CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CRISTON knocked on the door to Daemerys' chambers later that day. He waited until he heard tiny footsteps padding across the floor toward him before the door opened.

Daemerys smiled at him , looking at him expectedly, "Everything well, Ser Criston?", she asked. They hadn't spoke of what he told her in the gardens — she suddenly felt weary of everyone around her, including Aemond despite their previous encounter.

She felt that the confession had set her back, her feelings back and her mind. She kept a dagger tied around her thigh — under her gown just in case, but she also hoped she'd never have to use it.

"A letter", Criston handed her the letter before giving her a curt nod and turning back to face the hallway. Daemerys thanked him and closed the door, venturing to a chair by the fireplace.

Her eyes scanned the blotched paper in her hands, "My sweet girl, I hope Kings Landing has been bearable for you. Lucerys has missed you a lot and has asked constantly about your health and well-being. He has been quite disappointed that he hasn't received a letter from you in the few days we've been gone. I must say I feel the same. Nevertheless, I hope Aemond has been treating you fairly", Daemerys felt her cheeks blush at the mention of Aemond and rolled her eyes, "We are departing for Kings Landing in a months time for the wedding. Please write, Daemerys. Mother and Father".

The woman could tell who had wrote what by her fathers messy hand writing and her mothers neat one. Daemon had of course been the one to ask about Aemond — remembering what he told her before he left and she smiled at that.

She had missed Lucerys the most, the young boy had never spent more than a night away from her ever since they were young. She was everything to him and she felt the same — she'd protect him till her last dying breath.

Tucking the letter onto her desk, Daemerys remembered what she had planned that evening since Aemond's departure and walked to exit her chambers. "Ser Criston, please mind my chambers until I return".

Criston went to speak but she knew what he was going to say, "Yes, don't be long or you'll come and find me, I know", she huffed and smile when he rolled his eyes and ushered her away.

Aemond sat in the library, like he had done the previous time and waited for his betrothed. He didn't hear her sneak up behind him or notice a glint of a dagger in her hand until it was pressed against his neck.

"My love", he whispered, knowing it was her. His shoulders grew tense and the book in his hand was long forgotten and he turned to look at her — careful to not let the dagger nick his skin.

"What is your mother planning, Aemond?", he noted the fire in her eyes and knew whatever had happened between them before was not relevant at this present time.

Aemond kept his eye on her as she moved around the chair to look him in the face, her skin and jewels glistened in the fireplace light — she was breathtaking even whilst holding a dagger to his neck.

"I do not know what you mean", his brows furrowed at her words, as far as he knew all was well — oh how naive he could sometimes be especially when it came to his mother.

Daemerys pressed the dagger closer to his neck making his lips part — they looked so soft to her but she snapped her eyes away from them and to his eye with a glare. "Do not believe me to be stupid, Aemond. She is up to something".

"If she is, I do not have the knowledge of what", his voice was smooth and calm making her tut and shake her head, using her other hand to stroke his scar — his eye closing at the feel of her hand moving.

"How disappointing", she tore her hands away from him and removed the dagger, lifting her gown as his eye flew open at her words to catch a glimpse of the soft skin of her thigh under her gown as she strapped it to her by a leather holder — pulling her gown down once more. "How utterly disappointing it is to know you don't have the slightest clue what is happening under your own roof".

Aemond looked at her as she pouted, showing her clear disappointment which didn't sit right with him, he had the sudden urge to try and make it up to her. "I'll find out", he spoke as she went to leave.

Daemerys paused her movements and smirked but hid it quickly when she turned back to look at him, "Oh? And how do you propose you would do that?". The woman bit her lip as he looked down, he wasn't sure, "Do you wish to make me happy, Aemond?".

That had brought his attention and he stood from his chair quickly, grasping her hands gently, "Of course".

"Then get me what I want", her once soft face drizzled out to non emotional one that remind Aemond of Daemon. She really was her fathers daughter, cunning and manipulative but he didn't seem to care.

