𝓔𝓵𝓪𝓮𝓷𝓪 𝓥𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓸𝓷
Taking the only empty seat at the table, I smile politely at Cregan who much like Aemond stares at me with desire in his eyes but he doesn't light me ablaze as Aemond does.

Bending down to whisper in my ear I can feel all eyes at the table turn to us, "Did you lose your way in the dragon pits, my princess?" Cregan's dark brown eyes twinkle with a hint of mischief and I had to admit I was surprised and slightly impressed.

I'd hoped he was angry with me, so angry he would leave and return to the other side of the continent where he belonged but here he was not phased in the slightest.

"I must've taken a wrong turn somewhere in the halls. You seem to have made it out just fine." I busy myself with the silverware doing my best to ignore the mounting tension between my father and I.

"Unfortunately for you, my lady." He chuckles, aware of my uninterest. Turning to face him I expect anger, resentment, anything other than the handsome smile he wore but underneath it all was a true look of understanding.

He knew... but how much did he know?

Standing beside me my father calls everyone to attention tapping his silverware against the glass. The room grows silent and I hold my breath locking eyes with Aemond at the end of the table.

"On behalf of the crown I'd like to thank all who traveled long and far in celebration of the joining of our houses. Stark and Targaryen may yet have intimate history but that changes today." A monstrous applause thunders through the room but I keep my head down, braving through it.

"Tonight we feast, and in the morning we fight for legacy and glory!" Everyone raises their cups to Cregan and I but I want to throw up, the pressure mounting but I had to withstand it.

Daemon takes his seat, straightening his posture when he notices I'm watching but avoids me.

"How was your walk through the city?" My mother oblivious to the tension between my father and I leans over the table, smiling at Cregan and I, sending an arrow right through my heart. It was easy to be angry with my father, but my mother? If I told her of my true feelings would she consider?

"It was eventful to say the least. Elaena was kind enough to introduce me to Seasmoke." Cregan replies, sporting a charming smile.

"Kind enough was she? I heard she left you in the dragon pits!" Jace has a laugh with Luke opposite us at the table and Cregan joins with them tentatively waiting for my reaction.

"There's still time Jace, why don't you marry him." Clearing my throat I reach for my wine, not usually one to indulge but tonight deemed a good enough excuse.

My father notices, turning his head slightly to look at me from the corner of his eye.

"I would dear sister if I wasn't already betrothed." He shoots back placing his hand on Baela's and this time I can't help but laugh, thankful for him relieving a bit of the tension.

"Seasmoke is just large enough to saddle two," my mother points out but I wish she hadn't.

"Something tells me I wouldn't return alive, Princess, but if Elaena's willing-"

"I'd say Vhagar is more equipped for two." I mumble eager to blame the wine but I'd barely begun consuming it.

Cregan seems confused, unaware of just whom Vhagar's rider was but my mother's face falls her eyes darting to Aemond who hadn't looked away from the moment I arrived.

Shifting in his seat my father glares at me in warning but Cregan takes my hand in his, shocking everyone.

"Would you grace me with a dance, my lady?"

Staring at him stunned I jump up taking any opportunity to get away from the table of fire breathing dragons. 

Thankfully, Cregan leads me around the opposite side of the table from Aemond but I still feel his angry stare following Cregan and I's every move. 

Joining the few couples on the dance floor Cregan holds me close, his hand on my waist the mere touch of another man burning my skin beneath the fabric of my dress. Twirling me I take the opportunity to watch for Aemond's reaction, his body fully turned in his chair to keep a close eye on me.

"I see you didn't like the dress I picked out for you." Cregan turns us so I no longer have sight of the table but once again, the Stark lord has surprised me. 

He was the one who left the dress and necklace for me to wear this evening? My instinct was right to not wear it knowing what it must've meant to him.

"Black is more my color." I reply simply, unwilling to show my shock. His intentions were unclear and that was enough for my walls to be built high, I'd learned that much growing up at Kings Landing.

"Agreed." Holding my eyes for a moment longer he leans in close to my ear,  "You look captivating in this dress." In the noisy hall Cregan still manages to keep his voice low, making our conversation intimate from any who may listen.

"And the necklace... you've yet to tell me where it's from." 

