The Tragedy of Liliyana Lannister 𓆗♡ AEMOND TARGARYEN ♡ 𓆗

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Liliyana's hair needed to be washed, and Aemond agreed.

"You...want to wash my hair?" she asked him.

"Only if you allow it. You cannot use your hands right now. I can call your handmaids to assist you, though, if you prefer."

"Well..." She weighed her options and smiled. "You are already here."

Aemond mirrored her smile. He would never leave, if he could help it. His beloved's mood had lifted since earlier this evening. Her infectious smile brought him life. "I am," he whispered, leaning into her neck. The action resembled a cat marking their scent.

Her insides tingled when Aemond's face tickled her skin. A giggle left her lips and she carefully wrapped her arms around his neck. Aemond sank further into her and exhaled. The day had been long, but soon they could sleep.

Once he took care of her one last time tonight.

He stood from the chaise lounge and waited for her decision.

Liliyana's body felt cold when Aemond stood. She nodded, suddenly feeling shy about him seeing her naked. They only had sex once, and the room was poorly lit. But Aemond had seen everything. Surely, she had no reason to feel exposed in front of him.

"Okay," she decided.

Aemond bowed low and exited the room to find someone to fill her bath.

Liliyana still had not seen her reflection. And, despite trying to ignore it, the handmaids that came in earlier appeared flustered when seeing her. She wanted to ask Aemond for a mirror, but greatly feared what she'd see.

Her eyes went to her wrapped fingertips. Her husband wrapped them immaculately. Some splotches of blood peeked through, but other than that, the bandages stayed firm. Liliyana tested faith by tapping her fingers together. She felt the burn instantly, then a throb that made her fingers visibly move. Memories of her scraping against the ground surfaced in her mind. The urge to cry and vomit returned at full force.

Liliyana hoped she was past these feelings and thoughts. She had not cried in hours. But the second she was alone, fear launched her into the air. Her eyes circled the room, paying attention to the shadows. Those men could come out from anywhere, like they did in the city.

And they were still out there.

Maids came to pour warm water into the deep basin. Liliyana watched them make two trips. Their presence was calming. Aemond watched her from the corner. His wife's eyes bounced around the room, alert and anxious. He prayed this bath settled her enough to allow her to sleep. She needed to rest and recover. And Aemond needed to ponder his next steps.

But, like he muttered to himself over and over again tonight, it would wait.

He nudged Liliyana to stand when she did not move. Her eyes were trained on the carpet beneath her. She released a sigh and stood, letting Aemond lead her into the washroom. The steaming basin left a thick layer of fog in the small room.

"Ready?" he asked her. He would not begin undressing her until he was allowed.

Liliyana looked up at her husband. His lips were pulled firm and his eye remained unwavering on her, assessing her. She had changed her mind about a bath, but she felt guilty for letting both the maids' and Aemond's hard work go to waste. Truly, all she wished to do was lay down. She no longer wished to be a burden.

"Yes," she told him.

Aemond was more nervous than she was. He did not want to see the state of her body. With clammy fingers, he moved behind her and began untying her brown dress. If requested, he will burn the clothes so she could not be reminded of their memory. He did the same, after his thirteenth nameday.

Her back and shoulders remained intact, smooth and without bruising. Aemond released a quiet breath. Liliyana stretched out her arms to allow him better access, thankfully unaware of his thoughts. Beauty marks at the back of her arms called to him, but he remained focused on the task at hand. He fisted the dress at her stomach and pulled down.

Aemond did the same when they made love. That night would remain his most precious memory. How she felt against him and inside him could never be replaced. If he had not been at her mercy before, he certainly was afterwards.

He understood pleasure. Aegon never kept quiet about it. But surely, the pleasure he experienced with Liliyana was eons above the norm. Before her, his needs were met with his hand. And while satisfying, it wasn't comparable. His beloved was a goddess in every sense of the word.

Aemond tensed when noticing her hips. A large red handprint stood out against her skin, curved to keep her in check. Veins underneath, like a spider's web, appeared almost purple. He fought to touch her there. The marking looked painful. Delicate hands on his shoulders forced Aemond away from his vengeful thoughts; the men would die. He would make sure.

Liliyana's trembling lips curled upward. Her big green eyes sparkled like emeralds down at him. Despite not saying a word, she was clear: "I'm okay."

Her dress circled at her feet. She leaned into his shoulders to allow him to remove the dress completely. Aemond did as she asked and stood.

"I love you," he told her.

Liliyana nodded. "I love you too."

Her husband rested his forehead against hers. Another quirk, she couldn't help but think, with a smile. Their noses touched and Liliyana felt his restrained breaths fan her eyelashes. He finally parted from her and led her into the basin. They spent the remainder of the night in silence, content with knowing no words needed to be said.