CHAPTER FOURTEEN
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

A few days after receiving the news that Rhaenyra would be making a return to Kings Landing with Daemon and Aenemera's siblings, she could barely sleep the night before with her body shaking with excitement.

She didn't want to acknowledge how long it had been without her family. Her siblings would be older now and she was expecting her mother to be carrying another.

As she stood outside alone with a few guards by her side waiting for their arrival, she eagerly watched as the gates opened and the first carriage entered through made a full stop in front of her.

The door from the carriage opened slowly and Rhaenyra was the first to step out in silence. She immediately noticed the lack of welcome coming from anyone inside the castle, including the king and queen themselves.

But it wasn't long before her eyes gazed upon her first child and felt the relief of a thousand waves washing to the shore.

Aenemera's eyes filled with tears quickly and she picked up her dress to run towards her mother. "You're here!" She cried out with a hint of laughter, her arms flying around her mothers figure and Rhaenyra responded by holding her tightly.

"My sweet girl," she mumbled while kissing her cheek then her temple several times before pulling back to hold her face. "You've grown so much since the last time we saw one another. Far too long since I've seen my darling girl."

Aenemera smiled wide with joy as she held onto her mothers elbows for support. "There's so much I want to share with you. Do we have time? How long are you here for?"

Rhaenyra frowned slightly then turned her head as Daemon was the next person to step out of the carriage. Aenemera's eyes lit up with happiness seeing her father for the first time since she found out about her legitimate birth.

"She didn't tell you?" Rhaenyra asked by tilting her head to the side in worry. "You weren't informed of our arrival?"

"I was told you would be returning, I assumed it would be a surprise but nothing was spoken on the matter."

Rhaenyra inhaled deeply and looked back at Daemon. He slowly shook his head in response and Aenemera noticed the shift of judgment in the air. "What's the matter? Did something happen?"

Her mother smoothed her cheeks with her thumbs before sliding her hands down her arms for comfort. "Your brother Luke is being questioned again about his legitimacy. As will Jace — "

"I thought we were past this?" Aenemera replied sharply.

"As did I," Rhaenyra nodded sadly. "But it's a matter we must see through. I eagerly need to see your grandfather."

"He's resting," she responded understandingly. "My brothers?"

Rhaenyra turned away with a growing smile as the next carriage came through and Daemon went back into their own to retrieve two smaller toddlers with blonde hair. Aenemera's eyes widened with delight just as her smile grew wider.

"Mera, I would like you to meet your new brothers — Aegon and Viserys."

Her daughter's eyes welled with tears of joy again as Daemon and Rhaenyra held onto her youngest siblings. "What beautiful princes'," she laughed softly while using her finger to brush the tears away. "They look so much like you both."

"As do you," Rhaenyra whispered in her daughter's ear before kissing the side of her head.

The second carriage opened and her three other siblings came running out with excitement. Aenemera turned away and gasped at her tall they had grown over the past few years. "Jace! Luke!"

The boys ran to her arms and the three of them engulfed each other with a strong head. "You two are ridiculously taller than me now!" She laughed softly, ruffling their hair gently.

"And me!" A softer, gentler voice came running from the carriage and her heart almost leapt from her chest to see Joffrey fully grown into a young boy.

"Joffrey!" She explained while leaning down and picking the boy up while wrapping her arms around his legs. "Look how big you've gotten!" She rubbed the tip of her nose against his then gently rubbed the back of his head. "You were just a baby the last time we saw each other — but not a day went by did I forget this adorable face."

"Mother told me you used to read me stories," his kind voice spoke while he gave her a gently gummy smile.

"Indeed I did," she smiled wide while setting him back down on the ground.

Rhaena was the last person to step out of the carriage and a rough gasp escaped the princess' lips from seeing how grown her cousin had gotten. Her hair was longer and more beautiful than ever. It brought her joy to see her now half sister again.

Rhaena walked up to Aenemera and threw her arms around the girls neck, the both of them practically grasping at each other tightly with short laughter. "I'm so happy to see you," Aenemera whispered to her.

"Let's get the younger ones inside," Rhaenyra ordered to the maids then ruffled Joffrey's head with her fingers. "Get them room with a snack from the kitchens."

"Luke and I wanted to go to the training yard again," Jace asked respectfully. Their mother nodded with a smile and the boys quickly ran towards the castle while Rhaena stayed behind.

Aenemera reached over and squeezed her hand as Daemon turned to speak with some of the guards. Rhaenyra tucked some of her daughter's hair behind her ear and smiled happily at her. "My dear princess, I've missed you terribly."

Mera turned to her mother and blushed at her gentle words. "You look beautiful mother, more beautiful than the moon."

Rhaenyra waved her hand and laughed gently before stepping closer to her daughter. "There's someone else I'd like for you to meet."

Aenemera furrowed her eyebrows curiously as she watched her mother move the opening over her warm jacket to reveal her small bump that was poking out from under her dress.

Aenemera's mouth fell open in a large smile. "You're expecting again!" She gently placed both hands on her mother's stomach, caressing the bump respectfully. "Are you healthy? How has the pregnancy with the babe been?"

