𝓔𝓵𝓪𝓮𝓷𝓪 𝓥𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓻𝔂𝓸𝓷
Doing a last turn in front of the mirror I correct a few loose strands of hair and I'm finally satisfied. My lips were still a bit swollen from all the kissing and biting courtesy of Aemond but it was a reminder of our time together as if it hadn't been running through my mind all evening.

Taking my leave I'm quick with my venture to the Red Keep, already running late as it was my nature.

On the right hand side of the table sat my Mother and Father along with Jace and Luke with their betrothed, Baela and Rhaena. On the left Aegon stood with Aemond who was seemingly bored with the conversation until I walk in and all of his attention is reserved for me.

My lips tip up into a shy smile, afraid to show any any kind of emotion in the room of people I'd walked into.

Aegon and Otto seem to notice Aemond's distraction with me and sure enough the room grows silent as I approach the table sitting at the only empty seat on the right side next to Jace.

"Glad you could join us, good sister. I was beginning to think you took your dragon back to Dragonstone to avoid Cregan." Jace jokes but he isn't far off. I hadn't been looking forward to the arrangement especially after my afternoon with Aemond.

"There's still time, Jace. Don't tempt me." I warn, pointing a knife at him.

"When I was a few years shy of Elaena's age I was being paraded on a ship across Westeros to find a proper husband. You're all quite fortunate that you've been found suitable matches and so close to home. " My mother takes a sip of her wine and I steal a glance at Aemond who's pretending not to pay attention but takes a gulp from his cup.

"He'll be entering the tourney from what I heard.
Proper time to assess his skill." Daemon adds but I can hardly fathom a tourney and feast in our honor. I had no intention of marrying the Stark lord, it was only a matter of letting it be known.

Coming from behind me there's a commotion and everyone rises from the table, anticipating the arrival of Viserys.

The knights carry the decrepit man in his seat to the middle of the dining table between both Queen Alicent and my mother Rhaenyra.

Everyone watches in silence with heavy hearts as the old man struggles to get comfortable but I'm distracted by Aegon taking his seat in between Helaena and I, leaving Aemond to the end of the table with his Grandfather where I can feel his irritation growing as he watched from afar.

I wanted Aemond at my side, and freely as my husband and fierce protector. I wanted to share a bed every evening with no guilt or shame as my Mother now did with my Father. Truly she would understand, wouldn't she? Her and Daemon's affair before she wed Ser Laenor was the entire reason I'd come into this world to begin with.

"How good it is, to see you all tonight, together. This is an occasion for celebration it seems. My grandsons, Jace and Luke will marry their cousins Baela and Rhaena further strengthening the bond between our houses, and my granddaughter Elaena, good fortune in her meeting with Ser Cregan Stark. A toast to the young Princes and Princess and their betrothed!" Pausing for breath where he needed, Grandsire raises his cup, all of us following suit.

"Well done, Jace. You'll finally get to lay with a woman." Aegon mutters earning an annoyed look from Baela, but still keeping their composure, they ignore him.

"And to Prince Lucerys, future Lord of the Tides." My grandfather continues but Luke doesn't seem so sure. Sensing his unease Rhaena leans over with a reassuring smile to her future husband, "You'll be great."

"You do know how the act is done, I assume? At least in principle... where to put your cock and all that-"

"Let it be, cousin." Baela warns.

"You can play the jester if you wish, but hold your tongue before my betrothed." Jace doubles down quietly, unwilling to entertain him like he had when we were children.

"It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table. The faces most dear to me in all the world yet grown so distance from each other in the years past." Taking a staggered breath, he reaches to his mask covering up the half of his face that had faded away and drops it to the table.

"Let us no longer hold ill feelings in our hearts. The crown cannot stand strong if the House of the Dragon is divided. Set aside your grievances if not for the sake of the crown then for the sake of this old man who loves you all so dearly." Viserys collapses into his seat exhausted as we all share uncomfortable glances with one another.

The first to speak is my Mother, standing with her cup raised.

"I wish to raise my cup to her Grace the Queen. She has tended to him with unfailing devotion, love and honor and for that she has my gratitude and my apology." Everyone around the table is shocked but I can't take my eyes from Aemond, hope bubbling up to the surface for us after all and he seems to sense it too.

My mother takes her seat and not long after, Aemond's mother the Queen Alicent stands, "Your graciousness moves me deeply princess. We're both mothers and we love our children. We have more in common than we sometimes allow. I raise my cup to you and to your house. You will make a fine Queen."

