HOTD: confronting Aemond part 3: what to expect?

How can you still love me after I've done?"

He was self-aware of the very person he became. He decided that it was out of necessity and that remorse couldn't be allowed in his heart. Aemond convinced himself that he did it for his family, for his people, and his realm but deep down, he knew that these were nothing but words in the wind. Ceryse told him that power had corrupted his soul, that she didn't recognize the man she used to know and love and he met her words with contempt and silence. That was until their last conversation where he almost hit her as her words felt like venomous knives thrown at him. Bitter truth he refused to acknowledge until the half-blind Velaryion reminded him of what he had become. 

He expected Ceryse to leave him, to be so disgusted by the man he was that she would refuse to associate with him any longer. He expected her to spit in his face and tell him that she would give up and let his grandsire do whatever he wanted to do with her. What was the point in fighting when she was effectively without any ally left? Still.... Still... She didn't leave him. Still, she was there, cupping his face and looking at him with a warm and loving gaze instead of contempt and hatred.  Still, she claimed that she loved him despite everything that had happened. Still, she refused to leave his side, even when her very life was at risk.  Aemond's purple eye softened its gaze and he bent a bit forward to plant a kiss on her lips. He repeated his question, this time in a whisper. 

"We do not choose who we love. My heart beats for you and I know your heart. I know your heart...." -She then closed her eyes and put her other hand on his chest.- "However, I see that you're losing control and I cannot sit and watch you destroy yourself and everything that you are and love. Please. Please....don't get lost in the depend."

HOTD: The war is inevitable

Since Aemond accidentally killed Lucerys, the Lady of Driftmark had not had the opportunity to see him again. He was avoiding her on purpose, leaving the young lady to the whims of his grandsire. His absence was felt deeply by the young woman. It was akin to a stab wound that pierced her flesh and went deep into her skin. Why didn't he visit her? Was it because he was obsessed with protecting the Red Keep and his family? Was it because he was upset with himself or he couldn't face her because he was responsible for the death of a kin?  Ceryse was confused, upset, and probably a little angry at the young man. She was forced to share the bed with her betrothed Otto Hightower but fortunately for her, he didn't try to force himself on her. Instead, he simply wanted her to warm his bed, to feel her breath against his skin, to watch her sleep as if there were no worries in the world. He wanted companionship, but not enough for her to know his secrets, just enough for him to enjoy her presence.  Any attempt at talking to him was shut down by the older man who required his beloved to remain pretty and silent, which frustrated Ceryse even more. 

Aemond isolated her when he decided to avoid her presence and she couldn't take it anymore so she took it upon herself to find the one-eyed prince. Ceryse was rather overlooked by the people working at the castle. Since she was rather pleasant and kind to them, they decided to mind their business and let her move as she pleased in the hallways of the Red Keep. She looked for Aemond anywhere she knew she could find him until she decided to walk towards the dragon pit inside the Red Keep. As the young woman hastily walked further into the darkest corners of the Red Keep, she could rely less and less on her sight. Everything became blurry and only what was directly lit by the flames was caught by her deficient gaze. She didn't notice Aemond closing in on her and certainly didn't feel his strong hand grab her arm to pull her around and force her against the wall. Ceryse eyes grew wide and she quickly drew the little knife she carried with her to his neck. Aemond felt the cold metal press against his neck and smirked at the young Lady whose chest was heaving up and down at a faster pace. 

"Aemond!" -She exclaimed, relaxing against his frame as his eye took in the beautiful feature of her face lit by the fire- "I have been looking for you for weeks!"

"And here I am, Ceryse.  I have been busy..."

"Busy? You mean, you killed Lucerys Velaryon and you didn't think that you could have come to me? He was my cousin!"

"And I didn't mean to! I--- I lost control of Vhagar and I couldn't stop her from eating... I couldn't stop her." -Ceryse's lips trembled and she slapped his face with her free hand. He didn't retaliate and instead grabbed the wrist of the hand that had slapped him. She swallowed hard and felt her heartbeats go harder- 

"You could have come to me. I couldn't grieve....properly. You should have come to me." -She whispered before her hazel eyes looked down to his chest.  Aemond fought the urge to press his lips to her wrist, to take in the scent of fresh roses she had. It took everything he had to stop himself from stealing yet another kiss, in the secrecy of the hallway leading to the dragons pit.-

"How could I have? You're spending your nights with my grandsire. I can't exactly come to his chambers to talk to you."

