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CHAPTER 28: beg for sympathy

𝓔𝓵𝓪𝓮𝓷𝓪 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷
The waves that splash to shore ripple up the sand wetting my bare feet and I'm at peace, wherever I am.

Closing my eyes I tilt my head back taking a face full of sunlight letting it soak into my pale skin.

Though the crashing of the waves were rough I still hear a faint giggle in the distance.

Standing just up ahead is a young boy no older than four years old wearing a smile that reminded me of someone.

His short white blonde hair covered most of his face with the breeze and in and instant he's turning away, running towards the caves that fed underneath Kings Landing.

"Hey! It's not safe by yourself! Come back!"

Chasing after him the never ending darkness of the caves swallows me whole but I keep walking, calling out for the little boy all alone.

He needed me, he was still out there somewhere.

The warm earth beneath my feet is suddenly cold tile and the cave is no longer.

I'm standing in the throne room only lit by the moon that shone through the windows.

Sitting on the iron throne was no man but a different little boy than I'd seen only moments ago on the beach.

This boy was leaner, his hair short and his eyes fierce as they hold me where I stand.

"Are you lost, little one?" I ask sweetly, extending my hand to him.

Tilting his head his purple eyes twinkle in the moonlight and I go still, "Aelyx?"

As soon as his name leaves my lips he looks to me in confusion and I choke back a gasp.

I'm just about to reach him when the floor falls out from under me but a hand reaches out for me keeping me from the jaws of fire that nipped at my bare feet, the heat almost unbearable.

"I've got you," Expecting the deep voice to belong to Aemond I look up to meet the eyes of a stranger, who doesn't feel like a stranger at all.

Reaching out his other hand I take it, "Hold onto me, I'm right here."

The voice reassures me again and now I'm sure it's Aemond's but the face isn't his, only sharing our purple eyes.

Just as I'm pulled out a blinding white light blocks the face of my savior.

"You're okay, I'm right here with you," Flinching away from Aemond at first I turn my head erratically trying to understand where it was I ended up now not convinced I wasn't still dreaming.

"A-Aemond?" The whimper like sound that comes from my throat makes him flinch, my pain his.

"You were dreaming, and shaking. Saying his name over and over..."

"Whose?"

"Aelyx."

Trying to catch my breath Aemond brushes the wild hairs away from my face, "What was it about? What did you see?" He asks, never making me feel foolish for my nightmares.

"There was a little boy on the beach, he led me to the throne room where there was another, but this boy I knew, he was familiar to me. He looked like you," Taking his face in my hands I examine his sharp features tracing them with my fingers as he listens intently.

"He sat on the iron throne and just before I reached him I was falling into the flames but he saved me, Aemond, he grabbed my hand."

Holding my hand in front of my face I stroke the lines in my palm, his touch lingering though it only existed in my mind.

Leaning into me, Aemond kisses my temple, resting his head against mine.

"Our son..." He breathes, placing his hand over my stomach lovingly.

"What did he look like?" He smiles, excitedly.

Twisting one of his stray hairs around my finger I think back, grasping for the memory before it fades away.

"He had our eyes, but when he looked at me I saw you, your intensity. He'd grown right before my eyes from a boy to a young man, pulling me from death..." Trailing off my heart misses the boy who was yet to exist, who was only a small being growing within me.

"I can't wait to meet him," Aemond says softly, placing his hands on top of mine. "Put a sword in his hand, teach him how to ride a dragon-"

"Love and loyalty,"

"Of course. How else will we tell him how we fell in love?" He agrees with a loving smile, his eye blinking at me tiredly.

Lacing his arm around my waist he pulls our bodies flush against one another, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.

Pulling away from one another his face slowly drops, "About last night,"

Shaking my head I put a finger over his lips, "It's fine, Aemond. Truly. It's the past, and you're my husband now." Getting up and out of bed I run a hair brush through my wild waves, taming it enough to start my braids.

Opening his mouth to object there's a knock at the door and he growls in frustration.

Not bothering with a shirt he whips open the door just enough so whoever it was couldn't see me barely clothed.

"Welcome home, my prince. Your mother, the Queen requests your presence immediately for breakfast."

