ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴍᴏᴜʀɴ ᴍᴇ

helaena's mouth opens and clothes immediately, because she had intended to scold him, at least slightly. the evening had been quite enjoyable to her, with the whole family gathered for the first time in many years, so she is rather sad that once again the childhood feud between nephews and uncles has ruined them reconnecting. nonetheless, she refrains from saying it out loud, because aemond's lethal stillness is a good indicator for how dangerous he is at the moment. her brows furrow when he speaks and she crosses her arms in front of her chest. "you are right. i do not understand, because my bullies have always been my own brothers, not my nephews. it doesn't change the fact though that you are not the only one who knows what it is like to be taunted every day, yet the only one who still seeks revenge for childhood animosities, while i had to marry the person who never did anything other than belittle and disrespect me. no one expected you to befriend them. you could have just remained silent instead."

slowly, viserra slipped her hands out of aemonds, feeling tears of her own slip down her cheeks as she looked down at him. using one hand to cup the side of his face, viserra titled his head so he had no choice but to look upwards at her. if he had done what she thought he had, viserra needed him to look her in the eyes as he admitted it. " what have you done?" the words came out sharper in their mother tongue, and maybe she needed them to. needed to keep her guard up, and brace herself for his words.

his voice is sullen as he tries to explain. would she even understand ? the targaryen's were supposed to be able to control their dragons and yet . . . vhagar did not. " i i searched for him, viserra. i did not wish him dead. " the young prince has to take a deep breath, willing his tears to stop. " you must believe me. "

She looks to him now. A soft, smallish smile. She looks over his face and recalls a snippet highlight her drummer was watching on the bus … what was it, a week ago? She hardly knows the day, or what city, globe-place she’s in. His face looks fine ⸺ no bruise? ⸺ so she won’t mention it. Doesn’t want him to think she approves of such a violent lifework by being an active witness.

" i am surprised to see you here, though. " it is with this statement that he turns to look at her. perhaps they were both more exhausted than either let on. " i figured you would be in another country or something. . . singing your pretty little heart out. " he smiles softly then, watching her carefully. " when will your schedule ever allow me to steal you away for a vacation ? " though the words are spoken playfully, they both could really use one !

"I have not, since the day I was born i was bound to these halls, the lake and the forest around it." She said pushing the cup closer to him. "This is the only home I know."

shoving a few berries in his mouth, he tries to chew slowly in hopes it will overpower the tincture. " have you ever wished to leave ? " aemond cannot help the way his head tilts inquisitively. " or are you content here ? " in truth, he was uncertain why it mattered much to him. one day soon, he would be forced to leave here. but he could not help the curiosity that piqued whenever he spoke to alys. there was much he wanted to know in regards to her.