"How cruel of you, Aemond. Do you think I want to spend my nights with Otto Hightower? Do you think I want to share my bed with a man I hate?" She bit back a sob and looked up at his face once again. 

"Did he... Touch you?" -She shook her head- "Then why does he have you sleep in his bed  every night?"

"Company... Your old sire feels lonely. I'd rather he doesn't try to touch me. He... knows about us. He sounded upset when he confronted me." -She admitted, closing her eyes as the prince lost to his intrusive thoughts and pressed his lips to her wrist. "Ohh.. Should we?... I don't want to put you in trouble..." She moaned out, unable to resist the velvety sensation of his lips on her skin. He looked at her with his sole purple eye, an intense gaze, an apologetic one for the grief he caused her and the deep need for more of her. So Aemond kissed his way up to her inner elbow. 

Ceryse could feel her legs slowly starting to give up. Her breathing became more labored and she could feel her heart pound against her ribcage. Was he seriously considering kissing her in public? Was he seriously considering resuming their secret affair despite his grandsire taking hold of her? Ceryse was upset for Lucerys, she was upset for the loss of her baby cousin whom she loved dearly despite the death of her father. She was upset because he disappeared when he should have been closer to her, helping her grieve. Yet, as his kiss kept moving up, now attacking the soft arm of the young woman, she found herself unable to stop herself from sliding her fingers through his silver locks and holding a fist of them.  He kissed his way up to her neck, suckling the soft skin and eliciting another moan from the young woman. It was so improper, so risky, and yet she couldn't stop herself from wanting more. So the Lady of Driftmark held a fistful of hair a little tighter, pulling him off of her neck so he could look her in the eye. She was panting and shivering from his touch as his knee slid in between her legs, pressing the sensitive spot there. 

"I have missed you Ceryse. I have tried to stay away from you, thinking that you wouldn't forgive me for what happened to Lucerys. I have tried to..."

"I am upset. I am upset that you avoided me and left me alone Aemond. I'm upset that you didn't even try to see how I was doing. Ceryse Velaryon, the blind Lady of Driftmark... A perfect lamb to sacrifice for the honor and glory of House Targaryen."

"I don't want to.."

She put her forefinger against his lips, that he kissed as he was seeking more contact from her. He tried to push her finger towards her, in hopes that he would capture a kiss of her soft lips that were glistening under the sweet light of the fire but Ceryse moved her head and pushed him away so she could take a few steps away from the prince. He saw she was flustered. He knew the way her chest heaved up and down when she was overwhelmed. He knew the slight change in her tone, the raspy undertones of her voice that betrayed her arousal. She wanted the same thing as him but he understood that her anger towards the prince trumped the rest. So he cleared his throat and took a few steps back, so she could feel that he was not going to overwhelm her.  Ceryse, wiped her face to try and regain some composure before she turned around, her face a little stern, her eyes a little more focused as she was trying to notice his features despite the darkness and her near-sight. 

"We can't continue like this Aemond... I am not safe with your Grandsire. I am not safe here because I am just a pawn in this war..."

"Aren't we all pawns, Ceryse? I am well aware that despite what my mother and grandsire say about me, they see me as nothing but a spare. No one is important and even worse, the one responsible for this war they started. My mother and Aegon usurped the throne and because of that, we can't have the life we want to have. What do you want me to do, my Lady? What can I possibly do?"

"You're the prince...You're skilled and needed.. Surely, your grandsire could see how better it would be for me to marry you than him?" -She realized what she'd said and then covered her mouth with her warm palm.- "I must come across as desperate to you, don't I? You judged me for something I wasn't... You judged me for what Daemon did and what I let him do to me. You are upset at me for agreeing to marry Otto Hightower but what choices did I have when my parents and brothers are all dead?? What choices do I have as someone who is going blind? What choices, uh? Aemond!"

He watched as she sobbed, covering her face with both hands before she fell on her knees and sat on her heels. Ceryse was exhausted by the situation and she simply needed a break. She already stated her desire to marry Aemond, the one she truly loved but was well aware that he might just not be on board. She was no longer a virgin and to make matters worse, it was his sworn enemy who took her virginity. Why would he rescue her from Otto Hightower? Why would he?  His heart sank and he quickly put one knee on the floor and both hands on her shoulders. 

