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Aemond woke up the moment he couldn’t feel his wife next to him. Adrian always slept on his right side, for not even slumber could take her away from him. Despite her saying she didn’t like being touched by him post their coupling, she would either end up in his arms or within reaching distance. Her total absence made him think the worst, only settling down when his wandering eye found her at last.
Adrian was out on the balcony, wearing a dark colored robe. Aemond pulled back the covers, swiftly getting up. He didn’t even bother to put on his sleeping trousers, choosing to remain as naked as last night once he entered the private chambers of his wife. No one but Adrian would see him in this state, not even while out on the balcony because of how high up it was.
Aemond approached Adrian from behind, thinking she had nothing on underneath her robe. Her forest green dress from last night had been ripped apart by his eagerness to bury himself inside her. He also ruined the cream nightgown she tried putting on after the first round of lovemaking.
There would’ve been guilt from his end had it not been for Adrian’s peachy nectar filling his mouth and soaking his member. Her cries that he convinced himself were of pure pleasure made him give her more climaxes throughout the night.
Aemond thought his affections would’ve tired her out but apparently not. She woke up early and was on the balcony, staring off into the distance. The morning sun was barely surfacing, and although he thought it was a beautiful view, not even the sun could compare to his wife. She had something special, a shine that intensified because of her pregnancy.
“Come back to bed, my love.” Aemond softly commanded, stopping right behind Adrian.
Adrian blinked when she turned to look at him, barely reacting to his bare body. After all the times she’d seen Aemond naked there was nothing left for her to be shocked about. She’d come to memorize all the freckles and scars scattered throughout his body. “I can’t sleep.” She admitted to him, slightly shaking her head. She was far along in her pregnancy now where her baby was starting to kick.
For whatever reason her baby was the most active in the early hours of the morning. Adrian liked to feel her baby moving around but their rapid movements hadn’t been helping with her lower back pain.
Aemond closed in on Adrian from behind. His voice became husky, an erotic whisper. “Do you need me to help you find relief again?” He buried his nose into her dark brown hair, breathing in her addicting eucalyptus scent. His hands snaked around her, with one gently grasping her breast over her robe and the other trying to untie it.
Adrian stopped him before he had a chance of slipping off her robe. Although her protests were weak he understood to stop in order to get a better reading on things.
Adrian was tense, and in truth she’d been tense from the moment he saw her. If it wasn’t because she wanted to seek relief from climaxes then he wanted to know what else he could aid her in.
“What’s the matter?”
Adrian stepped aside, staring at him with steady eyes. She wanted to laugh and cry hysterically at his absurd question. What’s the matter was that he knocked her up on purpose and was now keeping her locked away. She was basically Rapunzel, minus the super long magical hair, and the added pregnancy. Even though Aemond insisted she wasn’t a prisoner, it sure felt like she was.
Adrian wasn’t allowed to leave her own room. There’d been a few times where she was allowed to but only with a group of guards. The last time she was anywhere else had been in the gardens, where Helaena planned a lunch for her. A small lunch party, really. Where Adrian, courtesy of Helaena, was presented her favorite foods and gifts for her baby. It was a Westeros version of a baby shower.
Although Alicent had been in attendance it wasn’t enough to ruin it for Adrian. But what did ruin it for Adrian was Aemond crashing the small lunch party. Adrian only kept her smile for Helaena. But once she was done with her food she was out of there, willing to go back to her room if it meant putting distance between her and Aemond. That proved to be pointless because he eventually came into the room anyway.
Now the only fresh air she got came from the balcony, where she often lounged in order to get some sun on her skin. It didn’t fix what she wished for the most. Her freedom. She missed being outside, where she wasn’t alone, where Cannibal once was. Now her sweetface dragon was locked away in the Dragonpit. The poor thing must’ve been as sad as she was without his company.
Aemond offered to get her a cat to keep as company during the times he couldn't be there with her. Adrian almost gave in but didn’t because she didn’t want another prisoner in this room with her. Her family had two cats back in the modern world and knew how adventurous these creatures were.