"It's going well my dear," Rhaenyra smiled gently at the girl. "No complications to worry about."

As the princess studied her mothers bump, Rhaenyra watched her daughter carefully then tilted her head to the side slightly. "Are there any grandchildren yet for me to meet?"

Aenemera's eyes slowly flickered up towards her mother. "No, mother — Aemond and I havent — "

Rhaenyra smiled reassuringly at her daughter. "One day, there is no rush. The time will come when you are ready." She petted the back of her daughter's head before pressing a small kiss on her forehead. "I must go see your grandfather now — be sure your brothers stay out of trouble."

"As always," Aenemera smiled, watching Daemon return and hold her mothers hand while they entered the castle.

Rhaena and Aenemera immediately locked elbows together and began their walk to the training yard where her brothers would most likely already be swinging a sword around.

"I have not been near a single person that I enjoy the company of in so long," Aenemera admitted with a strong sigh. "Besides Helaena of course. She's calming to be around."

"Trust me, being surrounded by all boys has been quite exhausting as well," Rhaena admitted with a gentle laugh. Her arm tightened around Aenemera's as they entered the training area that was full of residents in the castle and bladesmiths.

Aenemera spotted Maverick currently working on something in the distance and she grinned to herself silently.

Rhaena watched Aenemera's reaction and raised a curious eyebrow. "Oh? See something you like?"

The princess looked at her half sister in shock. "He's a friend! Our first meeting was pure humor, I'll admit. He's a fantastic person to be around." She then nodded towards his direction. "He promised to build me a blade."

"How kind of him," she laughed.

"Well what do we have here?" Jace asked while he snickered to himself upon seeing the girls. "Mother send you to babysit again?"

"If it weren't for me, your asses would be in deeper shit than before." Aenemera rolled her eyes just as Rhaena let out a gentle laugh of agreement. "This is true."

"It's weird being back here," Luke admitted while his eyes scanned around the area carefully.

Aenemera tilted her head at her brother. "No worries little brother, I'll look after you I promise." She then laughed gently to reassure the boy.

He smiled at his sister knowing her words were true. But the air at kings landing felt much different from the time they were children and everything slowly began to go downhill not too long ago.

"How's marriage with our uncle?" Jace asked sarcastically while picking up a blade and pretending to be fairly interested.

The princess rolled her eyes in response. There was no way she would ever try to describe the dynamic of her and Aemonds relationship to anybody — including her siblings. She didn't have to ask to know that the boys still felt grudgement from the fight that happened several years ago.

"Luke, come here!" Jace grinned and pulled their younger brother away to guide him towards a small crowd. Aenemera and Rhaena sent each other a silent look and followed the boys over.

It was hard to miss that long blonde hair from miles away and any fool that didn't know it was Aemond, would surely be reminded by his strong fighting skills. Aenemera occasionally joined the courtyard to watch her husband battle it out with whomever, as requested.

He was in the mix of fighting against Criston Cole, their weapons thrashing and swinging about until Aemond had the tip of his blade near his neck in defeat.

The crowd clapped and both men stood there breathlessly just as Aemond lowered his weapon.

"Well done my prince. You'll be winning tourneys in no time." Criston congratulated

"I don't give a shit about tourneys," Aemond spoke before peeling his eye away from Criston and turning to Aenemera's brothers now. "Nephews, have you come to train?"

Aenemera quickly looked at her siblings but neither of them said a thing in return. She slipped her arm from Rhaena's and moved towards Aemond. "My dear husband, you did well." She congratulated, like she would mostly do when there was a crowd to surround them.

"I don't need tourneys when I already have my favor," Aemond spoke directly towards Criston while hinting towards Aenemera.

He then stepped away to pick up another shield as the gates opened and revealed lord Vaemond with his house banners. Aenemera visibly frowned at the sight, finally acknowledging what their whole arrival was even about.

Aemond took his place beside his wife again and slightly smirked as Vaemond entered into the courtyard. Aenemera glanced up at him and noticed his pleased smile.

She quickly turned to stand in front of the man and narrowed her eyes up at him with distaste. "I don't want to hear about how much you find this amusing." She whispered to him but he never removed his gaze from the Velaryon welcome party.

"I never said a word princess."

"You didn't have to," she scolded the boy.

Aemond finally looked down at the girl with his features relaxed and not a hint of satisfaction written on his face. "I would like to continue my training, if you didn't mind my dear."

She bit her inner cheek roughly and turned away from him quickly to make her departure away from the crowd. Rhaena was gone, respectfully so, and the girl needed to find herself a place for meditation purposes.

Because the next few nights were going to be the roughest.

❪ dylan ❫
warning: next chapter will be containing smut. if you aren't interested in reading or aren't comfortable, you can skip chapter fifteen. don't worry the beheading of vaemond will be in the chapter after so no one missing any good drama.

i'm always very nervous because ive never fully written smut before but it's kind of important to their story and how it takes place. pray for me yall