ELLIPSISM, aemond targaryen

[058] the death of my past self

"THE FEAST IS already over?" Gwyn blinked in surprise when Aemma rushed into her chambers. "You were only gone for half of an hour."

"We finished early," Aemma replied distractedly as she stopped by the mirror to remove her earrings from her ears. It seemed to her that her head would explode from the pain and that she was shivering from the cold despite the sleeves of her dress.

Dyana, who had been putting Aemma's dresses in the wardrobe until her arrival, now watched her so thoughtfully that she didn't even notice that she didn't put the dress on the hanger but let it fall freely to the bottom of the wardrobe. She flinched at the sound and looked questioningly at Gwyn who frowned as she watched Aemma.

Suddenly her eyes widened and she rushed towards her. "Princess, you're bleeding --"

She grabbed Aemma's hand to examine it, but Aemma pulled away from her, turning her head sharply towards her revealing that while removing her earrings her hand had briefly touched her silver hair and left a red smudge on it.

"Yes, Gwyn, I can see that," Aemma snapped back and rushed to the bedside table from which she took a piece of cloth to wrap it around her bleeding hand.

Gwyn stood there looking stunned by Aemma's obvious irritation but before she could ask anything the door flew open again and Jace rushed in with Luke, Baela and Rhaena following right behind him. Her eyes immediately met Luke's in an attempt to search for an answer, but the only answer she found was that he too was concerned and nervous as he watched his older brother.

His older brother who looked like he was ready to smash everything in his path.

And especially his younger sister.

"Jace," Baela said, her voice slightly warning, but low as if she was trying to calm him down. "Don't do anything you'll regret --"

"How long has it been going on?" Jace snapped in a voice so sharp that Gwyn didn't believe he was capable of it.

All eyes then focused on Aemma who was leaning against the table with her hand holding a white cloth that soaked up her blood while watching Jace with raised eyebrow.

"How long has what been going on?" Aemma asked, her voice calm.

Her answer fanned another fire in his eyes as he said through gritted teeth, "You and Aemond."

The room fell silent at his words and Gwyn saw that Rhaena and Dyana were looking at Jace with the same surprise as herself while Baela and Luke looked nervous. When she turned to her mistress, she saw that Aemma was visibly paler than before, but she wasn't sure if it was from fear or blood loss.

Whatever was the reason, her face and voice remained indifferent as she said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Jace scoffed. "I think you do."

Baela took a step towards Jace and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe it would be better to talk about it later --"

"Stop protecting her!" Jace spat out as he shrugged off her hand. "Don't you understand it? She lied to all of us! She said that none of the rumors were true, while she had probably been sneaking away with him somewhere since she arrived."

Rhaena blinked in surprise and her eyes filled with sadness as she looked at her. "Aemma . . . is that true?"

You have no reason to be sad. It is not your life we're talking about, Aemma thought in annoyance, but instead shook her head.

"No!" Aemma immediately denied and shook her head. "It is not true, Rhaena, I swear it!"

"Now you lied," Jace spat out angrily.