Aemond didn't have nervous habits. He was a calm man, aloof the most. He kept his emotions inside, making sure he could be a rock for the people around him in public. If he ever worried, he kept it to himself.

This was why his pacing and biting the skin around his nails was a shock to everyone.

He felt indebted to Brella now. She single-handedly saved the lives of his child and possibly Visenya. He walked to his wife and placed his hands on her bump, trying to calm down his breathing and heart rate. Brella and Daeron had arrived late, waking the both of them. Visenya was in her night shift and Aemond was shirtless in his night trousers. Neither was expecting the news but Brella covered in blood was alarming enough to get their attention.

"Aemond, it's okay. We're okay."

"If your parents are plotting against us, they won't stop," he mumbled. "I should fly on Vhagar and just fucking kill them both."

"Brother, that's an awful idea. I heard Mysaria say that Talya was her only spy close to the castle. We need to be on high alert."

"Forever, Daeron? What kind of life is this if we can't even trust our food?"

Brella, shaking with fear, shook her head. "Let me worry about that. I will keep her safe, at least from the kitchen."

Visenya walked over to her and grabbed her hands. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry you had to do this."

"I'm ... it won't be long before they find the body. I'm sure someone saw me."

Visenya shook her head. "Don't even worry about that. I will make sure you never answer for that. You should take a bath, take tomorrow off. Don't you worry about a thing, okay?"

Aemond admired the care his wife had for Brella, she was practically family now. And based on the way Daeron was looking at her, that might be the case. But he knew his little brother wouldn't be dumb enough to marry a servant. He cared for Brella but the fact was, she wasn't from a noble house. He didn't even know her family name.

But Daeron was also young and Aemond knew young men sometimes only thought with one head and it wasn't the one on his shoulders. But he had to trust his brother wouldn't be stupid.

Aemond kept a protective hand on Visenya's bump, watching her breathing get heavy. "What is it?"

"Aemond," She said, grabbing his hands. "You can not freak out over every move I make. I am six months pregnant, I am naturally aching and uncomfortable. I am nearing the last trimester, things are just hurting. But I am okay. I am happy and we are healthy. Hear, feel."

She grabbed both of his hands and placed them over her bump so that he could feel them moving. Them. The thought of twins was exciting and terrifying. But feeling them move was naturally calming for him. It was an amazing sign of their good health.

"Ñuha ȳgha byka zaldrīzoti," He sighed.
*My safe little dragons.

"I will leave you for the night," Brella mumbled, her face a ghost of its former joyous expression.

"Brella, you forever have me in your debt. Whatever you need. Take as much time off as you need," Aemond added. Before they left, he grabbed his brother's arm and leaned next to his ear. "Don't be stupid."

Daeron nodded and walked away with Brella. He couldn't ask his brother not to fuck her, but he could ask him to be smart. He appreciated Brella but it was a recipe for disaster. As much as Visenya didn't want to use her family as marriage pawns for political advantages, there were few other options. At least Lucerys had happily offered himself, he still had not heard Daeron express interest in marriage. Daeron had never expressed interest in women in general, not until these looks he was giving Brella.

"Aemond," Visenya spoke once they were alone.

He looked at her, noticing her bloodshot and exhausted eyes. And that was before she'd heard the news. She was exhausted, rightfully so. She was six months pregnant with twins if Orwyle was correct. He had seen normal pregnancies around the castle with serving girls and women at court, and he did notice Visenya was a bit larger, as was Helaena.

But gods, she was divine. The swelling of her breasts, backside, thighs, belly ... it was the most beautiful thing Aemond had ever seen. She was glowing, and he wanted to worship her every move. And that was his baby. He made it possible. Well, he was half the equation.

His mind couldn't wrap around the fact that her body was capable of creating not one, but two whole new human beings. And it was all because of their love. Their love created people. And dragons, considering Grey Ghost laid a clutch of three eggs this time. But they had already agreed that the original blue and purple eggs would be used and the new clutch went to the pits for hatching and future riders.

Plus, her pregnancy had made her incredibly sexual. As she grew more tired and aching, an orgasm helped with the pain. So they had been active, annoyingly so to the people around them. And he loved nothing more than to watch her face as she came along with the feeling of her bump between their bodies.

"Aemond," She repeated. She grabbed his hands, placing them back on her bump. "We are healthy, remember?"

He sat down on the settee as she stood in front of him and he rested his forehead against her stomach. She ran her fingers through his hair and leaned over to kiss his forehead. "Nyke could daor iepagon iā sȳrkta valzȳrys se īlva riñar could daor iepagon iā sȳrkta kepa.  Iksā iā kostōba vala, aemond, se issa okay naejot sagon zūgagon."
*I could not ask for a better husband and our children could not ask for a better father. You are a strong man, Aemond, and it is okay to be scared.

Aemond shook his head, closing his eye. "We should talk to Aegon and Luke about this. We should let them know that their allegiance to us could be dangerous. We've put their life on the line."

