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Chapter Text

Daenys.

Daenys Velaryon felt the wind blowing through her brown hair as she rode atop her dragon, Aegarax, and she watched as the Red Keep grew bigger and bigger as she approached it at a quick pace. Daenys almost wanted to keep on flying, but she resisted the urge as her dragon lowered her to the ground steadily. Since she could remember, flying with Aegarax was her favorite thing in the world. She had decided at an early age that if she could ride on dragon back forever as opposed to walking, she would. Daenys knew that this was due to her bond with the black dragon, who had been hatched the same day she was born. Her mother, Rhaenyra, had a dragon egg brought to her to sleep next to every night while pregnant with Daenys to secure a dragon for her daughter before she was even born. Since birth, Daenys and Aegarax had been united, dragon and rider sharing the same sensations and thoughts, telepathically connected. Daenys would die for her dragon, who she named after one of the gods of old Valyria, and watched as the onyx-colored dragon grew, which he did at a faster pace than more dragons, to the point where he was almost as big as Syrax. Aegarax was strong, formidable, and Daenys loved him.

Aegarax descended, giant wings beating down on the ground like a windstorm, and Daenys saw Lucerys and Jacaerys arrive on their own dragons. The dragon keepers approached the three dragons, welcoming them back to the Dragon Pit. As Daenys dropped down from her saddle, she turned to stroke Aegarax with a loving hand.

‘’I’ll see you soon.’’ She promised whispering as if the dragon could respond, but in a way he did, because he gave her a nudge with his huge snout, almost pushing her over. The girl giggled but was interrupted by a voice that startled her out of her thoughts.

‘’That’s a gorgeous beast.’’ The low, calm voice drifted through the air. Daenys and her older brothers whipped around to see a tall, silver-haired man with an eye-patch covering his left eye standing at the door to the dragon pit, one hand resting on a sheathed sword. He was staring at Daenys and her brothers intently, his one violet eye wide and menacing.

‘’Aemond.’’ Lucerys greeted in a less-than friendly tone. As the dragon keepers led their dragons away, the three Velaryon sibling approached their uncle cautiously, no love lost between the boys and the older Targaryen. Daenys sized him up. He was no longer a boy like she remembered, but a man, tall, svelte, with strong shoulders. He was carrying himself with an air of aloofness, his stoic face giving no emotion away.

Daenys was years younger than her uncle, but she remembered growing up alongside him, and remembered when he had lost his eye. She was quite young, around 5 years old, but she recalled the drama that occurred, how Aemond refused to stay in bed to heal, instead deciding to continue his sword training skills with Criston Cole. Daenys had been too young then to understand the bitter schism between Alicent Hightower’s family and Rhaenyra’s, and she decided to become Aemond’s little shadow. She followed him around, watching as he trained, listening to him read out from the history books to her, and sat next to him during dinner. He seemed to enjoy the company, from what she remembered, as she noticed he was estranged from his brother and the other boys. As she got a bit older, she could acknowledge that she had a little childhood crush on the boy, but as she grew even more aware of the hostility between their ‘’sides’’ she knew that that was all it would ever be. Yet, she still decided to be friendly with the older boy, not caring about his disfigured face and missing eye. As an older girl now, she wondered why Aemond had tolerated her, seeing as he despised her brothers, Luke and Jace, due to their alleged bastard-nature that Alicent had brain washed him to believe.

The issue of her and her sibling’s birth, was known to her. Harwin Strong was their father, but they still were Targaryens through and through, and she never doubted that for a second. They shared the same father, Laenor, who was now dead. While the cruel jokes and taunts about them being bastards bothered her brothers, Daenys never seemed to care that much. She refused to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her react in any way to the ‘’baseless’’ lies. She had Valyrian blood either way.

Now she had come face to face with her uncle Aemond, older, and so different. The awkward, shy boy from her youth was no longer, but instead he stood quite tall, long silver hair draped over his shoulders. His face was lean, narrow, his strong chin pursing his lips into a permanent smirk. His face, while still scarred, more handsome than Daenys wanted to admit. His eye glittered in the dim light of the Dragon Pit as his eyes settled on her.

‘’Nephews…niece.’’ He greeted, giving her a wry little smile. Daenys bit her lip, suddenly very conscious of not knowing what to do with her hands. She began to wring them nervously, much like her mother did.

‘’Uncle.’’ Was all she returned. Aemond took a step towards her, which did not go unnoticed by Jace, who proceeded to stand in front of her protectively. Aemond’s eye narrowed but he froze.

‘’You and your dragon have grown splendidly since I last saw you.’’ The prince mused.

‘’Thank you, Your Grace.’’ Daenys managed, not sure where the conversation was going or why Aemond was paying her so much attention. As if he could read her mind, Aemond’s eyes turned to her brothers.

‘’Dear nephews,’’ He began in a taunting tone, ‘’You haven’t changed a bit since I last saw you both. Mayhaps you look a bit more strong.’’ Their uncle chuckled as he watched Jace and Luke bristle at his words. Daenys rolled his eyes. Evidently the prince liked wordplay.

‘’Let’s go,’’ She muttered, pulling at Jace’s sleeve, ‘’We don’t have time for this.’’ Luke and Jace obliged, giving Aemond a dirty look, but as they passed by their uncle Daenys tried her best to avoid his gaze as she was intently aware that he was staring at her. She risked a glance at the older man and as soon as she confirmed that he was indeed studying her, looking at her, like she was the first woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Her first instinct was to look away, but she met his gaze and without meaning to she smiled at him. Aemond’s eyebrow raised, his eye changing from a look of smugness to a softer, more surprised look. Daenys looked away immediately to follow Luke and Jace out of the Dragon Pit to meet their mother in the Keep, too afraid to look back at the prince.

Aemond.

To say Aemond was a little more pleased than he should be to see the arrivals of his nephews was an understatement. While he was expecting to see Jacareys and Lucerys, the Strong bastards he had a deep dislike for, he was surprised to see Daenys, his bastard niece, jump from her great black dragon. He realized that he had completely forgotten about her, as many years had passed since he’d last seen her, but now that he looked at her every memory came rushing back.

The prince recalled how he would read to her in the library as children, how she’d laugh at his witless jokes, and watch as he trained with Ser Criston. She had never failed to make his day better in their youth, even after the bitter loss of his eye. Daenys had been ecstatic to find out he had claimed Vhagar. Aemond chuckled to remember how she had begged him to take her for a ride on Vhagar’s back, but at the time Aemond had been too scared to take her up with him, for fear of an accident happening. Other than his sister, Daenys had been the only family member he liked being around. He didn’t even seem to recall the fact that she too was a bastard, like her brothers. Her sweet nature as a child must have won him over. But she had been so young, she must have forgotten by now, as well as been brainwashed to hate him like her older brothers did.

Aemond gazed at Daenys now, who was grown up, a girl of seven and ten years old. Aemond begrudgingly noticed that she really had grown into a beautiful young woman. Her dark brown hair fell to her shoulders in soft, gentle waves, still messy from the ride on Aegarax. She was dressed in black riding pants, with leather boots that reached her knees. Instead of a tunic she wore a black leather jerkin overtop a white blouse, the Targaryen sigil embroidered on in red on the chest, and the blue Velaryon seahorses adorning the sleeves. Daenys Velaryon looked every bit a proper dragon rider. When she turned to look at him Aemond felt his heart clench in his chest as he got a good look at her face. She was fair, big brown eyes as opposed to violet ones studying him. Her face was round, all soft edges, with the same aquiline nose of house Targaryen. Freckles dappled her sun kissed skin, probably from so much time under the sun atop her dragon. Aemond drank her presence in, unable to tear his gaze away.

The little boy inside him wanted to shy away, his old insecurity of his scarred, ugly face coming back to haunt him as he met the gaze of the woman that he knew he was supposed to hate as much as her siblings. He cursed at the intrusive thoughts of Daenys’ pretty demeanor that attacked his mind, voices that reminded him that Daenys would find him disgusting, find his missing eye disgusting, like some women in court did, but when she smiled at him, Aemond’s fears vanished.

Daenys smiled at him, even after he taunted her brothers. In that moment he felt his heart soar, and he wondered if this is how he felt as a child whenever he had been with her. Aemond’s usually impenetrable heart softened slightly, which he fucking hated.

Chapter Text

Daenys.

Once they had gotten inside the Keep and reunited with their mother, Daemon, Joffrey, and the youngest brothers, Aegon and Viserys, Daenys and her family were led to their rooms, which was on the same floor as Queen Alicent and King Viserys’ quarters. This pleased Rhaenyra, as she recounted how back in her youth Alicent had tried to place her three floors further down, well enough away from her father.

‘’Must we go to this dinner mother?’’ Luke whined as the servant girl finished closing the clasps on his dark blue tunic, ‘’It’s not like they’ll take offence to not seeing us, given they did not even come to greet us when we arrived.’’ Daenys also was not jumping at the chance to go and have supper with the Queen and her children, but her belly was growling unhappily and at this very moment she would brave the Hightowers for a loaf of bread.

‘’Yes, we must, your grandfather wants us all together,’’ Rhaenyra explained, clasping her hands together and shared a look with Daemon, ‘’We’re here to spend time with him, remember?’’ Luke grumbled something and turned away to speak to Baela and Rhaena, who had arrived shortly after they had with Rhaenys. Daenys did feel a creeping feeling of apprehension at the thought of seeing Aemond at dinner, but she brushed it off, figuring that her uncle just had that effect on people.

When the whole family, save the youngest children, had arrived at the King’s personal dining hall, they were greeted by his children and the Queen, who gave them a less than warm welcome. Daenys entered the hall, once again overcome with a self-conscious feeling that she was being watched. She scanned the room to see Aemond sitting down, leaning back with a goblet of wine in his hand. When their eyes met, he raised his glass to her ever so slightly. Daenys busied herself by smoothing out her dress and approached her grandfather, who looked ill as ever. King Viserys donned a golden mask on the right side of his face, no doubt to hide the fact that it had withered away due to the sickness that was taking him.

‘’Your Grace.’’ Daenys greeted her grandsire, who was sat between Queen Alicent and Rhaenyra. She curtsied, but kept her eyes on the King’s face, not wanting to seem afraid of his appearance. Viserys smiled at her and held his hands out to her.

‘’Come here child, let me get a good look at you.’’ He requested as he managed a smile. Daenys obliged and let him take her hands in his own. They felt shaky and cold, the bones in his hands covered by a fragile barrier of paper-thin skin. ‘’How you’ve grown Daenys. Daenys the Dreamer.’’ Daenys smiled fondly at Viserys.

‘’Unfortunately, I don’t tend to dream very much grandfather, but I do think I give my mother nightmares.’’ She jested, rubbing Viserys’s hands without even noticing, as if wanting to offer them some warmth. Viserys erupted in laughter and Rhaenyra and Daemon chuckled. Queen Alicent stared at her husband, as if hearing him laugh was something foreign. Daenys smiled as she shared in Viserys’s laughter.

‘’It’s for the best I should say, that you don’t dream,’’ Viserys replied after sobering up, ‘’They don’t bring much happiness little one.’’ Daenys blinked, a little surprised at his comment, but she bowed her head and took to her seat at Daemon’s gesture. She was sat between Luke and Rhaena, at one end of the table. As the King ordered for music to be played, Daenys looked around to study who was there. Aegon was sitting next to Helaena, and Daenys noticed that he was leering at her, a smug little smile on his face. Daenys grimaced, remembering how awful he was to everyone as children. Aemond was sat across from her, at the far end of the long table. His seat was turned to the side, as if he wasn’t paying attention much to the discussion at the table as the feast begun, but he was still looking at her, much to Daenys’ displeasure. This time she gave him a little eyebrow raise, as if to silently question him as to why he was staring. Aemond took a sip from his cup, covering a little smile that appeared on his face.

Aemond.

As the music filled the room with the sounds of ballads and songs, Aemond found that he was unable to look away from Daenys. From when she arrived up until she sat down, his eye never left her. Aemond cursed himself inwardly when he saw her, his breath ceasing for a moment. She was dressed in a black dress with red stitching another Targaryen sigil on her chest. Her brown hair fell in waves on her bare shoulders, and Aemond had to force his gaze away from her exposed skin. His fist that was on the table tightened its grip on his cup. Daenys was, unfortunately for him, a vision. He didn’t care if he was being obvious, he kept his gaze on her and watched as she made his father laugh, for the first time in forever. It was perhaps even the first time Aemond had seen his father laugh since he could remember.

The beginning of the dinner consisted of Aemond stealing looks at his niece from across the table. All he could do was watch. Daenys was talking and joking with her family, reminding him of the carefree and humorous child she had been. The girl was full of life, the air around her itself even seemed to beam brighter, and Aemond felt drawn to it, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. He wanted that attention; he wanted her to laugh with him. The prince looked down at his calloused hands, worn from years of wielding a sword. He knew what he was. He was dark, dangerous, and serious. Since around the time Daenys left King’s Landing, he had not bonded with another person like her, and so he remained content with being alone. Granted, he had garnered a reputation, one of fear, mystery, and respect, as riding the biggest dragon in the world tended to do that. Not to mention his brother, Aegon, made it quite easy to look superior.

Daenys, from what Aemond was gathering, would be seen more as the livelier and brighter one of the family. She practically glowed in that room, putting everyone else to shame in Aemond’s eyes. What dampened his heart was the fact that she most definitely hated him. Her bitch mother and bastard brothers had most likely poisoned her mind to make him to look like some sort of villain. He didn’t stand a chance, and he knew it. Aemond’s face remained stony and serious as ever, in his mind he had decided that there was no point in looking at Daenys anymore and that his budding feelings were for naught.

Daenys.

King Viserys made a speech. Rhaenyra had made a speech. Jace had made a speech. Daenys was able to refill her plate three times with all the talking. While she recognized the importance of her mother’s speech, she really didn’t see why Jace had to speak as well, as he clearly had irked Aegon and Aemond. While Queen Alicent seemed to soften to Rhaenyra’s words, the two princes seemed unimpressed. Her brown eyes flitted nervously between the brothers, but she kept her mouth shut. Now, she watched as Jace offered Halaena a dance, which seemed to make the girl ecstatic. Daenys smiled as she watched them, heart soaring at how sweet her brother was. Aegon on the other hand, seemed a little bothered, and Aemond’s face was as blank and serious as ever. The man was unreadable, but Daenys could somehow tell that he was fuming.

As the King was carted away by his guards, his pain clearly too much, Daenys tried to focus on her food. It was hard because Luke was giggling at something across the table. The girl gave her brother a look, but then turned her gaze to see what he was laughing at. The servers had placed a giant roast pig right in front of Aemond. Daenys tensed, remembering how much the prince hated pigs, ever since that one ridiculous prank that Aegon and her brothers had played on him when he was little. Daenys remembered how upset he had been. Now, Aemond’s head slowly turned to look at Luke and when he put two and two together, the man slammed his fist on the table, startling everyone around them. Daenys braced herself, staring at him as he stood up to his full height. Despite the current hostile environment, Daenys couldn’t help but admire how he commanded a room with his presence and…broad shoulders.

‘’A final tribute,’’ he began in a soft yet threatening voice as he raised is glass, ‘’To the health of my nephews.’’ Every eye in the room was staring at him, taking him in, just waiting for what he was going to say next. Jace and Helaena had stopped dancing. ‘’Jace, Luke, Joffrey’’ The silver-haired prince paused, ‘’Each of them handsome, wise…strong.’’ There it was. Aemond blinked a couple times before the last word, his good eye staring at Luke. The Queen looked mortified.

‘’Aemond-‘’ Alicent began, but Aemond cut her off as if she hadn’t even spoken.

‘’Come!’’ He started, ‘’let us drain our cups to these three strong boys.’’ Aegon raised his glass along with his brother.

‘’I dare you to say that again.’’ Jace called out, standing in the middle of the room with his fists clenched. Daenys wanted to shake him and tell him to calm down. He always did have a magnificently short temper.

‘’Why?’’ Aemond questioned in a fake innocent tone, ‘’It was only a compliment.’’ He now turned to fully face Jace. ‘’do you not think yourself strong?’’ Everything then happened in the span of three seconds. Luke stood up to defend his brother, slamming his hands on the table in fury. Jace swung at Aemond, hitting him square in the jaw and the prince’s head swung in the other direction. Aegon slammed Luke against the table, holding him down.

‘’Enough is enough!’’ Alicent cried as Daemon, Rhaenyra, and Otto Hightower sprang to their feet. Daenys would not sit idly by as she watched Aegon hold her brother down, and she grabbed a vase from the table and smashed it against Aegon’s head, causing him to fall to the floor, snarling in agony. Daenys couldn’t help but smile as she watched Aegon lay in pain on the floor, clutching his head. After the hit, Aemond did not seem too bothered as Jace advanced on him again, and with one long arm he shoved Daenys’ brother to the ground, his strength overpowering the Velaryon. Daenys grabbed another vase and took a step towards Aemond, not afraid to give him the same treatment she gave to Aegon, but the hand of a soldier stopped her, dragging her backward as his fellows grabbed her brothers, Baela and Rhaena.

‘’Let go of me!’’ Daenys hissed, squirming in the man’s grip. Queen Alicent stormed to her son, her face seething.

‘’Why would you say such a thing in front of these people?’’ She whisper-shouted. Aemond had retreated, a satisfied grin on his face, his cup still in hand.

‘’I was merely expressing how proud I am of my family mother, though it seems my nephews aren’t quite as proud of theirs.’’ He finished his sentence with a spit, tearing his arm out of Alicent’s grip. Jace, having managed to slip out of the guard’s grip, lunged at his uncle, but Daemon stepped forward, holding a finger out to stop Jace in his tracks.

‘’Wait, wait!’’ He said in a commanding tone. Their stepfather gave Jace a look that made Daenys’ brother step back. Daemon had a way with telling people what to do. Jace backed into Daenys who grabbed his arm, finally free from the guard’s hand.

‘’Go to your quarters, all of you, go, now.’’ Rhaenyra commanded, giving all the younger ones a withering look. Daenys didn’t move, her eyes trained on Aemond who was watching her once more, as if trying to tell her something with his eye. The entire time he hadn’t said a single thing about her, despite her being ‘’strong’’ as well. He had left her out of his little speech and Daenys wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Was he sparing her? Had he simply not thought her important enough to mention? Aemond’s gaze on her made her skin feel like it was on fire. His mouth was in a severe straight line, no smirking anymore. She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t bring herself to.

‘’Daenys.’’ Muttered Jace, and he put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her away to follow the others. Daenys did not resist, but she looked back at Aemond for a moment. He hadn’t moved. What Daenys missed was Rhaenyra and Daemon glancing between her and Prince Aemond, clearly noticing how the man was staring after her.

Chapter Text

Daenys

             Daenys was practically dragged out of the dining room by Jace, who was in a glowering mood. He and Luke muttered amongst each other, and Rhaena and Baela followed the siblings with concerned looks on their faces.

            ‘’You both let Aemond get to you too easily,’’ Daenys complained, wrenching herself out of Jace’s grip, ‘’Don’t let what he says bother you so.’’ She gave Jacaerys a pointed look with a raised eyebrow. Her dark-haired brother rolled his eyes, but he dipped his head in agreement.

            ‘’You’re right, you’re right,’’ He sighed, ‘’I can’t help it, whenever he says something, I feel as if I’m about to fly into a rage.’’ Daenys snorted. Guess the anger ran in the family, from what she’d heard.

            ‘’You’re going to be the king one-day Jace,’’ Daenys implored, ‘’You need to start acting like one.’’ Jace stayed silent, eventually giving Baela a nod for her to follow him.

            ‘’I’m taking Baela to her room, if you come with us, I can escort you to yours, sister.’’ Jace offered, trying to brush past her last comment. Daenys shook her head as she began to walk away towards her quarters.

            ‘’No, thank you, but believe I can manage. You all have a good night.’’ She replied, giving her older brother a grateful smile. Jace gave her one last look but nodded as he turned to walk away, Baela on his arm. Lucerys and Rhaena waved at her and followed him, leaving Daenys to walk to her room alone in the dimly lit corridor. As she made her way, she studied her surroundings, trying to recall the memories of her childhood in this castle, but it had changed quite a bit since she had last been here. She didn’t feel quite at home here as she remembered she once had. Of course, Dragonstone was her true home, but she always thought that she would be able to return to the Red Keep and still feel welcome. Obviously, while the Greens were residing here, she never would.

            Daenys had arrived at her room and looked through her books for something to read but nothing tickled her fancy. The girl glanced at the door, considering taking a little trip to the library to search through the unending trove of literature that she so loved. Being in that library had been her favorite thing, especially when she would go with Aemond when she was younger. Those days were gone now, and she decided to go alone. The night was still young, and she had nothing else to do. Daenys lit a candle and slowly opened the door and peered out into the dark hall. No guard was posted, as she expected. Leave it to Alicent to forget about Rhaenyra’s children’s safety. She took a little step out and closed her door softly in case anyone was around to hear. It wasn’t so much that she was not allowed to go about the castle by herself, but she simply did not want to be disturbed by anyone wondering what she was doing. Daenys paused, wondering if there were any rules about wandering around the castle at night, especially as a lady. The princess groaned inwardly at the possibility.

            As she creeped down the hall towards the library, Daenys thought about what happened at dinner, more specifically, Aemond’s taunting speech. Daenys felt a surge of frustration go through her. Why couldn’t he simply keep his mouth shut?  She frowned at the memory of his little smirk growing on his pursed lips as he raised his glass to her brothers. She had heard about Aemond’s reputation. He was an accomplished swordsman, rode the biggest dragon. He was mysterious, tall, powerful, dangerous, and unpredictable. She wasn’t sure why she expected him to remain the nice boy that he was when they were children. Daenys should’ve predicted that his hostility that he nursed from age ten to bite the Velaryon’s in the back when they got older. Of course, he was mad, Luke cut his eye out. Now Aemond was living up to his severe reputation. Her own negative thoughts about the man was making Daenys’ heart hurt. She wanted to be friendly with him, to pick up where they left off all those years ago.

            Daenys opened the door to the library and slipped in without a sound. The library in the Red Keep was enormous and beautiful, hanging candelabras emitting a soft glow onto the endless rows of bookcases. In their childhood, Daenys and Aemond had been one of the only visitors to the space, other than the maesters of course. It was like their secret refuge, and now it was Daenys’ alone. The girl placed her candle down and walked up and down the book-lined corridor, a finger tracing the spines of the books slowly as she perused. She finally picked one, Ten Thousand Ships, and opened it, looking through the pages gently. The calm silence of the library put her at ease as she leaned her hip against a pillar, fully engrossed in the book. The Princess didn’t notice a tall dark figure slink into the library, softly closing the door behind him.

            ‘’Wandering around in the dark Princess?’’ Said a soft voice from behind Daenys. Daenys, who had been giving her full attention to her book, yelped, dropping her book as she jumped about three feet in the air, before spinning around to come face to face with her uncle, Aemond. Her face turned pink with embarrassment as her hand went to her racing heart. Daenys cursed herself for getting startled. The Prince materialized from the dim light, both his hands behind his back as he studied her. A familiar smirk was on his angular face as he gloated over her moment of vulnerability. Daenys hated to admit it, but Aemond’s menacing presence had an opposite effect on her. She almost felt like stepping closer to him, wanting to reach out and touch his silver hair, touch his scarred face. He looked as if he had been sculpted by the gods in the gentle light of the library. The prince’s violet eye traveled up and down her figure, making a shiver roll down her spine. He had disarmed her with one look, much to her displeasure.

Aemond.

            Aemond couldn’t feel anymore gleeful as he watched Daenys struggle to calm down after he had startled her. The silver-haired prince loved seeing her surprised, her cheeks reddening, her brown eyes staring, wide-eyed, up at him. Aemond felt like a wolf, licking his chops as he stared down at his vulnerable prey.

            ‘’Prince Aemond!’’ Daenys spluttered, ‘’You startled me.’’ The brown-haired girl composed herself and wrapped her robe tighter around her. Aemond drank in her appearance, just noticing how thin that fabric was. His eye snapped up to the young girl’s face.

            ‘’You really should be more aware of your surroundings, dear niece,’’ Aemond mused. Daenys ignored what he said and put her hands on her hips.

            ‘’Are you following me, Aemond?’’ Daenys questioned, arching her eyebrow with a slight playful tone. ‘’How did you know I was here?’’ Aemond felt taken aback, not expecting her to respond in anyway but with spitting venom, considering how he left the last situation they were both involved in.

            ‘’You’re not the only one who frequents the library Daenys, in case you’ve forgotten.’’ Aemond lied easily. He had been following her. Aemond wasn’t sure why, but the moment he had met Daenys’ gaze after the showdown during supper, he felt as though he needed to speak with her. The prince was talented at staying out of sight, his slim form and black clothes helping him blend into the shadows easily. He had followed Daenys to her room, making note of where it was (for what reason, he also did not know), and he followed her when she left, her robe on and candle in hand. When she had entered the library, Aemond almost hesitated, his childhood memories of them in there almost making him turn back. Daenys meanwhile, didn’t seem convinced by his answer.