I cringe as soon as his gruff voice comes from the door. Ser Criston was only a pest compared to the monsters that ran the kingdom but I hadn't missed him all the same.

"Of course she does, we'll be ready soon-"

"She's requested only you, my lord. It is a small affair with your two brothers I'm afraid." Ser Criston's voice didn't sound at all empathetic and if anything more cold than he used to be regarding Aemond. 

Though the knight hated me and my mothers side of the family he had quite the bias to the Queen and her sons training Aemond and Aegon all afternoon long when we were children.

Aemond tilts back his head to look at me over his arm, questioning his mothers motives.

"Tell the Queen if she wants me she gets Elaena too-"

"Aemond, no. Have breakfast with your mother. I'll spend the morning with Helaena. I've missed her most of all." I smirk, not at all eager to have breakfast with his mother and her demon spawn sons.

Tilting his head to the side he arches his eyebrow at me, reading my mind. The corner of his lips tip up in a sleepy grin as he slowly turns back to give his answer to Cole.

"As her grace commands. I'll be right there, Ser Criston." He responds sarcastically, nodding in goodbye he shuts the door behind him.

Ruffling through his bags he finds a fresh tunic, throwing it over his messy head of hair.

"You had another table in your chambers didn't you?" I ask, only now noticing it's absence.

Going still a memory plays across his face and he's smiling like a guilty child at me.

Sauntering over he licks his lips before bending down to press a kiss to my neck.

"Our chambers, my love. But yes, I may have turned it into firewood when I found your note the last we were here." He mutters, a bit embarrassed of himself when it's I whose cheeks flush red.

That's right.

The last I was here I skipped out on him early in the morning to fight at the Stepstones. I wasn't sure I'd ever see this place or him ever again.

"I'm sorry-" I begin but he cuts me off,

"Don't be. Don't ever be sorry for anything ever again," Bending down slowly to press a kiss to my lips a knock interrupts us again.

"My prince," Ser Criston persists urging him outside.

Groaning loud enough so the knight can hear him, he puts up half of his hair in a rush and I appreciate the relaxed look his wavy hair gave when he turns to meet my eyes watching him.

Taking my chin between his fingers, he kisses me one last time before leaving, thoughtfully drawing it out with each caress of his tongue.

"We still have much to talk about. Don't stray too far, my song. I'll find you."

Unwillingly he pulls himself away from me, biting at his lip before taking the last few steps to the door, glancing at me once more before shutting the door behind him.

Excited to see Helaena and her twins I take to the halls, spotting their silver haired heads below in the gardens. If my suspicions were correct Helaena like a few of our ancestors was a dragon dreamer, often seeing things before they happened, speaking in riddles or quite plainly like the day of Aemond's tournament.

Rushing down the steps my skin absorbs the unrelenting sun of Kings Landing and I welcome it, knowing I needed all the sunshine I could get with young Aelyx a lingering happy thought in the back of my mind.

"Helaena!" I call out, her head turning when she hears my voice.

"Elaena!" Taking the twins hands she brings them to me, that handmaidens following close behind.

"We're sisters now," Helaena's bright smile is a heartwarming sight, almost nothing like her mother and brothers though Daeron hadn't always been so rough around the edges.

"We are! I'd always hoped to have a sister! Jaehaerys and Jaehaera must've grown a whole foot while we've been away! How big you've grown little ones!" Crouching down I take them in my arms, their giggles music to my ears and I wonder if this trip won't be so terrible after all.

"And with another bundle of joy on the way, how are you feeling?" I ask.

Clasping my hands with Helaena she tilts her head in question, seeing something in my eyes that she can't pinpoint. Squeezing my hand she's broken from her spell, taking a step back to look at me.

"You saw him?"

Shrinking away from her my stomach twists.

"How do you-?" I sputter.

"You saw them both. One will lead you to the darkness the other will bring you through it." She smiles reassuringly but what she says doesn't make me feel any better.

"Darkness?" I cringe, my voice breaking. Where they both my boys? Would I lose one but keep the other? I'd go mad trying to understand.

"Now come! I'd like to show you the nursery." Acting as if nothing just happened she picks a flower from the bushes, holding it to her nose to smell with a smile as she led the way to the new nursery.

