𝓐𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷
The bathing house was one fit for the Red Keep and I would never admit that aloud but I would absolutely take advantage during our short stay here.

Smooth stones lined the large bathtub that I now had completely to myself as I waited impatiently for my beloved.

I sit back, stretching my arms along the back wall, and sink deeper into the steaming hot water, grateful for the scarcity of lit torches with the state of my head.

Whether it be the lack of food or the lack of sleep, my skull was pounding with a headache comparable to that of when I'd lost my eye, and the one thing I longed for was making me wait.

Finally, I hear her small steps padding down the hallway, hesitating just outside the door and my heart climbs to my throat.

Perhaps there was no reason to be nervous. We'd laid together time and time again, seeing one another as bare as our name days but this felt different.

Elaena timidly turns the knob and enters, her back to me at first, but even when she emerges, I struggle to see her in the dim light.

"Are you enjoying your bath, my prince?" Her soft voice reverberates against the walls and I know her moans will sound angelic in a chamber such as this.

The corner of my lips twitch up into a devilish grin at the thought and she takes another step forward into the sunset orange that spilled through the smaller fogged windows.

Elaena wore only her chemise and even in the dark my hungry gaze finds her nipples pebbling against the fabric, her growing belly a constant reminder of the future to come and the past we'd endured.

"I'll enjoy it far more when my beautiful wife joins me. You know how to keep a man waiting, my love."

Taking another step she begins on the ties, keeping a watchful eye on me as she did so.

Slowly, Elaena brings the fabric up and over her head, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth as her curvaceous body was consumed with a deep blush beneath my stare.

"I believe it was I who did the waiting,"

As her chaise pools to the floor near her feet I curl my fingers digging my nails into my palm and my cock twitches with need just beneath the water.

Elaena might've felt less desirable with the changes of her body but her skin glowed with the fire that burned inside of her. Every curve that graced her was another place for my hands, for my lips and I would assure her of that for the rest of our lives.

I didn't just want her, I needed her.

And desperately.

Without breaking the connection of our eyes she slowly takes the steps one by one and I can't help myself, closing the distance between us in the center of the pool.

Standing I tower over her petite frame and our bare chests brush bringing a sharp gasp from her lips. I long to capture her mouth with mine but I hover there as I wrap an arm around her waist reveling in the heat of her breasts pressed against me.

"I've dreamt of you every night I've been away. There wasn't a moment my mind wasn't consumed by you... and yet nothing could've prepared me for this, for how beautiful you look carrying our child."

My words are a whisper against her temple and Elaena stills at my confession, her wide-doe eyes peering up at me through her long elegant lashes.

"You've only just had your wounds tended to, my prince-"

"Aemond." I correct her.

Mostly it was a turn-on when she referred to me as her prince but at this moment it felt distant, impersonal.

"Tonight, my love, I want you to say my name. Let it echo through the bathing chambers and down the halls without shame because you belong to me and I to you." Splaying my hand against her bare back she arches her body into mine causing her stomach to brush against my very erect member.

As I stifle a moan at the small contact, I take her chin between my fingers tipping up her face so our eyes meet. "Is that understood, Elaena?"

With a small smile on her lips, she stands on her tiptoes to brush away the loose strands of hair that had fallen in front of my sapphire and presses a tender kiss to my cheek.

"Completely, Aemond."

My name rolls off her tongue seductively coaxing a low growl-like sound from my chest and using the hand on her back I fist my fingers through her long strands of blonde hair tugging ever so slightly to give myself better access to her neck.

Peppering small kisses behind her ear, I nibble a trail of light bites down her neck until I reach her breasts.

Hooking my arm beneath the curve of her ass I lift her effortlessly to take her nipple between my teeth, rolling my tongue over the tip and bringing a whimper past her lips.

Elaena's fingernails dig into my back at the sensation, my name a groan against the scarred skin of my chest as I lower her to the bottom step to angle her back just so.

