CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
❪ devils tongue ! ❫

"Something in the water is shifting. The tides are coming in a lot stronger than intended and the crows are beginning to scatter."

"Keep a watchful eye on the horizon, something is coming for us."

"May I interject the possibility of — "

"No," Alicent glared at the men across the table a the small council. "We would know if it was her."

Aegon was staring down at fingers and chewing on the cuticles while lounging back in his chair at the table. He was 3 cups of wine into the conversation already and still barely coherent while his mother did most of the talking.

He was still having trouble adjusting to his new role and change of scenery with his new life.

One of the men at the council tapped his finger against the wooden table while letting out a thoughtful hum. "I believe the tides could very well be house Velaryon — "

"No, this is something different," another man interjected.

Aegon shifted in his chair before waving his finger around curiously. "Didnt my dear brother come back from a trip just the other day?" Everyone at the table turned to look at the king as he tapped his finger against his lips. "House Lukka, I believe it was? Ah yes, that would be my doing."

Alicent sipped at her wine worriedly as Aegons cup barrier started making their rounds again to filling everyones cup to the rim due to pure stress. Aegon was the only one that seemed slightly unbothered by the news of a war brewing in the distance, most likely because he was too tipsy to even realize the depths behind it. Alicent knew that there was one person who would take a stand against the oncoming foe and protect their kingdom.

"Aemond." The queen of Hightower tilted her chin upwards. "My son Aemond will take stand against those that rise against us. He has the largest dragon — "

"Second."

The entire table turns their heads to Aegon as he slouched down into his chair. "Baeselyx has grown quite large over the years, has he not? Surely he is almost the size of Vhagar, if not larger already. His wings are large enough to create winds of his own."

"Baeselyx does not have a rider, my dear boy." Alicent muttered while folding her hands together across the table. "Aenemera is pregnant — the beast will not let another mount him, I assure you."

"Then let her go to battle herself," Aegon shrugged it off like it was nothing. Alicent stared at her son exhaustively before rolling her eyes away and rubbing her hands together in stress. "The princess cannot go into battle, my king. Surely you know your brother will not have it."

Aegon tilted his head back with a hint of curiosity lingering in his eyes. "Let's find out, shall we?"

Deep in the meadow behind the castle walls and far away from the cries and smells from the city, the princess was resting upon a blanket underneath a tree with a book in her grasp. Her free hand rested over her stomach as it was beginning to show beneath her red gown like a halo.

It had been a week or two since her last moment with Aemond in the bath before he had to leave again for other duties under the kings order. Whenever Aemond was gone she much preferred to be alone and spend time with her growing womb — and Gareth of course who was lingering around in the distance as always. The man was always on guard and never allowed a soul to get too close to her without a word with him first.

But not only did she have Gareth to watch over her and the child's safety, Baeselyx was close by with the highest amount of protection. Sometimes he barely slept for the flights he would take at night and hover over the castle near her chambers. He was always ready to defend whatever may come, but lately he would begin to notice the shift in the sea. He knew something was coming.

Two weeks since her moment with Aemond and the grand maester believes Aemenera is already a month into her pregnancy. Time was slipping away and although her hand maidens were growing worrisome for how much time they have left with the princess — nobody knows what her birth could lead to.

During Aemonds travels, he's done plenty of research to know the average of a dragons egg to hatch is between two months. It was all fairy tale and rumors but the signs were growing stronger and everyone was beginning to prepare for the absolute worst to come.

Aenemera could very much give birth to something inhuman — or die.

It was something Aemond refused to think about but he spent all day avoiding the thought that he would end up having nightmares. Which typically kept him up most nights, afraid to sleep and vision his wife's bloody body on their shared bed. He'd much rather suffer his late nights awake then to flood his mind with evil spirits.

Aenemera on the other hand only wanted peace. She wanted to spend the time she could alone and with happiness. To pretend her life was no longer fragile and weighing on a thin piece of ice slowly melting away under the sun.

In her mind she's still a small child that adored reading in a bed of grass surrounded by flowers and no other worries on her mind. That was the life she wished she could still live.

"Ser Gareth," a knight cleared his throat as he approached the man on guard cautiously.

Gareth turned his head instantly and arched an eyebrow but never turned his body away from the princess, who remained quiet in the distance.

"I have word that prince Aemond has arrived from his travels."

"Very well," Gareth nodded once. "I'll tell the princess at once, you're free to go."

"I was ordered to bring her back inside the castle — "

"Unless you want your femur broken and shoved down your throat, you'll allow me to continue my duty as her guardian and bring her back inside myself."

