#armond

Chapter 1

Synopsis: Your father doesn’t arrive him as quickly as he promised, so you go to look for him, unaware you’re about to take his place as a prisoner in a large seemingly abandoned castle.

Tags: Aemond Targaryen x reader, Aemond Targaryen x fem!reader, reader isn’t described physically in anyway, reader comes from a village (not a noble house), no talk of current rulers, Aemond Targaryen as a dragon hybrid, there will be smut in future chapters

Notes: Hihihihihi! It’s been sooooo long since I’ve written anything! Your girl has been on a break. I got the idea for this, because I’m a sucker for stories (especially) fanfiction based on old fairytales. This is not proofread I fear.

If you have anything you’d like to ask or any suggestions for future chapters please let me know in my asks! I’d love to hear your ideas or predictions!!!

When you were a little girl, before your mother passed, she would tell you the same stories before bed every night.

She would tell you of a time where there were dragons that flew through the sky and breathed fire, of rulers with hair that seemed to glow like the silver moon itself.

Most nights it would be happy stories, ones of dragon-riding hero’s. Then there were times when your mother’s gaze would darken when she would look out into the midnight sky, and she would tell you about how the dragon’s destroyed themselves.

When your mother passed, you were five years of age. No one would tell you what had happened to her. Just that the gods decided that her soft soul was ready to lay to rest with them.

Your father was a kind man, but he loved his wife more than anyone. Anyone could see that a piece of him left with her.

You took up a lot of responsibility within your house. You were not a noble family, by any means, but there were things that had to get done.

By twelve, you were skilled with cooking and cleaning, and being able to have it all done before the sun started to set.

It wasn’t easy, watching your father getting wearier everyday, as gravity pulled him back down.

You found your solace although. You loved to read. So many characters, and places, and scenarios. You could lose yourself in it, and forget about anything that worried you.

It was getting colder out, but there was an evil colder chill in the air that made the people in your village tense. No one was sure what felt wrong, but something was off.

“My darling girl! Have you seen my damned boots? They’ve seemed to run off by themselves!” Your father calls you in the early hours of the morning. You were saddling his horse, and sighed. It seemed you always had to remind him at least three times before something really sunk in.

“I told you papa, you left your shoes in the hallway last night by your door,” you say, when you step inside, already walking up the narrow staircase to pluck his shoes from their spot. They’re a sorry excuse for boots, weathered and worn, you don’t think he’s replaced his shoes since at least three winters ago. “Papa, you are in a terrible need for new boots. You’re going to lose your toes out in the cold,” you scolded.

He groaned and shook his head. “They’ve barely been done in yet, love, don’t worry about me. I won’t be out long this time,” he promises, pinching your cheek, even as you swat his hand.

“Papa, that’s what you said last time. It’s colder than winters been since…” you trail off, knowing the last time it was this frigid was the winter your mother passed. “Well, it’s freezing papa. Promise me you won’t try and pitch a tent out in the snow. Spare a couple of coppers for an inn, alright?” You ask, holding on of his hands between yours.

He sighs, finally conceding. “Alright, my girl, I’ll make sure I have a warm place to stay.”

You smile, kissing his cheek. “Snowpelt is saddled. She’s ready to go,” you inform him.

Your father nods, before eyeing you. “You know girl, it’s getting awfully close to your name day isn’t it?” He asks.

Now that you thought about it, it was. You were born during an ice storm during the twelfth moon.

“I suppose it is papa.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what. You pick out something you want and I’ll make sure I bring it back for you,” he says, watching you expectantly.

“Oh, papa, you know I don’t really need anything-“

“Nonsense. Of course you need a gift for your name day. Give me an item girl, or I’ll come back with a bucket full of garden snakes for you,” he threatened playfully.

You laughed, before frowning in thought. “How about a rose?” You asked. No matter how many beautiful flowers you got to bloom in the garden at home, roses just wouldn’t grow. They were your favorite, and your mother’s too.

“Just a single rose?”

You nod.

“You know I can’t say no to my beautiful lady. The most gorgeous rose I can find then!” He proclaims loudly, before bounding up. “I should be off, so I can make it to an inn before the sun sets.”

You follow him out, patting Snowpelt on the side as he mounts her. You wave him goodbye, watching as he starts off down the path through the village and into the woods.

The next few days pass quickly, and you busy yourself in deep cleaning the house. There’s not much else you can do. Most everyone has been warming themselves by their fires with how frigid the weather has gotten.

It’s when the fourth day passes you start to worry slightly. You know papa was only supposed to go two villages away, and the snow has been dreadful, but you still can’t help but worry.

The same evening, there’s a brisk knock at your door. When you open it, the little newspaper boy is outside.

“My lady, I do not wish to alarm you, but your father’s horse has come back,” he says softly, pointing to Snowpelt, who stands restlessly outside the house.

