~ cause i can feel a real connection, a supernatural attraction. [aemond targaryen]
PART II (my blood, sweat, tears, and my cold breath, take it all away.)
as promised, here is the second part! the first part of this series contains a westerosi wedding, this fic will contain a valyrian wedding and the third part, well that's a surprise. reader is afab with she/her pronouns if requested i will write non-binary characters! i'd also love some feedback for this! i'd love some pointers on what you liked/didn't like about it! as always i tried to make reader an actual person who you could see yourself within but she's a lot more chill this chapter, only aemond and reader are in this so nobody is making a surprise guest appearance lol.
this fic contains: bolton!reader (now targaryen), valyrian wedding, valyrian wedding traditions (cutting each other so if ur squeamish to that maybe skip over that section), afab reader, no appearance indicators (except height, aemond is taller than you, reader cuts her hair due to impulsivity and frustration — your hair will be long enough to have u cut it to your shoulders), reader and aemond are both around eighteen-twenty-one (but this is some time before the war & that gossip girl thanksgiving worthy moment — the girls that get it, get it) [3,188 words]
Escaping your own wedding ceremony was easier than you had thought, the hallways were scarce with limited few dotted around. And those who were around would not stop the one-eyed prince from leaving his own ceremony with his bride.
You were thankful to Aemond, the bedding ceremony would have been humiliating, you knew your own parent's had one, and it had left your mother traumatised, thankful she had sons and only one daughter, it could minimise the generational trauma felt by that moment. You supposed in the two years of courting Aemond he had cared for you enough to refuse the outdated tradition all together.
"Will you be present tonight?" Aemond had asked you, confusing you as the two of you walked towards your chambers.
"What in the seven hells is that supposed to mean?"
"You were not mentally present during the wedding." It was a fact, he had noticed too much for you to comprehend. Would he hurt you for being such a disgrace? As though sensing your fear, he spoke, "You fret far too much, I just worry it had been something of my doing."
"Oh no..." The pause between words was present as you tried to come up with a reasoning for your actions, "It is just something I do, and I fear I never know when it is happening until it is over."
The grunt Aemond had allowed to escape him worried you, "I will be present tonight, crowds scare me and put my mind into high stress levels, but when we are together alone I enjoy my time with you."
It seems as though your explanation had fallen on deaf ears, however Aemond was simply analysing the event and your explanation. It seemed fitting that the both of you did not seem content in the world you were living in. With you escaping into your own mind while he focused his energy on fighting and learning.
The silence between the two of you was slightly uncomfortable, with you fearing you had said something wrong and your actions being ridiculous for a princess of the realm while Aemond had simply enjoyed being within your presence it hadn't taken you long to get to your chambers, however Aemond hadn't entered with you.
You were left to your own devices, as Aemond thought it fit to leave you in your current state. You knew what he was doing — going to gather all he needed, you weren't sure what it was, but you trusted him, trusted him enough to believe all he told you about the Valyrian ceremony you were about to partake in.
You felt suffocated, though, the nervousness and fear of what was to become of tonight had hit you in waves. You felt as though you could rip your hair out as you stared at the braids you'd have to spend far too much time to undo. Your ladies had spent such a long time creating such a lovely sight, you simply didn't want to take it out, but you knew you had to.
The hotness you felt within had you itching at your skin, it was already irritated and the red marks you had left hadn't affected you much. However, your hair was going to be a problem.
The knife had glinted in the candlelight, and your own temptation would not vanish, perhaps if you had cut your hair the braids would be easier to remove and would not hurt you. Long hair was the bane of your existence, and cutting your hair while sectioned into braids would be easy. Far too tempting for you to not do it. Nobody could stop you.
Before you could comprehend the knife within your grasp, you had already cut one braid to your shoulder. The freeing feeling was short-lived once you had realised what you had done. Your once long beautiful hair was now unevenly cut and to your shoulders no less. What would the people surrounding you say? That Aemond had cut it off in an act of hatred towards you?
