𝓐𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓮𝓷
5 Years Later,

I had all of an hour before my surprise was ruined. If Elaena woke up and found my side of the bed empty, she'd know my plans instantly.

My smart girl.

Adjusting the flowers in the glass vase I take one last glance over the tray of her favorite jams and fruits, even sneaking in a few desserts. For if my song desired a sweet start to her day who was I to deny her on her name day?

"You've done well, brother! She'll love it," my sweet sister sneaks up from behind me, her reassurance much needed.

"Thank you, Hel. She'll love the flowers, but did you get the-"

She answers my questions before I manage to get the words out, holding out a carefully wrapped box.

I smile fondly at Helaena in thanks, pressing a chaste kiss to her temple.

"Sent from the gods you are, sister. Give Rhaenyra my thanks, we'll be meeting you both for lunch in the courtyards,"

"Aemond, promise me you'll visit Mother soon. She's been asking for you,"

My body goes rigid at the mention of my mother. I clear my throat to speak past the lump in my throat, busying myself with the food on the tray.

"How is she?"

"She's doing as well as expected. Just... promise me?" My sister gives my arm a squeeze, her soft gaze pleading.

Taking a deep breath I nod, knowing in my heart I should visit my mother. It'd been months since she'd even seen her own grandchildren.

She's done this to herself.

She's lucky to be alive.

Not long after I executed my Grandsire was my mother faced with the decision of either kneeling for our Queen Rhaenyra or facing the same fate as her Father.

I and Elaena expected my mother to deny Rhaenyra to her grave, but no later did my mother courtesy before the Iron Throne in front of hundreds of lords and ladies of the court swearing allegiance to the true heir my father had intended.

Making a quick getaway I creep through our chamber door, peeking inside before taking quiet steps to her bedside.

Elaena's long blonde hair had grown even whiter over the years, splayed across the pillow with her bare back facing me, the sheet draped haphazardly over her waist.

Unable to resist I place the tray down quietly on the bedside table, kicking off my boots onto the floor.

Careful not to frighten her I crawl into bed beside her, placing soft kisses along her arm.

However Elaena doesn't stir from her deep slumber until she feels my teeth nibbling at her soft skin, leaving a trail down her thigh.

"Hmm," she purrs beneath my mouth, scooting back against my body in search of me.

"Good morning, my love," I whisper, my breath fanning across her neck.

"I was having a dream just like this," she giggles, "how can I be so sure I'm awake?"

I chuckle darkly, any and all blood below the waist rushing to my cock at her groggy voice.

"Challenge heartily accepted,"

Trailing my fingertips across her waist, she does most of the work, grinding her ass into me once more as I find her pretty little clit, already plenty wet for me.

"Fuck, Aemond," she bucks against my hand and I use the angle to wrap her hair around my hand, giving her a light tug back.

I suppose I'll have breakfast twice this morning.

Peppering love bites down the side of her neck I can smell Elaena's slick on my fingers and I need a taste.

Effortlessly I flip her over, pinning her hands above her head against the headboard and I lose myself in the image that is the bareness of my wife.

With sharp breaths Elaena's chest rose and fell, her nipples peaked from the cold morning breeze of the window and I could worship her curves for all of eternity.

I'd start now.

A deep blush spreads across my songs pale skin under my gaze, ever the shy girl even now.

"This is beginning to seem like my name day," I smirk, leaning down to spread open her thick thighs but my darkening eye never leaves her's.

Slowly, terribly slowly I trail kisses up the insides of her thighs as she squirms, inching herself closer to my mouth.

"Don't worry, my love. I won't make you beg," I blow softly against her wet center and her clit taunts me, dripping.

"Not today at least,"

Lapping my tongue against her clit, her satisfied groans have me already slick with precum through my trousers.

I snake an arm under her waist and yank her closer to my mouth, her sweet taste coating my tongue like honey.

"So fucking good- Aemond," she moans, whining my name as she throws her head back into the pillows and I agree, swirling my tongue as I sucked, just the way she liked.

I know my pretty princess is close when she starts rocking against my mouth, seeking friction only I can give her and I give her exactly as she desires.

Without warning I slip inside of her with two of my long fingers and her tight muscles are milking me already, desperate for release.

"I want you to come apart on my tongue, can you do that sweet girl?" I breathe.

