𝓐𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷
Fire. Burning everything in its path until the screams are deafening coming closer and closer until I recognize the sound, something I hoped to never hear.

Elaena. She needs me.

Running through the empty halls the doors slam shut but the fire still rages outside it's walls sucking away any source of oxygen until I can't breathe.

"Elaena!" I yell, but it's a plea. I have to find her, I have to save her.

"Aemond!" Her soft voice echoes from the other end of the hall and I'm sprinting hand on my sword prepared for whatever it was that brought my love this pain.

Reaching for the handle it's white hot, "Fuck," I breath beating down the door with my sword.

"Eleana, I'm here, I'm coming! Hold on!" I yell out for her trying the handle again but it's melting through my hands.

"It hurts so bad! Aemond, please!" She begs and my heart is ripping in two at the desperation in her voice.

"Open the door, my love let me in!" I shout but her cries stop and I begin to panic.

Pounding at the door I'm throwing all of my weight into it, even trying to slice it open with my blunt sword until it flies open, the light from within blinding me.

Sitting straight up in bed I'm heaving for air, sweat drowning my body dripping from the side of my face.

Struggling to breathe I'm instantly going to pull Elaena into my chest but she's gone. Throwing off the covers I jog to the tub in search of her clothes but there's no sign of her, almost as if she didn't exist at all.

Turning back to bed I make sure my eye isn't playing tricks on me when I see the piece of parchment folded neatly by the side of my pillow.

A small smile tugs at the corner of my lips. She's left me a note.

Eager to read it I flip it open but my stomach immediately sinks.

My husband,
I'm sorry, but I had to go. By the time you read this I'll already be at the Stepstones.
I hope you'll forgive me.
I love you always, Elaena

Crumpling the note in my hands I destroy anything I can get my hands on. Throwing a nearby table into the wall all it's contents crash onto the floor but it doesn't help the roaring dragon inside.

She left me without giving me a choice to follow her. We'd taken vows we were one, I would never let her go into battle alone.

Holding my head in my hands I can't decide between my utter rage and fear.

She'd gone alone, she'd die if she hadn't already.

NO. I couldn't think that, she was safe there was still time, I felt it. I could find her I just had to be fast.

Erratically I put on my clothes and sift through my closets for my dragon riding armor. Throwing some clothes into a bag I'm going for the door before a soft tug of my heart pulls me back.

Turning over my shoulder to look into my chaotic mess of a room I zero in on the crumpled parchment.

Sweeping it up off the floor I read over her handwriting again, imagining her sweet voice with each word. This and her favour were the only things I had left of her so I'd keep them close.

Taking off in a jog down the hall I waste no time getting to the Red Keep.

"My Prince, they're meeting you can't-" Ser Arryk tries to stop me but his twin brother knows better, allowing me past to burst through the doors.

Daemon stands at the helm with my sister close by his side, a worried expression plaguing her features and by the shift in the room it's obvious, they know.

Rhaenys hangs her head while Grand Maester Orwyle and Tyland Lannister seem barely stunned by the situation having no real stake in any of this.

"Elaena's gone to the Stepstones, I'm going after her." I announce catching the stern eyes of my Grandfather and Mother who were already standing from their seats.

"No it's too dangerous, someone else will go." Grabbing onto my arm I yank it from my mother's' grasp and you would think I shoved a knife into her heart.

"What do you know about this?" Otto tilts his head in question as if he doesn't already know the answer and I grow more irritable by the second.

Narrowing my blazing violet eye at him, I can feel him daring me to confirm it, to announce we've been wed.

"When I woke she was gone from our chambers. She left a note for me, her husband." I hiss through gritted teeth, and everyone turns to stare between Daemon and I , not realizing him and Rhaenyra knew all along.

When they don't say anything my mother's face falls, her shoulders sinking in betrayal when it occurs to her Elaena and I weren't in this alone.

I didn't mean to drag them down with me but we wouldn't keep our union a secret any longer.

"You knew about this?" The Queens warmth for Rhaenyra is ripped away again when they'd just started to rekindle their friendship.

I'd wondered how many conversations they'd had about Elaena and I but her mother never mentioned it, not once.

"He made a deal with the Stark boy, Alicent. What were we to do? They would've done it themselves just like the situation we have at hand!"

"And now they're both in danger because of your incompetent, reckless daughter! This would've never happened!"

Rhaenyra steps forward with purpose intent on defending her daughter but that's was up to me now, I'd take the duty proudly.

"Watch your tongue, Mother. If anything in life is absolute it's her and I. This is just a waste of time I'm going after my wife, that's the end of it."

