𝓔𝓵𝓪𝓮𝓷𝓪 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷
It'd been a whole day without a word from Jacaerys and after a night of tossing and turning now, it feels as though I'd lost both of my oldest brothers.

When I wake up early this morning the sun shines through the windows with a promise of a better day and doing my best to stay hopeful I get an early start despite nausea that crept in.

Giving Jacaerys free rein of the halls I'd spent all morning in the Godswood avoiding the sideways glances of the people who wandered the corridors buried in the books I'd taken from the libraries.

The odds their texts would say much on Old Valyria were slim but with endless time and thoughts to avoid I dive through the mounds of books in search of something about my bleeding star.

Even Seasmoke was out to take in the sun, spending all morning in the skies circling over the Godswood in a way to stay close.

"I should've expected you'd be out enjoying the sunshine,"

Looking up from my book I smile, greeting the only person who hadn't looked at me with hatred or disdain.

With the temperature climbing, Cregan decided against his thick furs and wore only his thin leather tunic with a long-sleeved shirt beneath to keep him warm, but I only look for a moment, feeling guilty for taking the time to gaze at him in the first place.

"Jace still won't speak to me, I figured I'd do him a favor keeping to myself,"

Uncrossing his arms from his broad chest Cregan frowns as he approaches me.

"I don't think that would be doing anyone any favors, Princess."

A light blush comes to my cheeks at his small compliment but I pretend to continue reading my book though I instead read the same line over and over again as I feel his handsome smirk burning into the side of my face while he watches, amused.

Cregan takes his seat beside me under the tree but he keeps quiet in his attempt to let me read in peace but his body heat next to me was all too distracting.

"Was there something you wanted, Lord Stark?"

I arch an eyebrow at him over my shoulder and he chuckles deeply, "I'd initially come to invite you to breakfast but this seems like a more peaceful way to spend my morning,"

I laugh at the idea of peace. I hadn't experienced much of that for almost two weeks now.

All I had were questions and the only person that could answer them was nowhere to be found. I had half a mind to see him myself and demand answers, perhaps I would.

I don't know how long I sit there staring wordlessly at the skyline. Closing my eyes for just a moment I take a deep breath of the crisp northern air, fiddling with the rings that grew tighter around my fingers.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Cregan reaching for my hand to stop me from my nervous habit but slowly as if to ask permission.

Taking my hand in his he turns it over in his own to graze our fingers but only slightly when he notices the tension I hold in my body under his touch.

Even still, I stand by what I thought of Cregan the first time we met. He was a remarkable man with plenty to offer any Lady or Princess... but this heart's fate was sealed when the gods destined Aemond and me in the stars.

Cregan's warm brown eyes flicker with emotion I'd seen in Aemond's own gaze before and I flinch back from him, pulling my hand away.

Instant regret flashes across his expression thinking he's made me uncomfortable and as I go to apologize he frowns, shaking his head, "You don't have to apologize, Elaena. I know... you belong to another. You'll always belong to him."

His soft voice doesn't harbor any spite or venom, the Warden of the North simply spoke the truth with a bit of sadness behind his eyes as he comes to the hard realization.

I'll always belong to him.

Even if the small hope I held was in vain, I would forever consider myself ruined by Aemond Targaryen.

My deep thought is interrupted by one of Cregan's men, who takes a few steps around the hallway before halting when he sees us sitting so close together.

Once Cregan notices the panicked look on the boy's face he's standing to meet him with concern, "What is it?"

"My lord, my apologies for interrupting but there are reports of forest fires not too far south of here. People are being forced to flee their farms and homes, flooding to Hornwood,"

Closing my book I stand to get a better look at the sky and sure enough far off in the distance a dull smoke dilutes the perfect blue sky that I'd seen when I'd first woken up.

"A forest fire?" Cregan asks, turning back to lock eyes with me and we both know that isn't the case.

"There's a man who claims a prince has been traveling with a convoy of soldiers and his dragon on the hunt for someone,"

I cradle the growing bump of my belly knowing in my heart this had something to do with Aemond. I can't speak, my mouth going dry but Cregan looks to me for my reaction, unsure of how to proceed.

Making the decision for the both of us he urges me forward, "Have him escorted to the dining hall and fed. We'll meet him and Prince Jacaerys there for breakfast,"

The knight nods curtly, turning to heed his Lord's commands.

