A Dance Of Scales And Shadows | Aemond Targaryen x OC

Part 20 - The Decision to Drown

Aika was running through a never-ending tunnel. It was damp, chilly, and smelled of rotten meat. As she ran, she was stepping in a liquid she hoped was water, but its consistency suggested it was blood.

She tried to scream for help, but her scream was soundless and ineffective. The tunnel seemed alive, shrinking and expanding as she ran.

"It's unfortunate that Aegon wasn't like you."

"You will get the one who sleeps beneath."

Heleana's voice echoed, either in her head or throughout the entire tunnel, sending shivers through her body.

At the end of the tunnel, fire awaited her, burning a vibrant red, warmer than she had ever felt. For the first time in her life, she was terrified of flames.

Then the vision disappeared, and she fell into a heavy wave of water. Unable to swim up, swords rained down towards her.

Suddenly, she woke up to the cold, with Aemond shaking her. Tears were falling from his eye, just as they were from Aika's.

"It was a nightmare," he said quickly. He sounded and looked extremely worried.

"I..." she wanted to say, 'I am so scared,' but the words struggled to leave her mouth. She was trembling, not from the cold, but from fear and darkness.

Aemond immediately hugged her, one hand holding her head while the other stroked her back and drew her closer to him.

"Shhh... I am here. It was just a nightmare," he kept saying while caressing her.

He was both her ultimate safety and the cause of her nightmare. She wanted to pull away, to ask him to leave, to leave herself... But today she chose drowning...

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In the morning, Aika woke up to an empty, cold bed. She longed for Aemond; despite everything, he was her other half.

First things first, she headed towards the King's chamber. As she entered, she saw Aemond pressing a marble ball against Aegon's wounds. The gesture seemed intended to torment or scare Aegon. Aemond was visibly angry, still seething over whatever Aegon had said to him.

"Oh, Aemond, you're here as well," she said cheerfully, pretending she hadn't seen anything. "I heard Aegon regained consciousness."

Aemond loosened his grip on the ball.

"He did, but unfortunately, he doesn't remember much," Aemond said, his eyes locking with Aegon's.

"How unfortunate," Aika replied, trying to ease the tension. "I'll stay with him. You probably have a meeting, Aemond."

Aemond gave Aegon a stern look, delivering a final warning before leaving the room. Once he was gone, Aika asked,

"It was him, wasn't it?" she inquired.

Aegon remained silent for a moment. "That doesn't matter... to you."

"It does," she said resolutely. "I never wanted to hurt you, Aegon..."

"Yet you would still choose him," Aegon stated emotionlessly.

And there was truth in that.

"There's no need to choose now," she said, leaning in to kiss him on the forehead where his wounds had become scars. "Get well. I will make sure everything else goes well while you are recovering."

She loved Aemond, but she wasn't blind. And, she would not let Aemond harm their family once again.