𝓔𝓵𝓪𝓮𝓷𝓪 𝓥𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓸𝓷
That night a fierce storm rocked the castle. Lightning lit the dim halls fooling the naked eye that the sun had prematurely risen, and to my dismay it hadn't.

Tonight felt years long, my nightmares clawing at the edges of my mind tearing away any hopes of a decent night's rest.

This nightmare had been particularly evil, making me sit straight up in my bed with screams that were sure to wake the castle.

Cradling my knees to my chest I rock myself back and forth in bed hoping to regain some calm breathing.

A knock to the door makes my sweat run cold. Surely a knight had come to check on the Princess. With screams like that there must've been a true threat.

Wiping my tear stained cheeks hurriedly I throw off the covers and go to the door.

"Everything's fine, I'm sorry-" swinging open the door the tall frigid figure comes into the candlelight and it's no knight at all.

"Aemond..." I breathe in shock, my cheeks a deep red when I realize he'd heard my cries.

With his hand resting on his sword at the ready he pushes open the door checking for any sort of danger.

"No one's here, Aemond. It was just a nightmare." I assure him but he rushes to my side eager to assess me for himself.

Taking my face in his hands his tense muscles seem to relax until he notices I've been crying, his eyebrows narrowing in out of concern.

"It wasn't just a nightmare you're upset." Soothingly brushing his thumb across the soft skin of my cheek I could forget every unpleasant dream I've ever had.

"It happens often. I'll fall back asleep eventually-"

"You're lying." He mutters, already annoyed with my dishonesty.

When words fail me I can only stare. Aemond's tousled hair was down, shorter hairs falling into his face like he'd been in bed tossing and turning like I had.

I hadn't seen him in anything other than black so when I notice he's only wearing an undershirt just thin enough to see through I melt into a puddle at his feet.

"I should go, now that I know you're safe." His mouth says one thing but his body says another staying close with his hand still cupping my face.

If he was waiting for me to pull away from him, I wouldn't dare be the first to move.

"I don't want you to go." I whisper simply, gazing up at him through my long eyelashes.

Glancing up at the door, he thinks it over for a moment.

"You need your rest, Princess." He insists, putting my well being before my own desires but I'd hoped to one day be desired by Aemond.

"Than rest with me, my prince." I ask, placing a hand on his chest.

Tensing under my touch at first he relaxes taking a deep breath, leaning into it as if it wasn't enough, he wanted more and he wasn't alone.

Without words he interlocks our fingers, leading me back to the bed I so desperately wanted out of not moments ago.

Leaning his sword against the chair besides the bed, he joins me under the covers relaxing against the pillows allowing his long toned arms to stretch out behind me.

The dull silence filled what small space was between us. I'd never been this close with another person before, let alone a man. If anyone saw us alone, and in bed together I'd be stained for any future bethrothel... but maybe that was what I wanted.

Licking his lips he contemplates what he's about to say, his hold on me tightening only slightly but I still notice and it makes me happier than it should.

"I've missed you while you've been away, Elaena. It's been... lonely here without you." He chooses his words carefully, his chest rising and falling beneath my head with his heart beating a mile a minute waiting for my reaction.

"I'm sure you've had other women warming your bed on your evenings of solitude." I joke and I can see him smirking at me from the corner of my eye, unaware I can see him.

"I believe it's your bed I'm warming tonight, princess." Aemond arches an eyebrow in challenge and I turn my head resting my chin on his chest.

"And tomorrow?" I ask, ignoring the sparks of unwarranted jealousy at the image of Aemond with another woman.

"Is that an invitation?" He grins while he absentmindedly traces the sharp curve of my jaw.

"The people of court would talk, Aemond." I sigh, not enjoying the idea of the Queen cornering me in the gardens on an afternoon stroll.

"Hmph." He scoffs at the idea, "They'd hardly be able to stop me, would they?"

The tips of his fingers trail up from my chin to softly trace my bottom lip and I watch while he stares, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

I'd never been kissed, or rather I've never let anyone kiss me and I'd be lying to myself if I hadn't said I thought about kissing Aemond on multiple occasions just since I'd walked through the front gates.

He was unattainable and in a way so was I.

The Queen would never allow her true born son be married to the bastard girl of Rhaenyra. I may have been the first born but if Alicent rejected my Mother's claim to the throne, she therefore rejected mine.

"Do you remember the song you shared with me? The night I lost my eye?" The last bit is barely audible but with only the thunder to compete with his deep voice I heard every syllable.

"Of course.. how could I forget?" I reply. That night had changed everything for our family.

"Do you still believe it to be true?"

Thousands upon thousands of men had disappeared when they ventured to Old Valyria for themselves. Even Princess Aerea Targaryen who'd flown on the back of the great Balerion had barely returned alive, leaving her with grotesque wounds no maester had ever heard or seen in their many years.

"Possibly. If our bleeding star escaped as the song says. The story of Princess Aerea makes me think different. What do you think?" That night had held so much trauma for him I was shocked he still remembered the small tune.

"If even her dragon was gravely wounded, I don't believe such a beast could survive there all this time." He sighs but tilts his head to the side.

"But that doesn't mean our mysterious dragon can't dwell in secret elsewhere." Peeking up to look at him he gifts me a small smile, tucking my long blonde streaks of hair behind my ear.

In the dim candlelight Aemond's sharp features cast a shadow when he turns his head. I'm only able to make out the side of his face with his scar stretching across where his purple eye once was. 

Sitting up slightly I reach for his face cautiously as if to ask for permission but he doesn't move away from me, Aemond instead leans into the palm of my hand while my thumb brushes over the lower part of his scar.

I wanted him to feel comfortable enough to discard the leather eyepatch that hid his scar and maybe one day, he would. 

"I'm sorry... I'd wished that night never happened. I should've done more to stop it." I whisper but he shakes his head.

"No, if you'd gotten hurt because of me..." He bites his lip, staring off into the dark as he pictured it unwilling to finish his thought. "Elaena, after these few years without you it was all I had, was that night together at Driftmark." 

My heart stops at his confession. Had he longed for me just as I had for him? The question was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't bring myself to ask. 

What would it matter if Aemond felt the same? What were we to do about it? 

I imagine my Father wouldn't allow me to marry Alicent Hightower's son or perhaps he would, knowing the rage she'd grow to have knowing her son had fallen in love with the bastard daughter of Daemon and Rhaenyra. 

"I'd thought I was just a bastard like my brothers." My smile fades and I find myself pulling away from him both physically and emotionally. My paranoid mind begins to weave, wondering if this was some trick after all.

Sitting up off his chest my body regrets it instantly. Now that I'd felt his closeness I didn't want to leave and even that terrified me.

"Elaena, look at me." 

Avoiding his eyes he grips my chin, turning my face so I'm forced to look at him.

"We're the blood of the dragon, the blood of Old Valyria. You are not your brothers, and I am not mine." 

***