Heir of the Dragon

Forgiveness

Jessica was standing in front of her floor length mirror. She had gone through several dresses already. There was one of each color lying on her bed.

"Yellow washes your skin out Princess." The seamstress stood next to her straightening it out.

Jessica huffed. "I could just go naked, Aegon would be delighted."

The room fell awkwardly quiet.

Jessica barked out a scoff, then carefully took off the yellow dress. "Scratch that, he'd break every man's jaw. Skip the green, let's try the blue."

The seamstress sighed and retrieved the blue dress. "Both the Queen and the Dowager Queen are going to be dressed in green tonight. In these...trying times, maybe being a united family would do the realm some good."

Jessica turned to each side examining the color carefully. "Alicent wore this shade of blue quite a bit when she and my sister were companions. Not the blue."

"That color does look lovely on you, My Love." Aemond came into their chambers. He tossed his riding cloak aside and leaned against the bed post. "What don't you like about it?"

Jessica ignored Aemond and walked over to the bed. The purple dress was light as lavender, a truly beautiful dress. She went to switch it out, but stopped herself.

Jessica looked up at her husband and narrowed her eyes. "Doesn't Aegon need your help?"

"Our brother can entertain himself long enough without me. Besides, My Love, it is you who needs my help."

Aemond reached out and untied her laces, making it easier for Jessica to slip out of the dress.

"Don't you think I should have privacy while dressing?" Jessica had her back turned to Aemond as she pulled her arms out of the sleeves.

Aemond delicately moved her hair out of the way and placed kisses along her shoulders. "Nothing I haven't seen before." He murmured against her skin.

His hands gently pushed the waist of the dress down so that it puddled at her feet. He reached over and grabbed the lavender dress and slipped it over her head.

Once laced up, Jessica walked over and stood in front of the mirror, examining it as she had done all the others.

Aemond came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, her chin resting on her shoulder. "Now that one is my favorite."

Jessica was examining the little indigo flowers with fierce precision. "This one is my favorite as well."

She took a breath then looked at her seamstress. "Prepare the green for tonight and add the lavender into my personal collection."

The seamstress gave a curtsy. "Right at once, Princess."

Jessica exchanged the dress for her robe, letting the seamstress and her handmaids leave the room.

One of the handmaids leaned over and whispered to the seamstress. "What was that all about?"

The seamstress smiled as she closed the door. "Forgiveness."

"Can you imagine?" The handmaid looked back before disappearing from sight.

Jessica crossed to the table and poured herself some wine. She didn't even want to be going to this feast her brother insisted on throwing. She was already grieving Luke's death enough as it was. She didn't need a feast in Aemond's honor rubbed in her face.

Aemond seemed to be reading her mind. "You don't have to go, you know. I can give the excuse that you are unwell. Can hide up in here."

Jessica sighed and sat down, Aemond coming and joining her. She settled her back against his chest while one arm went around her shoulder, his free hand came up and took her hand in his.