"What are you-"

Thrusting two fingers between her slick folds she cries out, riding my hand like the good girl she was and I groan at the sensation of her tight sex clenching around me.

I'll be a dead man when I finally slip inside of her, but not yet.

"Fuck, my sweet innocent girl so tight for me, only for me,"

I lick my lips before capturing her mouth with mine, ignoring the swell of my balls aching for release.

Her wet mouth moves against mine with little resistance moaning into my tongue that claimed her with each swift roll but it's not enough.

Hooking my fingers slightly I rub the pad of my thumb against her clit and she bucks against me. She breaks our kiss only to bite down on my bottom lip tugging me closer so our chests collide in turn sending water droplets up around us but I drill into her, chasing her orgasm before I find my own.

"Aemond, yes, yes, please-" Her innocent voice is music to my ears and her pleas heighten until she goes limp in my arms, leaving sloppy kisses down the arch between my neck and shoulder but I was far from done with her.

Elaena snakes her arms around my neck holding herself up but I swiftly lift her to bring her legs around my waist to support all of her weight so she doesn't have to.

"I had almost forgotten what an orgasm felt like," she giggles and I let out a heartfelt laugh at her dazed smile.

"Hmm, I'd be lying if I said that wasn't a bit... comforting. If he laid a single finger on you, I'd take both of his hands."

At first, Elaena doesn't move, let alone take a breath and my blood runs cold.

Pulling back to look at her I arch my eyebrow as my mouth presses in a thin line, watching her.

Had that son of a bitch touched her?

Or even worse... had she invited him in?

When she avoids my gaze my stomach drops all but confirming my suspicions and my possessive hold on her tightens.

"Elaena," I growl in warning waiting impatiently for her to enlighten me, "Did he-?"

Shaking her head, she cuts me off.

"No, Aemond. Cregan was only honorable through my stay."

Rearing my head back to look at her I cock my head to the side, "Cregan now is it?"

She rolls her eyes at me, hiding her face in my neck as I smirked at her but she remained to herself, tracing the shapes of my chest.

A frown tugs at the corners of my lips and I rest my cheek against the top of her head.

"What is it, my song?"

For a few more quiet moments the only sounds in the washroom are the trickles of water from our small movements in the massive tub.

"I had nightmares... For the first few days I didn't eat, I didn't sleep. I'd blamed myself."

I keep quiet, listening intently and I'm reminded that although Elaena had been safe she surely suffered more, even if it was under false pretenses.

"It was my fault you'd gone, it was my dream that you wished to prevent... and in my heart, I'd lost you both and it was my doing." Her voice broke with emotion and instinctively I go to cradle her head against my chest.

"Our child was already despised before I brought him into this world... and the way my father and brother acted when they heard." She sniffles in between words and her pain was mine, multiplied by the shame that I held knowing I wasn't here to protect her from all of it.

My wife, the mother of my child, my future Queen.

Anger boiled within me for the sake of my family. She'd been in pain and her closest kin hadn't embraced her they'd shut her out, pregnant and alone.

I wouldn't rest until she got an apology from every last one of them for doubting her. It was the least she deserved.

"Cregan was the only one who comforted me. He'd kept me fed and made sure I was looked after, along with Sara."

So not completely alone.

When she mentions the Stark lord again I cringe, loosening my grip to pull back and reach for a rag draped over the edge of the bathing tub.

"I'd rather not talk about another man just moments after I've had my fingers inside your cunt, Elaena."

I run the rag through the water, bringing it to her chest where I graze one of her nipples as I drag the rough fabric across her wet skin.

With a sharp intake of breath, she takes hold of my arm to steady herself and those lavender eyes flutter shut, her long fingernails digging into my skin sending the blood rushing to my cock.

Careful with the cloth, I scrub between her breasts tenderly but the soft act doesn't match my gruff tone, "I have a bone to pick with the lot of them. That bastard put a bounty on my head, Elaena. He could've killed both of us."

"I was furious when I heard. I would've never allowed it even if my Mother agreed." She leans back against the edge of the tub and my heart swells at her loyalty.

