Surviving

Chapter 33: The Boy Who Was Finally Wanted

Naerys stood outside a gold door, feeling her heart fluttering in her chest like it had wings of its own. Her fingers anxiously fidgeted together as she thought about what was on the other side of this door. A second chance.

After the celebrations concluded, Naerys helped Helaena take the children to bed while Qoren had stolen away Aemond after the celebrations, leading him to the same room she was standing before. She couldn't stay in her former chambers with Qyle.

Qyle was her past, but Aemond was her future.

Aemond had brought something back to life within her, reawakening flames she hadn't felt in so long. She couldn't explain it, but she felt it during that supper when he trapped her into a forced marriage. He forced her to fight, not for him, but for herself.

He took every chance he had to get under her skin, distracting her enough to lure her out of her despair. It was ironic that he told her he wanted her misery when all she could give him now was her heart.

With a deep breath, she finally opened the door, but heard loud shuffling from inside as the door opened. She saw silver hair disappear behind the divider and she couldn't help but smile to herself.

"Is there any reason you're hiding from me?" She giggled.

"I...just give me a moment please!" Aemond scoffed, but she could hear the subtle panic in his tone. Sounding like a child caught in the act.

She heard him grunt, then suck in a harsh breath, but she'd let it go for now. Her eyes wandered over to the chair by the fire, where his loose black tunic was draped over the back of it.

An idea crept into her mind while he was fumbling with something behind the divider. She kicked off her shoes and walked over, untying the string at the side of her gown before it fell open and she let it fall to her ankles, leaving her in only her necklaces. She slipped his tunic over her head, smiling to herself when the shirt fit her more like a short dress.

Her arms wrapped around herself and she leaned her nose down to the soft fabric, taking in the scent that would always lure her in. She'd always welcome that smoky scent that drove her sense mad.

With a quiet sigh, she pushed her hair in front of her and started trying to undo the necklaces she wore, but her fingers kept slipping over the clasps. Her hands pulled away for a moment to relax from the pain growing in her hands, but then she felt his warm hands slide over hers as he whispered in a low voice. "Let me."

The blood rushed to her cheeks as her hands slipped down from his while he started undoing each chain. He took his time, letting his fingers brush softly along the back of her neck as each one came undone.

When the last one was unhooked, he set them down on the table beside them as she slowly turned to face him. Barely inches separated them while his eye slowly looked her up and down, wearing only his shirt. He wanted nothing more than to rip his tunic from her and have her right there, but he couldn't. Not today.

A smile slowly grew on her face as she looked up at him, seeing his normally pin-straight hair now wavy from the humidity of Dorne. She liked seeing him not so put together all the time. She pressed her lips tightly together to stifle the laugh hiding in the back of her throat, which only made him tilt his head in confusion as his arms wrapped around her waist to pull her closer to him.

"What?" He whispered.

"Nothing, it's just..." She reached up to toy with a stray curl while her other hand rested against his chest. "...I haven't seen your hair this curly since we were children."