Chapter Text
“You have been betrothed to Lucerys.”
Aemond was certain it was a joke. But there was no mirth in his mother’s eyes.
Alicent looked contrite, waiting for Aemond’s response.
“Mother, this is preposterous!” Aemond spat.
“Son,” she began with a wince, “I know what he has done has no forgiveness. But we have no choice. Aegon is already married. Daeron is too young. We need this alliance. The scales are tipped in her favour.”
Aemond’s hand unconsciously reached his patched eye. He was seething but at the same time he was unable to rage. He knew his mother was not at fault. She only had one thing in mind - the safety of her children. It was more likely that it was his father who had proposed this. He was just surprised his dear sister had decided to part with her beloved son.
“And Rhaenyra accepted this proposal? She does not fear marrying her precious son to the man he maimed?” he sneered.
“She has always wanted peace,” Alicent said softly, a wistful haze overshadowing her hazel-green eyes. It cleared instantly as she added, “No harm will come to Lucerys under your care. You shall be married within a fortnight,” She said it stoically, not as a request but a command.
Aemond, the Second Son, the one with the duty but none of the glory, nodded.
***
“I was as surprised by the development as you,” Aegon said, lazily draped on a chair, “I hear your first protest was that he maimed you and not that he was a man. Well, a boy…”
Aemond gritted his teeth, choosing not to respond to his brother.
It was not uncommon for men to be married amongst nobility. Especially the spares of the family. Aemond was not tasked with continuing the line, Aegon was. Besides, men could adopt children and name them their own.
It all came down to preference. And of course, how desperate one was for power (or peace, in this case).
“I hear boy-cunts are tighter-”
“Aegon,” Aemond interrupted him.
Aegon smiled blandly, “I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures. Why don’t you go take a walk in Flea Bottom? Gain some experience so you don’t disappoint your husband on your wedding night. I wish you a happy married life, brother. Maybe then you will stop ogling my wife.”
Aemond bit the inside of his cheek, glaring at his brother silently.
It was no secret that he had feelings for Helaena. Aegon did not care about her or who she fucked. In fact, he had offered her to Aemond. He had refused, of course.
“She is not an object to be transferred. She is your wife. Respect her,” he had hissed.
To which Aegon had laughed raucously and said, “She’d be happier being your mistress than my wife.”
Aemond did not doubt it. He would keep her well. Something his brother never could.
She was everything he had ever wanted but would never get. And he had to be alright with that.
Because she was his brother’s wife.
***
Their wedding date was set.
The Blacks arrived on dragon-back to Red Keep.
After Rhaenyra married Daemon, they moved to Dragonstone to raise their children. Viserys did not like to be parted with his daughter but he understood that Rhaenyra’s children were safer there than they were in King’s Landing.
It was a tense atmosphere. The only one who seemed at ease was his father. He rose up from the Iron Throne and beckoned Rhaenyra. She climbed the steps and hugged him tightly.
Aegon rolled his eyes at the display. Aemond wanted to do the same but he had more tact than his brother. He turned his gaze to the others instead.
Daemon Targaryen stood tall and proud, eyes sweeping the room. When he caught Aemond’s eye, he smirked slightly. Behind him, stood Lucerys, eyes resolutely on his mother.
It had been some time since Aemond had last seen his nephew.
Lucerys had always been a wispy little thing. His stature had remained petite even though he was now an adult. His brown, curly hair and walnut-coloured eyes only aggravated Aemond further.
Why did I have to marry a bastard?
“I see your children have not graced us with their presence,” Alicent commented.
“Yes, we thought it best to leave them at Dragonstone,” Rhaenyra said, glancing at Alicent, “This was on such short notice, after all.”
“Now that you are here, I can finally be at peace,” Viserys sighed. His health had been deteriorating for the past few summers, “This is your rightful place, Rhaenyra.”
“I know, Father. And I will come back here in due time,” Rhaenyra promised, eyeing Alicent.
Alicent had an inscrutable expression on her face.
“Very well,” Viserys said, “I have prepared for the wedding. It will commence by noon tomorrow.”
Rhaenyra’s smile was stretched thin but she nodded in acquiesce.
Aemond’s eye found Lucerys again. This time, he was looking back. When their eyes met, Lucerys looked down quickly. There was a dusting of pink on the high points of his cheeks.
Aemond smirked. Perhaps this would be more interesting than he had thought.
