thanks to everyone who liked the first part, i appreciate y'allđĽ°
Summary: You and Osferth are in love, but neither of you know the feelings are reciprocated.
Warnings: SMUT (MINORS DNI), heavy angst, idiots in love (emphasis on idiots), Osferth being a manwhore and insecure (and Finan being his wingman), canon divergence (baby monk will NOT die), whump, PTSD references, hurt/comfort, fluff (promise), fingering, oral (f!receiving), and cockwarming (if you squint)
word count | 6.2kđ¤đť
part 1 | part 2
It had been a long, long time since Osferth rescued you.
Months had passed, a year almost having gone by, your past soon becoming somewhat of a distant memory. With the help and support of your newfound friends, you were able to live life to the fullest. Of course, you still had moments when you were back in that horrid little village, but your mind slowly started to figure out that you werenât in constant danger anymore.
Due to Uhtredâs decisions that you couldnât really understand, you all had moved on from Coccham, traveling north to Rumcofa where it was always cold. It wasnât all that bad, you did prefer the cold to the blazing heat when all you could do was strip down, and even that wouldnât be enough. So the cold was a nice change.
You finally had your own little house, in a more secluded part of this new town, which you appreciated but was fearful of all the same. A part of you, a big part actually, just wanted to stay with Osferth.
It was soon after your realization that you were in love with Osferth, is when he inexplicably started to pull away.
You didnât understand it. Based on his interactions with you, you thought he mightâve felt the same. He started to spend less and less time with you, opting that beginning to train with Finan again was better for you, considering your swift progress with the sword. And Finan had forgiven you pretty quickly after your accidental outburst, finding out that he was more understanding than you originally thought. But you wanted Osferth to train you. You wanted his smiles of pride, not Finanâs. You wanted his hands on your body when having to demonstrate the correct combat posture. You just wanted Osferth.
The night you watched Osferth enter his own house with a lady on his arm, your heart broke into pieces.
All this time you had been hopeful heâd see you the way you see him, but seeing this display just confirmed your fears. And the worst of it was, that you were still in love with him. Even when he never made for you, even if he ignored you sometimes, even if he preferred the company of ladies with loose morals, you were still helplessly in love with him.
It was inevitable, but your mind started to go to the darkest places. Did he never see you this way? Did he find you undesirable? Was it because of your past? Did the things that were done to you make him disgusted? Has he ever seen you as whole?
You thought back to the night he gave you his cross, fiddling with the silver absentmindedly. He used to always wear the cross, why would he give something so special to you if you werenât in fact, special to him. So, what changed? Why was he never around anymore? Did you do something to make him this way? And if so, what could you do to earn his forgiveness?
Itâs not like you couldâve known why Osferth retreated from you. He didnât really understand it himself. The two of you wereâŚperfect. You were so incredibly important to him. He loved you, that much was true. Thatâs why he couldnât burden you with the knowledge of how incredibly difficult it was for Osferth to be around you without desiring you. Carnally.
It felt like all his thoughts, night and day, were about you. How youâd look beneath him, what sounds he could elicit from you with his fingers, his tongue, his cock. He hated feeling this way. He hated that he felt no better than your former master, using you for his own pleasure whether you agreed or not. Of course, Osferth wasnât actually doing these horrible things. But he thought of you, especially in the throws of his ecstasy, whether it was by his own hand or a woman of the nightâs cunny. He was ashamed how often he needed to bed a woman, just to be rid of the aching feeling inside him whenever he gazed upon you.
Osferth could tell how confused and hurt you were by his actions, his arms becoming a safe haven of sorts. But he didnât know if he could control his thoughts or actions in your presence, which is why he removed himself all together.
Osferth often thought what would happen if he came onto you like heâs so craved. He couldnât possibly imagine you reciprocating his affections, so he thought of the worst case scenarios. You scream and cry, pushing him away and saying you never wanted to see him again. He thought of you being terrified to be anywhere near him. He thought of you seeing him as no better than her former master, and the idea often brought him to tears. So he decided, heâd rather you feel betrayed than scared by him. You could hate him, but he would rather die than have you scared of him.
So he continued to bed other women, pleading out your name when he reached his end, much to the dismay of these women. It wasnât like he was doing this to hurt you, it was quite the opposite, he didnât even realize he was hurting you until Finan talked to him one night. âYou know sheâs in love with you, right?â
Osferth blanched, his eyes widening at the mere idea that you could feel the same way about him. âWhat are you on about, Finan?â He asked, trying to make sure he heard him correctly.
âYouâre mad if you canât see it, mate. Sheâs obsessed with you, much like youâre obsessed with her. Canât believe youâre still dancing around each other.â
Osferth blushed, much to the enjoyment of Finan. âIâm notâŚobsessed.â He almost laughed at himself with how clearly that was a lie.
âThou shalt not lie, baby monk.â Finan teased, eliciting an eye roll from the younger man. âI donât know what youâre so afraid of. Clearly, it canât be rejection.â
âI donât want her to be frightened of me.â Osferth admitted, making Finan furrow his brows.
âWhy would she be frightened of ya?â He asked, concern etched into his features.
