Chapter Text
The crowd gathered around Mushroom, the sly little court jester told his absurd tales with expressive an exaggerated motions. Some of the ladies preferred to sit around the flowerbed, sipping tea while the servants served assorted sweet treats. The gardens were filled with laughter and chatter, as the noble crowd laughed at the tiny man telling cracks and jokes and the ladies gossip scandalous details about any rumor that may have carried in the wind.
On this lovely day, The Queen was enjoying her time catching up with her relatives from her hometown, some she hadn't seen in ages. Her eldest son and youngest son were having a serious debate about whether Mushroom’s egregious tales were made up or not, with the younger insisting that such tales could never exist but Aegon disagreed, as anything could happen in Westeros, he said. The King sat in a wooden litter, his rotten teeth could be seen every time he laughed at the joking dwarf– his laugh now as airy as his breath. Aemond stood next to him, enjoying the moment where everything seemed perfect for his family. He would let out a small everytime Mushroom witty remarks could reach his ear, his focus remained away across the gardens though. Where his sister sat beautifully with the table of other ladies. He could see she was spacing out, not interested in any of the banter the women were talking about. Probably in her own world, like she always does. It was the perfect painting for the special boy, the skies as bright as her blue dress and the sun graced Helaena’s beauty with bright rays. Even amongst other ladies with flashier gowns and bright-colored blooming flowers in the garden, the princess stole his attention away.
The perfect day for his name day. He could even still feel the addicting feeling of Helaena’s lips on his own. Aemond has already felt he’s craving for more. To take her lips gently, this time slower, savoring the sweetness of it as his hands reached for her waist. He has never imagined his desire to form until this point, but at that moment he could not resist his wants further. Now feeling bold and proud at his decision, his sister’s expression and her blushing cheeks left him wanting more. His sole eye focused on her, when suddenly she crouched and fell from her seat. One hand covering her mouth as the other pressed on her stomach and her head hanging low.
Aemond quickly rushed towards her before anyone else did. Squelching noises could be heard, she had thrown up on the ground, taking the attention away from everyone. Aemond crouched next to her, “Hel??? Are you okay?!”
On closer inspection she was sweating quite a lot, peeks of her lips beneath her bright rouge were pale. She closed her eyes and shook her head weakly, she could not stand on her own– she is not okay. Aemond quickly swooped her from her feet, carrying her and her large gown. Helaena were not much smaller than him but he did so with not much problem, his hard work of training paid off.
The entire crowd gasped as they were alerted at the sight of the princess nearly fainted as the young prince carried her in his arms. Few Kingsguards approached him, offering to carry the princess away, but Aemond insisted on doing it himself. Their mother, also shocked at the sight in front of the people, led them away to her room with a panic in her face. Her steps erratic as she called for the maesters immediate presence.
Aemond gently laid her on top of her mattress. Her pretty eyelashes were sealed shut, her breath shaky and sharp. The servants then started to strip the many layers of her dress and he was excused out of the room. He was starting to sweat too, it happened so suddenly. She was fine earlier, she looked okay, he pondered.
Outside of his older sister’s chambers her husband stood, his face just as worried as him. “Aemond! is she okay?” Aegon asked.
“I don’t know. She was fine, was she not?” Aemond replied, his face look defeated, “The maesters and mother are just in.”
“Lords, hope they can sort out her sickness.”
The two of them waited a while outside her door, waiting for further instructions to come in. They stood in silence, it seemed forever that the two of them had interacted much. It was just a few minutes, but the tension of worry and the silence of it all made it feel even longer. Helaena is his wife, he must be as worried as I am, Aemond thought, trying to strike a conversation with him. But he stayed silent, unable to piece the words for this moment.
“Grandchildren!” The man approached them with heavy steps. “The lord and ladies are still in the gardens. It is not wise to leave your guest to just be.”
“But Helaena–” The younger one tried to reason with his grandsire– also the Hand of The King.
“She is fine now. Your mother and the maesters are tending her at this very moment, are they not? She has the best attention she could, now you both must as well focus your attention on our guests. Distract them from the accident earlier, and tell them to not worry for the health of the Princess.”
Aegon nodded and walked side by side with his grandfather back to the gardens. His head hung low in silence as if he was unsure of his decision as well, but he complied with Otto Hightower’s demands. He has served as Hand for so long now, even back then he served for King Viserys before Aegon got birthed. He has always been dutiful and wise as advisor to the realm. Besides, he is family, there is no denying that Otto Hightower has the best dedication for the Royal Family. But in times like these, Aemond wished that duty could wait, for he worries for his dear sister. His feet were still in front of Helaena’s chambers, he could see his brother as well as his grandsire leaving him behind.