"Yes-yes, please," she whimpers, her fingernails leaving their mark on my back and her face grows hotter, her breathing erratic.

Tightening the tip of my tongue I begin my relentless assault on her clit and I'm drooling at the mouth.

Desire burned in my veins but I wouldn't shift my focus from her, savoring every drop.

Finally when I think I might finish myself Elaena's petite frame tenses beneath my mouth and she's pulling at my hair, yanking me up to her.

As she rides out the waves of her orgasm I pepper kisses across her chest until I capture her mouth with mine, our tongues mingling among her sweet cum that still danced on my tongue.

"All these years together and I still can't fathom that you're mine, for the rest of our days," she mutters, her exhaustion prevalent. 

"I've stopped questioning why the gods deemed me so deserving," I reply smugly, prying myself from her reluctantly to feed ourselves some real breakfast.

Still very much exhausted my wife remains curled up beneath the covers as I feed her but I almost can't contain my excitement at the surprise I had in store for her, sitting just in front of us on the tray beside the empty plates of food.

"What is it?"

I must be so distracted I don't notice Elaena watching me, her mouth still full of food.

Nervously I eye up the box, holding it up before her and her bright lavender eyes pop open in surprise.

"Aemond, I told you-"

"You know I wouldn't pass up an opportunity to get you a gift. Besides... I think you'll love it," I bite at my lip anxiously, joining her back on the bed.

The last few years had been extravagant. Trips across the Narrow Sea, feasts, and tourneys but this year she didn't want any of it. Elaena had insisted on a quiet day in the Red Keep with those she cherished most and still, I was honored to be considered one of them.

Her light lavender eyes survey the carved box, grazing her fingers over the designs of our house sigil.

Finally, she opens the box to reveal the leather-bound book within.

Elaena holds it up to the light and once she notices the writing on the front she's too stunned for words.

"It's a songbook. I thought you might need something to keep all of our songs in, something you can pass down to our son or daughter when they have children of their own." I explain, watching her with adoration as she flips through the empty pages until she reaches the beginning, where I'd already included the first song she'd sung to me.

Elaena lightly grazes her fingertips over my handwriting, fresh tears stinging her eyes as her gaze rises to meet mine.

"It's... gods it's perfect, Aemond." She breathes, taking hold of my hand and the tension I'd been holding in my shoulders fades at her reaction.

She liked it.

"You even wrote it with the ink I like," she giggles through her tears, and though I know they're happy tears I can't resist wiping them away with the pads of my thumbs.

But I must not be paying close enough attention, for I'm dumbfounded when Elaena launches herself into my lap to press her lips to mine.

Cradling her close to my chest I hold her for just a moment longer, silently thanking the gods for the gift they brought to me this very day 26 years ago.

***

"That's it Aelyx! Jae do you see how he bends his knees?" Joffrey compliments my son but my nephew doesn't seem impressed. If anything's he preoccupied with his half-sister who sits with Helaena mere feet away.

"Visaera!"

Elaena and I practically snap our necks at the mention of our daughter's name who's sprinting for the rack of swords by the boys.

A poor young maiden chases after her barely catching our lethal five-year-old around the waist.

Shaking her head, Elaena tries but fails terribly at hiding her laughter, caught by Visaera who finds us easily in the stands watching them.

"Momma! Let me practice!" She pleads adorably, our daughter a perfect reflection of Elaena at that age but somehow, even more fierce.

Elaena and I share a look between one another, communicating without saying a thing.

Since Visaera could walk she followed her big brother wherever he went and that included the training yards.

At first we were worried she couldn't keep up with the boys but it was in fact quite the opposite.

"Mama please!" Visaera begs her mother, fully aware of who makes the final decision between the two of us.

"Only if you promise to follow instructions, Visaera. You must listen to Uncle Joffrey, understood?"

Our daughter's satisfied smirk morphs into something of a malicious grin and I'm looking into a mirror, my daughter a walking fireball.

"I promise!"

Joffrey however rolls his brown eyes, the spitting image of Lucerys now that he's eighteen, likely still recovering from the bruises courtesy of his niece.

Instantly Visaera is causing a stir, wiping the dull training swords around at Jaehaeryn who only laughed at her, encouraging her antics.

