CHAPTER FORTY
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

Aenemera had her head resting against Aemond's chest as he slowly swept them across the dance floor. Soft ballads drifted around them like waves from the piano and violin. Her eyes remained closed as she trusted his steps to guide her across the floor without tripping over each other.

As promised, Alicent put something together for the prince and princess, in hopes it would bring any piece of joy to the family after recent events.

Delaenya's and Rhaenyres were positioned peacefully in golden cribs stationed by the large table where Alicent, Aegon, and Helaena currently occupied. Jaehaerys and Jaehaera would constantly stand near the cribs to look at the babes, sharing their toys by placing them in the cribs to keep the girls occupied. Not once did either of the girls cry or display discomfort.

The music was peaceful and relaxing, only going to the highest volume that wouldn't harm the babes ears. But nevertheless, everyone go the chance to hold the girls and play with them throughout the evening.

Alicent would occasionally drift her gaze over to the girls then back towards Aemond and Aenemera, before repeating the action over and over. She was too afraid that if she wasn't watching the babes, something would happen — but when she would look back at the prince and princess, she was reminded that those two might be the only ones that could redeem house Targaryen.

Over the past several days the couple have not left their children alone or stray far from their eye sight. Aenemera only ever wanted to hold her children, as they made her happy, but Aemond couldn't trust anybody else near his girls unless he was standing over their shoulder. His protective nature became more apparent than before and no one was foolish enough to test those boundaries.

When the song came to an end and Aemond halted his steps, Aenemera finally opened her eyes to gaze up at him.

Aemond lifted his hand and grazed his knuckles against her fair cheek. "Would you believe me if I told you that I've loved you before I even knew what love was?"

"No — I wouldn't," she smiled with a small shake of her head. "We were cruel to each other Aemond."

"We were children," he corrected quickly. 

Aenemera raised her hands and held his elbows firmly. Her eyes sparkled from the luminous light coming from the candles hanging above their heads. "We said many awful things to one another — did things to scare each other because of our own superiority complex's. I wanted to be seen as a true Targaryen, you wanted a dragon — "

"And I've gotten both," he reminded her with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You are not only Targaryen by blood but you are a dragon. Undoubtedly the bravest woman I know."

She corked her eyebrow upwards curiously. "But?"

He shook his head. "There is no but. There's nothing you did or could've done to sway me differently when we were children." He raised his hands and cupped her face into his large palms. "I've said terrible things because I enjoyed getting a rise out of you but also because — I believed I didn't deserve you. I wanted to make you hate me because I believed you would never reciprocate those feelings back to me. The day of our wedding — I watched as you walked towards me and you were a true Targaryen vision and I thought to be the luckiest boy alive." His hold on her face turned slightly firmer, in which she felt obligated to hold onto his wrists as a reminder that she wasn't going to disappear again. "I personally had it out against all of our siblings because of what I went through and all I wanted was for someone to feel sorry for me."

"We were just children," Aenemera reminded him with a soft whisper. "None of what happened was meant to get where it is now."

"I know this. But it will never change how I feel about you — not even when we were children." He finally lowered his hands towards her shoulders and slowly caressed the back of her biceps. "There's still much I wish to speak about with you — about your — family. Everything that's happened between when we were just children — to now."

Aenemera let out a small sigh of understanding, opening her mouth ready to respond until Maverick suddenly appeared beside them in the middle of the dance floor.

His hands were tucked securely behind his back and he bowed his head respectively towards the couple as a greeting. Aemond glanced at him briefly, giving him a curt nod as a response — but Aenemera felt her entire body run cold when she turned her own attention towards the other boy.

"I'm sorry to interrupt." Maverick extended his hand towards the princess and smiled. "It would be an honor if Princess Aenemera would join me for one dance."

"We're in the middle of a conversation," she seethed quickly.

Aemond furrowed his eyebrows down at his wife before shaking his head. "It's fine, this is not the time to hold our discussion, we'll continue it tonight." He lifted her right hand and kissed her knuckles softly. "It is my turn to hold our daughters — before my own mother steals them." He flashed her a reassuring smile before turning away and leaving the dance floor.

Maverick didn't hesitate to sweep Aenemera up into the proper dancing position and started stepping across the floor once the music began playing.

"Lovely night, is it not?"

Aenemera shot him a burning glare. "You're an even bigger fool than I thought you were."