“Aemond,” Otto turned back at him, his voice more stern than before. “This is your celebration. Your guests have traveled far to meet you. The King is waiting.”
This moment too, Aemond wished that duty could wait, but he could not do such a thing. There’s so much to expect from him, and the reliable and dutiful son could never let them down.
***
“... it will pass swiftly. And it is such an honorable experience. Like I did with you– and your brothers as well.” Aemond overheard their conversation, both Mother and Helaena shifted their eyes to the door as he walked in.
Her braids are all undone, her locks spread from her head and sprawl messily to the pillows. Helaena had already changed into her usual chemise and rested her upper body on top of many feather-filled pillows. Mother was sitting right next to her on a chair, her expression has softened, she does not look as worried anymore.
“Hel, what happened?” Her younger brother asked.
“Ah, and here comes your savior for the day.” Their mother proclaimed, “The two of you made quite a scene, but worry not, things are fine.”
“Thank heavens… Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes,” Helaena’s lips curved a slight smile for her brother. “And thanks for carrying me out there, brother.”
On closer inspection, her face was still quite pale. But Aemond is relieved to hear Mother say that she is fine and handled with. She will be better and healthy in no time. “So what did the maesters say? Have they got a cure for it?”
“Aemond, your sister is not sick.” The Queen Mother stood up and let out a harmless chuckle, she pulled his hands gently. “The Seven has blessed her with a child.” Her brown eyes stared at his lilac one with much depth– she was in awe.
His mouth fell open at Mother’s response, he felt his pupil shaking as he looked towards his sister, lying at her bed. “... a child?”
“But the maesters said maybe it’s too soon to know!” Helaena commented.
“But the symptoms have shown, Dear. Of course we will not announce it to the public until t’is certain.”
Aemond watched the girl, now almost a mother, laying down on her mattress. He felt speechless, unsure of what to say– he had not imagined this day to come so soon. His dear sister has been blessed with a child by their brother. She was still so youthful– and so is Aegon, it all felt too soon.
“This has been expected, you were wed to Aegon quite a while back. But I am proud and happy for you, daughter.” She patted her watery eyes with a lace napkin. “You should be happy for her, Aemond. And to Aegon as well.”
Knowing the bond of her two children, The Queen gave them a moment and left the space altogether. She slightly lifted her green gown and rushed to share the joyous news to her husband and father.
“It seems you are now a mother,” Aemond sat at the vacant chair next to her bed.
“Not yet, dummy.” Helaena answered.
“But do you think it’s true?”
“... I have felt odd lately. Like my stomach’s always full, like it is filled with two dragons squirming around inside.” Her tone was soft and weary, “So maybe it is true.”
“Well,” Aemond took some time to process her reply. “ Then congratulations. You will be a fine mother.”
He reached out and grabbed her hand, it felt frail and small compared to his. So soft and warm, and so dear to him. He forced himself to smile for his sister. She would be a fine mother, the best even, like how she is a good wife to my brother– and how she could be the best wife for him, even when he could not have her.
“Has Aegon heard?”
“Yeah, he came already. He was so happy, he left earlier to rush out and list out baby names.” Her eyes curved as her smile went wider. “I hope he is happy. And Mother too, and Father, and Grandsire.”
How nice that his brother gets to choose names for her babe, he thought. “And you?”
“It’s been due a while. I am happy to finally do my part.”
“Then I’m glad. Are you feeling better?”
“The maester brewed me a concoction, I felt much better. But they say this will be recurring, I shan’t do too much activities from now on.”
“Aemond, earlier at the yard–”
“I’m sorry to have acted so crass, I should’ve known better.” He cuts her sentence, afraid of confrontation and rejection. He couldn’t believe how he could act so bold hours ago.
“I don’t hate it.” She replied quickly, “I don’t regret it. Do you?”
“Hel, you are his.” He squeezed her hands tighter in his palm. “And with Aegon’s child now in you–”
“This will also be my child. Not just his. Our marriage is not for love, Aemond.”
“Can I feel it?” His sight fell on her belly, covered by thin linens.
Helaena nodded and she could feel the palm of her brother gently rubbing her stomach. “Funny, you probably can hardly tell, but it feels so different for me.”
She was right. She doesn’t look any different, and with his hands feeling the softness on her belly it doesn’t feel any different either. But things will change soon, he thinks. Helaena’s midriff will expand and soon she will conceive and deliver a baby, one for her and her brother. And I, an uncle to them, he let his thoughts sit for a while.
