ELLIPSISM, aemond targaryen

[064] my dearest sin

THE NATURAL LIGHT HAD disappeared from all corners of Red Keep long before the sun had actually set after the dark clouds replaced the blue sky upon the return of Princess Aemma and the rest of Queen Alicent's trusted allies. Perhaps this is another sign, was what the superstitious maids were thinking after they were finally released from the darkness of the dungeon only to see the natural darkness that awaited them outside as they shuddered after a cold wind swept past them. It was not the first time that in the presence of Rhaenyra's daughter, dark clouds appeared over King's Landing that were not there before.

Lucerys Velaryon had been afraid of storms since he was a child because of their noise and power, which according to Harwin Strong no one could control. The storm has a life of its own, he used to say to the two dark-haired princes and their silver-haired sister when they were all startled at once by a lightning strike that ignited a tree under their window. His words sounded as if he was not even talking about a natural phenomenon, but about a living being, a monster, a dragon that hovers over Westeros and devours everything that comes its way. Many times Luke hid from nightmares in his older sister's arms and even then he decided that he had enough respect for the power of the storm to always avoid it.

Unlike him, Aemma Velaryon was never afraid of storms. Sure, she had a certain respect for their power just as she had respect for everything, but her respect always leaned more towards admiration than fear. She stayed up late into the night during storms, not because their noise prevented her from sleeping, but because she was worried that if she didn't enjoy the chaos outside the windows enough, she would regret it when she woke up to the silence of the morning. In the end, however, she always managed to fall asleep faster with the coldness of the storm and the sound of raindrops hitting the surface of the glass windows.

In a way, Aemma Velaryon always felt more peaceful when surrounded by chaos.

And she felt a certain peace even now when she stood in chambers facing the mirror and hiding the last strands of her now red hair under the hood of the black cloak that Josmyn brought her. She stared at her reflection with almost anxious concentration to make sure that not a single hair remained visible and with the amount of movement and clothes on her she almost started sweating, but thanks to the wind that came in through the half-open window Aemma felt comfortable chill all around.

Although the heavy velvet curtains were drawn, the only light was provided by a few candles in Aemma's room, thanks to which the three women who were inside could only see the dark silhouettes of each other. But even though Aemma's back was turned to them and she couldn't see as good as usually, she was able to recognize Dyana's small silhouette from Josmyn's in the reflection of the mirror, especially when she saw the younger maid repeatedly looking her way while returning the last few pieces of her mistress' clothes to the closets.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Princess?" the smaller figure finally spoke in a quiet hesitant voice that confirmed that it was indeed Dyana.

"You ask questions you shouldn't, Dyana," Josmyn said almost scoldingly and glanced towards Aemma who was still turned to the mirror. "Princess Aemma knows what she's doing."

"I didn't say she doesn't!" Dyana immediately defended herself, but then her shoulders slumped. "I'm just worried about how things might turn out. What if the Lord Hand stays at the Red Keep to discuss some things with the Queen?"

"That is unlikely. I have already discussed all the preparations for tomorrow with the Queen and the council approved them," Aemma replied, her voice low and extraordinarily unbothered as she adjusted the hood of her cloak, pleased to find that her red hair was safely tucked away. "All further political actions will take place the day after tomorrow with the presence of our new king."