            ‘’Well then, don’t let me stop you from finding a book, Your Grace.’’ Daenys said, turning around to pick up the book she had dropped in a casual tone. There was a moment of silence where Aemond didn’t move. His heart was racing, and he cursed himself for not being able to push whatever he was feeling for the girl away.

            ‘’I’m surprised you’re in such a positive mood after what happened at supper.’’ Observed the silver-haired prince.

            ‘’You mean your little speech for my brothers?’’ Daenys asked, cocking her head. ‘’Why would I be in any mood? It’s not like you mentioned me in it.’’ She sounded almost offended by the exclusion, which made Aemond chuckle softly.

            ‘’I didn’t mention you because I had a feeling that being called a bastard would not bother you.’’ Aemond said. A half-truth. He didn’t really want to involve her in the ugly business he had with her brothers. While she was technically also a bastard, very clearly not Laenor’s daughter, he thought she was more Targaryen than all of them combined.

            ‘’You’re right about that at least.’’ Daenys said, pride seeping into her voice.

            ‘’And why is that?’’ Aemond pressed, ‘’It never truly bothered you, all the rumors, all the gossip. We never got a rise out of you.’’

            ‘’I’ve been called a bastard and a Strong my whole life Aemond, if I let the insults get to me, I would not have gotten very far. Besides, it doesn’t matter what other people think, I know I have the blood of the dragon running through my veins, I know I am of the blood of old Valyria. What other’s think is of no consequence.’’ Aemond admired Daenys’ response as he recognized the infamous Targaryen pride that they all shared. The prince was beginning to forget himself, being too preoccupied with the princess standing in front of him in the soft candlelight, her big brown eyes glittering as she looked at him. It was impossible for him to look away, once again. He wished he had both eyes so he could fully take her in. Aemond could tell that she was beginning to feel uneasy, his piercing gaze finally getting to her.

Aemond began to feel angry with himself. All night he had been battling against his own mind, a voice screaming at him inside his head to not think about Daenys like that and to not feel the way he was about her. She came from a family that hated him and his own, and he should hate her in return. If they both hated each other, Aemond wouldn’t get hurt. Things would be easier.

            ‘’I was wondering when you’d come to speak to me.’’ Daenys mused after a moment of silence, ‘’To find ourselves here, in the library we spent much time in as children, is rather fitting don’t you think?’’

            ‘’Not really.’’ Aemond replied curtly, cold anger bleeding into his voice. His frustration was beginning to cloud his mind and his patience with himself, especially with Daenys looking like that, was beginning to wear thin. Aemond wanted to yell at her, hurl insults at her, anything to get her to lash out at him. He wanted her to seethe with hate and tell him that he disgusted her so that he could feel the same anger towards her that he felt for her brothers. But she didn’t. Her eyes were kind, her mouth was too as she ignored his rude reply. Daenys was kind and Prince Aemond so badly wanted to hate her for it. It would make things much easier for him if she would hate him as well. It would stop him before he could even begin to comprehend his feelings towards the younger girl. It would save him, and her, a lot of hurt.

            ‘’I always cherished those memories, of us playing together. You were a good friend Aemond, I must admit. You must understand how saddened I was the night you lost your eye. I wish my brothers had never gone down there with Rhaena and Baela. Perhaps things would’ve been different, and we wouldn’t be on opposing sides of one warring family.’’ Aemond was silent with shock, unclear as to why Daenys was willing to speak in such a vulnerable way towards him. Daenys continued, taking a step towards him, a hopeful look on her face as she raised both her hands to her heart.

            ‘’Do you remember what it was like when we were children, Aemond?’’ she asked in an almost timid voice. When Aemond had heard Daenys mention his eye, he had recoiled, expecting her to repeat what so many young ladies at court had whispered behind his back about his scarred face and eyepatch. He didn’t even hear the last thing his niece said as his ears began to ring.

            ‘’Why would I care to recall memories from when we were stupid children, Daenys?’’ Aemond said in a low, cold voice. This made Daenys freeze, her mouth opening slightly in surprise at his response. ‘’I didn’t need your pity. Believe it or not, I don’t spend my days reminiscing over meaningless memories like you. It doesn’t matter, you hear me. It meant nothing to me then. It means nothing to me now.’’ Aemond wasn’t even controlling the words that were spilling out of his mouth, all he knew was that if he didn’t push Daenys away with his hurtful words now, he would’ve ended up pushing her up against the wall and kissing her with full force. Then he would be a dead man.

            What Aemond didn’t see coming was the fact that seeing her hurt expression nearly broke his heart. He steeled himself, steady in his decision. He had to protect himself first, he knew that someone like Daenys would never have any kind feelings towards him. Him expecting her to be the same way from when they were children was a mere fantasy. Aemond looked down at Daenys, clasping his hands behind his back, afraid that they would reach out for her of their own accord. Daenys’ jaw clenched and she looked down at her feet, avoiding his violet eye. She rubbed at her nose for a moment, some sort of defence mechanism, and then she looked up again with strained face, eyes shining.

            ‘’Right then. Have a good night uncle.’’ She murmured, voice too soft, as if she didn’t want him to hear. She gathered her book into her arm and stormed past Aemond, giving him the cold shoulder. Aemond stared forwards, afraid to look behind him at the princess who swiftly put distance between the two of them. Aemond spent the rest of the night convincing himself that he had made the right decision.

Chapter Text

Daenys.

            Daenys was avoiding Aemond. She was physically unable to be in his presence after they met in the library the other evening. The Velaryon princess remembered how his voice had dripped with venom as he made it clear how little he cared about their past friendship as children. To Daenys’ surprise, the way Aemond had spat his dismissive response at her made her feel more hurt than any bastard comment he had ever sent her way in the past. Daenys had felt mortified as her eyes began to burn with tears, so she had avoided Aemond’s violet stare. She would rather die than let him see her cry, especially at something that shouldn’t mean as much as it did to her. However, the way that Aemond had gotten so furious when she brought up the past made her think that he never cared. She understood if he didn’t care now, but what hurt the most was that he hadn’t cared then either. She must have been something comparable to a pest in Aemond’s eyes.

            At supper, Daenys would avoid his gaze, practically acting as if he were not even present. She didn’t direct a word to him or even go near him. From time to time, she could feel his stare burning into the back of her skull, but she brushed it off, entertaining herself with her brothers. During the day Daenys would sometimes walk past the training pen, the clanging of metal swords drawing her near. That was the only time she allowed herself a glimpse of her uncle, who was too busy training to notice her watching from above where King Viserys would sometimes sit. She would slowly walk by, turning her head ever so slightly and watch as Aemond’s silver hair would fly as he expertly swung his sword at Ser Criston. He moved fluidly, like he was dancing with the Kingsguard knight, and Daenys couldn’t help but admire his skill. The princess would only look for a moment though, convinced that if she looked any longer, she would stay stuck in place.

            In efforts to avoid Aemond, Daenys would take to the sky with Aegarax longer than she usually did. Before she took her dragon flying every day for the whole morning, now, she was spending most of her waking hours on dragon back. Aegarax and Daenys would fly across over water, mountains, and streams, and land on secluded islands and clifftops. The feeling of the cool air would make Daenys’ nose turn red, and she’d urge her black dragon up further into the sky until she could see her own breath. Her trips with Aegarax, while a good distraction from her dull life at the Red Keep, offered her a happiness that was incomparable to any other. Daenys felt as though she was born to fly.

            Sometimes she’d see Vhagar’s hulking form take to the sky, and only then would she refrain from mounting Aegarax. Her dragon’s yellow eyes would watch her as she left the Dragon Pit, almost in a teasing way.

            ‘’Oh, stop it.’’ Daenys would mutter, knowing her dragon could sense she was avoiding something.

            An occasion had occurred when Daenys saw Aemond in the library as she had walked in. The girl had frozen to the spot, unsure whether to run or to stand her ground. A dragon would stand its ground, she knew this, but when Aemond turned his head in her direction, his violet eye piercing, she ran. Daenys Velaryon fled before her older uncle, face hot, unable to stand the scathing words she knew would come spilling out of his mouth.

            Weeks had gone by, and now Daenys had taken to hiding in the gardens, as Aegarax had flat-out refused her efforts to climb on his back to go for yet another ride. The dragon completely ignored her, only giving her a little shove and a huff, smoke billowing out of his nostrils as he clearly stated he was tired of flying around and needed to take a nap. Daenys, frustrated at her disobedient and apparently lazy dragon, and fearful of accidentally bumping into a certain someone, fled to the royal gardens. There, she saw only ladies and their ladies-in-waiting walking and lounging around, the scent of roses wafting into her nose. Daenys smirked, knowing that Aemond would never find himself here.

            Daenys had settled, resting her arms on the stone terrace that overlooked the glimmering blue sea. She breathed in the salty air that blew her brown hair back. Sometimes she would take her hair and almost try to will it to become a silver haired color, rather than the brown she had inherited from Harwin Strong. A pang of guilt would consume her, as she remembered the man who was her real father. He had had a kind face and kind eyes. Daenys looked up at the sky, half-hoping to see the great Vhagar spreading her wings in the distance, but she saw nothing. The Princess then suddenly heard a rustle behind her, and she whipped around to see none other than her uncle Aemond appear from behind the garden hedge. He was clad in his usual black garb, silver trim giving it a more regal look than usual. His hair was perfect, pin-straight, his face was emotionless, but his good eye was looking at her in a very different way than she remembered he had.

            ‘’Princess.’’ He greeted, dipping his head slightly. He kept his arms behind his back. Daenys took a small step back, trying her best to inch away from the Targaryen prince. She was once again, fighting the urge to run away, but she knew that this time Aemond had cornered her well and good.  

            ‘’What do you want Aemond?’’ She questioned in a demanding voice, giving him a suspicious stare. Aemond almost seemed nervous during the moment of silence that followed, and he took a breath before answering her.

            ‘’You have been avoiding me.’’ He replied, voice soft. Daenys bit back a laugh, knowing that it had been obvious what she was doing, but she was also confused as to why the prince cared.

            ‘’I do not have time for your cruel jests, uncle,’’ She replied, rolling her eyes, and crossing her arms, as she began to turn away, ‘’Leave me be.’’ She turned her back on Aemond and began to walk away, when suddenly she felt a warm grip on her forearm. Her eyes shot down to see Aemond’s hand, after he reached out for her suddenly, touching her, pulling her back. Daenys could feel the heat of Aemond’s fingers through her sleeve, yet she shivered at the bolt of icy electricity that shot through her veins at his touch.

            ‘’Please,’’ He all but whispered, eye pleading with her. He had never looked so vulnerable than in this moment, and Daenys could never recall a time where he had ever looked slightly afraid. He let go of her slowly, looking down at where their skin had connected, but then his eye shot back up to her face, as if thinking he did something wrong. Daenys turned, fully facing the silver prince, expectingly looking up at him, waiting for an explanation.

            ‘’Go on.’’ She urged, raising her eyebrows. Aemond straightened up, mouth twitching, as if holding back from something.

            ‘’I wanted to apologize,’’ He began, much to Daenys’ surprise, ‘’For the other night. I spoke to you in a way that is not deserving of a lady, of a Princess.’’ Aemond was so serious in that moment, his tone very formal, as if he was speaking to someone he didn’t know. That made Daenys’ anger rise a little bit within her, but she controlled her initial impulse to be insulted. Aemond rarely, if ever, apologized.

            ‘’I wasn’t aware you considered me a lady or a true princess.’’ The brown haired Velaryon girl quipped, her tone a bit short. Aemond, looking slightly abashed, shook his head.

            ‘’You are, and I know that.’’ He explained in a calm tone as Daenys’ eyes widened at his words, ‘’When I first saw you, I thought that you had been brainwashed by your mother to hate me and my family, like your brothers hate me. I thought you were trying to manipulate me or use our childhood friendship against me’’ At Aemond’s words, Daenys’ heart softened as she gazed up at her uncle.

            ‘’You severely misunderstood my intentions, my prince.’’ She murmured, looking down at the ground, suddenly unable to meet Aemond’s gaze. ‘’I can’t tell you how much I valued your friendship as a young girl, and when I saw you again, after all this time, I was hoping that the tension between our families wouldn’t change anything.’’ As soon as the words left her lips, Aemond’s violet eye widened in shock as he looked down at Daenys, and his arms released from behind his back. Hesitantly, Aemond reached out, crossing the distance between them and he gently pushed Daenys’ chin up to look at him. Daenys felt her heart flutter at his touch, half-expecting the lightning to go shooting through her again. He let go, much to her disappointment. To fill the silence, Daenys continued.

            ‘’When you reacted the way you did, I will be truthful with you, it surprised me and I got upset,’’ She recounted, ‘’I was not sure what to expect but I did not expect that, uncle.’’

            ‘’I lied.’’ Aemond said after another moment of silence, painful seconds for Daenys who waited for his response with anticipation. Aemond took a step closer to her, gaze unflinching from his niece’s face. He reached out and rested his arm on the stone next to Daenys, and he leaned down, towering over her, until he was a breath away from her face.

            ‘’I lied,’’ He breathed calmly, his earlier nervousness replaced with calm confidence, ‘’When I said those things to you about how it all meant nothing to me, I lied, and what is happening between our families is of no consequence to us, sweet niece.’’ At the prince’s words, and given how close he was to her, Daenys wanted to turn and flee once more, but the slight smile on Aemond’s face made her smile right back. She tried to picture the boy he had once been, and when she looked up at the man standing in front of her, she didn’t recognize him. He was smirking down at her, as if he knew something she didn’t.

            ‘’You’ve certainly changed a lot, Aemond.’’ Daenys mused, her brown eyes meeting his single violent one, ‘’I’ve never heard you apologize before. You’re no longer the little boy you used to be.’’ She meant it truthfully, but she added a slight tone of a jest.

            ‘’I would hope not,’’ Aemond returned in a low voice, eye running up and down Daenys’ figure, ‘’Meanwhile, you, my lovely niece, have not changed at all…in some ways.’’ His lips grew into a crooked smirk and even though Daenys didn’t know entirely what he meant; she felt her cheeks burn. He was still so close to her, his upper body almost caging her into where she was rooted to the spot.

            ‘’I’ve changed a fair bit uncle,’’ She explained, trying to appear as though his presence so close to her vicinity did not affect her ‘’I can now outfly Jace on Aegarax, I can speak perfect High Valyrian, I can fight! I no longer need to hide behind you like the little shadow I was as a child.’’ At her last claim, Prince Aemond raised an eyebrow.

            ‘’Your mother let you learn how to fight?’’ He questioned, seemingly surprised. Daenys nodded. When they were children, Daenys would always watch wistfully as the boys trained, and she would fume when her mother wouldn’t let her join them. Rhaenyra had apologized, but she explained that Queen Alicent would not have any royal princesses taking part in any un-lady like activity. On Dragonstone however, Daenys did as she pleased, no green Queen forbidding her from doing anything.

            ‘’She did. I’m quite good.’’ Daenys said cheerfully, ‘’I’ve practiced with the bow and arrow, and I daresay I am skilled with the dagger; however, I must admit that I had difficulty with swordplay.’’ Daenys was not surprised at how truthful she was being with Aemond, as their conversation reminded her finally of the boy he had been, a long time ago. Aemond chuckled, setting Daenys’ heart pumping even faster than it had been already. She wanted to hear it again.

            ‘’Sword too heavy for you to lift, Daenys?’’ Aemond said lightly. When Daenys rolled her eyes.

            ‘’Shut up.’’ She muttered, but she couldn’t force back the little smile that betrayed her emotion. The silver haired prince looked down at the brown-haired princess, gaze unflinching. Daenys tried to tear her eyes away from her uncle’s angular face, and she tried to fight off the feeling of blooming desire in the pit of her stomach. Gods, how could she ever hope to avoid him now?

Aemond.

            The one-eyed prince was relishing this moment with his niece. As soon as he had heard the words from her mouth, when she had blown his assumptions about her in a single second, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. The past couple weeks without seeing the little princess had been miserable for Aemond. He stayed awake at night, staring at the ceiling, trying to not wonder if Daenys was in the library right now. In those moments Aemond had forced himself not to go looking for her, thinking it was for the best. In fact, he had thought all of what he’d done had been for the best. Yes, he had to sit in his seat and watch her during evening supper times laughing with her army of brothers, not even acknowledging his existence, but he figured that if she hated him already, he was saving himself a world of hurt. That thought didn’t stop him from wanting to spring to his seat and cause a problem like he had before, if only to get Daenys’ attention. He would have even welcomed her hateful stare if it meant she would look in his direction.

            Aemond sometimes caught a glimpse of Daenys while he would train with Ser Criston. Her chocolate-brown hair caught his eye from above where his father, the King, would sometimes sit. She would do her best to stay out of sight, but Aemond knew she was there. He could almost feel her presence near him, as though she were a beacon of light in the darkness of the night. The Targaryen prince would look up subtly, trying not to scare her away with his glance, but he always got too distracted, and Cole would knock him to the ground. He would have looked away from the princess for but a second, but when he looked up again, Daenys was gone. Ser Criston would look up to see what he was staring at, but never saw anything.

            ‘’Your mind has been gone these past couple weeks, my prince,’’ the Kingsguard noted as Aemond would gather his bearings, ‘’This is unlike you.’’ Aemond would sneer at his mother’s sworn shield and attack without warning, shutting the Dornishman right up.

            Aemond would watch from his balcony as Aegarax swooped through the sky, his impressive wingspan carrying Daenys further and further away from the Red Keep. The prince stared after them, knowing he could easily catch up on Vhagar, but knew from experience that whenever his great old war dragon would take to the air, Aegarax would stay in the Dragon Pit.

            Finally, Aemond had caught sight of his niece in the Royal gardens, walking alone, hands clasped in front of her. He hadn’t caught sight of her so much as he was following her through the castle since she left her room. Aemond wasn’t sure what brought himself to torture himself so, but he decided that he would finally speak to Daenys, whether it was for his best or not. He all but chased her through the maze of hedges, surprised at how fast his little niece walked but he finally caught up to her. Seeing her face so close was like a breath of fresh air in his lungs, and he had been suffocating for much too long. Aemond swallowed his pride, threw caution to the wind, and apologized to the princess. The bastard princess, said a little voice in his head, but Aemond ignored it. He no longer cared.

            As soon as Aemond realized that he had been wrong, that Daenys didn’t hate him or was plotting anything against him like he though her mother or her brothers might have coached her to do, he relaxed. His body released the tension it had been holding for many days, and Aemond felt a newfound confidence as he realized what this meant for him. Simply being in Daenys’ presence made him feel like he was flying, and he loved being so close to her that he could smell her sweet scent. She smelled so familiar to him, like coming home. As Aemond closed in on her, he felt his cock twitch in his pants as he saw how pink her cheeks were at his closeness. Gods, he wanted her. He wanted her like a dragon would want to take to the air. His face was now but a breath away from Daenys’, and he revelled in how she shrunk away from him bashfully. His sweet niece. Aemond wanted to curse himself, for now he did not know what would stop him from going down this path.

Chapter Text

Daenys.

            Daenys was watching Aemond from afar as he trained in the courtyard with Ser Criston Cole. She was dressed in her riding leathers that she trained in while she was in Dragonstone and was relishing the fact that this time, she was going to be the one doing the sneaking up on. Ever since the princess had first seen Aemond train she had wanted to have him teach her how to wield a sword. It wasn’t that Daemon, or her brothers, refused to, but simply that Daenys was not very good at it. While Daenys was talented with the knife and the bow, she struggled with swords, and it made her feel pathetic. Long had she admired Visenya Targaryen of old, the warrior queen of Westeros with Dark Sister, and Daenys refused to allow herself to become a weak and helpless woman that embroidered her days away. Daenys did not want to admit it, but her biggest secret, her innermost fear was that she was weak. Despite the Strong and Targaryen blood running through her veins, she cowered at the idea of being less than what was expected of her, and so she resolved to be as strong as she could be. While Daemon encouraged her fiery attitude, Rhaenyra was cautious, only allowing her to train with her husband.

            Aemond seemed a capable and dangerous swordsman, having bested Criston many a time. If Daenys were to learn, she wanted to learn from him. Not to mention she discreetly wanted an excuse to spend more time with the prince, but she fooled herself with the other explanation.

            Daenys watched as Aemond twirled his sword expertly in his hand while watching Criston Cole, who was picking himself up off the ground. Silently, she moved forward and planted herself a couple paces behind her uncle.

            ‘’Do you not tire of getting the better of the same man all the time?’’ She called out, her tone light, but still trying to test the silver prince. Aemond and Criston both turned to look at her, and while Criston’s dark features were twisted in confused, Aemond’s face remained expressionless, almost as if he had been expecting her.

            ‘’My sweet niece,’’ Aemond called out to her, sheathing his sword, ‘’Have you come to train?’’ The corner of his lips irked up into a small smile as he watched her approach. Ser Criston looked bothered as he too sheathed his weapon.

            ‘’Princess Daenys, this is no place for a lady,’’ Criston began, ‘’Does your mother know you are here?’’ Daenys rolled her eyes as she prowled the training yard.

            ‘’My mother does not care if I am here.’’ She replied simply. Criston seemingly was ready for her retort.

            ‘’The Queen then,’’ He threatened, ‘’She would not wish for a lady such as yourself to be involved in the antics of men.’’ At this, Daenys faltered, her eyes narrowing at the snooty knight. She wanted to give him a good punch in the face. Queen Alicent was a bother indeed, since she was the one who forbade her in her youth from training.

            ‘’Go ahead and tell my mother if you so wish Ser,’’ Aemond interjected, coming to Daenys’ rescue, ‘’I see nothing wrong with having the Princess here, and I do not think she will be arrested and tried for it.’’ Daenys gave Aemond a grateful look as Criston curled his lip at his prince. He nodded stiffly and gave a quick bow before storming off, no doubt to whisper in Queen Alicent’s ear. Daenys watched him go, then turned to Aemond, suddenly aware that they were alone.

            ‘’I was hoping that you could teach me some sword skills.’’ She began wringing her hands again. While she and Aemond were on better terms now, she still felt rather nervous around him, but did everything in her power to hide it. Aemond remained as stoic and calm as he always did, but he no longer directed any sneers or japes her way and treated her as a friend.

            ‘’Your father and brothers were unavailable?’’ Aemond asked in his usual calm voice, eyeing her.

            ‘’I want to train with you.’’ The princess replied honestly. Aemond blinked, his smile growing slightly.

            ‘’Very well,’’ He mused, ‘’You mentioned that you use knives, and a bow and arrow?’’ Daenys nodded. ‘’Why don’t we see what you are capable of Princess?’’ Aemond gestured to some targets that were placed at one end of the courtyard. They were a good distance away, but Daenys was not fazed. She put herself into position, unsheathing a black Valyrian steel knife that she had strapped to her waist. Daenys could feel Aemond’s gaze on her, and she almost faltered for a moment before she aimed and threw her knife towards the target. Her throw was quick, the knife sailing through the air, and in the blink of an eye it had pierced the middle of the target. Just to show off a little, Daenys covered her eyes with her original throwing hand, and threw with the other. The second knife hit the target once more, piercing the canvas right beside the other one. Daenys removed her hand to give Aemond a cheeky grin. The prince had his hands behind his back, eye watching her intently, still not looking surprised but instead had another look that Daenys couldn’t quite recognize.

            ‘’Impressive.’’ Aemond offered. Daenys went to collect her knives, hoping that her uncle didn’t notice her the tips of her ears going red.

            ‘’I can fight with them too, but I know that wouldn’t be terribly helpful in a real battle.’’ She explained.

            ‘’Were you planning on joining any battles Daenys?’’ Aemond questioned lightly. Daenys laughed.

            ‘’If I must, I would not avoid it.’’ Daenys replied simply, ‘’I know what it means to be a dragon rider. I would be used for battle, me, and my dragon. What I want to make sure of is that I am never be unprepared if I were to ever fall from Aegarax.’’ Aemond hummed softly as he examined the practice swords that were lined up in the yard.

            ‘’A wise decision.’’ He said finally. He picked up a sword and tossed it in her direction. ‘’Pick it up, let’s see what you’re capable of.’’ Daenys felt her stomach twist with nerves, which surprised her. She was not one to care what others thought of her, but the idea of embarrassing herself in front of Aemond was daunting. The princess picked up the sword, thankful that it wasn’t too heavy. Aemond unsheathed his own sword and had circled away from her to get in a ready position. He jumped up and down, warming himself up, a smirk on his face as he watched Daenys prepare herself.