Pushing open the doors the twins run inside, eager to play with their little siblings new toys that overflowed the chest near the crib

Taking in the beautiful sight I imagine Aelyx's crib, the toys and stories we'd tell by his bedside.

Taking careful steps towards the babies bed I run my fingers along the soft fabric that lined the expertly crafted wood.

"It's wonderful. It's so... happy in this place." It was true. This room was unlike anywhere else in the castle. The windows allowed direct sunlight at all times, their child never in darkness unless it's eyes were shut with dreams

"Do you have dreams too, Helaena?" I ask, turning to look at her while she stares aimlessly out the window.

"Dreams. Nightmares. They're all the same, all things we cannot change or rewrite. Some nights I don't sleep at all hoping I see nothing." she whispers, tracing an unseen shape on the glass.

Going to her I stare out into the courtyard watching the people walk by along with her when I catch a glimpse of Aemond and Aegon weaving through them.

"Where are they going?" I think aloud, Helaena turning her head in their direction.

Aemond puts up his hood but Aegon doesn't bother, he wants to be seen.

That same twist in my stomach tightens and I almost can't breathe.

He said he'd find me, I should stay here and wait for him to come back... unless I shouldn't.

He'd been on edge since he received the letter from his mother, things had seemed different for days but I couldn't pinpoint it.

What business did he have outside the city?

Only having a moment to decide I'm going for the door.

"Elaena?" She asks in confusion.

"I'm going to look after our husbands. It seems they're keeping secrets."

"Husbands tend to have those." She mutters, turning back to look out the window.

"Not mine." I whisper to myself painfully, shutting the door behind me softly.

Only having time for a hooded robe I throw it over my dress, slipping my dagger in its place around my thigh.

 Jogging down the steps I take them two at a time, hoping they hadn't strayed too far. 

My gut tells me where to look first but I refuse to believe Aemond would visit the Street of Silk, especially now. 

Deciding I have no other place to start I take the crowded streets to a part of the city I'd never seen with my own two eyes. 

In the daytime it seemed like any other street in the capital but at night it was said to have bare men and women fucking in the open.

Coming around a corner I tighten my hood around my face, careful not to show my white blonde hair it being a beacon of royalty in the capital.

With their backs turned to me I can recognize Aemond's stature from the opposite end of the road approaching two large wooden doors. 

Aegon lifts his fists, rattling a couple of knocks against it when he looks up meeting my eyes in the mob of people. My heart jumps in my throat but he doesn't make a move to alert Aemond, only smirking at me when the door opens to reveal an older dark haired woman.

They exchange a few words and she stands aside letting them enter and they're out of my sight. 

Clutching my chest I can't believe what I've seen with my own two eyes.

My husband, the father of my child had just walked into a brothel of his complete own accord in broad daylight.

Taking nervous steps towards the establishment I rack my mind for a way to get inside but I couldn't just walk in the front door. Perhaps there was a way from above?

Walking around the building it lines an alleyway littered with abandoned carts and food trolleys. 

Gathering a handful of my dress I begin to scale the carts alongside the brick of the brothel. 

Carefully I work my feet into the weathered stone.

Don't look down. 

Keep going.

Reaching the very top I refuse to look over my shoulder, only looking ahead where the tops of buildings lined the very earth like etchings in the dirt. 

Watching the sun rising high in the sky almost makes me forget where I am until I hear raised voices from down below. 

Pushing more of my luck I find a skylight, the air flowing through it's dark red silk.

Crouching over the stone I will myself to hear something, anything to tell me what was going on.

Aemond's voice is easily picked from the other two and he's angry about something, yelling at someone. 

"You'll end this now, I won't say it again-!" 

"What will you do, my prince? Make the boy a motherless child?!" A raven haired females voice brings me on high alert, my wildfire jealousy already stirring in my eyes as I watched broken images from above.

She was stunning it only made sense she was kept especially for the handsome Targaryen princes, but she looked nothing like me.

There's a quick movement and Aemond has his sword resting on her neck as if he was going to execute her.

"You and I both know I'm the wrong man to beg for sympathy, Tessa." He snarls, using her name so they must be familiar with one another.

