CHAPTER TWENTY—ONE

5 months later....

ALYS had been Daemerys' rock throughout her pregnancy, Aemond had also been with her through every stage — the pair taking her to the maester or becoming overly worried when her face contorted into pain when she felt the baby kick but it was all natural. Daemerys was having a natural pregnancy and she couldn't thank the gods enough.

It was crazy to her, the idea that almost two years had gone by that she had been married to Aemond — the man she despised more than anyone else in the world but now she loved him and she loved the idea of loving him for the rest of her life.

Surprisingly, Alicent had been spending time with Daemerys. She showered her with gifts for the babe and oils for herself that would help her aching feet or relax her body. Of course, the woman was grateful but she didn't trust her mother in law as far as she could throw her.

Her family had stayed in Kings Landing for a short while before heading back to Dragonstone. However, Rhaenys offered to stay in the place of Rhaenyra — who didn't want to leave her pregnant daughter despite her duties at home, Daemerys was grateful considering she hadn't spent much time with the older woman since living in the Keep.

Daemerys stood awake in the middle of the night, a hand holding her back and the other rubbing her belly — she looked back to Aemond who slept lightly, his hair covering his face slightly and naked chest rose and fell with equal breaths.

Her mind had been plaguing her with nightmares all night, all the same dream — a beast beneath the boards but every time she tried to get closer to see what kind of 'beast' it was, she'd jump awake.

The Keep was silent, nothing but the wind breezing by and night owls tweeting, nothing could set her mind to rest.

But to her lack of knowledge, her uncle had passed in his sleep which was the cause of her nightmares. The small council were holding a meeting in the dead of night, plotting to install Aegon as King — Ser Criston had not been in the room but with Alys in her chambers. But Lord Lyman was now dead, by the hands of Ser Arryk unknown to his twin Erryk who slept peacefully in his chambers.

Aemond turned in his sleep, eyes cracking open to see his wife looking blankly outside, running a hand down his face he sat up and made his way toward her — his arms snaked round her belly holding it and pressed his face into her neck, kissing it softly making her snap out of her gaze and smile, leaning into him.

"What keeps my lovely wife awake?", his voice murmured, deep from only waking up moments ago.

Daemerys sighed and lifted her hands to clutch his arms that were around her, his presence making her feel safe, "Tis just nightmares, not anything to worry about".

Aemond hummed and helped her back to bed, his eyes not closing until he felt her breaths even, indicating she was asleep. He shut his eyes but it didn't seem as though it were long before a knock on the chamber door woke him up.

Shifting slightly, Daemerys rolled onto her back, still asleep as Aemond got dressed and opened the door to see his mother eyes red and puffy, he pushed her back slightly and closed the door behind him, "Mother?".

"He's dead. Your father", his face stilled before his lips pursed — he didn't love his father, he hadn't for a long time as he was barely around to see his children. Then he thought of Daemerys and how close she was to him, it would break her to know. "He wishes for Aegon to be king", she whispered though the hallway was dead from the early hours.

His gaze snapped to hers and he looked at her in disbelief but her gaze remained hard and he then knew she was telling the truth. "What is to be done?".

"Find Aegon, he fled the moment he heard the news. Find him and bring him back", his nod left her in relief — Alicent didn't think she'd agree with her but deep down he didn't, but he knew if he denied his mother nothing good would come of it, a war would seize between the greens and blacks and his family would be put in jeopardy.

He couldn't allow it, he wouldn't.

"Aemond?", Daemerys whispered as she woke up, not feeling his presence any longer beside her. She heard a shuffle across the room and saw him getting dressed into his usual leather outfit, his nightwear discarded on the floor by his feet.

"I didn't mean to wake you, my love", he spoke, he looked concerned and confused which left her furrowing her brows and sitting up on the bed.

"You did not. What's wrong, my love? Has something happened?".

Daemerys watched as his back stilled in tension which left her confused before he turned to face her with a calm look and small smile, "Aegon is missing, mother wants me to find him, nothing to worry your pretty head about".

His wife looked at him for a moment, watching his every move with the sense that he was lying. But Aemond would never lie to her, would he?

"I'll come with you", she spoke and reached up to get out of bed, waddling slightly to her wardrobe to pick out a dress she had been given for her ever growing belly.

Aemond was quick to deny her, "No, my love, not in your condition".

That made her laugh, "My condition? Aemond I am pregnant not dying", her face glowing in the morning light. Aemond knew his wife was stubborn so he nodded once before helping her get ready.

