𝙺𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽 ° aemond targaryen

Act Three, Scene Nine

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"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝙷𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚎"
𝟷𝟸𝟾 𝙰𝙲 - 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚎
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THERE WERE CERTAIN PAINS THAT were still unknown to the young girl. She knew those caused by a blade, a stitching needle, or even dragon fire. Even the pain of loss and heartbreak was not anything new to her. But the ache that came from starvation—that feeling of your own stomach eating away at itself for the hope that it may get something to satisfy it—that was nothing she had ever known.

The servants had brought her trays, filled with honestly fulfilling meals than those typically served to prisoners, but Vaella was not having any of it. As soon as the young woman's back had been turned, the platter was sent flying towards the bars, food splattering all over the back of the innocent servant.

This happened three more times before it was decided that the guards were to bring the trays, and they sat them right inside the door before backing away. Though, after almost five days without having eaten anything brought to her, the girl found herself not even having the energy to bring herself off the cold wall she was leaned up against. It hurt more often than not to simply turn her head whenever the door opened, so she even stopped doing that, choosing instead to stare at the stones across from her.

Her mind had been her worst enemy, however, plagued with nightmares and thoughts far darker than she had ever thought. Monsters visited her in her sleep, showing her the deaths of those she held dearest to her. And in her times awake, her mind pivoted around thoughts of death, though these ones were reserved for herself. She wanted an end to her suffering, an end to the unbearable pain she felt scattered throughout her body. It was the only future she could see for herself.

It had taken a while for Vaella to be able to comprehend that thought. Perhaps she had thought, deep down, that her life would end here, trapped inside the cold stone walls of a prison cell below the cliffs of Dragonstone. She had held hope for so long that she would find a way out, or that someone would find a way to free her. But now, on what felt like the last final stretch of life, she could not hold that hope for any longer.

She would die here. She was certain of that now, as the sun disappeared from the room and her eyes were too heavy to be kept open, that she would not see a free world again. She would not hold her son in her arms again, see him grow up into a strong fighter or noble royal like she had yearned for since the moment she first laid eyes on him. And Saellor would grow up without a mother to guide him--that thought alone crushed her already broken heart.

And Aemond. Her thoughts always led back to him. She yearned more than anything to be in his embrace again, his strong arms wrapped around her as if to shield her from the dangers of the world. His lips would never brush against her again, nor would she be able to marvel at the sight of his sapphire--a gem he had chosen merely due to it being her favorite--glittering in the light of the fire like she had always adored. She would never again feel his soft skin beneath her fingertips, or feel her heart skip a beat as a laugh passed through his lips.

She never got to see him be a father. For so long, she dreamed of seeing her husband hold their child in his arms, whispering softly to them in the late of night to calm them. Or see him train with their sons, being ever careful despite how ruthless a fighter he could be.

She did not even get to kiss him farewell one last time; that may be what hurt her the most.

The groaning of the door filled the silence, light footsteps entering slowly. Vaella, however, did not turn her head to see, knowing that it was simply someone bringing her her evening meal. Though, when the footsteps continued to get closer, her head finally lifted slightly from the stone wall.

She hadn't seen this girl before, dark hair framing her slender face. Though she showed no clear emotion on her face, her chocolate eyes shone with curiosity. In her hands was a small tray, filled with food still steaming. Vaella's lilac eyes glanced over it for merely a second before drifting back up to the face of the strange girl.

"Who are you?" Her voice sounded weaker than it ever had, coming out scratchy and as nothing more than a mere whisper.

"I'm just here to bring you your food." Her voice was laced with a foreign accent, her purposely loud tone bouncing off the walls as she moved to set the tray beside the girl.

Only a moment passed before the girl whipped her head over her shoulder and towards the door. The Targaryen followed her gaze, confused, before the snapped back towards the servant as she quickly faced her once more. A tanned hand shot out and grabbed the princess', a small slip of parchment in her gasp that she was quick to shove into Vaella's. Her tone was soft compared to the last time she spoke, as if she did not want to be heard.

"I do not have much time. I came as a favor to Sylvi. You must trust me."

The light haired girl did not have a moment to respond before the stranger was on her feet, rushing from the cell as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The wood slammed shut, the sound echoing throughout the room. Vaella's mind was racing, the parchment she had been given feeling rough against her calloused fingertips.

"Sylvi?" The girl had questioned to herself, her thoughts drifting to a conversation she had years ago with Aemond. If her memory was to be trusted, the woman in question worked on the Street of Silk, her establishment being one that Aegon had dragged his younger brother to in their youth, though it was much to Aemond's reluctance. Her curiosity was swelling as she unfolded the note, her blurry eyes skimming over the words written hurriedly inside.

There is a ship bound for the mainland in two days time, but in order for this to work, I need you to trust me. You have friends here. Eat, you need your strength.
   
                                                      Mysaria

For the first time in days, Vaella felt hope swell back into her chest. If this girl, Mysaria, was speaking the truth, the girl was finally going to have a chance at freedom--an idea that mere minutes ago had seemed long gone. Her eyes read the words over and over, engraving them in her mind as if they were a prayer. Without a second thought, her eyes flickered to the door before she was tossing the parchment out of the small window, her chest heavy with anticipation.

And, for the first time after five days, Vaella turned towards the silver tray and began eating.

𖤍
omg hi, long time no see

so, yeah, vaella is going through it
so that's fun
BUT there may or may not be a reunion
coming up very soon 🙈

i'll try not to leave y'all hanging for too long
but i make no promises