            ‘’Don’t go easy on me, uncle.’’ Daenys joked, as she tensed her body, ready for his strike. Aemond chuckled, and without warning, almost knocking Daenys off her feet, he lunged, his sword flashing and as if by instinct Daenys’ own blade rushed to meet his, almost at its own accord. Surprised at herself, Daenys stepped back as the swords clashed. Aemond drew back, bringing his sword down on her this time, and again, Daenys was able to block it. She gripped the sword with two hands, while Aemond held his in one. The prince sent attack after attack in Daenys’ direction, and she kept on blocking them, until finally she had the sense to use her size to her advantage. Aemond swung, she ducked while making a swipe with her own sword, just grazing the prince’s stomach. Aemond fell back, his eye open with slight shock.

            ‘’Good.’’ Aemond rasped, a hungry smile on his face as he took a breath, ‘’Very good, dear niece.’’ Daenys’ heart swelled with pride, but the feeling was squashed suddenly as Aemond threw himself forward, attacking her with full strength. Daenys, barely able to keep up, was left dazed as Aemond had somehow managed to get behind her, where he pulled her back flush against his chest. His sword was across her stomach, just barely touching her, but it was over. Daenys could not help but laugh good-naturedly, and was surprised to hear Aemond laughing as well, the deep rumble reverberating from his chest and Daenys could feel it move through her body. His laugh was not something she had heard for a long time. It was a beautiful sound and she longed to hear it again.

            ‘’You fight decently enough,’’ Aemond whispered in Daenys’ ear, sending shivers down her spine, ‘’For a princess.’’ Daenys bit back a weak laugh, hyper-aware of still being pressed against against the prince.

            ‘’ And I should like to fight like a certain prince, so teach me, Aemond.’’ She replied as Aemond withdrew his sword slowly. He studied her for a moment, but nodded.

‘’If that is your wish Daenys.’’ Aemond said in his calm tone. The way he said her name made her feel as though she was hearing it for the first time.

Aemond.

            Aemond found that he could not deny Daenys anything, as she asked him to help her learn how to wield a sword. The way she looked up at him with her big brown eyes, the way her chest heaved from the rush of their closeness, the way her cheeks were pink. Aemond marvelled at the fire in her eyes. He never thought that he would be so drawn, so enthralled, by what he used to call ‘’common’’ features. Daenys was one of a kind to him.

            Aemond agreed to the princess’ request, yet as soon as they had moved into position once more, a voice called out to them from the balcony. The two looked up to see the King Viserys and Queen Alicent watching them from above. The king was gesturing to them to join them, but Aemond’s mother was giving them a disapproving gaze. Aemond shared a glance with Daenys.

            ‘’Wonder what that’s about.’’ Daenys muttered, as she put her sword away and stalked off to meet the royal couple. Aemond smiled to himself as he followed the princess to meet his parents.

            ‘’ Your Graces.’’ Daenys greeted the King and Queen, bowing instead of a curtsy. Aemond stood beside her, hands behind his back, waiting for their responses. Viserys, in his sickliness, was looking at them fondly, oblivious to the poisonous look that his wife gave them.

            ‘’Princess Daenys, don’t you think that your mother would disapprove of you taking part in…in this swordplay?’’ Queen Alicent asked in a careful tone, her fake nicety masking her pure disapproval. Daenys shrugged beside Aemond.

            ‘’She would not, I don’t think.’’ Was all she said, and Aemond had to suppress a smile. Alicent rolled her eyes, her clasped hands tightening. She knew she would get no where with the princess, so she turned to look at her son.

            ‘’ Aemond, you should not encourage your niece to take part in such unladylike behaviours. You know better.’’ Alicent attempted to appeal to Aemond’s love for her. The prince usually would do anything his mother asked. She was the only woman, other than his sister, that he would move a finger for. He had no other choice. Even though she was a distant mother, she was his mother nonetheless. She was the only one that had ever shown any care for him. Other than Daenys.

            ‘’I don’t see why I should not help the princess, mother,’’ Aemond responded, making Alicent’s eyes widen, ‘’Women with the blood of the dragon have been warriors in the past.’’ He wasn’t looking at the brown-haired girl beside him, but he could tell that she had turned to stare at him in surprise of his support. Aemond couldn’t help but wonder if he had been too forward with his support of her. No doubt, Alicent felt the same as she ogled at her son, clearly shocked that he was defending Daenys. The prince realized that she was right to be shocked. Not too long ago he had voiced his contempt towards Jacaerys and Lucerys, the bastard princes. Daenys was their sister, clearly not a Velaryon, thereby making her a bastard too. But Aemond seemed to not really care, and by standing by her now, however trivial the issue, he had subtly sent Alicent a sign. The silver-haired prince was surprised at himself for caring so little.

            ‘’ Let them be, my Queen,’’ The king interjected, before Alicent could say anything, ‘’It’s harmless fun, and I do so enjoy watching my son and my daughters child get along.’’ Viserys, the gods bless him, had a pleased look on his face. For once in his life he had given Aemond the attention he used to so crave. The prince and princess bowed their heads to the King. Queen Alicent bowed hers too in defeat, having been silenced by her husband.

            ‘’ You are dismissed, Princess.’’ She murmured to Daenys. Aemond now looked at her and their eyes met. He gave her the smallest of nods, and Daenys returned it with the smallest of smiles. Her smile made Aemond’s heart fill, it’s comfort almost taking his breath away. Even the smallest of exchanges between them had such an effect on Aemond, and he cursed her for it.

Chapter Text

Daenys.

            It was the hour of the wolf when Daenys was startled awake by the servants. Groggy and confused, Daenys lit the oil lamp next to her bedside as she sat up.

            ‘’Come in!’’ She called; her voice thick with sleep. Daenys rubbed her eyes as a guard popped his head into her room.

            ‘’Princess, your presence is needed for an urgent matter in the throne room.’’ Said the guard. Daenys yawned, her mind still slow as she woke up.

            ‘’My presence…? Who in the seven hells would possibly require my presence at this hour-‘’ Daenys muttered, desperately wanting to fall back in to the deep sleep she had been in moments before.

            ‘’The queen, princess. The queen is requesting the presence of the whole royal family. It is a matter of great urgency.’’ Repeated the guard, his words making Daenys sober up from drowsiness. Suddenly a feeling of fear bubbled up inside her, anxiety gnawing at her belly. Fully awake now, Daenys tied a black robe around her night gown and put on some slippers. Not even bothering to brush her hair, she rushed out of her chambers and practically sprinted to the throne room, the guard trailing after her. The door to the room where the Iron Throne stood was closed. Standing before them, Daenys stopped. The princess took a deep breath, willing herself to calm her pounding heart before she walked in. She nodded to the guard, who opened the doors to her.

            ‘’Princess Daenys has arrived, Your Graces.’’ The guard announced. Clasping her hands in front of her dress, Daenys strode in. The hall was cold and dark, only lit by two torches that were stood next to the throne. As Daenys approached, she saw that her mother was there, along with Daemon, Jace, and Luke. King Viserys sat the throne, his frail body cloaked in a decorated red robe, swallowing him. His golden mask was on, golden crown atop his head. On his right, Queen Alicent was muttering to Ser Criston Cole, while Otto Hightower stood behind Aemond, Aegon, and Helaena. Everyone’s eyes were on her as Daenys walked in, rushing towards Rhaenyra’s side. Her mother reached out with both hands to clutch at her own.

            ‘’What’s going on?’’ Daenys whispered to Rhaenyra, watching as Alicent’s face grew more agitated as she continued to speak with Criston.

            ‘’I do not know, my love,’’ Rhaenyra murmured back, ‘’Queen Alicent simply requested we all come.’’

            ‘’Can’t be anything good.’’ Daemon growled in a low voice. Daenys cast him a worried glance, then turned to look at Alicent again, but instead made eye contact with Aemond. The second son of King Viserys stood taller than both Aegon and his grandfather. His hair was neatly draped over his leather-clad shoulders. The prince looked like he had been awake for hours. His violet eye glinted with an uncertain look, lips drawn in a straight and serious line. As if he himself had opened his mouth to tell her, Daenys knew that he also was unaware of the reason as to why they were here.

            ‘’Tell us why we are here, my Queen.’’ King Viserys finally called out, ‘’The hour is late.’’ He sounded more tired than Daenys thought he ever could. The Queen stopped, mid-conversation with her sworn sword, and she dipped her head in acknowledgment. She strode to stand in front of the Iron Throne, looking small in its looming shadow that the torches cast upon her.

            ‘’My apologies for pulling you all out of your beds at this hour,’’ Alicent began, ‘’But I fear that I have learned something that is of the utmost urgency.’’ The room was heavy with silence, everyone holding their breaths while waiting for her to continue. ‘’I fear that someone has plotted in conspiracy to betray the King’s wishes.’’ Her words were met with more silence, and Daenys felt her mother’s hand tighten around her own. Daenys knew the difference between blacks and greens. Rhaenyra and Daemon had made sure that she understood. Queen Alicent hated Rhaenyra, hated her children, and sought to undermine them at every turn. If it had not been obvious before, it had been obvious when Alicent even entertained Vaemond Velaryon’s bid for the right to Driftmark. Daenys also knew that Alicent would most likely seek to place Aegon on the throne, despite Rhaenyra being the heir. Was the Queen’s purpose for calling them here to expose Rhaenyra somehow? How would that even make sense if having his daughter become Queen was the King’s wish? Had Queen Alicent changed the King’s mind somehow? These questions whirled around Daenys’ head as she stared at the Queen.

            ‘’Well? Speak!’’ Viserys urged, beginning to rise from his chair shakily. The uncovered side of his face was contorted into a grimace as he looked upon his wife. Alicent let out a shaky breath, her fingers tightening in her fist.

            ‘’There is someone here, my King, that would seek to undermine you. Someone who, would go against your wish for Rhaenyra to be crowned Queen upon your death, and place our son, Aegon upon the throne.’’ Daenys had to force back a gasp of shock at the Queen’s words, and she saw Otto Hightower stiffen where he was standing. The Queen must be talking about someone from her side, as there was no conceivable way that anyone that stood with Rhaenyra would want Aegon on the throne.

            ‘’My father, Otto Hightower, the hand of the king,’’ Queen Alicent proclaimed, her weak voice beginning to strengthen as she continued, ‘’Has been conspiring with some of those on your small council, Your Grace, to usurp the throne from Rhaenyra Targaryen upon your death, and crown Aegon as King of the Seven Kingdoms.’’ If Daenys had not been here to witness what the Queen Alicent just said, she would not believe it. She would never believe that that woman would ever come out in support for her mother. Their bitter hatred had burned for too long, sunk to deep, even wrapping its tendrils around their children. An incredulous snort came from the Hand of the King, his grandchildren sharing uneasy glances.

            ‘’Please.’’ Sneered Lord Hightower, ‘’What in the seven hells are you talking about Alicent?’’

            ‘’Do you have proof to back up your accusation?’’ Viserys asked, his voice remaining calm, almost as if he had expected to hear it. Alicent nodded, and Criston came forward to hand her a slip of paper.

            ‘’A letter from the Hand to Lord Jasper Wylde Your Grace, stating that as soon as you pass, Aegon shall be crowned King, and any supporters of Rhaenyra Targaryen will be escorted to the dungeons if they do not bend the knee.’’ Alicent explained shortly, now walking up the steps to give the letter to the King. Viserys took it in a shaky hand. ‘’Written in my father’s handwriting, along with his seal.’’ Daenys shared a glance with her mother, who’s violet eyes were wide with shock as she looked away from her former childhood best friend. The King examined the slip of paper, while Otto Hightower’s face grew paler and paler by the second.

            ‘’Seize him!’’ Viserys managed to boom, the letter slipping from his fingers, seemingly convinced of Alicent’s claim. The Hand took a step back, head whipping from side to side as he saw the Kingsguard advanced on him. Aegon and Aemond had turned to look at their mother’s father, and before Otto could scramble away, Aemond grabbed him by the scruff, throwing him in front of the King. Seeing no escape as Ser Harrold Westerling unsheathed his sword behind him, Otto sunk to his knees in front of King Viserys, hands clasped as he begged pathetically.

            ‘’Your Grace…please,’’ Otto murmured, keeping his eyes up as he stared at Viserys, ‘’Allow me to explain-‘’

            ‘’Go on then,’’ Viserys all but hissed, ‘’explain why you were planning on betraying your King, committing treachery right under my very nose.’’ Alicent had slunk away from where she had been standing to stand next to Ser Criston, averting her eyes from the scene that her father was putting on.

            ‘’I was simply doing what I thought was best for the realm Your Grace,’’ Otto explained in a desperate tone, ‘’The second that Aegon was born he should have been named heir. Naming him heir, having him ascend the Iron Throne, would prevent the conflict that is sure to follow if a woman is to become Queen.’’ Daenys bristled at him not even deigning to say Rhaenyra’s name, referring to her only as a woman. Viserys also seemed insulted at the explanation.

            ‘’I’ll have your tongue for this.’’ Viserys promised, nodding for Ser Harrold to grab him. ‘’Take him to the dungeons, have Lord Wylde join him as well. Get any other names that may have been involved in this deceit.’’ The Lord Commander and Ser Criston secured Otto’s two arms, pulling him to his feet. Lord Hightower glowered at his daughter.

            ‘’You are committing a grave mistake daughter. You are lost! This will not fix anything!’’ He called after her as he was dragged away. Alicent flinched, her eyes on the floor, refusing to watch as Otto was ripped away from all that he had only moments ago. The throne room remained in silence for a moment, as if they were all still struggling to process what had just taken place. Viserys sunk back down onto his seat, exhausted from the effort.

            ‘’My Queen,’’ He murmured, ‘’Thank you for bringing this to our attention.’’

            ‘’Yes,’’ Rhaenyra started, taking a deep breath before she spoke. Her voice rang out, high and uncertain. ‘’Thank you, Your Grace, for uncovering this conspiracy.’’ Alicent met Rhaenyra’s eyes, a little polite smile growing on her somber face. Despite having just exposed her own father in favour for Rhaenyra, someone that Daenys was sure she hated, Alicent seemed to have a look of relief on her face as Rhaenyra addressed her. The moment was short-lived as Daemon stepped forward.

            ‘’How can we be sure that this wasn’t done with an ulterior motive on behalf of the Queen?’’ Daemon mused, changing the air of the room to one of unease. Rhaenyra and Daenys slowly turned their heads to look at the Rogue Prince, and Viserys sighed.

            ‘’What do you mean by that, brother?’’ Viserys replied tiredly, his face resting on his hand. Alicent’s eyes narrowed at the platinum-haired older prince, but said nothing, keenly aware of the unpredictable danger that Daemon posed.

            ‘’What I mean is, that this entire thing seems too convenient for us. You would have me believe that Otto Hightower was plotting treachery through letters that could be read by anyone?’’ Daemon pointed out coldly, eyes glittering with suspicion.

            ‘’My love-‘’ Rhaenyra attempted to soothe him, putting her hand on his own, but he shrugged it off.

            ‘’What is there to say that Alicent did not expose her father on purpose, in order to get us to lower our guard, only to place her son upon the throne when our backs are turned?’’ Daemon seethed slyly, eyeing Alicent as if she were about to pounce on him. The Queen seemed insulted, eyes reproachful, but she maintained her composure.

            ‘’Please,’’ She scoffed, trying to make light of this new accusation, ‘’I think we all are aware that Aegon is not fit to be King.’’

            ‘’For which I am quite grateful.’’ Aegon was heard muttering, raising his cup that Daenys just realized he was holding. Gods be good, he was drunk. Aemond glared at his older brother.

            ‘’Not him.’’ Daemon snapped, taking another menacing step forward, he jerked his head towards Aemond, ‘’Aemond One-Eye. Don’t pretend you haven’t been grooming the boy to be king ever since you realized Aegon is a lost cause. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in on the conspiracy as well.’’ Daenys’ blood ran cold at her stepfather’s declaration, her eyes shooting over to watch Aemond’s reaction. His narrow face was contorted into a sneer, violet fire igniting in his good eye. His hands remained clasped behind his back. Alicent looked taken aback, glancing at her son with a worried gaze.

            ‘’You could not be more wrong Daemon-‘’ Alicent began, looking towards her husband for help, but Aemond interjected instead.

            ‘’Do not entertain Prince Daemon’s crazed notions, mother.’’ Aemond drawled, ‘’He’s grasping at anything that will make us look bad.’’ These words made Daemon laugh humourlessly. The two princes advanced on each other, two long, silver-haired dragons circling each other, sizing each other up.

            ‘’I do not think it is grasping to say that it is likely that this entire thing might have been your idea, nephew,’’ Daemon countered, his hands resting on his sword-belt, ‘’The second son. Maimed. You have everything to prove and nothing to lose. You might have aspired to sit on the throne this entire time. Tell me, what was your plan? Wait until Viserys died, hopped on Vhagar and burn Dragonstone down with all of us in it and then crown yourself King?’’ Daemon’s rambling made Daenys begin to sweat as she watched Aemond’s visage grow dark, his face going from aloof to one that seemed almost scared. The young prince was standing at the bottom of the steps, Daemon above him and thus towering over him. He almost reminded Daenys of the little boy he had been so long ago. No one else was saying anything to defend Aemond and Daenys moved without even thinking, stepping in front of the prince, as if shielding him from her stepfather.

            ‘’Daemon, stop this.’’ Daenys said, willing her voice to not shake, ‘’You can’t possibly think that what you are saying is plausible.’’ Daemon arched an eyebrow at her protest, and she could feel Aemond’s gaze burning into her back. She resisted the urge to turn around. ‘’Queen Alicent just sent her own father to the dungeons, leaving her family open to scrutiny and shame. I’m not trying to defend them but be reasonable. Aemond would not be picked over Aegon to be King. It simply would not happen. He is a second son. My uncle knows this too. He would not waste his time thinking of a silly conspiracy like you are accusing him of.’’ Daenys wondered if Aemond would take offence to anything she was saying, but unfortunately, she couldn’t think of anything else to say that wouldn’t make it seem like the two of them were too familiar. What she really wanted to say was that Aemond would never pull anything like that. He wouldn’t hurt her or her family, and he wouldn’t usurp the throne from her mother, no matter how much he may want to. Alas, she did not really know for sure if that were true, but she felt that it was. She kept her childish thoughts to herself though and went along with what she started with.

            ‘’You are quick to defend your uncle, darling.’’ Daemon mused, his lip twitching. He seemed intrigued by this sudden development. Daenys could feel everyone’s heavy gazes on her, weighing her down, and suddenly she felt like curling up into a ball. She couldn’t imagine what her mother was thinking, who had lapsed into silence behind Daemon, or Jace and Luke, who were most likely giving her judgemental stares.

            ‘’Look,’’ Daenys began, her hands fidgeting, cracking her knuckles, ‘’We can talk hypothetical schemes and plots all we want, accuse Aemond, accuse Helaena, accuse the court jester! What good will it do? We won’t know until it happens, but what we do know is that Otto Hightower and other members of the small council conspired to usurp the throne in favour of Aegon. That is what we know, so let us deal with that.’’ She met Daemon’s gaze defiantly, clenching her fists and finally plucking up the courage to raise her voice higher. Her stepfather cocked his head as he stared at her, eyes searching, but the fire in his eyes beginning to die as Rhaenyra grabbed his arm, pulling him towards her. Relief washed over Daenys as he backed down, and when she looked back at Aemond she saw him staring at her in wonder, mouth slightly agape. Her heart clenched, wanting to go to his side, but instead she walked back to stand next to her mother, not before sending him the smallest of nods.

Aemond.

            Aemond wanted to fall to his knees before Daenys as he watched her take her place in front of him. When she turned to look back at him, he saw a dark fire burning in her eyes, familiar Targaryen rage alight in them. Daenys’ look rivaled Daemon’s, except thankfully it was not directed at him. Aemond stared at Daenys Velaryon, trying to fully comprehend what was happening. While Daemon did not seem threatened, Aemond realized that something had changed in the Rogue Prince’s eyes. He was beginning to see what Daenys was capable of. Everyone was. Aemond’s chocolate-haired little niece had gone from a care-free, light-on-her-feet, cheerful princess, to a bristling dragon, fire burning under her skin. Fire made flesh. Aemond didn’t know whether he should be proud, grateful, or turned on.

            He decided to feel grateful. Aemond stood, frozen to the spot in front of the Iron Throne, watching Daenys take her place beside Rhaenyra once more after giving him a small nod, only meant for him to see. His good eye was wide, face helpless in the wake of his niece.

            ‘’Aemond.’’ Alicent whispered, giving him a puzzled look, her eyes flashing towards he had been standing before. Get back in place is what she said with her eyes. Returning to his senses, Aemond returned to his spot next to Aegon, unable to look away from the princess.

            ‘’If you’re quite finished accusing my wife and son of high treason, Daemon,’’ King Viserys breathed finally, ‘’You would do well to listen to your daughter’s words. She is wise beyond her years.’’ The King stood up, and Alicent gestured for two guards to aid him in getting down the steps of the throne. Daemon said nothing, merely sniffed.

            ‘’That has been quite enough for tonight, we will discuss it further in the morning.’’ Viserys finished, taking his wife’s arm, and making his way out of the hall. Everyone who was there bowed their heads as he ambled past.

            ‘’Back to bed,’’ Aemond heard Rhaenyra whisper to her children, who seemed to follow her orders. Except for Daenys. The princess stood where she was, looking over at Aemond, as if she was going to speak. Aemond waited too, willing for his siblings to go away. He wasn’t quite sure if he was capable of thanking Daenys, but what he did know was that she was the only living person to have ever defended him, other than Alicent had the night he lost his eye. Daenys had stood in front of her own father to get his attentions off Aemond, and while she had said some things that would normally send Aemond into a rage, he knew that it was for the best. His niece had acted wisely, despite putting her neck on the line for him for no apparent reason. Warmth seeped over Aemond’s chest as Daenys gave him one last look, obviously thinking better than speaking to him. Her brow was furrowed in concern. What could she possibly be concerned about? Had she no idea that he would do the same for her, ten times over? The prince wanted to run to her, take her hands in his and tell her to never shield him from anything again, he was not worth it, but he remained the still statue he always was, and watched as Princess Daenys left the hall with her family, leaving Aemond alone with an aching heart.

Chapter Text

Daenys.

            Aegarax soared through the sky, bat-like black wings spread wide, all grace and power. Daenys was sat upon her great golden saddle, braided hair whipping behind her as she watched the gargantuan Vhagar appear from underneath Aegarax. The princess smiled, her own dragon playfully flying in and around Vhagar’s wingspan. Her dragon was much like her, more easy-going than the usual fire-breather, excitable, and eager to fool around. Aegarax would snap lightly at Vhagar, as if urging the great she-dragon to play, which she did not seem to mind, surprisingly enough.

            ‘’Calm, Aegarax!’’ Daenys called to her dragon in Valyrian, stroking the warm scales. She was above Vhagar now, and she looked down to see Aemond on her back, his white hair streaming, looking small on the ancient beast. The prince looked up at her and Daenys could see him smiling. Her uncle was serious so much of the time that Daenys made it a daily mission to try to make him smile, whether it be by making a jest or getting smart with him, she reveled in being able to get Aemond to crack a smirk. But he was always happiest on his dragon. They had taken to flying together, finding that Vhagar got along best with Aegarax compared to the other dragons, and Daenys would usually challenge him to a race, which she would win most of the time.

            ‘’Aemond!’’ She yelled at the prince against the wind, ‘’Look!’’ She let go of the handles on her saddle, her arms flying out to her side. The force of the winds forced them back and she felt as though she could be blown right off if she wasn’t strapped in. She laughed, her glee losing itself in the strong bouts of air, and she thought she heard Aemond’s faint and rare laughter as well.

            The two landed their dragons on a lonely island off the shores of King’s Landing, black rocks making it inhospitable for any ships to anchor off, but easy enough for both with their rides. Daenys slipped off Aegarax easily as Aemond clambered down his much bigger mount. She approached the edge of the rocks, looking out across the narrow sea. The sun was high in the sky, making the waters glitter. Daenys breathed in the salty air, waves crashing against the rock and sending ocean spray over her feet as she heard Aemond approach to stand beside her.

            ‘’Do you ever sometimes want to keep flying? Across the narrow sea, to Essos? Perhaps even get to the Dothraki Sea? The thousand Islands? Sothoryos?’’ Daenys sighed, still looking out across the blue expanse.

            ‘’Given that Sothoryos is a plague-ridden, wyvern-infested, godless jungle land, I would rather not go that far.’’ Aemond replied dryly. Daenys rolled her eyes as she glanced at him.

            ‘’I do not jest, Aemond,’’ Daenys attempted once more, ‘’You’ve never thought about getting on Vhagar and flying to anywhere you want? Leaving all this silly royal responsibility behind?’’