It seemed I would be joining my brother for breakfast after all.

As I fall in step with Cregan I keep my voice low, "I'm shocked you don't want to speak with him in private,"

He looks back at me pained, "You deserve those answers, Elaena. You and your child, and if he has news about the Prince you should be the one to hear it first."

When we arrive at the dining hall, Sara and Jacaerys stood to themselves in the corner of the room so engaged in their own conversation that they don't notice us enter.

Cregan stiffens next to me, clenching his already tense jaw as he watches them.

"Leave us," He orders the servants but Sara stares daggers at her Lord, not at all intimidated by his power.

Jealousy perhaps?

Was there even more that I didn't know about?

There was plenty of time to find out but I on the other hand had more pressing matters to deal with.

The man is covered from head to toe in dirt and soot. It was a miracle he was even alive, sitting here before us.

When he hears us approaching he spins, the poor old man's eyes widening when he sees his audience didn't only include the Warden of the North but the heir to the Iron Throne and her Prince brother as well.

"My Lords, Princess, it's an honor. Thank you for seeing me," Standing to greet us I take the man's hand clasping it with my own in thanks for his bravery and he's taken aback by my kindness.

"Are you hurt?" I ask him softly, giving him a once over but he shakes his head.

"No, princess, however, I can't say the same for my friends to the south of us. Word spreads almost faster than the fires..." His hands tremble within mine afraid to finish his sentence when Jacaerys finally joins us, a sour expression on his face as he watches Sara flee through a side door.

"And what is it they're saying?" Cregan asks him, taking a seat across the table from him.

The man looks between the three of us, "Dragons fight dragons, brothers fight brothers,"

Aemond.

"Thank you for bringing this information all this way. My men will see to it your family is kept comfortable and fed." Cregan ushers the elderly man to the door but I can't even look up at him to bid farewell staying silent until he takes his seat at the head of the table.

I have to hold the chair to stay upright, and my heart tells me to go to him, to move, but the shock is too much initially.

If it was Aemond and Daeron who caused these fires in the south, maybe there was a chance he hadn't been the one to kill Lucerys after all, and if there was a chance I would reach out and grab it.

My breath catches in my throat but I force out the words, "It's him. I'm going,"

I turn to go but Jace grabs my arm, "Are you mad?! You're with child!"

"And what does that matter to you, Jacaerys?"

My brother cringes, looking to Cregan who watched and stepping a step closer, "Although that child is Aemond's, it is still my niece or nephew, and you are still my sister. You could get hurt-"

"Aemond would never hurt me or our child," I spit at my little brother, yanking my arm out of his grasp but he's taken aback by my fierceness looking to Cregan for help.

"Would you talk some sense into her?! Tell her she's gone mad!"

Cregan only chuckles at my brother, watching me as he leaned back in his seat fit for a king.

Without taking his eyes from mine the corners of his lips tip up into a knowing smile, "You've gone mad, Elaena."

Jacaerys throws his hands up in anger with his friend when he realizes it's a losing fight, "You're no help!"

Standing from his seat Cregan shrugs his shoulders, "When has your sister ever listened to a word I said, Jacaerys? You'll have to know by now she'll do what she damn well pleases,"

Jace looks between the both of us but settles his conflicted gaze on me.

"Then I'm coming with you,"

"Jacaerys-"

"I won't lose another sibling, Elaena. We leave now, and one of those Hightower cunts will pay for my brother's death." His dark brown eyes burn into mine and I see his father, his true father shining through taking me back to when we were children.

Jace notices this, and as he grows uncomfortable my little brother brushes past me, leaving Cregan and me alone once again.

From the head of the table, Cregan rests his elbows on the wood, watching me from above his locked fingers.

"Thank you," I mumble deathly quiet and those two words hold so much.

His thick eyebrows rise in surprise but he catches himself, his expression softening, "And what for, Princess?"

"For everything... for all of it, Lord Stark."

Cregan's frown deepens with the sincerity in my voice, "If I didn't know any better I would think this is goodbye,"

"Perhaps it is," I whisper in reply.

Standing to meet me he closes the distance between us, "It's not. I would never send you to your death, Elaena."

