The True and The Brave

𝔖𝔦𝔵: ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔲𝔪𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔡 ℑ𝔤𝔫𝔦𝔱𝔢

[AN: I guess you all know where this is heading] [Content Warning: Smut and all too relatable trauma] (Loving all the support guys, really!)

[btw this chapter is heavily inspired by one of my favorite characters in a book series. This is for all of my Nesta girlies who feel too related to the way she processes trauma]

Aemma was properly congratulated by all of the people present, including those faces she was rather surprised to see. Lucerys, Jacarys, and Joffrey. Her brothers. Lucerys was the first one to extend a congratulation. A tense one due to Aemond dully humming at his words. Then it was Jaecarys who only had unshed tears in his eyes. Once he reached Aemma he was sure to engulf her in a warm embrace, "I am so sorry, sister. Mother shouldn't have forced that ordeal upon you. I am here to wish you both good fortune...and apologize, for everything, Aemma. Truly".

Aemond stood there, his rigid body giving little to no emotion. He was curious about whatever that ordeal entailed. But he wanted to speak with his wife privately. This ceremony was troublesome in that manner. And his mother had ordered for the Septon to be in the room for the consummation of his marriage. 

"Thank you, Jace. I wish you good fortune too. My husband and I thank you for your presence in our union, I hope you inform Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon in due time". 

Aemond almost rolled his eye. Almost. But his gaze was stuck on his wife. His beautiful wife. He would imagine this moment before. Having her in her arms. Being hers. Ever since he was a little boy, it was everything he wanted. His Aemma. 

Before Lord Jason Lannister congratulated them, Aemond seemed to have enough pleasantries and silly words. He wanted to be with his wife. Alone. 

"Wife, I believe we must take leave", he said, his voice a cold shell to those words he had whispered with raw emotion. 

Aemma nodded, she too, had placed her iron mask back on. A moment of weakness she had tried to believe. The little girl had taken over her heart and mind. But Aemma wanted to push her away to the very bottom and bury her with mounds of rocks. 

The pair walked in utter silence to the gardens. Aemma cleared her throat. Her heart thrummed trying to control her breathing. After years of silence and coldness, they were finally here. 

"What happened to us, Aemond?"

And the ball had dropped. Every emotion she tried to bury. Every thought she scorned herself of thinking. Everything had dropped to her heart. She was going to be honest. She did not know what love felt like, an intimate love that you could only have with one person. She thought she could have it with Cregan, but it had fallen before it built itself. 

Aemond's eye fell to the floor, "We happened. We drove ourselves apart", he said as if in a trance. 

"We did. Both you and I. But we can't blame ourselves any longer. I can't blame you any longer", Aemma said, taking a step forward. 

Aemond tensed from beside her, "Neither can I, but it isn't so easy to do"

"Then tell me, Aemond. Why?", she pressed, her hand flew to her chest as if her heart had suddenly pained her. 

His eye lifted from the floor, watching her intently. He took a deep breath and sighed, "Because I thought that I needed to prove myself to you. I thought I needed to become this shell of a man to be strong enough to protect you. And yet every time you came through that door, you came back even stronger. Eventually, I started to resent you. You took a part of my boyhood, Aemma, and you left without realizing it".