Chapter Text
After the marriage bounds had been released by the priests, Prince Aerion had offered you his left arm, which you had taken almost surprised with a shyly muttered Thank you, my Prince. You took it as a sign that so far he was pleased with you, because after everything you had learned about him, you were fairly certain he would have had no qualms whatsoever about stepping down the stairs of the raised dais on his own, leaving you in burning humiliation to follow behind him in apparent rejection, should he have found you lacking.
You also noticed the pair of white-cloaked guards that inconspicuously fell into step behind you, keeping their distance as to offer the impression of privacy, but still staying close enough behind you so you could sense their presence and heard the silent rattle of their armour with every step they took. You could imagine how they could just fade into the background if you had been used to having them around your whole life, but you still noticed them wherever you went and you felt strangely watched by their attentive eyes. Hopefully, you would get used to their presence sooner rather than later, because as the wife of a Prince of the Blood, they would now be your constant companions as well.
As your new husband led you with confident strides through the parted crowd on your way to the way to the festive halls, where the marriage banquet was supposed to take place now, that the ceremony was over, you tried to steal concealed glances up at his face. He looked content, you supposed. His strong faceline definitely attractive, features sharp and biting, as one expected of a Prince of the Blood. His silver hair was kept short, almost atypical for a Targaryen you mused. Then again, you could only really compare him to portraits of long since gone Kings and Princes. Yet it suited him, you found. It made him look lively, full of fire, less like a snobby Royal only sitting in boring meetings all day, less stiff. His clothes suited him equally well. Dark black, almost like a bottomless pitch, lined with the fiery red of their colours. It made for a beautiful contrast with his pale features, making him look almost regal. Almost. Save for the shimmer of madness in his eyes.
You tried not to let the flush climb too high on your face, as you realized that you were basically ogling your husband! How absolutely inappropriate for a Lady of your standing! And how absolutely embarrassing for you as well. Marriage was duty, it wouldn’t do you any good to lose yourself in the sharp cut of your husband’s face or the way his tongue flicked over his pink lips in thought.
Mentally, you scolded yourself. You had to get a grip! There was no telling how Prince Aerion would react, should he notice your looks. He was unpredictable after all! Chances were he would simply be amused, maybe even flattered. But there was no guarantee that his reaction would be positive. Because while you belonged to him now, body and soul, you also knew that the same courtesy was not to be awarded to you. No one could own the Dragon, after all. What if he took offense at your prolonged staring?
“What is it?”
You felt your breath catch in your throat.
Prince Aerion’s voice, laced with amusement, thank the Sevens, disrupted your thoughts and as if on instinct, you directed your face down to your feet without hesitation. Almost like a scolded child that had been caught doing something it wasn’t supposed to.
“Don’t think I can’t feel your looks, little wife.”, he stated evenly.
Wife, you realized without any real emotion to it. It was the first time he had addressed you as such. You were truly his now.
“Apologies, my Prince.”, you whispered back in deference.
He just laughed in answer, confident steps never ceasing, leading you down the path towards the Great Hall, as he basked a little in your discomfort.
“I didn’t ask for an apology, did I, wife? Now tell me, what is it you're looking at?”
For the most part, your husband’s voice still sounded amused, but you could also detect the underlying steel. He would not stand for his question being left unanswered. He would also not stand for potentially being the butt of a private joke of yours.
You had to tread carefully now. While you knew the Prince obviously basked in flattery and praise, he was almost as quick in taking offense, should he feel mocked by perceiving the compliment to not be meant honestly.
“I was just… thinking about what an honour it is, to be the wife of a Dragon now, my Prince.”
You forced the words to tumble out of your mouth, despite your own embarrassment at admitting them. You were too nervous to plaster the sweet smile on your lips you had practiced many times in front of your mirror at home, but at least your voice sounded submissive and sincere.
“Oh? Am I to your satisfaction then? Does my little wife like what she sees?”, he questioned playfully and you were racking your brain to the right answer to this question.
You knew this was dangerous territory. Because your satisfaction didn’t matter, did it?
“You look very regal, my Prince.”, you settled on, going for diplomacy. He couldn’t take offense at that, right? “I could not have been awarded a higher honour!”
He looked satisfied with your answer, pleased even, so you decided so soldier on.
“If I may be so bold, my Prince…”, you started hesitatingly and waited for his hand signal that mentioned you to Go on. He looked at you almost curiously now, waiting for what you meant to say.
“I think all the women in Westeros might be jealous of me today. Because who wouldn’t want to become the wife of the greatest prince of them all.”