Daemerys let her lips fan over his when he nodded, "Good", she finally moved her head to plant and kiss on his lips, his eye closed as hers did — Aemond sliding his hands around her waist.

"You're such a brat", he whispered against her lips, making her smile. She knew. And she used it to get what she wanted. Aemond knew her game the minute she walked through the door and pressed the dagger against his neck.

It was their game.

Only they could play their game.

Daemerys gave him one last kiss before moving her head back to look at him. She looked at him so differently now, he had noticed she looked more relaxed like she was no longer fighting herself over whether to hate him or not.

"I must go before Criston comes and finds me again", Aemond shook his head and walked backwards with his arms still wrapped around her so she moved with him until he sat back into his chair.

Daemerys scoffed when he patted his thigh — indicating for her to sit to which she complied. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his hand stroked her thigh as the other held a book.

His soft calming voice, lulled her to rest her head on his shoulder as he spoke of the Targaryen history in the book.

Aemond felt peaceful in times like these when he was with her, even more so now she no longer used her hatred for him against herself to not feel for him — he knew that she did now. And it made him excited for their marriage.

But what neither of them knew was that Alicent had found a way to annul their betrothal, and it was only a matter of time before the Queen would unleash the fire in Daemerys.

Because she is her fathers daughter and she does have the fire of a dragon inside her — even if she was not one herself.

It hasn't taken long for the pair to leave the library and venture to the gardens, growing tired of reading after a few hours. The sun was beginning to set, Daemerys linked her hand around Aemond's arm — her giggling echoing around the trees.

"I do not sound like that", she complained when he mimicked her voice. He smiled down at her until she ran away from him and toward Helaena who was sitting with some embroidery in her hands while the twins ran around the tree chasing each other.

Aemond sat next to his sister on the bench when Daemerys began running around with the twins — their squealing making him smile for a moment before Helaena spoke. "You look happy".

The man exasperated at her words and turned to her to see her looking at him knowingly, "I am". His head turned again when he heard Daemerys' laugh and he swore he had never heard anything so sweet before.

"Go", Helaena nudged him, Aemond rolled his eyes and stood from the bench. As he approaches the trees and bushes, he can see Daemerys running and hiding behind a tree, the two silver haired twins running close behind but staggering from their young age, trying to keep up.

Jaehaerys spots him striding over and babbles when he comes over, arms wavering around — Aemond picks the young boy up as Daemerys comes out from behind the tree with a smile, picking up Jaehaera in her own arms and made her way over to the boys.

Aemond smiles and nods in her direction, his attention drew back onto his nephew again, "Do you want help chasing the pretty lady?". Daemerys blushed and Jaehaerys nodded with eagerness, "We should chase the pretty lady, then".

The Prince, set his nephew on the floor again and held his hand and the pair began running, the two girls squealed and ran away from them — hiding behind the tree again.

Daemerys waited a few seconds before it went silent, her brows furrowed when she no longer heard them running behind them. She waited a little longer before checking where the pair were, frowning when she couldn't see them — the woman turned to the other side of the tree but bumped into a hard chest, losing balance but hands wrapped around her waist, keeping her still.

"Found you", Daemerys rolled her eyes at the smugness of Aemond's voice. Their eye contact broke when the twins clutched onto their legs with small blabs and smiles.

"Kisses now?", the small boy asked, Daemerys looked down confused but looked back up when Aemond groaned.

"I may have promised that whoever found you, would get a kiss", he scratched the back of his neck but she saw through his words, he wanted to kiss her.

The woman rolled her eyes and leaned down to kiss the twins' cheeks before standing. She bit her bottom lip in nerves despite having kissed him many times before. Her cheeks blushed and she forced herself to look to the tall grass — his piercing gaze was sending shivers down her spine, the air suddenly feeling so cold.

Aemond lifted her chin with his finger, his thumb brushed over her bottom lip, her teeth falling from it. They leaned in closer until their lips met, the tree covering them from onlookers eyes.

Helaena smiled at them and hummed from her place on the bench, "True love conquers broken homes".