𝓔𝓵𝓪𝓮𝓷𝓪 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷
It had only been an hour or two into my dinner with Aemond that we were interrupted, cutting our time together short as I'd come to expect during these times of war.

"Princess, the Queen requests your presence in the throne room. I'm here to escort you."

I take another swig of my wine, and Aemond blows out an irritated sigh from across the small table, reaching out his hand on the aged wood to curl our fingers together in a smaller display of affection, but I crave more, and I have all day.

"I'll be there in just a moment, Ser. Thank you." I grant the young knight a friendly nod, and a light flush comes to his cheeks, closing the door behind him.

Bringing Aemond's hand to my lips, I press a kiss on every one of his fingers, holding the back of his hand to my cheek.

"You should go; I'd hate to give my sister another reason to take my head," he whispers softly, brushing the pad of his thumb across my skin.

"I'm afraid she'd have to give the crown to my brother then. There's no realm where I rule without you by my side, Aemond, and she knows that better than anyone."

I try to convince him, and though he's moved by my words, he's still not convinced his fate is so secure.

When he only hums in acknowledgment, I push away from the table and drape my cloak around my shoulders to shield me from the night draft of the Red Keep.

Slowly, I work at the buttons around my collar and bring my hair back over my shoulder to work it into a quick braid.

Aemond's husky voice approaches me from behind and I'm already feeling his huge hands on my waist guiding me back toward him, "Come here,"

Easing back into his strong arms, he runs his long fingers through my hair, unknotting it carefully while he twists and weaves the locks into something better than I could've created myself.

"There, though I do think I prefer it down," he smiles, pressing his soft lips against the curve of my neck.

Unable to help myself under his expert tongue, I squirm against his kiss, pressing my ass against his hardening desire, my restraint hanging by a mere splintered thread.

"Elaena," he warns low, his voice smoother than the finest of silks, but he only stokes the fire burning just beneath the surface, begging to swallow me whole.

"Don't stop," I beg quietly, leaning back my neck to give his mouth easier access to my prickling skin. "Please,"

My desperation does him in, his fingers digging at my sides as if he's fighting back his own animal, clawing to escape and devour me.

And gods, I wanted to be devoured.

"The Queen awaits you, Princess" he reminds me breathlessly but I couldn't care less at the moment; in fact, I was quite irritated with her at the moment, "Fuck the Queen."

After our argument about the Stepstones, my mother and I had promised that we would save our anger for behind closed doors. We wouldn't give another Hightower, Lannister, or any other house reason for weakness within our house.

So, as the dutiful heir and daughter, I bit my tongue, praying to any god who would listen that I would be able to stop this nonsense. I would protect him, as he's protected me time and time again.

Aemond throws his head back in a deep bellow of laughter, spinning me around to face him and bringing us chest to chest.

Inching his lips to my ear, I feel the brush of his lips as he speaks, his hot breath fanning across my neck. "No, love, I don't think I will. I think I'll fuck the little princess instead; bend over."

My heart launches itself into my throat at his forwardness, and I draw my lip between my teeth as I do as I'm told, bending myself over the edge of the bed.

"Good girl," he murmurs, his fingers expertly snaking around the hem of my thin trousers to yank them down my legs.

When the cold air hits my skin, goosebumps erupt from head to toe, the pool of desire between my legs threatening to drip down my thighs as he softly grazes his fingertips across my bare ass.

"Go easy on me, my love; I don't think I'll last long. Not with this stunning view." I notice the grin in his husky voice, but before I manage a smart reply, he's pushing me forward as he kneels.

"But I'm dying for a taste, just one."

I whine at the sensation his breath brings against my aching center, but when he lapses his tongue down the entire length of my clitoral area, I reach for something—anything on the bed to cling onto.

"Like a nectar from the gods, fuck, Elaena," he says, licking his lips. He doesn't waste another moment with his sweet nothings and pulls out his straining member, pressing it against my throbbing entrance.

"Aemond, plea," my cry is cut short by him pressing inside me with such passionate force that I'm pushed further up the bed, my fingers digging into the sheets at his unrelenting rhythm.