My mother smiles only slightly and a noticeable weight lifts from the table as we all raise our cups, drinking to what would hopefully be a better future for our families, but the daunting pit in my chest told me otherwise.

"Beware the beast beneath the boards." Helaena mutters, lost in her own thoughts before standing herself.

"I would like to toast to Baela, Elaena and Rhaena. They'll be married soon... it isn't so bad. Mostly he just ignores you, except sometimes when he's drunk." Laughing to herself, Daemon and I join her even Otto seems to look up at her with a joyful smile, nodding proudly.

"Let us have some music." Viserys asks, and as the King commands it begins with soft melodies that fill the hall.

Leaning into me Aegon watches his brother as he whispers in my ear, "I do hope your betrothed doesn't find out about your affair with my brother, you wouldn't want to begin a war, would you?"

Aemond's blazing gaze won't leave me, his jaw clenching and unclenching trying to calm himself but the tension is unrelenting, our siblings stoking the flames of the inevitable combustion.

Narrowing my eyes at him I tip up his glass of wine, spilling it down the front of his chest when no one's looking.

"Perhaps I can visit you on dragon back when you reside at Winterfell, Elaena." Jace sits back in his chair, feeding into this nonsense but not without smirking at Aemond whom he now knew without a doubt had feelings for me.

"The North is a vast amount of land. Being Warden of the North is a heavy burden and to have taken it on at such a young age, he's not much older than you Jace." Daemon begins, sifting through the plate of vegetables in front of him.

Desperate to end the conversation I clear my throat.

"I've yet to meet the man. There's more to a marriage than land and power." Bringing the wine to my lips I take a gulp, already eager to escape to my chambers.

"Is there?" My father has a laugh, smirking over his shoulder at my Mother who only gives him a look of warning.

Out of the corner of my eye I notice Aegon mutter under his breath to Jace before reaching for more wine.

Instead of giving Aegon the satisfaction my young brother excuses himself, rounding the table to Helaena offering her his hand to dance.

"Starks are honorable men. His father swore to me twenty years ago when I was crowned heir." My mother continues, but I'm only growing more annoyed at the idea of how perfect he seemed to be.

Aemond shifts uncomfortably in his seat, drumming his fingers against the table and I can feel him nearing his limit.

By the moment Viserys grew weaker, cursing softly in pain until Queen Alicent motions for the guards to take him to his chambers.

For a few short moments the talk of marriage has ended until Luke lands his final blow.

"Would the wedding take place here or Dragonstone?" he says with a chuckle but it's short lived with Aemond's fist slamming onto the table only moments after Viserys has left the room.

The room goes silent, even the soft melodies of music stopping abruptly at his interruption.

Standing up from the table he pushes away the chair, raising his cup.

"Final tribute."

My heart constricts in my chest, his voice almost unfamiliar with quiet rage as I watch him, pleading him with every thought and feeling not do whatever it was he was about to do.

"To the health of my nephews. Jace, Luke, and Joffery. Each of them handsome, wise..."

"Aemond," I breathe, but it's too late his mind is made up.

"Strong... Come! Let us drain our cups to these three strong boys." Alicent and I share a similar expression of horror, the peace we'd almost had slipping from our grasp as Aemond's anger destroys it all.

"I dare you to say that again." Jace comes to stand in front of Helaena his hands balled up into fists as if they weren't the ones that pulled the dragon's tail.

"Why? Twas only a compliment. Do you not think yourself strong-" Jace reers back, punching Aemond squarely across the face but he's hardly affected not even spilling a drop of wine, he even looks to enjoy it.

Luke stands to defend his brother but Aegon is faster, gripping him by his neck and smashing his face into the dining table.

"Jace, stop it now!" I shout. Rhaena goes to help Luke as I take my place between Jace and Aemond but he's already charging at Aemond who easily pushes him to the floor.

"Why would you say such a thing before all these people?" Alicent grips her son's arm but he rips it away.

"I was merely expressing how proud I am of my family, Mother. Hm. Though it seems my nephews aren't quite as proud of theirs." Aemond taunts, going back for more just as my brothers.

Standing with me however was my Father, who with one word stopped my brothers warpath.

Crossing his arms with a sigh, Daemon looks at Aemond and I both, his stare instantly locking on my hand around Aemond's arm but I don't move it.

"Back to your quarters, all of you." My mother ushers my brothers towards the door and Rhaena and Baela follow but Aemond and I remain where we stand for a moment longer.

My father and Aemond seem to have an unspoken conversation. Looking down at me, Aemond's hard features soften slightly but his guard is back and I'm watching him walk away from me down the dark hall.

***