Welcome back - Aemond x Targaryen fem readerĀ
WARNINGS - MAJOR HOUSE OF THE DRAGON SPOILERS
Request by @marvelita85, thank you so much for it, absolutely love it !
Synopsis : Reader is Rhaenyra's younger sister (from Vicerys and Aemma's marriage). She is trained by Daemon and shows great talent. She meets again with the rest of the family when Rhaenyra and Daemon come back to Kings Landing (episode 8 timeline). Although she's feeling very fond of her stepbrothers and newly encountered cousins, she feels something special about Aemond.
Disclaimer : this is not meant to follow House of the Dragon chronology and realness. In this fiction, Reader rides Vhagar and Aemond doesn't (it'll be explained in the fiction, as I go back to ep 7 timeline). Please keep in mind we're just having a good time imagining a scenario :) Enjoy !
There has been many years since nothing very special had happened for Y/N. She was Vicerys and Aemma's second daughter and last child, before her Mother died giving birth. Since that moment, everything changed. Rhaenyra was named Heir and Y/N remained rather unbothered. When Vicerys remarried to Alicent, Y/N stood with her sister. She couldn't accept the treason either and hated that Vicerys could be manipulated in that way. She loved her Father to the moon and back, but she had eyes and brain.
Fortunately, neither Rhaenyra nor Vicerys were feeling responsible for her. She was able to learn what she wanted to learn, which included history and fighting. She could travel, which was the most special thing. She had been far, very far, as far as Penthos ! Can you imagine ?
She loved her uncle very much, and valued his strength of mind and capacity of action. When Rhaenyra got married to Laenor, she asked for permission to leave Kings Landing and move with Daemon and his soon to be wife, Laena Velaryon. Since then, she had been following a strict training from Daemon, and a very good education from Laena. She grew with their children and loved the sisterhood bond their formed. Everything was fine, right ?
Yes, everything was fine, until Laena got through the same thing her Mother Aemma went through. Birth would kill her, and she decided to end her life heroically, as a dragon rider. Vhagar burnt her body and left Penthos after that. Funerals were settled in Driftmark.
For the first time, Y/N met her stepbrothers Lucerys and Jacaerys, as well as her cousins... or other stepbrothers? Anyways, Aegon, Helaena and Aemond. Although she was as sad as Baela and Rhaena for Laena's tragic death, she felt a bit more serene being that surrounded. She got to hug her Sister again, and to discover what time had brought to the family. Corlys and Rhaenys were also very happy to see her, considering her in a more tender way that they viewed Rhaenyra, as they knew Y/N was not ... problematic.
This night, Y/N couldn't find sleep and she wandered in the dunes of Driftmark, by the sea side, when she felt something. She felt.. a presence, calling her. And she followed it. What she discovered was Vhagar, the largest living dragon of this world, asleep in the sand. She got closer, closer, and when she arrived next to the beast eye, it opened it. Instead of being scared to death, Y/N looked into this beautiful eye and fell on her knees, finally letting herself cry the death of Laena. She was sobbing, putting one hand on the dragon skin, and stayed here for a while. After a few minutes, Vhagar actually moved her head and pushed her aside. Y/N got back on her feet and the dragon moved again, gesturing toward her back. Was Vhagar asking her to ride her ? Y/N didn't have a dragon. It was not an opportunity, it was fate.
This night, Y/N became Vhagar's new Rider and enjoyed for the first time flying a dragon.
When she got back to the castle after that, all children (except Aegon) were gathered here. She explained to Rhaenyra's and Laena's what happened, and although some (especially Baela and Rhaena) had a hard time accepting it, they agreed that this was the way it was. But Aemond didn't. This night, he lost an eye fighting the other kids, and instead of joining, Y/N ran upstairs and called for help. The rest of the night you know of.
(Time Jump)
After the whole thing, Rhaenyra and Daemon got married, and Y/N, although a bit surprised, got the pleasure to be able to stay not only with her sister but with her favorite uncle and the kids she liked most. Being separated from Baela and Rhaena was hard, but she had full authorization to fly to see them when she wanted to. In the meantime, she kept training with Daemon, hard, harder with the years. She became so good at it, quick and strong, clever and determined, that she was beating him more often.
She tried not to look too much into politics, leaving that to her sister, but she was clearly favoring this side of the family and would always defend them. No matter the cost.
When they departed for Kings Landing, she was anxious. What would happen? The Greens seemed to have taken a major step toward the Throne and Viserys, her Father, apparently was close to dying, and in pain. She was not sure she wanted to join that kind of feast.
