The Dragon in the North - Aemond Targaryen

15.

Vyara

The days pass quickly now that I allow myself to enjoy King's Landing. It's a lot more exciting than Winterfell and there is much to keep me busy.

I have been meeting a lot with Rickon and going over his plans to return to Winterfell, even joining conversations with him and the Hand of the King, Otto Hightower, who has been tutoring and helping him. I am confident that Rickon will be a great Lord of the North, as he has a great support system in place with my uncle and other family. I've also been in Alicent's chambers often, finding some quieter ladies that I like to spend my time with and playing with the children.

I wonder where they have put Eddard and think perhaps that's where Aemond has gone the past few days. I can't decide on whether I want to visit him or not. If he is as crazed as they say he is, I'll probably be in danger. I'm not sure emotionally I can handle seeing Eddard and it is probably better for my newly found sanity that I stay away from him.

Days have gone past and Aemond still hasn't returned. I have felt slightly uncomfortable since he has been away and I'm not sure why. He is persistent in my thoughts, and I am having a bad time in denying that I actually enjoy Aemond's company. The slight uncomfortableness is nothing on how I was feeling previously, however. I feel like I have a new lease of life and haven't harmed myself since the day Aemond told me Eddard wouldn't be put to death.

Aemond is a strange man with a lot of layers. He actually comes across terrifying, but only ever when I've seen him speak to other people, he is genuinely quite lovely to me and I still wonder why that would be. I think he feels sorry for me and wants to look after me in a weird way. Surely it cannot be more than that. No man, seeing all of the cuts and scars on my arm will want anything more from me. Even if he did, we would not marry. He doesn't want to marry and neither do I. I would be wholly unsuitable considering I'm a widow and quite unhinged. Surely, he would not think I would ever be a man's courtesan?

I am trying not to think of him anyway, it makes me nervous. When I lie in bed waiting for sleep however, I cannot help myself, thinking about the way it feels when he touches me...

I get up out of bed early, in a strangely good mood, and the servants bring me my breakfast, which is starting to resemble a normal portion. I have started to refuse the Maesters potions, believing I will likely keep the weight on now I am almost back to a normal diet.

I eat and bathe, looking at my scars under the water. The lines make me feel ill, not only a reminder of trauma but also unsightly. I despise them. Even if I ever wanted to marry again I couldn't, knowing that someone would have to see my body like this, I try to move my attention before I get upset.

I get out of the bath and there's a knock on the door. The servant answers it and delivers a scroll to me, my heart races, I know what it is before I read it.

Vyara,

I trust you are well.

Meet me at the stables in an hour, we will fly today.

Aemond

I want to pretend I'm annoyed that he just assumes I have nothing better to do, but I'm not, too happy he is back and taking me to see Azar.

I pick out some nice summer riding leathers I have, emerald green with silver plating. My serving girl makes a beautiful job of my hair, which has serval braids going into a ponytail.

I'm ready and know I can't sit still for any more time as I'll make myself nervous, so I head down to the stables early.

The stable boys try and convince me to take a grey palfrey, but I go through the horses and pick a huge jet black destrier and they tack him up for me. I wait at the door and pat the horse's nose nervously. I can feel Aemond's presence nearby and my heart races. I question how I can sense him. I don't look around and continue petting the horse.