He slowly grinned at the princess and leaned closely to whisper into her ear. "I hope you haven't forgotten about our previous conversation the other night. I was hoping it was impactful enough to get my point across." He suddenly whisked her around and pointed towards the shadows near the entrance. "Genevieve has surprisingly been patient but I believe she's growing restless. You ought to save yourself while you still can before the prince loses his head."

Aenemera slowly narrowed her at him. "Why must you speak in riddles?" She forcefully ripped her hand from his grasp and took a step backwards. "I'm warning you to leave my family alone or — "

"Or what? Your mother will come rescue you?" He tilted his head to the side with furrowed eyebrows. "Nobody is on your side Aenemera, you're simply just a pawn in this game. You only have one chance left before it's just you against the others."

"What the fuck does that mean?" She whispered aggressively towards Maverick.

A devilish smirk crept across his face and he swiftly pulled her into his chest with his arm circling firmly across her waist.

The action was easily unnoticed as they were swarmed by others in a crowd on the dance floor. Anxious knots formed in the pit of her stomach as if burning hot coals were being placed onto her skin. She quickly looked around for Aemond but Maverick suddenly gripped her chin between his thumb and finger, forcing her gaze back on him. "Don't worry. He's not paying attention."

She roughly used her forearm to shove his hand away then used her nails to deeply pierce the skin of his hand that was gripping her lower back.

"I told you — " she inhaled slowly and took a single stride backwards. "If you place your hands upon me again — it's not Aemond or the guards you'll have to worry about."

Maverick slowly rubbed his scarred hand with his other. His eyes darkened but he didn't retreat or move towards the princess.

"Relay that message back to Genevieve, i'm sure she could use a reminder as well." She picked up her skirt and rushed through the busy crowd of dancing bodies to reach Aemond.

He was preoccupied with Delaenya in his arms, cradling her tenderly while Helaena gently swayed Rhaenyres in her own. Both of them distracted by their own conversation.

The princess rushed up to them and eagerly held her hands out for Delaenya. "Let me see her, please." Her fingers wiggled anxiously towards her husband as he shifted his gaze from his sister towards his wife. "Everything alright, my love?"

"Yes." She responded curtly as Aemond cautiously placed the babe into her arms. It was just then when her shoulders relaxed and the heavy anxious breath she was holding in finally released.

Delaenya was fast asleep and remained unbothered by the sudden movement. Whereas Rhaenyres was wide awake and giving Helaena her undivided attention with large smiles.

The evening came to an end and after the girls were settled back into their cribs in the bedroom, Aenemera quietly snuck out to visit the library alone.

Aemond was the first to fall asleep — Mera lying that she would join him shortly after she readied herself for bed.

Gareth finished his shift for the evening and went off towards the guards barracks to enjoy a late meal with small talk amongst other men.

Lyra was officially the only person walking around tending to smaller needs along with the other ladies in waiting.

When Aenemera managed to sneak away into the library and fully check that she was alone — she pulled out a hidden box full of writing utensils and parchment for sending letters.

She anxiously sat at the round table closest to the still lit fireplace and began furiously writing after dipping her pen into some ink.

Mother, I apologize my messages haven't been as frequent, I'm still unsure what to say. I've given birth to two beautiful healthy girls, i'm happier than could be. You've always prepared me for what motherhood would intel. I wish this letter could only be about the good things rather than the bad but I must inform you that something is coming. Unsure what and by whom — I cannot trust anyone right now. I fear that the night coming upon us might be the darkest.

She placed the writing utensil down and quickly rolled the parchment up after the ink dried against the paper. She then sealed it with some dripping hot red wax and tucked it away safely into the sleeve of her dress.

The box was placed back into its proper hiding place and the princess carefully slipped out of the library without making much noise to draw any attention.

But as she swiftly walked down the halls, eagerly trying to reach the designated area to send off her message — a large broad male walked right past her with metal clanging against one another.

Aenemera stopped in her tracks to slowly turn and face the man that kept walking in the opposite direction. Sweat was building across her forehead as she watched the man slowly disappear down the hall.

One hand firmly gripped a torch for light and the other held multiple crates for catching rats in the castle.

He simply paid her no mind and that action alone caused a string of chills to flow down her spine. Her heart pounded so roughly against her chest that she could practically hear the drumming. And through better judgment she understood her body was trying to tell her something.

Her gaze turned towards the direction of her and Aemonds bedroom, and without a second thought she ran directly towards it. As fast as her feet would carry her.

dylan
guys.... im scared