Both of their hairs sway slowly from the evening’s breeze. The sky outside has started to dim and with the sun’s glaring presence gone, the wind has greeted them with a colder, yet a more pleasant temperature. Aemond stared at the female figure in front of him, just a year older but she had been a wife, and soon a mother. She was already dressed down while he still wore his celebration garment on. He thought hard on how he should act from now on, whether to suppress his needs or to embrace it truly. It lingered on his mind more and the silence from the two of them was deafening but he continued to hold his sister’s palm, comforting her in this brand new situation.
“Please stay?” The princess looked in the direction of where the one-eyed prince was sitting, but she was shy of making eye contact. “This is all new to me… and I would love your company for the time being.”
“I would love to, Hel.” Aemond looked at her and then down, gripping her hand further and replied with a timid smile, “But the hour is growing late, and the last time I stayed the night, Mother got furious.”
He remembered earlier this year when Helaena got her first blood moon. Where he comforted and stayed by her side for one night, just like she did back then when he got ill, but he guessed they’re too old for that now. Even they can’t bond as siblings like they did back then, but I guess Mother was right. Things have changed– I have changed.
“I will still be here if you need me and I’ll visit often. Don’t worry Hel, you have our best attention.” He stood up, readying for his leave. “Now please excuse me. You need to rest, sis.”
“I appreciate it, Aemond.” She smiled but there was a slight look of uneasiness in her face. “I just hoped this will make Aegon and Mother happy for the time being.” She was still somewhat wary of The Queen’s demand for heirs to strengthen her brother’s nonexistent claim. And while she’s young and she felt unready for pregnancy, she wished it could satisfy Mother at least so she wouldn't be so harsh on Aegon all the time.
“Don’t mull it over, I’m sure they are. ” he stepped away, further and further away from her and with one last glance he said goodnight before closing the doors shut.
***
Aemond rushed towards her chambers as soon as he heard it. After a long session at the training grounds and a long soak, he noticed his sister’s absence at the dining hall. Unusual, he thought. They would always spend dinner time together no matter how busy they were. When he asked Mother about Helaena, she said she would be dining in her chambers as she is bed resting for a while. His expression fell with worry thinking she was sick, but The Queen Mother looked awfully pleasant.
“It’s just the time of the month for her, son.” The Queen replied in her usual green gown. “Your sister has finally become a woman.”
Aemond connected the dots immediately. Woman bled as a sign of maturity, and with Helaena finally getting her blood moon, Mother and Father could proceed Aegon’s wedding soon– no wonder she looked happy, her plan had come to fruition.
Helaena was already laying down in bed. Her chamber smelled lovely of incense and the torches lit the room with dull lighting. Servants have accompanied her and have accommodated her needs, but they left as soon as the young prince stepped inside. Aemond could feel her eyes shift towards him weakly and half-lidded. He noticed many sheets and furs on top covering her chest and below, even on colder nights during the snowless winter in King’s Landing it was way too many layers.
“I’m sorry to have visited at this late hour, but I wanted to check in on you.” He said as she continued laying down on her mattress. “So I’ve heard you reached your womanhood. Congrats, Hel.”
“The pain of becoming a woman… It feels horrid.” Her note was faint and monotonous.
“What does it feel like?”
“Simply like you're bleeding.” She averted her eyes to the direction of the young prince. “The pain is both sharp and dull, and my head is spinning, and my back aches, and my feet feel extremely cold.”
Aemond noticed one of her hands was pressing on a towel on top of her stomach, but there seemed to be something bulging beneath it. “And what is that?”
“Heated stones. Mother said it would help with the achingness of it all.”
“And does it?”
“The warmth of it feels nice, yet the pain and discomfort is all still there.” She closed her eyelids, her brows furrowed down slightly.
“Then I shall be here and accompany my sister for the night.”
Aemond dragged a wooden chair right next to her bed frame and sat down on it. While he does not fully understand the pain of it, he felt bad for her. He rubbed her legs beneath the layers of thick covers, barely feeling the outline of two slender legs. He continued rubbing them to give Helaena more comfort and warmth and her body relaxed a little at the action of her understanding brother.
“I feel better already.” The lines of her lips curved upwards as her silver lashes flutter open and close.
“Then go to sleep, it will feel even better tomorrow.” He replied.
“And you?”
“I will be here all night.” He took off his belt and placed his sword away. He then proceeded to take off his vest and eyepatch and tossed it aside.
Helaena could notice his green tunic underneath was too thin for the night. So she pulled one of her fur blankets and one of her thickest pillows and threw it on his lap.
“But don’t you feel cold?” He hesitated at her gesture.
“My brother beside me gave me more warmth than a single sheepskin layer would do.” She gave him a friendly grin.
