Throughout the Dance of Dragons - House of Dragon

Part XVI - How foolish

Daenaera was worried, you could see it from her frown which appeared more often than a smile these past days. She would regularly leave to fly through the skies with Vermithor alone and the rings underneath her eyes had gotten a little darker. The nightmare she used to have about the two dragons fighting during a storm had returned to her, even more vicious it would seem than it had been before. Aemond saw all of it and cursed at himself that he can not do anything about it, he himself was torn apart in his head as well as in his heart. He could not support her it seemed. As much as Aemond wanted to make Daenaera feel better, as much as he wanted to feel better it seemed impossible. Every time they would find themselves relaxing and enjoying their shared moments someone would remind them that the inevitable dispute between their families will happen. No marriage could unite these people, the wishes of Kind Viserys could not be fulfilled. Daenaera understood it from the coded letters she got from her mother and Aemond knew it from his mother.

Aemond had told Daenaera that he would be on her side during the petition of Vaemond against Jacaerys claim and by it he felt loyal to her. But what about the aftermath of the petition? What about when they truly had to choose sides? The situation they were in demanded to take a stand on one or the other side, you could not be in the middle about it, especially they could not be in the middle.

Alongside loyalty to Daenaera, Aemond would have to be against his family, more important against his mother and grandfather. Aemond was always a good son, he was always Alicents golden child and he respected his mother. He had sworn to her that he would be by her side whenever she needed. He did not much care about his grandfather as he gave the kids as much attention if not less than their father. Only one Otto might have held dear was Helaena, as she was sweet and innocent, silent and obedient, never causing any problems, always agreeing with everything they have thrown at her. And sometimes Aemond wished that his sister would awaken her fire, the dragon blood in her and that she would stand up to them. He knew she could and for his surprise in the future she will show that fire. She will surprise everyone but for now it would only sound as a jest if someone would to say that Helaena has fire and anger in her like a true Targaryen princess.

Torn at his heart he would find that he still could care less for Daenaeras brothers and deep down he wished that maybe she as well could let go the idea of them being lords, that she would let it be. They could still live good lives without being heirs. Aemond had said it to her just a couple of days ago but it ended in a dispute between them. Daenaera was furious at Aemond and looked at him as if he was a madman. She had called him a traitor to the realm for speaking such words, that he should have his tongue removed as well and of course Aemond being a man with anger issues he could not accept her words. His own words back at her laced with mockery directed at her and her family. After that dispute some days have passed and they have not spoken a word to each other. Seeming to have forgotten the lovely moment they have shared in the lavender field and the warm moments they shared during the days until the dispute arouse. They were two fools in love but torn between their families, it would have been easier if one of them had no attachments to his or hers family, but this was not a fairytale. Both of them loved their parents, both of them had siblings and both of them felt the responsibility to stand with their own. Both of them were raised differently and on different sides of the fence, one could just not tear the other away. The pink shaded bubble had burst as they had to understand that their betrothal was bound not to last, how could they be foolish enough to think that their families will simply merge on good will.

How could they be foolish enough to fall in love in those circumstances.

Daenaera was not going to apologize or back down from her words, she felt in the right. Her brothers were Velaryons, they were her mothers children, they as well as Daenaera were accepted by Laenor, by their grandfather Corlys and by the King. All children had the right to their positions and no one could say otherwise to her. Aemond understood her reasoning and he had to admit that she was indeed right, they were accepted in law but they were not in the hearts of the greens. They were just...just bastards in his eyes.