-Do you think our cousins will be less foolish and arrogant this time ? Asked Lucerys to his big brother. The brown-haired smirked. - Don't count on that. They grew. And Aegon married his sister, can you imagine how worse he's going to be ? - Hopefully he'll be too drunk to speak evil of us.. - Yes, hopefully.. Y/N stepped in : - Brothers, we can't have fight between us, this has been going on for too long ! - Easy for you to say ! Everyone loves you, you ride Vhagar, you're closer to Rhaenyra and Daemon than any of us.. Seriously, Sister, if it was for popularity you'd be crowned ! Explained Jacaerys with a kind smile on his face. She shook her head and got between the two, holding them close to her. - You are next in line, boys, and the Sevens know I have no desire for crowns. I'll just make sure you two pay respect and deserve what is given to you.
When they arrived in the Red Keep, things were... gloomy, changed. Symbols of the Sevens were everywhere, and tapestries gone. Rhaenyra and Daemon got to Vicerys first, and when they left the room, Y/N had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with her Father. When she left, she made a few steps before putting her hand on her mouth, trying to keep her sobbing quiet. She was devastated, purely devastated, by how in pain and how weak he's got in just a few years. He would die during this year, and she was not ready to see what would happen next.
And talking about what's next, things became tense pretty quickly. In the Great Hall, everyone gathered to listen to succession claims. This was abnormal, as the next Lord of the Tides had to be Rhaenyra's second child Lucerys. By birthright. Y/N looked at Otto Hightower, literally sitting on the throne, and she clenched her jaw.
They were already usurping her sister's right and her father's will.
She then looked at "The Greens", and discovered that years had changed them a lot. Aegon looked as pathetic as he used to, except he cut his hair, Helaena still seemed in her own world, and Aemond.. well, Aemond had an eye patch, consequence of this night in Driftmark, but except for that, he seemed completely changed. He looked.. well, he looked very strong of body but even more of mind. He looked like a boy who decided he would draw his path himself. And when he looked back at her, she didn't break the bond and stared deep into this single, almost maleficent eye. She slightly nodded her head, and he nodded back. "You're back".
A man had died and a feast was planned. In her night gown, Y/N wondered how this family was supposed to enjoy a "good time" together after this day's incident.
She got at her place around the table, facing Rhaenyra, and dared glancing at the others from time to time. Visery's speech this night was moving, and Y/N fought the urge to run into his arms. She missed being held tight by her Father's embrace. She missed having a Father, actually. What she didn't notice was that Aemond (and Aegon) was looking at her the whole time. Nobody could tell what he was thinking, his face still, but the Prince was actually feeling quite the same, except he never got held by his Father at all. He seemed to experience feelings through her eyes, and was holding on to them.
Viserys left the table and kids being kids, still, things went south. Lucerys seemed to mock Aemond, and despite being older, the silver-aired Prince still reacted in the same way : anger. Y/N got up when he threatened her half-Brother and she actually made the exact same steps as Daemon, instinctively. She then took Lucerys by her side and sighed when Aemond left the room.
(I'm also taking a creative freedom here, imagining the court scene in the beginning of episode 8 happens after the dinner and Rhaenyra stayed a day longer, delaying Vicery's death as well)
The next day, Y/N joined her two half-brothers who decided to wander the Keep, ending up in the courtyard where they explained to her that when she was in Penthos and them in Kings Landing, they first learned how to fight there, with Sir Criston and Sir Harwin. She smiled and followed them, joking about how she would have smashed them even at this time.
In the court was in fact Sir Criston, but this time he was training an Aemond that seemed very trained already. Boosted by yesterday's events, he was pushing hard and going quickly, eventually defeating his opponent. Y/N smiled a bit and clapped. He had won fairly, after all.
Driven by this hate Y/N didn't understand fully, Aemond turned toward them and started provoking his nephews.
-Nephews, have you come to train ?
Not letting them speak a single word, Y/N responded, taking a step forward.
-No. They didn't. They're not in Kings Landing to show off, they're here to show respect to their Grandsire the King and bring support to their Mother. As the Princes they are.
Aemond looked more fiercely at her and smirked.
-Oh really? Sad.. I've been dreaming of an opponent from Princess Rhaenyra's family for so long. But I guess they're not ready.
Y/N turned around and saw the boys fuming, ready to jump on him at any second. Again, she went ahead before they made any mistake. She took off a few layers of clothes, as people were gasping to see her having a full training suit under her dress (always be ready, said Daemon), and asked Lucerys to go get her sword, quickly.
-You want someone from Rhaenyra's family ? I give you the sister. - I would not fight a woman, this is not right. - You would fight a warrior, and you'll most likely never even be able to touch a single strand of my hair, don't even worry.
He laughed and nodded, accepting to take the challenge. As Y/N stepped into the ring, she could feel adrenaline building up, and a form of excitement new to her. She was actually... sort of turned on by this little game. And loved that Aemond was a good opponent to fight with.
