𝕱𝖆𝖇𝖑𝖊 ( house of the dragon )

AEMON X

𝐀𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍 𝐗
⸻ 𓆰𓆪 ⸻
𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈'𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔

It was some time later that day when Aemon decided to visit Alicent. He wanted to talk to her, to bridge the uncomfortable distance that had settled between them. He hoped to dispel the awkwardness that permeated their interactions.

"Alicent?" Aemon called softly as he stood in the doorway of her rooms. He watched as she struggled to soothe her crying daughter. Alicent looked up, her face etched with exhaustion. "May I?" he asked, extending his arms toward the babe. Alicent readily handed her over. Aemon made soft cooing noises as the little girl's cries began to soften, her eyelids fluttering closed.

"How did you do that?" Alicent questioned, a hint of wonder in her voice. "She barely ever stops crying, even for the wet nurse."

Aemon looked up at her and smiled gently. "She probably senses your stress," he said, carefully adjusting the blankets around the baby as she shifted, seeking comfort. Alicent let out a deep sigh, relaxing into a nearby chair.

"What's her name?" Aemon asked, gently running the back of his finger over the baby's soft cheek.

"Helaena," Alicent breathed, her gaze fixed on the child in Aemon's arms. A wistful expression crossed her face, her mind briefly imagining a different scenario—that this was his child in his arms.

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl," he said, smiling at the baby before turning his smile to Alicent.

"You think so?" Alicent replied, her voice tinged with melancholy.

"She's your daughter, Alicent. She'll be a lovely lady," Aemon assured her, maintaining his gentle smile as he rocked the baby, who had finally drifted off to sleep.

A comfortable silence settled between them. Alicent glanced around the room, noting that the nurses and servants had discreetly left, finally allowing her a moment to breathe, to simply be Alicent, not the queen.

"He treats you well, yes?" Aemon asked quietly, his gaze still fixed on the sleeping baby.

"The King?" she questioned. Aemon nodded, still avoiding her eyes. Alicent began to nod slowly, then paused, opening her mouth as if to speak but hesitating. "He does not love me; I don't think he's capable of it, really," she admitted softly, "but he treats me as best he can."

"I'm sure that is not easy," Aemon said somberly, finally meeting her gaze.

"No, it is not," Alicent agreed. "I always imagined a knight sweeping me off my feet, like some fairytale. But that was childish," she said, a small, rueful smile touching her lips at the memory of her youthful naiveté.

"Well, not all fairytales end happily," Aemon remarked, his voice tinged with bitterness. "A knight swept my mother off her feet twice—one marriage landed her with a man who dishonored her with her own sister and then died by her father's sword, and the other, well, here I am." He looked back down at the baby in his arms.

"At least your mother knew love before her story ended," Alicent pointed out.

"You knew love," Aemon stated simply, his eyes meeting hers again. Alicent remained silent, unable to respond.

Another silence fell between them, this one heavier than the last.

"I am glad you're back, Aemon. Truly," Alicent said, sitting up straighter in her chair. "I've been quite... lonely without you."