Midnight Blades [Aemond Targaryen x female!reader]

Part 5

The city was alive as the people of King's Landing gathered to celebrate a god that you did not believe in. It still didn't stop you from gathering a cloak of Aemond's you found in the room, pulling the hood over your head and following a maid to find a stairwell the Tarygaryen's surely wouldn't lower themselves to use.

Sure footed and silent, you descended into the bowels of the Keep and followed your nose until you passed the kitchens. No one even gave a second glance your way as they rushed to prepare for the celebration feast you were to attend with Aemond.

"Bollocks," you cursed under your breath as the mouth of the alleyway opened to an airy courtyard and there in the middle stood your husband. He had yet to see you as he trained with Ser Criston, and you could hardly see him through the thick ring of men circling like vultures to see the fight, but there was no mistake who the long silvery hair belonged to.

It wasn't until the men peeled away that you realised you had watched the entire fight unfold and it had held you enraptured. It also meant there was now nothing blocking him from seeing you and you stepped back into the shadows hoping he would dismiss you as just another observer.

You hadn't been in Red Keep long enough to find a secret exit so with no other option but the gate ahead you inhaled deeply and peeked around the corner to see if he was gone.

"Looking for someone?" Aemond asked with a small amused smile, pushing the hood back to bare your face. "Or was that your poor attempt at spying?"

"Neither, I wish to see the markets and parades," you replied as you stepped around him, feeling his body follow like a shadow to your own. "But if anyone were to ask I would certainly report the sub-par training I witnessed."

Aemond chuckled and kept half a step behind you all the way past Red Keep's gate and into the bustling city. The residents stood silent as their prince strolled by and the curious stares turned to you as he placed his hand low to your back every time a horse whinnied too loud or someone stepped too close.

"We should not have left without an escort," Aemond said in your ear when music started to rise and the parade began. Dancers made their way down the streets with bells on their feet and bright ribbons in their hands. They jumped and sang along, twirling the ribbon in cascading colours and you rose on your tiptoes to see them pass by.

"What?" You frowned as you caught Aemond watching you with parted lips and an intense stare.

"They made you smile."

Your frown deepened as you turned to face him. "You say that as if I am a miserable wretch. I do smile."

His lips curved into a small smile as he started to disagree, "Your saccharine smiles towards my family are not genuine. Not like that one." He traced his thumb over your lips. "It changes your entire face, makes you look-"

Your heart hammered in your chest as he spoke until movement in his blind spot distracted you from what he was about to admit. "For Rhaenyra!" a stranger shouted as he lunged for Aemond.

The dagger hidden beneath your cloak warmed at your touch as you pushed Aemond aside to meet the blade that aimed for his gut. His eye widened and a flash of betrayal crossed them before he realised you weren't going to gut him but trying to prevent it. More screams of support for the 'True Queen' erupted and Aemond pressed his back to yours, drawing his sword and squaring off with the armed men surrounding you both.

"Scythian scum," one man growled as he pointed his dented and chipped sword at you.

"Still better than being a piece of shit like you," you spat back. "That escort sounds quite useful about now."