"We all did, including them. And they want to, Aemond. We have to remember that they want to be loyal to us. Everyone makes their choice and that's how I look at it or else I wouldn't accept help. I haven't before and it was lonely. You have to let people choose their own loyalty."

He rested his chin on her bump, angling his head up to look at her. "You've come so far, Visenya. You've changed so much in all the best ways. You're strong and you're so smart."

"Would you still love crybaby me?" She asked.

He nodded. "You cried because you were alone. You cried so much because people didn't love you. I love every version of you."

She smiled and kissed the top of his head. "Can we go back to bed? My ankles hurt."

He nodded and pulled away from her. "Lay down, my queen."

She blushed at the title and swatted his chest. "Not yet. Your father refuses to die."

He snickered at the comment and watched her lay flat on her back, groaning as she stretched out. He sat at the foot of the bed and placed her feet in his lap. "Close your eyes."

She gave him a quizzical look but once he took her feet in his hands and started to massage them, her eyes closed and she let out a relieved sigh. Her ankles and feet were painfully sore but eased just moments within the foot massage he was giving her. When his thumbs pressed into the arch of her foot, she almost moaned.

"Your feet are so tense. You need to stay off of them more. All you do is walk around and fly, which isn't recommended so late into pregnancy. I don't care if you need to bathe all day."

Visenya smiled faintly. "Strained as our relationship was, Mother did often talk about my grandmother. Aemma Arryn was pregnant a handful of times and Mother remembers the last couple. When she was pregnant with Baelon, her last, she was constantly in the tub for relief but the maesters wouldn't let her have it too hot. 'Don't they know that dragons prefer heat,' Grandsire would say. The Viserys I know now isn't a fraction of the man he was. Despite his life-ending decision for Aemma, he loved her tremendously. I think it haunts him."

"What decision?" Aemond asked.

"Oh, I guess he wouldn't tell anyone. But during Grandmother's labor, there was a complication. They could either cut her open and save the babe, or they both die if they did nothing."

"So she'd die either way?"

Visenya nodded. "That's what Mellos said. So it's not like he purposefully killed her. It was a decision I'm sure would be hard for any man that loves his wife. Would you be able to make that decision?" Visenya asked.

Aemond went silent, pausing the massage. He thought for moments and shook his head. "I couldn't."

"If I'm dead either way, you better chose the damn baby. But, they should be asking me first."

"You're a woman, don't you know you're my property?" He smirked, moving to hover over her, kissing her neck.

"You bastard," she scoffed but moaned but he found her weak spot below her ear.

"No, that's you, my dear."

She scoffed with a smile, happy that a once sore subject could be used in a jovial manner now. "Aemond!"

"Keep it up, dear, scream it a little louder."

-

Aemond handed her a fan, wincing as she groaned in exhaustion. Even after he made her come around his cock twice, she still couldn't sleep very well. The twins didn't stop moving and she could never get comfortable. But she dealt with it with the most Grace. She barely complained, she actually loved it. She would mention when things hurt but it wasn't negatively aimed at the pregnancy.

"After losing Elaena, I don't want to complain. I'm far into the pregnancy and I'm healthy. That's all I wanted."

He fell more in love with her after she said that. She was a grateful person, a woman he was glad to raise children with.

Visenya lay on a chaise in the courtyard, dressed in a red and silver gown. Her hair had grown to right above her shoulders and even started to curl with the pregnancy. A change Visenya liked.

"Well, what do we have here?" Aegon asked, approaching with Helaena by his side. She was holding a butterfly figure in her hand.

"Sister, look! Aegon got this for me!"

Visenya smiled and reached out to squeeze her hand. "It's beautiful, Sister."

"Brella," Aemond sighed, watching her approach the group with Daeron.

And a hickey on her neck.

Aegon and Visenya stifled a snicker but Aemond was glaring at his brother. "Don't encourage," Aemond said to his wife and older brother.

Daeron and Brella sat next to each other, exchanging glances at one another. Visenya, despite the incoming problems this could cause, was happy for them. Brella wasn't a whore, she was a good woman. And Daeron was kind and gentle. It made sense in her mind. If only Brella was a noble lady. When she was queen, maybe she could give her family some land and a high name.

"Should we discuss this?" Aemond asked, clearing his throat.

"Do we have to?" Daeron asked.

"No, as long as Brella drinks moon tea," Visenya spoke softly, running her hand over her belly with a sigh.

"Of course, Princess," Brella said softly, almost like she was scared of Visenya. Brella hadn't called her princess since she met her. She wondered if it was her fear of consequence or the fact that she had just killed someone a day prior, a trauma Visenya thankfully didn't know.

Visenya wanted to talk to her but Luke and Ellyn approached, putting a large smile on her face. "Good morrow, Sister," Luke smiled and leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"Hello, how are you both?"

"Good," Ellyn smiled shyly, speaking with her soft voice. They were a few months away from the wedding and event to take place after the twins' birth. Ellyn was in a black dress with gold stitching and embroidered designs. Her brown hair fell in waves down to her back. She was a beautiful girl, even so for a young girl. She also seemed happy here, more than the day she arrived standing next to her cunt sisters.