─────

"Aemond, why is it so important we find Aegon anyway?", Daemerys walked down the steps of the Street of Silk with the husband tightly by her side, leading the way.

She sensed his hesitation which led to an uneasy feeling settle inside her, "Mother worries", his answer was sharp and short but she merely side eyed him before continuing moving along in silence.

Aemond stopped shortly upon a door, he lifted the handle and knocked brought it down a few times, Daemerys grew impatient at the long wait and banged on the door, her husband smirking at the short fused temper she had received since falling pregnant — it was bad before and now she was a bomb about to go off.

The door swung open to reveal a woman, complexion tanned but pale, hair done up nicely while a smirk rested on her face — her eyes lingering on Aemond far too long for Daemerys liking, especially when his eye shifted down with discomfort.

Daemerys stepped in front of her husband to keep the woman's eyes on her instead of her husband with a fake smile on her face, "Last night, we misplaced our drinking companion... you haven't seen him, have you?".

The woman's eyes drifted to her swollen belly and looked back up at her amused but Daemerys didn't let up, face neutral but annoyed, "Describe him?".

"The man we set to seek is the young Prince Aegon", Daemerys leaned in and whispered, "And as far as I know he seems to love this place a bit too much. How about you tell us where he is?".

The woman scoffed lightly, "The Prince is not here".

"Has he been here? Earlier?".

"Quite a bit earlier", the woman agreed, "Years ago, in fact", she then looked to Aemond behind Daemerys.

"More recently?".

"He does not frequent the Street of Silk. His tastes are known to be... less discriminating".

Daemerys furrowed her brows in confusion, temper running thin a long with her patience, "Meaning?".

The woman tutted, "I wish you luck, my Lady. And my best to your... friend. How you've grown".

Daemerys looked back to Aemond with realisation to who the woman was, grabbing his arm she scoffed to the woman and dragged him along.

"Here I am, trawling the city, ever the good soldier in search of a wastrel who's never taken half an interest in his birthright", Aemond mumbled as they walked down a back alley, cobblestone digging into the bottom of the woman's feet.

"Why would he? He's Aegon", Daemerys spoke back, eyes fixated on the path ahead and not much into his words. The cloak was covering most of her face and was beginning to make her feel hot. Damn baby.

"Tis i the younger brother who studies history and philosophy, it is I who trains with the sword, who rides the largest dragon in the world. It is who should be—".

Daemerys stopped and turned around at his words, "You what?". Her eyebrows were furrowed when she looked at him, a hand on her belly rubbing softly to keep the pain at bay. "You what, Aemond?".

"Hmm", he merely hummed before walking past her but not too far so she couldn't keep up or would be in danger.

Daemerys stopped when they ended up at the end of the alley, seeing Otto with a lady. "Aemond?". Her husband ignored her and walked forward behind the mass of people and followed the twins that the Hand had brought with him into the sept.

Ser Arryk stood outside with Aegon, his face more pale than usual and sick like with bags under his eyes — he looked dead. Aemond held up his sword, "Give him to me", he spoke, voice smooth but chilling.

Daemerys stood herself back, not wanting to put her baby in danger if a fight broke out which seemed the best option when Aegon shoved the Knight away and dashed off — Aemond running after him.

The woman watched wide eyed until Ser Criston and Alys came running through to her side, questions filled her mind when they looked at her in worry.

"Let me go!", Aegon yelled, his voice echoing, "I have no wish to rule, no taste for duty! I'm not suited".

"You'll get no argument from me", Aemond responded.

Daemerys' face dropped in realisation, the secrecy, the worry on his face — her uncle was dead and they were making Aegon King.

And Aemond knew.

And kept it from her.

"Let me go. I will find a ship and sail away, never to be found".

Aemond stopped with contemplation before looking to his wife who was watching them with a hurt gaze, making his heart drop.

"To rule?", Daemerys echoed, feeling Alys grasp her hand in comfort whilst Criston held his sword up to the lone twin left.

Aemond looked at her with a wide eye, his face told her everything she needed to know, "Daemerys—".

"No", she yelled and his grip on Aegon faltered causing him to get away but was stopped by Otto who came out from the shadows, "You lied to me".

"My love, please let me explain", he pleaded but the damage was already done.

"No, there is nothing left for you to say", Aemond watched as his wife shook her head and began walking away from him — Alys and Criston is toe looking at him with disappointment.

"Let's go", Otto called to him and dragged Aegon along but Aemond stood still, looking at the ground beneath him — wanting it to swallow him whole.

*honestly just went with the flow here and idk if that building was a sept that they found Aegon in, just winged it and hoped for the best*