ELLIPSISM, aemond targaryen

[010] the rogue prince

THE CRUISE FROM Dragonstone to Driftmark wasn't long and since Aemma didn't get many opportunities to go on boat trips she enjoyed every second of her little adventure. Therefore, unlike her brothers, she did not go to sleep when they boarded the ship, instead she stayed on the front part of the deck and stared at the sea ahead.

The morning was so early that the sun had not yet risen and the sky was still partially dark blue and a few stars could be seen. The wind was cool and blowing her hair, and combined with the salty air, the sound of the waves and water around her, Aemma felt like she was in a dream.

And maybe sadness and loneliness were part of this dream, because Aemma didn't even think and didn't cry over Harwin Strong, because she had already managed to do that yesterday to keep her tears for Laena Velaryon, but something from that pain remained and she kind of knew that it would become a permanent part of her life.

The sounds of footsteps behind her snapped her out of her trance and Aemma looked surprised at Laeonor who looked lost and empty since last night.

"Father," Aemma said softly, walking towards him.

Laenor didn't respond to her until she grabbed his arm and he jerked away. "Aemma. What are you doing here, shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"I could not sleep," she shook her head, stroking the back of his hand with her thumb. "Do you want me to keep you company?"

Despite the fact that Laenor didn't feel like talking to anyone and didn't feel like looking at pitying looks, he knew very well that he would never be able to send Aemma away.

Aemma understood his silence and still holding his hand pulled him to the side of the ship and they both looked at the surface of the sea.

Aemma didn't know what to say. She was good at sympathy and calming people down (at least by Targaryen standards), but what can you say to a person who has lost a sibling, their other half? Lies about how things will get better, that death is natural and inevitable, that you will learn to live without them and forget.

Aemma didn't want to tell him any of that.

"Father?" Aemma gently squeezed his hand and Laenor hummed in response. "Do you remember how you soothed me when I was little because I was afraid of the dark?"

Laenor gave her a puzzled look.

"I cried then because I looked outside and didn't see the sun. I was afraid it would never come back. That I will stay in the dark forever."

Laenor looked like he was starting to remember.

"That's when you showed me the moon. You said that even if there is darkness all around, there is always something that will shine. And you also said that the sun would return. That maybe I can't see it and it's not here with me, but it'll come back," Aemma said softly leaning her head on his arm.

She felt that the tension in his hand, which she was holding, partially dissipated.

"I think you and Aunt Laena belong together too and will meet again. And that she wants you to live your life as long as you can and she will wait for you and watch over you, even if you don't see her. And then when the right time comes, you both will watch out for other people you love and want them to live too."

Laenor watched her for a long time and then, when Aemma looked at him with an encouraging grin, he smiled slightly. "I hope you are right. It's a shame you didn't get a chance to meet her."

Aemma nodded, her smile falling. "It is."

"She would love you. You're more like her than you'd think. You both have a dragonrider soul," Laenor chuckled quietly.