𝓔𝓵𝓪𝓮𝓷𝓪 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷
The old man's hands squeezed and prodded at my breasts as Aemond squirmed protectively nearby insisting on watching the exam after we'd shared our delicate news with the maester.

Still unsure the man scratches his head, confused.

"It's soon as you said, very soon but I believe you're with child." He confirms and I turn excitedly to Aemond who's already watching me with a starry eyed gaze, a smile creeping out from beneath his hand.

"Thank you Maester Cressen, we appreciate it." I smile, trying to make up for my husband's brashness from earlier.

"Certainly, princess. Take things slow, your body may be weak from the bed rest but you should be well enough for dragonback come morning." Giving us both a nod he leaves us and we're alone at last for the evening.

Climbing carefully into bed next to me Aemond hands me a bowl of stew that looked less that appealing.

"It may not compare to Kings Landing but you're eating for two now." He grins, kissing me on the forehead before sinking into the pillows besides me.

Bringing a spoonful of it to my mouth I swallow it whole, hoping not to taste it as it goes down.

Aemond watches with an amused smirk, his fingers drawing shapes on the bareness of my back.

"I wrote your mother and father. They've returned to Dragonstone... our mothers had a bit of an disagreement." His smooth voice keeps me calm despite the bad news though I'd expected some fallout from my stunt.

"About me?" I ask, shoveling another bite in my mouth.

"I won't burden you with all the credit, my song." He grins, his teasing tone hinting at more.

"Oh? Did we upset them by solving their little problem for them?" I giggle and he arches an eyebrow at me.

"She might be more upset that I announced to the council you were my wife and nothing was going to stop me from coming after you... something along those lines." He drawl's on, almost bored of the topic as he watches me for my reaction.

Dropping the spoon into the bowl I stare at my husband wild eyed, my lips tipping up into a proud grin.

Our wild violet eyes connect and understanding washes over his chiseled face.

We were no longer a secret kept from those in power, we were free to be open with our love.

Taking his face with my free hand I brush the pad of my thumb gently across his scar.

"I wish I'd been there to see their faces, my prince."

Leaning into my hand his tired eye flutters shut and what looks to be the world falls off of his shoulders.

"I thought I lost you... you'd just become my wife and I'd lost you." His deep serious voice gives me goosebumps, never hearing him speak so thoughtfully before.

Just as before, the guilt claws at my insides watching the consequences of my actions unfold right in front of me. I'd been so selfish, even more so not realizing I was nearly carrying our child.

"I'm sorry I should've never... Thank you for saving me." Taking a deep breath I try to blink the tears away but it's no use, the pregnancy hormones seeming to be in full swing already.

I was no teenage daughter out to prove my worth to my mother and father, I had a husband I'd already proven my worth to and the promise of our new family growing inside of me. I was no longer only responsible for myself.

"Hey, don't cry, my love. This is the woman you are, the woman I fell in love with." Sitting up to wipe my tears he grabs the half full bowl of soup to set it on the side table.

Bringing me into this arms both of our bodies go calm at the skin on skin contact and it's only then I begin to get a grip on my breathing.

"Your bravery inspires everyone around you, including me. You're my peace but you challenge me in the same breath and I love you madly for it." Tipping up my chin he runs a hand through my tangled hair sending it out of my face.

"The one thing I ask of you my wife, is the next time you want to fly off to battle, you take me with you. Do you hear me, Elaena?"

Leaning his forehead against mine our noses brush, our lips so damn close I could taste them and I wanted to so damn desperately.

Nodding I lick my lips, closing my eyes as he turns us around. His arm supports all of my body weight laying me back agonizingly slow onto the bed while he hovered above me.

Leaving a gentle kiss behind my ear my chest arches into him with the sharp breath that escapes me.

"Promise me." He growls, nibbling at my skin.

"I promise, Aemond." I say, his lips smiling into my neck when I gasp his name.

Pulling away from me I'm instantly pouting, the ache between my thighs pounding with every beat of my heart.

"Good, because next time I won't be so gentle."

Smirking down at me, Aemond brings his tunic over his head revealing every drool worthy muscle but he'd lost some weight and I'd wondered if that was also my fault.