With her brother beside her, she faded under consciousness fast. Aemond could hear her soft breath as he watched over her, glad he could be of any help to his beloved sibling. He then leaned back and closed his eye, he could hear his breath sync against Helaena’s as he too fall asleep under the pale hue of the moonlight.
Helaena’s eyes opened slowly hours later in the middle of the dark night. The cold has grown even more and eventually awoken her slumber. She could feel the hefty rocks on her stomach had lost all of its warmth and with her head still half asleep she placed it away on the nightstand next to her. She noticed a figure with hair as silver as hers sitting with his eye closed. The dim lighting made the shadows cover the left side of his face–obscuring the vertical scar her brother had hated so much. She must’ve thought he looked particularly lonely and cold, and with her arms and shoulders growing colder as well, without much thought she grabbed her brother’s hand and dragged his body on top of her bed.
Aemond woke up suddenly as he felt someone jerking his hand. His head still cloudy and heavy from dreaming, so he just complied to where his sister’s hands are leading him. Helaena scooted slightly, giving some free space– just enough for him to lay down his body and squeeze it next to hers. Even with half-awoken consciousness, he could sense the warmth and softness of his sister. It does indeed feel way better than sleeping in a wooden chair. It feels so airy and light under the sheets with her, it made him think that it was nothing but a dream.
And without much interaction and any particular motive, they both continued drifting again towards their slumber– this time side-by-side with each other.
***
Aemond unconsciously nuzzled deeper in her embrace. His hands also seemed to move on its own, tracing the softness of her waist down to her thighs. He could smell her perfumed hair mingled with her own addicting scent in close proximity from his face, still he kept his heavy eyelid close. The body in his arms was also still asleep and unmoving, he could feel the rise and fall of Helaena’s chest as she breathed in and out. Even if this were a dream, it would be the best dream he ever had.
He would love to savor this moment more and continued to drift off even more, but he could hear a voice calling out his name. “Aemond… Aemond…” his own consciousness must have played a trick on him as he imagined it with the voice of his sister. But the tone grew more angry and pitched before it distorted into someone else’s voice.
“Aemond!” He finally snapped back into consciousness, his head felt light as it sent a shockwave across his entire body. A tight grip on his wrist jerked and dragged him out of Helaena’s bed. It was The Queen Alicent, their own blood mother. She dragged her son out of the room roughly, Aemond could feel he himself had almost tripped on how fast she was rushing out. Helaena also had awoken from the unexpected commotion, but she stared in silence with her mouth open still trying to process the sight in front of her as she watched Aemond and Mother leaving her alone.
His wrist had started to hurt from the way she digs her nail at it. The Queen Mother finally stopped at the end of the hallway, “What could you possibly be thinking?! Spending the night with your sister?!” Her tone was pitched and high, uncaring for the servants tidying up around the royal quarters to be heard.
“I was just accompanying her like we used to do when we were sick.” He defended himself.
“In her bed?!” His mother closed in on his face and whispered loudly.
“We were just sleeping, Mother–”
“How could you say that when you’re almost a man grown!” She continued with rage in her voice. “Now it could be nothing, soon it would imply much different things! Dear Gods! How could you be so reckless!”
Aemond looked down at his feet– bare as Mother didn’t even let him wear his shoes when she dragged him out of there. He’s afraid to look her in the eye now. He has never enraged his mother this much, and it burdens him to think that he has let her down this much.
“It does not matter whether you did anything or not, son. What would happen if the news broke out to the people in court? Your sister is already betrothed! What will they think of her then?!”
Aemond stayed silent. She does have a point. And soon enough Helaena would be wed to Aegon. But he did have no ill intention for staying the night with her, but it seemed useless to try and clear it out now.
“I’m sorry Mother,” he finally spoke back with head still hanging low.
“Is that all you can say?” The Queen Mother still had some rage in her to continue the conversation further. “Soon you will be a man, and soon you will have much different needs to fulfill, Aemond!” She gazed him down with a dirty look.
“I have nothing but the best intention for our family, it won’t happen again.” Aemond felt even smaller at the cold gaze of his mother. He felt the guilt twisting him by the stomach.
“Fine,” His mother sighed and looked away, releasing some steam at her own thoughts. “Now be mindful from now on.”
***
Aemond walked his way to his own room, reminiscing about the time he spent the night on his sister’s bed. It was not too long ago, but it felt so long and so
forbidden
yet he could remember each sentence of what Mother said to him. It
was
naive and innocent then, but she was right— he does have different needs to fulfill now. Aegon’s or not, he is unsure if he could hold himself back if he ever did decide to spend the night in one bed with his sister now. Thank gods, he still had an ounce of duty in him to refuse her offer. So delicate and enticing– not even the presence of his brother’s child inside her could deter his feelings he has for her.