Love and Loyalty - Aemond Targaryen

Chapter 2

It was getting dark and Alyssa was sat outside.
No one bothered to check to see if she was in the Keep most nights, so she enjoyed sitting under the stars.
Sometimes, she would awkwardly run into Aegon when he was on his way out for the night.
But tonight it wasn't Aegon that she saw creeping in under the cover of dark.
“Don't be stupid.” She whispered to herself, not realising that someone was listening. She threw a pebble at one of the trees, hitting it with a thud before it plopped unceremoniously to the floor. “Don't cry. Don't get sad. It's ridiculous.”
She heaved a deep breath.
Alicent had once told her that the Gods would watch over her, but she knew that was a lie.
No Gods watched her. No parents did. There were no friends by her side or guardians to protect her.
Just silence.
Just emptiness.
No greater power had ever helped her. If she wanted something, she had to do it herself. Grab it with both hands and never let go.
She'd never been chosen.
Never been a priority.
Even Rhaenyra, no matter how much she loved her, had more important things to think of. And Alyssa didn't blame her. She wasn't her sister's responsibility.
But she wanted to be someone's.
With an agitated groan, she hurled another rock into the darkness.
Someone yelled in pain, toppling over.
A head of soot covered white hair.
Two violet eyes peered up at her from the floor.
“Aemond?” She asked, rushing over to her brother. “What are you–”
“Nothing.” He said, far too quickly.
Alyssa frowned, trying to help him to his feet. But he just huffed and picked himself up, dusting himself off as he did.
“Were you at the dragonpit again?”
He looked away, not saying anything.
“Aemond, you shouldn't be sneaking out on your own.”
“Really? And what are you doing? I'm sure father wouldn't be pleased to hear that you're sneaking around in the dark throwing rocks at people.”
“I'm sure father wouldn't care much what I'm doing.” She said, making Aemond look up at her again. He was still smaller than her, but every day he grew. Every day he became less of the little boy she knew. “I'm sorry for throwing a rock at you. Goodnight, Aemond.”
With a sad sigh, she picked up her skirts and began to walk away.
Aemond was ready to watch her leave.
He remembered everything his mother said about how Alyssa was loyal to Rhaenyra. About how she was not his friend and he should always be cautious around her.
But he saw her every day. Wandering around the Keep alone. Sat in the library reading books that he would later spend hours diligently studying in his room.
When he was training with Ser Criston Cole, he could see her sat on her window ledge just staring out over the city with that sad frown.
But every time he saw her, she was alone.
Of late, he'd felt much the same.
Jacaerys and Lucerys were always together. And sometimes they would team up with Aegon to make his life miserable.
Helaena lived in her own world.
His father was never even there. Aemond sometimes doubted he remembered which of his sons he was.
“Sister, wait.” He said.
She stopped immediately.
Sister.
It had been so long since any of Alicent's son's had called her that.
Helaena still did. Sweet Helaena.
Aegon and Aemond preferred to avoid her and Daeron... Well, she was always pulled away from Daeron. She'd never really been allowed to form any bond with him.
Alyssa turned her head, looking over her shoulder at him. “What is it?”
“I–” He nervously flexed his hands at his side. “Are you well?”
Are you well?
Those were words she'd heard so rarely in her life, and only ever from Rhaenyra. No one cared if she was well.
No one noticed when she wasn't.
“I'm fine.” She said, facing him fully.
Aemond just raised one suspicious brow at her, folding his arms over his chest, in response.
“I'm– I'm the same as always.” She said, her voice a little weaker. “Just lonely, I suppose. What about you? What are you doing out by yourself at this time? You didn't go to one of Aegon's–”
“No!” Aemond exclaimed, his eyes widening at the suggestion. When his horror subsided a little, he looked down at his muddy boots and kicked a pebble over. “You were right. I was at the dragonpit.”
She frowned, slowly moving to sit back down beneath the tree where he'd first seen her. She patted the spot next to her, an empathetic smile on her lips that let him know she felt sorry about what had happened without the pity that churned his guts when his mother looked at him.
So, despite his better judgement, he sat down beside his sister.
“Is this about Aegon again?”
“He claimed Sunfyre and ever since he's been–” he cut himself off, remembering what his mother had said. That he should always be wary of Alyssa. That no one knew whether they could trust her or not. She'd always just seemed kind, gentle, much like Helaena... But he'd spent enough time staring at her to know that wasn't the truth.
He'd read the same books as her. He'd seen her in the corner of every room, listening in on every conversation.
And he'd seen her helping Jacaerys with his sword skills when she thought no one was looking.
Alyssa Targaryen was no delicate flower, though that was what she'd have the world believe.
Aemond straightened himself again, his chin up. “Aegon has Sunfyre. Jacaerys and Lucerys have Vermax and Arrax. Helaena has Dreamfyre. I hear even one of Daemon's daughters has a dragon. But not me.”
“You will have a dragon, Aemond.”
“Everyone keeps saying that but what if they're wrong? What if I never claim a dragon? What if–”
“Aemond. Listen to me. When Aegon was your age, he used to fuss over the same thing. He only acts like he does now to make up for it but before he had Sunfyre, he dreaded being dragonless.”
He blinked at her. “Really?”
She nodded. “I once saw him cry over it.”
Aemond bit the inside of his cheek, but he nodded back at her.
Alyssa smiled softly.
“Do not drive yourself mad with worry. One day, I know you'll be a great dragonrider. Just as you'll be a great fighter if you keep up your training.”
He paused.
A part of him wanted to ask her if she'd been watching him train.
“What about you?” He asked, trying not to seem as interested to hear her response as he truly was. “What will you be doing?”
Alyssa gave him another sad smile, her dark eyes strangely glassy in the pale moonlight. “I'll be here. Like always.”
“Celebrating another nameday on your own?” He guessed.
A shocked expression washed over her. “You remembered?”
“Don't.” He frowned when he sensed she was about to grow affectionate. “I was going to leave this outside your door but, since you're here...”
Slowly, he reached under his cloak and held out a book for her.
He'd 'overheard' her telling one of the Maesters that she couldn't find any like it in the library... And so he'd gone into King's Landing and found one himself. That was before he got distracted by dragons, of course.
Alyssa's mouth was agape and her stare flicked between him and the book.
“How did you– When– Where–” She couldn't form a proper sentence. In the end, she settled for just pulling him into a hug.
Aemond stiffened, his arms straight at his side and a frown set upon his face. But Alyssa simply kissed his cheek and grinned from ear to ear as she pulled away, flicking through the book.
He prayed to all the Gods that his face had kept it's natural colour and not turned some horrid shade of red as he watched the look of pure joy spread over her.
“It's you that's been leaving me presents every year?”
He didn't say anything, avoiding eye contact at all cost.
“Aemond, why didn't you say anything?”
“It's nothing.”
“It's not nothing to me.” She said.
Then a devious look flashed through her dark eyes.
Aemond had always liked her eyes.
Everyone else in their family, save for his mother, had violet Targaryen eyes. But not Alyssa. He didn't know where the brown came from, but it was pretty in an odd sort of way.
She had the silver hair and pallid skin of a Targaryen, but that one thing set her apart from all the rest.
“Come with me.” She said, standing up and holding out her hand.
He eyed her suspiciously. “Why? Where are we going?”
“Just trust me. You'll like it.”
“Alyssa–”
“Please, Aemond. For my nameday.” She said, doing that thing with her face that made everyone else feel sorry for her. He knew it was an act, and still he caved.
With a sigh, he took her hand and stood.

