Chapter Text
It had been many a long night, Aegon relentlessly pounding away at his whores in every part of the castle, convinced that his mother would not know of it. Aemond knew better and had endured her creasing brow all throughout dinner. Their father was none the wiser, however, all he could think about was his daughter and brothers’ marriage. Aemond could never tell if he disapproved or not, and in all honesty could not care less. It was the thought of her sons, however, that sent an ache through his brain stemming from his now scarred eye. So, he preferred not to think about it.
Unlike his brother, he was never fond of defiling women, and found himself to dislike many of them. The ones to his standard were rather brainless compared to the rest of his family and would only advance upon him by command of their fathers, for honour statue or, as like most of them, money. And despite the pleads from his mother, he could not bring himself to spend more than a minute with half of them.
On the other hand, he perceived the servants and subjects as beneath him. He would often have to cleanse himself after the touch of a commoner and would frequently bathe with no assistance to himself. He looked down on the people, he thought himself better and more righteous. Why would he want such a lowly female.
That is not to say he didn’t bed women, in fact he rather enjoyed a lot of the sex he had, but unlike Aegon he rather preferred that the woman was still there, and not pleading for her freedom or bruised. He preferred to be gentle, however he found, as he started to restrict his views of the women around him, that the ones he thought his equal were to remain a maiden until marriage, while he didn’t want to dirty his cock of the help. So, save a few he decided to look past because they were pretty in the face, he remained rather celibate, and had to occupy the long days with other activities.
Aside from the lengthy rides on dragon back, exploring the oceans and mountains, he found himself rather taken to reading. Sometimes he would not notice the hour until the words became illegible by the force of dark. He would resent meals where he could not read in peace, the constant bickering between his brothers, the bags under his mother’s eyes and his father appearing less and less each week, not that you would notice him being there in the first place. He only found company in his sister Helaena, who, despite her mad rants, he felt was at his intelligence, and was the only sane woman in the land.
That was all except for Alaenyra, a woman from town who, despite his disdain for her, occupied his mind on most days. He had met her when they were young when her father had required a meeting with the king. Her father and the king had a good relationship. They, however, did not, with Aemond’s view on commoners and her view on royals, there was not a moment when they did not fight. He hated her, and she him, but to both of their misfortune she had ended up keeping the castle library, and for the sake of appearance had to keep face. But that did not stop the unkindly remarks.
Alaenyra spent most, if not all her time in the castle library. She would retire to her house in the late evening and return at sunrise. Her father worried for her wondering the streets so late, but she often lost herself in her reading. She would never admit it, but she adored spending time in the castle library, and the castle itself was a dream to her. It was just the people she couldn’t stand.
Luckily, they weren’t too fond of her either. The eldest boys had their snobby views on her and the rest of the people, while Helaena was always rambling about this, that or the other and Daeron was never actually around. Not that she cared for any of them. A job was a job, and it was an easy one at that. Was better than working a brothel.
Occasionally she would catch Aegon’s eyes on her, but she refused to become one of his whores. Aemond, on the other hand had seemingly no interest in her and wouldn’t even acknowledge her presence most of the time. He refused to touch a book he saw her touch, and regularly had them cleaned with alcohol. The only conversation they held was bitter remarks and the only things they seemed to have in common was a love of reading and a general dislike of the people around them. Aemond seemed to dislike Aegon’s behaviour as well, as she often caught him grimacing at the noises coming through the wall.
“Does something amuse you?” he asked, noticing Alaenyra’s smile as she flicked through pages by a window.
“Indeed, the look on your face pleases me more than anything” she meets his eye.” oh come on. Can you blame me?”
“I would refrain from laughing at me, it is not your place.”
“and what will you do, hit me? That ran its course a while ago my lord, I have become immune to your hands.” Aemond inspected her body. Indeed, her face and neck were dotted with bruises, some fresher than others. He curled his fist in anger, but it was not worth his time to lay his hands on her and dirty himself. Besides, he never hit her because he was angry.
He hit her because he hated himself for finding her pretty.
Alaenyra turned back to her book, watching him out of the corner of her eye. She often pretended not to catch him looking at her, as it did not interest her in the slightest. Any redeeming qualities she found in his face were squashed by the childish way he acted. Any maiden would be fooled into thinking he was a gentleman by how he presented. He held himself like royalty and always dressed well. He kept himself clean and tidy, and despite the eyepatch, he was pleasant to look at. But he spoke to people of lower statue as if they were dirt and disrespected the intelligence of other women. He thought that they were all stupid because of the duties they held to marry. He would never understand the world she lived in; one where a woman’s worth was in who she married, and those not bathed by the riches of royalty had to fight to survive and took pleasure in the drink and cheap women. It was no life for anybody, but it was all they had to make do. She saw him as a child, yet to face the hardships of the world.