            ‘’I think you’ve read too much of the Jade Compendium, princess.’’ Aemond quipped lightly. Daenys scoffed and said nothing. Aemond stood for a moment in silence before continuing. ‘’While galivanting across Essos may be more entertaining than the Red Keep, I have a duty to my family. I would not consider ever leaving.’’

            ‘’Duty.’’ The princess drawled, ‘’Duty has brought us all nothing but trouble.’’

            ‘’And it has taken us out of trouble, thanks to my mother.’’ Aemond pointed out, referring to Alicent exposing Otto’s scheming.

            ‘’Do you think my father was right? That the Queen did this so she could place her own child on the throne while my mother’s back is turned?’’ Daenys asked cautiously after a moment, not wanting to make it seem like she was making the same accusations as Daemon had made the other night. She was on Aemond’s good side, or rather, the side of the eye he still had to study his reaction, but she saw none.

            ‘’If she has any aspirations for power, I am unaware of them.’’ Was all he said. Daenys cocked her head but decided against pressing him. She had become able to tell when he was lying, but the thing was, he never actually lied, at least, not to her. The two stood in silence, still looking out at the view.

            ‘’I wanted to thank you,’’ Aemond began suddenly in a voice so soft Daenys almost missed it, ‘’For what you said that night.’’ The princess turned to him, confusion bubbling up inside her.

            ‘’Thank me?’’ She questioned, and Aemond nodded.

            ‘’ Yes. Thank you for…defending me.’’ The prince managed to force the words out of his mouth and Daenys wanted to giggle. He clearly didn’t apologize often.

            ‘’I was going to apologize for that.’’ She returned. Now Aemond turned his head to gaze at her, eyebrow furrowed, his turn now to be confused. ‘’For what I said. I know it must have vexed you. I didn’t mean to be harsh.’’ Aemond smirked, his lips tilting up at a corner.

            ‘’ Just when I thought you as tough, princess.’’ He said with a fake disappointed tone. Daenys huffed and turned forward again, crossing her arms. She knew Aemond thought she was soft. The softest in the family, other than Helaena, is what Aemond would call her, knowing that it would bother her. It vexed her. More silence followed.

            ‘’You’d make a good king, you know.’’ Daenys suddenly said, surprising even herself. She saw Aemond’s head whip around to stare at her from the corner of her eye. She fought the urge to blush.

            ‘’ Daenys-‘’ Aemond began cautiously, but Daenys kept going.

            ‘’If Alicent were to plan a conspiracy that places a child of hers on the throne, you would be the wiser option, that is all I am saying.’’ She finished, shrugging her shoulders. The way Aemond looked at her then made Daenys want to swoon. For someone so stoic and serious, he could express such deep emotion with just one look, making her feel like she was the only person on earth.

            ‘’That’s not saying much, considering Aegon is a lecherous drunk who doesn’t know his Valyrian from his Dothraki.’’ Aemond finally managed, a tiny smile forming on his face.

            ‘’You know what I mean.’’ Daenys sighed.

            ‘’Well, I must send another thanks your way, sweet girl.’’ Sweet girl. The words sent a shiver up Daenys’ spine and her eyes widened, just as Aemond blanched, mouth dropping open slightly in shock, as if he had said it by accident. The two stared at each other, neither knowing what to say. Aemond looked like he was ready to kick himself. Heat rose to Daenys’ cheeks, painfully aware that the silver-haired prince could tell.

            ‘’I’m sorry-‘’ Aemond began, voice weak, now avoiding her gaze.

            ‘’I’m afraid of heights!’’ Daenys blurted out, clutching her hands to her chest. She didn’t know what she was thinking. She was clearly losing her mind, going mad. Aemond seemed to be thinking the same thing as she stared at her, his one good eye wide.

            ‘’What?’’ He spluttered, still reeling from the surprise of what he had called her. Sweet girl.

            ‘’I’m afraid of heights. I don’t like looking over the edge when I am on bridges or going up high steps. I hate looking straight down when I am on Aegarax, it makes me nauseous, and sometimes I have to close my eyes. I’m truly the worst excuse for a Targaryen, I know.’’ Daenys rambled, looking everywhere but at the prince. Perhaps she had wanted to save Aemond from the embarrassment he was no doubt feeling, or maybe she wanted to share something vulnerable about her to him, so he wouldn’t feel alone in saying something shocking. Either way, she desperately wanted to avoid thinking about the implications of sweet girl.

            ‘’ How do you manage to fly then?’’ Aemond said finally, recuperating from the previous moment. Daenys had half-expected him to sneer at her, tell her how much of a disappointment she was, or say something cruel, but he didn’t. He had asked her with genuine curiosity, which she greatly appreciated.

            ‘’I feel fine when I fly, it’s only when I look down.’’

            ‘’Mayhaps you are afraid of falling.’’ Aemond suggested wisely, taking a step towards her. The way he was looking at her was making her nervous, accursed butterflies flapping their wings in her stomach.

            ‘’Mayhaps.’’ Daenys breathed, unable to think as she met Aemond’s gaze. Had his eye always been this violet? He kept approaching her, he was now so close that anyone else looking upon them would think something was about to happen.

            ‘’I do not think you’re the worst excuse for a Targaryen, princess.’’ Aemond said kindly, looking down at her gently. He was a paradox. Daenys had seen him with others, especially her brothers, looking positively sinister, eye scorching with a dangerous look, but now he seemed almost adoring. It frightened Daenys, which was strange because Aemond at his worst had never frightened her.

            ‘’Thank you.’’ Daenys murmured, still entranced. Daenys and Aemond stood there, frozen in time, far away from their families, under some sort of wonderful spell.

            ‘’We should go back.’’ Aemond said finally, turning away from her and making his way towards his dragon, and Daenys almost felt sorry for the way he left her space so quickly.

            ‘’Yes, we really should.’’ The princess replied, clearing her throat, and mounting her waiting dragon. As they flew home, Daenys couldn’t get Aemond’s words out of her head. Sweet girl. Sweet girl. Daenys truly wanted to forget it, she knew it was for the best, but she couldn’t help but yearn for him to call her that again.

Aemond.

            The prince watched as Daenys Velaryon hurried inside the Red Keep, giving him a small, sheepish wave before she disappeared. With her gone, Aemond was free to whip around in anger, pacing in the courtyard with a scowl on his face. What was he thinking? Was he going mad? The words echoed through his mind once more. Sweet girl. He meant to say sweet niece, did he not? How had the words managed to slip off his tongue? Aemond looked back to where Daenys had disappeared, and his heart ached. He knew deep down in his heart he did mean it, and it scared him. Daenys was sweet, the sweetest thing he had ever come to know, and she was everything he was not. She was a gentle flickering flame, one he wanted hold to his chest to keep warm, and he had managed to ruin it. Embarrassment flooded his senses once more as he remembered the look on her face, brown eyes wide, cheeks pink.

            She had seen him. She had seen him. Seen him in a second of weakness, a moment of vulnerability, a window into his thoughts. It was like he was standing naked before her, and he hated it. She must have hated it, but then she had confessed to him her little secret. That couldn’t help but dampen Aemond’s frustration. He wondered why she had said it, why she had told him something that she knew he could hold over her, taunt her with. She must trust him, and the idea of Daenys trusting him made his heart soar. Aemond realized she had said something vulnerable too, putting them on the same level almost. They were both embarrassed, both having let the other take the smallest of looks into each other’s hearts. Just a quick little glance. The realization made Aemond feel the slightest bit better.

            ‘’Aemond!’’ Came a voice from afar. The prince looked up to see his mother calling for him, her hands clasped and giving him an expectant look. He made his way to her, regaining his usual composed attitude.

            ‘’Mother.’’ He greeted. Alicent began to walk, and Aemond followed, ever the obedient son.

            ‘’You were flying with Princess Daenys?’’ She asked in an innocent voice. Aemond could already tell where this was going.

            ‘’Yes.’’ He replied shortly, matching his pace to his mothers. Alicent let out a little noise of slight agreement and Aemond suppressed the need to roll his eyes.

            ‘’You two seem close as of late.’’

            ‘’Our King wanted us to get along with the bastards, did he not? I am simply following his wishes.’’ Aemond countered icily. He was losing his patience already.

            ‘’You should be careful Aemond,’’ His mother advised, ‘’ You never know what kind of poison the Princess Rhaenyra is dripping into Daenys’ ear.’’ Aemond fought back the urge to lash out at his dear mother in annoyance. Hearing the word poison in the same sentence as Daenys’ name made the prince bristle.

            ‘’I am very careful mother.’’ Aemond snapped, ‘’I have always been careful.’’

            ‘’It would serve well for you to keep your distance from your niece. Despite having aided Rhaenyra, you should know that relations are no better than they used to be, especially with Prince Daemon at Rhaenyra’s side.’’ Alicent finally stopped walking and turned to her son. Her face was serious, her ever-present frown on her visage. ‘’Even with my father’s conspiring having been dealt with, we must keep in mind where our true duty lies. There is no purpose in repairing what has been broken between our families.’’

            ‘’What do you mean by that, mother?’’ Aemond said slowly, unable to understand what Alicent meant by that. The Queen didn’t answer him, merely gave him a pointed look.

            ‘’I pray you keep in mind what I said.’’ Alicent unlatched her fingers and placed a small, cool hand on his shoulder momentarily before turning away, leaving Aemond alone in the hall. The prince almost wanted to laugh, but he found no real humour at the situation. His mother had just told him to stay away from Daenys, that there was no point in keeping King Viserys’ wishes of getting along with the blacks. But why? Confusion gnawed at Aemond’s insides, but he brushed it aside, more preoccupied with the weak attempt his mother had made at keeping him away from Daenys. If Aemond was younger, he would do as his mother told him. He had always been a devoted and loving child, someone had to be. Helaena and Aegon had always been distant from her, even in childhood, being raised by a mother that was a child herself only driving a wedge between them. Aemond had always been different, along with Daeron. The two youngest were Alicent’s favorites, which her two oldest knew but never bothered to mention that Alicent herself cursed her husband for favouring Rhaenyra over her brood. Aemond loved his mother, he loved her for wanting to protect him the night he lost his eye, and he loved her for being the only person in the world who he thought loved him, even if it was a forced and ghost-like kind of love now. As Aemond grew, his mother grew even more distant as she watched him grow into a monster. She was horrified, he knew it very well.

            Now, Aemond could scarcely recognize the boy, the son, he had once been. He couldn’t imagine listening to the Queen, following her orders like a servant of hers. Staying away from Daenys was out of the question, even though he was completely aware that it would be for the best, but Aemond didn’t care. He had tasted what it was like to be in the presence of Daenys Velaryon once more and he was not going to let it slip through his fingers.

Chapter Text

Aemond.

            The day of Jacaerys’ wedding to Baela Velaryon had finally come, the tension between the differing sides of the family coming to an all-time high as the Queen continued her stand-offish treatment towards Rhaenyra. The King remained oblivious, too overjoyed to see Aemond and Daenys growing closer, and he had clearly put the whole issue to bed. Daemon kept Rhaenyra wary even though the princess wanted to trust Alicent, yet Alicent, despite her polite attitude, remained distant, adding fuel to Daemon’s fire of suspicions. Aemond and Daenys had decided to willfully ignore the tension, turning a blind eye to the disapproving looks from their families when they were together.

            A week had passed since Aemond’s slip-up with Daenys. The words still echoed in Aemond’s ears when he looked at her. Sweet girl. Sweet girl. The prince cringed inwardly. Daenys acted no different around him, but there was a certain air of change between them, as if something had shifted. Every look for Aemond was prolonged, every touch charged with intense heat. Aemond himself had retreated slightly, but his efforts did not last long, as it was challenging to hold back when Daenys would even so much as smile at him. The prince wasn’t sure if he should be worried about Daenys ignoring what he had called her. Had it meant nothing to her? Had she simply wanted to forget it ever happen and move on? The possibility made Aemond clench his fist below the table as he watched the wedding feast unfold before him.

            He was sat at the highest table of honour, with the rest of the family. King Viserys was next to the Queen, and they chatted in low voices. Rhaenys and Corlys Velaryon sat at the other end of the table, watching the feast with pleased faces. Aegon was slumped into his cups, and Helaena was entertaining her two children, Jaehaera and Jaehaerys. The rest of the family were on the floor, joining in on the celebration. The newlyweds, Jace and Baela, were dancing away, overjoyed smiles on their faces. Seeing a happy couple on their wedding day was rare in Westeros, but Rhaenyra had managed to make a match that had grown into love even before they were wed. Rhaenyra herself was standing next to her husband, Daemon, and they both clapped along to the rhythm of the music. Aemond’s eye however was fixed on one person the entire time. He watched greedily as Daenys danced around the great hall, her face bright and smiling, skirts whirling about her as she spun. When she had walked in for the ceremony, Aemond felt his heart stop for a moment. She was wearing a deep, Velaryon blue dress, the plunging neckline making Aemond squirm, and the long sleeves billowed behind her as she walked. Her waist was decorated with an intricate gold belt, and her shoulders were sporting gold dragons, accentuating her Targaryen background. Daenys took Aemond’s very breath away.

            The Velaryon princess put a soft hand on Aemond’s shoulder in greeting, and the silver-haired prince felt a shiver run down his spine. He sent her a polite smile, which gradually turned into a scowl as the night went on, watching her being asked to dance by many a lord and knight. Daenys, polite as ever, said yes to everyone, and it made the burning pit of anger in Aemond’s stomach grow. He wasn’t angry at her, as he was not capable, but angry with himself for not having the balls to ask her for a dance. He glanced around at the silent table he was at and tapped his finger on the hard wood impatiently. Aemond had no doubt that she would say yes to him, but he feared that she would only be doing so out of obligation. Out of every handsome lord with an unscarred face and both eyes in attendance at the feast, she could have any of them, and not have to suffer him.

           Aemond noticed Daenys’ gaze flitting to him every so often, but she would look away quickly, and continue dancing. He sat, frozen to his chair, too proud or stupid perhaps, to get up. The song that had been playing had finally finished and Daenys gave a little bow to her partner before turning and making her way to the table. She moved in his direction, keeping her eyes on the floor the whole time, until she was stopped by some golden-haired Lannister who asked for a dance.

           ‘’Unfortunately, I must decline, my lord, I have promised the next dance to another.’’ Aemond heard Daenys reply in a polite tone. The Lannister arched a displeased eyebrow as he watched the dark-haired girl approach Aemond, much to his own surprise. His heart leapt in his chest as he looked up at Daenys. She gave him a shy smile, unable to meet his gaze for too long. ‘’Aemond,’’ She began, ‘’Could I tempt you for a dance?’’ Aemond stared at her, not quite believing what he was hearing.

            ‘’Yes, of course.’’ He mumbled, standing up a bit too quickly. He towered over her now, and he took her hand, fighting the urge to blush like a child. Her hand was soft, and Aemond felt some satisfied part of him burn within. He wanted to grin from ear to ear as he led Daenys to the floor, a more regal and slower ballad now being played, but he maintained his composure as he put a hand on her waist. He pulled her closer to him, her sweet scent filling his nose as he breathed her in. Aemond yearned to close the distance between them, finding the little space an insult to him, but he denied his wishes. The two moved through the dance, slowly, gracefully.

             ‘’You dance quite well, Aemond.’’ Daenys remarked, now fully looking up at him, a humorous glimmer in her deep brown eyes. He arched an eyebrow.

             ‘’Surprised?’’ He returned, his thumb rubbing circles where it was on her waist. The princess shook her head.

             ‘’Not at all, not at all.’’ She laughed, letting him lead her through the dance floor, other couples gliding by. The room was empty for Aemond, no one else visible to him except for her.

              ‘’Why did you ask me for a dance, princess?’’ Aemond asked finally, making Daenys’ eyes widen. She gave him a sheepish look and he leaned forwards, bringing their faces closer. He was highly aware of his ugly scar, but he pushed the insecurity away as he fixed his gaze on Daenys’ lips.

               ‘’Well, I wasn’t going to sit around all night waiting for you to ask me, uncle.’’ Was all she said with a light attitude. Aemond couldn’t help but smirk, a victorious hum rumbling through his chest.

                ‘’You were waiting for me to ask you, hm?’’ He mused, tightening his grip on Daenys so much that he heard a little gasp escape her. ‘’Out of all these handsome lords, you were not satisfied with one without an ugly scar?’’

               ‘’I’m unclear, Aemond, as to why I should want to dance with a lord without a scar.’’ Daenys questioned smartly.

               ‘’As to not endure an eyesore while you dance, princess.’’ Explained Aemond.

               ‘’I spend most of my time here around you, I have yet to find it an eyesore,’’ Daenys retorted, a small smile on her face, ‘’I’d much rather dance with you, Aemond, and not some Lannister lord looking to secure a higher position.’’ At her words, Aemond felt his chest swell with pride, insecurity forgotten, and he pulled Daenys flush against him. Their lower halves were pressed against each other, the fire between them unable to be ignored. Aemond hummed, letting himself forget the prying eyes of others in the court that were no doubt watching the one-eyed, proud prince, dancing with the bright and gleeful princess. Among those eyes was Queen Alicent and Daemon Targaryen, with stern faces, watching cautiously.

               For days after the wedding, Aemond and Daenys continued on with enjoying each other’s company. Whispers had begun to float around the Red Keep, of the ever-serious and merciless Prince Aemond having developed a soft spot for Daenys Velaryon, the realm’s delight, much like her mother had once been. It was not easy to ignore how Aemond stalked about, besting knight after knight in practiced combat, sneering all the while, then turning around and treating Daenys gently and with great kindness. The one-eyed prince would walk alongside Daenys through the royal gardens, watching her with a faint smile as she laughed and joked with him. They would spend time in the library, reading to each other, speaking for hours of the histories of old. The two flew together, trained together, and hunted together. Their affection for each other was a truth obvious to everyone but themselves. It was a wonder to on-lookers to see their Prince get along with Rhaenyra’s child so amicably, and some even thought that the schism between their families were to be repaired. Alas, the nature of Daenys and Aemond’s relationship did not extend to the rest of their houses, as Alicent and Rhaenyra tip-toed around each other, and Jace and Luke regarded their uncles with little love.

Daenys.

            The Velaryon princess knew that she was walking a thin line between right and wrong. She knew, even despite any word from her parents and brothers yet, that her close relationship with Aemond would bring nothing good. Daenys had hoped that their childhood friendship could explain it to them, but she knew that it was more than that, and she was afraid that perhaps others could see it too, but she could not help it. While she knew that she should act like a proper lady, guard her affections, it went against her nature to not express herself freely, especially around Aemond. Being with him felt like the first breath of air she would take on dragon back, and Daenys was loathe to let it go. The prince had settled below her skin, itching at her heart and soul, every look in his direction awaking a fiery hunger within her. He saw her for who she was. He did not think her soft, not really, as her own family did, he acknowledged her fire. He accepted her, even liked her. She knew it was rare for Aemond to like anybody.

            Daenys knew she should not fool herself. It was without a doubt that Aemond saw her as his childhood companion and nothing more, but that didn’t stop her from feeling that something that she suspected could be love. As the princess sat on the balcony, joined by Baela and Rhaena, she looked down upon Aemond, who trained with knights of the Kingsguard. He trained tirelessly, as if preparing for some oncoming war. What he was preparing himself for exactly, Daenys did not know.

            ‘’He is quite impressive, is he not cousin?’’ Baela noted from her seat beside Daenys. She hummed an answer, not looking away from her silver-haired uncle. She did not miss how he looked up at her, only for an instant, his violet eye meeting her brown ones. The moment was interrupted by a surprising arrival of Prince Aegon, who arrived sober, much to everyone’s shock. He had not been seen in the training pit for much time. He was dressed in green, sword strapped to his hip as he sauntered towards his brother. Aemond stopped what he was doing to eye Aegon and Daenys herself tensed in her seat.

            ‘’My dear brother!’’ Aegon greeted, his annoying smirk painted upon his lips, ‘’What a surprise to see you here.’’ Aemond said nothing, but a nearby Ser Arryk bowed.

            ‘’Have you come to take part in the training my Prince?’’ The Kingsguard asked, and Aegon nodded.

            ‘’I believe it is past time I challenge my own brother to a little duel.’’ The older prince stated, unsheathing his sword, ‘’I admit it has been difficult to get his attention as of late, Aemond has been so preoccupied with a certain Princess.’’ Daenys felt the hair on the back of her neck raise at the insinuation meant for herself, and she leaned forward. She wanted to smack that sneer off the prince’s face so dearly.

            ‘’Enough with the talk, Aegon.’’ Aemond snapped, unsheathing his own blade and readying himself, ‘’Let us begin.’’ Without a warning, Aemond sliced his sword through the air in the direction of his older brother, who managed to dart out of the way and quickly raise his own sword to defend himself. Aegon was surprisingly not terrible at swordplay, much to Daenys’ displeasure.

            ‘’Your efforts training with our dear niece are wasted Aemond,’’ Aegon managed to call out as he deflected another blow from the taller one of the pair, ‘’She has her strong brothers to defend her, does she not?’’ There it was again. Daenys swore that those two could not come up with a better insult for them. Aemond ignored Aegon, but Daenys saw his lip curl in annoyance at his brother’s constant babbling. Daenys knew that Aemond had no love for her brothers, but she had noticed that he no longer paid them much mind, ceasing his taunts and japes he had thrown at them when they first arrived. She wondered if it was for her sake, or perhaps only out of duty. Daenys and her companions continued watching the two princes fight, Aemond clearly dominating their dance, but Aegon was still managing to steer clear of his attacks.

            ‘’Could there be another reason you have decided to spend so much time with Princess Daenys lately, Aemond?’’ Aegon continued to say, and Daenys was amazed at his ability to continue his ceaseless yammering throughout the fight.

            ‘’Has the Realm’s new delight charmed even you?’’ Aemond sliced at Aegon, his calm composure beginning to dwindle.

            ‘’Shut your mouth, brother!’’ Aemond hissed, ‘’You speak too much for someone who is currently losing.’’ Aegon’s laugh sounded out in the training pit, and the onlookers moved backwards to create more space for them. Daenys moved to stand but Baela’s strong hand kept her in place, reminding her to remain calm.

            ‘’I must say I am worried for you, brother,’’ Aemond brought down his sword on Aegon’s with such force it sent him stumbling backwards, ‘’I do not wish to see you fall under her witch-like spell!” Aemond attacked, harder this time, his brute force no longer being kept at bay. Daenys could tell he was rapidly losing his patience.

            ‘’Aegon…’’ Aemond growled, loud enough for all to hear, but his brother ignored him.

            ‘’I would not be surprised if you have been bewitched! The princess no doubt has inherited her mother’s qualities…’’ Aegon trailed off as the two of them sprang apart. Aemond was breathing hard, seething as he glared at his brother. Daenys’ knuckles were white as she gripped her chair, just waiting for the next words to come.

            ‘’That of a whore.’’ Aegon’s last taunt flew through the air, and Daenys felt a rage bubble up inside her, a dragon rearing its head. Before she could do anything, Aemond moved. He grunted in anger as he flung his sword aside and threw himself at the older brother. Aegon had no chance as Aemond twisted his hand cruelly, sword clattering to the ground. The prince let out a yelp and Aemond punched him, fist a blur as it connected with Aegon’s cheek. The two fell to the ground, Aemond on top, hitting and hitting, and hitting Aegon. Blood flew. Baela and Rhaena gasped as two Kingsguard rushed forward to Aegon’s aid. The crowd yelled out and Aemond was pulled back, only for a second, before he wrenched himself from their grip. He kicked Aegon, and when Daenys looked upon his face she saw a vengeful dragon. Aegon curled up into the fetal position, trying to protect himself, but Aemond showed no mercy to his own flesh and blood as he continued to deal blow after blow.

            ‘’Aemond!’’ His name left Daenys’ lips before she could stop them, and she sprang from her chair and rushed down into the pit. ‘’Aemond, stop! That is your own brother!’’ Her call made Aemond freeze, his attack finally ceasing. The younger Targaryen did not look back at Daenys, but he stopped, leaving Aegon groaning on the floor. Daenys knew she risked everything, but she approached Aemond and put her hand on his arm, only for a second. Now Aemond looked at her, face splattered with blood, eye still aflame.

            ‘’Leave him.’’ She whispered, the plead only for his ears. Aemond’s contorted face softened, and he took a step back. Several rushed to help Aegon up, who no doubt was greatly regretting his decision to taunt his brother. Aemond’s gaze went from his brother back to Daenys, and it seemed to dawn on him what he had just done. Whispers and mutters echoed around them, and Daenys wanted to scream at them to stop. This was not Aemond, she had not thought him capable of hurting his own brother, and yet he had. The young prince stood, frozen to the spot, still silent. The way he looked at Daenys made her heart clench, and as much as she wanted to lead him away, she knew she could not stoke the fire that Aegon had set. Offering him no more glances, she turned quickly, making her way to the Keep, and faltered when she saw Jacaerys eyeing her in the crowd. Her brother’s eyes were narrowed, and a frown was etched upon his face. Daenys cursed inwardly as she turned away from him too and fled. Running again. Aemond stared after her, the crowd no longer watching him, his arm that had been outstretched towards her falling to his side.