"Gentle-?" Colliding his hungry lips with mine we're like animals in heat, having not lied with one another for almost a week it'd been the longest we've been apart.

Though the short amount of time may not compare to that of a woman with her husband away at war, I'd almost lived out the rest of my days in this bed ending our barely begun life.

I'd almost slipped through his fingers and I felt his devotion with each sweep of his tongue taking what he so desperately needed after sitting at my bedside for almost a week.

Aemond hadn't only come for me he stayed for me.

Reaching under my tunic he rolls his thumb over my peeked nipple as he grips me but I flinch at a sudden pain from my ribs. Jerking away from me, Aemond's hazy eye widens with fear that he'd hurt me but I yank him back by the hem of his pants.

"Don't stop," I plea bringing our mouths back together in a passionate kiss. Letting my hands wander I cup his rock solid length through his pants running my finger over it's tip.

Shivering at my touch Aemond curses, biting my lip.

"I don't want to hurt you," He struggles, trying to break away from the tornado of want we'd created.

"You never could, my prince. Now please make sweet love to your wife and the mother of your unborn child." I breathe and my words light a fire within him, his animal fully bare to me ready to eat me alive.

"As you command, my Queen." He grins, crashing his mouth to mine.

Yanking my nightdress over my head he tosses it to the side staring at my bareness in awe.

His calloused fingers trace the wounds that were steadily healing and I flinch at the cold touch.

Leaning down to take my nipple between his teeth my body betrays me arching into his devious mouth desperate for more.

Lifting my hips to him he chuckles at my eagerness.

"Sweet girl, excited are we?" Hiking up my legs he doesn't break our eye contact as he trails down my chest all the way down to my soaking wet mess between my thighs.

"Hmm, very excited." Aemond grins up at me before devouring me with his tongue tasting and licking like a starved man.

My legs trembled as I gasped for air, the pressure building and building but no release, needing him inside of me.

"Aemond, please," I beg but he only teases me more, slipping one finger inside of me and than another and I'm already working my hips against his hand riding his long fingers but it wasn't enough, nothing was enough.

"Seven hells it's so hot when you beg for my cock, Elaena." Bringing his face to mine I can smell my arousal on his lips as he collides his lips to mine.

I'm so distracted by his tongue I hardly notice him shoving down his pants until his twitching dick was resting at my slick entrance.

"You have to tell me if I'm going too rough..." trying to catch his breath he pulls away to look into my eyes.

"Eleana, promise you'll stop me."

I couldn't make that promise I wanted it rough, so rough I couldn't walk for days constantly reminded of him inside of me.

"Elaena," he growls warningly and my entire female region clenches at the sound.

"I will," learning after our time together to verbalize my responses when it came to our sex.

Aemond always put me first, even in the bedroom.

Taking my face in his hand he uses the other to hold himself upright, strands of his hair lingering in front his sapphire that shimmered in the dim candlelight.

Slowly bending down to kiss me it's a precious kiss, one that flutters my insides just as he presses inside of me and my muscles are clinging to him, milking him with each tortuous stroke.

Our kiss only breaks when I groan from mind blowing pleasure into his mouth and he responds by gripping my hips taking control of our rhythm.

His strokes grow deeper striking hard and intentional against my sweetest of pressure points promising the world shattering climax that was finally within my grasp.

"Harder, Aemond," I plead and he obliges with a guttural growl as my nails dig into his skin, sure to leave marks down both sides of his back.

Locking my legs around him there's no telling where his body ends or where mine begins, and together we come undone, pouring our love for one another into a heartfelt kiss.

Pulling back to look at me with a heaving chest I can swear I see stars twinkling in his purple eye, nuzzling his nose next to mine.

"If this is only a taste of what's to come with your pregnancy I'll need rest almost as often as you," He grins, kissing the sensitive crook of my neck.

"I think we'd be having just as much sex, husband." I sigh, quite enjoying the sound of calling him that. "I hadn't dreamed we'd be with child so soon..." I continue as he pushes off the bed in search of a rag.

Looking over his shoulder at me he can sense my unease, ever conscious of his wife.

