wicked games | aemond targaryen

𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚢-𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎

SER DONNEL STOOD beneath the entryway of the Red Keep when Valaena returned, her book and shoes held carefully in his hands.

He said nothing at first as she stepped out of the rain, joining him under the dry cover of the castle as he held out her belongings. She reached for them silently, hair dripping and dress clinging to her skin as she grabbed the book first. She cradled it to her chest as she slipped her shoes back on with her other hand.

Valaena could tell there was a question resting on the tip of Ser Donnel's lips, of whether she was okay. It was a question she never wanted to answer, because she knew she could never answer it honestly.

She stepped past him into the Red Keep before he could decide whether to speak up, shivering in the cool air as it clung to her soaked skin. The corridor was strangely quiet as they walked through, lit only by the flicker of torches lining the stone walls. Each step squelched faintly from her wet shoes until she reached her chambers, where she slipped inside quietly as she left her sworn knight behind.

Once inside, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment. Her eyes closed as she tried to steady herself, wishing nothing more than to return to the raging storm outside instead of what she had been dreading all evening.

A deep sigh escaped her lips as she opened her eyes, walking further into her room and dropping the book on her desk. She peeled the damp dress from her skin, letting it fall to the floor as she stepped out of it.

Valaena reached for the warm towels by the hearth, no doubt left by Elissa that morning. She worked through her hair with the towel, rubbing the soaked strands dry until they hung loose around her shoulders. Draping the towel over her shoulders, she suddenly sneezed into her arm. She sniffled, brushing it off as nothing, though she felt the chill cling to her as she walked over to her wardrobe.

Her hands hovered over the trousers hanging between dresses, tempted to throw etiquette out the window and wear them to dinner. She brushed the thought aside, knowing it would cause more headaches than it was worth as she moved to the red dress hanging behind the trousers.

Valaena slipped into the dress before walking over to her vanity. She plopped herself into the chair, reaching for her hairbrush as she began brushing through her tangled hair with steady strokes. When she was finished, she set the brush back down and turned to the jewelry hanging beside the vanity.

Her fingers reached up, tracing over the chains and pendants until pausing at a small dragon necklace. Its golden wings were outstretched, ruby eyes glinting under the firelight. It had been a gift from her father when she was younger, a necklace she hadn't worn in ages.

She stared at it for a moment longer, thumb brushing over the ridged tail. She lifted it off the vanity, reaching up to fasten it around her neck securely. She chose a matching set of ruby earrings before smoothing over the front of her dress with her hands. Glancing at the mirror one last time to make sure she looked presentable, Valaena turned to leave her room.

Aware that she was already running late, she quickened her steps as she left her room. Ser Donnel matched her pace behind her as she walked toward the dining hall, her heels clicking faintly against the stone floor.

Turning the corner, she resisted the urge to groan as she came face to face with Aemond. He didn't seem to share her annoyance as his lips twitched upwards in a half-smirk when he saw her. She tried to brush past him with a scowl, annoyed when he matched her steps to walk beside her.

"Running late?" he asked, voice smooth.

"It seems I'm not the only one," Valaena commented as they turned another corner.