You would certainly be the gossip surrounding the castle for many moons to come. How the prince had dragged you away, defiled you in more ways than one. You hadn't thought about your actions, instead you chose the easiest way for you to escape the confounds of tradition and suffering. It's not like you could reattach the hair either — but it would grow back to the length you had such hated for, or you could keep knives and continue cutting to your desired length.
You had contemplated cutting the dress too — the beautiful white dress your father had ensured was designed with your specifications in mind, but you couldn't. It was far too beautiful, and you were sure Aemond would help you with the removal when it came time for that section of the night. The part which made you [word] and wish for it to be over in minutes, like your mother and ladies told you it would be.
"The knife's intended purpose wasn't that." Aemond had spoke, you hadn't heard him entering while your thoughts spiralled to the mistake you'd made despite being fully conscious of your actions.
"Oh..." You didn't know how to retort, other than another "oh" with a raised octave.
"You could have waited before you decided to chop it off."
"But where's the fun in that? Do you not like surprises? You told me once you liked nice surprises, is this not a nice one?"
"It is certainly a surprise." Aemond had approached you and had taken the knife from your grasp before you could decide to cut anything else on your being. "The blade is sharp, I don't like the idea of it being so close to your neck."
"But you trust me enough to not cut you?" You had asked, not completely aware of his trauma but knowing he didn't like blades in his general direction when he was not fighting.
"Do you intend to hurt me?" Even if you did, you knew Aemond had fast reflexes and could easily detain you without much effort.
"I intend to love you, if you'd allow me." Your sincerity seeped through your words, "I know our courtship was a long one, and you may not see yourself the way I view you, but I want to show you, you're worth so much more than you give yourself credit."
You viewed him as though he put the stars in the sky, as though he was the one solely responsible for your own happiness. The prince who put duty above all else, the man who few had got to see the true self of. They hadn't seen the man who cared about your own happiness, indulging in horrific romance books with bad tropes to simply have conversations about such topics with you, the man who looked at you like you were the only person in existence when you spoke. And you had left him utterly speechless.
You had surmised that while Aemond may have been his mother's son, her clearly being his favourite and only present parent. He valued the traditions of his father's culture — you had thought as much with his claiming of Vhagar, his pride and his passion. He was truly the fire and blood you had always craved. The only person you could ever see yourself happy with, the only person who truly understood you.
The idea of a Valyrian wedding was much more fun in your mind, without speaking the language you had no idea what to expect, yes you had studied the language, but it was very different from speaking a language you weren't fluent in. Aemond was insistent and you could not deny him. Assimilating yourself into his culture would be an honour, having his children would be an honour, but with honour comes learning, and it was something you enjoyed. But less than a year was not nearly enough time to learn an entire language, and the nuances that came with said culture and language.
"There would usually be a Septon to bless us, though I think it would be fitting for the two of us to be together and join as one."
"How scandalous." You joked, hoping to ease some of the tension you felt within yourself. "You aren't withholding any other key information about this ceremony, are you? You do not need a dragon to breathe fire on us?"
"Unless you have a death wish, it is not advised." He enjoyed this feeling, being so free with one another, with only the spectators being yourselves and your desires.
"Next you'll be telling me you're not fireproof."
"I live to be a disappointment, princess."
"You could never disappoint me unless you withhold cake from me."
"Cake is your only weakness?"
"The only one I'll tell you about, I need to have a few secrets up my sleeve to surprise you with in ten years."
"You have already revealed far too much."
"Then I suppose I must stop speaking, for I am no longer a mystery, and you shan't be interested any more." Aemond had laughed as you continued your melodrama.
"This is what you want?" Aemond had asked, his sudden mood change had almost given you whiplash.
"I wouldn't have committed myself to you fully if it wasn't what I had wanted."
"I just wanted to be sure before we started the process." You were not sure where Aemond's insecurity had come from. The two of you had spent so much time together, albeit chaperoned by your brother. "I wanted to make sure before I truly reveal myself to you."
