(please do not ghostread)

The kings chambers much darker and dreary than Aelyna remembered. The curtains barely open as the room stank of candle wax and medicine. There he lay, Viserys Targaryen. Her uncle the rotting corpse she had seen in her dreams. With pale skin, gaunt cheeks Aelyna was rather stuck by the hole in his cheek. Hallow as his eye as he breathed with difficulty in his sleep.

"Skoros emagon se gaomagon naejot ao?" Aelyna grimaced as she circled her uncles bed. It was no surprise that she managed to enter his chamber so easily. She remembered the histories Viserys had taught her of Maegor the Cruel. Even at seven years old, Aelyna was determined to find every single one of them. Her mind had carved every twist and turn of the Red Keep.

(what have the done to you?)

Viserys sighed deeply as he turned his head "Who- who goes there?" disoriented and weakly he asked. His strength so futile he could barely raise his own hand. He stirred beneath the covers, movement reluctant and heavy as he forced himself to sit up. "Who dares to wake the-"

As he sat up, the world titled. A wave of dizziness succumbed king Viserys. Through his one eye he saw a silver haired woman standing by his side. Hesitant he asked "M-mother?" His voice croaked

Aelyna's eyebrows knitted together as she sat on the bed "No, my king. It is only me, Aelyna."

Viserys gaze softened. Have the years gone by so quick? The little babe that followed him and Aemma like a shadow, now a woman grown. His brothers spitfire, the image of their mother with Daemons silver hair. "Aelyna." He whispered. His voice near trembled, overwhelmed with emotion "My niece..."

A clarity washed over Aelyna. She hated to admit it but Cregan was right. The outcome good or bad, she would never find rest without seeing Viserys first. Her visions would terrorize her only more had she not returned to see him. But there needed to be a reason for it. If Viserys was as sickly as he was, there had to be a reason for her to be in Kingslanding. 

"How are you here? Is Daemon he-"

"I came on my own." She replied "I have returned from my travels and -" She bit her tongue. A lie would just have to do "It was necessary of me to see you. After my visits I hope to return to Dragonstone."

Viserys had the impression that her father was with her. This only brewed the frustrations that she held with him. Aelyna wondered how long it has been since the brothers sat across from one another.

Just then the doors swung open. Dressed in green, with fiery red hair braided to the back, the seven pointed star hung from her neck there stood Queen Alicent Hightower. Aelyna examined Alicent's face, no doubt her father, the hand had told her first of the unexpected visit from the kings niece.

"Princess Aelyna, what an honor." Alicent greeted her. Like her father, Alicent could see the arrogant smirk on her face. 

"Is it?" Aelyna quickly countered "Had it been such an honor why were you not the first to welcome me. My dragon is far from small that you did not know it was me." 

"Forgive me, young princess. For I had matters with to attend to. Had we received a letter ahead of time, perhaps then we could have arranged a welcoming more fitted to your expectations." Alicent said

Aelyna held her gaze on Alicent. She was far from the young queen Viserys had married. Despite the ordeal with Lucerys taking her sons eye, Alicent's demeanor was noticeable. She held herself with grace, dignity and confidence.

"It is I who should apologize, your grace." Aelyna stepped back from the kings bed as she stood across from Alicent. It struck the queen how strange it was to see a little of Rhaenyra in Aelyna. The boldness to so blatantly speak to authority however she wanted. Alicent herself realized this was from the young princess who crept in the shadows of the red keep, the little girl who's hair she once braided when waiting for Daemon to return from the Stepstones.

Both women had changed since last seeing one another. 

"With your visit, I can assume your travels are done?"

"You know of my travels?" Aelyna laughed "I did not think the court would care of my tracking. Especially since Daemon ha-"

"You are the kings niece." Alicent irrupted her "The kings has been restless since you fled the city from your sixteenth name day. After all it was under our care you disappeared."

Aelyna's smile faltered. Being grown, she sometimes found herself appalled on what a political headache she must have been for the crown. But then she remembered why her sixteenth name day was to be celebrated and the guilt washed away. A day dedicated to her but she would never have been the subject of the matter. It would be the gossip of Rhaenyra's second marriage to Laenor, Daemons and Viserys' hopeful reconciliation. Not even her name day could escape the endless theatrics of her family. "I suppose I should apologize, to the king and you, your grace. I have no doubt you all must have gone through great lengths to plan it."

"Yes, well all in the past." Alicent smiled. Her eyes looked the young girl up and down and realized a very stark contradiction in the dressings. With hair braided back, Aelyna was cloaked in black and grey furs. The sigil across her chest a direwolf "I see you have travelled quite far. The North?"

Aelyna felt her cheeks become flush, mayhaps even rose tinted from blush at the mention of the North. "Yes, your grace. I have always had a curiosity to the Northmen and their culture."