I don't waiver my unrelenting stare from her even when I hear Daemon smirk behind us.

Striking her speechless I don't bother looking at the rest of them, the woman I loved needed me and every second away from her was agony that I didn't wish to endure for the rest of my life.

Pushing open the doors I don't look back, I'd already wasted enough time.

Before I even reach the dragon pits Vhagar's cries can be heard from below and my footsteps quickly change to running.

When I reach her the dragon masters are struggling to keep her at bay, bursts of flame encompassing the entirety of the chamber but the warmth is a welcomed sensation only stirring my chaotic mind.

"Sagon gīda, Vhagar!"
*Be calm, Vhagar!

I shout, my high valyrian demanding authority and attention from any man or dragon that could hear me.

Vhagar reers her head snapping open her jaws to roar with all her might, my hair flying back in all directions I'm so close.

Reaching both of my hands out to her I'm reminded of her monsterous size and I'm grateful her wingspan will help us cover more ground.

"Emi naejot save zirȳla. Konīr's iēdrosa jēda!"
*We have to save her. There's still time!

Grunting in response, she bends her neck down in submission sensing my desperation through our bond.

Climbing up the saddle I secure myself, soothing her once more before we depart for battle.

"Dohaerās, Vhagar. Umbās, Rȳbas."
*Serve, remain, listen.

The old men cower away as Vhagar stretches out her wings preparing for flight.

Taking her first few steps I settle into the reigns and I'm not alone. Vhagar's beating heart is one with mine and all of my rage is multiplied as she verbalizes it with another deep throated cry.

I had all the time in the world to be angry with her after we got her back, until then I would only pray to the gods she remained unharmed but any man that touched her would taste my blade or my dragonfire.

***

Vhagar flies with haste but I don't beat the sun, losing it's light before I can get to the Stepstones and the battle has already begun. Seasmoke cries out to Vhagar feeling us approach and life is breathed back into me when I hear the sound of her dragon.

Elaena was close, and she was alive I knew it in my heart to be true and I'd find her.

"Rughagon Vhagar, jurnegon syt zirȳla."
*Drop Vhagar, look for her.

Doing as I command Vhagar descends through the clouds and I find Seasmoke hovering the beach below but Elaena wasn't riding him... that could've only meant she was in the battles heart.

My stomach sinks, my gut telling me all that I need to know.

I'm going after her.

The Velaryon fleet is pushed back to the shore their resistance almost crushed when I spot her silver hair from the sky.

Swinging her sword like the true warrior she was, my heart swells with overflowing pride and there's no room for the anger I'd carried from Kings Landing.

Suddenly the tide changes, more Triarchy forces pour from the caves to surround them and the fear I've become so accustomed to returns when Elaena disappears among the crowd.

"Dracarys, Vhagar!"

Lightning the battlefield in a miraculous display some of the fools run for their lives while others accept their fate flailing about as their bodies burned to a crisp.

Circling back around to the beach Seasmoke lets out a blood curdling cry that sends shockwaves across the battlefield telling me the one thing I'd come to prevent.

Elaena was hurt.

Without so much as a word Vhagar goes to Seasmoke, our murderous rage one in the same.

Settling on the beach Vhagar gives a warning cry to all who would listen eager to burn more of them alive and eat them for supper.

Launching myself from the saddle I care for nothing other than Elaena and finding her.

"Elaena!" I scream, my voice carrying farther than my feet.

Before me a Velaryon soldier is bested but I step in, sending my sword through the Triarchy scums back before using him as a human shield to push through the wreckage.

"Elaena!" I scream again, listening with all my might that I might hear her back but I don't.

The longer I can't find her the deeper the pit of dread grows in my stomach but I don't give up, she's close.

Yanking my sword from the corpses back I unsheath my second sword, prepared to unleash the seven fires of hell on anyone who stood in between Elaena and I.

Slashing through the necks of two men than a third, my eye finds another silver head fighting amongst me but it's a man, someone unfamiliar.

When his purple eyes find me I feel as though I'm looking in mirror and for a moment it disarms me.

Turning erratically I'm still searching for her when I see it happen in front of me.

A man comes from behind her knocking her onto the ground and I can't get to her fast enough.

"Elaena!" I scream with every fiber of my being, feeling every hit to the heart while she's attacked.

Pushing through the fighting bodies I watch in horror as he digs a knee into her back flattening her into the sand and the life leaves her body.

"NO! Elaena!" I roar, Seasmoke's cries similar to mine as he takes to the sky burning any enemy fleet in his sights and I do the same letting my inferno take control.

