The Serpent's Fangs (Aemond x oc)

Chapter 25

Aemond had sat back against the bed, one arm half lifted, movements restricted by the chains as his other arm rested on a perked up leg. The princess tilted her head at him, plate of food still in her hands.

"I haven't poisoned it, if that's what you are afraid of."

"I do not fear you."

"So eat" Visenya tried once more, now that the Prince had managed to composed himself again. She carefully scooped up a spoonful of the food, lifting up her gaze. "You are recovering, Aemond. Food will do you well."

"I don't recall requesting to be fed."

Her lips lifted, bemused at the familiar phrase. "You've asked me to take care of your meals once, have you already forgotten?"

Pale eye flickered to her briefly, his expression unchanging. "Being fed as a chained prisoner of war was not exactly the intention behind my words."

"Being a prisoner of war is the only way I'd ever come close to managing your meals, my Prince." The princess smiled. A few minutes have passed and Aemond no longer looked as if he would tear her apart if she were to be within arms reach. Though still ignoring her words either due to his pride or plain stubbornness, he would do anything but eat.

A short, sarcastic laughed escaped his breath. "You never cease to surprise me."

"Odd, considering the years you've spent observing me from a far. One would have thought I'd run out of surprises.

The prince's body tensed, as if caught doing something he thought was subtle though the princess spoke no more of it, merely moving the plate of food closer to him, lifting the spoon up towards his mouth.

"Eat, Aemond."

With reluctant obedience the prince leaned down towards the food, finally taking his first bite as he kept his eye on the princess. She knew the meaning of those looks meant nothing but the promise of revenge.

"Does it suit your taste?"

She was ignored. The two spent some time in silence, the prince sitting idly on his bed while he ate what he was fed with little complaints. She could tell he was starved. After days of having been poisoned it was common for one to lose their appetite, their will to move about their day as they usually do. The first meal after having been cleansed off of any toxins in his body must've tasted like salvation.

It wasn't until the Princess had placed the plate back onto the bedside table did Aemond speak up once more.

"What happened to Vhagar?"

Not a question about the wellbeing of his family, or his own safety, but the beast he'd barely manage to control.

Visenya glanced out of the window. She had expected the beast to be on her trail comes dawn but the wound Vermithor had caused must've been worse than she had thought.

"If she had managed to get back on her legs, the beast should be healing on a mount nearby. If not, she'd be laying amongst Storms End's ashes."

The princess had gotten his full attention now and from this angle, she could see his fist clenching slightly on the side. "Storms Ends ashes?"

"Your betrothed is dead."

He couldn't believe her words. "You've burned all of Storms End to ashes?"

Visenya turned towards him with her brows raised, a farce facade of pity on her face. "Oh not me, my Prince. Your precious beast did the job for me." Aemond was silent at her words, he did not need any further explanations, not when he could easily imagine the scenario himself.