Chapter Text

Daenys.

            Daenys knew Jace was behind her, practically chasing after her but she continued, intent on avoiding her brother.

            ‘’Daenys!’’ Jace shouted at her as he stormed after her. She ignored him, wrapping her arms around herself as she ran to anywhere that would help her lose him. ‘’Daenys, stop! Seven hells, listen to me!’’ The rage in Jace’s voice made Daenys come screeching to a halt. He had followed her to the courtyard where the great heart tree was, where Daenys loved to come on sunny days with Aemond. She stood there, looking at the tree and not Jace, who she knew was behind her.

            ‘’Did you see what happened back there?’’ Jace began in a low voice, circling around her to look Daenys in the face. Daenys avoided his eyes, shifting uncomfortably where she stood.

            ‘’I was there, was I not?’’ She retorted, dryly.

            ‘’You heard what Aegon said?’’ Jace asked, his interrogating seemingly ceaseless. Now Daenys rolled her eyes, growing impatient.

            ‘’When he called me a whore like our mother? Yes, I do believe I was there for that as well.’’

            ‘’How could you let this happen?’’ Jace implored after a slight pause, his dark eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. Daenys’ eyes flared and she looked up at her older brother.

            ‘’How could I let this happen? That wasn’t my fault Jace!’’ She hissed, crossing her arms.

            ‘’You may not have commanded Aegon to do what he did, or told Aemond to give him a beating, but you should have known nothing good would come of you getting close to our uncle.’’ Jace snapped.

            ‘’You’re still saying that it was my fault, brother.’’ Daenys spat, face beginning to flush with anger.

            ‘’Look what has resulted from it! I have minded my tongue about you and Aemond, but that was my mistake. You should have known something like this might happen, you should have known the consequences. Have you learnt nothing from our mother’s mistake?’’ Jace cried, throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation.

            ‘’Mistake? Jace-‘’ Daenys started but her brother cut her off before she could continue.

            ‘’You put yourself into a position of vulnerability with this friendship Daenys, are you too stupid to not see it? What Aegon said, what he insinuated, puts us all in danger.’’

            ‘’No one will heed Aegon’s insult Jace. He is a drunk and everyone knows it. Besides, I am not married, neither is Aemond, this is hardly like what happened to our mother.’’ Daenys pointed out. ‘’There is no adultery, no treason. Merely the baseless insults from a low-life prince.’’

            ‘’It does not matter what the truth is Daenys, what matters is what people see, and what they saw was Aegon call you a whore and Aemond rush to defend your honor. Word travels fast here sister, do you have any idea the trouble these rumors can cause for us? For you? You could be ruined.’’ Jace explained, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Daenys groaned, but she knew Jace was right.

            ‘’Aemond did no such thing, for all we know he was insulted by the insinuation that he and I were anything more than mere friends.’’ Daenys replied, in denial. Jace pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly annoyed and frustrated.

            ‘’You know what Aemond was thinking, do you not Daenys? You more than anyone knows what goes on inside our uncle’s head.’’ Daenys arched an eyebrow.

            ‘’What is that supposed to mean?’’ She questioned, a sinking feeling developing in her stomach.

            ‘’You and Aemond are close, much too close.’’

            ‘’So, what if we are? We are friends, nothing more. What is the harm in it?’’ Daenys protested. She had half a mind to walk away but she knew there was no avoiding the conversation any longer. She regretted the question as soon as she asked because Jace snorted with a humorless laugh.

            ‘’Aemond is with them, Daenys, under Queen Alicent’s thumb. You think he cares for you? He is only using you, no doubt a part of the Queen’s schemes. Yet you continuously decide to ignore the fact that our families will never fix what is broken, and you continuously decide to put us at risk.’’ If Daenys felt any other way towards Aemond she would agree with Jace. It made perfect sense. Aemond really could be using her, and she really could be risking their safety and their mother’s claim to the Iron Throne. Never trust anyone. Daemon had told her so more times than she could count. Yet she trusted Aemond Targaryen. Daenys said nothing in response to Jace, just glared at him. Her brother paced around, his upset attitude not going away, after a couple moments, he put both his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes, searching for a response.

            ‘’Do you love him?’’ He finally whispered desperately; the words so quiet she barely heard them even though he was standing right in front of her. Daenys stared at him, biting down on her lip hard as she felt tears prickling in her eyes. She had not had the courage to ask herself that same question, and when Jace shook her hard she turned her eyes to the ground, words failing her. Her silence was answer enough for her brother, and he straightened up, running a hand down his troubled face. ‘’Seven hells Daenys.’’ He muttered.

            Did she love Aemond? She had never known love before. Is this what it felt like? Did it feel like flying? Did it feel like every time she touched him every nerve caught fire under her skin? Did it feel like every look, every glance in his direction sent her heart pounding with delicious adrenaline? Out of the mess of emotions Daenys felt she could only be sure that being near Aemond made her feel like she was home.

            The sound of footsteps startled the two siblings, both of whom whipped around to see Aemond arrive in the courtyard. He was out of breath as he stood there, watching them with a wide violet eye, chest heaving. Aemond’s silver-blonde hair was a mess, Aegon’s blood still painted on his cheek. Daenys met his eye, drawn to it as she always was, and when she did her mind went blank.

            Oh.

            ‘’Daenys?’’ Aemond’s hoarse voice came. He sounded concerned, worried for her for some reason.

            She loved him.

Aemond.

            He had hoped that he would find Daenys alone. His heart sunk when he saw Jacaerys with her, hands on her shoulders, looking frustrated. After his bout with Aegon, Aemond had resisted the urge to go running after the princess immediately, but he stalked off aimlessly in the other direction, trying to avoid the summons his mother would doubtless send upon seeing what he had done to her oldest son. After a few minutes, Aemond couldn’t take it anymore, and he rushed to find Daenys, stomach doing flips as he searched. When he finally found her, along with her brother, he wanted to rush forward and push his nephew away from her, as it was obvious from the sounds of his yells that he was angry with her.

            ‘’Daenys?’’ He called out, trying to get both their attentions. Daenys whipped around, her eyes glassy, hands clasped and at her chest. Her brown eyes widened at the sight of them, something passing over her gaze, as if she had just come up with some new idea.

            ‘’Aemond-‘’ Daenys started, but she stood in place, unmoving. Jace’s eyes narrowed at the sight of the prince, burning with dislike, and he stepped between him and Daenys, trying to block her from view. Aemond’s lip curled, the familiar rage from earlier flickering to life within him.

            ‘’Leave us, Aemond.’’ Jace said in a low voice, ‘’This is between me and my sister, nothing to do with you’’ Aemond arched an eyebrow at his nephew’s gall.

            ‘’I think it has everything to do with me.’’ Aemond retorted.

            ‘’Leave us.’’ Jace repeated, ignoring his truth, and beginning to turn his back on him. Aemond leaned to the side to see Daenys, who did the same so she could see him. Her eyes were red, tears beginning to well up and the silver prince’s heart softened, it always softened for her.

            ‘’I wished to see if Princess Daenys was alright, if there was anything I could do.’’ He replied, voice matching Jace’s tone.

            ‘’You’ve done enough.’’ Was all Jace said, clearly wanting to end the conversation. Aemond’s hand curled into a fist. Daenys however, took matters into her own hands and shouldered past her brother to meet him, not before Jace reached out to grab her wrist.

            ‘’Daenys!’’ The boy hissed, ‘’What are you doing?’’ Daenys wrenched herself out of his grip.

            ‘’I’m going to talk to Aemond, brother.’’ She returned through gritted teeth, ignoring his warning look, and she turned and rushed towards the prince. She brushed past him, taking him by the hand and leading him away. Aemond looked back at Jacaerys before he was pulled away, unable to resist giving Daenys’ older brother the ghost of a victorious smirk. He returned his attention to his little niece, who had led him to an empty corridor of the Keep. Her hand in his felt warm, smooth, and small. He hummed in satisfaction at how perfect Daenys’ hand felt in his own. He returned his distracted gaze to the brown-haired princess in front of him, who took her hand from his, much to his regret.

            ‘’What happened back there, Aemond?’’ Daenys asked him in a low voice, looking up at him and leaning forward so he could hear her. Aemond blinked, knowing what she was talking about, but wishing that it would somehow be forgotten. He shifted in place but kept his eye on her for a moment before he spoke.

            ‘’Aegon called you a whore.’’ Aemond replied softly, the truth an automatic response to any question that Daenys would ask of him. Daenys’ pink lips parted; her eyebrows furrowed as she listened to his response.

            ‘’And because your brother called me a whore you decided to beat him half to death?’’ Daenys clarified, crossing her arms, looking as though she was holding back a small smile.

            ‘’You are not a whore, princess,’’ He said, ‘’He was also vexing me with all his ridiculous talk.’’ He tried to be nonchalant, to hide the rage that had burned through his veins when Aegon had insinuated that Daenys was a whore. He remembered how he had seen red, Aegon, his own brother, disappearing to his eye and transforming into something he had to punch. He didn’t even realize what he was doing until Aegon was on the ground, writhing in pain, and Aemond’s hands were splattered with blood that they both shared. Slowly, Aemond realized the extent to what he had done, and he was terrified. Terrified of how it was only Daenys’ voice that was able to bring him out of his anger, terrified of what he was capable of to defend his niece, his bastard-born niece at that. Daenys was more dangerous than Aemond thought.

            ‘’You realize that now that the whole court will be gossiping about you and me, right? They will spread the rumor that you defended my honor against Aegon.’’ Daenys scolded. Aemond felt his mind swim, drunk on the closeness of her, on her smell. He leaned into Daenys, dangerously close, brown strands of hair taunting him to reach out and touch them.

            ‘’So, what if I did?’’ Aemond questioned, ‘’I was not going to let him get away with that, sweet girl.’’ The boldness of his statement, the sweet girl, came tumbling out of his mouth, but Aemond did not care anymore. Daenys flushed, and her eyes dropped to the floor.

            ‘’You did not have to do that.’’ She whispered, still avoiding his gaze. ‘’It will only cause more trouble between our families.’’

            ‘’Is that what Jacaerys told you?’’ Aemond retorted, ‘’What lies has he been whispering in your ear?’’

            ‘’They are not necessarily lies Aemond,’’ Protested Daenys, ‘’He is merely looking out for me, letting me know that these rumors you have caused can put me and my family in a vulnerable situation.’’

            ‘’I would not let you find yourself in a vulnerable situation.’’ Aemond said stiffly, insulted at the notion that he would.

            ‘’Jace told me that you could be manipulating me, using me at orders of the Queen.’’ Aemond felt hurt at this accusation. He stared at her, wide-eyed and wounded.

            ‘’You honestly believe that Daenys?’’ The notion that Daenys could look at him with any suspicion made his heart hurt, and Aemond realized he would do anything it took for the girl to trust him as he somehow trusted her.

            ‘’No…’’ She managed after a moment, ‘’I don’t believe that. I trust you.’’

            ‘’I have already told you; I know not of any designs or conspiracies my mother may be concocting.’’ Aemond reiterated, desperate for Daenys to believe him.

            ‘’I believe you, Aemond, please-‘’ Daenys assured, raising her hands in defense, but Aemond cut her off.

            ‘’What I did to Aegon, I did it for you.’’ He confessed after taking a steady breath, ‘’I realize that the insinuation that Aegon created, the one I created, puts your honor as a lady on the line, and I promise, I will do everything in my power to make sure that your virtue is not questioned.’’ Aemond felt as shocked as Daenys looked when he finished. He wanted to shrink away, turn tail and flee, certain of her rejection, but he couldn’t handle it any longer. Every day he spent with Daenys the feelings inside him were building up, bottled up inside him, and he tried his best to keep his composure. Aemond wasn’t an idiot, he knew that the cracks were beginning to show, that he was beginning to be painfully obvious about his affections towards Daenys, but he couldn’t help it. Half the time he couldn’t even be bothered to keep up any charade he knew that he should be.

            Daenys looked up at Aemond, brown eyes soft, and she smiled at him slightly. She reached up tentatively to brush her fingers against his blood-splattered cheek. He would do anything for Daenys, Aemond realized, and that was a problem. His hand acted on its own accord and came up to brush his fingers against Daenys’, the slightest touch taking Aemond’s breath away. They were so close, so fucking close. He could lean forward and just…

            Daenys darted back, away from him, the space between them increasing, making Aemond clench his fist in frustration.

            ‘’Thank you Aemond.’’ Daenys murmured, her hands wringing, letting Aemond know how nervous she was. ‘’You know, Jace has been telling me how much of a bad thing it is for us to be…close.’’ Right, close, Aemond thought with some amusement. ‘’Do you think he worries for naught?’’ Aemond sighed, cocking his head to the side as he looked at her.

            ‘’There is much distrust between our families Daenys,’’ He began, ‘’Your family thinks I am using you for some ulterior motive, and mine feels the same about you, but the important thing is that we are not using each other.’’ He paused to check if his soothing was working. Daenys crossed her arms and huffed. ‘’The only thing to worry about is the absurd comment my brother made, and I will handle it if anything comes up, I promise you that.’’ Daenys nodded, seemingly assured.

            ‘’I cannot thank you enough.’’ She said, giving him a warm smile. They stood there for a moment in silence, and Aemond was tempted to reach out for the princess again, but his thought was interrupted by Ser Criston Cole. The Kingsguard knight had turned the corner and bowed to him, a pinched look on his face.

            ‘’My prince,’’ He greeted, ‘’Your mother the Queen requests your audience immediately.’’

            ‘’I’m busy, Cole, tell my mother I’ll be there when I can.’’ Aemond snapped, giving Alicent’s sworn sword a scathing look. He looked back at Daenys, considering the matter resolved, but Criston did not budge. Daenys gave him an exasperated look, telling him with her eyes to relax. ‘’You’re still here.’’ Aemond groaned, looking back at the Dornishman.

            ‘’The Queen was quite adamant about seeing you.’’ Criston said shortly, giving Daenys a disapproving look. Aemond opened his mouth to give the knight a sneering insult but Daenys but a hand on his arm, like she had in the training courtyard after he had finished beating his brother up. It was a wonder how calming her touch felt to him, easing him immediately, quelling his temper.

            ‘’Go Aemond,’’ She whispered, ‘’Don’t stress your mother out more than you already have, hm?’’ Daenys gave him an encouraging smile, and Aemond begrudgingly nodded, moving to follow Criston.

            ‘’Fine, let’s go.’’ He said finally, and he looked back to give Daenys a little reassuring nod. He followed the knight, who walked swiftly towards his mother’s chambers. Aemond knew she had been informed of what happened, and he was already bracing himself for the anger she would no doubt hurl at him the moment she saw him. Aemond looked back at Daenys as he walked, and saw her staring after him, hands clasped together, looking small and worried in the huge halls of the Red Keep.

Chapter Text

Aemond.

            Aemond took a deep breath before he entered his mother’s chambers, mentally preparing himself for the onslaught he knew was to come. He opened the doors and stepped in to see his mother pacing the floor, picking at her fingers with anxious hands. Aegon was lying on a cushioned armchair, being tended to by three maesters who hovered over him with ointments and salves. His face was battered and bruised, puffy and swollen from the hits Aemond had dealt him, but the blood had been wiped away. He moaned and groaned, shifting uncomfortably under the maesters fretting. Aemond restrained a groan of exasperation himself as he stood in front of the two of them, clasping his hands behind his back. His mother turned to look at him, hands freezing.

            ‘’Aemond.’’ Alicent began, sounding out of breath, ‘’What have you done?’’ She hissed the words out, as if she was keeping a secret. Her mouth was screwed into a permanent frown and her eyes flashed as she took him in.

            ‘’I would assume that you have been informed as to what I have done, mother.’’ Was all he said in response. Alicent made a desperate noise but stood her ground.

            ‘’What were you thinking?!’’ She cried, finally losing what little composure she had left, ‘’You attack Aegon, you make the family look bad, you have the entirety of King’s Landing believing that you and Daenys Velaryon are…are…involved!’’ Aemond sniffed at the choice of words, but he kept a straight face. ‘’Have you any idea the repercussions? Rhaenyra will hear of it; Daemon will hear of it. How do you think they will react now? Not to mention that upon hearing of your bout with Aegon, the blacks will think that we are weak, fighting between ourselves. You have made us look vulnerable Aemond.’’ Aemond said nothing, merely stared at his mother. She threw her hands up in the air, frustrated with his silence. ‘’Look at what you’ve done to your brother! Have you no shame?’’ She pointed a finger to a pathetic-looking Aegon who only moaned in response. Aemond felt himself twitch, anger slowly building up inside of him.

            ‘’Aegon called Princess Daenys a whore, mother.’’ Aemond began, ‘’He called her a whore in front of the entire court! You knew that though, didn’t you?’’ Alicent said nothing, just crossed her arms. ‘’But of course, you have no concern for her reputation or her virtue, which Aegon put into question. You only care for how I made the family look, our appearance.’’ Aemond did not know what he expected from Alicent, but he knew that he could try to appeal to his mother’s gentler nature.

            ‘’You beat your brother bloody over him calling Daenys Velaryon a whore?’’ Alicent questioned, raising an eyebrow. Aemond growled, fists clenching behind his back.

            ‘’I overstepped. Aegon was frustrating me with his endless babbling as well.’’ He managed, gritting his teeth. Alicent gave him a look that told him that she didn’t quite believing what he was saying.

            ‘’You added fuel to a fire that Aegon started then,’’ She countered, ‘’You and Daenys. Your familiarity is something people have noticed, something Aegon only put into words today.’’

            ‘’Don’t put this on her.’’ Aemond spat, unable to stand that Daenys had been brought into this, ‘’We have done nothing but make the King happy. He wanted us to get along did he not?’’

            ‘’I have already warned you about this Aemond, I will not repeat myself.’’ Now the Queen has reverted to her calm demeanor, Aemond’s words having no impact on her. ‘’You know why you should be careful around her, around her family. Your being close with the princess has ultimately resulted in this mess.’’

            ‘’This is no one’s fault but Aegon’s.’’ Aemond sneered. He and Alicent’s eyes met, neither of them backing down.

            ‘’Defending Daenys again, brother?’’ Aegon’s slurred voice called out, making Alicent and Aemond turn to look at him. He was still lying down, eyes closed, but he had decided to chime into the conversation. Aemond’s jaw tensed, barely able to hear his brother speak about Daenys without wanting to lunge at him again.

            ‘’Stop talking, Aegon.’’ Alicent sighed, shaking her head.

            ‘’No, no, look at him mother. He defended her back in the training yard and he’s defending her now. His bastard lover. Is it not the most sickeningly sweet thing?’’ Aemond lunged forward toward his brother, fury coursing through him, but was restrained by two guards who were at the door. He shoved at them, struggled, but eventually decided to calm down and gave Aegon a murderous glare.

            ‘’Watch your mouth, brother.’’ Aemond said in a low, dangerous voice. Aegon peered over at him now, having rushed backwards in fear of him. A little, infuriating smirk was etched upon his face, clearly successful in getting the reaction he wanted from Aemond.

            ‘’Does he speak the truth, Aemond?’’ Alicent questioned, ‘’Have you taken the Princess as your lover after all this time?’’ She sounded like she already knew the answer, but Aemond curled his lip.

            ‘’He’s lying. I haven’t touched her, we are nothing but friends, I swear it.’’ Aemond didn’t care if he was making a fool of himself, he would not stand for Aegon’s obvious attempts to ruin Daenys. Alicent knew Aemond didn’t lie to her. He had never had any reason to lie to her, and he couldn’t remember ever having lied to anyone. He prided himself on speaking the truth, no matter how hard it was. Seemingly satisfied she signaled for the guards to release him. Aemond snatched his arms back and gave the guards a glare.

            ‘’What is the meaning of this urge to defend her then?’’ Alicent questioned, ‘’I have never seen you act like this, Aemond.’’ She paused, and a shadow passed over her face as she thought of something awful. ‘’Do not tell me you love her.’’ There it was. Aemond knew that it was only a matter of time before the Queen decided to bring up the word. Aemond felt himself drowning in the moment, unable to keep his thoughts straight. His affections towards Daenys were obvious, and he was unable to deny that he craved her touch, desired her, but he had done everything to avoid the word love. Aemond figured that if he put a name to what he was feeling, it would become all too real, and he would be lost.

            ‘’No, of course not.’’ Aemond hissed, but when the words came out, he felt sick to his stomach, as if he really was lying. Alicent did not seem convinced by that response. She gave him a long look, as if she was waiting for him to change his answer. He didn’t.

Daenys.

            ‘’Jace told me what happened.’’ Rhaenyra said in a calm voice, standing by the blazing fire in her and Daemon’s chambers. Daenys was sitting down, arms crossed, surrounded by her family. Jace was sitting across from her, and Daemon was sprawled out on a couch, aimlessly twiddling his thumbs as he eyed his stepdaughter with bright violet eyes. Daenys said nothing, merely stared at the ground. She knew word would get around to her mother, yet she had still somehow hoped she could avoid the whole interaction. ‘’Care to share your side of the story?’’ Rhaneyra continued, giving her a questioning glance. Daenys sighed.

            ‘’Aegon annoyed Aemond, he called you and me a whore, then Aemond beat him bloody, that’s about it.’’ Daenys replied, still avoiding her mother’s hard look. The heir to the Iron Throne sighed now but didn’t move from her place.

            ‘’I’m sorry you had to endure that, my dearest,’’ Rhaenyra began. Daenys was thankful for her mother’s gentle attitude, but still knew that it was not going to get any better than this. ‘’You do realize now that the words on every lip in this court will be of the question of your virtue?’’ Daenys returned to her silence, stubbornly avoiding the glare that Jace was sending her.

            ‘’You have nothing to say?’’ Jace jumped in, raising his eyebrows at her. Daenys shot him a murderous look.

            ‘’I have nothing to say.’’ Jace groaned and turned to look at their mother.

            ‘’I told her, mother, I told her that this was because of her unnatural closeness with Aemond, and I told her that she should have seen this coming, yet she did not listen to me and ran off with our uncle once again!’’ Jace was exasperated as he explained himself to Rhaenyra. Daenys’ hand clenched into a fist.

            ‘’It is none of your business who I associate with Jace, and besides we were merely talking, that is all! This was not my fault, despite what you think or what anyone thinks. Aegon was just raving on with nothing but baseless lies, he’s an imbecile, and Aemond was as fed up with it as I was, as everyone was!’’ Daenys cried, sitting up now. She felt the anger, deep within her bones, and she felt as though she wanted to break something. Was everyone against her? She had done nothing wrong. Had she? She heard Daemon chuckle, but Rhaenyra only gave her a worried look.

            ‘’My love, have I not warned you about how careful you must be?’’ Rhaenyra said, ‘’As a woman, anything you do can put your honor into question. While your friendship with Prince Aemond has no doubt pleased my father, you must understand that people notice things, they talk, and now Aegon has brought to everyone’s attention the question of your virtue.’’

            ‘’There is nothing wrong with my virtue-‘’ Daenys protested.

            ‘’You say that Daenys, but that does not mean others will see it that way.’’ Rhaenyra interjected, ‘’You know very well what I went through before, how destructive lies like that can be. You must be careful my love, it is best that you keep your distance from Aemond.’’ Daenys gave her mother a wide-eyed, desperate look. Rhaenyra had never forbidden Daenys from doing anything, and now she was telling her who to associate herself with and with who to not? Another laugh from Daemon made the three of them swivel their heads to look at the older Prince.

            ‘’You really think she will listen to you telling her what not to do, Rhaenyra?’’ Daemon said, his voice dripping with humor, ‘’She’s your daughter.’’ Daenys wanted to laugh as Rhaenyra gave her husband an annoyed look.

            ‘’Daemon, we must be careful, you said it yourself, Alicent and her brood are no doubt-‘’ Rhaenyra began, but Daemon stopped her. He sat up, more interested in the conversation now.

            ‘’I did not say I don’t agree with you, sweet wife,’’ Daemon began, then turned his attention to his stepdaughter, ‘’Daenys, you’ve been foolish to grow close to Aemond One-Eye. Have I not told you, time and time again, to not trust anyone?’’

            ‘’Is everyone forgetting that Aegon called me and my mother a whore? Is there no consequence for that?’’ Daenys cried.

            ‘’I think Aemond took care of it, dearest.’’ Daemon mused, grinning from ear-to-ear. As much as Daenys loved her stepfather, he could be infuriating sometimes. Daenys rolled her eyes, and the room remained silent for a moment. Rhaenyra walked over to Daenys and crouched before her, taking her daughter’s hands in hers, and looked up at her with concerned eyes.