"You didn't want me dead yourself?"

Her body stills beneath mine but when I bring the washcloth south she gasps, struggling to answer as I palmed her pretty cunt beneath the water.

"Hm?" I urged her on, purring in her ear before I take her earlobe between my teeth.

"I-I wanted answers before I-" Her voice trails off into a soft whimper at the mercy of my wandering tongue and my throbbing cock jumps at the sound, brushing against her and she feels it, leaning into me.

"What answers, my sweet girl?" I grin but she grows annoyed with my questions, seeking me out in the water.

Grinding against my hand she replies but it breaks my heart as she does, "I had to know if you'd killed him... if what we had was real or just my own fantasies."

She'd doubted us.

After all that we'd been through.

Elaena must feel my grip on her slacken and she pulls back only slightly to look into my troubled eye.

"And did you get the answer you'd hoped for?" 

My voice is withdrawn, uneasy and it pains her as much as it pains me.

"I had my answer all along... I even dreamed of you, of our future." She peppers small kisses across the bandages on my upper chest and I hiss from the sting but I'll take her affections any way I can get them.

"Our future, hm? And what did it look like?" My voice is a strangled whisper into her hair and the water stills, the world outside of this room no longer existing, only us.

A small smile comes to her lips and she looks up at me, resting her chin on my chest. 

"It felt like a memory. You spoke of our son, of Aeylx... but you disappeared. I begged you to come back but it wasn't real." 

If her dream of Lucerys had come to fruition what was to say this one wouldn't too?

Tossing the cloth aside, I take her face in my hands gently brushing the pads of my thumbs across her cheeks, "I'm here now, I'm with you... and a King never leaves his Queen unprotected." 

The heat that rises between us is unmistakable and as my lips hover above hers Elaena's eyes flutter shut. 

"Never again, Aemond. I won't raise our children alone,"

"You won't, Elaena. I'll be by your side. I promise you this," 

Elaena knew the meaning of a promise between us. I'd proven myself time and time again, and though some might say my love for Elaena was a weakness they were sorely mistaken. 

She was my strength, my drive behind all things and without her, this cold heart would be a miserable wasteland.  

Only capable of hesitation a moment longer I lose all self-control claiming her mouth in a domineering kiss and she moans into my mouth desperate almost as desperate as me. 

Hiking her legs up around my waist I rest her ass back on the top step, keeping her at just the right height, and lining my throbbing cock to her entrance she widens her legs, urging me inside.

 "Aemond, please. It's been too long," She gasps, leaning back on her elbows, and her chest is lifted above the surface, droplets of water sliding their trails down the sides of her breasts.

Snaking an arm around her torso I begin my assault on her chest, leaving kisses and bites all along her precious soft skin as she squirmed beneath me, arching her clit into me for some kind of friction. 

"I love you Elaena, and as I say it, it still doesn't feel like love is enough a word for what I feel for you," The words are between kisses and she's so far gone to her own desires I doubt she hears me until she replies through haggard breaths, "Never leave me again, Aemond, never," 

Our eyes connect and as I drink in the beauty of my wife bare, submitting herself to me, I help myself to her, thrusting the tip of my cock deep inside of her coaxing a moan from her throat and I grow even more thick inside of her at the sound.

My sweet girl wraps her arms around my neck, drawing me in closer, and I throw my head back in bliss, drunk off of her smell, her taste, all of it.

Colliding my mouth to hers I part her lips with my tongue, tasting her as I drew in and out of her in a numbing slowness that I wouldn't be able to keep for much longer but I would keep this slow, and tender for her.

"You're holding back-" She breaths, breaking our kiss and I growl against her mouth, taking a handful of her ass to get a better angle and when I pound into that sacred spot Elaena cries out my name with no regard for her volume. 

With her sweet song urging me on, our hips slapped against each other, sending water all around, but I remain to have my way with her, speeding up my pace in ways she couldn't keep up with.

I guide her body up and down my length, both hands locked on the curve of her hips, the pressure building in unimaginable ways.