You felt your cheeks heat once more at your own words, but his delighted laugh was worth the discomfort for speaking such exaggerated flattery.
“Keep talking like that, wife, and I might just give them something else to be jealous about, right now. I’ll show you just what the greatest prince can do.”
His grin was lewd and you had an inkling what he was referring to. It cost you all your courage to keep on going in face of this truly indecent turn of conversation.
“Tonight, my Prince, I would be honoured to learn all about his capability and prowess.”
You could feel your blush deepen even further and couldn’t really believe it yourself that you had truly said something like this. But alas, your husband seemed even more pleased by it, if his rumbling laugh was any indicator.
“You might just prove to be entertaining enough, after all, little wife.”, he grinned without malicious intent and you felt a shy but honest smile climb onto your lips as well. Relief was what you felt, you realised. Being forward would always prove a gamble, with a husband that craved absolute control as much as Aerion did. However, the risk had been worth it in this case, because he had seemed to enjoy your compliments.
“I’m glad, my Prince.”, you answered in return, looking back up into his twinkling eyes. “I truly do hope to please you!”
He eyed you for several seconds, seizing you up and down, before returning his gaze to the empty corridor in front of you, never halting in his stride to lead you towards the festive halls.
“We’ll see about that tonight, won’t we?”
And if his playful grin then turned into something a little sharper, a little meaner, you purposefully chose to ignore it. Wouldn’t help to dwell on it, after all. Still, you couldn’t help the nervous shudder at the somber implication.
After long minutes of walking in silence, you finally recognized your surroundings once more. You truly had to learn to find your way around the palace and quickly, otherwise you would get lost the first time you would venture out by yourself. Now, you recognized the tall golden doors carved with intricate patterns that presented the pompous entry towards the palace's Great Hall. However, Prince Aerion led you to an inconspicuous door just off to the side of the entrance to the Great Hall. He opened the door and gestured for you to enter first, following after you and then closing the door behind you before the guards could follow you inside.
Was this to be one of his games, you wondered, feeling apprehension creep up your body once more. Had you taken it too far after all, in your praising flattery? Had he taken offense because he expected his wife to be meek and keep silent, if not spoken to?
Why would he lead you to this small antechamber instead of escorting you to your reserved places at the raised dais in the Great Hall, where traditionally the wedded pair would dine in their place of honor, for all to see? This room was, for the lack of another word, bland. There was a round wooden table to the side with three chairs standing around it in an impression of a small circle. There were no windows, the room only lighted by candles. On the table was a silver tray with two glasses and a pitcher filled with wine. Other than that, the room was empty, no ornaments, no painting. Bland.
He wordlessly led you to the back of the room, ignoring the table or the chairs, instead choosing to lean himself against the beige wall and pulling you to stand right in front of him, your legs touching slightly against his now.
“We’ll wait here until all the guests are seated. Our entrance should be a great affair, should it not? We need to be announced properly, Prince Aerion and his new wife.”, he grinned at you in explanation and you felt sudden relief flood your body. That explanation actually made sense! They had been the first to leave the ceremony after all, but still should be the last to enter the festive halls. That was the way things were done. How stupid of you to worry about something like this. You really needed to get a grip on yourself, the Prince surely wasn't as bad as your fearful mind made him out to be right now.
“My husband.”, you shyly tried the words out loud, careful gaze on his face to gauge his reaction. “I know I said it before, but I really am honoured to be your wedded wife now. I will endeavour to be everything you hoped for in a spouse, my Prince!” Your voice was earnest, because you really wanted him to believe you. You wanted this union to work and you would do your damndest to not end up battered and broken beneath him. If he saw you give your submission freely, maybe he wouldn’t find the need to beat it into you with mean words and cruel games.
Prince Aerion just watched you intently, silent gaze appraising and judging. His hands took yours to hold them between the two of you and he cocked his head slightly to the side, just continuing to watch you squirm uncomfortably under his sharp gaze.
You instinctively knew what would happen next before your husband even moved again. One second, those intent violet eyes had still been fixated on your lips, the next he had pulled you close to him, pressing his mouth on yours without preamble.
He kissed you with passion, tongue quickly demanding entrance again, as it had already done in front of all the guests after the wedding ceremony, lips greedily sucking on yours. You yielded to him because of course you did, there was no other choice in that matter, was there? You let him take and offered no resistance, hoping he didn’t expect you to participate either. This was only the second time you had been kissed now, you really didn’t know what you were expected to do. Where should you put your hands? What should you do with your tongue? You just remained still and let him take, take, take.
