CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

Later that evening when Aenemera was able to come back to her senses and continue to act like nothing had happened earlier in the day, the family had gathered for dinner.

She walked towards Aemond after entering the room, Aegon just disappearing by his side the moment he recognized her presence. They still weren't communicating after the latest accident between each other.

Aemond visibly relaxed at the sight of her and held his hand out, reaching for her as she made her way closer. "I missed you."

Aenemera smirked up at the boy as he planted a kiss on her cheek. "We saw each other just a few moments before dinner."

"Exactly," he whispered into her ear.

She glanced towards her brothers, noticing both Jace and Luke were holding eye contact with her. All she could do was smile at the boys with reassurance. Her place tonight would surely be by Aemonds side at the table — just as Aegon sat beside Helaena and so on.

"Feeling better?" He spoke gently to her, trying to catch a glimpse of her eyes while tucking a single strand of blonde hair behind her ear.

Her tongue weighed with sarcasm now. "Absolutely astonishing."

He perked an eyebrow down at his wife, one hand settled on her waist while the other was weighing against his back. "Are we back to our old ways now, my love?"

Aenemera quickly shook her head and frowned up at him. "No, of course not — I'm sorry. There's a lot weighing on my mind currently."

Aemond caressed her waist with his thumb and planted another kiss to her soft cheek. "Send it all away."

The doors to the dining room opened and King Viserys made his appearance while being carried in on a chair. Everyone at the table stood in greeting as Aenemera turned to her grandfather with a gentle smile.

"How good it is to see you all tonight — together." Viserys spoke tiredly once everyone began to take their seats at the table.

Aemond flicked one of the waiters away with a wave of his hand, wanting to pull out Aenemera's chair himself. In which she responded by a grateful smile by his respectful nature.

Alicent turned to her husband with a gentle hand on his arm. "Prayer before we begin?"

He nodded. "Yes."

Aenemera folded her hands together and closed her eyes, just as Aemond did and the others around at the table.

Alicent spoke softly. "May the Mother smile down on this gathering with love. May the Smith mend the bonds that have been broken for far too long. And to Vaemond Velaryon, may the gods give him rest."

Viserys tilted his head towards his wife then gazed around the table. "This is an occasion for celebration, it seems. My grandsons, Jace and Luke, will marry their cousins, Baela and Rhaena, further strengthening the bond between our houses. A toast to the young Princes... and their betrothed."

Everyone raised their cups, including Aenemera as she smiled wide towards her brother. "Hear, hear!" Daemon grinned.

"Let us toast as well Prince Lucerys," Viserys continued. "The future Lord of the Tides."

"Hear, hear." Rhaenyra spoke out gently to her son.

"You'll be great." Rhaena smiled at Luke.

Aemond held his gaze towards the new couple behind his goblet, Aenemera peering up at him curiously. She understood the discomfort settling in the air and quickly picked up her drink again, standing from the table.

Aemond's gaze was immediately on her's, lowering his cup and sitting upwards to give his wife his undivided attention.

"A toast — for both of my families," Aenemera held her cup upwards and smiled down at everyone. "Although these times are quite difficult and trying — I couldn't do it without most of you. Including my husband. Looking forward to better days and peace."

"Beautiful," Rhaenyra spoke out to her daughter as Daemon nodded in agreement, his face always looking the most soft when he gazed towards his child.

Aenemera took her seat again and turned to Aemond, her mouth open to make a statement but he was already leaning in to capture her lips in a slow yet heart aching kiss. Her stomach lept and twirled with desire and love.

Her hand came up to caress his face before their foreheads settled upon one another, their eyes closed shut for a brief moment. But it didn't go unnoticed by others — Rhaenyra turning to Daemon with a form of a proud smile, realizing that maybe the marriage was a beautiful idea.

Aegon was rolling his eyes and taking a large sip from his ale. As for her brothers — Jace was glaring at Aemond as if he could shoot daggers through his skull. He knew Aemond wanted to show off the sort of control he had over his older sister — and there was not a single thing he could do about it.

Viserys slowly stood from his chair, almost tripping over his own feet with his hand smashing down on the silverware accidentally. Rhaenyra and Alicent were ready to jump to their feet to help him.