Elaena begs for more in low desperate pleas, resting her head in the crook of my neck, and her orgasm seemed within reach as her body trembled within my hold.

"That's it, my love. Fuck," 

The curse is a hiss through my lips and I throw back my head to crash my mouth to hers as my hot release fills her heavenly slick cunt convulsing around me, milking me of every last drop of my seed, and she could have it, have all of me.

"I'd crawl through the seven hells for you Elaena. Never forget that again,"

With her arms still wrapped around my neck Elaena doesn't make a move, using what energy she had left to keep breathing but instead of letting go, I relish in the ecstasy of being with her in the deepest way human beings could. 

"Never again," she whispers as she presses a light but tender kiss against the top of my shoulder.

***

After getting dressed in the finest Winterfell had to offer I make a visit to check on Lucerys after he's had his wound tended to, and luckily the wound across his face will heal on its own.

When I round the corner the door of our chambers is open and Elaena speaks softly with another girl inside.

Not meaning to sneak up I lean against the doorframe and cross my arms over my chest.

Elaena sat on her bed facing the mirror and she'd made a friend of sorts.

A girl not much younger than us twisted and weaved my wife's long blonde hair into a loose braid that laid nicely over the bottom layer of her hair.

Her longer locks were strategically curled in waves around her neck to hide the love bites and she notices this, inching toward to mirror to get a closer look at my handy work I grin proudly when she smiles, tracing her fingers over the bruises.

"Do they hurt you, princess?" The servant asks, both of them still ignorant of my presence.

My sweet girl giggles a bit, running her fingers through her curls, "Not at all. In fact, I enjoy them."

The corner of my lips lift at her words, the pride in my heart sending blood rushing to my cock and I'm desperate to leave more of my mark upon her body.

"Aren't you worried people will see?"

Elaena shakes her head, her hands traveling down her neck to her chest where her black sapphire necklace usually hung and I frown.

"I used to be, but at some point that changed. They remind me of him, of our time together... as if I needed reminding." Her face flushes when she says it aloud and before she can say anymore I clear my throat.

Both the girls whip their heads to look at me and Elaena's friend stands to bow her head in respect, "My Prince, my apologies we weren't aware-"

My gaze only flickers to the girl, the majority of my attention on my breathtaking wife who watches me with a familiar heat behind her eyes.

"I assume you to be Sara? Elaena's spoken about you." Closing the distance between Elaena and me, the both of them straighten their backs growing tense with my presence.

"Y-yes, my Prince. I've been her personal maid during her stay with us."

When I glance back at her, I have to do a double take. Her square jaw and serious brown eyes were familiar but from where?

Elaena smiles up at me as I come to stand above her. Caressing her face I trail the tips of my fingers across her jaw skating down over the very marks they spoke of.

"You're appreciated, Sara. It's comforting to know my wife hadn't been alone in my absence."

Sara relaxes a bit at the sight of our tender interaction, a stark difference between how Cregan had reacted as he watched how close I'd held her earlier.

Elaena might've assured me he was only honorable but I knew plenty of the look of desire he held in his gaze for my wife.

Before I can ask Sara of her familiarity she excuses herself, bidding Elaena farewell and she's gone, closing the door softly behind her.

As Elaena stands to meet me she straightens out her dress, getting another look at herself in the mirror before dinner and my gaze trails up her body, devouring her.

Northerners were accustomed to their dark colors and furs and luckily, both of those things suited Elaena delectably. The dark course fabric of her dress plunged in the center between her breasts but with the sheer cover she wore along with it one wouldn't see much unless she let them take a peek beneath.

Unable to help myself I come up from behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist to rest my palms on her belly where a bump was slowly but surely beginning to show.

I would be a father before the year came to an end.

"You're stunning, my love. The Northern styles suit you." I purr into her ear, pressing a kiss to the side of her head and she leans back against me, humming in contentment.

"It's all I have to dress myself with. I've grown out of just about everything," she sulks but I can only chuckle at her adorable pouting lips.