He took your breath away as well, his passion pouring over you like stormy rain on a thunderous summer’s eve. His hands wandered all over your body, making you tingle with something you couldn’t really name yet and a sliver of fear as well.
His arms pulled you even closer to him, pressing you against the harshness of his muscled form clad in his fine robes, giving you no way to flee from his ministrations. He kissed you for minutes without relent, ravaging your mouth and your innocence with it.
Suddenly, you felt him buck against you, his hips now moving as if searching for friction and finding it against your thighs that were hidden behind the elaborate layers of your wedding dress. You shrieked a little in surprise at the new feeling of something hard poking you now.
Was that his… manhood?
The newfound panic made you go rigid like a board. You had heard that people in the capital were more open with their desires, but surely that didn’t mean it would be proper to rut like dogs where everyone could walk in?
Aerion finally let go of your mouth then, probably feeling your sudden apprehension and fear, chuckling not really meanly, but neither comfortingly either. His eyes drank in your worry.
“Husband…”, you whispered, feeling a little scandalized at him showing his carnal needs so openly outside of the safety of your private chambers. At the same time, you felt how anxious you had become. You were at his mercy, there was nothing you could do to stop him, and you still couldn’t shake the awful feeling of how improper this all was.
“Come feel what you’re doing to me.”, his voice rumbled in your ear then and you were frozen once again.
“Such a sweet little girl, making me so hard right now.”, he grunted on, once more bucking up into your clothed thighs.
You felt hot and cold all over. Please, you thought. Unbidden tears itched at your eyes and you could have sworn the dark desire in his only grew when he saw them.
Without further ado, he grabbed your right hand in an unforgiving grip and guided it between your bodies. You whimpered in fear and humiliation when he forced your hand between his own legs, closing the distance and making you feel the hard bulge of his manhood that was straining against the velvet material of his dark black breeches.
“Feel how hard you’re making me.”, he commanded relentlessly, his eyes never once leaving your face, drinking in your rising mortification.
You couldn’t liberate your hand from his almost bruising grip. But even if so, you wouldn’t have dared to defy him so, anyway. Without regard for your discomfort, he started to make circling motions with your hand clasped beneath his, effectively forcing you to rub his straining member through the fabric.
You had always known that being married would entail the act of consumption, obviously, and that as your husband, Prince Aerion would surely take what was rightfully his to take rather sooner than later. You just hadn’t anticipated that it could happen sooner than the wedding night, because tradition dictated that the consumption would take place in the martial bed, after the festivities had concluded for the night.
He wouldn’t take you for the first time like this, right here right now, would he?
The thought of him just ravishing you in this moment, undignified and abasing, made your breath quicken with panic.
“What are you afraid of, my little wife?”
His smile was all teeth now, predatory gleam in his eyes and all. Of course he wouldn’t miss your inner turmoil. Your husband was attentive like that, it seemed.
“Are you not looking forward to serving your husband properly?”
You forced yourself to meet his gaze, your big, nervous eyes settling on his, fear clearly palpable in them. Unshed tears reflecting in the light.
“O-of course, my Prince!”, you forced yourself to say, because even if it was clear for everyone what a lie it was, you also knew that any other answer would not be acceptable. It was not your place to reject your husband. Obedience and subservience, that was what you owed him. That was what was his to take by right. You could only hope he would show some compassion and observe proper etiquette, so as not to shame you by having you where half the court could just walk in. Still, the desperation was clear as day in your voice.
“I just… please forgive me for being so nervous, I have never… been with another man before…”, you admitted. Your eyes glazed over, the first tear of despair rolling softly down your cheek.
You knew there would be no stopping him, should Aerion decide he wanted to be cruel to you tonight. Or right now. His gaze was unreadable, eyes hungry and wild. The silence stretched between you for long seconds, all that could be heard was your hand continuously rubbing over the fabric at his crotch and his laboured breaths at the ministrations.
You saw him cocking his head, eyes following the salty tracks of your tears, probably thinking of how far he would actually take it right before the big feast, not yet certain himself whether he would indulge himself by ravishing you completely, or preserve at least a little amount of decorum for his freshly wedded wife and not going any further than this. You wanted him to beg to wait until later, tell him that custom dictated to wait until the wedding night, after all, but then again, you really couldn’t see that going over so well for yourself. Prince Aerion wouldn’t care about custom or about what you had been told, he would most definitely only take offense at being told what to do. Of being told when to bed his wife for the first time. No, it was better to just plead and wait for his mercy, there was nothing else you could do, really, should he decide to take your maidenhood right in this room.
Before he could settle on any verdict however, you were saved by the Sevens, it seemed.
Without prior warning, the door to the waiting room was pushed open and your head snapped up to the direction of the intruder. A burly man in pale armour, white cape flowing from his shoulders, right hand on the hilt of his sword, entered. A kingsguard, you recognised.
The first thing you felt was relief, because surely Aerion would not take it any further now, would he?
As the knight took in the scene in front of him you felt the burning embarrassment at being caught like that flood your whole body. You knew what sight you were presenting. You were held tightly by Prince Aerion’s strong embrace. Your lips red and swollen from the earlier kissing and your tearful eyes looked almost beggingly towards him, while your hand was still pressed against Prince Aerion’s crotch by his own unrelenting grip in unmistakable proof of what it was the guard had just walked in on. Your face flushed a deep red in mortification. And yet, the kingsguard didn’t bat an eye at your compromised position, not even when his eyes scanned you up and down quickly, almost methodically, taking in every single detail as if analyzing for a damage report. You realized he must have walked in on Prince Aerion in various states of debauchery many times before. Yet you weren’t sure if that made it better for yourself or worse. You still felt so undignified at having a witness to your humiliation.
You struggled slightly against your husband’s hold, at least to get your hand away from its unambiguous place between his legs, but it was to no avail. It seemed like Aerion didn’t even notice your efforts to put a respectable amount of distance between you, but kept you pressed tightly against his own body.
“My prince.”, the knight pressed his left hand over his heart in a respectful greeting, lowering his head in deference. “The guests have arrived. The Hall is ready and waiting for you.”
Then he spared a short glance at you, nodding in acknowledgement as well.
“My Lady.”
You heard Aerion sigh in annoyance at the interruption, however he finally released your hand from his grip and you quickly snatched it away, looking back up at him with new trepidation. What if his annoyance was turned against you, now?
However, when he himself turned his gaze away from the guard and looked back down at you again, a predatory smile was still playing on his lips as he lifted his hand to put a stray strand of hair behind your ear, almost gently. It was a stark contrast to how he had behaved just seconds prior.
“Can’t you see I’m busy right now? Getting to know my new wife?”
He sounded almost amused though, as he spoke to the guard, all the while still looking in your eyes.
“Apologies, my Prince. I’ve been sent by your Lord Uncle.”
Aerion just rolled his eyes.
“Spoilsport.”, he muttered under his breath, winking at you conspiratorially. You heard your heart beat loudly, not sure how his temper would change at the interruption. But apparently you didn’t have to worry, because after stealing another quick kiss - just a peck on the lips this time, really - and adjusting himself in his pants almost vulgarly, he finally released you completely from his embrace and simply offered you his arm anew, his whole demeanor once more a simple example of perfect chivalry. The speed in which his moods changed made your head spin somewhat. You knew this would take some time to get used to. Hopefully, you would be able to keep up.
“Well, you heard the man, let’s go celebrate then, hm?”
Wanting to appear eager to please him, you quickly took his arm, carefully laying your hand around his elbow. You hurried to wipe the stray tears away with your other hand, trying to forget all about what had just happened. You would be safe in the Great Hall, with all those eyes on you. And tonight, the promised bedding was not to be avoided anyway. Maybe he would be kind. You tried to hold onto that hope.
“We’ll have enough time to get to know each other later anyway, won’t we?” There was a clear innuendo in his voice.
You decidedly didn’t look at the guard, not wanting to make your humiliation more real by acknowledging the witness to it. Too fresh was the memory of his hard member straining against the restraint of his clothes beneath your hand.
“I’m looking forward to it, my Prince.”, you forced yourself to answer, hoping that you did at least a half good job of covering up the fear in your voice. You felt Prince Aerion’s gaze on you again, heated and raw. He seemed to like your meekness and fright. He also seemed to like that you forced yourself to say what you thought he wanted to hear, regardless.
Once more, it was the white armoured knight that came to your metaphorical rescue, before any more words could be spoken about it.
“May I offer my sincerest congratulations on your marriage, my Prince. My Lady. May your union be joyful and prosperous.”
“Thank you, Ser.”, you offered in a timid response, meaning so much more than just to express gratitude for the well-wishes. Your husband just rolled his eyes again, unceremoniously starting to drag you towards the exit of the room to get to the festivities, suddenly impatient once more.