I scoff, laughing to myself as I turn to go, "And when have I ever listened to a word you said, Lord Stark?"

Sara meets me at my chambers eager to help me dress for my journey but I can tell her mind wanders elsewhere as she tightens the loops in my braids.

Catching her brown eyes in the mirror they quickly dart away avoiding my questioning gaze, only further peeking at my interest.

"What's troubling you?"

Her smile sinks as she blows out an exasperated sigh, finishing the last set of braids down my back and taking a seat next to me on the bed.

"I've grown quite used to you here, Princess... both of you. And something tells me our time together is drawing to a close,"

Taking her hands in mine she looks down at our intertwined fingers.

"I'd like to think the opposite, my friend. We've only just begun. Besides, I'll need friends at my court when I become Queen one day. Friends I can trust,"

This time when she smiles it's genuine but something dark flashes across her soft eyes.

I open my mouth to ask her but a thunderous roar from Seasmoke stops me cold.

Running to the window my stunning silver dragon circles the sky but his cries aren't ones of sorrow or pain, they were of something else.

When I see it's Vhagar who Seasmoke is greeting I rub my eyes hardly believing what I saw, welcoming her home despite what she'd done, but the same wouldn't be said for me.

"What is it, Princess?"

"It's Aemond... he's... he's here." I breathe, frozen where I stood as I watched them land in the clearing.

As the words hung in the air between us I still couldn't move, seeing this moment in my dreams time and time again but I still couldn't grasp that it was happening.

Having to pull myself away from the window, I rush for the door, throwing it open to see him and get the answers I so desperately needed.

Despite the fact that I was running through the crowds and chaos, everyone else was running in the opposite direction, terrified that the one-eyed prince had arrived to destroy their home but I knew better.

As I push through the crowds, the knight at the door tries to stop me, but I ignore him and step out into the sunlight where I see the outstretched wings of Vhagar and Seasmoke over the tall stone walls.

With every step closer their voices become louder and I'm struck by Aemond's deep thunderous tone, echoing through the empty courtyard, "I won't ask you again, Stark. Where IS she?"

"You're in no position to be making demands of her Kinslayer! We should kill you where you stand!" Jace interjects and I take another step, and then another to hear Aemond's reply.

My husband only snorts at him, "Kinslayer am I? I'll admit I've come close,"

"Closer than close I'd say, Uncle," This voice that joins them is one I thought I'd never hear again, and a shudder runs through my body almost bringing me to my knees.

"L-Luke? You're alive? We thought-" Jacaerys confirms it with his breathless words but I still can't believe it, needing to see with my own two eyes.

Though my feet weigh a ton I use all my strength to move, bringing myself out into the clearing and I see them.

Both of them.

Jace and Cregan stood guard in shock from afar with his men, but Seasmoke remained beside Vhagar, pleased to see his old friend.

Aemond and I lock eyes from across the clearing and his cocky smile meant for Cregan fades when he sees me.

"Elaena," Aemond's voice is strained with emotion but he's much like me, frozen where he stands.

He's without his eyepatch, his chiseled face dirtied and bloodied from their trek across the North, and yet Lucerys looked even worse. With a bloodied wound across his face in a cut similar to Aemond's, one would think my husband repaid the favor but they were both alive, they were here and he'd kept his promise.

Aemond had kept his promise.

Of course, he had.

I go to take another step but I'm unable to move, my heart pounding so loud I don't hear or see anything other than him.

Aemond drops all of his belongings to the ground and it's good he does because I'm already losing all feeling in my legs and I'm going down, collapsing but I never feel the hard ground.

A pair of strong familiar arms catch me, holding me up against his hard chest and my lavender eyes are already flooded with tears.

"I've got you," Aemond's deep reassuring voice only brings more tears and I think I might hyperventilate until his fingertips draw their path along my chin, tipping my face up so we're peering into one another's broken hearts.

"You're here, you're both here." I whisper, reaching out to touch his face and I still don't believe it, "This isn't a dream,"

Those words seem to break his heart, his perfectly shaped lips tipping up in a sad smile as a fresh sheen of tears threatened to fall down his face.

"No, my sweet girl, this is real. This is all real,"

Resting his forehead to mine I don't think we could get any closer in front of all these people but nothing else mattered.

He was home and Lucerys was alive.