***
The day of the wedding was a gloomy one. Perhaps an indication of the state of their future married life.
Their wedding would be officiated by a priest, not a traditional Valyrian wedding but that of under the Seven Gods. It was a request by Queen Alicent.
They stood at the altar, hands tied with a ribbon, as the priest droned about the sanctity of marriage.
Aemond was dressed in a dark bottle green robe. It made his pale skin stand out. Lucerys had donned a striking white outfit with gold trimmings.
Being a bastard, Lucerys had not inherited the striking Valyrian features. Harwin Strong's blood was so potent that it had overwhelmed Rhaenyra's own. Strong had been a handsome man but he did not hold a candle to the beauty of old Valyrian blood.
To Aemond, his nephews had always seemed plain, like commoners were, with dark hair and dark eyes.
Lucerys's eyes were lighter than his brother's. As the sunlight poured through the stained glass windows, they almost looked golden.
Aemond wanted to dig them out and feed them to Vhagar.
Lucerys fidgeted under his gaze.
“Let it be known that Prince Aemond of House Targaryen and Prince Lucerys of House Velaryon are one heart, one flesh, one soul. Cursed be he who would seek to tear them asunder. In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity. Look upon one another and say the words.”
Aemond turned to Lucerys, who for the first time met his gaze. There were pinpricks of red on Lucerys's cheeks, his freckles standing out even more as he blushed.
“I am his and he is mine. From this day, until the end of my days," Aemond said crisply, devoid of any emotion.
“I-I am his and he is mine. From this day, until the end of my days," Lucerys said, cheeks darkening.
Usually, the newlyweds kissed. But Aemond had no such desire.
When the silence stretched, the priest quickly declared them husband and husband and thus concluded the ceremony.
***
It was tradition for the newlyweds to dance. But that was usually reserved for couples who at least tolerated each other.
Aemond would sooner be caught dead than dance with the boy that blinded him.
He stayed aloof but his eye followed Lucerys around the room like a predator stalking its prey. He had some plans for the night. And by how Lucerys was furtively glancing at Aemond from time to time, he knew what was in store for him.
"Brother, if I didn't know any better, I would say you fancied our little nephew," Aegon had a glass of wine in his hand. His cheeks were already flushed from the drinks, "He looks dashing tonight. And looking at him now, he is rather petite for a boy. If you take him from behind, you might trick yourself into thinking you're making love to a flat chested woman."
"You seem quite taken by the thought of fucking Lucerys. Perhaps you'd like to go in my stead to the wedding chamber?"
Aegon laughed, "I would love to. I have fucked and been fucked by men before. And though you hate his features, I think our nephew is quite handsome. But I know that despite hating his guts, you'd sooner chop my dick off for touching your husband than let me anywhere near him. Always a possessive bastard, even for toys you never played with."
Aemond pursed his lips.
Aegon made a face.
"Larys Strong is leering at your husband," he said, "I hear he has a thing for brunettes. Maybe our little Luke will lay with more than one of his uncles tonight."
Larys Strong was indeed staring beadily at Lucerys. His tongue sneaked out to wet his bottom lip when Lucerys tucked a piece of curl behind his ear.
Lucerys had yet to notice. He stuck close to his mother as if she could protect him forever.
Their eyes met for a brief moment. Lucerys, as usual, looked away quickly.
"Go on, brother. Claim your prize. I hope his arse is good," Aegon clapped his back
Aemond rolled his eye but took his advice and stalked towards where his sister and nephew were standing.
Daemon magically appeared in front of them. He had been speaking to King Viserys not a moment ago.
"Our son-in-law," Daemon nodded towards him, "You've been quite aloof tonight."
"Uncle," Aemond greeted, "Sister."
Rhaenyra's grip on Lucerys's shoulder tightened.
"There are some things I want to remind you," Daemon said, holding his gaze, "You hurt one hair on his head and I will make sure to slaughter everyone you hold dear in your life. I will make you watch as I kill them slowly and painfully. Do you understand?"
If it had been anyone else, Aemond would have scoffed. But it was Daemon fucking Targaryen, the man who single-handedly won the Battle of the Stepstones. So it did give him a pause.
Rhaenyra cleared her throat.
"What happened in the past, let it stay in the past. This marriage is the first step to unify our House. Brother, Lucerys is my heart. I'm entrusting him to you. Let my trust not be misplaced," her words were soft but her voice was that of steel.