"It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table. The faces most dear to me in all the world, yet grown so distant from each other in the years past." Aenemera looked up and watched as her grandfather began to remove his mask and place it on the table. "My own face is no longer a handsome one — if indeed it ever was. But tonight I wish you to see me as I am. Not just a king but your father. Your brother. Your husband and your grand sire. Who may not, it seems to walk for much longer among you."

" — Let us no longer hold ill feelings in our hearts. The crown cannot stand strong if the House of the Dragon remains divided. But set aside your grievances. If not for the sake of the crown then for the sake of this old man who loves you all so dearly."

Aenemera reached for Aemond's hand beside her, his palm facing upwards and her own making a home on top of his. Their fingers softly grazed each other as she caressed his hands with the tip of her fingers.

Viserys slowly sat back down tiredly into his chair, Alicent rubbing his arm and holding his back as well before helping him place his mask over his face; just as Rhaenyra jumped to her feet with a cup in her grasp.

Aenemera turned her vision towards her mother as she spoke. "I wish to raise my cup to Her Grace, the Queen. I love my father. But I must admit that no one has stood more loyally by his side than his good wife. She has tended to him with unfailing devotion, love, and honor. And for that, she has my gratitude and my apology."

Alicent bowed her head in silence before nodding towards Rhaenyra. "Your graciousness moves me deeply, Princess. We are both mothers... and we love our children." Her lips curved into a slight frown as Rhaenyra kept her gaze centered on the table. "We have more in common than we sometimes allow." Alicent stood from the table and picked up her glass. "I raise my cup to you and to your house. You will make a fine queen."

As Aenemera went to take another proud sip of her wine, her nose caught a whiff on the scent and immediately turned it away with a grimace expression.

Aemond placed his arm behind her chair and turned to her curiously, taking her wine into his grasp. "No good?" He took a short smell of the alcohol himself but the princess shrugged her shoulders. "Possibly, but that's enough for me." She told him gently. "I need more water for tonight."

Aemond nodded quickly and reached behind them with his fingers waving one of the men over. "Water for my wife," he held the wine cup upwards from them to take, his gaze never removing from Aenemera.

Suddenly Jace slammed his fists against the table while standing to his feet, causing the couple to turn their attention away from each other once more.

Aegon found his way back to his seat after retrieving more wine, just as Aemond frustratedly stood from his chair. Aenemera quickly looked up at him and reached for his hand. He didn't shrug her off — but instead had his own lean fingers lingering across hers before placing them against the table.

"To Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond." Jace now held up his own cup with a short smirk lingering on his face. Aenemera shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "We have not seen each other in years, but I have fond memories of our shared youth. And as men, I hope we may yet be friends and allies. To you and your family's good health, dear uncles."

Jace gently punched Aegon in the arm after grabbing it playfully. Aegon pressed his lips together firmly and nodded. "To you as well."

Aenemera raised her eyebrows curiously at her brother, his gaze flickering over hers quickly and she shook her head instantly — silently telling him that was enough.

Aemond sucked in his teeth before sitting back down next to Anemera, leaning back in his chair with his arm stretched out behind her chair again.

"Beware the beast beneath the boards." Helaena whispered to no one in particular, beside Aenemera while her gaze was focused on a small trinket between her fingers.

Viserys smiled at his grandson with a nod. "Well done, my boy."

Then suddenly Helaena stood up with her own cup, Aenemera turning her attention towards the girl with a curious smile. "I would like to toast to Baela and Rhaena. They'll be married soon. It isn't so bad. Mostly he just ignores you except sometimes when he's drunk — unless you have a marriage like my brother Aemond and sister Aenemera."

The princess tilted her head with a soft smile, looking up towards Helaena as she now turned towards the married couple. "They bring hope to other couples — and to me as well, that love is in fact real."

Aenemera's heart swayed with adoration, watching Helaena take her seat again, slightly drunken already but a proud smile weighing over her own lips.

"Let us have some music," Viserys requested.

The table slowly separated into different conversations as Jace took Helaena's hand and requested a dance. Rhaenyra and Daemon laughed together happily as Alicent and Otto cheered on Helaena with her dance skills.