When Aemond fills me tighten any and all muscles possible coaxing a sharp hiss of satisfaction from his lips, "Whatever you're doing don't ever fucking stop,"

The iris of his blazing eye rolls to the back of his head the hot room a mixture of our heavy breathing and sweaty bodies that craved release.

I don't have the air to respond to Aemond's praises, so instead I use my body to speak in ways my mouth can't.

In turning my chin to get a look at him the muscles and veins in his arms swelled as he pounded into me but even in his lust-filled fog, his gaze connected with mine.

Effortlessly he snakes an arm around my waist and flips me around so we're face to face, the very way we preferred to make love.

Crashing his mouth to mine he ravishes me, his tongue expertly leading mine in a dance that would never grow old but my kisses are sloppy, my focus solely on the drumming in my ears as the pressure rose, the waves of pleasure taking me under as they washed over me.

"More," I plead.

"More?" His grin against my mouth taunts me, doubtful I can handle more of him but my nails dig into his bare back sure to mark crescent moons across his soft pale skin.

"All of you, Aemond" I manage, and by the look in his eye he knows exactly what I mean. I wanted everything, the love, the rage, the betrayal he must've felt, I wanted every piece of him no matter how dark and tattered.

Then without ruthless abandon, he slams his hips against mine, burying his cock into me with an animalistic growl I've only heard a handful of times in my life.

Without leaving my warmth he loops his arm around my waist and lifts me so my knees are set on the mattress, angled up for the best possible angle for him to fit inside of me, just as we're meant to.

"Fucking hell," He gasps, cursing along with me at the new position and neither of us wants to move on the edge of ecstasy where we didn't want it to end.

I move to his command, teetering on the edge of bliss when I feel his hand wrap around my braid, softly pulling it to expose the side of my neck to his bites and kisses.

Aemond's sweaty forehead rests against my throat, his hold around me desperate once I feel myself begin to tremble beneath him, every muscle imaginable clenching around his swelling cock.

It isn't until he feels me fall that he lets go himself, my whimpers of satisfaction music to his ears while he holds me so close I wouldn't dare part from him.

***

Though the doors are shut softly behind me, the soft click of the latch echoes through the silent throne room, but my mother doesn't yet sit on the iron throne. Her back is toward me as she stares up at the one seat that holds the most power in the realm.

It isn't until I'm a few feet behind her that she turns to meet me.

"Better late than never, I suppose." She smiles, and a light blush flushes my cheeks at her knowing look.

"I'd spent the better part of an hour trying to convince my husband you wouldn't put his head on a spike."

How I tried to convince him was my own business, but I'd told her the truth, whether she wanted to hear it or not.

Hanging her head, she glances at me from below her eyelashes, fiddling with her rings just as I do.

"I'm not quite sure what to do with him, I'm afraid. I can't very well take my daughter's husband away from her or send him to the wall to have you rule and raise your children on your own."

"You can welcome him back on your small council to start. Send him and I off on a mission to bring Aegon back, but don't punish him for something he didn't do." I'm only spitting out different solutions—anything that would sway her from the snakes that whispered in her ear.

"A handful of the lords don't trust him. The rumor he'd let Aegon go was from the Greens camp, not our own. Even the men executed hoped their fallen prince would still save them."

I reared my neck in shock, wondering where in the seven hells they'd gotten the idea that Aemond would abandon his wife and child for them after all he'd done to prove his loyalty to us.

If only Aegon had chosen the winning side...

"He would never! The Green's venom and lies still linger in these walls." I sigh in disbelief, and my mother nods, agreeing with me as her gaze lingers on the iron throne.

As a little girl, the weight of being my mother's heir was heavy on my shoulders, but as I've aged, I've grown used to the weight, stronger even because of it. But now, as I stood in front of the very seat that had caused so much damage, I wondered if any of us should sit atop it at all.

"I meant what I said, Elaena. The guards may feel like a prison, but here we face even more enemies than before, and now it's easier for them to hide their true motives." My mother takes my hands in hers and offers me a sympathetic smile as she continues.

"If you'd been paying attention, my daughter, everyone is to be under guard until we're sure where these claims come from. Baela, Rhaena, and even Luke aren't to go anywhere alone. If there is a rat within our midst, I'd hate for him to get comfortable."