"The moment we return home I'll have only the finest garments made for you and our Jaehaeryn will get the ride on Vhagar as I've promised."

"Home," she sighs, absentmindedly tracing her neck where her necklace would usually hang.

"Where is it? Your necklace? I'll help you put it on,"  I take a step away to take a glance at her dresser top but Elaena tugs me back to her.

"I've left it at Dragonstone for... safekeeping."

I cock my head to the side, and a frown tugs at the soft corners of her lips, and I know she's hiding something from me.

"After all, they'll be expecting us at the feast, and I have more reason to dance tonight than any other." Elaena changes the subject, scooping up her brush and placing it on her dresser before turning to take my arm, but I whip her around to bring her into my chest, savoring the last few moments alone before we ventured out into the festivities.

Trailing one of my hands up her chest, I graze my fingers between her breasts while tightening the other hand's grip on her waist. "I don't want another man's hands on these hips, my love,"

Elaena gasps, her eyelashes fluttering shut when she feels the brush of my lips against her neck.

"Do you intend to keep me occupied all evening long?" She teases, her fingers fiddling with a silver buckle on my tunic nervously.

After hours of claiming her again and again, I still hadn't had enough. Even the small touch she graced me with had me eager for more, to say the hell with this feast and the Warden of the North and cristen this bed.

"Of course. I won't be leaving your side all evening, or ever again for that matter."

Bending down to steal a kiss she holds up her finger, going for the door.

"Now husband, if we start that we'll never leave the chamber,"

A growl-like sound comes from my chest and she giggles, taking my arm and we're on our way.

The music and voices travel down the corridors as we approached the dining hall and already, Luke's boisterous laughter finds us bringing a smile to both of our faces.

When we round the corner and enter the view of the masses, Elaena's grip on my arm tightens, and the room comes to a halt as they whisper and turn their heads.

The Realms Princess of Song and her Sapphire Prince.

My song's body language shifts as she faces me, her nerves fading whilst she looks up to meet my gaze and I give her small hand a small squeeze.

Using a finger to move a stray hair from her face I offer her a reassuring smile, "Have fun tonight, my love."

Elaena's twinkling lavender eyes are bright with excitement as she brings my knuckles to her lips to leave a peck before we're interrupted by her brothers.

"Aemond! You have to see the spread they have for us- Elaena, sister, you look stunning," Luke had obviously been partaking in the wine but who could blame the lad? We'd escaped the jaws of death more times than we could count.

"Lucerys just how many goblets of wine have you had? Jacaerys?" 

Jace holds his hands up in surrender to his sister, "He claims he's a man now-"

"So I'll celebrate like one!" Luke clasps his arm around my shoulders, and his smile is contagious despite his older brother's sour expression.

"Maybe you should be partaking as well Jace. Seems as though you need to loosen up a bit." I don't hide the smirk as I pat him on the back, his face flushing with irritation but he had little to complain about being that I'd saved his little brother's life.

Before Jace can reply Elaena sees where the conversation is headed and pulls me away to the head table where Cregan sat with his Northern lords.

"He'll hate me for decades to come, there's no denying it-"

Elaena hooks her arm with mine and pulls me down to her height, "Hush, just give him time."

Arching an eyebrow at her I scoff, but keep my cynicism to myself.

Time is a luxury we won't have for long.

Elaena thankfully sits a few seats down from the Warden of the North and his men, looking to me to sit next to her.

After a moment of hesitation, I take my seat reaching beneath her chair to scootch her closer to me and farther from Cregan who couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

She was stunning, I'd give him that but if he needed reminding just who she belonged to I wasn't afraid to make a statement in the midst of his extravagant feast.

For a short while Elaena and I lose ourselves in the plates of food and drink offered to us and if I had known my wife as well as I thought I did, her stress would have kept her from eating during my absence.

In the crowd of people, Lucerys danced with anyone who asked but when I find Jace he's taken to the corner in a closed-quarters discussion with none other than Sara, Elaena's handmaiden.