Gasping, his words replay in my mind, "I may have fallen victim to my loneliness a few times in search of release,"

Was this one of the women that warmed his bed while I was away? Was she the true reason we'd returned? 

My world seems to come tumbling down around me. Every one of our conversations an opportunity given but not taken for him to tell me the truth but he'd kept it to himself.

Like a tug of war I can't decide what to feel, heartbreak, rage? So, I feel it all at once.

Bending further down to hear more I knock over a wooden cup sending it over the ledge down into the very room Aemond and Aegon stood.

Their voices are silenced as all three of them tilt up their heads to find me watching them but I'm too far up for Aemond to recognize me right away. 

Vaulting myself from one rooftop to another I don't have time to be scared my adrenaline taking over and I can hear my husband's voice calling out from below, still not realizing it's his own wife. 

"Get back here street rat!" He growls after me. 

Turning back to look at my lead, Aegon strolls below watching the entertainment while Aemond easily scales the side of the building.

Picking up the pace I hop down on sacks of wheat and flour, busting one on the way causing me to stumble in the street.

Aemond learns from my mistake, masterfully dodging the loose goods gaining on me.

"The longer I chase you, the longer I'll take to kill you. Don't make this difficult, witch!" His deep thunderous voice booms through the street and it shakes me to the very center of my bones.

The words burn as if he'd breathed them like fire and I lose the will to run, anger overcoming me eager to breath fire back. 

Allowing him to reach me I feel him approach, turning my body roughly to look at my face. 

"Elaena?" He says my name like he's been stabbed in the heart and I can relate to the feeling.

Looking me over his eyebrows knit in out of concern more confused I'm standing here in front of him.

"What are you-? how did you-? You could've been hurt!" Taking my chin in his fingers it's my turn to tear myself away from him, backing away in horror at the man I thought I'd known. 

Finally catching up to us Aegon's one man applause sounds from behind Aemond but I ignore him, words at the ready.

"Who the fuck is Tessa?" I snarl trying to keep strong but my voice is broken, her name making my unformidable husband cringe all but confirming my suspicions. 

"I told you we still had more to talk about, my song." Going for my hands I rip myself away from him, he didn't deserve my touch, my love.

"DON'T call me that! Answer the question!" I demand, my nostrils flaring as he stares at me with debilitating heartbreak knowing exactly where this was going. 

Aegon laughs, walking up to stand between the two of us, insisting on a front row seat to our demise. 

"You're telling me, you never told her? You brought her all this way and didn't say a word? I knew this would be good..." His brother cackles, holding onto his stomach it's so loud and the thought crosses my mind to strangle him but Aemond is faster. 

Grabbing his brother by the front of his jacket with one hand he uses the other to land a blow directly across his face sending Aegon back onto the concrete.

"You knew she was following us didn't you?! You son of a bitch! I'll kill you-"

"Don't blame him for getting caught in your own lies! You're a goddamn liar!" I cry trying to stop him but Aegon's laughter persists. 

Turning his bloodied face to me Aegon lands his final blow, "She isn't all he's been hiding-"

"Don't utter another fucking word!" Aemond threatens and I know by this reaction Aegon must be telling the truth.

"Mother's found something of his wandering the Streets of Silk-"

"Aegon!" Aemond warns again digging his arm into his brothers throat.

"A bastard boy, one mothered by the very same... Tessa Waters." Struggling to gargle out the words while Aemond pressed on his throat I still hear them loud and clear.

Stumbling back I pray to the gods I wake up from the nightmare but it's reality.

Aemond has a son.

He lied about it.

He was willing to kill that woman to keep it a secret.

What he going to kill the child too?

Losing all feeling in first my hands, toes and then legs I become completely numb.

My knees tremble threatening to give way but I have to go, get far away from all of the lies and deception while I still had a chance to get away from him and his manipulation.

Turning on my heels Aemond's already fighting to chase after me but I'm already a random head in the crowds of people, "It's impossible, Elaena! Please, don't go!"

Wiping the stray tears that fall from my eyes I just walk. Walk until my feet are numb and Aemond's desperate shouts for me are all but an echo in the distance and I don't hear him anymore. 

***

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