Cutting down every man in my path, when I reach the bastard I take off his head with one swift swing wishing I had the time to make him suffer.

Falling to my knees in front of her I lift up her face to mine and she's wounded, a cut going down the side of her cheek.

Bringing her into my arms Vhagar rains hellfire down among them all. They hurt her, the heart and meaning of my entire existence.

Listening for her heart I clutch her body to mine and hear it's faint song calling out to me in the darkness.

She's alive.

Bringing her up with me I dodge a sword kicking the fool in the chest making him stumble back.

"Elaena, wake up my love, please." I beg cradling her head to the crook of my neck keeping my sights on the shore.

Still unresponsive I curse, catching sight of the fighting Velaryon making his way towards us.

"They're retreating! We'll give you a way out!" He shouts, his purple eyes connecting with mine in fear when he sees Elaena unconscious.

Nodding in understanding I adjust her body weight giving myself the freedom to hold my sword.

The mysterious Velaryon knight follows through with his promise signaling his men in our direction. Their battle cries fuel me and I run as fast as I can, Vhagar in sight.

"Aemond," She breathes, her small voice sweet music to my ears.

"I'm here, my song. We're getting you out of here," I assure her, my grip growing tighter around her body unwilling to let her slip through my fingers.

Weaving through the sea of men I focus on our escape, Elaena's safety paramount.

Bursting through the clearing Vhagar and Seasmoke await us, protecting one another in the chaos on the shore just as their bonded riders.

Sheathing my sword it's difficult climbing Vhagar with Elaena around me, but not impossible.

Moving beneath us I barely have time to wrap her legs around me before Vhagar takes off, just as anxious to get us out of here as I was.

Once we're in the sky, Seasmoke flying nearby, Elaena's tries opening her eyes but she's too exhausted so she tries speaking instead.

"You came for me," She breathes, her voice horse splitting my heart in two but I was still relieved to hear her.

"Just keep those eyes open and on me, Princess." I beg but she's already fading out of consciousness taking my very soul with her.

Clutching her to my chest I grip the reigns, "Adhirikydho, Vhagar!"
*Quickly, Vhagar.

***

Four days. 

That's how long it's been since I've heard her melodious voice, her laugher and I was a shell of a man without her.

Night and day I've sat by her bedside waiting, praying to any god who'd listen to bring her back to me and wake her up from this curse.

The maesters were at a loss, saying cryptic things such as that the struggle was in her mind but not with her body. She was alive, she just had to wake up... just.

Elaena was a war hero, the savior of the Velaryon fleet including her Grandsire Lord Corlys himself.

Him along with who I've come to learn is Ser Addam visit her often, offering me anything they can but they can't give me the one thing I want.

Her.

The camp sang songs of the beautiful Targaryen warrior who came down upon a silver beast to change the course of the battle. She deserved all the glory and praise even if that meant I had to endure the soldiers songs of her beauty.

Trying to get comfortable I scoot closer to her bedside, taking her hand in mine.

Brushing my thumb back and forth against her soft skin I press a gentle kiss to her knuckles searching for any comfort I can find.

"You're in there, I know you are..." I whisper in hopes she's somewhere listening.

The gods wouldn't bring her to me just to rip her away so savagely would they? Or were the gods sick bastards too?

"Fuck, Elaena why? Why did you leave without me?" I mutter, the anger coming in waves when the sadness isn't enough.

Standing up I take a deep breath running my hands through my hair in an attempt to ground myself but it's no use, I want to destroy, no, annihilate any of those Triarchy fuckers who were still alive prisoners or not.

Catching sight of myself in the mirror I hardly recognize myself. The lack of sleep and food was showing in my face and I wished for the millionth time is was me who was injured instead but then it would be her worrying sick about me.

Gripping the sides of the mirror I fight the urge but the rage wins and I send my fist through the glass shattering the broken image of myself.

The shards split open my knuckles it's pieces spilling across the ground.

Throwing open the tent, Addam rushes in his sword at the ready when he finds me already wrapping my knuckles.

"You're service isn't needed, Ser Addam." I spat, my way of warning.

"Hurting yourself won't make her wake up."

"And what will, soldier?" I mock him, the poor boy only eager to help but I'd use him as my punching bag for now.

Biting his lip he turns to leave but changes his mind, coming back for more.

"You think she'd want this? You hurting yourself?"

I scoff at him, glancing over my shoulder.

"My suggestion to you, Ser, would be to avoid speaking of my wife-"

"It's true, I haven't known her long but she has a passionate heart. I can imagine that's the only kind of woman who could love such a... particular man." He chuckles to himself but all of my muscles tense up, only turning my head slightly to look at him with my fiery gaze.

