A Dance Of Scales And Shadows | Aemond Targaryen x OC

Part 19 - The Moment of Clarity

Aika stayed and watched as the Great Maester, along with others, separated Aegon's melted armor from his burned skin. She had never seen anything as gory as this. To her, he wasn't even breathing, but the Maester said he was still alive.

Aemond told her to return to her chambers, as this view wasn't appropriate for a princess, but she continued to watch. So many thoughts were circling in her head about what Aemond had said in the morning and what could have possibly happened.

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As Aika left the king's chamber, she headed toward a place she had never once imagined she would need to go. There was only one person who could satisfy her curiosity and tell her exactly what had happened.

She found Sir Criston cleaning his sword. When he saw Aika enter, he straightened up and asked, "How can I be of use to a princess?"

"What happened at Rooke's Rest?" she asked immediately as she closed the door.

"King Aegon defeated Rhaenys and her dragon but was also severely..." Cole began.

"No, tell me exactly what happened there." She knew Aemond had flown there long before Aegon. There should have been a plan—how could Aegon have reached there earlier?

"I can't say more..."

Aika wanted to persist in getting more information from him, but she left it at that.

On her way back to her room, she saw Heleana.

"Did you visit Aegon?" Aika asked her sister.

"No... but you did," she replied cautiously, looking behind her to make sure no one was listening. "Is he burned?"

"Badly... His armor melted into him. The Maester is doing all they can, but he is unconscious."

"It's unfortunate, isn't it... that he wasn't like you," Heleana said unexpectedly.

"What do you mean?" Aika asked.

"Well, unb..."

"There you are! I was looking for you," Aemond appeared at the end of the long corridor and started walking toward the sisters.

Heleana didn't even try to finish her sentence, but Aika already suspected what she was going to say. Though it really surprised her how Heleana had caught on to that.

"How did the council meeting go?" Aika questioned.

"I will take on the role of regent for the time being," Aemond replied.

"Before Aegon recovers?" Aika asked casually.

"... Yes," he said, looking at her but revealing nothing with his expression. "Before he recovers."

As Heleana excused herself and left, the two walked together in silence. It seemed that Aemond also had thoughts roaming in his head, but Aika couldn't read them.

"Would you stay with me tonight?" she asked softly.

"Only if you want me to," Aemond replied, colder than usual.

"Of course I do," she said in the same soft tone, looking at him.

Shortly after, they reached Aika's room and got into bed. Sleep took Aemond instantly while Aika stayed awake for long hours.

The moonlight gleamed on Aemond as Aika admired him. He wasn't wearing an eye patch, as he now felt comfortable around her. Aemond was the one who defined home for her. Now, in his embrace, she felt the safest and calmest, even after everything that had happened today. For a moment, she felt a deep guilt for speculating that Aemond could have hurt Aegon, but would that really change anything between them?