Aemond Targaryen lived to become a weak old man, withering in the cells underneath Dragonstone. One mistake caused a lifetime of pain.
Losing Baelon, was the start to the end of the Hightowers. But it wouldn't be the end of them.
Alys Rivers a wit...
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。.✦ ☾
Aemond watched as Alys approached a frail dragon, a beautiful beast that huddled against the stone wall. He steps closer, watching as the large beast presses itself against the rocks. "You don't recognize your own dragon?" Alys asks
Aemonds eye widens, his heart dropping to his feet. He dreamt of her, of riding her one last time. But to see her so weak and alone, broke him to pieces.
"Another casualty to your insanity." Alys says
Aemond approaches, his breath shuddering.
Vhagar lifts her aging head, those gorgeous green eyes peering past the cave. "You will ride her this one time in this old body of yours. You will drink the blood of the heir and you will find yourself back to a time better than this one." Alys says
Not hearing her as he approaches the bronze dragon, still beautiful in her old age. "Vhagar." Aemond breathes, closing his eye at the feeling of her hot breath. "What has come to her?" Aemond asks "She continues to stay riderless, and with her rider so far from her, she aged and stayed in solitude, waiting for you." Alys says
"I am so sorry Vhagar, this isn't your fault." Aemond whispers, Aemond looks towards the witch, "Give me time with her, please." Aemond asks
Alys shakes her head. "Time isn't on our side my dear uncle, Baelon must've relieved himself from his chains by now and had notified the guards as well as my grandmother the queen. They will be on the hunt for you and for my head as I am the one who freed you. I've become a traitor to the realm, and no matter my mother's power, she will not be able to stop the wrath of those who hate you. We must do this, now." Alys orders
"Do they know Vhagar's whereabouts?" Almond asks, trying to find some reprieve. "No, but they will, I don't doubt my grandfather and his dragon Caraxes." Alys says
"If we make this work, you won't have a head to lose, you'll have your father. Just let me comfort my dragon." Aemond pleads, not once moving his gaze from Vhagar.
"Fine." Alys huffs
....
Alys stands outside of the cave, arms crossed and waiting. Anxious to have her father. Finally, she hears footsteps from within the cave. inhaling the wind's fresh scent, her eyes on the orange horizon. "Do you know that I dream of him every single night? I would close my eyes and he's there, waiting....he was always waiting." Alys starts, closing her eyes to picture her father's face.
Aemond watches the side of her face, stepping beside her. "It started when I was young when I knew I could dream, he would teach me everything I know now. He was such a sweet father, sometimes I contemplate not waking up ever again. And every night I wished to join him, knowing he was at peace, free of obligation and honor, free of this crooked world." Alys breaths, she could see him so clearly in the distance, he always smiled out to her, waiting for the day she would join him.
"He wouldn't want this for you, he would want you to be happy, to be a Targaryen. His blood runs in your veins, so he's forever with you. Don't waste this life missing a ghost you've never met, live the life he would want you to live." Aemond says
"I am miserable, I love my lord husband and our child together, but it's hollow." Alys admits she hugs herself as the breeze brushes against her.
"I am more like my father than I'd like to admit." Alys states
"You favor woman?" Aemond asks
Alys doesn't answer, but her silence is answered enough.
....
"What happens once I return to my younger body?" Aemond asks, his hand pressed against Vhagar's scales. "You will return to the night where you first ride Vhagar, everything will come to pass as it did before, you won't be as conscious of it, but you will be there. And slowly you will gain control, just enough to fix your mistakes." Alys says
"I'll lose my eye." Aemond asks, coming to that horrifying realization.
Alys looked almost remorseful. "That is something we can not change, you will return on Vhagar as your young self and so will they, you will have little control at the beginning of your age regression. I am truly sorry." Alys admits
Aemond takes a step away from Vhagar, closing his eye, he doesn't know if he can handle losing his eye a second time.
"I love you." Baelon whispers, smiling from ear to ear, his eyes open as he watches Aemond.
Aemond closes his eye, taking in his words, words he had craved to hear for years, finally passing those perfect lips of his. "As do I." He whispers
Baelon laughs, softly. "Say it properly you fool." Baelon whispers "I love you, you bloody craven." Aemond scoffs, finally kissing him. Baelon smiles into the kiss.
Aemond opens his eye, turning to his dragon. "If the cost is an eye, it's worth it, without question." Aemond states
....
A/N
It took me a bit to figure out how I wanted to send Aemond back and I felt like this worked out the best. And yes poor Aemond, he's going to experience losing an eye all over again.