"You are braver than most." Alicent added "The king himself has no taste for the stoic and sturdy Northmen." She teased which Aelyna did not take too kindly. But Alicent was the queen, so Aelyna kept a gentle smile on her face+

"Stoic?" Aelyna's head cocked to the side 

"It's kinder than most would describe the Northern men. Especially in the South." Alicent shrugged "The men of the North are very loyal to the crown, despite some belief that they are also brutish. If that is his people, one must wonder of the Warden of the North."

Aelyna's jaw tensed. With narrow eyes she dug her nails into her palms as she tried to find her composure "Your grace, mayhaps you will be pleasantly surprised to know that Lord Starks and the Northerners are far from drunken gossips and theories between high born ladies. They showed me a kindness and hospitality that the South has always struggled to convey."

Again Alicent's eyes examined the cloak around Aelyna's shoulders "Indeed." she smiled "My father tells me ser Erryk has your watch. Hopefully we see you at dinner tonight. Your cousins will be more than delighted to see you."

Aelyna did not attend dinner. 

Instead she remained in her chambers, reading the ancient histories of Valyria. And when she was finished, the castle empty with nothing but guards wandering she decided to take a stroll. 

She found herself again in the throne room. 

The throne room loomed like an empty cavern. With its high, arched ceilings only the tiny steps of her bare feet could be heard. The moon shined through the windows, casting shadows larger than herself. In a manner, the coldness of the hall reminded her of the rooms she occupied in Winterfell, when she could not find sleep. But unlike now, when she turned her head she would not see her betrothed behind her. The look of concern and care for when she struggled to find sleep.

Out the window she could see the full moon. Aelyna's mind thought back to her first kiss with Cregan under a full moon. How naked and vulnerable it felt to feel his arms around her. The closeness of their breaths inches from one another as they discarded pieces of their clothing to the wooden floors. 

She knew she was right in returning to Winterfell, but gods, did she miss him.

Surrounded by tapestries of Targaryen history, in the presence of Aegon the conqueror's throne, she had never felt more disconnected from reality. The falseness of greetings, and smirks and praises for how she had grown by pigs in silk, Aelyna realized how accustomed she had become to the North. If you were greeted it was out respect, not sneers and gossip and if one was not, it was because you were not entitled to it. 

Aelyna had never had a house to call home. Not Kingslanding, despite Rhaenyra and Aemma's efforts and certainly not Pentos. She had always been glad of Daemon and Laena's marriage, it brought a stability to their lives that both she and her father needed- but it was never a home.

She adored her sisters, she would kill for Rhaena and Baela but a part of Aelyna was always aware that she was the thing looking at her family through a window. Daemon, his wives and the twins and then there was her, the bastard who's mother had no name.

But she felt at ease in the North. There were no courtly ladies, getting drunk off cake and wines spilling webs of lies and envy for other ladies. No lords that licked their lips, in lust and regret of not waiting to take her hand. Granted the icy cold winds would always be a difficulty for her, but at least with Cregan she did not feel as alone.

In a castle filled with people, like the child she was, Aelyna felt isolated.

She looked to the empty seated throne now sat by Otto Hightower, speaking in the name of the king. She shook her head, all the scheming and fighting for a chair. Viserys' reign was said to be one of peace, but had anyone been a fly on the wall for everything that has happened within the kings own house they would say otherwise.

Heavy footsteps could be heard behind her. Aelyna shifted herself to take a look over her shoulder. A cousin of hers. He had grown quite formidable despite all that has happened to him. A striking figure, despite his mother, the Valyrian features radiated off of him. Aemond Targaryen was no longer the round faced boy she had met on Driftmark. The eyepatch over his eye, reminded her of so much she wished to forget the day of Laena's funeral.

The brawl between the children, the confrontation between Alicent and Rhaenyra, Laena's dragon being claimed- and Aegon.

Drunkenly, he had stolen her first kiss. Aelyna was far too grown when she realized nothing of what Aegon did was her fault. She sometimes wondered, had she not fought him off would a kiss have been enough for him?

When Aelyna was young she had learned that boys opted to using their bodies and swords to show strength. She never cared for fighting, or swords. She had a weapon that could dull any sword, a sharp tongue and a mind. She shook her head as she faced the throne again. She could feel Aemond behind her, like a creature from her nightmares he towered over her.

"Ugly old thing, isn't it?" Aelyna asked "Yet it has a certain appeal to it I suppose. The Aemond Targaryen of chairs." she turned to face him.

A deep settled scowl on his face  "My mother tells us your stay with us will be indefinite. Have you grown so tired of seducing drunken savages across the Narrow Sea that you return home?"

Aelyna rolled her eyes "A boy gains a dragon and suddenly has the boldness to speak to me as he likes." she sneered "You forget yourself, boy. I wasn't so drunk that day, that I had forgotten how your mouth hung open when I flew my dragon."

"You think yourself worthy of my respects?"

"You think yourself so highly to sneer at me?" Aelyna shook her head with a teasing smile "You should know by now to tread carefully around me. Imagine the humiliation when your cousin hits you again, leaving you bruised and beaten that you would under your mothers skirt again."