Aenemera's eyes twinkled with pure delight to watch her family interact with each other in peace — or at least enough to please the king.

She then felt Aemond grasp her hand and raise it to his mouth, planting several kisses upon her knuckles to capture her attention.

She turned to him and grinned wide, a small brush forming around her cheeks. "Ao sagon iā dream." ❪ you're a dream ❫

"As are you," he whispered to the girl with a small smile.

When she playfully tugged her hand away, he quickly reached out for it — intrigued to play a game with her but their playful bit caused one of the utensils to drop to the ground below their feet with a small clang.

Aenemera placed her hand over her lips and giggled to herself while she watched Aemond shifted his chair backwards to retrieve the object.

She tilted her head down towards him and whispered. "I quite like seeing you on your knees before me."

Aemond raised an eyebrow, one that she couldn't see, and took this as his advantage to drag his fingers up her leg from under her skirt. His skin caressed hers and caused the hair's on her body to stand straight up like she had been shocked.

Her mouth gaped open to protest but he tilted his head upwards all while still kneeling down and grinned up at the princess. "Iksā iā ravishing view hen below." ❪ you're a ravishing view from below ❫

Aenemera's eyes widened and quickly reached for his hands to help him up while gazing around the table frantically to make sure nobody was listening.

"Aemond," she then hissed down at the boy but he was making quick work to get back to his seat.

One of the men from the kitchen waited patiently before replacing the utensil with a new one while Aemond got comfortable with a cocky grin plastered on his face.

She rolled her eyes at the boy, reaching over to playful slap his chest but he quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her body towards him. His eye gazed down at her lips but she shook her head no, the corner of her lips tugging upwards.

She could never allow him to have his way without a fair fight.

But it wasn't until guards were suddenly carrying the king out of the room and bringing him back towards his bed chambers. She looked after him in sadness, hoping she could catch him before the night ends.

More people from the kitchen entered the dining room with a cooked pig on a large tray, surrounded by vegetables and greens. Aenemera watched them place the pig in front of her and Aemond; she sent them a thankful smile in return.

From across the table she could easily tell her brother was chuckling to himself all while trying to hide it behind some small choking from the food. She knew exactly what he was laughing at.

Aenemera snapped her gaze towards him and immediately sent him a warning stare. "Luke."

Aemond turned to Luke next and without a moment of hesitation, he slammed his fist on the table and stood from his chair. Aenemera flinched from the action, although she knew it would be happening at some point this evening.

"Final tribute," Aemond held up his goblet towards Luke's direction. Aenemera scratched the area below her eyebrow in silence before looking up at her husband. "To the health of my nephews; Jace, Luke, and Joffrey."

Aenemera closed her eyes briefly as she shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Alicent awkwardly looked towards her son, hiding her shocked expression behind her hands.

"Each of them handsome, wise... hm," the corner of his lip tugged upwards. "Strong."

Aenemera placed her hand down eagerly on the table to get his attention. "Aemond."

He ignored her while raising his cup higher, his eye never removing from the boys. "Come. Let us drain our cups," Aegon immediately raised his glass to his brothers words, "to these three — strong boys."

"I dare you to say that again." Jace snapped.

"Aemond please," Aenemera whispered.

Aemond turned to Jace now curiously. "Why? 'Twas only a compliment." His eyebrows furrowed slightly with a tilt of his head as he walked towards her brother. "Do you not think yourself Strong?"

Jace reeled back immediately and sent his fist forward to collide with Aemonds jaw in response to his antagonizing.

Dread and fear washed over Aenemera's face like a heavy wave and she quickly jumped from her chair, nearly knocking it over but Otto was right behind her to catch it. "Jace!" She shouted heavily at her brother while reaching for Aemond.

Luke was up from the table now and Aegon had his head slammed into the table. Everything was happening all at once she wasn't too sure what to do at this moment. "That is enough!" Alicent stood from the table, her eyes wide with fury.

Aemond turned his head back to Jace with a smirk, one hand shoving him to the ground while the other still had a firm clutch onto the goblet.