            ‘’Please Daenys, you are my only daughter. I cannot protect you if you do not listen to me.’’ The older Princess pleaded. Rhaenyra’s beauty had not faded in her older age, Daenys had always thought, but she looked tired now, as if she were not getting enough sleep. Daenys worshipped the ground her mother walked on, but nothing irked her like being told what to do or treated as though she was some helpless maiden.

            ‘’I do not need protection.’’ Daenys said through gritted teeth, struggling to not yell at her poor mother. Rhaenyra let go of her hands and stood up, her gentleness gone.

            ‘’You seem to feel strongly for Prince Aemond,’’ Daemon noted, getting up from his spot and circling around to her so he could stand above her. Daenys once again crossed her arms, shrugging. She refused to entertain this mummer’s farce. ‘’Speak the truth, is there anything going on between the two of you?’’ The urge to blush came upon Daenys but she remained stoic, staring at Daemon in the eyes.

            ‘’No.’’ She replied, curling her lip. Daenys knew that her parents would try to break her under their immense pressure, and in this very moment, she hated herself. She hated she had to hide her feelings, when she would rather tell them everything, have them be happy for her, but she knew it was impossible. Everything here was impossible. Her feelings were impossible. Daemon knew her well, meaning he knew she was not telling him the whole truth. He arched an eyebrow, and he and Rhaenyra turned to look at Jace, who had remained quiet.

            ‘’Jace? You must know about your sister’s doings, tell us what is going on.’’ Daemon demanded. Daenys’ heart sank as she stared at her brother. He knew. He knew she loved Aemond Targaryen. She had never confirmed it, but he knew, and he could divulge her secret and have the whole situation turn even uglier than it was. Daenys tried to beg Jace with her eyes to not speak, but she knew she could not control what happened next. Jace looked at her, then looked at Rhaenyra and Daemon who waited patiently for his answer.

            ‘’Nothing more than what we know now.’’ Was all Jace said, giving Daenys a side-ways look. Relief washed through Daenys, and she felt as though she could jump out of her chair and embrace her beloved brother. She suppressed a smile as Daemon and Rhaenyra exchanged a glance.

            ‘’If the both of you are so concerned for my apparent safety, why haven’t we returned to Dragonstone?’’ Daenys asked, ‘’We did what we came for, Luke’s position as heir to Driftmark is secure, Jace and Baela are married. When we arrive home you could lock me up in my room in chains to make sure I am protected.’’ Rhaenyra frowned at her sarcasm.

            ‘’We are remaining here so I can be close to the King while he is ill.’’ She explained, moving away from her to sit. Of course. The unspoken truth. Rhaenyra wanted to stay close so she could be around when King Viserys finally passed, to make sure her path to the throne was clear.

            ‘’Well, I have deemed this conversation to be finished.’’ Daenys said finally, getting up from her spot, ‘’Is there anything else? While I am forbidden to be in the same room as Aemond should I also avoid Helaena? Perhaps little Jaehaera?’’ Daemon laughed but Rhaenyra glowered at her, fed up with her daughter’s attitude.

            ‘’Careful Rhaenyra,’’ Daemon joked, ‘’Daenys seems to have inherited your sharp tongue.’’

***

            Daenys sat in her chambers, forlornly staring out the window as she aimlessly flipped through a book she had on her lap. Her thoughts were filled with Aemond, his long silver hair, his tough hands, broad shoulders. She had not seen him since yesterday and she was shocked to discover that he missed him. Daenys wanted to be near him so badly it was pathetic.

            ‘’Are you alright Daenys?’’ Rhaena called out from her place at Daenys’ couch where she sat reading with Luke. Daenys looked over absently.

            ‘’I’m fine cousin.’’ Daenys replied shortly.

            ‘’You must be terribly distressed by all that happened yesterday,’’ Rhaena mused, ‘’I cannot imagine what you had to endure at the hands of Aemond and Aegon.’’ Daenys sniffed but did not bother to correct her.

            ‘’I am sorry I was not there for you sister,’’ Luke said, his voice sounding regretful, ‘’I would have very much liked to have put Aegon in his place for you.’’

            ‘’Please Luke, I do not need anyone to put anyone in any place for me. I can defend myself.’’ Daenys replied airily, but Luke laughed.

            ‘’Daenys, I mean no offence, but we all know you are too kind to put someone like Aegon in his place.’’ Luke stated, nudging Rhaena as if sharing some sort of private joke. Daenys’ temper flared and she whipped up to look at her younger brother. She slammed her book shut and prepared to think of some sort of smart retort. Daenys had gotten used to being known as the more soft-hearted Targaryen. She was more care-free, had a lighter mood than her family was known for. She was not fearsome like Daemon, the Rogue Prince, or formidable, like her mother. Daenys liked to laugh, she liked to read, and always stopped to pet any kitten that crossed her path. So, she was labelled as weak. No one had ever said that to her, but she knew. Her parents were protective of her, her brothers were protective of her, all because they thought she was weak, and Daenys hated the fact that gentleness was mistaken for weakness. She supposed that was why she enjoyed Aemond’s company so much. She admired him, everything that he was. He was strong, fierce, capable of defending himself. Daenys wished sometimes she could be more like him. Most importantly, however, Aemond could see her, see that she was more than her gentle nature. A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. The door opened and Daenys’ heart nearly stopped. Speak of the devil. Aemond strode in, hands at their usual place behind his back. The prince was dressed all in black, hair pinned back in his usual style and Daenys wanted to swoon. Gods, she was pathetic.

            ‘’P-prince Aemond.’’ Daenys stuttered, ‘’I was not expecting you.’’ Luke and Rhaena craned their heads to ogle the prince who shifted uncomfortably where he stood. Luke got up; hackles raised as he eyed Aemond with a suspicious glare.

            ‘’Princess,’’ Aemond greeted, ‘’I just wanted a word with you. In private.’’ He jerked his head towards the door, a signal for her to follow. Daenys slowly stood up, placing the book gingerly on her seat. She waved Luke down as she followed Aemond outside, where he shut the door behind them. Before Aemond could say anything, Daenys reached out anxiously to grab his forearm. The princess had long ago gotten comfortable enough with the prince to touch him in a friendly manner. The first time she had done so, she had taken her hand away quickly, knowing how much Aemond did not like to be touched, but he did not seem to mind when it was her.

            ‘’Is everything alright? What happened yesterday when you went to see Queen Alicent?’’ Daenys asked, looking up at the silver-haired prince. Aemond sighed.

            ‘’My apologies for not coming sooner,’’ He started, ‘’It went as I expected, my mother blamed Aegon’s behavior on us, I told her she was wrong for it.’’ Aemond paused for a moment before continuing, ‘’She told me to stay away from you.’’ Daenys let go of him.

            ‘’Oh.’’ Daenys murmured, heart dropping into her stomach.

            ‘’That is why I came when I did, I thought you would be alone, however I see now that I was wrong.’’ Aemond said regretfully, nodding his head to the door that Luke and Rhaena were behind, ‘’But are you alright? Did you speak to Princess Rhaenyra?’’

            ‘’Yes, I spoke to my mother, Daemon, and Jace,’’ Daenys muttered, rolling her eyes at the memory, ‘’they said similar things, that I am stupid for thinking that what Aegon did was not all my fault and that I should not speak with you anymore.’’ Now it was Aemond who was looking downcast.

            ‘’Oh.’’ He replied, looking down at her.

            ‘’No doubt my brother will go running to tell Rhaenyra about us meeting now.’’ Daenys said bitterly. She managed a shy glance up at her uncle. ‘’What do we do now? I know any good daughter should listen to her mother’s warnings but…’’ she trailed off, unsure of how to continue, unsure of how to tell Aemond that not seeing him anymore was the very last thing she wanted to do. Daenys fiddled with her fingers nervously, slowly becoming very aware of Aemond’s violet stare on her. The prince looked pained and began to shake his head.

            ‘’I do not see what harm it would do for us to not heed our parent’s ridiculous warnings.’’ He began, ‘’What they do not know cannot hurt them, unless you would rather do as your mother says, for which I would not blame you.’’ Aemond was being so formal with Daenys, as if he was preparing for her to tell him she did not want to be in the same room with him ever again. Daenys knew she could just tell him. She could tell him she loved him; she could choke out the words and watch as it ruined everything that she had grown to hold so dear.

            ‘’I must say I do not wish to cease the pleasure of having your company.’’ Daenys managed to respond, the words getting caught in her throat. Coward, she thought to herself, but when she looked up at Aemond she knew it was impossible to tell him. He was too beautiful, too out of reach for her. She was reminded of her common features and suddenly felt insecure. Her brown hair, her brown eyes, they were the very thing that had torn apart this family in the first place. It was no secret how Aemond had felt towards Rhaenyra’s children, who he himself had named them as bastards, how could she ever hope to tell him how she felt? How could she ever dare to think that he may even want her back?

            ‘’I share your thoughts, little one,’’ Aemond replied, making Daenys’ heart skip a beat, ‘’I do not see anyone else I would rather spend my time with, however with Aegon around I fear that is not saying much.’’ That pulled a laugh out of Daenys, and she felt as though she could jump for joy. If she could have nothing else, if she could not have him, she knew that she at least still had their friendship, and while she thought that that would be enough, she was afraid that she could not keep this up forever.

Chapter Text

Daenys.

            It was raining in King’s Landing. A rare occurrence, certainly, and many were thankful for the rain that cleaned the dirty, dusty streets and freshened the air. Daenys Velaryon loved the rain. She was lying by the window, nose buried in a book as she listened to the drumming of the raindrops on the window. The sky was dark and stormy, but the flickering fire illuminated the room with a cozy glow that made Daenys feel at home. A little knock at her door startled the princess out of her reading and she looked up at the door with a questioning stare, as if she had imagined hearing it.

            ''Come in!’’ She called, looking back at her book. Daenys heard the door open and shut, but she was too engrossed in her book to look up, assuming it was one of the servants or pages that served her.

            ‘’What if I was some hired sword tasked to kill you? I walked right in, and you did not even notice.’’ A soft and familiar voice made Daenys jump up, her book tumbling to the ground as she turned to see Aemond stagger through the door, a smirk on his face. His bloodied, bruised face. A little gasp escaped Daenys as she rushed towards him.

            ‘’Aemond? What in the seven hells happened to you?’’ She cried, her hands going up to ghost over his face, careful to not hurt him with her touch. Aemond’s hand came up to take hers and he lowered them.

            ‘’I’m fine, just had Ser Criston give me more of a challenge today during training, that is all.’’ He replied. He was still holding Daenys’ hands. They were rough, calloused, hardened by years of holding a sword but Daenys couldn’t get enough of their touch.

            ‘’The challenge involved you getting your face completely battered?’’ Daenys questioned, leading him to a nearby chair and pushing him to sit down. Aemond shrugged, finally letting go of her hands as he settled into his seat.

            ‘’It is not as bad as it looks.’’ The prince muttered, wincing as he pawed at his face. Daenys swatted his hand away.

            ‘’Don’t touch!’’ She quipped, ‘’Should you not go to a maester?’’

            ‘’I’m barely hurt, this blood is mostly someone else’s,’’ Aemond explained, ‘’Besides, I wanted to see you, since you haven’t been attending my training sessions as of late.’’ He said his last words with a hint of shyness, looking up at her through his eyelashes. Daenys couldn’t help but smile, cheeks reddening at his admission.

            ‘’You know why I have avoided them Aemond, I don’t want to get you in trouble with the Queen.’’ Aemond sighed but nodded, as Daenys was in the right. While the two of them had decided to not listen to their parents and meet in a more secretive manner, Daenys still did all she could do to not be in Aemond’s vicinity while there were many people around, lest any whispers of them meeting reach Queen Alicent’s ears. ‘’I will play the part of a maester to the best of my ability then.’’ Daenys rushed around the room, grabbing the water basin and cloth, and pulled up a chair next to the silver-haired prince.

            ‘’I do not care if I get in trouble with my mother Daenys, I’m not a child.’’ Aemond huffed in a child-like manner as Daenys drenched the cloth with water. She sidled closer to her uncle, gently cleaning the blood off his face, thankful that it did not seem to be his. Daenys marveled at Aemond’s face, sharp cheekbones carved to perfection, and she relished this opportunity to be so close to him. His eye was closed, and he hummed at the contact. Daenys paused, having cleaned everything but the small cut underneath his eyepatch.

            ‘’Think you’ll have to take that off so I can clean it properly.’’ Daenys whispered. Aemond’s eye opened, and he stiffened immediately under her fingers. Now that Daenys thought about it, she had never seen Aemond without his eyepatch on, at least, not since he lost his eye when they were children, and the wound was fresh.

            ‘’Do not trouble yourself princess, it is not a sight you want to see.’’ Aemond said, twisting his head away from her. Daenys frowned and felt her heart wrench for the man in front of her. He was always so sure of himself, so steadfast in his abilities, never once voicing anything about being insecure of his missing eye. She had heard whispers throughout the court that Aemond wore a sapphire in place of the eye he had lost but kept the eyepatch on so that he would not frighten the gentle ladies in the Red Keep. When Daenys looked at the prince she wondered why anyone would want Aemond to hide any part of himself.

            ‘’Aemond,’’ She began, putting down the cloth, ‘’Remember that night? The night you lost your eye. I was not there but I saw you afterwards, I’m not sure you were awake. I saw you, I saw your face, stitches and all, and it did not stop me from following you around like I was your shadow.’’ Aemond gave her a sideways look, his serious look still on his face, but his violet eye softened.

            ‘’It certainly did not.’’ He managed, the smallest of smiles tugging at his lips.

            ‘’I promise nothing I will see under that eyepatch of yours will disgust me.’’ Daenys vowed. Aemond hummed again, and he went to take off the patch, but Daenys stopped him. With a sudden burst of confidence that she was not sure she had, she leaned in even closer to Aemond and slowly removed it herself. She felt her heart flutter as she grew very aware as to how close her face was to Aemond’s. She was so close she could hear his breath quickening, see his chest rising and falling as she gently pulled the eyepatch off. His violet eye was boring into her brown ones, and he almost looked frightened. His violet eye and his sapphire one. The gem was a sparkling blue, different hues of cobalt dancing in the firelight, and it was placed perfectly in the eye socket, as if he had been born with it. The old scar was pink, skin puckered, and it ran from his forehead down to his cheek. He looked dangerous, deadly, and beautiful all at once. Aemond was handsome, intimidatingly so, yet Daenys was shocked to realize that he was even more so without the eyepatch. She marveled at his beauty, suddenly realizing why people fell to their knees to venerate the masterfully crafted statues of the gods.

            ‘’I must say, I rather like you with the eyepatch off.’’ Daenys breathed, unable to tear her gaze away from his. Aemond was staring at her, lips parted as if he were about to say something, but then broke into a smile. A gorgeous smile that made her heart stop. Silently, she reached for the cloth to clean the rest of the blood she had missed, and the two did not take their eyes off each other.

Aemond.

            Daenys’ soft touch wiped the blood clean off his face and she dabbed delicately at his cut. She was terribly gentle with it, with him, and it made Aemond want to melt into her touch, completely lose himself in her presence. He did not remember the last time anyone had touched him in such a way. Aemond congratulated himself with the decision of making his way to her chambers rather than the maester.

‘’I’ve done about all I can do,’’ Daenys said finally, now avoiding his gaze, ‘’The cut is small, I’m sure it will heal nicely, but if you doubt my healing abilities go to the maester.’’

Aemond chuckled as Daenys rinsed the cloth in the water basin. She had said she liked him better without the eyepatch. She liked him. Aemond couldn’t help but feel naked before her like this, sapphire and ugly scar out for her to see. He couldn’t forget the way she had looked at him when she first saw, as if she was looking up at the stars. Aemond suddenly reached out with his hand, wrapping it around hers and stopping her from her rinsing and fretting.

            ‘’Thank you,’’ He whispered, holding her hand in both of his, ‘’For taking care of me. For not flinching away like many other ladies have in the past upon seeing me.’’ Daenys smiled sweetly at him.

            ‘’I don’t see why you would bother covering it Aemond, a dragon hides from no one.’’ She replied. Aemond rubbed his thumb over her soft skin absent-mindedly.

            ‘’Hm, spoken like a true Targaryen.’’ He mused, earning a little laugh from her.

            ‘’Prince Aemond, calling me, a brown-haired Velaryon, a true Targaryen.’’ Daenys said, with a dry humor ‘’Unheard of.’’ Aemond paused for a moment. They both knew the unspoken truth of her parentage. It was painfully obvious, and Aemond had spent much of his youth looking down on Rhaenyra’s children for the very fact that they were Velaryons only by name. But not Daenys. She was the exception, and Aemond did not care if he was not consistent.

            ‘’I think we both know I am not a-‘’ Daenys started again, but Aemond interjected.

            ‘’A true Targaryen?’’ He questioned, arching his eyebrow at her. Daenys frowned, suddenly looking uncomfortable. She shifted in her seat.

            ‘’Aemond, please.’’ She murmured, ‘’I know we have never spoken of this but…I know what I am. A bastard. That is something you always reminded my brothers of and is something that the whispers of others remind me about every day.’’ She looked downcast, eyes studying her lap.

            ‘’I thought you did not care what others said about you.’’ Aemond said, eyes narrowing. Daenys pulled her hand away from his.

            ‘’I care about what you say though.’’

            ‘’I have never called you a bastard.’’

            ‘’No, but…’’ She trailed off, and Aemond leaned forward to be closer to her.

            ‘’Daenys, listen to me.’’ He started, ‘’You have the blood of the dragon running through your veins as much as I do. You are fire made flesh. I know it, I have seen it.’’ He took both her hands again, more forcefully this time, and they felt so small within his own. They were warm to the touch and Aemond had realized overtime that she ran much hotter than him, finding that his colder hands found comfort in her warmth. ‘’You are a true Targaryen. I have always thought so. It matters not who your father was.’’ He finished. Aemond took Daenys in, her deep brown eyes, rich, chocolate-brown hair, soft lips, and he had the sudden urge to lean forward and kiss her. He wanted to finally taste her, consume her, be so impossibly close to her that they could not be torn apart. Her eyes flickered down to his own lips, as if thinking the same thing. Aemond inched forward painfully slowly, not taking his eyes off her perfect mouth, and Daenys moved forward too, tilting her head up to meet his. The two of them were so close now that they were not even in their seats, practically giddy with anticipation. Aemond could smell her sweet scent now, a smell that he could only describe as being very, well, Daenys. His hand reached up to caress her cheek, his fingers impossibly gentle, as though the princess were a priceless treasure, too delicate and precious to be touched. Their noses brushed against each other’s, their lips now only a breath away and Aemond had to suppress a growl of impatience. He was so close, and so shocked that she was allowing him this close to her, allowing his hands to feel her perfect, satin-smooth skin. Aemond swore he had never felt anything softer in his life. A greedy beast reared its head within his chest, urging him to bear down on her mercilessly and take what he wanted so desperately but he pushed it away, terrified of the way Daenys destroyed his already precarious honor with her very presence.

            ‘’Princess!’’ A knock at the door and a shrill voice made them spring apart from each other, and the moment was shattered, falling out of Aemond’s grasp. Daenys and Aemond leaped up from their chairs, the princess whirled around holding her cheeks, and Aemond snarled with frustration as he ran his hand through his hair. ‘’Princess, may I come in? I have brought clean bedsheets.’’ A serving girl opened the double-doors, arms full, and her eyes widened at the sight of the prince.

            ‘’Yes, thank you!’’ Daenys managed in a shaky voice, turning back around. Her face had gone red, and she met Aemond’s eye momentarily, but the prince stalked towards the doors, hands firmly held behind his back.

            ‘’I’ll be leaving you now, Princess Daenys.’’ He said through gritted teeth. Daenys stared at him, clearly flustered, and as much as Aemond wanted to stay he knew that if he remained, he was in danger of ripping the serving girl a new one for interrupting them.

            ‘’Oh yes, farewell then my prince.’’ Daenys voiced, her tone sounding disappointed. Aemond offered her a little smile before he turned and went on his way, chest heaving, heart beating so fast he swore it was about to burst right out of his body.

…

            Rhaenyra Targaryen traced the bottom of her glass with a ringed finger as she watched Aemond Targaryen who was watching her daughter, her only daughter, from the other side of the room. The family had gathered for dinner once again, honouring the wishes of King Viserys, who had just returned to his chambers after yet another laborious dinner for him given his ailment. Thankfully there had been no dramas or interruptions yet, no punching or pushing. The children remained well-behaved, and Rhaenyra chalked it up to being thanks to Aemond being too distracted by Daenys, who was chatting away with Rhaena and Baela on their side of the table. Ever since the incident between Aegon, Aemond, and her daughter, Rhaenyra had kept a close eye on the second-born brother, watching his eye following Daenys across the room. It never left her, his gaze, as if he had no shame whatsoever. The heir to the Iron Throne felt her heart sink further and further down into her stomach as she caught Daenys give Aemond One-Eye a quick glance. Rhaenyra knew these looks, she had had them herself with Harwin Strong, with Daemon too. Little stolen glances, the sense of someone’s eyes on you, burning a mark into your skin, trying to pretend like nothing was afoot. The princess remembered how it felt, how delicious and exhilarating these exchanges were, yet she would give anything for Daenys to have these exchanges with anyone but Aemond.

            ‘’What is bothering you, my love? You’ve got that look about you that I know indicates something is on your mind.’’ Daemon whispered in Rhaenyra’s ear, leaning closer to her, and putting his larger hand over hers and giving it a little squeeze. His purple gaze followed her own to where the younger of Viserys’ sons sat, saw who he was looking at, and he hummed. Rhaenyra did not even need to verbalize anything for Daemon to understand, which is why she loved her husband so much. They shared a mind, a soul. They were a joint flame, and most importantly, they were good for each other. Unlike them.

            ‘’My dear half-brother forgets himself,’’ Rhaenyra muttered, ‘’He forgets that everyone can see him leering at our daughter.’’ She curled her lip, wondering if she should get up and confront him at this very second, but Daemon hushed her.

            ‘’Let’s not make a scene, not in front of them.’’ He said, and Rhaenyra knew that by them he meant Alicent and Aegon. Rhaenyra sighed and leaned back in her chair, feeling defeated.

            ‘’You are alright with this?’’ Rhaenyra questioned under her breath, trying to keep the conversation out of her children’s earshot. ‘’Daenys told us nothing was going on between her and Aemond and yet the boy makes it blatantly obvious that there is.’’

            ‘’Obviously the fool has grown attached to our dear daughter,’’ Daemon pointed out, ‘’But it is nothing we cannot handle.’’

            ‘’I told her to stay away from him, but you’re right. You’re right, I cannot control her.’’ Rhaenyra said in a worried tone, glancing at Daenys now with a frustrated eye. ‘’Like mother like daughter, unfortunately.’’ Daemon chuckled lowly at this and put his arm on the back of her chair and leaned in closer to her.

            ‘’The answer is simple, my love,’’ He began, ‘’Daenys is of age to be married. Let me make a match that is worthy of her, and she will do her duty and marry whoever it is, and our problem in the form of a one-eyed prince will be solved.’’ Rhaenyra whipped around to give him a sharp look.           

            ‘’You would have me marry off my daughter to some man for no other reason but to keep her away from another?’’ She hissed, defiant in the face of her husband. Daemon cocked his head, looking at her with calm purple eyes.

            ‘’Ah, she’s your daughter now, not ours?’’ He drawled, ‘’Look, she is going to get married anyway. Jace is married now, and she is next in line.’’ Upon seeing Rhaenyra’s pointed look, Daemon paused and stroked her shoulder with a comforting hand. ‘’Rhaenyra, I love you, and I love Daenys. If we betroth her to someone of a good family, it will benefit us all. You will have increased support in your inheritance of the Iron Throne, more swords, more men. Daenys will be safe, away from the Greens, away from him.’’ He shot a glance at Aemond, pointing with his eyes at who he was talking about. Rhaenyra sat in silence for a moment, taking it all in. She knew how much she had hated the prospect of having to get married when she was Daenys’ age. It was a dreaded reality she had wished so badly to avoid. Rhaenyra had seen it as a life sentence to being trapped in a loveless, political arrangement, and she must have given her father many a headache for all the fuss she had caused before she married Laenor. Rhaenyra also hated the idea of forcing marriage upon her own daughter, but she knew that Daemon was right, and she also knew that she would do anything to keep her daughter safe.

            ‘’We will allow her to choose who she likes from the pickings we offer her.’’ Rhaenyra finally replied, giving in to Daemon, yet making it clear that they would not force just anyone on their child. Daemon dipped his head, and her gave her hand a little squeeze again.

