𝓐𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷
Though the day had been long there was one last thing I would do before letting rest have me and that was to make Elaena my wife.

The maester was notified along with her parents being the only people we told. My mother would disagree with not only the betrothal but the ceremony being that of Old Valyria and not of The Seven.

I'd wondered if Elaena had truly wanted a secret wedding or if she was doing it to please me. There was plenty of time for fancy parties and feasts but I wanted the Starks far from Kings Landing when that happens.

The son of a bitch put up a decent fight but in the end it wasn't enough because he wouldn't kill for her as I would, that's what set us apart.

With the very short notice there was no time for the ceremonial robes or headpieces but I didn't mind, all I wanted was her for rest of my life.

Elaena insisted on getting made up for the ceremony and I wouldn't dare fight her on anything on our wedding night, even if it was to tell her she was always beautiful. I would've wed her as soon as I cut down Cregan if she'd let me.

Catching myself in the mirror, a different man was staring back at me than what I'd been used to.

Leaving off my eyepatch it wasn't usual I'd even look at myself long without it. It wasn't until Elaena truly saw me for the first time that I'd gotten used to the idea of not wearing it in the first place.

She never flinched, never looked at me with fear or distaste but only love, even if the both of us hadn't at first realized it.

Putting up some of my long hair I leave out the small pieces Cregan managed to cut hanging in front of my face. It was different than what I was used to but it looked decent, better even.

After getting dressed in my very best black leather tunic, I find Elaena's favour on the side table and tuck it in my pocket intent on keeping it on my person at all times.

I'd wanted to take her right then, pull her down onto my horse and ride off into the sunset and fuck her senseless for days on end.

Fighting for her was an undeniable thrill but I hadn't just wanted to prove myself to her but to her family as well. They'd know without a doubt that there was nothing I wouldn't do for her, nothing.

The only thing that had been missing was my father. As a child he was the very reason I'd thrown myself into training and studies. I wanted nothing more than to be the best son, the best warrior the best everything and maybe he'd see it wasn't only Rhaenyra who was worthy of titles and legacy.

Elaena came into my life like a midday summer storm. On an unbearably hot day the clouds rolled in and at first, the change is unsettling. The trees threaten to break under the gusts of wind, the waves crashing the shores but the lightning and thunder gives way to sunshine, and you realize the rain was no stranger at all but something promised all along to bring you change and growth.

Suddenly I wanted to be better for her and even myself.

Shutting my chamber door behind me I go to my father for what I think may be the last time.

Though the sun had just set, the king's bedroom was in a constant state of darkness. The many models scattered across his apartments where layered with dust untouched for years.

Viserys' ragged breathing tells me he's not sleeping but lying awake with only his thoughts and the milk of the poppy to comfort him.

Ignoring the gnawing feeling at my heart I pull up a seat next to him. Only able to turn his head partly he struggles to speak, "Who goes there? Rhaenyra?"

"No, Father. I'm sorry it's, Aemond." I speak softly, apologizing once again for not being my half-sister.

Viserys sighs, laying his head back onto his pillow.

"Aemond," he breathes, reaching for me.

Taking my hand in his it's the only affection I can remember him offering me in the entirety of my adult life.

"I won the tourney today, Father... and Cregan Stark agreed to withdraw his proposal. It's me Elaena will be married to." Saying it outloud made it all the more real.

Sighing, his broken face scrunches up in pain but he manages her name and something else, "Elaena, the song..." Trying to hide my shock I nod my head.

How? How had he known about that?

"Yes. Elaena will be my wife. We will rule together when the time comes... I'll protect her." I promise but he motions for his goblet on the side table. Helping him with a drink he says nothing more, his eye drifting shut as he falls into a peaceful sleep.

I'd wondered how things would be if he'd never gotten sick and frail. If maybe the past few years would've been different with the separation of our two families.

Taking my leave, I turn around to give my father one last look before closing the door behind me.

First noticing the knight that stood guard, next to him was Prince Daemon. Leaning against the stone wall the dim candlelight only made his presence more threatening.

Without saying a word he nods his head, motioning me follow him. He's silent until we enter a corridor free of any possible eavesdroppers.

"You fought well today. You did my daughter proud." It pains him to say it but he says it nonetheless.

"You honor me, Prince Daemon. I don't take my sisters blessing lightly." Putting my hands behind my back I fiddle with my fingers nervously. Perhaps he'd planned to murder me before allowing me to wed his daughter.

"We disagreed, actually... but Elaena will have her way just as her mother, and you would kill to have her just as I would Rhaenyra." He scoffs and my steps slow, trailing behind him.

Even after all I'd done to win her hand, it still wasn't enough?

And then it occurs to me.

"You don't trust me." Stopping in the middle of the hallway, he hangs his head taking a deep breath. Turning to look at me his swirling violet eyes confirm everything.

"No. I don't, Prince Aemond." Coming closer he expects me to back away from him but I don't, I stand my ground.

"I don't trust your bitch mother, I don't trust your cunt grandfather and I don't trust you." He might as well spit the words into my face but I don't flinch.

Tilting my head I peer at him down my nose, "Hmph, I'm not my mother, just as Elaena isn't her father."

Unable to resist, my lips twist up into a smirk earning what happens next. Daemon takes a fistful of my tunic, throwing me into a wall just as he had when Elaena and I first started seeing one another.

"Feeling nostalgic?" I chuckle but he brings the familiar dagger to my throat taking it one step further.