"There is nothing you could do which would make me want you less." You were not sure where your sentimentality had come from, "Would you like me to help you? With your eyepatch — that is." You had never brought up the eyepatch. It had made no difference to you. Rumours had circulated about why he wore it — you did not want to listen to them. Some had said there was a pitch-black hole where his eye had meant to be, others said it was decayed and rotted. You were not sure what was to believed, but you knew it would not change your feelings.
"I can manage just fine." The response was more hostile than you were expecting.
"I would like to help you, as your wife it is important to me that you do not suffer nor hide yourself from me." Aemond had not retorted as you moved to help him. You were not sure what you were expecting, but the sapphire was certainly not it. "You are beautiful." You spoke as you took in his appearance, wishing he would feel comfortable being his authentic self, "Never hide yourself away from me." It had been a demand. You wanted Aemond to see himself the way you saw him, beautiful and otherworldly. You knew the Targaryen genes were strong within him, but you had not expected him to be this beautiful.
"You do not need to lie."
"You doubt my words? I would like to know who hurt you and to hurt them in exchange, I want them to feel the pain you have felt, I want to set them ablaze, I want them to suffer. I will flay them if you ask me to, I would make it slow and painful."
"You speak treasonous words, wife." You had put the pieces together from that alone, one of Rhaenyra's son's — most likely Lucerys had hurt your husband. You had wondered why justice hadn't prevailed. Your father would have had your brother's manhood if he had hurt you, yet your husband was not fated with such luck, despite his own father being the King who could have easily sought justice. "It is long past now, I do not wish to think about it nor speak about it."
You thought it best to drop the issue. Irritating your husband was not your intention — especially on your wedding night. You hadn't wanted him to think about such things when you were meant to be happy. "Shall we get on with it, then?"
At your insistence, Aemond had placed the knife on the dresser along with the chalice he was holding — containing a substance you had no knowledge of.
The two of you were close, closer than you were comfortable with, Aemond may be your husband, but proximity and intimacy was not something you were accustomed to. Perhaps it would come with being a married couple — or perhaps it would come tonight when you would no longer be a maiden.
The blade did not sting as much as you expected, as Aemond had brought the blade to your lip, perhaps it was the anticipation of assimilating into his culture he treasured so dearly. Perhaps it was the idea of being a respected Targaryen Princess who followed the traditions of ancestors you did not have. Would your Northern ancestors be ashamed that you so willingly allowed your husband to maim you? To take your own culture from you and thrust his own upon you? You did not have time to think of that as Aemond had cut the palm of your hand, it had brought a gasp from your lips. That had been the painful part, though he soon let go of your hand to maim his own skin.
The blood had dripped freely from your hand onto the pristine white dress you had loved so much. The red had stained the pure white colour, perhaps it was an omen for what was to come. Aemond tainting everything with his love for you, placing you on such a high pedestal that he believed you could do no wrong. Willing to start wars to ensure your safety and happiness. He truly loved you even if he struggled to say the words out loud and in front of an audience. Aemond had always been reserved, believing it to be for the best. His own feelings had never meant more than those around him, his love for you had a toxic hold grasp on his being, so willing to do heinous acts to ensure you stayed pure to the chaos going on around you. But you were not that type of girl, you thrived on chaos, on the unknown and were more than willing to be the chaos that spread Aemond's passion and fire.
Aemond's own cut hand had held yours, aligning the cuts together as to mix your blood, to make you one. Both of your blood had seeped into the dress, there was a taste of iron in your mouth — your blood, both your and Aemond's blood, mixed as one whole being. You were his as he was yours.
"Ñuha ānogar, nager, qūvy, se ñuha iōrves jelevre, gūrogon ziry mirre qrīdrughagon. Bisa bantis īlon siñagon hae mēre, īlon kessa dōrī part. Iksā se ōños bona sīmontan arlī isse ñuha ābrar. Iksā se cause hen ñuha biarves."
You had picked up on a few words Aemond had spoken, but most had left you clueless, you were ashamed you had not taken studying Valyrian seriously when it was presented to you. You could not express in words how you felt about him, how you would burn the world down for him, instead you spoke what little Valyrian you knew, "Avy jorrāelan."