My mind is spinning from everything she's telling me, but I still need to hear the words from her mouth: "So you don't believe him to be guilty?"

"I might have my moments, but if he were guilty, I have faith you would've taken his head yourself for putting your family in such danger." She chuckles, arching an eyebrow, before continuing. "Or perhaps his cock."

My mother finds it funny, but I'm a bit mortified at her mention of my husband's private parts. It was bad enough that they were brother and sister; that part I often tried to forget.

"You heard about that, did you?" I smile shyly, and my mother nods. Truth be told, I couldn't believe that had happened earlier this same day.

I was yearning for a night between the sheets with my husband, where neither of us was a prince or princess, just he and I.

"I'd overheard Cregan speaking of your adventures today. How you and Aemond saved that girl...I'll speak with him first thing this morning. How is he?" She asks, and I scoff at her long-overdue concern.

"I'm surprised he isn't any more furious than he is. He won't admit it, mother, but he feels betrayed. How couldn't he?" I tell her, carrying his pain in my chest, where it's settled all afternoon long since I'd seen him pulled away from me in the small council chambers.

But at this moment, when it was only her and me, my mother showed remorse and guilt even as her own gaze avoided mine once more, glancing up at the iron throne.

"Long ago, when your grandfather decided he would make me his heir, there were a great many things he told me, things I long to teach you over our years together, but I believe there was one thing he taught me that was most important of all."

Tears prickled at my eyes, my throat burning with emotion as my mother spoke, closing the distance between us to take my hands in hers.

"The dragon saddle is one thing, but the Iron Throne is the most dangerous seat in the realm, Elaena. All things come at a price, even peace, even our dragons, and without them, we're just like everyone else." My mother leads me to the fire pit center of the hall, the both of us growing nearer to stare into its embers.

"Fire is such a strange power; everything that House Targaryen possesses is owed to it. It lingers in our blood and, in the same breath, threatens to destroy us all."

The flames could always soothe and comfort, but most of all, they could destroy.

"It's already taken far too much. It feels like so many of us are missing," I admit, finally acknowledging the darkness that had grown its thorny vines around my heart.

"They may be gone, but in the same breath, their embers are scattered amongst us, in you, in Luke, and the girls most of all. All of our flames die and all we can do is hope we burn bright enough to lead those who follow us,"

My mother's wise words bring me resounding comfort, all but filling the void that persistent death had worn into me.

I could only hope that Aemond and I's flame would burn bright in the dark long after we're gone for our generations to come. When that flame eventually fades however our song will live on for centuries, I'm sure of it.

***

My walk back to our chambers was quick but I'd been gone for hours. I held out hope that Aemond had waited up for me but I hadn't made it clear whether I was returning to him or not.

I'm not sure what to expect when I walk through the door, but when I take a step forward, I'm being yanked into the room headfirst.

Aemond spins me around until I'm shoved up against the door, with his arm securing me roughly against my neck and bearing just enough pressure on my throat to allow me to breathe.

"Shit, Elaena? Gods, I could've killed you," he panics, his grip around my neck loosening into more of an affectionate hold as he strokes the length of his thumb across my throat.

My lips go dry at the sensual motion, but I press the tip of my drawn dagger to his exposed stomach, coaxing a sharp breath of shock from his pretty lips.

"What are you doing here? They let you in?" He asks, not moving us from the tight position we were locked in.

"I'd hope they'd allow me into my own chambers. Besides, our bed is far more comfortable." I grin up at him, sheathing my blade back at my waist as I sneak a quick kiss on his cheek.

Ducking under his arm, I leave him by the door and toss my bag of belongings onto the disheveled bed, where I couldn't wait to crawl beneath the covers made warm by my husband's huge man body.

I do my best to ignore his gaping and peel off my clothes, but Aemond's gaze burns into my skin.

"I thought you might've fallen asleep,"

"How could I? I was under the impression your mother was keeping us apart for the unforeseeable future." He scoffs, still in shock as he tilts his head.

It brings a smile to my face that he's already begun to miss me but I shake my head. I begin to unlace the corset that remained but I have a bit of trouble reaching the bottom.

Aemond must notice my struggle as he watches me, taking a step forward to loop his long slender fingers through the cords in assistance.