"Are you... having second thoughts?" He asks, straining a damp cloth over a basin before returning to the bed to wipe me clean.

Without doubt I shake my head, "Never... I want more than anything to start a family with you."

"But?" He implies, pulling the covers up to cover my bare body after he's finished.

"I just thought we'd have more time for adventures and glory I suppose..." Trailing off, Aemond already understands fully, climbing in bed besides me.

"We still have plenty of time, my love. Our children will bring us glory and adventure, but even then we have months before you start showing. We don't have to tell a soul, we could swear your grandsire and Ser Addam to secrecy for a time. They're loyal to you-"

"More secrets?" I furrow my eyebrows, bringing the blanket tighter around me.

"Than no more secrets, I'll shout it from the hilltops whatever it is you want, my song, you'll have. Just give me the word," bringing my knuckles to his lips he leaves a tender kiss.

Aemond would always support me, even when I did something like put my life in danger. I'd expected rage, even him leaving me but it had done quite the opposite and brought us even closer than before, reminding us how fragile life was.

"Perhaps we keep it to ourselves for now. Give our sweet boy time to grow strong-"

"Boy? And what if it's a silver tongued, strong willed girl?" I quip with a giggle, stirring a sleepy chuckle from his throat and his smile was dazzle

Kissing my exposed shoulder, he stretches across the bed to grab my bowl of soup, handing it back to me.

"Then I'll have two beautiful Queens on my hands, now eat. You'll need your strength," He grins something malicious and I raise my eyebrow in question.

"Is there another battle you've forgotten to tell me about?"

"Hm, there could be if you were referring to the wicked things I'm going to do to that mouth watering body of yours tonight." 

Though what he says brings a red hot blush all over me, Aemond's calm and collected expression hardly reflects his words. 

Doing as he suggests I begin shoveling the lukewarm stew into my mouth earning a thundering burst of laughter.

***

The next morning came much too quickly for Aemond spent most of the night doing just as he'd promised. If I hadn't already been pregnant I would assume we were after a night like that. 

Before leaving for Dragonstone Aemond assured me he'd spoken with Lord Corlys and Ser Addam about keeping the baby a secret for now and they wouldn't have dare refused such a protective soon to be father.

The ride home was a shorter flight than to Kings Landing where I knew Aemond would rather be despite his loyalty to me.

He knew I'd be safer in Dragonstone surrounded by family whom already accepted us, with the obvious exception of Jace, Luke and my half sisters.

We would live in peaceful, married bliss before adventuring to the ends of the world in search of our lost dragon like we'd always planned.

Walking up the steps of my home, a familiar warmth spreads through my chest though a harsh breeze whips through my hair from off the ocean. 

Taking a deep breath I attempt to wash away the bitter memories that the salt water smell brought back from the Stepstones. 

This was my home, there wasn't any room for fear here. 

The singing of steele distracts me, and a smile lifts my lips when my eyes finally find my baby brothers training on the beach with Baela watching nearby with a sword of her own.

Leaning against the stone to watch them, Aemond settles in next to me interlocking his arm with my own. 

Jace swings with no regard for Luke's age, eager to show off for his betrothed perhaps. Lucerys stumbles back into the sand and Baela shouts out to Jace, taking him on for herself. 

"Do you think they'll accept me?" He asks softly, allowing me to admire my siblings.

"They'll have to. This is the second time you've saved my life after all." Resting my nose against his, our purple eyes connect.  

I'd been heartbroken this morning to see he'd put his eye patch back on for our trip home to Dragonstone. Though I felt uncomfortable around his family, he had even more reason to feel uncomfortable around mine.

The last time we'd all been in the same room together Aemond had called them bastards and Jace had punched him across the face for it.

Sensing his tense body holding mine I take his face in my hands, his jaw only unclenching beneath my touch.

"We won't stay long. We'll chart a course, make a plan and be gone before we know it." I promise before pressing a kiss to his lips. 

"ELAENA! YOU'RE HOME!" 

Aemond groans beneath me at our interruption but I'm too busy waving to Lucerys on the shore. 

