Love and Loyalty - Aemond Targaryen

Chapter 3

The next night, Aemond visited his sister again.
He wasn't sure why.
Like always, he'd been sat reading in his room but all day he'd been unable to focus on anything and reading was much the same.
All he'd been able to think about was Alyssa's laugh when he'd told a joke, the way her eyes lit up with interest every time he spoke. The way she listened. And the way a wide grin grew across her face when he asked her about her own interests.
Aegon had always been the funny one. The charming one. The brother that got all the attention. And Helaena, though much ignored, was the beloved sibling. The one everyone liked, even Rhaenyra.
But when talking to Alyssa, Aemond had felt like both.
And so, he found himself knocking on her door again. Waiting patiently outside as he listened to her get up out of bed and rush across the floor.
The door swung open and Alyssa had her hair up in rags to curl, her nightdress already on.
Aemond quickly averted his gaze away from her.
“Aemond!” She smiled brightly. “Are you alright? To what do I owe the visit?”
He scoured his brain for reasons why he'd come to see her.
In the morning, when he'd woken up in her room... On her bed... He'd allowed himself to stare at her for only a moment before rushing back to his room, telling his mother that he'd risen early to do some reading in the library.
He'd never lied to his mother before then and it felt wrong. But he couldn't tell her where he'd actually been. Not unless he wanted to give Alyssa the reputation that their eldest sister had.
“Yesterday,” He said, shuffling uncomfortably, “you said that you were lonely. So I thought, maybe–”
Alyssa grasped his hand, the movement shocking him so much that he looked up at her. “I would very much enjoy the company.”
He didn't allow himself to smile, but a relieved look crossed his face as he followed Alyssa inside. She closed the door behind him before pulling on a robe and hopping onto her bed.
He didn't join her in sitting beneath the warm covers, instead opting to awkwardly stand by the window.
The moon was full and bright, lighting up the city.
From her window, he felt like he could see the whole world.
“I see Aegon sneak out every night through that window.” Alyssa said, not even looking up from whatever she was reading.
Aemond huffed, folding his arms over his chest. “Of course.”
“I used to go with him but he doesn't care for my company anymore.”
The silence in the room grew far too loud all at once, Aemond's attention instantly snapping to her.
Alyssa seemed to notice his tension, and she set aside her book to look over at him.
“What?” She asked.
“You and Aegon used to–”
“We'd sneak out together to go to Blackwater Bay or see the city at night. I never went to any dens of depravity with him, if that's what you're worried about.”
Relief flooded over him.
He didn't even know why he'd been worried.
It was Alyssa.
Every time he saw her she had her nose in a book. She didn't talk to anyone or even dance at feasts. It was no surprise that she'd not gone with Aegon to any brothels.
But the fact they used to travel the city together still caught him off guard.
Aegon never really let anyone go with him, and Aemond had never seen Aegon and Alyssa together. The fact they were close enough to spend nights together outside the Keep was a surprise.
He didn't know what she liked about Aegon. They were very different. But perhaps that was the appeal.
Perhaps that's why Alyssa and Aemond had never ventured into the city together. Perhaps he wasn't different enough.
“Aemond?” She asked, noticing how quiet he'd gotten.
She tried to hide the nervousness in her voice, but she knew he could hear it.
Stupid.
Stupid, stupid, girl with her stupid, stupid, feelings.
But she'd been so excited by seeing Aemond. By the fact that he'd come just to see her. By the fact she wasn't alone.
Hope hurt.
It was a killer that wore her down every day, far worse than anything else she could imagine.
She silently told herself to get a grip, pushing a small smile onto her face. “Would you like to go into the city?”
He stared at her, nervously flexing his hand at his side again. “I–” He cleared his throat. “When?”
“We could go tomorrow if you'd like. I know the city well.”
Aemond rose a brow at her. “Do you leave the Keep a lot?”
She pursed her lips, and he saw that look in her dark eyes again. The one that told him she was figuring him out. The one that told him she wasn't some delicate damsel like everyone in the Keep believed she was.
Even his mother. For all her warnings about her, she always talked about Alyssa like she was some poor girl led astray by Rhaenyra.
No one ever suspected her of being anything but a sweet princess who keeps to herself.
No one except Aemond, that was.
He knew otherwise.
He knew because he saw himself in her.
“I have a good memory. Very good, in fact.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yes. I remember everything.”
She was still smiling, but the way she said those words was a little off. Like there was some hidden challenge there. Some hint that he needed to pick up on.
But instead he just lifted his chin. “So do I.”
“I know. You were always the clever one.”
Immediately, Aemond looked back out the window. He hoped the moonlight would hide the colour of his face.
“You're not such a fool either.” He said indifferently.
Alyssa laughed.
It was a sound that he wished he heard more.
But of course he didn't say that. He would never say that.
She rolled back onto her bed, her head smacking against her pillow.
“So, do you want to read with me?” She asked, flicking the pages of her book back to the start.
“What are you reading about?”
Finally, for the first time since he'd begun speaking to her, Alyssa's cheeks darkened. It made him feel a little better for the way his stomach rolled over every time she smiled at him.
“Our grandparents. Princess Alyssa and Prince Baelon.” She said.
“Alyssa as in your name sake?” Aemond rose a brow at her, a small smirk crossing his lips.
“I like her.” She said, her cheeks growing ever darker. “And both of them had such great dragons...”
“Meleys and Vhagar.” Aemond finished, his mind getting caught on the thought of Vhagar. The largest dragon left alive.
He took his seat beside her, leaning in so he could read the small letters on the old book pages. “Do you think they'll write books about us one day?”
His question caught her off guard, but she peered over at him with a tender look in her dark eyes. “They'll certainly write them about you. When you're a great swordsman, perhaps they'll write about your big sister too.”
“Of course they'll write about you. You're the trueborn sister of the future Queen, the daughter of the King, and perhaps when you're married–”
“I doubt I'll ever marry, Aemond.”
There it was again.
That look.
That sharpness hidden behind a warm exterior.
“You're the King's second daughter. Of course you'll marry. We all will. It's what we do, isn't it?”
Alyssa laughed mirthlessly. There was no joy in it now. “There are already talks for Helaena and Aegon's marriages, and I am older than both of them. I should already be married. I should already have children. I turned six and ten yesterday and there has never even been talk of my betrothal.”
Gods, did she want to get married?
Aemond had certainly never thought of her marrying. Not because there was anything wrong with her like she was implying. It was just...
She'd always been there. He thought she always would be.
“I'm sure father is waiting to find you the proper match.” He said. “No Lord in the realm is worthy of your hand.”
Alyssa's smile brightened again, a lightness returning to her eyes.
Gently, she kissed his cheek.
“You're not as bad tempered as you'd have everyone believe, little brother.”
Aemond looked away from her, his eyes burning into the book she was holding. “Shut up.”
Alyssa laughed, nudging his arm. “Sweet Aemond. Whichever lady they marry you to will be very lucky indeed.”