"She told me quite the opposite. She believes your grandfather's influence lingers in the capital. None of us are to go without guards-"

"Because she's to believe I'd harm one of you?"

"Because she believes whoever's behind this may come to harm any of us including you. You're my King, Aemond."

What I say brings his working hands to a halt at the valley of my back and even his sapphire glistens when I call him my King.

My cheeks flush a deep red beneath his stare and the corner of his lips tip up in a reluctant grin.

"Is that so?" His satisfied response was a deep rumble from his chest.

"Those rumors came from Green camps. They still believe you to be their fallen prince," I explain but he only chuckles continuing his mission of relieving me of my undergarments.

"Have my sister make me their executioner. Watch the hope dwindle from their eyes quickly, then. Rather poetic, don't you think? With your father's sword?" He chuckles deeply, and the darkness of his words only winds me up further. The desire between my thighs pooled at the thought of Aemond bloodied as he took their heads, one by one.

Hypnotized by the smooth movements of his hands I don't notice the corset falling to the floor until the cold air fans across my pale skin.

"You paint quite a pretty picture, my prince. You can tell her yourself first thing come morning, she'd like to speak with you." My words are a whisper in the wind as Aemond's fingertips dance across my skin. Starting at my bare shoulder, goosebumps trail behind his touch across my collarbones but he hums as he intentionally avoids my breasts.

"Hmm, does she now?" He responds but he's clearly distracted by the picture that was laid out in front of him.

"Aemond-" I start, my exhaustion clear.

"We've spoken of my dear sister enough this evening, haven't we?" His perfect lips curve into a knowing smile and he continues leaning into my neck to press soft kisses beneath my ear.

"Mhm," Is all I can manage, my heavy eyes fluttering closed as all the stress from the day melted away beneath his mouth.

"Come to bed, to our bed. I'd like to hold my wife after the shit day we've had... please," his sweet soft voice isn't what I've come to expect from him.

I melt into his chest in reply, all strength leaving my body at the exact moment he sweeps me off my feet.

He throws back the covers and climbs into bed without untangling me from his body, in fact he keeps me there in his strong, safe chest whispering sweet nothing against my temple until we both fall into the dark.

Aemond rose with the sun the next morning, and though he did the best he could not to wake me, I'd still rolled over, sensing his absence and reaching for him as he went for the door.

"Go back to sleep, love. I'll be back before you know it."

With a kiss to the temple, he takes one last glance at me before closing the door behind him and disappearing into the hall.

I must be so exhausted that I don't leave the bed until he returns, my eyes fluttering open once I feel his weight dip into the bed beside me.

Once he's noticed I'm awake, his sobering expression lifts into a friendly smile. "Good morning, my song. I'm relieved to see you've gotten your rest." 

He reaches down to unlace his boots, kicking them off to nuzzle next to me beneath the covers, and I hum in contentment, the pull of his arms around my waist like home.

I wouldn't tell him how I'd been plagued with nightmares, clinging to him in the dead of night when he'd slept peacefully.

"If I had one last wish, it would be an endless night in this bed with you. Just our books and the dips and curves of your body," his calloused palm traces down my shape, and I smile back at him in agreement.

"You were granted that wish when we were wed, my prince. Was your chat with my mother that awful?" I graze my fingers across his face, coaxing a low hum of appreciation from his chest at the affection.

"She didn't tell me any more than you already have, I'm afraid, but I suppose she did offer her sincerest apologies for making a show of it." He snorts, but he does breathe a bit smoother than he had the night before.

"And it seems you're not the only one with doubts about this Lord."

"Lothston?" My ears perk up at the mention of the new Lord of Harrenhal. If it were true that this lord was the dog my husband pegged him to be, there must've been someone behind his many tricks.

"That's the one. I'm to visit my mother and grandsire in the cells after our lunch in the gardens and question them... or say my goodbyes rather." Aemond's raspy voice is more of a mutter to himself, but I know him well enough to understand his conflict.

I open my mouth to speak, but the door is thrown open by a couple of rambunctious boys catapulting themselves into our bed with a fit of giggles.

Joffrey and Jaehaeryn had been inseparable for the past few months, and now it seemed they'd come to make sure of their promise to be taken on a walk through the gardens.