"Married to my daughter or not I will happily kill you where you stand if she ends up hurt-"

"I'd let you."

Pushing him off of me Daemon narrows his darkening eyes at me trying to understand and after all how could he? If Rhaenyra passed away I didn't doubt Daemon would have no trouble finding another wife. He'd mourn, just as anyone else when losing their partner but he'd hadn't always been devoted to her as I'd been with Elaena.

"If anything happens to her I'll let you kill me. I'll give you the dagger myself." I admit. I wouldn't want to live in a world without her and I hoped to the old gods and the new I wouldn't have to.

When he doesn't say anything I leave him there to trail behind me, remaining in silence as he does.

Elaena and I had agreed we wanted to get married in the dragon pits so even our dragons could bear witness to our union. I assumed her and my sister would be waiting with the quick chat Daemon forced upon me in the hallway.

The closer I get the more eager I become, anxious to see her.

Coming down the same hallway I'd fucked her in my mind goes south, already anticipating the night to come after the wedding. If I hadn't put a child in her belly already, I intended to tonight.

When I see Elaena her radiant smile is the first thing I notice. I can't remember a time I'd seen her this happy except for maybe when I'd won her hand earlier this afternoon.

Seasmoke makes a sound of appreciation for its rider while she soothingly runs her fingers over his silver scales.

Standing close by a maester converses with Rhaenyra who twists the rings on her fingers watching her daughter with her dragon while Vhagar slept just across the way unbothered by the events that were about to take place.

Feeling my gaze burning into her Eleana finally turns to look at me and I'm struck by her otherworldly beauty.

"Aemond," She breathes in greeting, her smile widening when she notices I've decided to forego my eyepatch for the occasion.

Taking her hand in mine I use the other to brush my knuckles across her cheek, making sure for myself she was real and not some figment of my imagination.

Her white blonde hair was in intricate braids almost like a crown for the queen she was destined to be while her exaggerated waves fell across her shoulders. Keeping true to our theme her black dress is covered in jewels that were copycats of the black sapphire I'd gifted her, still hanging from her delicate neck.

"You're so beautiful, my song. I'll never forget this... how you looked on the night you became my wife." I whisper, intent on keeping my words only for her.

I didn't deserve her, but no man deserved her so I would spend the rest of my life time trying to.

"Shall we get started?" The old man asks and it's then I notice the alter littered with candles placed thoughtfully around the goblet and dragonglass.

Looking to Elaena for her lead she nods without a single doubt in her sparkling gaze.

Leading her to the altar, Daemon joins Rhaenyra and Vhagar seems to stir from her slumber lifting her head to look over at us.

Beginning the ceremony I can barely focus on the High Valyrian the maester speaks, my attention entirely on my bride, the woman I've yearned to marry my whole life.

"ānogar hen lanta joined hae mēre. Ghostly perzys se vāedar hen shadows." 
*Blood of two joined as one. Ghostly flame and song of shadows.

Taking the dragon glass, I leave a fresh cut on my lip, Elaena doing the same under the guidance of her mother.  Blood trickles down my chin and I use it to mark her, leaving the Valyrian symbol for fire on her forehead. Following in my footsteps she does the same for me only using a different symbol that represents blood.

Staring down at her as she draws her small fingers across my forehead she catches me, a small nervous smile lifting her plump lips.

"Lanta prūmi hae embers, forged isse fourteen perzyssy."
*Two hearts as embers, forged in fourteen fires.

Leaving a cut across her palm she hands me the dragonglass and I do the same, our motions slow and patient uneager to see this moment pass us by when we'd both wanted this for so long. 

There was never a chance for anyone else, I've loved her my entire life. No woman would compare to her and I didn't even want to test the theory. There'd be no one else for me, only her.

"Nykeā future promised isse glass, se qēlossās nykeōragon witness"
*A future promised in glass, the stars stand witness.

Joining hands our blood mingles but it's one in the same, cut from the same cloth always meant to be together. Drinking from the goblet the blood colors her lips a darker shade of red, reflecting mine. 

"Syndroro ono jēdo, ry kivia mazvestraksi."
The vows spoken through time, of darkness and light.

Handing back the goblet the maester finishes the vows but I almost miss it while I'm fighting the urge to yank her towards me like an animal.

Resting her palms on my chest I snake my arms around her waist bringing her body flush against mine.

Shifting focus between her eyes and her lips the air crackles around us and just as our lips connect Vhagar and Seasmoke's roars shake the very foundations of Kings Landing sending a message to all who'd listen. 

The House Of The Dragon would rule for centuries to come and any who dared challenge us would be met with fire and blood. There was nothing I wouldn't do to keep Elaena safe and when our family grows no one will protect them more fiercely than I.

Our kiss grows passionate, the copper taste of our blood mixing with the sweetness of Elaena's tongue. Taking her face in my hands it's as if the ceremony amplified every urge and emotion in relation to her. We were bounded together before all of our ancestors, it was no small feat.

We only break away when Seasmoke sends off a playful burst of fire overhead and Elaena's giggle warms my chest. 

Brushing the loose strands of hair away from her face I press a kiss to her knuckles.

"ñuha ābrazȳrys, ñuha dāria." 
*My wife, my Queen.

I whisper,  and despite the dimly lit hall I can still see a light pink blush washing over her face.

"ñuha valzȳrys, ñuha dārys."
*My husband, my King.

***

artist; @baiyun_cat on twitter !