"When was it that she became a tornado of destruction?" Elaena asks me with a giggle, leaning into my side.

Interlocking our fingers I chuckle, thinking back for myself, "I'd assume she wants to make her mark on the realm just as her mother,"

"Or cause chaos and mayhem like her father,"

Her lips pout up at me tempting me beyond belief and I have that same urge to cause chaos right now.

"Maybe a bit of both,"

For the better part of an hour we watch them from afar, sparring the best they can, Visaera only just learning how to properly hold a sword but she'd be better than both Jaehaeryn and Aelyx combined in no time.

"Sister you hit too hard!" Aelyx shouts growing justifiably angry with his little sister. It wasn't often they did activities apart.

"Do you remember when you knocked Aegon back on his ass? He was livid for weeks..." I laugh, my smile growing even wider when her soft melodies join mine.

"It's been too long. Do you suppose...?" Her gaze darts to the weapon rack and it only takes a moment for me to understand.

Once the recognition sparks in my eye Elaena pushes past me, making a run for the stairs but I'm right behind her, allowing her just one step ahead of me.

Circling around the courtyard my mischievous wife ducks behind a pair of handmaidens crossing the way, smiling in apologies as she escapes my grasp once more.

By now we've made a distraction of ourselves, interrupting any lesson that Joffrey might've had planned as the children point and giggle at the game Elaena and I play.

I trail a step behind her at all times sneaking up behind a barrel when she finds what she's looking for, her very favorite sparring sword.

There wasn't anything particularly special about it other than the fact that it was her favorite, the very sword we fought over when we were children.

"I see not much has changed with my time away," A voice calls out to us, and somehow Elaena's smile grows wider once she realizes who it is who's come to see her.

"Baela! Sister, you came home!"

"Of course I did! I didn't want to miss your name day, and besides I didn't come alone," Baela blushes a bit at the mention of her Warden of the North but he's nowhere to be found.

Noticing our looks of confusion she continues, "Cregan flew with me on dragon back. It's still a bit much for him so he's resting I'm afraid."

"Stark rode dragon back?" I about burst into laughter at the thought of the burly Northman clinging to the princess for dear life in the back of Moondancer.

"He did! As it turns out, Cregan's not so afraid of dragons! You never told me you took him riding on Seasmoke some years ago," Baela exclaims, not at all realizing that that specific detail had never been shared with me.

Elaena laughs nervously under her breath but my stare burns into her, my many questions on the tip of my tongue.

Desperate to change the subject she moves on, stirring the conversation elsewhere, "That was a long time ago. Have you asked, Mother? About a betrothal?" she whispers, though the idea was hardly gossip. Baela and Cregan had been doing some semblance of courting for the past few years, disguising it as political alliances but we all knew better.

Cregan and Baela had fallen in love.

"Once or twice... but I'd like him to ask her for my hand as any Lord would for a Princess. I do deserve it after all,"

Eager to see her nieces and nephews, Baela jogs over to join them, scooping up Visaera into her arms to spin her around as the others watched begging for their turn.

Elaena and I watch on happily but I still sense the unspoken tension between us.

"Elaena," I begin but she cuts me off, "I'm sorry I never told you. It feels like a lifetime ago now," she frowns, her sparkling eyes not leaving mine in a way to assure me further.

Years ago I might've been rushed with insecurity, but I trust Elaena like I trust the very air I breathe, keeping me alive.

Cradling her petite face her shoulders fall in ease, thankful I'm no longer the boy I once was.

"It was a lifetime ago. You've bore and raised my children, laid and lived with me every night since then, Elaena, you've always been mine in every way that matters," I whisper against her lips.

***

Supper goes on for hours as all of us recall different fond memories of my lady wife but most of the evening I feel Helaena's gaze boring into the side of my head, her earlier words lingering in the back of my mind

My heart had grown two sizes throughout the day we'd all shared, was it so wrong that I shoveled the dark thoughts of my mother into the back of my mind, at least for the time being?

Cregan cracks a joke leaving the dinner table in hysterics but my elder sister notices my mind elsewhere, rising from her seat at the head of the table to take the seat beside me.

Elaena smiles, as carefree as I've ever seen her, and for the first time I want to admit to myself that we'd finally made it, finally living the dream we'd imagined for ourselves and our children all those years ago, and yet the shroud of our past still lingered in Maegor's Holdfast, withering away with each passing day.