The knight's mouth gaped open like he wanted to press further knowing Otto Hightower had strict instructions. But Gareth was too convincing and almost every other guard on the premise was terrified of overstepping him.

The knight decided to excuse himself and allow Gareth to do it on his own before he lost his own life.

Once the knight was out of ear shot, Gareth slowly approached the princess with his hand resting over the hilt of his sword and the other weighing behind his back. "I apologize for interrupting your time alone, but I do believe your husband has returned and requested to see you, princess."

Aenemera tilted her head back and gazed up at her guard with an eased smile. "He's finally returned?" He nodded once.

The princess hastily closed her book after marking off her place and hurriedly getting to her feet. Gareth's eyes widen slightly from the reaction and quickly reached out to help her, due to her stomach being half her size.

Baeselyx lifted himself off the ground curiously and watched cautiously as the princess stood, grasping onto Gareths hand and using the other to hold her book. "No need, my boy! I'll be back soon," the princess called out to her dragon happily.

Gareth immediately removed his touch from the princess once she was balanced and tucked his hands behind his back before following her up the pathway that led them both back to the castle.

Aenemera hurriedly jogged up the stairs with her fingers grasping her dress, trying her up most best not to trip but her excitement getting the best of her when she saw Aemond waiting patiently in the distance.

He was surrounded by several of his men — including Maverick — in his usual black attire and his pin-straight blonde hair resting against his back. His stance was very elegant and natural with his shoulders tense to seem guarded. But when his men began to excuse themselves when they recognized the princess making an appearance, Aemond turned around rather quickly and visibly relaxed at the sight of her. 

Maverick stared at the princess longingly before one of the men shoved him backwards to regain his attention. The boy smiled in her general direction before following the rest away from the open hallway.

Aenemera smiled wide as she raced towards Aemond and latched herself onto him with pure delight running through her veins. His arms swiftly wrapped around her waist with caution not to hurt the babe in her womb, but tight enough that she understood just how much he missed her.

He reached up to brush her hair from her face and cradle her cheek in the palm of his hand. Her face sunk into his warmth with her eyes closing briefly then cracking open with happiness to see her beloved.

Weeks away from Aemond had the tendency to feel like centuries.

"You look as beautiful as the day I left you — if not more." Aemond whispered.

"Please tell me you have time to stay before your next bidding," the princess leaned up the press a chaste kiss on his cheek below his patch. "I fear that our time together keeps drifting further away."

Aemond began to shake his head as he rubbed her soft delicate cheek with his thumb. "Don't fret my love, we have plenty of time together before my next leave." He then held her face between both of his hands and pressed a passionate kiss upon her lips.

Gareth, who was waiting in the distance, quickly looked away and adjusted his stance to give the couple more privacy.

As they pulled apart with smiles and admiration, Aemond drifted his hands down to her swollen belly, his long fingers grazing he fabric of her dress that protected his child. "You've grown quite a lot, little one." He whispered.

Aenemera smiled nervously as she ran her hands up his arms to hold his elbows. "Rumor is believed that I will be ready soon. They're preparing for the birth — "

"Everything will be as right, my love," he immediately comforted her with promising eyes. "Everything will fall into place soon."

She began to nod in understanding as two guards approached the prince and princess. Gareth was at her side almost immediately with a hand hovering over the hilt of his sword. 

"Apologies for the interruption," one guard spoke. "The king is requesting to speak with you both with the council."

Aenemera raised a curious eyebrow at her husband but Aemond remainded silent with a single nod of his head. Something was telling her that they wouldn't get the time alone that she desperately craved, but would most likely cause a separation between them both.

❪ dylan ❫

im so awfully sorry this took me so long to write. i started missing the show so badly and started losing the motivation to write it but hopefully im back and can continue on with my fic because I miss mera so much. thank you guys for staying with me and always giving ur thoughts on certain scenes, they always make me laugh.

also the more and more i write about aenemera's pregnancy, i hate how similar it sounds to bella's LOL. but i promise its so different, mera will not have a spine breaking moment and i really cant wait for you guys to see. i know none of this is real in the asoiaf universe but because its literally all fake, im making shit up to add to it because im cool.

and please know aenemera has not gotten over her brothers death!!!! she's still very much mourning but hides it so well. just because she had the moment with aemond in the bath where he cried, doesn't mean she's fully moved on from what happened. all shes doing is trying to cope and adjust to being at kings landing away from her mother and carrying a child. i know her coming back and offering herself to aegon wasn't what everyone wanted for sure, but in her mind it was the best thing to do. especially with otto threatening her and the war brewing. keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer.