ᵈʳᵃᵍᵒⁿ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ

˖⁺‧₊˚🪽.° ༘

[ his dying breath ]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩.

Aemond.

 Aemond's hand on your mouth. 

Aemond's hand on your nightgown, fingers brushing against your exposed thigh. 

Aemond walking you to your room. You kissing Aemond's cheek. 

Aemond declaring that he would much more then that if you ever kissed him again. 

Aemond leaving you at your room bewildered and confused. 

Shaking off the thoughts, you slowly stood from your bed, threading your fingers through your tangled hair as you made your way to your vanity. A chambermaid soon entered, offering you a small smile as she searched through your dresses, soon holding one up. "Will this be to your liking, mi lady?" Mildred asked with a tilt of her head. 

You grinned at her through your mirror, chuckling softly as you combed the golden brush through the strands of hair. "How do you always know exactly what I want to wear every day, Mildred?" you wandered, causing the girl to giggle as you continued, "It's like you read my mind."

You stood up, and soon, you were standing naked as your chemise fell to the floor, your body soon being covered by the silvery blue dress. It had a golden rope belt that rested just above your hips, and sheer flowy sleeves. 

Mildred quickly trailed behind you as you left your room after twisting your hair into a pretty style that you deemed nice enough. Making your way through the castle, you offered soft grins to the servants, and respectful nods to the fellow noblemen and ladies.

Finally, you entered the sewing room, spotting the Queen and Halaena inside, the pair immersed in speaking to one another. Well, Alicent looked pitiful whilst her daughter looked crazed. Clearing your throat, they snapped their gazes to you, finding you by the door with a closed-mouth smile.

"Y/N," Alicent nodded, standing up to greet you. 

"Hello!" Halaena exclaimed, and you waved at her, allowing the Queen to take your arm in hers as she led you to the couch they were sitting on. 

Taking a spot beside the princess, you watched her embroider, quickly leaning over and whispering, "It's beautiful. Where did you learn to sew so wonderfully?"

Halaena looked at you with wide eyes, before mumbling with a smile, "In travelling days, my sire wishes to speak. But I do not know what she wishes, so I merely sew and seek."

Her words rhymed, causing your gaze to widen, glancing at the Queen. She looked relatively embarrassed, pursing her lips before she looked over at you in shock as you spoke, "That sounds interesting. If you wish to continue, I'm all ears."

Halaena giggled, shaking her head, not answering you as she stuck out her tongue, continuing her embroidering, making you chuckle slightly at her dazed expression. Alicent watched you for a moment, before speaking, "I know you are probably wondering why I wanted you to stay here." You nodded, shifting slightly in your seat to face her. "I wished for you to stay for I thought I could gain insight from you. You seem politically smart, and I can see you have a sweet soul."

"Thank you, my Queen," you blushed. Alicent hummed with a smile, before your eyes moved towards the children on the floor. You felt your heart squeeze at the sight of the twins playing with their toys, murmuring words that meant nothing and giggling about who knows what. "They're precious," you cooed, slipping off the seat and settling on your knees, Alicent and Halaena watching as the children immediately began playing with your fingers. 

The Queen thought you were a complete natural with children, watching as Jaehaerys crawled into your lap, your hands immediately shifting underneath his arms to hoist him against your side, the boy playing with a strand of your hair whilst Jaehaera continued ogling the fabric of your dress in her little hands.

Suddenly, at the sound of the doors opening, you looked up, eyes widening at the sight of Aemond. He walked in with purpose, shoulders squared before coming to a stop as his gaze settled on you. He watched with a shaky breath at the children surrounding you, finding the sight positively thrilling as he imagined his own sons and daughters in your hold. Preferably, you would be their mother-

Not now, Aemond.

You watched Aemond silently speak to his mother through their gaze with one another, before Alicent glanced down at you. 

"I think it would be best for you to return to your chambers, Lady Y/N," she murmured, before tightly smiling at you. "Aemond will escort you."

You could see it in her eyes; begging. Wishing for you to be easy and to go to your room without complaint or questioning. You let out a sigh, standing up as you nodded, "Of course, my Queen."

The twins mumbled to you, and you smiled softly, bending down on your knees and patting their white tufted hair with a coo, before standing up and glancing up at Aemond. He stared at you for a moment, then turned around and ventured towards the door, waiting outside for you. 

You bowed to the Queen and Princess, before scurrying outside. Aemond immediately began striding forward, fingers clenched in a fist as you followed behind him, huffing as you lifted your skirts to allow you to jog after him. 

"Aemond!" you exclaimed in a whisper, looking around to see if anyone else was near. "What is happening? What is so urgent?"

"You question me but not my mother?" he questioned, keeping his stare forward as he rounded a corner. 

You reached forward, taking his arm in yours to stop him. Aemond came to a stop with a grunt, spinning around to face you as he tilted his head to look down at you. 

"I question you because I know you will tell me the truth," you said, pleading with your eyes. "And that you would never lie to me."

Aemond watched you for a moment, before his nostrils flared as he sighed. "Aegon is missing."

Your eyes widened, stepping forward so that he could your hushed words, "What do you mean? How could he have gone missing?"

"He is a meticulous little boy," Aemond muttered, beginning to walk again. But he kept a hand on yours that rested on his arm, the action going unnoticed by you as you followed him. 

"But why would he disappear? What about Halaena? His children?"

"Aegon never cared for them," the prince answered, glancing back at you. "They were a means to an end, and Aegon wasn't even the brunt of it."

Aemond knew his mother was the reason Aegon was tied down and married to their sister; to keep the Targaryen line strong and pure, without a tainted line. But they were already polluted with Hightower blood. 

The familiar door of your room came into vision, and Aemond was quick to press his palms to the wood, pushing it open and pulling you inside. The white-haired boy let out a breath, before stationing himself in front of you. 

"Aemond... Why am I truly here? Why haven't I seen anybody?"

Your question made his lips purse. "I cannot say."

"Aemond-."

"Enough," he scorned, leaning down low to your face. You shuddered at the feeling of his breath fanning across your face as he spoke, "You will stay here, in this room, until I come through that door again. Not anyone else. Not even my mother. Only me."

"But-."

"This isn't a precarious matter, byka sōvion," Aemond snapped in a soft voice. "If you are waltzing about the castle at a time like this, I don't-." He took a deep breath, closing his eye as he mumbled, "I don't know what would happen to you... And what I would do."

"Aemond," you whispered, hands flying up to his cheeks as you grasped them. "I will stay here. Like you have asked. I promise."

He let out a sigh, and you closed your eyes as he softly placed his forehead against yours, his cold skin prickling your face as you stroked your fingers across his cheek bones. You knew that this was terribly inappropriate; you in the arms of the Targaryen prince, whilst your soon-to-be husband was in another kingdom. But you just couldn't describe what you felt for Aemond. There was a thrilling sense that overcame you whenever you were with him, and you could feel your heart ache for him when it really shouldn't be. But no, you would never allow these thoughts to dance across your tongue. 

You both seemed to realize just exactly what you were doing, and your bodies repelled away from one another, Aemond clearing his throat as you trifled with your dress. "I will see you soon, Lady Y/N."

"I await your return, Prince Aemond," you nodded, turning around to enter your room, closing the door behind you. Immediately, you fell against it, a breath escaping you before you gasped at the sound of the door locking. With furrowed brows, you pulled on the handle, eyes widening when it refused to budge. "That bastard..." you whispered to yourself. You were fine with the fact that you had to stay in the room, but you were beyond angered at the fact that he deemed it necessary to bloody lock you in. 

Little did you know, there were others who were being treated exactly the same. 

You glanced up from your spot on one of the loveseats, quickly placing your book down on one of the cushions as the door opened. Aemond entered, shutting the door behind him as his gaze scoured the room for you, before softening when he found you. 

He ventured forward, taking your arms in his hands as he bent down a little to meet your eyes. "You stayed," he acknowledged with a nod of his head. 

"I had no choice but too," you muttered, before sighing. "Did you find Aegon?"

Aemond confirmed your question with a nod of his head. "We found him hiding in the city. A woman named the White Worm hid him, but she was really going to sell him back to Otto." 

You hummed to show him that you took the information, before speaking, "Why would he hide?"

"Because he is to be king."

You felt your body stiffen in Aemond's hold, eyes going wide as you slowly raised your head to meet his. "W-... What did you say?"

"Aegon is to be crowned king," he said again, though his brows furrowed in perplexion. "You do not know of this?"

"No!" you exclaimed, ripping yourself from his hold as you pressed your hand to your chest, feeling the erratic beating of your heart. "Rhaenyra is the crowned heir. She is meant to be Queen!"

"My mother stated that my father named Aegon heir with his dying breath."

"And your mother is such a reliable source," you scoffed. 

"Don't speak ill about her," Aemond warned, taking a step towards you. 

"This isn't right. Viserys wouldn't have picked Aegon to be the future king!" you shouted, throwing your hands up. "Rhaenyra has been his sole choice for the past decade!"

"I will not hear of this!"

You flinched at his tone. You had never heard Aemond yell before, and his voice echoed throughout your room. He was usually very mildy-spoken, not known to raise his voice, even when the occasion called for it. The prince let out a breath, keeping his eye closed as he adjusted his tunic. 

"You know..." you trailed off. "You know it's wrong. Aegon isn't fit to be king."

"Do you think I do not know that?" he questioned with a sneer. "My brother is nothing but a spoiled rat. He takes everything and everyone for granted, and only sees them as a gain to his greedy, whoring ways."

"Then think of your father! He would never pick him. As much as he loved his children, he could see how terrible Aegon is."

"It has been decided!" Aemond roared, whirling around to you. "Now, you can come willingly, or I will drag you by your pretty hand to the ceremony. Take your pick."

You didn't respond, lip trembling as you sniffed. This couldn't possibly be happening. Aegon as king? The gods would spit upon it. And poor Rhaenyra, you knew for a fact that she didn't even know of the nearing coronation, let alone the death of her father. 

Aemond watched you for a moment, flexing his fingers as he sighed. "Mother wishes to see you in green."

That was all he said before he was leaving you a shaking mess in your chambers, his cloak fluttering behind him as he marched out of your room.