The Passion of a Thousand Suns | Aemond Targaryen

Twenty five: of consequence, part i

KING'S LANDING

When she woke, Helaena was already gone from the bed and the sun was high up in the sky, confirming it was afternoon and Hira had slept most of the day away.

Exhaustion made her bones heavy and eyes blurry.

Once she rubbed the sleep off her eyes, she dressed in the clothes Helaena left her. A white tunic, far too large to be her cousin's and black trousers, paired with boots. The tunic most likely Aemond's, as was the dark green cloak.

Hira fashioned her hair into a single braid and slipped on her rings, finding comfort in the obsidian dragon and sapphire jewel on a golden band.

Her eyes were botched, rimmed red and eyelids swollen, omitting the tears of last night. She washed her face in the basin.

Reading the note Helaena left, Hira made her way to the nursery. The guards she passed eyed her with caution, no doubt the Hand sent warnings to keep a vigilant eye on their newest hostage. She was surprised they allowed her to roam so freely.

In the nursery, the children's nanny gave her a mistrustful glance, sitting herself in the corner in case Hira should run off with Aegon's heirs.

Honestly, what kind of person would harm an innocent child? She rolled her eyes, sitting down on the cushions and ignored the nanny, focusing on the children instead.

"Hello little ones." Hira murmured, cradling Maelor in her lap as the twins flocked to her. "Aunt Hira is here."

The morning consisted of telling tales to the children, using different tones and expressions to symbolise characters and exaggerate the story. Laughter flooded the room and Hira was reminded of Joffrey, Aegon and Viserys, who used to eagerly await her bedtime stories. She missed the boys, all of them.

If she closed her eyes, she could pretend she was at Dragonstone. Rhaena combing her hair, Baela tickling Aegon. Joffrey nestled beside her, with Viserys waddling between the legs of his elder brothers, as Jace and Luke played with wooden swords.

When they were like that, consumed by childish tendencies, Rhaenyra would enter the room and watch her children fondly, all the decisions she made in the past led her to this family. Daemon would loom over her, not a smirk, but a real smile on his face.

At least in her dreams, that's what Hira imagined. 

She wondered what storm weathered in Dragonstone now.

The sound of the door caused her eyes to flutter open. She frowned when Aemond walked into the room. He was just as unsure as she was with his arrival.

"Helaena said to meet her here." He answered her silent question. "I see my sister has fooled me once again."

"Your mother needs a telling off." Hira murmured to Maelor, ignoring the child's uncle who peered down at her. "Best to keep her nose out of other people's business."

Maelor rambled nonsense. Hira hummed in agreement.

"Might we speak?"

Aemond's eye was hooded and laced with tiredness. His usual half updo style was nonexistent today, instead his silvery hair was tied at the base of his neck with a ribbon, short strands framing his face. It was messy and unkempt. It was striking, he was striking. Pristine or disordered, Aemond was a marvel to stare at, sculpted by the gods so perfectly.

Damn him.

A new guilty pleasure of hers had emerged. That and the abundance of leathers.

"I'm looking after the children." She responded, pretending she wasn't gawking at her betrothed. The nanny certainly was, stealing glances at Aemond under her knitting tools. Even with the scar and eyepatch, Aemond attracted attention from noble and lowborn ladies alike.