With my hand laying claim on Elaena's thigh, I give her a gentle squeeze to get her attention but she's already noticed herself, pushing out her chair to go to her little brother.

When she stands I follow suit but catch a glimpse of Cregan whose stare was burning into Jacaerys and Sara over his goblet.

Keeping Elaena close I interlock our fingers and lock an arm snugly around her waist through the sea of people, our bodies getting pushed and pulled in every which direction.

"Uncle! Dance, have some fun would you?" Luke appears before us almost out of thin air but Elaena has her sights set on Jace, letting go of my hand as people squeezed between us.

"Not now, Luke..." I go to walk away but I turn back to him, "Has Jacaerys told you anything about this Sara?" With my height, it's easy to keep Elaena in my line of sight, but given this handmaiden's apparent proximity to my family, I'd be a fool not to suspect her intentions.

Luke stands on his tiptoes to follow my gaze finding who I speak of and shrugs his shoulders, "He spoke little of meeting someone but he never mentioned it being a girl."

With a deep breath, I roll my eye and take a fist full of Luke's tunic dragging him in the direction of his siblings but they're not alone.

Jacaerys and Elaena stand close in a heated discussion but her brother keeps an arm stretched out in a protective stance keeping Sara behind him and it becomes perfectly clear.

Jace had found a paramour of his own.

I can't hear what's said but whatever he says hits Elaena straight in the chest, tears welling in the corners of her eyes and I'm pushing through people to get to her. I wouldn't tolerate another tear shed at the hands of her own family, brother or not.

We're mere feet away as Cregan steps in front of her coming to my wife's defense but he takes hold of her hand, using an arm to reach back pressing her to his back in some sort of embrace and I see red.

I push through the people unforgivably and I charge toward him, Luke's voice a distant fly buzzing in my ear and through gritted teeth, I growl out my warning.

"STARK!" Shoving him aside Elaena looks on in shock, grabbing hold of my arm, "Aemond, please don't-"

As I bring her behind me Cregan shifts his rage from Jacaerys to me and a crowd was swiftly forming around us.

"I'd watch your next step, Prince Aemond. You aren't in Kings Landing anymore, these men are loyal to me." He stands tall, confident not even sparing a look at his men who stood at the ready with their hands on the hilts of their swords.

Unwilling to show weakness I take a step forward with a smirk, "Are you threatening a Prince? The bounty on my head wasn't enough?"

"Hardly a threat, only offering a word of thoughtful advice, my prince." Cregan's brown eyes dart to Elaena over my shoulder and his gaze softens with a familiar look in his eyes. When she stiffens under his stare I take a sidestep to keep her from his view.

"We thought you'd murdered my brother in cold blood," Jace takes a step forward confirming my suspicions that he had something to do with it.

"But he didn't, Jacaerys. Those men almost killed us both on his orders." Luke steps forward to defend me and it further irritates his brother but Sara gives a tug on his sleeve and I realize just who Sara was.

Once the realization hits me I narrow my eye at the Warden of the North, my gaze darting between the two of them.

This was the bastard little sister of Cregan Stark himself and Jace had fallen in love with her.

When I put two and two together both Jace and Cregan's expressions drop, the color draining from their faces and when the feast grows silent Cregan glances around at his guests realizing the setting but I wasn't finished.

As I open my mouth to say something Elaena comes to stand in front of me, gripping my chin.

"You've all made quite enough of a scene this evening. Your wife begs you to stop this," she whispers in a curt tone and reluctantly my anger fizzles out when I get one look at her pleading eyes... but only for now.

"We finish this in private." Cregan spits at us, but it's clear his anger isn't only pointed at me but at Jace as well.

The line in the sand had been drawn with Cregan, Jacaerys, and Sara on one side and Luke, Elaena and I on the other.

But if Cregan thought he could prey on Elaena's vulnerability all while trying to rid me of the picture entirely then he wasn't only a desperate cunt but a dead one.

***