ELLIPSISM, aemond targaryen

[073] an eye for an eye

SEVERAL YEARS HAD PASSED since Aemma Velaryon first realised she could see the future. At first it was a hunch about what was about to happen, which gradually became too accurate for her to ignore any longer. However, since it was helpful and not too obvious or annoying, Aemma never resisted the ability.

It was different when it came to her nightmares.

Not that it would happen often. The worst nightmare Aemma could remember was the one where she saw her father die -- even years later she could hear the screams, feel the heat of the flames all around her, and smell the burnt flesh . . . however, she could not save him. He was out of her reach. And after she didn't even see Laenor die and couldn't save him either, Aemma resented her dreams.

She didn't dream anything until years later.

However, it was not a dream from the beginning. It was exactly what she did best - a hunch. Expecting something bad to happen. That she is not safe. That there is a huge monster hiding in the shadows ready to swallow her alive. It made her paranoid from time to time until she got used to it.

Then the dreams started. Dreams of a storm, of a boy, and the monster below. Dreams of rain mixing with blood, dreams of screams in thunder, dreams of a dead body disappearing into the darkness below. Dreams that made her wake up with a pounding heart and goosebumps that she couldn't get rid of.

They kept repeating themselves. Over and over again. Every single night more and more often, more and more clearly. To the point where she still had the sound of tearing flesh and the boy's screams in her ears even after she woke up. When she couldn't get rid of the pounding heart and chills after waking up.

Ever since Aemma started sleeping in the same bed as Aemond, her dreams have both gotten worse and she's felt more peaceful at the same time. He was a light sleeper and almost always woke up at the slightest movement or gasp that escaped her after waking up -- and he never asked anything. Just pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her and tucking her head under his chin, caressing her back until she calmed down.

It didn't make her dreams disappear. But at least she felt that she was not alone.

"Aemma."

Her name being spoken in an urgent tone forced her to finally look in the direction the voice had come from several times, she just hadn't registered it until now. Aemond Targaryen, who had been sitting in a chair and staring into a fire, now stood staring at her, brows furrowed.

Aemma opened her mouth and tried to figure out what he was probably talking about, but when she couldn't think of anything she quietly said, "Sorry, I thought about something. What did we talk about?"

Aemond measured her for a long time before stating, "You should sit down."

"If my walking an--"

"Sit down, Aemma," he said again, his voice more firm as he stood up from his seat.

Aemma bit her tongue but did not contradict him. But when he tried to touch her to help her sit down she moved away.

Aemond didn't show that he noticed, he just measured her. "I'll bring you water."

She forced herself to nod and looked away at the flames in the hearth as he walked over to the table.

Flames hitting the skin, disappearing in the rain and extinguishing in the mouth ready to consume her own b--

"Here," Aemond said quietly, handing her the goblet which was filled with a clear liquid. Rare thing to see.

"Thanks," she muttered and took it from him without looking at him.