ELLIPSISM, aemond targaryen

[039] if i disappeared would anyone notice?

GROWING UP IN the Red Keep meant making sure you looked perfect all the time. Especially when you were the daughter of the future Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Aemma had not mastered the role of a perfect and elegant princess like Helaena could, and she was resigned to the fact that she would never be able to. Despite this fact, Aemma never gave up the chance to look good.

Today, however, she was glad that she concentrated more on practicality than on appearance. Because imagining that she would be in the same situation in the rather thin black dress that she originally wanted to wear, a chill went through her.

Vhagar flew fast. So fast that not a single strand of hair was left in Aemma's face and it was all blowing behind her (and Aemma had to eventually put her chin back on Aemond's shoulder to avoid the attack of his own hair.) Aemma's eyes studied the stars in the sky, the moon and when she got bored of them she looked down at the soft clouds, and to the land below them. She found it amusing to search the darkness for a hint of sea or trees.

That was when she caught a sight of a lighted building by the sea a short distance behind them out of the corner of her eye. Her eyes narrowed as if she could see better and she watched the building for a moment before her eyes widened and she patted Aemond on the shoulder.

Aemond turned his head towards her. "What is it?"

Aemma didn't look at him, just nodded her head towards the building. "Is that Dragonstone?"

Aemond followed her gaze and for a moment watched the castle as she did and then hummed and turned away. "I think so."

"I didn't know you could get from King's Landing to Dragonstone so quickly," Aemma stated while still staring at her home.

"Vhagar flies faster than other dragons and we have good wind today," Aemond retorted. "How long did you fly with Meraxes to King's Landing?"

Aemma shrugged. "Longer than I should have. Let's just say that I wasn't in such a hurry to get there."

Aemond's lips lifted slightly into a smile and he turned to her even more ready to answer her, but then he noticed her blank expression as she stared at the receding Dragonstone. He didn't know if the emotion in her eyes meant longing or just sadness, so his question was uncertain, but he still felt he should ask.

"Would you like to visit your family?"

Aemma tore her eyes away from Dragonstone and turned her head back to Aemond who was watching her. Of all the things he had ever said to her, this seemed the most improbable to the Aemond she knew.

Aemond whom she knew from childhood, who hated her and her brothers with all his heart and called them bastards behind their backs and sometimes to their faces. Aemond who hated her entire family even more after Jace attacked him, Luke took his eye and Rhaenyra ended the whole situation by suggesting that they should punish Aemond for his insults.

That Aemond was asking her right now if she wanted to see them despite whatever things he felt about her family.

Aemma missed spending time with Jace and Luke, she missed reading with Joffrey, she missed playing with Aegon and Viserys, evenings with Gwyn and Rhaena, trainings with Daemon. She even missed Rhaenyra's scolding looks and smiles at some of Aemma's comments that she thought Aemma couldn't see.

But Aemond wouldn't enjoy any of that, and her family wouldn't be thrilled if Aemma showed up at home with Aemond and Vhagar either. And considering that Aemond had done nothing but try to be a good friend for the past few days, and Aemma responded to him the same way she responded to everyone else - coldly, now, for the first time in a long time, she decided to do something for someone else.