            ‘’I will have a list of names on the morrow then.’’ He said, returning his attention back to his food, leaving Rhaenyra to stew in her ever-shittier mood. Gods, she reminded herself of her father, conspiring about the future behind their child’s back, not asking them for any input whatsoever. Daenys would hate her too, Rhaenyra knew how much she liked her freedom, and what the princess feared the most was that the beautiful spark that Daenys is, would fade if she was forced into something she did not want. And yet, Rhaenyra was more afraid of what the greens were capable of. She did not know if her daughter loved Aemond Targaryen, but she was quite certain that he loved her, and Rhaenyra would do everything in her power to save Daenys from the certain pain that would come with being loved by a Green.  

Chapter Text

Daenys.

            Daenys walked through the halls of the great castle, smoothing out her skirts as she made her way to gardens to meet her mother. She had woken up to a servant delivering her a message from Rhaenyra, that she wanted to meet her in the gardens for a leisurely walk, and Daenys hurriedly dressed. She donned a pale blue dress, simple, reserved, stitching running up the chest and tight sleeves. Daenys inspected herself in the mirror, fussing with her brown curled hair her chambermaid had helped her with, once again longing for the silver-blonde hair of the Targaryens. Daenys huffed, angry with herself for a moment, ashamed she resented the brown hair Harwin Strong had passed to her.

            ‘’You look beautiful, my lady.’’ The chambermaid, Ana, comforted, as she cleaned the room. Daenys hummed absent-mindedly, seemingly satisfied with her appearance. As of late she had been more and more preoccupied with how she looked, taking more time than she usually did with getting ready before leaving her chambers. She had not seen Aemond since that moment, the moment where Daenys thought she would finally get the touch she so desperately wanted. It was not so much as they were avoiding each other, or perhaps it was, Daenys did not know for certain. They had been busy, Aemond with his princely duties, and her with looking after her pregnant mother. In the passing moments they did see each other, Aemond and Daenys would lock eyes, hidden smiles shared between one another, and the princess felt her stomach flutter. They did not speak, and Daenys had spent hours at night looking up at the ceilings of her chambers, going over and over what she would say to Aemond, what he would say to her. Mayhaps she would tell him she loved him, mayhaps he would say the same. Or it would happen with him letting her down gently, telling her the truth that she knew, that whatever was going on between them would never happen. Daenys always went to sleep more nervous than she ever had been.

            As Daenys approached the stone arbor her mother had arranged to meet at, she realized that Rhaenyra was not alone. She was sitting, while a taller male figure stood next to her, and they seemed deep in conversation. Daenys cocked her head but continued, and as she approached, she was able to see the man clearer. He was a tall, older man, thin, with dusty brown hair and blue eyes. His face was square, all hard lines, but he offered her a smile and a bow of acknowledgement. He was dressed in a rich green robe, adorned with golden flowers.

            ‘’Hello my love!’’ Rhaenyra greeted her as Daenys joined them, ‘’How do you find yourself this morning?’’ Daenys gave the man an uncertain glance but smiled at her mother.

            ‘’Very well, mother, and you?’’ She asked, taking a seat beside her.

            ‘’I’m alright,’’ Rhaenyra answered politely, ‘’Daenys, I would like you to meet Lord Lyonel Tyrell, he’s visiting King’s Landing and I thought you ought to meet him.’’ Daenys, still confused as to why Lord Lyonel was even there when she thought it would be just her and her mother alone, gave a little curtsy. Lyonel took her hand suddenly and kissed it as he bowed deeply.

            ‘’It is an honor to meet you, Princess.’’ He said in a hoarse voice, leaning back up and meeting her eyes. ‘’You are as beautiful as I imagined.’’ Daenys took her hand back, urging herself to not wipe away the unsettlingly wet sensation and inwardly recoiled at the compliment.

            ‘’My lord, the pleasure is mine.’’ Daenys replied in a short tone. She looked back at Rhaenyra.

            ‘’Mother could I speak to you for a moment? Alone?’’ She gave Lord Tyrell a pointed look, not caring for appearing rude. Lyonel started, and awkwardly shifted in place.

            ‘’I’ll leave you two for a moment, of course.’’ He managed and ambled away. Rhaenyra sighed as she looked up at her daughter.

            ‘’Why is he here?’’ Daenys interrogated, even though she was beginning to get the feeling that she knew the answer. Rhaenyra ran her hand over her belly slowly.

            ‘’I was simply speaking to Lord Tyrell, and it occurred to me that the two of you might get along. He likes horses, hunting, perhaps you could become acquainted with him.’’ So, she was not telling Daenys the truth.

            ‘’Does he enjoy being threatened with dragons as well?’’ Daenys countered, and Rhaenyra rolled her eyes.

            ‘’We will speak with Lord Tyrell, and you will be polite and charming, my child, ‘tis only one conversation.’’

            ‘’One conversation-?’’ Daenys began to protest, but Rhaenyra interrupted her by calling Lyonel back. The princess closed her mouth tightly as the lord approached and took a seat next to her mother begrudgingly.

            ‘’How have you been finding King’s Landing Lord Lyonel?’’ Rhaenyra asked in an attempt to make conversation.

            ‘’It’s marvellous, my lady, it has only grown in magnificence since I have been here last.’’ Lyonel answered, grinning from ear to ear. Daenys suppressed the urge to scoff at his pretty words.

            ‘’It must pale in comparison to Highgarden, I am sure.’’ Rhaenyra said. Daenys already had heard enough and decided to let her mind wander, tuning out the voices of her mother and Lord Tyrell, who she had absolutely no interest in listening to. It was not as if they were speaking to her anyway, she was simply a decoration, something to be looked at and fussed over. After a while of mindless chatter, Rhaenyra excused herself, stating she needed bedrest after a long morning, and Daenys whipped around to stare at her mother in despair.

            Don’t leave me with him, Daenys wanted to plead, but Rhaenyra stroked her cheek affectionately and got up. ‘’Daenys, I’m sure you can entertain the Lord Tyrell for a while longer?’’ Daenys nodded stiffly, her fury rushing through her. How could her own mother do this to her? Leave her with a stranger she cared nothing for? Rhaenyra took her leave, trailed after by her ladies in waiting. Daenys slowly turned to look at Lyonel Tyrell and gave him a fake smile, dreading the words that would come out of his mouth.

            ‘’Your mother tells me you enjoy practicing with the sword, princess.’’ Lyonel noted, sitting down next to her. Daenys shifted, increasing the distance between the two of them.

            ‘’Yes, I do, my lord.’’ Was all she said, not returning his question with one of her own or with any elaboration. Lyonel stared at her, expecting her to say something, but moved on.

            ‘’Do you fancy yourself the next Queen Visenya?’’ He jested, letting out an irritating chuckle that made Daenys twitch.

            ‘’Are you attempting to court me, my lord?’’ Daenys asked suddenly, startling Lyonel with her blunt question. He blinked, and his mouth twisted into an awkward smile.

            ‘’Princess Rhaenyra never said…she did not use those precise words; however, I imagine it would not be entirely out of the question that a young lady such as yourself, who is of age, is seeking marriage.’’ Tyrell explained, stumbling over his words a bit. Daenys clenched her fists. Her mother had no right, no right to do this to her, not like this. She wished Aegarax would come flying from the Dragon Pit to save her from this misery.

            ‘’I am not seeking marriage, my lord, I’m not sure what my mother told you, but I was not aware that any such arrangements were made.’’ She snapped. Lyonel babbled apologies, and out of the corner of her eyes, Daenys saw a flash of silver hair, and she turned to see Aemond further away, deeper in the garden, walking alone with his hands behind his back. He was looking at Daenys and Lyonel, and his arms fell to his sides. He was dressed in his usual black leathers, sword at his side, and his violet eye was narrowed and cold, as cold as she had ever seen it. His gaze was fixed upon not Daenys, but on the man beside her. The princess paled, a sudden guilty feeling welling up inside her, as if she was caught doing something she should not be. Fighting the urge to stand up and go to him, she instead pleaded with her eyes for Aemond to look at her. He did, turning his head slightly to look at her. His expression was unreadable, blank and unimpressed as he gazed at her, only for a moment, before turning away and disappearing into the gardens. Dismayed, Daenys gave Lord Tyrell a look who returned it with a confused one, and she got up abruptly and took her leave.

Aemond.

            The one-eyed prince sat in his rooms in the late hours of the night, staring into the fire that flickered in the hearth before him. The anger that was aflame within him matched the blaze before him as he brooded, thinking of the scene he came upon that morning. Aemond had gone out into the gardens after he heard that Daenys had been spotted walking into the grounds earlier, what he had not expected to find however, was that the princess was not alone. When Aemond saw her, his heart quickened, seeing her looking so pretty, but his face contorted into a sneer as he saw who was with her. Lord Lyonel Tyrell, perhaps the most pathetic looking lordling in the realm was sitting down next to her, staring at her, and it made Aemond’s blood boil at the sight of it. Questions swarmed in his head, why was she alone with him? Had her affections been with him this entire time? Had he cornered her in an attempt to get under her skirts? Despite all this, Aemond knew the reality that was regrettably the ugly truth. He had predicted it, the fact that Rhaenyra and Daemon would find someone to betroth her to in order to keep her away from him. Aemond did not realize it would happen so quick.

            As soon as he had made eye contact with Daenys, her brown eyes widening at the sight of him, his fists clenched at his sides. He wanted nothing more than to feed Lord Tyrell to Vhagar as he watched, laughing, but he retrained his fury and stalked away, not giving Daenys a second glance. Now, in his rooms, he was able to stew in his anger. The very thought of Daenys being married off to someone else had him seeing red, his rage matching what he had felt towards Lucerys when he had taken his eye when he was 10. It would be so easy to have Lyonel Tyrell killed in any way that would satisfy him. Maimed, throat slit, ripped apart. Aemond raised a finger to his lips, remembering how close Daenys’ had been, and how badly he regretted not kissing her. This was jealously he was feeling, he knew, and he was frightened by it. Daenys had him losing his mind, she was all he thought about lately, haunting him day and night. He threw himself into his training, but he was distracted, wanting nothing more than to see her. 

Aemond tried to push away the picture of Daenys in a white wedding dress, marrying some faceless stranger and he clenched his fist so tight his knuckles went white. Conflicted, he stewed with his options, but quickly realized he was being foolish. There was nothing he could do. He had no right. Not truly. This made him angrier. He got up from his seat, forgetting his eyepatch and strode out of the room. Not too long afterwards, he found himself in front of Daenys’ chambers, his feet taking him there of their own accord. He had wasted no time in bribing the guards with gold to leave and forget they ever saw him there. Aemond knew they wouldn’t dare betray him by whispering in the ears of Alicent’s spies.

Aemond knocked on the door roughly, fist slamming against the carved wood, waited for a second, then knocked again, his patience getting the better of him. The door swung open, revealing a surprised Daenys staring up at him, mouth open in shock. She had evidently been in bed, her hair was messy, and she was in a soft white night gown that fell to her bare feet.

‘’Aemond? What are you doing here?’’ She said slowly, clearly confused as she backed away from the door to let him in. Aemond shouldered his way past her, not bothering to look at her for fear of backing down at the sight of her. He almost had, when he first saw Daenys, she looked tired and sleepy, and his heart softened for a moment, but the anger within him remembering her with Lord Tyrell gave him resolve to keep his tirade going.

‘’What were you doing with Lord Lyonel Tyrell earlier today?’’ Aemond asked it in an accusing tone, as if Daenys had been doing she ought not to have been, but deep down he knew he was out of line. At this point, Aemond was too jealous to care. The princess’ eyes widened, looking confused as ever, mouth ajar.

‘’I…’tis a long story Aemond, I was simply-‘’ She began.

‘’I do not need a long story my sweet niece, just spit it out.’’ Aemond spat, and Daenys recoiled at his tone. She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.

‘’My mother ambushed me into meeting with Lord Tyrell today. I was under the impression we would be alone and yet she left me with that insufferable man, which I now understand was her effort to get him to court me.’’ Even when Aemond was being horrible to her she still did not raise her voice in return. She was patient with him, giving him the benefit of the doubt, and for once Aemond wished she would get angry, just like he was.

‘’Your mother is negotiating your betrothal then.’’ Aemond said in a flat tone, and Daenys nodded.

‘’I did not want to be there; a betrothal is the last thing I want right now. My mother had no right.’’

‘’You seemed to be enjoying yourself,’’ Aemond countered, turning to fully face her. He towered over her, but Daenys did not back down. ‘’Clearly Lord Tyrell felt he had some chance at getting underneath your skirts.’’ Daenys’ face went crimson as she gaped at him.

‘’How could you be so blind, Aemond, when you have one good eye that you can see very well with? I did not want to be there with the man, I made it very clear to him that I was not interested!’’ Daenys argued, looking defiantly up at him. Aemond curled his lip into an icy smile as he considered her. Even though she was saying what he wanted to hear, he was too far gone, convinced she was playing a trick on him.

‘’Perhaps not Lord Tyrell then, but I am sure Rhaenyra has many more options for you to choose from.’’

‘’I do not wish for it but…it is my duty to marry one day.’’ Daenys conceded in a bitter tone, ‘’However I did not think it would occur so soon.’’

‘’You would let yourself be pawned off to some lord looking for higher standing?’’ Aemond hissed, ‘’Sold like a common broodmare? How pathetic of you princess.’’ Daenys bristled, shooting a glare at him.

‘’I am a woman uncle; I do not have the freedom to remain unmarried and sire a dozen bastards on a dozen women.’’ She snapped, ‘’Besides, why do you care? You came storming into my room in the middle of the night to ask me about my time spent with Lord Tyrell?” Aemond’s fake smile disappeared when she said this, hating the very thought of Daenys spending time with anyone but him.

‘’I don’t care.’’ The silver-haired prince retorted coldly, lying through his teeth, ‘’Merely surprised that Lord Tyrell would want to taint his line with your bastard blood.’’ Aemond regretted the words as soon as they tumbled from his mouth and he wished he could snatch them back, but it was too late. Daenys took a step back from him, looking hurt for a split-second. He had never called her a bastard, not once. Her hurt was replaced by a furious look in her brown eyes, igniting like a bonfire in the night.

‘’I think you’re jealous,’’ She accused, her voice beginning to raise, ‘’You’re jealous that the one person who gives you attention was giving it to someone else, you’re afraid of being alone again, like you were when I left for Dragonstone when we were children. And now you are lashing out at the only person who will listen, the one you know who can take it.’’ Aemond felt as though he had been punched in the chest, the air from his lungs being knocked out of him as Daenys spoke the truth he was too afraid to admit to himself. Frowning, he stepped towards Daenys, closing the distance between them. The princess stared up at him, fuming, fire in her eyes that he wanted to admire and cower before, but his own rage won out.

‘’You, unlike me my sweet niece, are replaceable. If I ever needed the attention, you say I want so desperately I would have no trouble acquiring it. I am certainly not jealous of Lord Tyrell gaining the affections that are equivalent to one of a common peasant.’’ Aemond heard a little voice in the back of his head screaming at him to stop, to stop lying, to stop whatever destruction he was trying to bring about, but he suddenly understood it. If he could finish this now, he could spare himself the pain of watching Daenys marry someone else. She would hate him like she was supposed to, and he could hate her like he was supposed to as well. The fire in Daenys’ eyes subsided as she looked at him. Her arms fell to the side, and she turned away from him slowly. Aemond waited, waited for some sort of reaction. A scream, a slap, anything but silence.

After a moment Daenys murmured ‘’Get out.’’ Her voice was so soft Aemond had to strain to hear. When he made no movement to leave, Daenys whipped around to face him, brown hair flying, eyes burning, and her rage had never reminded him of a dragon more. ‘’GET OUT!’’ She yelled, her voice shaking at the effort as she pointed to the door. Aemond was not smiling anymore. His face was blank, and with his shaky hands clasped behind his back he stalked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Chapter Text

Aemond.

Aemond was miserable. After the disastrous meeting he had with Daenys the other night, he had time to cool down, and to fully realize the consequences of what he had said to her. Aemond was truly surprised at himself, he was usually calculating, too smart to let his emotions get the better of him, but the prince admitted that there were times where his anger took control of him, making his mouth without him wanting it. Mulling over his mistakes, Aemond heavily regretted everything he said to Daenys, and he wished he could take it back. The poison he had spit at her, the lies he had thrown at her, the hurt in her eyes when she looked at him, it all made his heart hurt. Aemond spent his days sulking about in a terrible mood, lashing out at anyone who crossed his path, and whenever he saw the brown-haired princess, he would try to speak to her, to apologize, explain, even though he knew there was nothing he could say that would fix anything.

Daenys, on the other hand, gave him the cold shoulder. Unlike the other time she had been upset with him where she avoided him at all costs, she let him be around her, to see her, but she did not even register his existence. Her gaze passed over him, as if Aemond were invisible, making him sick to his stomach, realizing how he had taken her attentions for granted. He scowled throughout every dinner the family shared, glaring as he watched Daenys laugh and smile with Jace and Luke, play with little Joffrey. Aemond’s heart ached with her loss, and what made it worse was that she was right there, so close he could touch her. Sometimes he dreamt about Daenys, different scenarios where he would grab her and kiss her, plead with her to forgive him, explain to her that he had not meant a single word he had said to her that fateful night. How could she not see? How could she not know?

Sometimes Aemond would watch Daenys from afar while she spent time with other ladies of the court, when she read, or strolled the gardens, and he could see that she was not happy. Her sweet smile never quite reached her eyes, her melodious laugh not quite genuine. Daenys remained quiet, darkened, as if the fire within her had died, and Aemond felt the same way. She was a creature made for happiness and he had taken that away from her.

When Aemond saw she was accompanied by another lord that her mother had set her up with, he noticed she grew curt, frustrated, even annoyed with them, and Aemond felt a little feeling of satisfaction bloom within him. He knew very well that Daenys would be bored out of her mind with these fools, none of them could compare to him, he would think to himself smugly. He felt even more satisfied when he saw he never saw the same lord sniffing around her twice. So, she had refused all of them. A little smile would appear on his face, but all the same he kept his distance from her, eventually ceasing his efforts to speak to her. Aemond did not want to cause her any more harm than he already had, and he’d rather sit in his own anguish than inflict anymore pain on Daenys.

Aemond was torn between what he wanted, and what he thought he should do. He wanted Daenys, he knew that. He wanted her with him, he wanted her to give all of herself to him, like he was ready to give all of himself to her. In fact, he would give and do anything to be with her, if only for a while. Sitting down by the fire one night, Aemond realized what he felt for Daenys, finally plucking up the courage to put a name to the feeling he had been feeling since, well, what felt like forever to the prince. Yet he knew what his mother would say, what his grandfather would say, that wanting Daenys Velaryon was a folly, and that wanting to be with her was a mistake. Everything Aemond was feeling worked to his disadvantage. To his family’s disadvantage. The silver-haired prince watched the dancing flames in the fireplace before him, and he wished more than anything that he could talk to Daenys. Whenever he spoke to her, he felt sure of himself, steadfast, everything he was not feeling at this current moment. She would know what to do, if the problem he was dealing with didn’t have anything to do with her, that is. Aemond glanced out his window, humming as he observed the dark clouds begin to form in the sky, indicating that rain was coming once more. A ride on Vhagar would clear his head, he was sure, it always did, and he took off his patch, tired of it, and headed for the doors.

The ride on the great green beast did nothing to settle Aemond’s nerves, but he had come to a tentative decision on moving forward. He had always been the type of person who liked to know his next course of action, know exactly what he would do next, and Aemond knew that this situation was no exception. As much as he wanted to apologize to Daenys, tell her how much she meant to him, Aemond had come to the realization that the princess was better off without him. As much as it hurt him, he would rather Daenys remain safe and without trouble if it meant no longer being close to Aemond.

The one-eyed prince touched down on Vhagar just outside the Dragon Pit, and the rain had started to come down, shadowing his somber and miserable state of mind. After receiving a few heartfelt pats from her rider, Vhagar launched herself into the sky again, great wings sending Aemond’s silver-blonde hair whipping around him wildly. Aemond chuckled lowly, and turned, smoothing his hair, but his hands faltered as he saw someone appearing from inside of the Dragon Pit. Daenys Velaryon stepped out from the gloom, taking off her own riding gloves. She was alone, dressed in black and red leathers, tight to her body, brown hair still dry but windswept all the same. Her eyes rose to meet his and she stopped in her tracks, staring at him, and all Aemond’s past thoughts, decisions, plans, went right out the window the second he saw her. Aemond was a selfish man, and seeing Daenys in front of him, so close he could take a step and touch her, he found himself wanting only one thing.

‘’Daenys-‘’ He began, stepping towards her, and the girl flinched away from him, staring, wide-eyed up at him.

‘’What do you want, uncle?’’ Daenys hissed, jerking her arm away from his outstretched hand. Her deep brown eyes looked hurt as she studied him and Aemond felt his heart clench tightly. He did this. Him and his stupid anger.

‘’I just want to talk to you Daenys,’’ Aemond rasped, gritting his teeth as he retracted his hand, ‘’Give me but a moment of your time.’’

‘’What, so you can apologize, yet again? I am all but sick of your empty words, Aemond.’’ Daenys lashed out, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. She looked defiant, however Aemond knew her well enough to see in her eyes that she was considering it.

‘’Please,’’ The prince pleaded, ‘’I must speak with you. If you would only give me one chance to explain.’’ Daenys looked at Aemond, looking him up and down, and he knew that she was close to allowing him to continue. Her gaze was sad, crestfallen, as she considered what he said, and for a moment, Aemond thought he had gotten through to her. The wind changed however, and as the rain began to fall harder, a familiar fire ignited in Daenys’ eyes, one that made even Aemond himself feel uneasy, as if something unpredictable was about to happen.

‘’Leave me alone, you insolent fool.’’ She breathed, lips curling down into a grimace, and she shouldered her way past him, managing to make him almost topple sideways. Desperately, Aemond reached out to take a hold of her arm, but she wrenched it free, now all but running from him. Aemond growled, clenching his fist, and ran after her. Gods be damned would he let Daenys run from him once more.

Daenys.

Daenys supposed that what she was doing was flying. She flew from the scene, where Aemond had confronted her in front of the Dragon Pit. He had begged her to listen to him, and Daenys was petrified to realize that she almost did, yet she steeled herself. Looking at Aemond, taking in his long, silver hair, handsome features, uncovered sapphire eye, and it made her even more heartbroken. Daenys has been a fool to think that Aemond could ever feel for her what she felt for him. But here he was now. Rather than face him, face whatever rejection or apology the silver-haired prince had to offer, Daenys ran, too frightened that, if she were left alone with her uncle for one more moment, she would do something she’d regret.

Rushing down Rhaenys’ Hill, Daenys felt the rain beating down on her, soaking her through completely as she ran. She could hear Aemond calling for her to stop behind her, but she didn’t listen, and scrambled her way down the Hill, surprisingly keeping her footing on the slippery ground. Before she realized it, tears began to form in her eyes and Daenys felt herself gasp as the desperation got to her, wrapping itself around her heart as she remembered what Aemond had said to her. Replaceable. That’s what she was to Aemond, and now he was chasing after her for what reason? Daenys could practically scream out of confusion.

She should have known that Aemond would catch up with her, she was the fool for thinking that her shorter legs could take her further than his long gait. When Aemond took a hold of her arm, stopping her, Daenys let him, and she heard a little voice at the back of her head yell its disappointment at her lack of defiance. His hands on her arms burned through her cold, wet skin as he spun her around forcefully, but not enough to hurt her and she finally met his gaze. Daenys’ heart stopped as her brown eyes met Aemond’s, one violet and one blue, a look that was filled with ferocity and exasperation.

‘’Stop running and listen to me, God’s be good you are quick!’’ Aemond exclaimed, stooping down a bit to look her in the face as he shook her gently.

 ‘’Why should I listen to you?’’ Daenys replied, raising her voice to match his, ‘’All you ever do is lie to me! You tell me I mean nothing to you, and you expect me to simply take it on the chin and pretend everything is okay when you apologize? Gods, I just want you to leave me alone!’’

‘’I can’t leave you alone!’’ Aemond cried desperately as he clutched at her. His violet eye was wild as he stared at Daenys, and his wet hair was plastered to his face, ‘’I can’t leave you alone because I love you, I…’’ Daenys took a sharp breath as the words came out of Aemond’s mouth. She must have heard wrong; it must be a mistake. Aemond blinked at her, slowly realizing what he had just confessed to, and he looked like he couldn’t quite believe it himself. Aemond searched her face for some indication of what she was feeling but Daenys felt frozen, stuck to the spot.

‘’I…I fear that I love you, Daenys. I love you so much, and it terrifies me.’’ Aemond all but whispered his words, and he brought Daenys closer to him, resting his forehead against hers, looking down as if in prayer. ‘’I am terrified of the way you make me feel, as if nothing will ever be okay again if I am not with you. I am terrified of the grip you have on me, anything you want I would give to you in a heartbeat, anything you wish for me to do, I would do without hesitation.’’