âBecause IâmâŚI'm a sinful man, despite my best efforts. Iâm so full of lust, itâs hard to even think.â
âYou would force yourself on her?â
âNo! Of course not! Iâd sooner plunge my own sword into my heart.â
âAnd we know that. Everyone who knows you, knows that, baby monk. Youâre scared of yourself for thoughts you canât control. But you can control your actions. Just because you have bad thoughts doesnât make you a bad person, especially if youâre appalled by these thoughts. Your mind just likes to fuck with ya.â Finan watched as Osferth pondered this, a pang of annoyance rippling through his body. âTalk to her tomorrow. If you donât, Iâll kick your shins in.â
There wasnât much room to argue after that.
The next morning, Osferth woke up with a sense of hopefulness, a shy smile decorating his face as he saw the run rise. His conversation with Finan really gave him some clarity, and he was terrified still, but he decided he didnât want to live with regret. But first, he needed to gain your trust back and he just hoped youâd give him another chance.
Osferth fussed with his appearance for a moment before heading to your house, his pulse thrumming beneath his skin, his heart beating in tandem. He didnât stop his pace, afraid if he slowed down heâd stop altogether. But when he saw you were already outside your house, sitting in a rocking chair reading a book, Osferth froze. He was always so stunned by your beauty, even doing the most mundane things like simply reading. God, he was so in love.
Osferth winced when a twig snapped beneath his feet, alerting you of his presence, watching as your head jerked up and made eye contact with him. âOsferthâŚâ You whispered, barely audible but just enough for him to hear, and he swore his heart skipped a beat. The sound of your voice, it was like a weight lifted off his shoulders.
âMy ladyâŚâ Osferth replied breathlessly, his voice wavering with emotion. âI was wondering if I could join you?â
âYou want to read with me?â You asked in slight amusement, making him blush.
âI just meant, if youâd do me the honor of allowing me to be in your company?â
You frowned. âWhy now, when you havenât wanted my company for some time?â
Osferth took a cautious step towards you, continuing when you didnât shy away, sitting on your porch at your feet, looking up at you with the most remorseful expression he could manage. âIâll tell you everything, my lady. But first, I just wish to tell you my absence had nothing to do with you. Iâve beenâŚdealing with my own troubles. But every day Iâve been away from you, my life has been awful. Iâve missed youâŚso, so much.â
Unwanted tears sprung to your eyes, the pure emotion in his voice making your heart swell. âIâve missed you, Osferth.â You bit your lip when your voice wavered, but it only caused him to gently take ahold of your hand. He still sat by your feet, looking up at you like you strung up the moon and stars in the sky, practically resting his cheek against your knee, the sight eliciting an inappropriate thought to cross your mind.
âI wish to tell you much more. The most important thing I need to tell you isâŚâ Osferth exhaled a shaky breath, âis that Iâm in-â
Screams echoed sharply throughout the village, Finan calling Osferthâs name, interrupting his confession and causing the two of you to stand on high alert. âOsferth?â you asked, frightened.
âTake your sword and stay hidden, alright? Promise me.â Osferth spoke sternly, looking into your eyes with such intensity that you agreed without hesitancy, following his instructions to the best of your ability.
A group of soldiers waltzed into the town, looking like they were on a mission, their swords already drawn. It took naught but a few moments for a fight to break out, blades clashing together and fists being thrown. They were separating Danes from Christians, killing any Danes, men, women, and children. You couldnât just stand there and watch, you had to do something.
You had been in very few fights, especially fights like these, but your morals gave you little choice. When you saw a soldier strike a child to the ground, about to push his blade into their little neck, you struck first. Blood dripped down your blade, onto your hands, as you pushed your sword into the back of the soldier, the sound of the flesh being pierced making you gag. But you saved the child, bringing them back to their parents before moving on to help the next resident of Rumcofa.
If Osferth had the time, he would have been pissed. He told you not to get involved, yet you were. But he couldnât blame you for that, in fact, it was nice to have another helping hand. He was good at multitasking, he thought, fighting off two burly men while making sure you werenât in danger. Osferth was lucky, it followed him around, to being able to join Uhtred and his men to finding you in this lifetime, he figured he was the luckiest man around. But a personâs luck has to run out sometime.
Osferth exhaled a sharp breath as an excruciating pain resonated through his body, his mouth filling with blood as he fell to the cold ground. He heard screams, your screams, and suddenly he wasnât thinking about the pain.
You shrieked as you watched the brute of a man shove his blade into Osferthâs side, his form crumpling to the ground. Rage overwhelmed you, and you didnât think as you charged forwards. You couldnât know what you even planned on doing but it didnât matter. You felt like you had been stabbed yourself and all that was on your mind was getting revenge. And despite all your training, and the few soldiers you managed to get the best off, your mind was in the worst place, going on pure adrenaline with no thought behind your attacks. It wasnât that surprising when the man knocked you out, stealing the sword from your hands and hitting your temple with its pommel, plunging your world into darkness.
All Osferth could do was watch in a panic as you fought to defend him, calling out your name as the attacker knocked you down, your eyes rolling back as you stopped moving.
Finan was sprinting to Osferth, but he yelled at him to make sure you were okay first, your well being more important to him than anything. And after a few moments, Finan deemed you alright, getting his wife to look after you for now as he kneeled beside Osferth with tears in his eyes. As Osferth felt his best friendâs arms around him, his fear and panic washed over him, drowning him. âOh my God, oh my God, Iâm gonna die, Iâm gonna die!â He cried, holding on tightly to Finan.
âNo, no, baby monk. Youâre okay, youâre gonna be okay. I wonât let you die.â Finan sobbed, screaming for help.
Osferth whispered your name, gaining Finanâs attention back. âSheâs okay?â
âYes, yes, sheâs alright.â
âTell her,â He choked, âtell her how much I loved her. Tell her that she was the most important person in my life and that Iâm sorry.â
âTell her yourself, you daft prat. Youâre gonna survive this, I promise.â
When you came to, your first thought and first word uttered was, âOsferth.â
The last thing you remembered was Osferth getting stabbed, and you running to his attacker to make sure he wasnât stabbed again. Much use you were, you thought bitterly, you couldnât even hold your own against this man for more than a minute. Pitiful. But that didnât matter now, all that mattered was making sure he was alive.
You ignored all the pleas and urges from Finanâs wife and other healers taking care of you and rushed out of your room, trying to find your friends. Finally, your gaze met Finanâs, and he looked distraught. No, you thought, you wouldnât believe it. But before you could even open your mouth to speak, Finance answered your silent question. âHeâs aliveâŚsomehow.â The Irishman spoke in a broken voice, clearly just as affected as you were.
âCan I see him?â
Finan nodded solemnly. âHeâs sleeping, and probably will be for a while, Ingrith tells me.â
As soon as you walked into the room, you had to hold in your gasp as you saw Osferthâs state. He was so pale, from blood loss and the cold, youâd think he was dead if you hadnât been told otherwise. âWhen will he wake?â
âWe donât knowâŚâ He sighed, making your heart drop.
âBut he will wake?â
âThatâs our hope.â
But he didnât wake, not for more than a few seconds at a time, muttering incoherent words before falling back asleep, not even when the surviving residents of Rumcofa had to relocate where it was more safe. You didnât sleep, you didnât eat; all your time was devoted to making sure Osferthâs heart was still beating, putting your ear to his chest multiple times every single day, praying to every god you could think of to just let him survive.
It was only a few days after settling in a more secure place that Osferth did finally awake.Â
You were at his bedside, as you often were, reading to him and holding his hand, thinking that your voice might stir him. You almost fell off your chair in shock when you suddenly felt his hand weakly squeeze yours. Your head snapped up and saw that his eyes were already on you. âOsferthâŚâ You called out softly, letting your book fall by the wayside to move to sit next to him on the edge of the bed. âYouâre awake. At last.â Tears filled your eyes, falling down your cheeks and landing on his hand that you were now holding tightly, afraid that heâd fall back into unconsciousness.
Osferth spoke your name so softly, his voice cracking and hoarse from not using it for so long. âI must be dead, for I see only an angel before meâŚâ
You chuckled tearfully, bringing up his hand to kiss his knuckles. âNo, youâre alive. Youâre alive.â You repeated, mostly trying to convince yourself.
âHow long have I been asleep?â He asked, looking around the room he was in and furrowed his brows. âWhere are we?â
You froze, unsure of how much you should say. You didnât want him to faint from shock, but you couldn't lie to him either. You could never lie to him. âWe left Rumcofa several days ago, everyone who survived the attack. But Uhtred is off to fight another war for Edward. They all wanted to stay until you woke, butâŚâ
Osferth nodded solemnly. âWhat use would a man on the brink of death be, yeah?â
âTheyâll be mad with joy to hear of your recovery, Iâm sure. Especially Finan, he wept for you badly.â
âAnd did you? Weep for me?â
Your face flushed with heat, avoiding his gaze and instead fixing your eyes on your conjoined hands. âYesâŚâ You whispered. âIâve wept every day since you were wounded. But youâre better now, awake and healing up nicely. Ingrith told me you might wake as soon as the fever leaves your body,â You placed the back of your other hand to his forehead, warm but not too warm, âand you feel fine now. Before, your skin was hot to the touch-â Osferth grabbed your wrist as you moved to pull away, eliciting a gasp from you. âO-Osferth?â
Osferth blinked, as if he suddenly realized what he was doing. âSorry.â He stuttered, releasing your wrist.
âIâll go get Ingrith.â
âNo! NoâŚplease, justâŚIâd like to be alone with you for a moment longer. If thatâs alright, my lady?â
You nodded, a bit too eagerly. âOf course. Iâd love nothing more.â
And stay with him you did, up until you insisted you tell Ingrith and had her check on him. The wound was healing nicely, a deep red scar forming over the stab. It really was a miracle that he was alive, the blade barely missing the vital organs the body needs to function. You donât know what you would've done if Osferth had died, the thought making your chest tighten uncomfortably, panic overriding your senses. But all you had to do to rid yourself of those feelings, was to simply look at Osferth, gaining his strength back more and more every day and starting to walk without help.Â
Almost two weeks went by until he started to train again, though very carefully. Seeing grow stronger didnât help ease your nerves as much as you thought it would, you figured youâd keep him on bed rest forever if you had any say. It took Ingrith assuring you that he was practically fully healed for you to stop fretting over him like a concerned mother. But Osferth didnât seem to mind it all that much, a soft amused smile gracing his features every time you asked if he was alright. His answer was always yes, and he even told you not to worry so much, trying to come across as nonchalant so it didnât seem like he was completely affected by your concern.
Osferth never did get a chance to confess to you that day, the fight in Rumcofa having such unfortunate timing. Though, you never brought it up, the fact almost making his insecurities come back and suffocate him. But he trusted Finan, and even though he was an occasional prankster, heâd never try to give someone false hope.
Osferth tossed and turned one night, thinking about you and his suspended confession. Itâs ridiculous, why couldnât he have gotten the words out quicker, rather than prolong those simple words. He said it to you every day in his mind, the words coming out so easily and repeatedly. Ridiculous. This was ridiculous.
As soon as the thought appeared in his mind, Osferth jumped up from bed. He knew it was entirely inappropriate, thinking about coming to you in the middle of the night, but he knew he wouldnât be able to sleep until he told you how he felt. And to his utter surprise, when he opened his front door, there you were.Â
It was raining, the droplets of water pelting the roof of the timber home, the occasional thunder rumble making the frames vibrate. And there you were, a wet and shivering figure, your clothes melding to you like a second skin; Osferth could see your breath coming out in quick and shallow puffs. Even in the dark with naught but a lantern that he lit to light his way, he could see the tears in your eyes, only a keen eye wouldâve been able to differentiate the rain from the tear drops. His face immediately fell in concern, and it only took him calling out your name softly for you to collapse in his arms.
Osferth quickly pulled you past the threshold of the doorframe, bringing you in from the cold and holding you tightly to him, the uncomfortable feeling of his dampening clothes the furthest thing from his mind. âMy lady?â He spoke gently, like he was trying not to spook you, âWhatâs happened?â You mumbled words incoherently, your face pressed against his chest muffling what you were attempting to say. Osferth had to pull you off, not completely, just to look at your face. âWhat was that?â
âYou were dead.â You cried, âYou were killed and I couldnât do anything but stand there and watch!â
âA dreamâŚâ He realized, sighing in sympathy and pulling you back onto his chest. âItâs okay, love. Itâs okay. Here-â He took a hold of your hand, pressing the tips of your fingers to the pulse point in his neck, the blood flowing through his veins, the throbbing pushing at your fingertips minutely. âDo you feel? And you hear by heartbeat?â
âMhm.â You sniffled, starting to calm down in the soothing cage of his arms.
âSee? Iâm okay. Iâm not hurt anymore. Iâm safe. We both are.â
âIâm sorryâŚâ You hiccupped.
Osferth shook his head, cupping your jaw gently and forcing your eyes to his. âHey, none of that. Itâs not your fault. Understand me?â Reluctantly, you shook your head, wiping away your tears with your already damp hands. And you shivered, your body suddenly registering the cold. âLetâs get you warm, okay?â
And in a matter of minutes, Osferth had lit a fire in his hearth, the flames roaring to life and eliciting a sigh of relief from you as you saw in front of it on a pile of wool blankets heâd spread out for the two of you. âI didnât mean to disturb you, Osferth, truly. Itâs justâŚwhen my mind showed me such a vivid thing-â
âI understand completely, my lady. I canât say I wouldnât have done the same in your place. Besides,â Osferth grunted softly as he plopped himself down beside you, your knees barely touching, âI was about to come see you myself.â
You furrowed your brows. âWhy?â And suddenly, Osferth was that same scared boy he was before he met Uhtred. He hadnât meant to be so brazen, but he wanted to ease your mind so badly, he didnât think youâd ever ask why.
âUh, um,â Osferth swallowed thickly, his body becoming much too warm for his liking, âjust wanted to check on ya, is all.â Liar.
âOhâŚâ You seemed to say in an almost disappointed tone.
Osferth sighed. Ridiculous.
âActually,â He almost winced, his body, one thinking this was a good idea, was suddenly betraying him. No, he thought, he wouldnât repress his feelings any longer. âDo you remember our conversation before the fight in Rumcofa?â
Your face flushed with heat, an achy feeling spreading in your heart. âYou said you missed me.â You smiled softly at the memory, but your brows furrowed. âBut you were trying to tell me something else, werenât you?â Osferth nodded nervously, running his hands up and down his thighs, his heart threatening to beat out of his chest. You playfully bumped his shoulder with your own, âWell?â
âIâminlovewithyou-â He gasped.
âWhat?â You almost squawked, his words jumbled and rushed, making entirely no sense to your ears.
But suddenly, Osferth grinned, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. He said it, finally. Thatâs all it took really, just to get it out there to make it more easy to say. Sure, it wasnât the best way to go about it, but he did it. âIâm in love with you.â And this time, he didnât rush. In fact, it was the most clear and precise you had ever heard him. He took his time saying the words this time, savoring them, just in case it was the last time he could.
âYouâreâŚin love with me?â You were looking up at him with wide eyes, an adorable childlike awe displaying in your expression.
âYes.â He smiled. âCompletely and hopelessly. IâŚhave been, for a while now. I wanted to tell you sooner but, ya know.â He gestured to his stab wound. You felt breathless, your throat constricting as you tried to fight back another bout of tears. But Osferth took it the wrong way. âIâm so sorry, my lady. I knew there was a high chance youâd be completely repulsed. Thatâs why I tried to stay away for so long because I didnât want you scared of me like-â
âOsferth.â Responding to his name and your touch to his jaw, turning him to face you, he didnât see one trace of disgust or fear in your eyes. âI could never be repulsed by you, or scared. Why would you ever think that?â
Osferth blushed a bright red, the flames from the hearth making his skin look an even darker red. âSince Iâve decided to be so honest tonightâŚyou should know I also yearn for you, my lady. YourâŚtouch. But I also want you to know itâs because I love you, not because Iâm someâŚlecherous sinner. Although, I suppose I am that too.â
âWhy would you think Iâd be repulsed because you desire me so?â
âWell, becauseâŚbecauseâŚuh.â
You closed your eyes in understanding, nodding slightly. âIf you think Iâd ever be able to compare you, sweet boy, to that monster, youâre sorely mistaken. You are nothing like him. Do you really think I wouldâve kept close to you if you had been?â
âI suppose not. I just never wanted you to feel like Iâm pressuring you into something you donât wantâŚâ
âAnd that, my dear Osferth, is why Iâm completely and hopelessly in love with you too.â
Osferthâs eyes widened. âR-Really?â
You smirked. âShall I prove it to you?â Youâve never really kissed or been kissed, willingly at least, so as you leaned forward, you prayed that Osferth wouldnât laugh as you softly pressed your lips against his.Â
It was unlike anything you had ever experienced, the aspect of your choice in the matter only amplifying the sensation. And for Osferth? It was hard to keep in the whimper that was so desperate to escape him, but you pulled away, all too soon. You opened your eyes to see Osferthâs was still closed, his lips chasing yours with a blissed out expression on his face. He whispered out your name so softly, you could scarcely hear it. He sounded so needy, it lit a fire in your belly, much like the one still blazing in the fireplace.
âI shanât ask for more, if you do not wish to give more.â
âI do, though, want more. I fear I want much, much more.â Your expression had noticeably darkened, lust filled, and Osferth had never seen this of you before. It wasnât a bad change, though he was apprehensive.
âAreâŚAre you sure, my lady? I donât want you to regret this. Iâd hate for you to regret this.â
âI find that I have no regrets with you, sweet Osferth. Just promise me something.â
âAnything.â
âYouâll stop if I ask?â
âI wouldnât dare disobey you, my love.â
âGood,â You leaned forward to give him another kiss, a bit more forceful and more sure of yourself, âbecause if you do, Iâll kill you with the sword you gifted me, baby monk.â You teased, making him giggle, the purest sound you would ever hear in your lifetime, you were sure. And this time, when you each pressed your lips together, it was filled with an altogether different feeling, charged and motivated, the thought of something more promising if you continued fueling your actions. It probably was because of the fire, but your body warmed and warmed to the point you thought your clothes would melt off your body if you kept them on any longer. âCan you help me take these off?â You asked shyly, gesturing to your still damp clothing.
Osferthâs eyes widened comically, that ever present blush on his face warming your heart better than fire in the hearth next to you. âS-Sure.â He stuttered, carefully and delicately removing each article of clothing (after asking if you were sure a few more times) until you were down to your bare skin. âHave I ever told you how absolutely breathtaking you are?â
You giggled, slightly self conscious. âI donât think so.â
Osferth gently slapped himself. âWhat an idiot I am, huh?â
âYou will be if you donât take off your clothes too.â And with that, it was almost at the speed of light that all Osferthâs clothes were thrown into a pile of the floor, mingling with yours. You inhaled a breath as your eyes traced his frame, his pale skin making his battle scars more prominent, but you found that they made him more handsome. You didnât mind that he was doing the same to you. âI donât know quite what to do nowâŚâ You whispered, gently taking his hand and kissing his knuckles. âWill you help me?â
âOf course.â He replied back shakily, moving closer to you until you sat side by side, your exposed skin rubbing up against his, causing you to shiver pleasantly. âWeâll take it slow. I donât want to rush this, not with you.âÂ
Osferth maneuvered you so that you were laying on your back, him resting beside you, propped up on one elbow, his other hand gently running up and down your torso. Gooseflesh rose along your skin as his calloused fingers marked a path across your body, from your jaw, down between the valley of your breasts, down your stomach to the tufts of wiry hair at the beginning of the apex of your thighs. âI have to ask again, love. Are you sure you want this? Want me?â
You couldâve whined, but you maintain your composure, however much was left. âWith every iota of my soul.â
Osferth leaned down to kiss you passionately, that whine you had been holding in finally coming out when you felt his fingers dip in between you already silk folds. âSo softâŚâ He hummed, trailing kisses down your neck to your breasts, covering one of your pebbled nipples with his tongue, eliciting a sharp gasp from you. You hadnât realized how sensitive you were until now, his mouth sucking you in deeper as he slowly inched a finger inside you.
You moaned as he curled his finger, finding your sweet spot with inhuman ease. âOsferthâŚâ You breathed, and he answered by gently tapping your sensitive nub with his thumb as he added another finger. âOsferth!â
âDo you want me to stop?â He asked immediately, causing you to chuckle wantonly, his eyes darkening as he felt your walls squeeze his fingers.
âNo, heavens, no. Please, keep going.â You didnât have to tell him twice, as he continued his ministrations with an added ferocity that had you aching your back of the blankets, moaning and bucking into his hand. A strange sensation that you couldnât quite put into words seemed to keep building and building in the pit of your stomach, your eyes rolling back each time a deep pang of pleasure resonated through you. And as Osferth kissed you roughly and added a third finger inside you, the building sensation spilled over; like a fire doused with gasoline, you ignited, flames licking you from the inside out as you rode out the glowing waves of ecstasy with little care how loud you became.
And when it was all over, Osferth was there to soothe your burns.
âAre you alright, my love?â He asked softly, running his hand along the inside of your spread thighs.
âMore than alright.â You smiled in a haze.
As you looked down, you couldnât help but notice Osferthâs hardened length. You were surprised how it grew in size, always a wonder how such could fit inside a womanâs body. You absentmindedly reached out to touch him, a soft huff escaping his lips as you ran your hand along the silky skin. âWe donât have to do anything else, if you arenât ready. Iâm perfectly content having given you the pleasure you so deserve.â
âI told you I wanted you, Osferth. I meant that. I want you. All of you.â
Osferth pulled your hand away, kissing it before moving to settle in between your legs, the tip of his length prodding at your inner thigh before he guided it to your entrance. âJust tell me if you want to stop, for any reason. Promise me.â You sealed your promise with a kiss, nodding to him and he nodded back before very slowly pushing himself inside you, the both of you letting out gasps at the feeling. âOh Lord aboveâŚâ He groaned, bottoming out and stilling, burying his face in the crook of your neck, giving you however long you needed to adjust, but you found you didnât need much time.
You whined, trying to cant your hips to get some very needed friction, but Osferth was too heavy. âPleaseâŚâ
âIâm afraidâŚif I move so soon, I will not be able to last for very long, my love.â He spoke, his voice and body shaking. âI wantâŚI need this to last.â
âHey,â you lifted his head, looking at him lovingly, the flames of the fire shining in his bright blue eyes, âthis will not be the first and last time we make love.â
âYou donât know that. I fear danger lurks around every corner now. We arenât promised tomorrow.â
You kissed him, trying to push all his worries away. âThen make love to me as many times as you can.â
âPlease?â He whined.
âPlease.â
You cried out loudly as Osferth began to thrust into you wildly, moaning just as loudly with you, his cock hitting you in just the right places, the loud slapping of wet skin making your cheeks flush with heat. Your walls squeezed him perfectly, almost sucking him in deeper. Every ridge and every vein you could feel drove you wild, that same sensation building in you yet again. If you werenât in such a pleasured haze, youâd be worried who might be able to hear you and Osferth, just from your moans alone.
âOh, God, love. Feels so good. You feel so good.â Osferth groaned, his cock twitching inside you. âFuck, Iâm gonna come.â And before you could reach another peak, he pulled out quickly, his warm spend shooting out of his tip, white streaks coating your stomach. âOh, fuck, Iâm sorry.â He moaned breathlessly, his blissed out expression the most beautiful thing youâve ever seen.
âYouâre beautiful, Osferth.â You whispered, the borderline predatory look in his eyes making you shy.
âYou almost came again.â He spoke apologetically.
You smiled. âItâs alright. You already took care of me once.â
ââS not enough.â He growled, lowering his face to your weeping cunny and before you could ask what he was doing, the words were stolen from you as his tongue licked and sucked at your nub, your denied peak building back up rapidly at his talented mouth.
âOh, OsferthâŚâ You almost sobbed, overly sensitive but not enough that you wanted him to stop, and from the moans he released, it seemed he was taking as much pleasure from this as you were.
âCome for me, my love. Please.â He begged, his words and moans causing vibrations against your mound, the pleasure overwhelming and all encompassing, your peak spilling on his lips and tongue.
Osferth rested against your inner thigh, his hooded eyes watching your cunt quiver and spasm as you came down from your high, the urge to dive back in almost too overpowering. But he withheld, coming back up to lay at your side with a crooked grin. âAre you okay?â
âHow many times have you asked me that tonight, do you think?â You teased, catching your breath and moving to lay on his chest, listening to the steadying beat of his heart.
âIf youâre annoyed with how many times I asked? Then just enough.â
Needless to say, neither you or Osferth got much sleep that night.
By the time everyone else returned for Osferth, the pair of you were inseparable. Where you go, he goes, and vice versa. It didnât take a genius to see how disgustingly in love the two of you were. And neither of you expected to get away without a little bit of teasing.
As Finan watched the two of you, his words escaped him before he could even stop himself.
âSo, whenâs the wedding?â
tags: @tssf-imagines, @little-diable, @fan-goddess, @hiraethrhapsody, @chainsawsangel, @lauraneedstochill, @greenowlfactif, @st-eve-barnes
thanks for the supportđ
Ian telling us the Shourtney wedding is real is like the snake convincing Eve to eat the apple.
aemond targaryen x stark ofc minor jacaerys velaryon x stark ofc masterlist prev | next
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@huramuna-fics - follow & turn on notifications for just my fic postings! no taglists right now, sorry.
i've been planning this chapter for months now, i hope you all enjoy! there is a surprise in this chapter đ
content: smut, angst, fluff, disabled ofc, aemond being delulu & obsessive, major canon divergence, ofc has a service direwolf, i'm taking canon rules and putting them in a blender and taking a shot, arranged marriage, graphic depictions of violence, talk of chronic pain and illness
story playlist
It was slowly nearing half a year since Shera and Cregan arrived at Kingâs Landingâ she still hadnât gotten used to the heat but she had finally, somehow, begun to adjust to the people, the looks, the whispers and sneers.Â
She, albeit slowly, was losing care in such things. She had been spending more and more time with the people she cared aboutâ the ones who made her happy. She still visited Helaena and the children once a day and sometimes would even stay overnight and giggle under the covers with the princess like they would when they were children.
Her mornings started by watching Aemond spar with Ser Cole. She didnât hide from it anymoreâ as she felt⌠somewhat liberated from showing her eye to him. She couldnât exactly explain, to herself, much less anyone else, why she felt warmer than usual when watching him clash swords with his mentor. Sweat dripping from his face, the little sneer he plastered on when he was particularly concentrating. It felt like butterflies were trapped in her stomach, beating against her skin to get out. It was unfamiliar at first, the feelingâ but now itâs become a recognized acquaintance, even if she couldnât exactly name it.
Aemond, as well, had taken it upon himself to make more effort to spend time with Shera. His days before she returned to Kingâs Landing were very structured, very planned and scheduled. He would wake up, spar with Cole from morning light until lunch with his mother, then back to sparring until early evening when he would wind down by reading in his chambers, eat dinner, and then go to bed. âGoing to bedâ didnât really indicate sleeping, however. He didnât need much of it to function and found the dreams (and nightmares, to his chagrin) that came with sleep uncouthâ so he laid, usually for hours, until his mind drifted into the lightest of sleep cycles. He valued organization and repetitionâ impromptu changes to such a rigid routine were unwelcome.Â
Except for Sheraâ a very impromptu change to his life on her own. Mayhaps unwelcome at first, his outward antagonistic behavior to her was improper and came from a place of, surprisingly, regret. Regret and self-loathing. Usually, he attributed the feeling of self-pity and self flagellation in association with his brother, who was in all rights, a pathetic example of a man (but still his brother and wouldnât tolerate such talk about him from anyone else) but when Shera came back, walking down that hallâ she had looked so small, like she was a fragile heirloom on the verge of breaking at any moment. She could hardly walk without guidance and hid herself.Â
When his mother said she was returning, as vague as it was, he felt some sort of resentment bubbling up in his gut. What gave her the right to return now? He fully expected her to be the epitome of a Northern lady, hardy and strong, unyielding. The letters âsheâ (unbeknownst to him at the time, the words were fabrications of Cregan) sent after Driftmark, painted the picture of someone who was fine, who was well adjusted, who didnât have to go through moons and moons of relearning how to be a person. The image of Shera he had concocted into his mind, and onto paperâ an icy woman with fiery hair who would come to blows with someone rather than shed a tearâ was not what he saw.Â
No, what he had seen in that hall, who he had seenâ he didnât recognize her. Then, seeing the small curl of copper hair, the fur stole, the wolf. It struck him like a bolt of lightning, spurring every cell in his body into action, setting them on fire. Blood pumped in his ears and he could hardly hear her (whispering voice aside).Â
She was broken. Harsh, yesâ but it was true. She was a shell, behest to the terrible experience they both suffered.
Regret flooded through him. She was this way because of him, because he dragged her along in the middle of the night to watch him claim Vhagar.
I should have killed them. I should have killed them.Â
And he retreated from her. He hardly remembers his words to her after she came out from his motherâs chambersâ they felt vile in his mouth, like spewing venom. The primal part of him, the dragon, was unruly and restless.
He couldnât stop lashing out at herâ
But what did he really feel?Â
He fucking missed her. He missed her more than he could ever profess. He wouldnât admit it outloud, of course, he had to maintain some form of self-preservation.Â
After their night in her room, after seeing her eyeâ there was a shift. They spent more time together and she became a fixture of his schedule.Â
Wake up, spar with Cole and have Shera watch him until noon, they would lunch together three days out of the week with Helaena. He cut his afternoon sparring in half and spent that time with Shera. At first it was awkward, but they melded into one another like their youth quickly.
She begged him to teach her how to draw, to help strengthen her eyesight.