"Avy jorrāelan," Aemond's response was almost immediate, the hand which was not holding yours quickly moved to the chalice he had brought in, bring it to your lips and you took it as a sign you needed to drink. The liquid was bitter, almost gag worthy but went down smoothly. You did not want to know what was inside as it warmed your throat. You had looked at Aemond as he too drank the liquid, though his own reaction was not as evident as your own.
It was your turn to lead the ceremony you had thought, all ceremonies end with a kiss yet yours had not happened yet. It was a split second decision, bringing Aemond to your own height, he had towered over you naturally but you doubted he would complain as you sealed your ceremony with a kiss. This one had felt more intense than your first ceremony. You would not be satisfied with a simply peck as though you were children.
You were lovestruck as your mouth's joined. You were one, you would continue being one until the end of your days, you had not known what to truly expect. Aemond was a wild card. But so were you. It was slow to begin with, the taste of both blood and what the liquid contained mixed within your mouth. You couldn't taste the wine consumed earlier in the night nor did you truly care. It was unbecoming of a lady as your tongue entered Aemond's mouth. You had heard from ladies both in court and workers of the palace that they had placated their husband's needs, but you had needs yourself — you felt yourself tingling as though you were on fire. You wanted more, no you needed more.
Aemond had pulled away from you, looking as dishevelled as you had felt. "We need to stop before I do something I regret."
"And what is that?"
"Please let me help you get undressed first, I do not want you to feel pressured to act a certain way around me and I fear you will feel far too much pain if we continue."
The meshing of two cultures so different, with such different beliefs didn't seem possible, but to you, it just seemed right. Your white dress sparkled like the stars in certain lighting — your father made sure he spared no expense, for his only daughter had stained red with your union. The blood had seeped into the fabric and turned a murky red-brown colour, which you could not salvage, but you did not care. The Valyrian traditions so strange, so otherworldly to you were something which you now partook in. The Godswood you had prayed to did not cross your mind, instead you thought to the gods of old Valyria, how the once prosperous city had crumbled and how you would not allow your own marriage to do so. Compromise was needed, and you would more than compromise for Aemond, to feel his touch upon you, to feel his warmth.
However, it felt good, it felt good to finally be as one, to have each other, to finally feel wanted. The corset was slowly becoming looser as Aemond's not so skilled hands helped you out of the dress. You had not once felt insecure in his presence but being so bare before your husband had left you feeling a certain way. Never once had you been before a man and you were scared. Scared you'd feel judged, scared that you would not be enough for him.
"We don't need to..." Aemond hadn't found the right words yet but you knew what his intention was.
"Do you not want to?"
"I want you, badly. I fear you are not ready yet, and I would not like to put you in the position where you could come to resent me."
"I doubt I could ever resent you... But I would like to take it slowly, to see where the night leads us, if we do or... do not, it is our decision and nobody shall take it away from us."
so i didn't actually use the vows in the show but i feel like pledging yourself and your own words instead of a priest works out well? i also researched this a bit and apparently you don't actually need a priest? just somebody who knows how to do the ceremony. i also used a valyrian translator so if anything in the language feels... off please tell me. thank u for reading this fic! again feedback would be appreciated but u don't need to give it, the next instalment will be posted in exactly a week (wed, 15th)! cross posted on ao3 under the name hedonism!
this fic was reformatted on 7th april 2023
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Ride 733: Sugimoto vs Danchiku
Pag 1
1: By the way, Sugimoto-san, what about your “special technique”?
2: … ah
3: My self-awareness isn't that low that I didn't come prepared!!
Pag 3
2: Huh!?
3: He.... has it? A “special technique”!?
4: Sugimoto!!
5: I'll tell you one more time.... one more time
Pag 4
1: Come at me!!
Danchiku Ryuuhou!!
2: Go, Danchiku!!
4: Garu-
Pag 5
1: Bamboo Hop Shot!!
Garuaaa
Pag 6
4: He caught up in an instant!!
5: Nice, Danchiku
Pag 7
1: Keep going like this, pass him and tear him off!!
2: Sorry, Sugimoto-san, but!!