Your pulse spikes, as you step outside, grabbing a measly shawl. “What do you mean? Only Snowpelt? No sign of Father?”

“I’m afraid not, my lady,” the news boy responds. “She was quite shaken when she came through. I was just outside and I thought I’d take her here…should I get a search started?” He asks.

You shake your head immediately. “No. No search, there’s not a need for that. I’ll find him. He can’t be far,” you say. You know that the search would more than likely be led by Addam, the towns strongest hunter. He had been relentlessly attempting to court you for the last few moons. You didn’t need him thinking he’d earned your hand by finding your father.

“I don’t think that’s wise my lady, you’ll freeze to death-“

“I don’t want you running around telling anyone I’ve left, alright?” You cut him off. “Stay quiet,” you press, before putting two coppers into his palm. “That’s for bringing Snowpelt, and for your silence. Go get something warm to eat,” you say, beckoning him off.

The little news boy doesn’t say much more before bounding off. You pat Snowpelt softly.

“It’s just you and me, Snowpelt. Let’s go find papa.”

You’ve never been too far out of your village, so you start to feel slightly intimidated once you’ve gotten Snowpelt into the woods.

Suddenly there’s a strange fork in the road. A large tree branch covering one side, so there’s only the option of the other way.

“Well, Snowpelt…I suppose we’re going this way. Is this the way to papa?” You ask her, knowing she really doesn’t know.

You’re not sure if it’s just your imagination or if it’s really getting colder as you continue down this road. Just as you feel like maybe you should turn around, you see a strange light in the distance. You click at Snowpelt, and speed up slightly.

Getting closer to the strange light, you realize it’s a castle. Snowpelt clops over a stone bridge, as you gawk at the large structure. How could a castle like this be so close? How has no one told you about this before?

On the outside of the stone walls, there are old worn flags. They have a strange symbol on them, but you can’t really make out what it is. You think it might by a dragon, but push the notion away. By the doors there are two lit lanterns, explaining the light.

You tie Snowpelt onto a tree outside, before tentatively walking towards the entrance to this seemingly abandoned castle.

You catch a glimpse of something in the distance. A rose bush…blood red petals standing out amongst the snow. You’re sure your father has to be near. Maybe he’s just taken refuge here.

You knock on the doors, using the heavy knockers. Now you’re sure these are dragons. As you trace one of the metal dragons snouts the door pushes open, but you don’t see anyone awaiting you.

Maybe it was just the wind, you think, before stepping in carefully. Closing the door behind you.

You look around. The castle isn’t completely pitch black, there’s actually quite a few lanterns around the foyer.

“Excuse me!” You call, trying to get the attention of whoever may be lurking around here. “I’m looking for my father! I’m sorry to disturb…”

There’s a strange noise you hear now. A soft crying, and…pleading. As you step closer to the dark hall it seems to be coming from the more the voice sounds familiar.

“Please, I just wanted a rose for my daughter, I didn’t mean to steal from you!”

You gasp softly, realizing that the voice belongs to your papa. Quickly you start down the hallway, and up the winding staircase where you can hear him. “Papa!” You call out.

When you get up to the level of where you heard him, you see it’s darker up here than downstairs. “Papa?”

“My girl, you must leave, now! Do not come closer! It’s dangerous here! Go back home!” Your papa pleads, but you go to him anyway.

He’s in a stone room, a barred cell door locked shut at the doorway.

“Papa! Who has done this to you?” You gasp, reaching through the bars for his hands.

He grabs your hands quickly, looking around. “Shhh! Shhh, he’s listening. I know he’s here somewhere.”

“Who, papa, who?” You ask, quieter now.

“I’m not sure what he is…but he’s dangerous. I could barely see him, but he was hot. Like fire burns within his veins. He pushed me in here, and told me I have to serve a sentence. I just saw those beautiful roses, and I thought they were perfect for you,” he says, his voice cracking, and a tear rolling down his face. “You must go, now, before he comes back.”

You shake your head. “No, papa, there has been some kind of misunderstanding, he can’t just keep you here! You’ve done nothing wrong!”

He shushes you again frantically. “My daughter, he cannot be bargained with, please go,” he pleads.

“No!” You say, your voice louder than it’s supposed to be. You stand up sharply at the sound of a low growl reverberating throughout the hallway, but you’re not sure where it’s coming from. It could by levels up, or levels down, even right beside you. It resonates heavily like thunder.

“Run! Daughter, run!” Your father cries, but you don’t move.

The growling has stopped, but there is are heavy footsteps. One after the other, they feel like they cannot belong to a mere man. They stop right before the turn into the hallway you stand in.

“How touching this is…a family reunion,” a low voice drawls. It’s got the cadence of someone who comes from a much more proper background, but it’s still off. There’s a bass low beneath the surface.

