Heir of the Dragon

Hard Truths

Aemond settled into bed with Jessica after Alicent and Maester Orwyle had taken their leave. They both stared at each other for a moment before Aemond held out his arms and Jessica moved and nested into his chest.

Aemond kissed her forehead, running his hand through her hair before rubbing his nose against hers.

Jessica hummed in contentment.

The peace lasted for just a moment. Then Aemond sighed. "Are we done with these escapades, My Love?"

Jessica huffed, leaning up. "Aemond..."

Aemond cut her off. "You are a Princess of House Targaryen, Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms. More importantly you are my wife, the mother of our child. Your place is here in King's Landing, by my side, ruling as things should be."

Jessica looked at him then took a long breath. "Daemon he's -"

"A menace for starters." Aemond began. "Rhaenyra's husband. Our uncle. Are you really so contented to be his whore? No more than a mere plaything while he stabs at power in the Pretender's position."

Jessica opened her mouth then closed it, and for awhile neither of them spoke. Jessica had now fully sat up, her back resting against the mountain of pillows. Finally she broke the silence. "I used to think the three of us were more than that, maybe I really was naive to it all..."

Aemond turned on his side and looked at her. "I never asked. I never thought I wanted to know... How long? From when Daemon brought you to Dragonstone until he bedded you the first time."

The two of them had never had a more raw conversation, and Jessica knew these conversations, these hard nights she could never do this with either Aegon or Daemon. Aegon had been focused on other things. Daemon would never entertain the notion.

Jessica sighed, focusing on the wall. "Three days..."

"Mmm." Aemond seemed to stare off for a long moment before the other half of that question arose. "Did Daemon really take you to Dragonstone because of my mother."

Jessica picked at her nails, choosing her words carefully. "I think Daemon thought of the plan that night on Driftmark, but no that wasn't the sole reason."

Aemond looked up at her, then shook his head. "I don't understand. The tension was building. It was plain enough that day in the throne room. Hell all Vaemond Velaryon did was suggest a marriage proposal and Daemon took his head. It was bad enough that he took your maiden head -"

Jessica gave a sad smile. "Daemon never took my maiden head."

That seemed to shock Aemond. He pushed himself up and sat next to her. "What?"

"You heard me." Jessica looked up at him.

"Then who?" Aemond asked incredulously.

"Aegon." Jessica answered simply.

Aemond leaned his head back against the wood of the bed closing his eyes, letting it sink in.

Jessica reached over and took Aemond's hand. "It's time for some hard truths, My Love."

Aemond gave her hand a squeeze. "When?"

"The first day of his wedding festivities." Jessica took a breath and leaned her head back. "It was barely first light. I had woken, you were still asleep next to me."

Jessica grinned, reminiscing. "For as small as you were, you knew how to take up the entirety of a bed."

For the briefest moment, a genuine smile crossed Aemond's face. "Did Aegon plan to do that in hopes to stop the wedding?"

Jessica raised an eyebrow at him. "When does Aegon plan anything? It just sort of happened...and I could have stopped it. I probably should have stopped it. But at the end of the day it was my choice and I was caught up in the moment as much as Aeg was."

"You really did ask to marry him?" Aemond's voice was soft, almost small.

Jessica said nothing then slowly gave a nod. "I asked your mother once, when we were at Driftmark. Asked for you and Helaena to wed and I'd take Aeg to husband. It was father who shot the proposition down."

"All in hopes Dorne would respond."

Jessica nodded. "All in hopes Dorne would respond."

Aemond sighed and looked at her. "You wouldn't have been happy with him."

Jessica couldn't help but laugh. "I wouldn't have?"

Aemond smiled then pulled Jessica to him. "No. You wouldn't have. You would have kept up appearances in the public eye. But behind closed doors..."

His lips brushed her neck before lingering on a very sensitive spot.

"Mm." Jessica closed her eyes her hands in his hair. "Are you suggesting we'd have a torrid affair?"

"Oh we absolutely would have." Aemond smiled against her skin. "And I wouldn't have shared. Not like Aegon would have been sober enough to notice."

"And the children..." Aemond murmured. "Our children."

His kisses trailed lower until his forehead rested against her belly.

"They would've been Aegon's children." Jessica rationalized.

"So he would have thought..."

Their thoughts were interrupted by the door opening. Aemond sighed, pulling back and laying Jessica on his chest.

Alicent came in. "I require Jesscareya's assistance."