Alyssa had dragged him to her chambers. The nearer they got, the more wary Aemond grew.
His first thought had been about propriety. It wouldn't look good for her, especially given that she was of age, if she started bringing people to her rooms unsupervised.
But right after his fears for her, his fears for himself began to sprout up.
This could be a trick. A trap. Some sort of ploy by Rhaenyra or Aegon or someone else...
She opened the door, running inside.
She didn't wait for him to follow, just hurriedly started looking around her room.
Aemond stepped cautiously into her room, leaving the door open.
Alyssa's room was chaotic.
She had books everywhere, and drawings pinned to her walls and covering the stone floorboards.
Drawings of the Keep.
Drawings of Rhaenyra.
Drawings of his mother.
Drawings of Aegon.
And drawings of him...
Aemond looked at each picture, taking in the fine details. But his eyes were stuck on the many sketches of him training and standing in the throne room and sitting at dinner.
He glanced over at Alyssa, who was no frantically searching through her books.
A pleased smile settled on her fact, telling him that she'd found what she was looking for.
And then she approached him.
“I heard you liked history and philosophy.” She said.
The Prince nodded.
“I do too.” Her brown eyes were filled with excitement. “And combat, of course. I thought you'd like this. It's all about warfare. I wanted to give it to you months ago but I never... I didn't think you'd care much what I thought of a book.”
He had to contain his laughter at the idea that he didn't care.
For years, he had read every book in the library that she'd read. He'd listened to her critiques to the Maesters and shared in her passions.
But he would never tell her that.
She could never know.
“Thank you, sister.” He said politely, finally.
Alyssa gave a pursed smile.
“I'm sorry. I know it's not much. I didn't mean to get your hopes up, it's just that–”
“No, no, it's perfect. I needed something new to read. I've already read everything in the library.”
Alyssa's smile became genuine. “Me too.”
“Have you read this?”
“A little bit.” She said, looking down at the floor. “I didn't understand all of it. Maybe...” She looked back at him, and Aemond thought he could feel his heart leaping out his throat. “Maybe you could help me understand it a little better?”
Again, unbidden, he could hear his mother.
He could see the concern in her eyes, and the dread on Criston Cole's face.
He could hear Aegon's teasing, and Helaena's strange prophecies.
But he simply nodded at his older sister. “I could teach you tonight.”
Alyssa's smile only grew as she jumped onto her bed, her chin in her hands. “Tell me everything you know.”
Never had Aemond known anyone to be so interested in what he had to say.
And so, without delay, he told her everything he knew.
They talked all night, chatting about various strategies and tactics in the candlelight, until finally they both fell asleep.
He didn't even notice until morning. But by then it was too late.