Aemond grabbed the books and left, and soon after the squeals from the next room over ceased as well, giving Alaenyra a few moments of peace and quiet before she set down her book and began tidying up. She restocked the shelves and replaced finished books with fresh ones. Shortly after a few maids came by holding buckets of alcohol and lathered the bindings in them. They never talked, Alaenyra had tried to strike up conversation, but they never responded. So, she gave up.
As they were cleaning, Alaenyra decided to head into town to find some fresh flowers. She rarely ventured out during the daytime, but she had endured one too many encounters with the royal family that day, and decided she needed a break. However, about halfway down she was stopped by a guard.
“Where are you headed miss?” he held his hand out and she was slightly taken aback.
“I’m just going to buy some flowers; I was unaware I needed to declare myself.”
“Apologies, My Lord expressed a concern for your leaving, said it was unusual.” Alaenyra sighed
“I assure you; my lord has nothing to concern himself with. I shall return shortly.” She stepped around the guard and continued onward.
Aemond watched her leave from his window and turned to pace around his room. The guard he had sent to catch her came in shortly after and relayed her message. He dismissed him, and sat down in an armchair, tapping his fingers on the adjacent table. Recently, he had noticed Aegon’s eyes on her, and herd him talk about her with the guards. Aegon didn’t care who he stuck his cock in, he would fuck a pig if it would convenience him. But Alaenyra’s disinterest had intrigued him.
Alaenyra wasn’t awful looking, compared to those of similar birth. Her hair was long and black, her eyes were round and just as dark and her lips were blushed pink. And something in her face captivated him more than he cared to admit. So much so, in fact, he had taken to beating her just to try to make her less pretty. But the bruises did no god, and he caught himself lingering on her face for longer than he wanted. She dressed well also, not wearing the clothes you would find in the common people or servants, but not wearing clothes that matched the statue of his family. Instead, she wore simple gowns that has small patterning on the hem and dawned a cloak to leave the castle.
Aemond’s view on her standing had not changed, but he couldn’t not help but admire her a little. And he hated himself for it. He would wake up from dreams about her swelling with anger. During dinners when he wished he was in the library, he would find himself imagining conversation with her, and lost his appetite. He truly just wanted to be rid of her, but on days he entered the library, and she was not there, it felt lonelier than usual. Furthermore, the thought of her arm around Aegon’s as his mistress was sickening.
After 10 minutes, he saw her return with a handful of fresh flowers and let out a small sigh, trying to shake the image from his head. He decided he needed to clear his head, and made moves to go for a ride. Just as he crossed the staircase, however, he saw Aegon watching as Alaenyra ascended.
“Library girl” Aegon called, and she stopped in her tracks.
“My lord” she bowed, and he smiled, inspecting the flowers in her hand.
“What a pretty bouquet. Fitting for a woman like you” she smiled, uncomfortably, as he caressed her face.
“Thank you, my lord. That is high praise.”
“indeed, it is. I’m sure you will not let my complement go without thanks.” Aemond saw her face fall and stepped out to intervene, but his rescue was unnecessary as his mother approached them. Aegon dropped his hand and turned towards the queen, who scowled at him. He left in haste, and Alaenyra relaxed. Alicent didn’t stop to talk and whisked by her. Aemond remained to the side as she brushed herself off and continued to the library. Later at dinner he caught himself glaring at Aegon, as he drank and gorged himself, flirting with the women and touching them as they came bast. It was contemptable. He turned back to his plate, twirling his knife in his hand.
“Lost your appetite, Aemond?” Aegon teased. Aemond looked up.
“Indeed.”
“Is something bothering you?” Alicent inquired, looking worried. Aemond set down the knife and smiled.
“Long day, that is all.” Alicent eased, but Aegon kept pushing.
“It is the library girl I would bet. Won’t fuck him”
“Hush” Alicent hissed, but Aemond didn’t let himself be bothered.
“I have no interest in common women. I have standards.” He retorted, and Aegon laughed.
“Aegon, I expect you will be accompanying Helaena to the Feast” Alicent cut in, and everyone fell silent. Helaena’s head turned to Aegon, whose grin had fallen from his face.
“Uh, yeah. Of course,” he responded, his voice wavering.
“And Aemond, I suspect you will find a lady to ask?” Aegon laughed into his drink.
“Aemond? Find a woman? I pity the girl.”
“Hush Aegon” Alicent turned back to Aemond, whose eye had widened.
“I am still searching, mother.”
“Well, you will not get away with avoiding the dancing. I will not allow it this time; it gives a bad name” Aemond smiled
“Yes mother.”
After dinner he returned to his chambers and slammed the door, pacing around before crashing into his bed, rubbing his brow. He had tried to put off all though about the Feast, the idea of having to spend the night in the company of a woman he had no interest in. If there was any say in the matter, he would happily entertain Helaena for the evening, but her betrothal to Aegon meant they were expected to turn in together. And Aemond had to pick another brainless woman to accompany him.