 ‘’Aemond…’’ Daenys murmured, her hands shakily reaching up to land on his chest. The prince ignored her.

‘’You need only ask, and I would offer you everything I have, everything I am. Please, I feel sick with love, I think about you all the time and I can’t make it stop.’’

Daenys stared up at Aemond, taking a little step back as his words washed over her. She felt as though her heart had stopped, and she found herself terrified as well, terrified that she might be dreaming this moment and that she would wake up soon. Aemond looked down at her, face completely changed, from an expression of anger to one of anguish. He watched her expectingly, begging her with his eye to answer her, and he slowly moved his hands up her arms to tentatively cup her face. Unable to find the words to express herself, Daenys got up on her toes, reached her own hands up to take Aemond’s face in her grasp, she pulled him down, and kissed him.

When their lips touched, Daenys felt something fall into place within her, a missing part of her she didn’t even know was gone finally restored and she felt whole once more. Aemond’s lips were soft, and the kiss was wet, due to the rain, but he tasted sweet. Breathing him in, Daenys felt his unmoving mouth begin to kiss her back, as if Aemond just realized what was happening. Aemond kissed her back, desperately, moving to hold her hips as he leaned fully into her, making her arch her back against him as she was pushed backwards. Overwhelmed, Daenys fell into the desperation as well, and she wrapped her arms around Aemond’s neck and kissed him as though it was the last chance she would ever get to do so. She wanted to be closer to him, part of him, and the lack of distance between them now as still too much. Daenys felt a fire awaken within her, she felt her entire body aflame now, heating her up despite the cold rain. The two broke apart finally, after what felt like a lifetime, and they gasped for air.

‘’What about what you said?’’ Daenys asked timidly, chest heaving, and Aemond did not need a reminder as to what she was referring to. Replaceable. Bastard. The words still rang in her head despite the kiss they had just shared. Aemond grimaced, wincing at his past actions, but he still held Daenys tightly.

‘’You were right, I was jealous,’’ He explained, ‘’I was afraid your affections had turned elsewhere, and I cannot apologize enough for what I said. Just know I did not mean any of it.’’ Daenys shook her head slowly and gave Aemond’s broad chest a light smack.

 ‘’Do not think you will get off so easily for that just because you’ve professed your love Aemond.’’ Daenys teased, only half-serious. She knew she was too soft to continue to be mad at the prince she harboured such deep feelings for. Aemond nodded, face as serious as ever.

‘’I will spend a lifetime earning your trust back if need be,’’ He declared, ‘’I am ashamed of my actions and I will repent for them if you’d like-‘’ Daenys wanted to laugh at Aemond’s earnest tone, and she silenced him with a kiss, taking him by surprise. Aemond hummed into the kiss, tightening his hold on Daenys, and looked slightly annoyed when she broke away to look him in the face.

‘’I love you too, you realize that?’’ She expressed, giving him a shy smile. She had never thought in a thousand years that she would be telling him this, that she would be in his arms like this, and Daenys felt happier than she had ever felt before. Aemond’s usual pursed lips quirked up into an adorable, crooked grin, a smile she had not seen since they were young children, all those years ago.

Chapter Text

Daenys.

            Daenys Velaryon felt as though she was walking on air for the following days after she and Aemond had confessed their feelings for each other in the rain. She could not quite recall the last time she felt so happy, so giddy and excited she couldn’t stand it. She was also unable to wipe the permanent smile off her face no matter where she went and Daenys found that her thoughts were more preoccupied with a certain silver-haired, one-eyed prince than ever before. Jace and Luke noticed, and while they were happy that their sister was in a better mood, they were not sure what brought the change about. Rhaenyra and Daemon were overjoyed, hoping that maybe Daenys had finally found one of the potential suitors to be worth spending more time with, however their daughter’s disinterest in the lords they offered her remained.

            ‘’I’ll wager she’s in love.’’ Baela whispered to Rhaena one night as they watched their cousin from across the supper table, who was absently playing with her food with a curious smile on her face. What the two sisters failed to notice was Aemond’s gaze on Daenys, a knowing smirk on the prince’s face.

            Much of the two’s interactions were limited to shared glances and secret touches, as their duties demanded their attention somewhere else, giving them no time to be together alone. Daenys also found it very hard to get away from the watchful gaze of all the members of her family, and for Aemond it was the same. She was either with her brothers, or with Baela and Rhaena during the day, and in the evenings Daenys would spend time with her mother, helping her through the later days of her pregnancy. However, Daenys would not deny there was a certain thrill to the subtle grazes of their hands touching, the meeting of their gazes in passing, which sent Daenys’ heart racing.

            During dinner, when Daenys walked past Aemond, and she felt the lightest of touches at her skirts. She quickly looked down to see Aemond’s fingers grasping at the fabric of her dress, gently tugging, as he looked up at her subtly. His eye darted from hers to the door, a silent message that she immediately recognized. Daenys gave him the smallest of nods and suppressed a smirk. As casually as she could, Daenys went to sit down next to Rhaenyra, where she waited a couple moments before whispering about being finished. Excusing herself, Daenys made for the door, throwing a quick look over her shoulder to Aemond, who was in conversation with Aegon. She knew that her mother was also watching her, and once the doors had closed behind her, she released a sigh.

            The princess wandered through the darkened halls, lingering, and beginning to worry if Aemond would really follow. Her doubts were answered when suddenly she was grabbed, pulled into a narrower hallway, and pushed up against the stone wall. She yelped, but was silenced by lips being pushed against hers, and Aemond’s familiar smell drowned Daenys’ senses. The prince had snuck up on her, she hadn’t even heard him coming, and was kissing her now, with desperate force as if it had been ages since they had last met. Daenys wrapped her arms around Aemond’s broad shoulders, surrendering herself to him, but couldn’t help but laugh into the kiss.

            ‘’Aemond, startling me, as always.’’ Daenys giggled, breaking away from him. Aemond kept his face close to hers, bending over so that his mouth was a breath away from hers. He smiled his crooked smile as he settled his large hands on her waist.

            ‘’I missed you.’’ He confessed in a low voice, violet eye boring into hers. His words made her stomach flutter, and she still couldn’t quite believe what he was saying to her.

            ‘’We have been together all evening.’’ Daenys offered weakly, gazing up at prince.

            ‘’Not like this. I have been thinking about you all day, sweet girl.’’ Aemond whispered, and he kissed her again, deep and with a certain sweetness that made Daenys weak at the knees. Sweet girl. Daenys shuddered at his words, heart full, and she felt her cheeks heat up. ‘’Have you been thinking about me?’’ The prince asked, eyeing her. Daenys bit her lip and nodded, making Aemond smirk wickedly, but before he could kiss her once more, Daenys stopped him, putting a hand on his chest. Aemond growled but did not persist.

            ‘’We must talk Aemond.’’ Daenys managed, fighting her urges to continue the kissing, but she remained steadfast. Aemond raised an eyebrow, nodding slowly.

            ‘’I suppose we do.’’ He mused, taking a long arm, and resting it above Daenys’ head.

            ‘’What are we to do now, now that we have…’’ Daenys trailed off, unsure how to describe what the two of them were now. She looked to Aemond expectingly, hoping he would have the answers she was looking for.

            ‘’Now that I have made you mine?’’ Aemond asked, a hint of a chuckle in his voice. Daenys, taken aback, blinked up at the silver-haired prince. She was his. He was hers. Cheeks blazing, the princess looked down at her feet. ‘’I hope you do not expect me to sit idly by as I watch Rhaenyra and Daemon smother you with suitors, hoping to marry you off the earliest chance we get.’’

            ‘’It is not so simple Aemond, while I do not wish to marry any of the lords that they have presented me with, we must go about this carefully, so we do not disrupt the precarious peace made between our families.’’ Daenys explained. Aemond snorted.

            ‘’The longer we wait, the more likely it is that Rhaenyra or Daemon will betroth you to someone else instead of me.’’ Daenys paused at his words, mouth opening in shock.

            ‘’You would wish to be betrothed to me?’’ She murmured, eyes wide. Aemond cocked his head, as if her question perplexed him.

            ‘’Of course. I love you, Daenys. I would take you as my wife, and give you everything you so desire, keep you by my side.’’ A giddy smile grew on Daenys’ face. ‘’If you would have me, that is.’’ He almost looked shy.

            ‘’I would,’’ She breathed, ‘’in a heartbeat. But we must think first, we must be tactful.’’ Aemond rolled his eyes, and when he looked back at her, pressing himself up against her, his eye turned stormy.

            ‘’Daenys, you fool yourself if you believe I would let any other lord near you now.’’ Aemond’s grasp on her tightened, and he brushed his lips on the skin of her neck, breathing her in deeply. He moved his mouth to her cheeks, her ear, pressing kisses wherever he could reach. ‘’Do you wish to know how I would tear any suitor apart for even speaking to you? Looking at you?’’ Daenys felt his tongue on her neck, and she shivered, powerless against him, an aching need for Aemond settling deep into her stomach.

            ‘’I would run them through with my sword for you,’’ Aemond rasped, his lips continuing their journey across her skin, ‘’Say the word my love, and I will feed every last one of them to Vhagar.’’ Daenys gasped lightly, shocked at Aemond’s violent admissions.

            ‘’Don’t tempt me,’’ She murmured, a hint of humor to her tone. Aemond chuckled, bringing his gaze up to meet her own.

            ‘’You think I jest?’’ He replied, his hands coming up from gripping her waist to caress her cheek. ‘’I’m being completely serious.’’ Aemond’s face remained calm, and Daenys could tell her wasn’t joking in the slightest.

            ‘’I can tell.’’ Daenys said cheekily. She reached up with her hand to run her fingers through Aemond’s silken hair, relishing how soft it felt. Aemond closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as Daenys touched him. ‘’While I appreciate your declarations, I am perfectly capable of running any man through with my own sword.’’ Aemond snorted, releasing his grip from her.

            ‘’I have no doubt you can, princess.’’ Said Aemond, ‘’However we still are at a loss, what will you do now?’’ He arched an elegant eyebrow, giving her a pointed look.

            ‘’I will…speak to my mother,’’ Daenys said after a moment in thought, ‘’I will make her see, make her understand…’’ She trailed off, hoping that she was convincing the prince even if she wasn’t so convinced herself.

            ‘’You can try my love,’’ Aemond replied sweetly, ‘’I will speak to my own mother, maybe even beg the King for your hand.’’ He lifted Daenys’ hand to his lips, giving it a gentle kiss. ‘’However, I will burn King’s Landing to the ground if they do not allow it, now that you are mine, I will not let you go.’’ Daenys felt her heart clench, and while she knew she should be frightened of Aemond’s resolve, she felt her body shake with excitement, fire pumping through her veins at the very thought of Aemond wanting her so much. Daenys craned her neck up and brought her lips to Aemond’s kissing him sweetly, attempting to let him know with her actions how she felt. He kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing her closer, impossibly close, and Daenys sighed, content for now.

**

            Alicent Hightower sat in her chambers, contemplating the flames before her that danced in the hearth. Aegon was behind her, twiddling with his cup of wine he no doubt had already had several of.

            ‘’Why did you call me here mother?’’ Aegon drawled, sounding bored. Alicent rolled her eyes. His stupidity astounded her.

            ‘’You know very well why.’’ She stated, getting up from her chair to turn to look at her son. Aegon glanced at her and placed his cup down.

            ‘’No doubt you wish to scheme and plot,’’ He replied, ‘’I have no interest.’’ Alicent rushed at Aegon, and slapped him, her hand stinging at the contact. Aegon seemed unfazed, used to her hits, clearly.

            ‘’You drunk imbecile.’’ She spat. Her heart clenched, guilt eating away at her, yet she continued, ‘’Did you listen to me at all?’’ Aegon gazed up at her, dull violet eyes still uninterested.

            ‘’You still wish to hand the throne to me? Even after exposing your own father for doing the same thing? I thought you mended things with my half-sister.’’

            ‘’We have a tentative peace yes, but I know that when…Viserys passes, the lords of Westeros will only swear fealty to you, his true-born son, and Rhaenyra will take up arms to get rid of you and your children.’’ Alicent explained, folding her hands in front of her. She had thought about this every day since exposing Otto’s scheming to everyone. ‘’I am doing this to prevent an all-out war. If I can convince Rhaenyra that this is the path of less bloodshed, you will take the throne, give Dragonstone to her, and our family will be safe.’’

            ‘’You do not think we will be safe with Rhaenyra on the throne?’’ Aegon asked, cocking his head. Alicent shook her head. Despite how much it pained her, she could not bring herself to fully trust Rhaenyra, to trust that she would not eliminate her children in order to keep her position on the Iron Throne secure. There was too much history, too much bad blood between them, nothing would ever be okay.

            ‘’No, I do not.’’ Alicent conceded, bowing her head. ‘’You must step up Aegon, you must ready yourself to ascend the Iron Throne one day.’’ Aegon sneered, giving her a poisonous look for having put this weight on his shoulders.

            ‘’I do not want the throne,’’ Aegon snapped, ‘’I have no taste for power. I am a drunken bastard, and you know it, mother.’’ Alicent grabbed Aegon’s face with her hand, forcing him to look up at her.

            ‘’It does not matter what you want!’’ She hissed, ‘’When the time comes, you will take your place on the Iron Throne, whether you like it or not. It is this, or death, Aegon.’’ Alicent’s son was silent for a moment.

            ‘’So, Daemon was right.’’ He said finally, rubbing at the spot where Alicent had grabbed him after letting him go, ‘’You exposed Otto on purpose, to lower Rhaenyra’s suspicions and then take the Iron throne.’’ When Alicent said nothing, Aegon continued, ‘’You’re better off giving the throne to Aemond, as Daemon predicted. He’d be a perfect little king for you.’’

            ‘’Aemond can never be king as long as you live. He is only a second son.’’ Alicent whispered. What she didn’t mention was that her trust in her other son was not as steadfast as it once was. His interest in Daenys Velaryon made him a risk. As long as he wanted her, the princess could sink her claws into her son, and her most powerful tool would be with the blacks.

Chapter Text

Aemond.

Aemond had spent much of his waking hours thinking about what to do. His impulse was to take Daenys, who was everything to him, and run away to Dragonstone or even Essos to get married. Long ago, the first day he had let slip the name he so affectionately called her now, sweet girl, she had asked him whether he had ever thought about mounting Vhagar and riding the green beast across the Narrow Sea to Essos and beyond. He had said no then, out of duty, but now he wished they had left then and there.

His second thought was to merely eliminate anyone who got in his way. Any suitor, any knight or Kingsuard that their family threw at them, he could kill, he knew that, but Daenys was right. Keeping the fragile peace that had settled amongst them in the Red Keep was important, but Aemond knew that if it came to it, he could burn down King’s Landing for his Velaryon princess. She was the person he trusted the most, the only one who truly seemed to care for him unconditionally. Aemond remembered that not so long ago, the only thing that drove him was revenge. Revenge on the Velaryon boys for what they did to him. He had been full of bitter hatred and resentment, not just for Luke and Jace, but for his brother, his mother, his father. It burned inside him, the rage and hate bubbling just underneath the surface, threatening to spill over. He had felt done wrong by them, all of them, and Daenys she…she seemed to have quelled his rage, calmed the storm within him and turn him into a gentler person, like she was. At least around her. With her, Aemond no longer felt a need to prove himself, to show that he was worthy of his name, more than his injury. He felt seen by her.

Not to mention, Aemond was besotted with her. In any room they were in together, the silver-haired prince only had eyes for her. He had to fight back to the urge to reach out and touch her, to stroke her hair, to kiss her soft lips. This was the predicament he found himself in now, as he followed behind Helaena down the aisle of the Great Sept of Baelor. It was the day of the Smith, a religious festivity in honor of its namesake, and the High Septon had summoned one and all for the ceremony. The royal family fell in line first, Rhaenyra, as heir, representing the King, who was too ill to attend. She stood behind the High Septon with the rest of her family, and they watched, as every other onlooker watched, Queen Alicent and her brood approach to take their places as well. Aemond spied Daenys, looking splendid in a modest crimson red dress, black steel dragons adorning her hips and shoulders like armour. Aemond pushed past his sister and managed to get a spot standing next to Daenys, who was standing behind her brothers. He saw Alicent give him a little look, but the whole family was there and with the common folk watching them she said nothing.

As the High Septon started speaking, raising his arms to praise the name of the Smith, Aemond leaned over slightly, closing the distance between him and the princess.

‘’It’s good to see you princess.’’ He whispered in the softest of voices. He was drowning in the scent of her, the sweet, sweet smell that made him feel at home and could not quite describe. Her brown hair tickled his nose and he saw Daenys shiver. Smirking wickedly, Aemond leaned away. The princess gave him a sideways look, as if chastising him for speaking during the ceremony.

‘’Aemond.’’ She breathed in response, an uplift to her tone giving off the impression she was pretending to be nonchalant. Aemond and Daenys were standing towards the back, behind Helaena, Jace, and Luke, and the one-eyed prince used this to his advantage. Coming up behind Daenys, he sidled up to her as close as he was able, too tall to be head-to-head with her, but enough that his arm snaked around her waist, giving her a firm squeeze. Daenys jumped at the sudden grab, cursing him under her breath as she tried to remain composed and not draw attention to them. She said nothing to Aemond, not able to turn around and give him a murderous glare he knew she would but gave him a tiny shove with her elbow. A wicked idea formed in Aemond’s mind now that Daenys was powerless to protest, one that had been gnawing at his thoughts for some time. Daenys usually was the one to tease him, now it was his turn.

Glancing around to make sure that everyone’s attention was still on the High Septon, Aemond’s left arm fell from Daenys’ waist to her round behind, where he squeezed, hard, at the soft, pillowy flesh. Daenys muffled a yelp, covering her mouth. Jace looked back at her for a moment, giving her a confused look, which Daenys shook her head in response to, motioning that she was fine. She gave him a harder shove.

‘’Aemond, stop!” She seethed quietly. Aemond gave a low chuckle.

‘’Can’t run from me now pretty girl.’’ He hummed in return. Aemond squeezed at her again, slowly, fully taken advantage of his hand being out of sight. He felt himself get hard and he tried to adjust himself. Daenys did nothing to stop him, but he felt her stiffen, standing as rigid as she could to now draw attention to their sinful acts. Unable to stay away from her for much longer, and willing to take the risk, Aemond pressed himself against her, grinding his hardness ever so slowly against her. He wanted her to feel him, to know how badly he wanted her, all the time. The tiniest of gasps fell from Daenys’ lips, making Aemond smirk gleefully. The threat of being caught, of touching Daenys like this in front of everyone, their family, in the Great Sept, set his blood on fire and he imagined what it would be like to fuck her for the first time. He shook his head, sinful thoughts paining him since he could not act on anything right now. Pulling away from the princess, he settled for taking her hand for a moment. Daenys glanced up at him, eyes full of mischief and disbelief.

‘’You’ve gone mad.’’ The brown-haired princess murmured, a smile on her face. Aemond didn’t miss how her cheeks had gone pink, covering her freckled nose too. Aemond sent her a sly smile, and he regretfully let go of her hand. As he did, he noticed eyes on the pair of them. Daemon, as usual, was off to the side, lurking in the shadows like he liked to do, simply an onlooker to the masses, never part of the affair. The Rogue Prince was looking at him, face expressionless, eyes cold, and Aemond’s lip curled in annoyance. Daemon had surely seen Aemond hold his adoptive daughter’s hand, which made Aemond feel uneasy. Out of their horde of family members, Daemon was the only one he feared. Feared and admired. He knew Alicent and her father had had their treacherous little schemes and influence, but they both feared Daemon too. Growing up Aemond wanted to be Daemon Targaryen, the polarizing Rogue Prince, that people loved and hated. Today, Aemond wanted to be like him, everything he had done in his life was to reach Daemon’s level, his level of skill and cunning. Dangerous. Unpredictable. Everyone feared him, respected him in that fear. Even Otto Hightower, Aemond’s grandfather, feared Daemon as much as he hated him. Rules did not apply to Daemon. He came and went as he pleased, loved who he wanted, killed without consequence. Yes, Aemond wanted to be like Daemon Targaryen, so much so it outweighed his fear of the man. Aemond could do what he wanted too, love who he wanted, and kill without consequence just as well as Daemon could.

***

Rhaenyra Targayren waited in her solar patiently, hand soothingly rubbing on her swollen belly. Soon her baby would come, hopefully not before she would ascend to the Iron Throne. It had been an easy enough pregnancy, despite the stress of it all. Lately the cause of her stress had mostly been surrounding her only daughter, but Rhaenyra was hoping that it would soon come to an end. She had a duty to protect her child, and she would do anything for Daenys, even if right now the girl did not see it like that.

‘’Princess? The Queen is here to see you.’’ The voice of an attendant called out, and the sound of the door opening and closing announced Alicent’s entrance into the room. Rhaenyra’s childhood friend was dressed in her typical green fashion, and she wore a stern look that rarely seemed to ever leave her face as of late.

‘’You wanted to see me, Rhaenyra?’’ The Queen questioned, standing on the other side of the room. Rhaenyra dipped her head.

‘’We need to talk.’’ Was all she said, and she gestured for the other woman to take a seat. ‘’My daughter.’’ Rhaenyra only had to speak the words and Alicent already seemed to know what was going to be said. ‘’As you may know, Daemon and I have been looking for a match for Daenys.’’

‘’Have you found anyone?’’ Alicent asked slowly. Rhaenyra paused. She knew what Daenys wanted. She would be blind to not know, and the princess was painfully familiar with hidden love. Daemon had been pushing for Daenys to be wed to Cregan Stark, while Rhaenyra still clung onto hope that Daenys would be able to choose from one of her many suitors, but she had refused them all. Rhaenyra knew who Daenys was holding out for, and she was even counting down the days until Aemond or Daenys would come to her, begging permission for them to be wed. Even if it was not obvious to them, Rhaenyra knew, she knew what her daughter was feeling, and she so desperately wanted to give Daenys what she wanted.

‘’There have been a couple options,’’ Rhaenyra began cautiously, ‘’However, I have been considering what a union between Daenys and…Aemond would be like?’’ She ended her statement as more of a question, hoping to ease the impact on Alicent. Alicent’s eyes flared for a moment, as if she were surprised at the suggestion.

‘’Daenys and Aemond?’’ Alicent said in a low voice, ‘’Why would we allow that?’’ Rhaenyra fought back a wince.

‘’Well, it does not seem like an awful idea, correct? It could unite our families, solidify the peace that you worked so hard to achieve.’’ The princess ventured, testing out the waters. Alicent shook her head, making Rhaenyra’s heart sink.

‘’I do not think it would be in Aemond’s best interests to marry your daughter, princess,’’ Alicent explained, ‘’Aegon has already married within the family, and I believe it would be best to have our children branch out to different families. It would be beneficial for the Targaryen dynasty to forget it’s custom of marrying within the family, do you not agree?’’ Rhaenyra’s lips tightened, and she noticed that Alicent’s fingers were busy picking at her fingernails. An old habit Rhaenyra had forgotten about.

‘’I would suggest marrying Daenys to the Tyrell lord,’’ Alicent went on, ‘’I have a cousin in Oldtown who would be a fine match.’’ Rhaenyra sighed. Conflicted, her thoughts swirled around in her head. If she fought Alicent on this, it would cause trouble, and trouble was the last thing she wanted right now. She thought back to what Daemon had told her and considered the benefits of Daenys marrying Aemond. In another life, if things were different, a union between the two would make sense, but now, Rhaenyra had to unfortunately think about her position. Daemon had taught her as much. Daenys marrying Aemond would put Rhaenyra and her family at risk. Should Aemond be scheming with Alicent to usurp the throne for her, Daenys would be caught in the crossfire, torn between her mother and her husband. If Rhaenyra married Daenys to Lord Cregan Stark, she would have the power of the north behind her.

‘’A Tyrell or a Hightower would not do.’’ Rhaenyra finally said, ‘’My husband has recommended we marry Daenys to Cregan Stark, Warden of the North. I believe this is the course of action I will take.’’ Alicent’s eyes widened. The Queen knew what power the north held, and evidently, she did not seem to like it.

‘’Marriage between your daughter and a member of my family would really best princess, uniting our families in a way that does not involve marrying too close in the family.’’ She protested, trying to convince Rhaenyra. Steadfast in her final decision, Rhaenyra shook her head.

‘’Daenys will marry Cregan Stark, and I will have my son Jacaerys fly to Winterfell as soon as possible to arrange for it.’’ Rhaenyra had to put Daenys’ best interests first, even if it was not what her young daughter would want A marriage between her and Aemond Targaryen would only bring her pain and suffering, should Rhaenyra’s suspicions of the greens should come to pass.