"They spoke of dragons fighting south of here. I was going to come for you, I should've come sooner, I should've known-" My chest burned and the guilt is overwhelming.

I'd doubted him with little pushback when I should've gone on a search for them instead.

Aemond would've come for me without a second thought but I'd thought the worst of him.

"Shh, my love I'm here, we made it to you that's all that matters now."

Aemond pulls back to take a look at me, making sure I'd been kept in good care and one of his massive hands goes to my belly covering the bump of our son that had grown while he'd been away.

"Look at you, even more, beautiful than the day I left you." His hands tremble as he takes me in but I place my palm over his to bring his swirling violet eye back to mine.

Taking a deep breath his tension-riddled body relaxes into me, both of us finally at ease to be in one another's arms.

Jace loosens his embrace with my little brother to ruffle his hair, but after getting another look he practically tackles Lucerys again, "I can't believe it, the gods have blessed us."

"I wouldn't be standing here without Aemond. He saved my life too many times to count,"

Jacaerys turns in surprise to look between both Cregan and me but while their faces are struck with shock I'm too busy gawking up at my husband with pride.

Aemond smiles looking over his shoulder to Lucerys, "You returned the favor a time or two, nephew."

My heart skips a beat when I see the warm interaction between them and how he calls my little brother nephew isn't bogged down by venom or hatred but instead used as a term of endearment.

Turning back to look at me Aemond cocks his head to the side, "He's become quite the skilled swordsman,"

"I could even challenge you, sister! We can spar," Lucerys' warm eyes dance with joy but Aemond shoots it down quickly, coming to stand in between my brothers and me.

"Not a chance, she's still very pregnant with our child if you've forgotten," My protective husband growls to intimidate my little brother but Luke only rolls his eyes, showing his age.

"How could I forget with you reminding me at all times, Uncle?"

Instead of taking a hit back, Aemond shakes his head with a dark chuckle, avoiding my loving gaze and I can swear I see him blush.

Just how often had Aemond spoken about me?

"He'll need a maester to look after his wound, if he's lucky he won't need stitches-"

I won't let him finish his sentence I instead collide my mouth to his and he takes only a moment to respond, cradling my face to intensify my soft peck into something deeper, his playfulness quickly shifting into his familiar passion.

"Seven hells, I should've expected as much." Lucerys laughs from behind us and instead of warranting a death glare from Aemond my husband laughs against my lips along with the rest of them and I never thought I'd see the day.

"I'll have the kitchens prepare a feast to celebrate your return. We'll send word to the Queen right away," Cregan mentions, joining the fold but I can tell he's uncomfortable, his wide shoulders set back with tension as he's forced to watch Aemond and I's affections.

Aemond doesn't miss a beat, tightening his hold around my waist possessively and Cregan notices turning to walk back through the courtyard without another word.

"I'd like to write to Rhaena, but the first thing I'm sinking my teeth into are those lemon butter cakes! I've been having dreams about real food." Lucerys comes closer to embrace me and Aemond reluctantly lets me go, rolling his eye when he first mentions food.

Taking Luke in my arms I notice just how much he'd grown in his time away. Though they were both thin with malnourishment Luke had grown at least an inch or two.

I go to wipe away the streaks of tears but Lucerys helps me instead, his own brown eyes glazed over with similar emotion.

"There isn't a better man for you you, sister. I should've seen it sooner, we all should've." In an apologetic smile, he presses a small kiss to my temple.

The boys follow Cregan towards the castle, and Jace wraps his arm around Luke's shoulders, already catching up on what he'd missed as if he'd never left.

With my brother's distance, Aemond takes my hand tugging me back against his chest to snake his arms around my waist.

"And what are you most excited to eat? I can make sure they have something brought to my chambers,"

I place one of my hands on Aemond's chest but he's already looking down at me, inching down to nuzzle his nose against mine with a devilish grin, "I can wait for food. There's something else I'd rather sink my teeth into. I've been deprived of my wife for far too long,"

A hot blush consumes me and after almost two weeks of no physical affection, a familiar heat rises below when his breath fans across my neck, "But first, I want a bath with my wife in the hottest waters they can manage here at Winterfell."

His low husky voice sends shivers down my spine but when he presses his cold lips against the arch of my neck I'm done for, a gasp passing my lips.

