Come Back To Me

Chapter 25

***I hope y'all are liking the Aemond POV parts. I've been sitting on these for so long and now the rest of the book is going to have way more of his until the end!***

"Brother! Wait! Wait! Slow down! Where are you going?!" Helaena called out after Aemond, who'd abruptly stormed out of the feast. He didn't turn or even acknowledge his sister. He just continued on, fists clenched so tightly at his sides blood began to drop from his palms. "Aemond!"

He picked up his speed, turning a corner when he reached the top of the stairs. Helaena was far enough he thought she couldn't see him anymore, so he barged right into the chambers he'd been searching for. Chambers he'd snuck into every single night. Hers.

He slammed the door behind him, marching over to a chair in the corner. His head dropped into his hands as his elbows rested on his knees.

Since the very first day Daena had returned from King's Landing, he watched her every night. Even after she'd punched him and said vicious, cruel words to him, he couldn't keep himself from her. The moment she walked through those gates he felt like he could breathe again for the first time in 6 years. But her hatred for him ran so deep, he feared she'd never even speak to him.

Then he heard her when she returned from Flea Bottom that night after supper.

He is quite handsome though...

He couldn't explain it, but the look on her face when she said those words. The way she bit her lip thinking about him nearly brought him to his knees. The softness in her voice was something he had not heard in such a long time.

Even if she hated him until the rest of her days, he still couldn't help himself.

Daena Vel-.

No.

Daena Targaryen would always have his heart.

He didn't care that she was a bastard. He didn't care that her family hated him. The only thing he had ever truly cared about was her. His entire life had revolved around her since the first time she'd ever truly spoken to him as a child.

"Quit, Daeron! Quit!" Aemond swatted his 4 year old brother away from him as he tried to read quietly to himself.

"Gimme!" Daeron squealed as he tried to tear the book away from Aemond. He'd been clawing for the pages for minutes now, only getting under his older brother's skin even more. He didn't really want the book, but he sure as hell wanted to irritate his brother.

"Stop! You're going to rip the pages!" Aemond kicked the boy away, sending him straight to the ground with a thud. He smirked down at the teary eyed boy and went back to his book with a huff.

Daeron lunged for the book in a haste and started ripping the pages from it as he ran around giggling. Aemond chased after him, screaming and trying to stop any more pages from falling to the ground.

Whack.

"Ow!" Daeron cried as a shoe smacked him right in the face. The boys turned to see their niece standing across from them with her nostrils flared and fists resting on her hips.

"Give. Aemond. His. Book. Now. Daeron." Daena snarled with her eyes narrowed at her youngest. Aemond smiled as he looked down and noticed one of her shoes was missing.

Daeron threw the book to the ground, running away crying obnoxiously. "I'm telling mother!"

When he was gone, Daena rolled her eyes and knelt down to pick up the pages. Aemond was too stunned to even move as he watched her. No one ever stood up for him. Hell, no one ever really acknowledged him unless it was the receiving end of a joke.