"You think of your mother?" Rhaenyra asks quietly, seeing right through me and I nod. I might've lost my mother, but I'd gained the older sister I was robbed of during my youth.

"Helaena wishes for me to see her tonight... it's been months,"

"Then maybe you should, I do."

I'm taken aback by my sister's words, wondering how on earth she'd been visiting my mother all this time undetected.

"It may help with your guilt-"

"Or make it worse," I scowl, glancing back over my shoulder at my wife.

Would she understand?

Of course she would, she's the most understanding soul I've ever known.

"Believe it or not it was Lord Lothston who suggested my visits."

Over the years Lord Lothston had kept to his shadows, residing in Harrenhal for most of his time not long after he and I had a... minor disagreement about sending Jaehaeryn away.

He'd claimed once my nephew grew of age he would have a claim to the throne, threatening both Rhaenyra and Elaena's reign.

Elaena and I of course disagreed, and loudly. He was not our son by blood but he was in every other way that mattered.

"I can't say I trust his motives," I sigh and Rhaenyra nods in understanding.

"It's best to never trust another man's motives but your own, not in the positions we hold... but I would say you could trust Helaena's."

Once I've made up my mind I scoot out from the table to take my leave.

Elaena throws back another glass of wine with Baela in some sort of game and my gaze lingers on her, wondering if maybe I should stay to watch over her for just a little while longer.

"She'll be fine, little brother. Go," Rhaenyra smiles to reassure me but I still lean down to place a chaste kiss on the top of Elaena's before I leave, and she hardly realizes I've left.

Maegors Holdfast was a sanctuary within the Red Keep. There was only one way in and one way out making the perfect prison for the late, fallen Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

Rhaenyra could've been cruel for the betrayal my mother conspired, leaving her in the black cells to wither away with time but she'd instead allowed her to reside here, a safe place to grow old and have visits with her grandchildren.

But the visits with grandchildren had become few and far between, leaving only Jaehaera and Helaena to visit her most evenings as they did during Aegon's reign.

I knock softly before entering but it's clear my mother wasn't expecting anyone, not at least for a while.

Alicent Hightower's hair had faded, losing its once bright and healthy shine but a larger part of me wondered if maybe her hair had always been this deep auburn color, and as a child, I'd just seen things brighter.

"Mother," I call out to her.

She turned her head timidly, afraid almost and I was right.

The guilt was far worse.

But perhaps I deserved it for putting my mother here.

"Aegon? Is that you?" She asks hopefully but I frown, an already broken piece of me burning beneath my skin. Forcing myself to take a step closer to the firelight so that she could see me properly.

"Oh," Her hopeful expression fell to one of sorrow, and somehow after all this time my mother's disappointment still cut me deeply.

I want to take her disdain as a sign to leave and call it off but Helaena's pleading gaze flashes before me and I'm stuck planted where I stand.

"Helaena wished for me to come. She seems to believe there's something wrong... is there something wrong, mother?" My deep voice sends a shudder through her body even by the crackling fire.

"Your brother... he will come back." Instead of looking back up at me my mother continues drawing circles on a battered piece of parchment that could've been years old.

I take a step closer once I notice her frailty, the veins protruding from her aged hands illuminated by the fire and I cringe.

My mother was wasting away.

This must've been what Helaena wanted me to see. Maybe she saw that our time with our mother would be coming to a close.

"Mother it's been over six years. I've searched for him under every rock in every crack of every tavern, he's nowhere to be found-"

"When you and Aegon were just little boys there was a certain wooden dragon that the both of you fought over for ages. The maids had to separate you often," Absentmindedly my mother continues the tracings on her parchment and I take a step closer as she continues, listening intently.

"After finally allowing you the dragon for a couple of months your brother waited. He waited until your interest shifted elsewhere before finally taking it for himself,"

My cold heart stops beating and if I didn't know any better I would say she was giving me my brother's plan, the very thing I'd searched for all these years.

Would my brother wait until I'd settled? Until I had my dreams within my hands and children to take away?

Maybe Elaena was no longer enough for him, maybe he would come back for my boys and my daughter too until I had nothing left.

