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Raging thunder blended perfectly with the fierce roars of Vhagar and Caraxes, a melody of death and promises composed long ago by gods unnamed but not entirely unknown to her.
The Crescendo of screeches and sight came from every direction, above, below, left, right, the ballad consuming her entirely. Ringing grew prominent in her ears, the immediacy of the battle more horrid every moment. She attempted to weld her eyes shut pleading it to stop. Alas it gnawed on her soul as if she was the battle herself.
Either dragon circling and weaving in between and through the clouds, steeled for the battle ahead. One last song, one last dance, an inevitable fate sewn into the fabric of existence.
Suddenly Caraxes came from above plowing through the clouds, catching Aemond and Vhagar off guard causing the Dragons to clash, within mere seconds claws and teeth grappled for dominance, either beast pursuing for any open weakness.
Blood poured from the dragons joining with the rain from the clouds. The dragons fought to keep in the sky just as hard as they fought each other. Lightning flashed above as Daemon flew from Caraxes back, Dark sister in his hand at the ready. She was certain she was screaming now, attempting to warn Aemond before it was to late, but it was always to late.
~
"Alys…Alys my heart can you hear me?" Alys felt a warm hand gently attempt to guide her face away from the clouds, but her head stayed firm peering into the storm cluttered sky. With every stroke of a thumb against her cheek the clouds swirled continuously, appearing as if they were melting away and transforming into water.
"Alys?" The soft voice repeated over and over lulling her away from her torment with every murmur. She felt the very tip of her nose dripping water, her face so close to being completely submerged. Tears streamed down her cheeks, a thumb catching them before they plummeted to the water below.
A bath Alys realized she was in the bath. Freezing water swirling around her, soaps and scented oils muddying the water. The room was silent save for her ragged breath as she fought for air, her chest heaving up and down.
The gentle hand once again trying to guide her face away from the water. His hand she realized, Aemond was here and safe, it was just another vision she reminded herself.
Her stomach churned as she refused to meet his gaze even though he crouched down level with the tub, she chose to stare at her hand clutched to the edge of the tub, fingers nearly purple from her clenched grip.
"Alys are you alright? Has something happened?" His usual steely voice now laced with concern "Did you see something in a vision?" He spoke softly as he tried once more to bring her gaze to meet his, still she refused. Fragments of the battle still dancing in her vision partially.
A flash of lightning lit the dark room and the consequent thunder echoed, she nearly leapt from the bath propping up on her knees. Aemond once again took the side of her face in his hand as his other hand went to her back attempting to steady her.
"I- I…. I-" she fought her own lungs to speak, her throat raw and aching as if she had swallowed fire.
"Alys what did you see? Was it-" he started to ask, apprehension chained to his voice as he pushed her chin upwards.
The second her tortured gaze set upon his she retched over the Side of the tub directly on to his muddy boots. His hands came to cradle her head brushing the half wet, half dry hair from her face as she continued to retch.
~
Once Alys was done Without a word he unfurled her fingers from the edge of the tub, reaching into the water one hand at her back and the other under her knees, lifting her bare trembling frame against his chest rushing toward the bed.
Aemond had heard her screaming from the moment he reached the top of the stairs down the hall, he was already moving swiftly eager to see his heart after almost an entire day apart, when the bone chilling screeching throughout Harernhal sent him fleeting down the hall to the Quarters they shared in the crumbing castle.
Fearing that something horrid had come to harm her Aemond ran in expecting to face the worse. Yet he had come to find Alys alone, submerged in the tub from the chest down, her head hanging over the water, her face a breath away from the surface.
Quickly coming to understand that she was locked in a vision, one so abhorrent that it had her screaming as if death held her in it's grip.
"I'm- I'm so sorry" She echoed over and over "I'm so sorry" Aemond tried to place her on the bed and untuck the blankets but her grip on him held unwavering, she buried her face in his chest sobbing over and over "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry".
Aemond held her tightly to his chest as he sat on the edge of the four poster bed, his cheek coming to rest on the top of her head as he rocked her slowly. As she continuously apologized.
The air between them weighed heavy, they had discussed it previously, the visions. He had known from Helaena's own gift what his soon to be fate would hold, for a time being he thought he could change it, and when he met Alys, they thought they could change it.
Aemond would ask in the beginning every few days or so if she had seen something new in the flame or a different whisper in the wind, and she had seen something's change. Small things like the time of day or the weather would frequently switch, but never the outcome. The ending was always the same he and Daemon would both fulfill the destiny that weighed over them both.
Aemond stopped asking and Alys stopped foretelling, either unwilling to disturb what few moments of peace they where able to grasp. He knew most likely no matter what he did his fate would be the same, no matter how different they wished it to be.
Finally Aemond spoke gaze set at the bassinet that sat close to the hearth.
"It's alright my heart, it's the babe making you so sick" Not a complete lie she was quite sick from time to time, since she had confided in him that she was with child. The news filling him with such joy he held her close for days not allowing her out of his sight until he had gone to retrieve a dragon egg for his son, the same egg nestled in the awaiting bassinet.
Every vision of the Gods eye Alys foresaw she described herself as with child. Never holding a babe or child near, always carried within. "Nearing the end surely " she would assure him "things could change still, Aemond you will meet your son this I promise you, I feel it within my bones".
With every passing day and unchanged vision he grew accustomed to the god's compulsory of his so called destiny. Telling himself this was enough, it had to be. If he was being honest with himself it was not enough time together, no amount of time ever would be enough for him or their family.
The Gods laughed at him from the seven heavens he was sure of it. Born to a family riddled of malevolent monster's, eventually finding sanctuary in creating his own just to have it torn away before he could watch it grow.
Every milestone no matter how small was cause for celebration, while also being a count down till the Gods eye swallowed him whole. When Alys first started showing, when she felt the first flutter from inside, and then last night as they lied in bed, Alys had been asleep for some time Aemond not to far behind his hand wrapped around her stomach as it typically was until he felt it. The smallest flutter against his palm startled him completely awake. At first Aemond thought he had dreamed it until he felt the movement again and again.
Awe consumed him thinking of his son growing just under his hand, the sweet thoughts lasting for a few moments till reality struck back in. Knowing this was likely one of the few interactions he would ever have with his son.
Restlessly pondering all the things he things he would miss, wondering if Alys and their son would be safe after his death. The vicious thoughts clawed within his mind, causing any idea of sleep to extinguish. He kept his hand pressed lightly to her bump even after the kicks hand long since stopped.
After some time Alys's sobs settled and her body relaxing in to his tight embrace, Aemond running his finger's through her midnight locks, softly untangling any knots as he went. His other hand drifted toward her small bump, a small smile creeping to his lips as he was met with a greeting of light kicks from his son.
"Four or five moons till he's here, it's…plenty of time for things to change" she whispered looking up at him bringing her hand over his Intertwining their fingers. Aemond nodded in an appeasing agreement before tucking her head under his chin, his vision once more settling on the awaiting bassinet.