"That can be arranged. But I'm afraid I don't have my own bathing quarters."

A deep rumble sounds in his chest, "Then I'll bar the doors until you're sick of me or until the Stranger comes to take us, otherwise I'm not letting you go,"

I curl my fingers around his arm at the nerves that crept up my spine.

We hadn't shared a bed in almost two weeks and yet it had felt like a lifetime, his love bites long faded.

Helping Aemond with his things he remained true to his word, ignoring the sideways glances of the Northerners and keeping his arm looped with mine and our fingers interlocked.

Once I close my chamber door behind us, Aemond begins to disrobe eager to get out of his dirtied clothes.

"Quite the rooms he's chosen for you." He scoffs but I don't know whether he means the room isn't up to my standards, or perhaps too much. Either way, I was sure my husband would've had something to say.

I watch from afar at first for my own selfish reasons but once I see the bruises and cuts littered across his toned body my already fragile heart cries out with every beat.

He must not hear my light steps closing the gap between us, flinching when I reach out and place my warm palms against his back.

I brush my fingertips down the dark bruise that stretched across his ribs and I can only imagine what Lucerys and Aemond had gone through to get here in one piece.

He'd done all of this for me.

How could a man so loyal, so unwavering still desire me?

Aemond turns slowly but doesn't move to touch me, the violet of his eye darkening with memories as he watched me caress his smooth pale skin.

"Who did this to you, my prince?" I ask softly, my eyes flickering to his.

"Daeron." He answers simply bringing his hands to my waist.

When he doesn't offer anything more, I sense he doesn't wish to speak any more of it so I let it go for now.

"Perhaps it's best a maester look after these cuts and bruises. I can call the servants to bathe you-"

"Elaena, I will never prefer another woman's touch to yours. A week and a half, a year, a lifetime apart wouldn't change that."

I swallow the lump in my throat and it's as if we're standing in the gardens of the Red Keep those months ago but at this moment, Aemond stood vulnerable, with no walls to hide from me as he once had and I didn't deserve it.

"I doubted you. I mourned us, Aemond... I thought..." I can't bring myself to finish the thought of avoiding that lavender heartbreak that his eye tried to hide.

He takes my face between his calloused hands in an attempt to make me look at him but I can't, not until he commands me to.

"Elaena, look at me."

Our gazes finally meet and he offers me a sad smile taking a strangled deep breath.

"When we'd heard you'd come to Winterfell I was a wreck for days. All I could think about was you here,  broken and with him." His husky voice gives out but he tries to hide it.

His tongue wets his bottom lip and suddenly my mouth goes dry.

"You weren't the only one who held doubt in their heart... I wish I could take it all back. I never should've left you, pregnant with our child nonetheless." His fingertips trail down my arms to cradle my stomach and the warmth that stems from his touch brings my ice-cold veins to life.

"What kind of man would leave his pregnant wife?" He sighs, resting his forehead against mine but I shake my head.

He'd trekked across the realm for me to keep a promise and he blamed himself?

"Aemond, you are the man who defends those who cannot defend themselves. You wouldn't have gone if you hadn't known I was well protected." 

"And I'll never leave my duties as a husband to another man again. It was all this dark mind could do to forget my heart was here with him-" 

I take his pointed chin between my fingers and tip his face down to my short height so our lips brush with each of my words, "But who is it that stands with me now, my prince?"

With the tightening of his arm around my waist his long fingers dig into my side in reply to my question, his breathing erratic. 

"Elaena," my name passes his lips like a holy prayer but he struggles to continue.

Stepping up on my tiptoes I press a kiss to the bottom half of Aemond's scar and his hands travel south to rest just at the top of my ass, "I'm forever ruined by you Aemond Targaryen, forever yours. Even when I thought the worst of you, my heart knew better." 

I blink up at him through my blurry vision and a deep hum of contentment sounds from his chest.

Running his lips across my jaw I turn my head ever so slightly to meet his mouth and his kiss is firm as his teeth bit down softly to open my mouth.

His demanding tongue caresses mine and one of his hand's fists in my hair, the sting of his tight grip a welcomed sensation that ripples straight to my core when he pulls away to whisper, "ñuha dōna, dōna vāedar. Nothing about you is ruined, not a damned thing."
*My sweet, sweet, song.

***