Meeting him at the steps the brown haired boy flies into my arms, holding me tight.

"When they said you went to battle... I thought the worst for you and Grandsire." He admits, uneager to let me go anytime soon. 

"She had to make a hero of herself!" 

Coming up from behind, Jace smiles at me bringing me into a hug and all of our tension seems to fade away at the relief of my homecoming. 

"And you went after her." Luke says, reaching out a shaky hand to shake Aemond's. 

Narrowing his eye in confusion he expects some trick but there is none. 

Shaking his hand, Aemond looks to me in efforts to hide his shock.

"I always will," He replies solemnly. 

"Come, they'll be so glad you're both back." Baela smiles, taking my hand and I turn back taking Aemond's in the other. 

The dark gloomy halls of Dragonstone hadn't changed and for that I was grateful. 

My gut however twisted at the reuniting of my parents and I. I'd expected they'd be livid, perhaps take away my birthright and give Jacerys the throne. Though I would be heartbroken I could live without the throne, it was Aemond I couldn't live without and they'd already allowed me him.

"Mother! Elaena's returned with Aemond. Just now," Luke announces excitedly as we enter the hall.

My mother and father turn from the fire and their expressions are vacant for a moment before my mother is coming around the painted table, cradling me to her chest. 

"Leave us, all of you." Behind her, my father ushers everyone out including Aemond who turns to look at me nervously, unwilling to leave me behind. 

Hesitating at the door, he waits for my reassurance. 

Nodding I give him a tight lipped smile and it's only then that he leaves and I'm alone with both my mother and father whose faces have turned back to stone. 

Resting both of her hands on the painted table my mother takes a deep breath but my father has been anticipating my return, angry since the moment I'd left.

"You disobeyed not only the crown, but your mother and I. You put not only yourself at risk but the life of that boy and all those men that would've died had you not succeeded. You went in with no plan, no experience-" 

"How do you suppose I get that experience sitting behind castle walls all my life, Father?"

"When the time is right and you have the right leadership-"

"You, you mean? We did just fine without you if that's what you're on about. They call me a war hero!" 

Defending myself only enrages him more, his face a deep shade of red as he scoffs at me.

"You're no war hero from one battle, you're a child whose only alive because of Aemond who got to you just in time. You're lucky the both of you weren't killed!" He shouts and if he stood outside waiting for me he would surely be able to hear it.

"Daemon," My mother holds out her hand, signalling to him to calm down and he does but only for my mother to continue his assault. 

"You are not just any girl, you are the heir, my heir to the throne. You cannot act rashly and without the counsel of others. No Queen will you be if you are lost to the rage of war in a battle that is not yours to fight."

Biting at my lip I can taste the blood from the split I've made down the middle trying to focus on anything other than the disappointment that seeped in the air despite my victory.

"Something had to be done. While I regret going alone, I don't regret going to save Lord Corlys and his men. If you'll excuse me, it's been a long few days and I'd like to rest." Keeping my tone polite I don't give them another moment to respond, turning on my heels and pushing open the doors. 

I don't make it a few steps before I find Aemond pacing in the hallway. 

Stopping to look at me I sense the tears before they come and am quick to blame it on the pregnancy.

Taking me into his arms the tears fall freely and I'm relieved no one's around to see. 

Holding me tight I keep my cries quiet, "Shh, my love they were only worried about you."

"I-I don't know why I'm crying-" I try to breathe but I can't catch myself. 

Shaking his head he takes my face in his hands.

"Because you're rightfully upset and if you've forgotten..." Stopping to look around he bends down to whisper with a smile, "you're growing our first born inside of you at this very moment."  At the mention of our child I'm grounded once more and I have Aemond to thank.

"They'll calm down and once that wears off they'll be proud, as they should be. I promise," He whispers, placing a kiss on the tip of my nose. 

"I hope you're right..." I sigh, allowing him to turn us so I can lead us to our chambers. 

"I'm always right, my song. Haven't you noticed?" He grins down at me, butterflies fluttering in my stomach at the sight unless of course that was the baby too...

***

˜"*°•.˜"*°• calm before the storm •°*"˜.•°*"˜