The Tragedy of Liliyana Lannister 𓆗♡ AEMOND TARGARYEN ♡ 𓆗

Chapter Fourteen

I got an Aemond/Aegon story up now if that's something that might interest you 👀🥵

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Commoners tried to sneak a peek into the carriages before a guard pushed them forward to keep the crowd moving.

Liliyana heard babies crying and wondered how many would be separated today in the hysteria.

Too many.

She pressed the thought away and leaned into the headrest. Aemond's fingers circled around her ankle, keeping her legs "elevated" as he called it. To improve healing and circulation. Liliyana did not understand what he meant, but she trusted him.

"Maybe later," she began, cheeks flaring a bit. "I can sit down and describe them."

"It does not need to be immediate, Liliyana. We go at your pace."

"No, I know." She adjusted herself and continued watching the people walk past. All the while, Aemond refused to look away from her. "It's just...I know it will be difficult. And I know that no matter what I think or try to tell myself, I won't want to do it. But today is already tiring, and it barely started. I might as well get all the bad stuff done at once."

Her husband nodded. Pride floored through him. His wife was so incredibly strong. Stronger than he could ever hope to be. "Okay. When we return, I will have a room prepared."

Liliyana smiled a thank you and closed her eyes. Aemond rubbed a thumb over the smooth skin of her ankle.

"Aemond," she asked after some time. "do you think Aegon will be a fine king?"

His answer was quick and well-rehearsed. "I think my brother will be whatever my grandsire and Mother wish him to be."

"Yes, I suppose you're right."

"What do you believe?" Aemond knew Liliyana would never speak ill of someone, but he liked to believe that their time together allowed her to feel safe with speaking her truths. Whatever she told him, he'd carry it to his grave.

Liliyana knew how badly her husband wished to be in Aegon's place. Ever since they were children, Aemond held bitterness in his heart like a handshake. "I believe that, if things were different, you'd be perfect for it."

"I...thank you. I would want nothing more than to make you a queen."

Liliyana's cheeks flushed. "Oh! Well, I wasn't even thinking about me, truly. I don't know the first thing about being queen. My life was decided before I was born. My parents saw to that. Besides, if I were your queen, I would need to..."

Aemond's intensity only magnified. "Need to what?"

"To produce you an heir." Embarrassment forced her eyes to her lap. Aemond's hand around her ankle felt heavy as iron.

He fought the urge to grip her chin. He would not neglect the vow he made to her. "Look at me, Liliyana, please," his cool voice pleaded. Liliyana did as he asked. His one eye sparkled with tenderness. "If I were ever made king, it would be you who decided such things. Just as you do now."

"Do you want children?"

Aemond broke eyes with her, and the fear inside Liliyana capsized her.

"I-I'm sorry, I should not have been so forward. We never discussed it but all men want an heir. I'm sorry, please forget I said--"

Her husband's forward lean successfully shushed her. "You are free to give me anything you wish, Liliyana. Epagon, se ziry jāhor sagon aōhon. (Ask, and it will be yours.)"

"But what do you want, Aemond?"

"Anything, Liliyana. Anything you give me is a treasure."

Liliyana's lips cracked into a frown. "As much as I like your answer, Aemond, it's not really an answer. You would have a part if we ever had children."

"I know," His voice remained gentle. The seriousness of their conversation was not what he anticipated, but it very clearly meant a lot to his beloved. Her anxiety of feeling the pressure to produce him a child made him want to scream. "Children become pawns in our world, you know this. If that is something you wish to make them, then we will do just that. Or, if you rather they remain normal, without the pressure to marry and impress our houses, we can do that, too. We could move far, far away." He smiled. "I am the second son, Liliyana. No one would care if I moved millions of miles away. And if they ever did have a problem..."

"You'd..." Liliyana began, "...have a word with them."

Aemond's smirk burned her skin like a branding iron. "A 'word', yes." His gaze moved to his hand around her wrapped ankle. "And if a 'word' did not work, dragons create convincing arguments."

Liliyana kept her mind from straying. She had witnessed and been a part of too much violence. Her husband's fingers followed the strands of gauze obsessively. She knew where his mind went, but she wished she didn't. Had she not left the castle, Aemond's mind would still be whole.

The carriages climbed a steep hill. From the very top, Liliyana saw the Dragonpit at the crown of the Hill of Rhaenys. Non-Targaryens were generally not permitted inside or underneath the labyrinth of caves that housed the nests of the dragons. When younger, Liliyana had been asked by Aegon if she wished to join him, Aemond, and their nephews. She always declined. Dragons, as beautiful and graceful as they were, terrified her. She saw the burn scars on the tamers. Liliyana even refused to meet Vhagar, Aemond's claimed dragon. The great beast was tamed, according to her husband, and would never harm her. Still, Liliyana refused.

Still, Liliyana could not help but feel excited about going.

The exterior was domed and sand colored, not unlike most of the buildings and homes in King's Landing. The pit, from this angle, appeared to sit atop a raised plateau rather than a hill. Liliyana could only imagine how long and arduous its construction was. So many people died because of its development... Such a waste.

"When we arrive," Aemond said, "It will take some time to prepare the main hall. The carriages will bring us below the Dragonpit. We will be safe from the crowds."

We? Or me?

Liliyana thought of the men. She would be unable to pick them out of the massive crowd, assuming they were even still in King's Landing. But she stuck out like a sore thumb, even if her face was not beaten up.

"Liliyana?" Aemond's voice called. She met his concerned eye, needing to refocus her own. "Are you in pain?" While gentle, the edge in his tone was unmissable.

Liliyana nodded. Smiling would be disingenuous, and Aemond would see through it immediately. "Yes, I was just thinking about the Dragonpit."

"You have nothing to fear. The dragons are being kept far from us on the other side of the pit... But that is not what troubles you, Liliyana."

Her face fell. "Your perception is otherworldly, Aemond."

Aemond cocked his head. "Or am I just in love with you?" Without looking away from her, he lifted his eyepatch. His scar shined a pale pink against his white skin and hair. The sapphire mirrored the deepest blue of the ocean. "Have I not shown you that?"

The question was not rhetorical. The slightest pout graced his lips at the potential truth.

"Probably more than any man ever has, Aemond." Liliyana scooted closer to the edge of her seat and placed a hesitant hand against his slashed face. Like a cat, her husband leaned into her touch. His soft skin was offset by the sharpness of his cheekbone and jaw. "Does it ever hurt?"

The sapphire remained fixed in his socket, but his good eye caromed hers."Only phantom pains. A small price for what it brought me."

Liliyana smiled. "Vhagar."

Her husband cupped his hand over hers. "You."

Translations:

Epagon, se ziry jāhor sagon aōhon: Ask, and it will be yours.