Chapter Text
She leans on Aemond's chest. Her hands grab onto his doublet fiercely. It would be nice to burrow herself in him forever and be held by his long, lanky limbs, and forget about the external world.
His eyes, a stunning lilac, never fail to make her breath catch in her chest even after years of exposure to them. The way they hold her gaze and focus solely on her still makes her feel warm. This is what she is fighting for: to protect this safety, this love, a future in the arms of her lover who gets her like no other.
She has worked hard to avert disasters and tried and tried and tried to ensure that everyone would get along. She is exhausted. She can't work behind the scenes and pull everyone’s strings along anymore. She has to trust Rhaenys to take care of the politics now. She can't do this anymore. She can do so much more. She has to do this one last thing. She has to confide in Aemond.
He will understand. She doesn't fear his lack of understanding when he is used to Helaena's prophecies. He knows of her own condition as well. Viserys hasn't exactly been shy about his family having two Dragon Dreamers in one generation; if she can even be called one. Aemond will understand. It is the heartbreak that he will face that she cannot stand. To ask him to kill a family member would be too much. He would do it to secure his nephews’ and nieces' lives but Gods, would Baela even speak to her again? Will she and Aemond need to flee? Will Jace hunt her down on Baela's orders? This is a last-resort measure. It may not come to that but Aemond needs to know and be ready if it does. She will aid him in killing Daemon. Aemond won't die alone at the bottom of the lake. Not on her watch.
Helaena has said that they’ve done everything they can. Her dreams are cryptic too. She has changed things too much. Any knowledge of canon that she knew, she has already used it up.
Will Aemond feel betrayed? Manipulated? She has manipulated everyone. She didn't spare her own parents. Not wanting to be a prisoner of war or roast meat was her top priority and naturally, morals took a backseat when she embarked on this journey.
Aemond will understand. Their love isn't manufactured and manipulated to exist. She anticipated a marriage to him to appease the Greens but the love between them was built block by block by both of them. The seeds sown by their love grew into this majestic tree without them noticing it over the years. Their reluctant proximity to each other, while they researched their dragons, gave way to fondness and attraction. She smiles as she recalls how much they butted heads in private about their theories, but how he always respected her as a peer and demanded the Maesters do the same.
She looks up at her sweet husband. So tall. Always so tall. She gently cups his sharp jaw while she raises herself on her toes to kiss his chin. This got his attention from the conversation he was having with Aegon.
His eyes softened as they alighted on her. A softness reserved only for her, their dragons, Alicent, and Helaena and Aegon's kids.
"Laenyra? Do you need something?"
Oh, how can she resist an opportunity like this? "I would like to ride my dragon now, husband."
From the corner of her eyes, she saw Jace's eyes widen and Aegon start choking on his own spit. Her dearest husband wasn't faring any better. His face turned a whole shade of tomato red and his mouth started opening and closing.
She throws him a rope though as he starts sputtering to Aegon's loud accusations of "No wonder my dear brother cherishes his dragon riding time so much!"
"Will you not accompany me on my flight, dear husband? It is a good night to fly. Aegarax would even tolerate Grey Ghost's presence."
Alicent's half-relieved chuckle is loud and the dinner table conversation resumes haltingly with her brother Joffrey encouraging it with his loud complaints about the loads of rare perfumes he has been gifted and has no clue whom to share with. He deserves a whole batch of brownies. She will make it just for him.
"We can go flying in the daylight, wife-"
She stops his protests in its tracks. "Please, uncle. Please." her dark violet eyes plead to him. Who is he to deny them? No one has been able to deny the lovely eyes of his wife since she was a child and now she is a woman grown who employs those brilliant twinkling orbs quite generously. He has never been exempt from their power.
"Do you have your cloak? Should I send someone to fetch it?"
"I was hoping that you could join me on Aegarax and keep me warm."
"Grey Ghost might not agree, love."
He turns towards the nearest maid, "Fetch Princess Laenyra's cloak from our chambers. Meet us in the courtyard."
His eyes track the slight tremble to her playful smile. She makes a valiant effort to laugh and act unbothered as they leave the dining hall but steadily the distance between them lessens and her grip on him tightens as they leave the prying eyes.
"I must tell you about my dreams, Aemond, and why we can't have a child just yet. Please don't shut me out in your rage. I am on your side, husband, always... Never doubt that. " Her eyes steadily disappear behind a mist of tears.