He took the first step, and quickly realized she was not joking. Her moves were precise, quick, strong. She was showing skills he knew he didn't have, but nevertheless, he fought hard. Y/N let the show growing longer, simply blocking his moves and occasionally giving him a punch here and there, always followed by a smile she couldn't keep for herself. Lucerys and Jacaerys were beyond smiling, and almost broke their own jaws each time Y/N's sword touched Aemond's breastplate.
-Getting tired, my Prince ? She sarcastically asked. He looked at her, breathing heavily, and with a grunt, made a last step forward, hoping to charge her. This time, Y/N, in a couple of moves, disarmed him and Aemond, laying on the ground, had no choice but to recognize his defeat. She smiled and gave him her arm, helping him getting up. He didn't let go of the arm and held it firmly, looking in her eyes as he was only a few inches close to her.
-You are, truly, fascinating. He simply said, before leaving the courtyard.
After this moment, Y/N had trouble keeping up with her thoughts. She had never been interested in boys, love, physical touch.. in a way, she almost though she was different from the others and would never get into this. But she had to admit that Aemond Targaryen, technically also her half-brother, was a new intrigue in her life.
She had loved fighting him, as it was a way for her to demonstrate her strengths and prove that her self-confidence was well-placed, but it was not only that. She had been fighting many opponents, as a training. Not only Daemon, fierce, but also guards and even occasionally knights who came by. She was always glad she could show her skills and feel this adrenaline rush, but with Aemond, she felt something else. Something of a more.. physical nature. A tingling, a spark, something difficult to express but that filled her entire body. And when he kept his grip on her arm and said these few words, she felt her soul fainting.
This was the last day, before she would go back to Dragonstone. After the training in the courtyard, a last lunch was planned with the family.
She couldn't wait.
She had kept her training suit, not bothering to put the dress back on. When she entered the room, Daemon smiled.
-Training without me, niece ? And who was the unlucky opponent ? - He fought well actually. But not nearly as well as I did. She smiled and dared a wink in Aemond's direction, who seemed to suddenly get tense on his chair. Not in anger, but in surprise.
Daemon burst laughing and nodded his head. He was terribly proud of her fighting abilities and even prouder that he was the man who inspired this passion.
The lunch went well, with light talks breaking the silence occasionally. Y/N was mostly talking to her sister and uncle, and could feel Aemond's eye constantly on her face, making her feel like the place was burning hot. When lunch was over, she was first to leave the room, wanting to take a last stroll in the castle before going back to Dragonstone's dark environment.
-Princess Y/N.
She turned around, seing Aemond walking fast in her direction. He had left just a few seconds after her and as the door was closing, she could see Daemon looking at her, raising his cup as to toast for her and Aemond.
-Yes, Aemond ? - You fought very well. - Thank you, I'm aware. She smiled widely, amused to be able to be so cocky. He smirked a bit, apparently alleviated that she was not playing any "lady of the court" role but simply was herself, light and funny.
-You've been away for long. This castle must feel very different. - Yes, very. It's.. darker. I've always loved how fresh it looked and felt. But it's not the case anymore. Your Mother and mine have very different tastes.
Her heart tightened a bit as she said that, suddenly remembering the warmth of her Mother's smile and a shadow of sadness veiled her eyes. Aemond seemed to notice.
-Do you want to go in the city ? She arched an eyebrow, suspicious. - You'll be back an hour before having to leave, no worry. She didn't answer, keeping the suspicious glaze. - I'm just thinking you'd like to be with your Mother a bit.
After getting permission, Aemond and Y/N got on horses and, escorted, left toward the Great Scept, where she, Rhaenyra and Alicent often came to pay homage to their respective late Mothers. Y/N didn't come back for years and when she entered the windy halls, she was suddenly taken by emotion and stopped for a moment, making sure she's be able to control herself before actually stepping in. Aemond was following her, always a step back, as she moved toward one of the rings of candles and got on her knees, her hands together. She didn't know for how long she stayed there, eyes closed and praying (actually more talking). She imagined she was in direct connexion with her Mother and could tell her what was happening, how she was doing. She broke down when she said she wished she could be there, not for her but for her Father. As much as she wanted to remain emotionless, she simply couldn't, even after all these years.
Aemond, who had remained a bit further back, finally took a few steps to kneel by her side, joining hands and remaining silent. When tears stopped, Y/N looked at him.
-You must think I'm very weak. - No, I don't. She didn't say anything, feeling a bit dumb to even care for his opinion of her. - My Mother still fights the urge of crying when she talks about hers. His face was enlightened by the candles, making him look warmer. - There are pains I don't wish to know, and will not place judgements upon. He turned his face toward her and she could see a smile, not a smirk, not a challenge or a provocation, just a soft, very sincere smile. She nodded softly and thanked him in a whisper, glad she had the opportunity to come here. Without quite knowing why, she took a candle in her hands, facing him and closed her eyes again. Instinctively, he joined his hand with hers, around this candle, and she wished for him to not know this pain for a thousand years.
END - Hope you'll like it !