Thankful I'd thrown in a shift during the chill of night, I still brought the sheets up and around myself before greeting Jaehaeryn with open arms as the older boy watched from the foot of the bed.

"Careful, careful, you'll hurt Aunt El; come here," Aemond chuckles, lifting his quickly growing nephew into the air.

"You must be more careful, little dragon. You won't be small for much longer." Aemond's deep chuckle still managed to turn me into a lovesick girl, but on the other hand, I don't think I'd ever stopped.

"I'm almost as tall as Joffrey!"

"I'm growing faster!" Joffrey exclaims, his teasing of Jaehaeryn reminding me of Jace and Luke from when we were younger. Luke had always hoped to one day grow taller than his big brother, but I'm sure he hadn't been expecting that day to come so soon.

"Jaehaera says I'll grow tall just as Uncle Aemond did when he got older. He was small, just like me."

At the mention of sweet Jaehaera, Aemond noticeably stiffens, the topic of his true parentage coming forth once more: "That's right, but only time will tell. Best not to dwell on such things."

Had Jaehaera assumed her little brother belonged to Aemond? I could only hope we'd have the chance to tell them both before they found out themselves.

"They've already gone to meet us in the gardens, sister. We're already late," Joffrey adds, sending me scrambling from bed to sort through my things.

"What time is it? Why didn't you wake me sooner?" I shoot Aemond a look over my shoulder, but he seems to be entertained by the frenzy.

"Nearly the afternoon, but you needed your rest."

"We were meant to have breakfast with her among the flowers in the fresh air!" I pout, but it only stretches Aemond's grin further up his face.

Setting Jaehaeryn back on the floor, he stands to meet me, ruffling Joffrey's long brown hair. "Boys, why don't you give Elaena a moment to dress, and we'll meet you in the kitchens, hm? You can pick out our dessert."

With their eyes wide with excitement, they both rush out of the room

"I've already spoken to my sister, Elaena. We'll have lunch with her among the flowers and the fresh air. You're not the only one who needed their rest this morning," he thoughtfully smooths my bed head away from my face, pressing a quick kiss to my temple.

Of course, I wasn't the only one who needed rest this morning.

How selfish I'd been to act as if Helaena's world hadn't just crumbled around her.

"How is she?" I ask softly. When I'd found her yesterday, the fighting was all but done, yet she still clung to her daughter for dear life, petrified that they'd come for her last child.

It wasn't until her lavender eyes locked with mine in the chaos that I could reach her, assuring her in every way possible that I'd been there to keep them safe.

"You came; I knew you'd come," she'd thanked me, even keeping a watchful eye over my shoulder for Aemond, hoping he'd be there with me and maybe he should have been. Perhaps I was wrong for sending Aemond after his brother in the first place.

"She's well. She was happy to see me, though I can't imagine why," he scoffs, sauntering over to his wardrobe.

"I can. She's missed her little brother. She's a dreamer, after all, Aemond. Perhaps we should take it as a sign."

My husband falters, his fingers curling around the knobs as he turns back to me, his thoughts lingering on the sentiment.

"You can ask her yourself once you get dressed. Come, sweet girl."

For the better part of a half hour, I fawned over my southern dresses, long forgotten the night of our departure. I imagined I wouldn't need them anymore with us fleeing to Dragonstone. With much of Aemond's and some of my belongings destroyed, I couldn't believe Aegon had let them be.

Then, finally, as promised, after a quick check on our baby boy, Aemond and I meet our buzzing pair at the kitchens, where the servants have already helped them in assorting a basket of fresh treats.

Jaehaeryn and Joffrey circle us as they chase one another, taking turns weaving through the small attachment of guards sent with us on our short afternoon stroll.

My mother and grandfather had made it quite clear that much was to be done, but the Hightower's could wait. It would do them good to think about the damage they'd caused.

As we approach the familiar fountain Helaena is faced away from us showing a younger version of herself a small ladybug that crawls just between them.

"Jaehaera!" Her half-brother calls out with glee, bringing the precious girl's face up from the deep concentration she and her mother shared.

The siblings exchange a look of excitement and Helaena and Aemond mirror their younger counterparts, relieved to be seeing each other again.