It would’ve been a crime keeping a cat in one room, no matter its size and lavishness. Adrian worried a lot for her child because they more than likely would be kept in this room with her once born, their freedom taken away as well.
Aemond had made her room as comfortable as possible for a woman in her delicate condition. Which he loved to remind her about.
You’re very fragile right now, my love. You need to be kept away from danger. It’s not only your well-being I have to worry about, but also our child’s. You two must be kept safe. I would go mad if anything were to happen to either of you.
As if he wasn’t already mad in the head. Locking her up, keeping her away from everyone else, and leaving him as her only company was not good for her mental health.
Besides, the whole reason as to why he needed to lock her away for her own safety was his fault. He killed his own nephew, a fourteen year old boy. Aemond tearfully admitted to her in confidence that it had been an accident, and although she believed him, his confession wouldn’t be enough to stop the war he created between his family out of his recklessness.
It didn’t matter, a life was lost by his own hand. And now his paranoia ran wild, thinking his half-sister Rhaenyra was going to retaliate and come after his own wife who was now carrying his child.
Aemond tried soothing Adrian, and by extension himself, by moving her to the most secure room the castle had with trusted guards posted outside. He filled her room with many beautiful things to make it better for her but none of that mattered. A gilded cage was still a cage. That’s what she was now. A bird. Although sadly not like the birds who frequented her balcony because they could fly. Adrian’s own wings had been clipped by Aemond.
“Nothing.” Adrian finally answered, but too quickly judging by the stare Aemond gave her. She sighed, succumbing within seconds. “It’s just my lower back.” She rubbed the area while her other hand was placed on top of her swollen stomach.
Aemond looked down at where her hand was placed. His face softened at the thought of their child growing inside her. His little dragon, possibly two.
Grand Maester Orwyle told him there was a possibility she could be carrying twins because of how big her stomach already was. Aemond hoped that to be true, but even if she gave birth to one child he would be the happiest man in all the Seven Kingdoms.
What he wasn’t happy about was her aching. Hence his avidity to bed her everytime she needed release. As it turned out, doing so helped her tremendously. Except now she needed release in a different way. Fortunately for his wife he knew how to help, on account of his discussions with Grand Maester Orwyle.
“Let me try something.” Aemond took hold of her hand, leading her back inside. He took it slow, stopping once Adrian and him were facing a tall mirror. He stood behind her, his gaze fixed on her reflection. “Rest your back against my chest.”
“What?” Adrian tried turning around but Aemond kept her facing the mirror.
“Just trust me, you'll feel much better.”
Adrian seriously doubted she could ever trust him. However, her lower back ached way too much for a dispute. She decided to do as he said, not even caring about resting against him while he was naked.
Aemond’s hands went underneath to the center of her round stomach, slowly lifting it upwards. She let out a loud sigh, instantly feeling relief. Her full weight rested against him now with her head dropping to his shoulder. She could still feel her baby moving around but her lower back pain was completely gone. Her eyes were drooping, believing she could fall asleep in this position.
Adrian was enjoying the relief so much she completely missed Aemond untying her robe. One tug from him revealed he’d been right in thinking she wore nothing underneath. She was now as naked as him.
“Feels better, right?” Aemond softly said, admiring her naked pregnant body. Her breasts were becoming fuller, and he couldn’t wait until he was able to drink from them. Adrian made brief eye contact with him in the mirror before dropping her head back onto his shoulder.
Aemond kissed Adrian on her temple before whispering to her. “Avy jorrāelan, ñuha dāria.”
Adrian did not return the sentiments. She didn’t even say anything, only sighing from the relief of having her stomach gently lifted. For the moment the pregnancy pains from her lower back were completely gone. She was going to enjoy this for as long as possible.
Aemond wasn’t the least bit disheartened by his wife’s lack of emotion. He kept holding her pregnant belly upwards, beyond content. Even though he wasn’t making love to his wife, being naked with her while holding onto where their child (possible children) rested made him feel as connected as ever with her.