In the midst of the dragon home, tensions arise and sides are chosen. To keep peace between the greens and blacks, Rhaenyra offers her eldest child, Aelanys Velaryon, to wed Alicent Hightower's son, Aegon II.
Aelanys knew being the eldest and futur...
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───────────────── chapter seventeen: king aenys ─────────────────
WITH THE HOUR being that of the owl, they had no other choice than to make camp a flight over from the village they'd burned down. The entire ride was a silent one. Sounds of wings flapping through the dark night was the only thing keeping Aelanys from convincing herself she was in a bad dream.
She felt numb as they made their landing. Her hands caressing the new bruises forming on her body to keep her mind at bay. "They say those who do not feel anything when they kill are mad," Aemond spoke as the fire he made began to slowly rise. "Perhaps it may bring you comfort knowing we are all a bit mad."
"Perhaps not," Aelanys muttered rolling her eyes.
Once, she believed Aemond always knew what to say to soothe her. Mayhaps he'd grown rusty with words over her years of absence. He cleared his throat pushing more sticks and twigs into the fire. His eye searched into the fire as if it'd give him the right words he needed in that moment. But, Aelanys feared she'd wait all night to see if he would find his words again. So, she laid on her side turned away from him and prayed the Gods would give her rest.
Though, neither of the two could sleep a wink — each for different reasons. Aemond's adrenaline raced through his veins with excitement while Aelanys could not find sleep fearing she'd see the faces of the people they'd slaughtered.
Her body jittered at the events flashing through her mind like a broken wheel. Round and round it went on. The only thing that brought her back from her own mind had been Aemond. He moved himself closer to her upon seeing her jittery body.
He felt her body tense against him.
"So, it seems I am not the only one unable to find rest?" He voice raw from yelling during their small battle. "Suppose not," She whispered back. "I never asked for a sleeping mate by the way."
"It's a cold night and we have no supplies to keep us warm. The fire can only do so much," He answered back simply. "Aside from that you are my wife. Meaning we both have a bedmate for life — whether we like it or not."
Her eyebrows furrowed in thought pondering if she'd allow him to believe her shivering was due to the cold weather she could barely feel. It felt safer than admitting the chaos that scrambled her mind.
"I have never known you not to quip nothing back in return," He murmured as if the fact annoyed him. "I am tired. We have had quite a day." He hummed in agreement but still persisted. "What troubles you, Aelanys?"
