to the side, fuming in his spot, whilst Lucerys watched you with a saddened frown. Daemon stretched across one of the satin loveseats, staring down at his hands, his fingertips pressed together on his lap.

"The Queen wishes for me... to stay... here?" you mumbled, shaking your head at the thought. "I don't understand."

"We don't understand either," the princess stated, hand moving to your shoulder as she pursed her lips. "I have a feeling she wishes to converse you on the customs of King's Landing, given that you've never lived here. Since you are the next Queen... I truly believe Alicent wants to teach you the ways of being a ruler."

"Her ways," Daemon muttered.

"But-... I don't..." You stopped, taking a shuddering breath before resting your hands atop the skirt of your gown, staring at Rhaenyra. "You're going back to Dragonstone?" you presumed. The woman could only nod, causing a scoff to escape you as you raised your gaze to the ceiling.

"Y/N-."

"You knew?" you questioned Jace, the boy stopping a step away from you as he clenched his jaw. "Of course, you knew," you whispered, before your eyebrows pulled, forehead creasing as you frowned. "So, am I to stay here in King's Landing under the bidding of the Queen? Not knowing when I am to return to you? My betrothed?"

"If there was another way-."

"Another way to what? You barely have a fucking clue as to why she wants me here!" you exclaimed, before a gasp left your mouth, hand shooting up to your mouth as if you could push the horrid word back into your lips. Daemon let out a giggle, staring at you in a new-found light as he watched you shake slightly. "I- forgive me."

"It is alright," Rhaenyra assured with a sharp whisper, surging forward to take your trembling hands in hers as she leant her head down to meet your tearful eyes. "I promise you that we will be back. But we cannot go against the wishes of the queen, let alone her demands."

You didn't speak, lip quivering as you held back a frightened sob. You didn't want to stay here in King's Landing. Without the family here, you felt no need to stay. And yet, the queen wanted you to be by her side for the next month for some unknown reason. No matter how charming Helaena was, and how alluring Aemond could be when you caught him just by himself, it wasn't enough for you to want to continue living your life here. You wanted to go back home... and be with Jace.

Gods, how you wished to marry him. And he felt the exact same way, probably even stronger. The prince let out a sigh, walking towards you and taking your tear-stained cheeks in his hands. His palms were rough compared to your soft skin as he grazed his thumbs over your high cheekbones. "I'll-... We'll be back, my love. I'll make sure of it."

You could only nod, your tongue twisting in your mouth, not allowing you to speak of how you truly felt at this present time.

You watched as Rhaenyra and her family left King's Landing on their dragons with a solemn gaze. Lucerys had hugged you so tight, you could feel more pressure at your chest then you did when you wore a corset. Rhaenyra had pressed a kiss to your forehead whilst Daemon merely offered you a curt nod, muttering his regards.

Jace had wrapped you in his strong arms, and you sunk into his embrace, pressing your cheek to his quilted tunic, breathing in the wonderful scent you had grown accustomed to; a mixture of spices from the markets of Dorn, all the while making you nostalgic at the smell of citrus.

Venturing back into the castle, you made sure to be quiet, not wishing to disturb anyone from their sleep. It was late into the night, most likely nearing the middle of twilight, and your footsteps were soft as you made your way to your room.

The air was gentle but held a bite as you wrapped your arms around yourself. You had made the mistake of only wearing a simple silk nightgown. Of course, it wasn't the most appropriate attire, but the family had shrugged it off, given the time that they were leaving. And it left Jace a blushing mess as he cleared his throat at the sight of you.

You were becoming paranoid as you continuously glanced around at the small, feeble sounds resonating from the castle. You almost were certain you had heard a door opening and shutting, and the sound of quiet footsteps following you, but you brushed it off as foolish speculations.

But, you were right to trust your gut when a hand reached out from the darkness of the corridor, muffling your frightened scream as you felt your back hit the front of your captor whilst they kept their tight grip on your mouth.

"Hush those sweet screams, byka sōvian."

You glanced up, meeting the eye of Aemond, the prince keeping you tight against his chest. You shuddered at the feeling of his back, rising and falling with deep breaths whilst you gained your own, heart thumping wildly.

"Aemond-." You were cut off at the feeling of his hand moving away from your mouth, taking place at your neck. You choked as his grip tightened, missing the way he watched you writhe in his grip with such... ferocity in his gaze that had him twitching. "What are you doing here?"

"Me?" he questioned. "I could ask you the same question, my lady." Aemond spun you around, keeping one arm at your waist whilst his hand stayed tight and unmoving at your throat. You were forced to meet his cold gaze. "Tell me what you were doing."

"I-I-." You clawed at his hand, begging him with your eyes to let go, but Aemond was never one to change his mind. But... well for you, he would negotiate. Loosening his grip, he watched you take a much-needed breath, your fingers still watching onto his forearms as you regained yourself. "I was-... I was wishing your nephew and his family safe travels back to Dragonstone."

Aemond's eye peered into your own, before moving down to your dress. 

"In this?"

He pinched a piece of the shiny lilac fabric, pulling it up so that he could inspect it. You gasped for the dress rode up on your legs, revealing your thigh. His breath hitched in his throat widened at the sight of it, before slowly meeting your gaze.

By the Gods were you exquisite. The ray of the moon was casting a heavenly glow all over your body, your skin luminous in the light, pairing with the reflective silk of your nightgown. Yes, Aemond would say it was modest, but in his primal mind, the sight of dainty lace covering the goose-bumped skin of your lower chest, knowing damn well what it trailed down to-

The prince cleared his throat, dropping the material from his hand, resisting the urge to outwardly groan as your legs were covered once again, he stepped back, flexing his fingers to try and relieve some tension.

"You should go to sleep," he said curtly.

"I was on my way to my chambers before I was interrupted," you stated in a whisper.

Aemond stared down at you for a moment, before stepping out from the hallway. When he turned back to you, you watched as the white light from the large moon above outlined his lean body. "Then I will escort you to your courters. The castle is not suitable for a woman like yourself at this time of night."

You blinked, taking in his form, before you silently made your way beside him. Together, you walked towards your bedroom, nothing but the sound of your footsteps filling the night air. Aemond had his arms to his back - nothing unusual - whilst you held onto your shifty nightdress, the material soft against your fingertips.

You looked up at the sight of your door, coming to a stop as Aemond halted beside you. Casting a glance his way, you watched him for a moment, wishing for him to speak, but he merely stared straight ahead. With a soft sigh, you opened the door, resting your hand on the wood as you turned around to face him. Your room was warmer than the corridors of the castle, a quite inviting air it seemed.

"Thank you... for escorting me to my room," you mumbled.

The prince nodded, not daring to allow himself to fall into the gleaming irises of your eyes.

In a spur of the moment decision, you found yourself leaning forward, teetering up onto your toes. Aemond flinched at the feeling of your lips pressing against his cheek in a gentle kiss. And immediately, he reached out for your waist, steadying you as you leaned back again to stare at him.

His gaze was nothing but steel, and you were sure he was going to shun you, or even raise a hand at you. But instead, he simply raised his hand to your cheek, ghosting his fingers across the warm skin there as he marveled in your beauty.

"Never do that again," he stated in a soft voice, causing an embarrassed hue of pink to overtake the spot where he once caressed.

"I'm sorry-."

"For I might do much more than kiss your pretty lips, my lady."

And with that, Prince Aemond whisked away from you and your bedroom, taking off down the halls with squared shoulders and a stride in his step, leaving you watching his retreating form with wide eyes.