Please let me pass you, garuaa!!
3: I won't let you
4: do that, Danchiku!!
Pag 8
3: Damn!! Haha in such a crucial moment!! All these trees block the view and we can't see!!
Hahah!!
4: What happened to those two, teh...
It looked like Danchiku-san caught up to him in one go and passed him ,but
Pag 9
1: Sugimoto!!
2: Sugimoto!!
3: Don't worry, first years!! Once we pass these trees we should see that Danchiku tore Sugimoto-san off and opened a distance of 100... no, 200m
Teh!!
4: He'll be riding in the lead!!
5: Ah, right, that's true
6: There's something I heard from the senpais.... until now, Sugimoto-san never stood out in races or got any good result... he even retired sometimes...
7: On the other hand, last year during the Minegayama Hill-climb race, Danchiku-san fought against a guy from Hakone Academy who had participated in the Inter High
8: And he won!!
Teh!?
The difference in their strengths has always been....
Pag 10
1: clear...
Huh!?
Pag 11
1: They're neck and neck!!
2: Sugimoto-san!!
5: He's following!! Woah
He's working hard to stay lined up to him, teh, Sugimoto-san!! Huh!?
Pag 12
2: Haha, what are you doing, Danchiku!!
You have to pedal seriously!!
3: …. I was pedaling seriously....
6: When we passed the curve with the thick trees, I bent my frame with all my might
Pag 13
1: We hit each other's shoulders, and I thought he would falter
2: Then I kept accelerating like that and thought I could leave him behind
3: But this guy
4: didn't fall behind!!
5: Moreover.... usually, when you're chasing an opponent, you stay behind them
You use your opponent against the wind... but this guy.... when accelerating now
Pag 14
1: He lined up next to me!!
As if he just wanted to prove that we're “equal”!!
2: Knowing that he's wasting his stamina!!
4: Of course, the second year is doing his best
So I, as a third year.... in this race
5: I'll let him practice against someone more experienced than him!!
Pag 15
3: Issa.... I...
Calm down, Danchiku!!
4: You're stronger than him!!
You're stronger!! It's alright, he justhappened to be able to follow you with his eyes in this first attack, that's it
5: Attack over and over again and you'll tear him off!!
This guy can't keep up with you so many times!!
6: Kaburagi-san... incredible.... teh
Yeah.... even though Sugimoto-san is right next to him, he's dissing him to his face....
7: Don't falter, have confidence, Danchiku
Yeah!!
8: Sugimoto-san!! For now, how about we say you race until that line over there?
The sun will set soon
This lap will be like...
Pag 16
1: “500km” for each other!!
5: A “special technique”, in other words, it's the momentary activation of you own's “field of expertise”
6: Understanding your own “field of expertise” polishing it up, consciously controlling and, it in time of need – that specialty...
Pag 17
1: letting it explode
-go!!
2: But that's not something everyone can do
3: And it's especially troublesome when you can't find your own “special technique”
4: Or it could be that for most people, they don't know what they excel in, what their specialty is
5: And in that moment, they have no choice but spend time looking for it
Pag 18
1: Using their intelligence and body, facing themselves and trying out
Over and over again
2: Only in the midst of “failure” you can find it
3: “Failure”, huh
4: Then, about that
Pag 19
1: you might be the most experiecned among us!!
Pag 20
1: Dammitl, he caught up again!!
2: What's this guy's deal...
Even though he's so out of breath!!
3: Danchiku!!
4: Back... back in the day....
5: Here is Sohoku there was a person called Tadokoro-san
His body was so huge... and he always thought of his kouhai
Pag 21
1: He said that in order to be fast, “oxygen” was important
So
2: I practiced runnin whil taking in oxygen a lot
3: And there was a person called Kinjou-san, and he was very skillful in controlling the bike, so I practiced imitating his bike control
5: It was all a failure, but, but, Danchiku- have you ever heard these words?
6: In road racing the most important things are “practice” and
Pag 22
1: “Experience”!!
6: Sugimoto-san jumped ahead!! Chyase him!! Danchiku!!
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