Earlier this afternoon, Cregan held my necklace in his hand and asked me the very same question but all that I told him was that it had been a gift. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the complete answer that he'd wanted to hear. 

"It's from a shop in the city. Perhaps you can find your actual bride a gift on your way home." I smile trying to pull away but he only pulls me back bringing me smack dab into his strong chest.

"So you're officially declining my proposal than?" He murmurs, still going through the motions of our dancing despite the topic of conversation. 

"There was no proposal but yes, I'm declining it." 

"Well forgive me love, but if there was no proposal how can you deny it?" Dipping me slowly he's talked me into a corner and for once in the entirety of my life I'm struck speechless. Bringing me back up to reality our faces are a breath apart, his dark eyes darting between mine and my lips. 

My heart threatens to beat from my chest, this almost stranger looking as if he'll kiss me in front of everyone when his stare darts away finding something in the crowd.

"I see... It's the Prince is it?" Cregan smiles knowingly. I try keeping my expression calm but it's instantly torn away when I realize it's Aemond he's been watching approach us. 

"Aemond-" I breathe, my heart racing in anticipation of what he might do. His eye finds Cregan's hands on my waist and he has a hard time hiding his annoyance stepping in.

"May I have this dance, princess? Lord Stark?" In Aemond's own way he belittles Cregan with only his tone.

"Is that all you'd like, Prince Aemond?" Cregan shoots back not at all intimidated by Aemond, though he should be. 

Aemond grunts in amusement leaning his head to the side while he nulls over his reply, choosing between peace or violence.

Holding my breath he licks his lips when he looks over at me, not at all worried that he was making his affections for me obvious. 

"No, of course not... but you know that, don't you?" Stepping in between us, Aemond tucks me behind him possessively and I lock our fingers, being pushed by the other dancers behind me.

My father stands at the table, Otto along with him trying to see what's happening but there's no use, there's too many people blocking their view.

"I do. I also know you were following us through the city today. Is it that you don't trust her?" Cregan takes a step forward and it's almost threatening. Tightening my grip on Aemond's hand I urge him back but he ignores it, accepting Cregan's challenge.

"It's you I don't trust, Stark." Aemond growls through clenched teeth.

"It's me she's promised to-"

"Than consider the promise broken." Not giving him a chance to respond, Aemond pulls me away through the swarm of people finding a side door. Shutting it with force behind us his anger is evident and I can't help but feel like I had a hand in making him feel this way.

Turning away from me, he stretches back his arms clenching his fists. 

"Fuck," He curses. "I'll tear his goddamn head off-"

"Aemond-"

"He knows, he fucking knows you're mine but he doesn't care. He has a fucking deathwish-"

"Aemond!"

Spinning around to finally look at me, he takes a deep breath and some of the anger fizzles from his eye when it settles on me.

"I told him I declined." I breathe, stepping forward to rest my palms on his broad chest. Taking my face in his hands a slight smile graces his lips.

"You did?" He whispers, almost unbelieving it to be true. 

"I did." I reply simply, looking up at him through my long fluttering eyelashes.

Pressing a rough kiss to my mouth he backs me into the cold stone wall placing one hand on the wall besides my head caging me in while his other arm snaked around my waist.

Biting and licking he demands access to my mouth, deepening our kiss and it feels right to be in his arms, to be kissed ragged by him and no one else. Pulling away to pepper kisses down my neck I throw back my head giving him easier access to my skin and a small gasp passes my lips.

"You've never looked more beautiful, my love. I could hardly blink, I just wanted to look at you." Pressing a kiss to the top of my chest the words escape me and I can hardly help it. 

"I'm in love with you, Aemond." I breathe and his kisses slow, his head turning up to look at me and I want to regret it but I don't, it's true. I'd fallen fast and I'd fallen hard there was no denying it.

Leaning his forehead against mine our noses brush, his grip on me growing tighter.

"In love doesn't even begin to cover the way I feel about you, ñuha vāedar."    *my song

Brushing his knuckles against my cheek I lean into his touch, staring up at his sculpted face.

Kissing me ever so softly I could forget of the real world that existed just on the other side of this hallway and for a moment I do, losing myself in the real love that burned between the two of us, destined to burn together.

***