"Have you ever gone fountain swimming?" Jae asks his sister, but the poor girl makes a face of shock, looking up at us all in question. In an attempt to hide my giggle, I turn my face into Aemond's shoulder.

With a deep chuckle, Aemond shares a look with his sister whose lavender eyes sparkle in the afternoon sun as she watches us, "Best not to scare the poor girl, Jae. Her dresses are far harder to swim in than what you boys wear,"

"Perhaps we eat our lunch before we make any rash decisions. Is there a special place you'd like to share the afternoon with us?" I smile at the shy girl although she hides behind her mother's leg. Helaena takes her hand tugging her around in front of her and Joffrey stands a bit straighter.

Jaehaera was only a year older than Jaehaeryn but she was a beautiful sight taking the very best of her mother and father's features. She was the blood of Old Valyria after all.

When she doesn't respond at first Helaena speaks for her taking her daughter's hand in hers.

"Jaehaerha and I have a special tree we frequent on pretty days like today. What do you say? Would you like to share it with our friends?" She asks her softly, warming my heart when I'm struck with an unsettling reminder that she and Aemond were very much Alicent's children.

Though our former Queen had made a great many mistakes she loved her children fiercely and she'd most definitely passed that trait on.

Jaehaerha nods shyly, her nervous gaze darting between us all until Joffrey takes a step forward reaching out his hand in a friendly offering, "We can play dragons! Have you ever played?"

"Of course, she's never played! I made it up after all," Jahaeryn adds proudly sounding an awful lot like his father, so much so that even Helaena tilts her head, her attention drifting to something farther off in the distance.

The two blonde-haired children take off running into the gardens, the rest of us trailing behind.

However, Joffrey crosses his arms over his chest to share a look with me over his shoulder, "I only let him think that." He smirks, chasing after them with a thoughtful smile.

It was Jacaerys who'd often played with Aegon, Joffrey, and Viserys.

But now Joffrey was the eldest and it was he who would play The Cannibal, chasing the smaller dragons around the island just as his older brother had chased him.

I loop my arm through Aemond's and bask in the afternoon sunlight praying that the time away from the small council chambers would do us all well but my father's war crimes loomed over us, death loomed over us.

"Helaena there's so much I wish to apologize for, so much I wish I could've done better," I begin, lifting my eyes to meet her own. She was far different than when I saw her last. Her movements still ever graceful were only a bit slower and expectant, or maybe hesitant of what was to come next.

"Know that you couldn't have done anything. Some things, no matter how terrible are sometimes unavoidable."

Though my aunt sounds at peace I couldn't imagine how she could be, not with losing her son and her unborn child over a betrayal that Aemond never committed.

I look up to gauge Aemond's reaction but he seems as puzzled as I am, his mouth turning down in a frown as his jaw locked with tension, though when he notices me watching his expression softens before he places a reassuring kiss on my temple.

"The music, it sounds wonderful." Helaena smiles, and Aemond and I both look around in an effort to hear the music she spoke of but all we manage to hear are the children's laughter echoing through the gardens where many beautiful flowers remained in bloom despite the flames that had consumed the outer city.

"Music, sister?" Aemond asks but she only looks between the both of us as if we should know exactly what she's talking about, "Do you not hear it? The harmonies they're beautiful,"

I feel as though I should know what she's talking about but I don't, if anything I'm more confused than ever as she walks ahead of us, already distracted by a bug on a nearby flower petal.

"I believe she speaks of us," My husband speaks softly, taming the stray windblown hairs away from my face so our eyes can meet in the beaming sunlight.

"Do you not remember, ñuha vāedar?"

When the Valyrian words roll off his tongue the memory replays before me as if it was just yesterday.

"The harmonies must stay on key, Aemond."

Helaena had said in passing, but that afternoon was the first time he'd ever referred to me as his song, the first time we'd kissed. Gods, and now we were parents of two and at the rate we were going with a third soon on the way.

With us both in deep thought, I have a moment to myself to admire Aemond's aging features. Specks of a beard line his sharp jaw that's only further defined by the sunlight behind him.

We were children back then, innocent to any and all pain that was to come.

And yet our song played on.

***