Aemond stifled the urge to roll his eyes. As if such sentimental words would have an effect on him.
"Don't fret, Sister," Aemond said silkily, "If you can't trust me, trust my better judgment. It would be foolish of me to hurt Lucerys when he is under my care. If that is all, I would like to retire for the night with my husband."
The silence that followed was tense. Aemond did not give away anything on his face.
It was Daemon who broke the silence.
"Glad that has been cleared out," he said, "Luke, come."
Rhaenyra looked reluctant as she let him go. Daemon nudged him towards Aemond.
Lucerys glanced at Aemond but looked down quickly when he was met with his stare. Slowly, he walked over to Aemond.
"Nephew," Aemond murmured, "You've hardly spoken two words to me."
"Uncle…" Lucerys mumbled.
Aemond settled his hand around Lucerys's shoulders. The tiny boy only reached up to his chest.
"You've not grown any taller. Still pick around your veggies?" Aemond snorted.
"I still don't like them…" Lucerys said.
They started walking away towards their wedding chamber. It garnered a few cheers. Aemond smirked a little as Lucerys's shoulders hunched under the weight of his arm.
"I don't remember you being so meek when you slashed my eye."
Lucerys flinched.
Aemond opened the door for Lucerys and pushed him inside. Their chamber was decorated with candles and flowers. It has been his brother's idea.
Lucerys's eyes widened when he saw the canopied bed strewn with petals.
"Let's get down to business, shall we?" Aemond said, "Strip."
Lucerys whipped his head to stare at Aemond.
"Uncle, surely we're not going to…" he trailed off. The blush was back, now darker than ever.
Since they were both men, there was no compulsion for them to consummate their marriage. But as his husband, Lucerys still had some duties towards him.
Aemond had planned everything carefully. He would toe the line of humiliation and torment his little nephew but never give him a chance to complain about being mistreated.
"Why so ever not?" Aemond sauntered to Lucerys and started undressing him. Lucerys was frozen, unable to stop him.
Soon, he was standing completely bare in front of Aemond. He walked in a circle around his new husband to observe his body.
Lucerys was not a fighter. He sparred only because he had to. He was always coddled by Rhaenyra and his older brother, protected from all harm. Hence his body was unmarred. His skin was pale and smooth. It looked soft and well taken care of. Despite his petite figure, he had some flesh around his hips and buttocks; perfect to hold when he would fuck him. His soft cock nestled in a thatch of dark hair. He looked smaller than average. Perhaps it was because he was still growing.
Aemond himself remained fully clothed. The contrast made Lucerys even more uncomfortable.
Aemond came to stand in front of Lucerys. Brown eyes met his with trepidation.
“Will you hurt me, Uncle?” Lucerys asked, a slight tremble in his voice.
“Hurt,” Aemond repeated derisively, “Don’t you think you ought to hurt a little as penance for what you did to me?”
“It was an accident,” Lucerys whispered, "You were going to kill Jace."
“An accident that blinded me for life,” Aemond spat.
“Do you want to take my eye too?” Lucerys asked, eyes glazed, “Is that how you will find peace?”
Aemond scoffed at that. He cupped Lucerys’s cheek, startling him at the sudden touch. His thumb caressed the soft skin under his left eye.
Lucerys held himself still, as if waiting for Aemond to dig his thumb into the eye socket and gauge his eye out.
“Uncle,” Lucerys reached out and caught Aemond’s forearm, “I truly am sorry for what I did. It was not my intention. I panicked and…”
Aemond rather liked Lucerys’s fear. It felt like a tangible, heady thing. It made his mouth water.
“Are you saying that so you won’t be hurt?” Aemond smirked.
Lucerys shook his head, “I am sincere.”
Aemond scoffed, pressing his thumb harder into Lucerys’s cheek.
He expected Lucerys to push him away and run crying to his mother. Surprisingly, he did not. He closed his eyes and tilted his head up, as if giving permission to Aemond to extract his revenge on him.
Aemond abhorred it. He hated self-righteousness above all else.
He removed his hand from Lucerys’s cheek and instead circled his throat, squeezing slightly. Lucerys’s eyes flew open.
“I have other ways of hurting you…” Aemond whispered, making Lucerys shiver, “Ways less permanent but no less humiliating.”
Seeing Lucerys tremble filled him with deep satisfaction.
He would certainly fulfill this promise.
***