"Aemond, please," Aenemera silently begged him but was afraid to reach for him or even lay a single hand on him in fear of how he would react.

Jace jumped to his feet but guards now had both siblings in tight grasps and pulled backwards. Aemond chuckled to himself and turned back to the table, moving past Aenemera and placing his cup down.

Alicent quickly grabbed a hold of his arms and held him steady. "Why would you say such a thing before these people?"

Aemond raised an eyebrow at his mother. "I was merely expressing how proud I am of my family, Mother." He licked his tongue once then shrugged out of her firm grasp. "Mm, though it seems my nephews aren't quite as proud of theirs."

Jace was ready to charge once more and Aenemera now had her arms wrapped around herself with a hand covering her mouth in shock still.

Daemon quickly jumped forward and raised his finger towards her sibling. "Wait — wait." Jace immediately backed down and Rhaenyra began to rub her nervous hands against the fabric of her gown. "Go to your quarters. All of you go, now."

Aemond held a heavy glare towards Daemon as Rhaenyra seeked out her daughter's trembling figure standing behind Alicent. "Sweet girl, come." She held her hand out to her daughter.

Aenemera swallowed nervously and moved past Aemond, not sparing him a glance as she started making her way out of the dining hall with a quick step. But she ended up going into the opposite direction of everyone else, wanting to avoid more conflict.

But it didn't take long or much for Aemond to find her striding down the hallway, eagerly trying to escape to her bedroom alone. "Aenemera," he called out to her sternly.

She slowly came to a stop in the dark empty hallway, nervously rinsing her hands together as she turned to Aemond as he stalked towards her. A glint of anger was still washed over his face from previous actions, but as he was brought closer to her, it slowly disappeared.

"I don't want to speak of it," she whispered to him now that they were standing awfully close.

Aemond reached out for her hands but she hesitated into giving him any kind of affection. "Don't do that," he whispered back, noticing her discomfort and lack of calm nature around him at this moment. "Don't act like I'm the villain."

"You're not," she muttered while tilting her head upwards. "It's — it's been a long day."

"I'm aware," he nodded in agreement.

"Let us get to our beds." As she turned on her heel to continue her walk back to her room, he quickly grabbed her wrist, his face twisting with confusion. "Please don't let us sleep separately in discomfort."

Aenemera turned to him again in silence, her eyebrows furrowing with sadness. She couldn't help but want to be alone at this moment – except she wanted to be alone in her own bed for the evening.

"Aenemera," he called her name out again. "Tell me what troubles you." His grasp on her wrist softened but didn't falter as he took a step closer carefully. "We won't speak on this again but don't let my anger drift us apart."

"It won't," she promised, her teeth now latching onto her bottom lip in a stressful bite. "I've never seen you so angered before. I was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

She shrugged once as her gaze embarrassingly drifted from his own and somewhere across the hall. Aemond shifted on his feet and sadness washed over him quickly with realization that she held some type of fear.

The constant yelling between both families and the action of his own brother lashing out on her, it was no doubt she held some kind of fear towards aggression. It was enough to keep her locked away in her bed chambers.

Aemond closed his eye briefly in deep regret, quickly beating himself up over his own reactions at the dinner table. She still refused to make eye contact with him and it broke his heart.

Slowly he knelt to one knee with both of his hands holding onto her own now. Her eyes widened as she turned to Aemond now with jumbled questions weighing over her lips. "What are you — "

"Aenemera Targaryen, I swear by the God's I will never ever lay a hand on you or lash out on you in any vicious manner." He eagerly reached up now and removed the patch from his other eye so she could have a clear view of his face. "By my promises to the heavens, I will treat you with utmost respect like my mother had raised me. Iksā ñuha ābrar se kesan daor threaten skoros nyke ōregon jorrāelagon naejot nyke se olvie. " ❪ you are my life and I will not threaten what I hold dear to me the most ❫

He stood to his feet now and held her face gently with the palm of his hand. Her breath was snatched easily by his words and her heart fluttered with trust and desire. She couldn't find the words to say just yet but he took it as a sign of forgiveness — or at least in hopes to prove his love further.

"I want to show you something," he whispered.