"You called everyone here?" Aegon asked.

Aemond nodded. "I'm sorry for the urgency, but last night Brella discovered plots to kill the babes in Visenya's womb, and probably to kill her too."

"Who was behind it?" Lucerys asked with a frown.

Visenya took a deep breath and dared to look at him while answering. "Mother and Daemon."

"Seven fucking hells," Aegon mumbled.

Helaena was looking at her statue. "Hands reach for cradles they shouldn't touch while the Falcon hunts worms and rats."

Visenya noticed Brella's head snap up and she gasped. "I know what I have to do. I need to flesh out Talya and Mysaria's spies. I have more money than I know what to do with. I'll buy them out or they die."

"Brella, I can't ask that -"

"You are not, it's my choice," Brella responded.

"Remember what you told me last night about choices?" Aemond rose a brow.

Visenya bit the inside of her cheek, watching Brella with skeptical eyes. "If you cross the wrong person or come across one of Larys' spies, I don't know how much I can do to reverse it. Larys has more channels than anyone."

"Leave it to me. I get a lot of characters at night, and people speak for the right price. You shouldn't have to worry about your unborn children. Especially not from your own parents. So just don't worry. Maybe the less you know, the better."

The last sentence made Visenya groan.

"I offer absolutely nothing to your council," Aegon spoke.

"My court fool," Visenya quipped.

"I'm so confused," Ellyn finally spoke.

"You brought her here without telling her anything?" Daeron asked with a frown. "Great! What if she writes her father or someone else?"

"No, I promise I wouldn't!" Ellyn said with a look of fear. "I know your parents aren't being very kind, I just didn't know you were gathering a council of friends."

"A royal council," Aemond responded.

Ellyn's eyes widened. "But ... I thought you were passed as heir?"

"Fucking hells," Aegon snickered.

"Shut up, Aegon," Visenya warned and looked at Ellyn. "Ellie, I was passed as heir, one of the many abusive injustices my mother has bestowed upon me. Which is why we won't let her become queen. I will take the throne."

Ellyn's eyes stayed wide but she started to slowly nod. Daeron watched her carefully, clearly still skeptical of her.

"Well," Ellyn cleared her throat. "I think the crown would look better on you anyways. It did on your wedding day."

Visenya started to smile and she nodded. "Thank you."

"I just fear that everyone's allegiance to Visenya will start to put them in danger. We don't know how long Father will live, so we need to be careful and on high alert. I also don't fully trust my mother or her own court of Larys."

Visenya watched a flacon fly overhead and then Brella got jittery. She didn't understand her friend's strange behavior recently but Brella wasn't telling her anything. Every time she asked, Brella brushed it off. But she could tell by the way Daeron watched her, he was privy to her private details. Visenya felt ... jealous. Brella was all hers before Daeron whisked her away.

But she was proud of Brella for making a life for herself. Then an idea sprang into her mind. "Be my Master of Whispers."

Brella's eyes widened. "What?"

"You heard me."

Brella shook her head. "I am a servant, only noble people can be on the small council, and I am also a woman."

Visenya snorted at her last point. "I am the last person you should use that excuse on. If you join my council, I will make you a Noblewoman. Remind me of your family name."

"Tremaine."

"Brella Tremaine, Master of Whispers. I love the sound of it already."

Brella's shock was obvious on her face. But how? Surely she knew how much Visenya valued her, of course she would do something to raise her station. She killed for her, they were forever bound.

"Fine," Brella reluctantly agreed.

"Orwyle shall remain my Maester unless he is painfully devoted to Alicent and Otto. I hope Lord Beesbury remains as Master of Coin. Larys, Otto, Alicent, and Cole need to go. I don't know about Jasper or Tyland, but I hope I can sway Lord Corlys to be my Master of Ships."

"I don't care what you do to my cunt of a grandsire, but could you spare my mother?" Daeron asked.

Visenya clenched her jaw. "Yes," She said, not knowing if it was the truth. "I wish they would let me in the council meetings, I want to learn more."

"My mother and Otto already agreed to install you on the throne, I am sure some members of the council know and might let you listen in. Surely that would even make you look better to them," Aemond said.

Visenya sucked in a deep breath as one of the babes kicked her ribcage. Her shortness of breath started to get more intense, leading her to sit up. "Aemond, can you find a servant to draw a bath?"

"I can do it," Brella volunteered.

"You have the day off," Aemond countered.

"I want to. Doing these things makes me feel better. Visenya, have you been doing the pelvic exercises the maester showed you? It might help."

"Yeah, yeah," Visenya waved dismissively.

"You're hopeless."

Sooooo for those of you who do not follow me on tiktok (which you totally should bc I post sneak peeks, edits, and news), I may have teased at something but now I want all the reader's opinions. Brella has become a fanfave, rightfully so, and her new story with Daeron has made ppl more invested. So ... I have fully planned out a small, 10-ish chapter Novella surrounding Brella and Daeron. I just want to get an idea if it would be worth posting/writing. So PLEASEEEEE comment and let me know or else it's pointless for me to ask.