The ride from the outside of the Red Keep to Dragonstone did not take long once Vhagar took to the skies. Hiding from those residing inside the ancestral Targaryen seat would be impossible on the great beast, and you weren't surprised when you were met at the gates of Dragonstone with armed guards and Caraxes.
Rhaenyra stood tall wearing her late father's golden crown with Daemon on her right, Ser Erryk on her left. Your brothers Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey are behind your mother and Daemon with guards on either side of them. Jacaerys is much taller now, his shoulders broadened out and his jaw sharper than it used to be. Lucerys still has a baby look about his face but he's taller too, with dark curls swirling at the top of his head. Joffrey stood in between his older brothers, a younger copy of the older two.
Your heart hurt at the sight of them, at the reminder of all the time you'd missed. You stepped forward towards your family with Aemond by your side, the two of you hand in hand as Vhagar settled behind you.
Ser Erryk stepped forward, "You stand before Rhaenyra Targaryen, First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady Regnant of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm. State your cause."
You let go of Aemond's hand as you keep making your way towards your mother, only to be stopped by Ser Erryk. Aemond is there in a flash, placing himself in between you and your mother's sworn knight, hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword.
"Mother, please," you plead tearfully, unexpectedly overcome with emotion. "I only wish to return to my home, to my family with my husband by my side. We've come here in peace, mother. I could not stand to be in King's Landing anymore."
Rhaenyra's composure crumbles as she opens her arms for you and you break into a run. The two of you meet each other part way and wrap your arms around each other.
"My sweet girl." Rhaenyra cries softly into your hair before pressing several kisses on the side of your head. "I've missed you so much."
"I missed you too," you whisper back. You pull away and take in the sight of your brothers, all far taller now than when you had seen them last. "I've missed all of you."
Lucerys takes this as the invitation it is and lurches forward to join the hug. Joffrey and Jacaerys follow soon after, and the lot of you end up wrapped around your mother. You are the one to pull away first and you return to Aemond's side, once again lacing your hand with his.
Rhaenyra allowed the two of you to take some time to settle into your old chambers before dinner. Your room hadn't changed much other than a thin layer of dust over some of it despite the obvious attempts to keep it clean. The room is slightly smaller than the chambers you were used to in the Keep, but nothing could beat the comforts of home.
When your maids arrive to help you and Aemond ready for the welcome home dinner, you send them all away. Aemond had been rather tense since leaving the Red Keep and you wanted some relaxing time alone before facing your family once more.
You readied the tub provided in the generous bathing room off the side of your chambers. Before calling for Aemond you mix various sweet smelling, relaxing oils into the scorching water, not once bothered by the heat. Once the two of you are undressed and in the tub you began with gently washing the grime and sweat from Aemond's body as he began on yours.
"You're tense, husband," you said softly, massaging a knot from the muscle of his shoulder. You sat on Aemond's legs facing him with your own legs wrapped around his waist as he moved his hands over your body.
Aemond only hums his response, choosing to focus on your body rather than your words. You pull away slightly to meet his eye. For the first few months of your marriage Aemond refused to let you see his bare face. You'd asked him on your wedding night to show you his barren face. He refused, of course, and forbade you from bringing up the topic again. It wasn't until four months after your wedding that he finally revealed his face beneath his eyepatch.
