The Fire That Burns Within US - Aemond Targaryen

The Sapphire Ring

138 - Harrenhal

Aemond sits in an armchair in his and Visenya's room, Daenys on his lap as he watches Laenor play on the ground on a soft blanket. Aemond ensures he doesn't look away from his firstborn son; part of him is worried that the boy will try to crawl into the fireplace. Both the twins had been rather fussy, craving the attention of either Aemond or Ben, but both men know who the twins truly want.

Aenar, who used to be a happy baby, now often woke up crying, and no matter what Aemond did to calm the babe down, it never seemed to work. The only thing Aenar seemed to like was sleeping on Aemonds bar chest with him in the bed.

Aemond would spend the morning with his children, braiding Laenors and Daenys hair. Aemond found those little moments to be the best ones of his day. Even if some morning the Blackwood knight would join him, breaking fast together, Ben would even be the one to braid Laenors hair if it was too wild for Aemond to do.

"I have been looking for you," Ben tells the prince as he enters the room, sitting in the empty chair meant for Visenya and putting his hammer down to rest against the chair.

Aemond looks away from his daughter and towards the knight, noting how Ben is dressed for war. Maybe he and Rob had finally decided that they would get Visenya back. Laenor and Daenys happily greet Ben with happy noises, and Laenor calls out for Ben. The knight picks the young child off the ground and sets him on his knee. Aemond watches the knight bump his son up and down on his knee, Laenor happily laughing at the action.

"Where else would I be?" Aemond asks as Daenys continues to play with his hair; both she and Laenor have grown out of pulling his hair. Aemond rubs Daenys back to settle her down for a nap, hopefully.

"With her," Ben answers as Laenor starts to play with the dragon pin Ben wears with pride. Aemond stills at the knight's words, looking away from Daenys and towards Ben. Aemond knows what Ben is talking about, but maybe he could play dumb.

"I don't know what you mean," Aemond tells Ben.

"Aemond, the guards that stand post outside her room, came to me. Very worried about your faith-"

"You think I would do that to Visenya?" Aemond asked, shocked and angry that Ben would think he could do such things.

"No, I don't, but others will. In case you haven't noticed, you are not very liked here, and if the Lords or men even get a whiff that you might be unfaithful to Visenya, then you will not live to see her return to Harrenhal," Ben answers; he knows that Aemond wouldn't be unfaithful to Visenya, but the lords wouldn't care.

"She's a witch," Aemond tells Ben as he puts his attention back on Daenys. "I have gone to her to make sure that Visenya is still alive,"

"And what does she say?" Ben asks; he knows Alys is a witch, but he disapproves of the kind of magic she practises. The sort of magic that Alys practices is not something that the First Men are okay with. It's dark and unnatural.

"She is alive but in pain," Aemond tells Ben, who feels a weight being lifted off his shoulders. Ben knows that Visenya is still alive but to hear someone else confirm it is a relief.

"I will talk to Rob about us getting her back. We still have a few men loyal to us in both King's Landing and Dragonstone, so we will see if they will be willing to help her," Ben tells Aemond. He knows Rob would be glad of the news, and now he might be more willing to have their spies help Visenya leave.

Aemond snaps his attention away from Daenys and towards Ben, sitting up in his chair, and Daenys lets out a noise of displeasure at her father's fast movements.