Lady Arianwyn Targaryen, Lady of Runestone, was not born of love. Nor passion. Nor even a sense of duty. She was seeded by her father, the Rogue Prince Daemon Targaryen, in an act of unbridled hatred, and borne of her mother, the late Lady Rhea Royc...
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Arianwyn was frozen in place as Aemond suddenly pulled away from her to greet whoever had just intruded on them.
Had she truly been pressed so intimately into Aemond's side, his hand encompassing her waist? Had she really leaned closer to him, raising her hand to his face to touch that scar? Had she forgotten her propriety so thoroughly?
She could not deny the chill on her side where Aemond had been only moments ago, nor how her skin tingled where his hands had been only moments ago. Still, she tried not to think of how her fingers tingled with the desire to touch him and pull him back to her or how her lips yearned for his.
He was not the boy she had known so many years ago. That boy had never made her feel like this, like she was endlessly hungering for something she did not understand. She shook her head to clear her mind and stood from the couch just moments before slender arms swept her into a tight embrace.
"Oh, Aria," Alicent said softly, swaying slightly as she held her niece. "Thank the Seven that you are here. We have all missed you so dearly." She pulled away, placing a hand on Arianwyn's flushed cheek. "How beautiful you have become."
The queen, too, was just as beautiful as Arianwyn remembered, though there were new shadows around her eyes. Even as she smiled, there was the ghost of a frown on her lips. Before Arianwyn could ask what was troubling her beloved aunt, delighted screeches from the hall drew her eyes to the children toddling into the room behind Helaena, headed directly for Aemond.
Both wore matching clothing and bore the same long mop of white-blond silver hair. But only one leaped up and down at Aemond's feet, begging to be held by his uncle. The other leaned against him, one arm wrapped around his leg. Finally, with a soft sigh, he bent down and lifted them both, one in each arm. Joyous laughter echoed throughout the room.
Then, Aemond smiled just as she remembered – wide and bright. It was the most wonderful thing she had ever seen.
"Come," Alicent said, tugging on Arianwyn's arm. "Meet the children. They have heard so much about you." She led her to where Helaena stood by a window, the youngest of her children propped against her hip.
"Hello, Helaena," Arianwyn stepped close to her cousin but did not move to embrace her. Helaena has always had an odd aversion to being touched. "I'm so very glad to see you again."
The Princess' smile widened even further, "I missed you very much, Aria. I had a present for you, but we couldn't find the maid to help dress the children, and we were running late, so I forgot it."
Arianwyn shook her head, "There's no need for gifts." Besides, she was sure the gift would be some kind of insect and was perfectly content with not receiving it. "All I ask is that you introduce me to these wonderful little creatures." She punctuated her request with a light touch against the soft nose of the babe in Helaena's arms.
"This is Maelor," Helaena lifted the child higher so Arianwyn could see him better. "He was born nearly two years ago. The moon was full that night – and yellow. I could see it through the window from the birthing bed."