“Who are you? Why are you holding my father captive?” You demand, your voice steady. The more you think about it the angrier you feel. How dare this man stand in the shadows, attempting to sneer at you and your papa.

“Your father is a thief,” the voice snarls.

You scoff indignantly. “He is no such thing! How could he know that there is a cruel beast who lurks these broken down walls, waiting to pounce on the first person who plucks a rose from a bush,” you admonish.

There’s a moment of silence, before a low laugh is heard. At least you think it’s a laugh. There’s no humor in it. “You’ve got a sharp tongue. Unlike your blubbering fool for a father.”

“Come out now!” You snap. “If you wish to hurl insults, face me! I will not have you hide within the shadows. I demand to see you,” you tell this mysterious man harshly.

“You do not know what you ask, foolish girl,” the voice warns. “You could very well perish in fear at the sight of me,” he says, his voice getting softer towards the end of his sentence, the brutish growl giving way to a softer more human like tone.

“Let my father go!” You demand. “You cannot keep him here.”

“I can keep him here. I could keep you here too if it pleased me. Although, I have no use for a sniveling coward within these walls…I could find use for a fiery woman,” the man tells you, pausing. “If you agree to take your father’s place, I will let him go. You will stay here indefinitely, until I release you.”

“No! Do not agree to that daughter I forbid you!” Your father, who up until now has been shivering in fear, speaks up.

You think about it, looking at your father, the man who gets wearier everyday. He’d freeze to death here. Or he’d die of fright. You are your mother’s daughter, brave to a fault, and you’ve never let anyone control you.

“If I take his place…he’ll be free?” You confirm.

An affirming growl echos. “Yes. He will be free.”

“No!” Your father cries again, but you’ve already made up your mind.

“I will take his place. Set him free,” you say finally.

Your father pleads against this when the man finally steps out from behind the corner.

The sheer size of him alone, makes your back straighten out of instinct. He’s near touching the ceiling, is what you first notice, before your eyes trail over the horns that are on either side of his temples. His face is…human…you could say handsome under different circumstances. He’s lost an eye, a sapphire in the abandoned socket. He’s dressed in a white tunic, and black pants. His fingers end in sharp claws, and his feet and curled into an animal like arch. Claws much like his hands.

What catches your attention the most though, is the large wings behind him. Then his silver hair that seems to glow…like the moon.

Your mother’s stories echo throughout your head like a dam breaking, and your eyes widen.

“Your daughter has freed you. You do not have much time before I drag you back to your measly village,” the man snarls, unlocking the cell.

You watch him, his sheer height alone towering over you. He hasn’t looked at you yet, just watches your father.

“Papa, go,” you say softly. Your father leaves the cell, before pulling you into his arms.

“I can’t leave you, my girl, I can’t. I already lost your mother, I couldn’t bear to lose you too,” he whispers, warm tears slipping down his face.

“I know papa…but you have to go,” you say. “I’ll be alright. You know me. Whiskey in a teacup, remember?” You try to smile weakly.

Your father looks at the man who stands, watching with an almost bored expression. “I cannot leave her!” He snaps.

You don’t have the chance to say anything else before your father is grabbed by the man, and hauled down the stairs. You gasp, covering your mouth to muffle your sobs as you hear your father plead to not be separated from you.

Through the window in the stone wall you can see your father roughly mounted onto Snowpelt, before the man spooks her into motion.

You step back, wiping your face in the urgency to find courage. Be brave. Be brave.

The footsteps return up the stairs, and stop behind you. Even from here you can feel the heat radiating from him.

“You will not stay in this cell. There is a room being prepared for you,” The man says lowly.

You turn around looking up at him. “What do you mean? You have people who work for you here?” You try not to gawk at his imposing figure, wings and all.

He scoffs. “Something like that. We will go over rules in the morning. Come with me,” he commands, before starting to walk through the castle hallways.

“I don’t even know your name,” you say, during the walk. He pauses, before glancing at you behind his shoulder.

“Aemond,” he tells you, and your breath stutters. You’ve heard that name, from your mother’s stories. You do not mention it now though.

You murmur your name back to him, and if he hears you, he doesn’t acknowledge it.

You arrive in front of a set of doors, and he opens one. Inside is a surprisingly lavish room, mostly green centered, and a hearth going.

“This is your room,” Aemond tells you.

“What-“

He cuts you off with a tut. “No more questions tonight. You will sleep, and be awoken in the morning. Do not be foolish enough to run. I will catch you,” he says.

You want to ask more questions. What is he? where are the people who work for him here? Why are you not staying in a cell?

You cannot bring yourself to defy him at this time, so you step into your room. He closes the door behind you, but it doesn’t lock. A clear test.

You lay down on the bed, only slipping off your shoes. You do not want to search for a nightgown, or be caught unawares in your underclothes.