"Now now... My lady, please don't cry. I can't suffer this sight..." His voice was soothing but she kept crying, releasing the tension that had taken hold of her body and mind.- "You're speaking as if I would not want to make you my wife. You do know of my feelings for you. Yes, I was upset but not at you for what Daemon did. I was upset at him for tormenting you like he did. I know of his ways, of his brutality, of his conniving ways. I know he played your heart and innocence and took it for himself but I give no shit about whether or not you're a virgin, Ceryse. Seven Hells, we made love already. You gave yourself to me of your own free will. You... welcomed me as I was."He cupped her cheeks as she dropped both arms from each side of her body, defeated, exhausted, wet from all the tears that she cried- "I want you. Blind or not, virgin or not. I want you, Ceryse...Do not doubt me, my lady. I just couldn't face you after the accident. I didn't know how to handle your reaction given how poorly I was received by my own. I knew I had broken your heart and I didn't want to see for myself. I should have come to you. I should have.." 

He pressed a kiss on her wet cheeks, then her forehead, her cheeks again, peppering her with affection as she was still sobbing. He pulled her into a hug and gently stroked her hair. He would talk to her again, would make sure that she had her needs met but he knew that she needed to be comforted. She needed to hear that he wanted her and that he would fight for her. Aemond wasn't sure of how things would go but he was willing to try, for Ceryse... for him. 

-TBC-

HoTD: "He couldn't let go."

  HoTD: "He couldn't let go."

// I couldn't take them off of my mind. So here you are, a very spicy and bittersweet moment between these two true lovers.

xxxxxxx

" I might be losing sight, I can still hear you clearly." -Aemond snarled as he failed to leave the room unnoticed. Ceryse was sitting on the bed, her luscious white locks crowned her face as she turned her head to look in his direction-

Moments earlier, he had snuck into her chambers for a long overdue reunion. As the war between the Greens and the Blacks had entered its most barbaric phase, the prince managed to find Ceryse and take her back to the Red Keep. He was afraid he could lose her, once again, to Daemon Targaryen. Aemond despised his uncle. He considered him to be responsible for the rift within the family and the slow agony of his mother. He considered him to be responsible for the torments of Ceryse whose father Daemon killed without any remorse. Perhaps what enraged him the most was the fact Daemon took Ceryse's innocence. It was to be expected from a man like him, to prey on a vulnerable grieving daughter and try and make her his. She seemed to have changed her opinion on the man, but Aemond believed it was her years spent in captivity - according to him- that led her to be more forgiving than she was before. 

He was afraid he could lose her. Perhaps this prompted him to desperately make love to her in a bid to keep her with him. She was betrothed to his grandsire, Otto Hightower, and thus despite Aemond's suggestion to take her as his wife. That decision felt like a slap in the face of the tall Targaryen who felt trapped in his current situation. He wasn't king despite being more fitted for the task, he killed his nephew in an accident, thus starting the war between the Blacks and the Greens and now, the only solace he could find in marrying Ceryse had been taken away from him by his grandsire, and her maidenhood by his sworn enemy. So yes, Aemond was passionate, in a hurry even as he wanted to make her remember him. His hips were thrusting forward, making sure he was buried deep inside her with each stroke. He was holding her legs with his powerful arms, keeping them spread while his fingers were digging into her supple flesh. She loved when he was passionate and when he let her know without a word that he was ready to give her the whole universe if she asked him to. Her fingers were holding onto his shoulders, scratching the skin there as he hit a sensitive spot inside her. A growl, a moan and she opened her eyes to look at him. In the dead of the night, with such a dim light and her almost blind eyes, she couldn't see him very well but tried to.  He watched intently, studying every curve of her face, he listened to every sound he could elicit. He watched as she was sweating, her hair was stuck to her face, and sweat was beading on top of her beautiful skin. God, She was fucking gorgeous!

"I didn't mean to keep you up this late. I was thinking that leaving without a word would be better than arguing."

"Arguing? About Daemon? About what happened with him?" -She cocked her head to the side and furrowed her brows. "Are you mad at me, Aemond? I can feel the resentment in your tone."

"I am not angry at you, Ceryse. I am frustrated that we couldn't have our way. You would have been my wife, you should have been. Instead.."

"Instead Otto Hightower decided to claim me. My father has been rolling in his grave ever since. I am well aware of what happened, of what I did."

"Don't say it." -He didn't want to have this conversation. Not now, not when they were to be separated again. He would have to go to the battlefield and the gods willing, he would be able to come back to her.-

"I had sex with Daemon Targaryen!" -She cried out, sobbing at the echo of her own words. She felt ashamed of what had happened, and thus despite knowing damn well the reasons that led to this moment.-

"Don't say more!"