"Particular?" I grumble, taking a few deadly steps towards him when a noise startles us both.

"He means you're a dick," A gargled voice comes from the bed and I think I must be dreaming but Elaena's sleepy gaze meets mine and I'm frozen in shock but only for a second.

Rushing to her side I cup her fragile face in my hands leaning my forehead against hers to stare into her sparkling eyes and I'm home.

"I'll alert the maesters!" Addam rushes off giving us a moment of privacy.

"Never scare me like that again, Princess. Never." I mutter, bringing my trembling mouth a breath away from hers.

Her soft giggle is music to my ears and I press a delicate kiss to her lips now that we're alone. 

Pulling away from her regrettably I'm careful with her, helping her sit up in bed.

Groaning in discomfort she tries to hide it from me.

"How bad is it, Aemond?" she's afraid to ask me, straining through her sore throat and it breaks my heart to hear her suffer.

"You'll heal. You just need rest like any war hero after a great battle," I chuckle, squeezing her hand.

Lifting her eyebrows in surprise she looks to make sure I'm not joking.

"War hero?" Her pink lips tip up in a half smile but I can only smile back and nod.

"You saved them, ñuha vāedar. They owe their lives to you."
*my song

I tell her proudly, unshed tears welling in the corners of my eyes as I gaze upon her, my wife.

Our privacy is short lived with Addam returning with the maester and Lord Corlys himself. Staying close by I don't leave her side as the maester gives his examination always under my watchful eye.

"How long have I been asleep?" Elaena tips her up her chin to look at me, her question meant for me alone.

Biting at my lip I glance at Corlys and Addam who have been watching from afar.

Pondering a way to gently ease her into this I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, my thoughtful touch lingering at her jaw.

"A while, my love. You've been asleep for four days."

Finally saying it aloud a panic her face goes pale and I grip her hand tighter.

"Four? Aemond- I..." Elaena stops herself, looking around at the other men in the room afraid to verbalize it so I come closer.

"Skoros iksis ziry?"
*What is it?

I ask, keeping my voice low.

Opening her mouth to speak nothing comes out, her eyebrows knitted in, still shy even to say it in High Valyrian.

"Leave us." I demand. The maester snaps his neck to look at me not yet finished rewrapping her wounds but I cross my arms over my chest instead of repeating myself.

"Maester Cressen, perhaps we'll find some healthy food for the Princess? Hm?" Lord Corlys nods, already doing as I ask, my respect earned from fighting his battle for him.

When we're alone I turn back to her, a silent tear running down her pink cheek but I brush it away.

"Hey, you're awake now everything's alright-"

"Aemond, I- I think I'm pregnant."

All I'm capable of doing is blinking at her, a million different things running through my head but none of them were things I could articulate.

Stuttering I try to catch my breath, reaching out for her my only source of reality that could ground me.

"How do you know? It's so soon-"

"I'm late. I should be well into my bleeding for the month." She whispers but my heart beats just as loudly in my chest.

Taking her face in one hand I place the other on her stomach, now the home of our first child, our heir and the warmth stems from her, consuming me.

I take a sharp breath, my entire world flipping on its head in a matter of a month but it was all I could've ever wanted, and with Elaena, who I've always wanted it with.

"I could've lost you both and I didn't even know it. The loves of my life." I struggle to say it aloud, uneager to be so vulnerable but it brings a small smile to her face her tears falling freely.

Placing her hand on top of mine she looks down at her stomach with a mothers love and she might as well have my heart in her hands, molding it like clay.

"There will be no man in the seven kingdoms or beyond who loves their family as fiercely as I do, I promise this to you, my love. I'll protect you both with my last breath." I swear.

Tilting up her head to look at me she places both of her hands on my chest and I wrap my arms around her waist.

"And don't you dare, run away again." I grin, but she only laughs, the wondrous sound filling the tent and spilling out into the night before I silence her with my tongue.

***

𝓯𝓪𝓷𝓪𝓻𝓽:  ovrparty on twitter <3 Our man in his armor to save our girl. (not familiar with who made the visenya edit)

also if you don't already know i post frequently on my tiktok where i post edits regarding the fanfic!

𝓽𝓲𝓴𝓽𝓸𝓴: seasmoked 

also, also: do we like the longer chapters or shorter? This one was almost 4000 so feedback is appreciated thank you, love you all so dang much <3 <3 <3

also also also; thank you to @TristanMayyfor helping me with this chapter <3