Aemond jaw clenched, already he had more than enough of her insolence "Mind yourself, you might have the kings favor but you are still a ba-"

"Bastard." Aelyna quickly replied. A smirk still plastered on her face "Come now, surely someone with a head as large as yours, you can do better than that." She stepped closer "Is this where you grab me by my neck and threaten to feed me to Vhagar, go ahead." She shrugged holding her head back "Either you say something smart or choke me. Most immature boys tend to choose violence."

Aemond stepped back, his hands behind his back as he looked down on her. He remembered how his brother was fond of their cousins attitude. No care for courtly manners or discussion, a staggering arrogance and ego. 

"Neither, thought so." Aelyna said as she lifted her head. "Tell me, why is that every one of you Hightowers look like you could shit yourself to see me? Almost as if you preferred to have this castle attended by only you."

Aemond raised an eyebrow "Since you claimed your dragon, you have never cared for anyone but yourself. If your father is not important enough to see, why must we believe you would come in the interest of what?" He questioned her, slowly he started to circle her. Like a predator to its pray "What? The king. No, you have come here for a reason, perhaps to spill your poison, little spider." 

"Is it so unbelievable that I've come out of the goodness of my heart?"

He smirked "You have no goodness in your so called heart. Much like your family, you would only serve to your own needs."

"Because you're such an expert and kindness? You, Aemond? The one eyed boy Vhagar perhaps confuses for an uglier Visenya?" He did not react kindly to this. In a flash he grabbed her by her arm, his breath over hers as she stood her ground. Aelyna ignored the grip on her arm, she was sure would bruise "Oh, emagon nyke pryjatan iā nerve?"

(Oh, have I struck a nerve?)

A moment of silence fell between the two. Aemond realized he did not like her. Despite him having grown a man, Aelyna still saw the boy he was. The boy she had beaten to a bloody pulp because he defended his right to claim Vhagar when confronted by her sisters. He was far from the child he used to be, and he would make sure she knew of that. "Mēre tolī udir, se nyke'll feed ao naejot ñuha zaldrīzes!" He threatened her only to receive a laugh

(One more word and I'll feed you to my dragon)

The laughter erupted from her like a storm. Aelyna found it all to comical how easily she could pick apart her cousins ego. Despite the pain in her arm, the delight in her eyes was telling. As though he was the funniest fool she had ever met. Until her face fell completely flat, with swiftness she closed the distance between her and Aemond. His grip still on her arm as she grabbed him by the throat. Her hand firm and unyielding, the pressure of her fingers against his windpipe. 

The touch of Aelyna's skin on his, made him see a vision of horror. His eye widened in fright. Behind Aelyna stood a dark haired woman, with a bloodied smile. Her throat slit open as blood poured down her dress. 

The woman's face a vision of beauty, but covered in blood. His shocked eyes looked back to Aelyna who shared the same sadistic smile as the woman behind her "You ever touch me again boy, I will do so much worse than burn you." her voice coaxed "I'll drink your blood and eat your skin." she dug her nails in deeper as she finally shoved Aemond away from her.

Aelyna could feel her behind her. Malena still bloodied with a slit throat as she left her when she killed her. But Malena was still part of her, the part she forced down Aelyna's throat. The meat and blood of her throat she choked Aelyna with when her throat was slit. She would always be apart of her daughter, even if only a shadow.

When Aemond stood straight, suddenly the dark haired woman was gone. All that stood in front of him was Aelyna

"What trickery is this?!" he spat at her "What they've said is true-" He held his bruised throat "Fucking witch!" he cursed her "You ever lay your hands on me-"

"Oh no, look at me cower in my night shift" Aelyna dramatically gasped holding her hands across her heart "I should cower in fear because little Aemond thinks I'm a witch!" she mocked him. She placed her hands behind her back "Ȳdragon naejot nyke hae jaelā se both Vermithor se kesan ipradagon ao. Bones se mirre."

(Speak to me as you want and both Vermithor and I will eat you. Bones and all)

☆ ࣪ ִ AUTHORS NOTE :l 𝆬 3

Aelyna and Malena when Aemond tried to threaten her:

let me just say this first AELYNA IS NOT A CANNIBAL! SHE IS NOT A CANNIBAL- 

her mother on the other hand... so with them being blood witches and also mother and daughter I kinda want to give off the nature of how dark and twisted Aelyna's bond with her mother through actions. All of Malena's action towards her daughter has always been out of selfishness, envy but also the overly need to mother her to death. I kinda like comparing Aelyna and Malena to the pomegranate-cannibal metaphor. As in love isn't enough for what they have, the feed off one another (just in the worst possible ways)

Also as the plot continues, the layers to her are gonna be pealed. We know what she's like in an environment where she feels loved and safe like in Winterfell, but it's a complete 180 where she's in the Red Keep very much isolated from who she feels safest to.

Next chapter is a Helena and Aelyna chapter, because Helaena is my absolute favorite and I am gonna play off the two sides to the same coin affect with them being dreamers.

last note- what are yalls thoughts on the finale, I really wanna know.

<3