Chapter Text
Aemond sat in the library, his focus entirely on the book in front of him. He had been pouring over the histories of old Valyria all afternoon and he was beginning to get a headache. He closed the book and leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. Just as he closed his eyes to get a moment of respite he heard a rush of giggles and suddenly someone was rushing into his little corner of the library. He groaned and turned towards the intruders but his mood lightened when he saw who it was. His sister's children ran circles around his chair shrieking with laughter as his wife chased after them.
"Uncle! Help!" Jaehaera yelped when she saw him, clambering onto his lap to escape her pursuer.
Jaehaerys on the other hand dashed behind one of the imposing bookshelves and tried to crawl into the space behind it. Daenys stood in the center of the room, eyes darting between both children as she gasped for breath.
"I'm going to get you!" she laughed, wiggling her fingers menacingly and Jaehaera shrieked even louder.
Aemond raised his eyebrow in amusement but didn't say a word. He was content to watch their little game without interrupting. He observed Daenys slowly creep up to Jaehaerys's hiding spot and then gently pry him out. He howled with laughter as she pulled him into her lap and smothered him in kisses. Seeing this, Jaehaera fidgeted in Aemond's lap before jumping off and running to compete with her brother for Daenys's attention.
"What on earth did you do to them, they are going positively feral?" Aemond finally decided to break his silence.
Daenys opened her mouth to speak but the little boy in her lap interrupted her, "Denny's tickling us Uncle Aemond. Make her stop!"
"We're only tickling Jaehaerys 'cuz he's being naughty. Don't make Denny stop!" the boy's sister protested, running her small hands across his ribs as he squirmed in his aunt's lap.
"You girls have teamed up against the poor boy, he doesn't stand a chance," Aemond playfully glared at them and beckoned to his nephew, who took the chance to escape Daenys's arms and scramble to him.
Aemond picked him up and he giggled into his neck. Meanwhile, Daenys and Jaehaera burst into even more hysterical laughter at his antics.
"It's really not funny," the boy pouted from his uncle's lap, making the girls giggle harder.
Daenys finally caught her breath enough to turn towards her niece and whispered to her conspiratorially, "What do you think, should we tickle Uncle Aemond? He's being naughty too, isn't he? Not letting us have fun with your brother."
Aemond frowned, "I can hear you, you know. And no, no one is tickling me."
Jaehaera pulled her aunt's arm towards her uncle and exclaimed in delight, "Yes! Let's tickle Uncle Aemond! Oh, what fun!"
"Jaehaera..." he warned, trying to be stern.
"Oh, now we simply must see how ticklish he is," Daenys's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I'm not ticklish at all, you'd simply be wasting your time."
"You're ticklish. I just know it. Only ticklish people say they're not. That's not going to stop me, dear husband."
Aemond deposited Jaehaerys on the floor so he could join his sister and turned his full attention to his wife. She approached him slowly, as if it would make him any less apprehensive. She raised her fingers, then stopped. She supposed she didn't really know where he would be most affected, but if she had to make any guesses she'd pick his neck. Most people had sensitive necks. She ghosted her fingers down his throat and he let her, holding perfectly still. Strange, she had thought that he would have put up more resistance.
"Tickle him, Denny!" the children chorused, still watching, even though for a moment, Aemond had forgotten they were even there.
Daenys's fingers rested at the hollow of his throat and she could hear his breath hitch ever so slightly.
"I told you I wasn't ticklish," Aemond swallowed and Daenys felt the movement.
"Hmph, I haven't really tried yet!" she tried to pull her hand away but he caught it in his and pulled her onto his lap. She yelped in surprise.
"Heyyyyy, no fair, Denny's too big to sit in Uncle's lap!" Jaehaera tugged at her aunt's dress as she perched precariously on her husband's knee.
"Hmmm, I think we should see just how ticklish your Aunt Denny can be, what do you think?" Aemond wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
As the children cheered in approval, Daenys's heart was in her throat and she almost gasped in surprise when his fingers drifted up her sides. She firmly placed her hands on his and pushed them away.
"You are not tickling me. I won't allow it," she said petulantly.
"You're going to disappoint the children. They want to see their Aunt Denny laugh."
Before she could respond, one of Helaena's handmaidens walked in, clearing her throat. Daenys stiffened as the young girl awkwardly bowed before stating that it was time for the children to have their afternoon nap. Once she had led them away, the air in the room became even tenser. Daenys went to stand up but Aemond wrapped his arms around her waist once again.
"What a pity, the children didn't get to see you laugh," he grumbled.
"The children? Yeah right," Daenys scoffed.
"It is a pity all the same."
"Are you serious? I laughed plenty."
"Yes, I saw... You... you are incandescent when you laugh," Aemond rested his chin on her shoulder and something in his voice made her ears turn scarlet.
"By the gods, you're being weird again. Where's the real Aemond and what have you done with him!"
"Hmm, can I not compliment my lady wife? Is that some sort of crime now? I wasn't aware."
"No, you silly boy. I just meant you're being weird. You're not usually like this, saying things like that," Daenys elbowed him.
"I suppose I'll have to do it more often then. So that my lady wife believes the compliments I pay her instead of doubting me."
Laughing softly, Daenys leaned back and kissed his cheek, "Do it as often as you like."
Aemond leaned forward to kiss her once again but she took his momentary distraction as an opportunity to hop off his lap and scurry to the door.
"Farewell dear husband, I shall leave you to your work now," she gave him an exaggerated bow and a wink before hurrying away, leaving him staring after her absolutely spellbound; his headache from earlier all but forgotten.