"I let the man who killed my father fuck me!" -She dropped her head and covered her face with both of her hands.- "I'm forced to marry the man who would steal his family heritage... who would bring the name Velaryon to the ground... I... All my father had ever wanted for me was to choose a husband I would love and have a nice life... And look at me now, look at us..."

 

He didn’t mind her nails on his skin, scratching so hard she drew blood to her fingers. He didn’t mind her loud and louder moans for they were music to his ears... He didn’t mind feeling her legs clench around his waist as he pounded into her sweet wet core. Aemond wanted to speak to her, tell her how beautiful she was and how lost he would be if she left again. He had words, plenty of words that died at the back of his throat. He couldn’t speak, not when he was so deep into her warm folds.  their kiss spoke for them. It was ferocious, delirious, a battle of wills. They were so into it that he forgot to stop and breathe. He wanted to devour her, taste her, and become one even more. his hips bucked harder and her breasts jiggled underneath me while our kiss strangled our moans. 

Aemond had wanted to be with Ceryse for so long now, liking the girl so much that he even considered straying away from his infamous focus to dote on her -in his own way-. They understood each other, always had and she had never felt intimidated by him. not even once. But they weren't allowed to be together. He fucked her with urgency, far differently than usual and Ceryse responded in the same manner given her frantic hip thrusts matching his. Words failed him.  Her screams, however, encouraged him, mostly because he knew she wasn’t much of a screamer. She was losing control. Her folds were massaging his cock, milking it softly, and taking him straight to the edge. He knew he would cum. It only was a matter of minutes. The prince felt her feet against his calves and he bucked so hard that the bed cracked. He pushed Ceryse upwards, against the bed headrest and stopped there.

 "What do you want me to say, Ceryse? What do you want me to do? I can't defy my Grandsire, especially since you've asked for his help and you agreed to give him anything he wanted. You agreed to this marriage. You agreed and I.. it kills me that you did! It kills me to come here, sneaking into your chambers like some petty thief, to steal moments together."

"I know... I know... I'm not asking you to defy your Grandsire. I'm not asking you to defy...It's just... I'm confused that's all. I don't know... I thought I hated Daemon and a part of me because he killed my father. I thought I could accept anything, but I didn't want to marry Otto Hightower. And now... now.. I'm living the life my father would not have wanted for me. I'm just property.' -Aemond crossed the distance between the two of them and gently pulled her into a tight hug.-

He gasped, struggling to take his breath back. She was already close to the edge, just a nudge from him and she would also cum. He had to make her cum first. He had to make her surrender completely. Aemond needed to gather his strength for a minute. The prince felt sweat drop onto her chest, while his hair was soaked with it and stuck to his forehead, neck, and shoulders. She didn’t mind. Her soft and gracile hands cupped his cheeks and she stroked them. Her eyes, oh, those eyes… were staring at him as if there was a fire in them. It all started with her gaze anyway. The way she set her eyes on him, literally inviting him to her bed. How could he say no? That jolt of pleasure went down his spine as he pressed my lips to hers in a searing kiss. Their first. He wasn’t himself anymore but an animal, a sex-driven and love-lusting animal. He was completely hers. Ceryse simply caught her breath back and cupped both his cheeks in a soft embrace.

 « I love you. » Was all she said. It was a quiet one. An assertive one. I guess a reminder of her feelings for him. They would never wane off, they would never end. They were here to stay. She loved him and he loved her. She spoke for them because words were still stuck at the back of his throat. All he could do was put their foreheads against the other and nod quietly. So Aemond resumed fucking her, picking up a slow and hard pace, hitting all the right spots inside her. He could feel her quivering pussy reaching its near completion. She was just an inch away from climaxing so he wrapped his hand around her throat, delicately so she wouldn't choke. The prince encouraged her. his voice, gruff and low was now whispering to her ear, urging her to cum for him and she obliged. 

He felt the familiar squeeze and the warm eruption of her love juices. He felt her give in to me, chest jutted towards his, back arched, and feet on a frenzy. The prince watched her shut her eyes and moan loudly while her hands were holding onto him for dear life. She was beautiful, so beautiful when she came that he couldn’t help but thrust harder, riding her orgasm while about to reach his. She said his name, several times and then, just when Aemond least expected, stared at him with so much intensity that he came undone and inside her. He gave her his love that night. he gave her everything and she took it without hesitation. She took him in, all of him, and he was lost into her, all of her.

"I love you, Ceryse. This is our truth. We love each other and we'll find a way out of this. I promise."