Aegon would allow me to have it all but not for long.

A blood-curdling scream interrupts us and I go for the door, following after it as my body moves before my brain can process what's happened.

"ELAENA!" I cry out desperately, leaving the door behind me ajar.

No, no, was he here now?

Was this the reckoning my mother spoke of?

The knight posted at my mother's door follows me, another scream ringing out through the halls.

"AEMOND," Elaena's chilling screams are a blade to the gut and I'm stumbling through hallways with dark sister in tow, searching for her and I feel like I'm in another one of my nightmares.

"El, I'M COMING!" Tears sting in my eye, my gut telling me what I refused to believe.

Something terrible had happened.

Following her sobs we finally find her but she stands alone, staring out the window as her chest heaves with emotion.

I take careful steps toward her, afraid if I move too quickly she'll disappear into thin air.

"My love, what's happened to you?" just as I reach her, she falls into my arms, shaking her head that was now buried into my chest.

"It's not me it's-" she glances toward the window again but when I go to look she pulls me back, "No, Aemond you shouldn't," she gasps, her earlier smile long gone replaced by teary lavender eyes and red cheeks.

My stomach twists in knots and I think I might keel over and heave up my supper.

What was it outside that window that she was trying to shield me from?

"Elaena?!"

Rhaenyra and her personal Queen's guard approach from the opposite end of the hallway, relief washing over her when she sees that her daughter is safe in my arms.

My song catches her breath but she still watches me like she's seen a ghost, her face going pale.

"It's... it's Helaena," her voice cracks saying my sister's name and I stiffen beneath her.

A guard inches toward the open window, the wind whipping through the curtains and a shriek from a dragon above shakes the holdfast in its foundation.

Pushing past the guard I look out for myself and I wish I hadn't when I see the scene.

My sweet, innocent sister had fallen to her death to the spikes below, her dark twisted silhouette hard to recognize if it weren't for the firelight reflecting off her fine gold dress we'd seen her alive in just an hour or so ago.

Digging my nails into the stone I turn my face away to the sky as tears well in my eyes and I will myself to wake up.

If I just woke up none of this would be real.

The emotion that bubbles up in my chest is unwelcomed sorrow I hadn't felt in years, ripping open any and all wounds that I'd thought were long healed.

Somewhere below another loud roar rings out through the dragon pits and I know it now to be Dreamfyre, feeling her rider's death through their now-broken bond.

Clenching my fist I drive my sword back into its sheath.

I don't hear her approach but I know it's her, Elaena reaching out to me.

"Aemond-"

"What did you see?" I ask her, my tone cold and clipped but I regret it instantly, having to remind myself who I'm speaking to.

Thankful my back is toward her I'm too ashamed to turn and see the look on her face but my emotions were spiraling, my world crumbling as it rained fire from the sky.

"I-I don't know I just heard her scream-"

Turning back to look at her I rush her holding her face in my hands, pleading with her to give me something to latch onto, "Did you see anyone leave the hallway? Elaena, THINK PLEASE-"

"Aemond!" Rhaenyra calls out, pulling me away from my wife and I'm shaking barely holding onto reality as Elaena stares at me bewildered but somehow still understanding of my erratic behavior.

"It looks as though she jumped, you Grace." Ser Darklyn announces quietly, but I shake my head.

"You're insinuating she killed herself, Ser Darklyn? She would never, we were finally happy, she was a mother to a young girl, you can't be-"

Freezing in my step I remember my mother's haunting words.

"Your brother... he will come back."

"Aemond?" Elaena's voice finds me in the darkness and a wave of sudden awareness washes over me.

I'd left my mother alone, and her guard had followed.

Without another word I take off into a sprint back toward my mother's chambers, both Elaena and Rhaenyra call after me in confusion but I keep running.

When I round the corner my stomach plunges.

Just as the window in the hallway my mother's door swings open on its hinges and my jaw drops open.

"No, no, no,"

Bursting into the room I pray my mother is right where I left her but the room is empty without a trace of her.

I scramble about the room looking for any sign of abduction when the piece of parchment from earlier catches my eye sitting on the edge of the table.

Expecting to see only my mother's scribblings I'm struck with something I thought I'd never lay eyes on again.

My own big brother's handwriting.

I will return
With fire and blood

- Aegon

***