The next day, he studied the Ladies of the court, attempting to find one he could tolerate for a night. But the search came more difficult than he had anticipated, with the pretty ones being airy, and the less anencephalous ones being horrid to look at. Around lunch, he gave up and sought refuge in the library to clear his head.
As usual, Alaenyra was there, reading by the window. She didn’t look up as he came in, she didn’t need to. She could recognise him merely by the way he entered the room and stomped over to her. Unusually, however, he slumped in the chair opposite him, which caught her attention.
“Women…” he muttered, and she continued reading.
“I assume this is about the Feast. There are mutterings that you are intending to choose a woman”
“And what do the mutterings say.”
“That you are a handsome man, and any woman would be lucky to be courted by you. I assume they were spread by your mother” she chuffed.
“What would make you say that?” she slammed down her book.
“Because any self-respecting woman with a brain would know that you are, in fact, an arrogant oaf who thinks no one is good enough for him.”
“So, humour me, which woman I good enough to be courted by royalty. You?”
“Gods no. I would rather scratch my eyes out” Aemond scowled. Alaenyra stood and ran her fingers along the books. “If you want my advice-”
“I don’t”
“I would invite Lady Bariar. She is a desperate gossip and even if you take no interest in her ramblings it will have seemed that you talked all night. She is not bad on her feet and tries to get as close to Aegon as possible. I bet that by the end of the night she will have run off with him and your mother would not blame you.” Aemond contemplated this for a moment. Lady Bariar was relatively good looking. She had brown, curly hair and a pleasant face, and a knack for talking. In fact, the suggestion was not all bad. But Aemond did not want to give her that satisfaction.
“What would you know of such things.” He stood to leave.
“Nothing, I am sure, though I am quite looking forward to it. Aemond turned in shock, as Alaenyra held up the white card which held an invitation. “Me and my father were invited by the king, my father cannot make it sadly, however I shall be in attendance. It will be a rather enjoyable evening.”
“you are not of noble birth, why would he invite filthy peasants such as yourselves.”
“Because unlike you, your father values people from any standing. Not by who they are but what they do.” She huffed. “My father has served this kingdom more than you know.” They stood, staring at each other for a moment, before Aemond turned in silence and left hastily. Walking back to his room, he was unsure of how he felt, but there was a feeling bubbling inside of him, and it made him want to scream.
The next day, after mush consideration he indeed asked Lady Bariar to the Feast, and she agreed happily. Aemond swore he could feel Alaenyra smirking from afar, but he waved it off. His mother was pleased to hear the news, and Aegon was much amused by it. Aemond saw fit to not argue with his brother these upcoming days, and hopefully, the evening would wash over both of them and he could pretend nothing had happened.
“Was the library girl invited?” Aemond asked at dinner, and Aegon raised a brow.
“not to my knowledge” Alicent replied “why do you ask?” Aemond swirled the rim of his glass with his fingers.
“I saw the invitation addressed to her and her father in the library. It was addressed from his majesty” heads snapped to Viserys, who was bend over his food, eyes in the distance as usual. Alicent answered for him.
“I would not be surprised. Her father and the King are close, and he has done many duties to this kingdom.”
“He’s a book pervert” Aegon spat
“Oh hush” she snapped. “He has a right to be there. And in turn so does his daughter. However, it should not be any distraction to any of you, I am sure you will all be far more occupied.” Aegon rolled his eyes and returned focus to his plate, while Aemond continued to play with his glass. He saw Helaena watching him out of the corner of his eye but thought nothing of it. She often stared.
Later that evening, Helaena paid him a visit as he was reading.
“What?” he shouted, not looking up from his book.
“Why the sudden interest in the library girl?” Helaena inquired, a mischievous glint in her eye. Aemond slammed the book shut.
“I had no interest in her” he got up and chucked the book on the table. “Besides, it’s none of your business.”
“Aegon likes her. He likes pretty things, especially when they fight back.” He glared at her and began to undress for bed. “I suspect he will try dance with her at the Feast. He will have one, maybe two sets with me out of duty, and then move on to the other ladies. He had his eye on Vaesa as well.”
“I could not care less” Aemond pulled his shirt over his head. “I just want to get the night over and done without mother expressing her disappointment at me upon breakfast. Now leave me” Helaena trotted out, and he slumped back down next to the fireplace. He tried to imagine Alaenyra dancing with Aegon, and the thought of his hands made him shudder. But then he imagined himself dancing with her. Them both turning about the room. Her jumping, perhaps laughing. He had never heard her laugh, so the thought amused him. No matter, he wouldn’t have it. Never in a century, would he be seen with her. Never.