âIt⌠it hurts to focus.â she sniffed, looking up at him. She didnât wear her veil when they were alone, which he made sure they were when they were drawing. Her blind eye was red rimmed slightly, twitching.Â
He had set up a vase on a small table for her to drawâ it was a simple clay vase with a depiction of two nightingales in flight. They had just moved on from plain objects to something a bit more detailed, albeit only by a little bit.
âDonât strain, Shera. Just⌠look at it normally. Itâs blurry in some places, right?âÂ
â⌠yes.âÂ
âOkay. You looked at it up close for a good five minutes. Do you remember what was on the side?â
âThe⌠the nightingale imprint.â
âYou can see it in your mind, but itâs not clear to the eye. Use your memory to fill in the blanks.âÂ
âAemondâ this⌠this is just a test of memory. How is this helping my eyes?â
âTrust me.âÂ
She started off shaky, her first slew of sketches no better than his were when he had first started, but she fell into it quickly. She developed her own style, straying from the charcoal that Aemond used exclusively, and opted for more colorful toolsâ she had woad paste pastels imported from Dorne. They would sit and depict the same thing and come out with completely different results.
It was so easy to forget that she was betrothed to another. That she was to leave soon.
That she was to be his nephewâs wife. His nephew who didnât give a shit about her. His nephew who was there. Did no one else think it a bit sick that she was to be the wife of someone who took a part in her mutilation?Â
Was he the only sane one?Â
He sighed softly as they finished up their drawings for the day. They had been sketching the coastline of Blackwater Bayâ Shera went with a color scheme of blue and green and sparse spots of orange and yellow.Â
He stuck to his monochromatic charcoal.
âRhaenyraâs name day gala is⌠in a fortnight, right?â Shera hummed, using her foot to pet Moongeist, who was at her feet.Â
âMm,â Aemond responded, flicking some errant charcoal powder from his doublet. âA mummerâs farce, if you ask me.â
â... I donât care much for eventsâ but at least⌠your mother and sister are getting along,â she tilted her head as she wiped her hands off.Â
Rhaenyra and Alicent had been working together to plan the event and were in high spirits. They were frequently seen chatting lightheartedly.Â
âHalf-sister,â Aemond clarifies, giving her a pointed look.
âHalf-sister,â Shera says, brows raised. âI suppose it is a send off, tooâ sinceâŚâ her voice trails off slightly, not really wanting to talk about her impending wedding to Jacaerys. She hasnât spoken much to her betrothed as she didnât feel the need toâ she let him run around with her brother and do what he liked. She imagined it wouldnât be much different when they were married.
An uneasy silence settled over them. There were many words on the tips of their tongues that they just couldnât sayâ it would make it real.
âShera-,â
âAemond-,â
They spoke at the same time, standing up simultaneously. Moongeist made a warbling chuff sound that sounded like a laugh.
He must be sick of our antics.
âI should get back to my chambersâ before dinner. Cregan wants to⌠eat with me, for some reason.â she shrugged her shoulders.
âHm,â Aemond hummed in his usual manner.
â
Shera sat across from Cregan, leg crossed over the other as she fed Moongeist scraps under the table.
âWhat did you want to speak about?â she broke the silence, glancing up at him. She had put her veil back onâ to her dismay, as she had come to like not having it on⌠around Aemond, at least.
âDo I need a reason to want to dine with my sister?â he asked, clenching his jaw slightly.Â
â... no,â she mumbled, flicking her nails against one another. âBut you donât usually dine with me.âÂ
He chewed on his piece of mutton slowly, regarding her. âIâm leaving, Shera. I need to go back North.âÂ
âWhy?â she blurts out, a bit more emotionally than she wanted to. She and Cregan didnât have a great relationship, but they were⌠siblings. There was familiarity.Â
âIâve stayed too long already, there is a keep to run, things to do, Shera,â he narrowed his gaze. âWill you be alright⌠alone?âÂ
Her lip caught between her teeth. â... I suppose so.â she and Cregan had their momentsâ she thought he was a huge idiot most of the time, but that was her brother. She had been by his side for the last ten years and he nursed her back to some semblance of health when she returned from Driftmark. No matter the choices he made, the ones he made for herâ they were all one another had, really.Â
Her chest ached slightly that he would be going back North and leaving her here. She wouldnât be alone, per say, but⌠her blood would be so far away.
âWill you⌠attend the wedding?â she asked then, drawing little circles on the table with the tip of her nail.Â
âYes, Iâll return to Dragonstone for it.âÂ
âDragonstone?â Shera looked up, slightly alarmed. âI thought the wedding would be in Kingâs Landing?â
Cregan stopped chewing, suddenly looking sheepish. It was unbecoming of him. âI⌠yes,â he cleared his throat. âJacaerys said that after his motherâs name day gala, they will move back to Dragonstone.â
Why does no one tell me anything? âHm.â she grumbled, sounding much like Aemondâ sheâs picked up on his little mannerisms and made them her own, it seemed.
âYou will be going with them and will be wed soon after.âÂ
She made another noncommittal noise, scraping the remains of her plate to the floor. Sheâd lost her appetite.Â
She would be alone sooner than she thought.
â
Returning from a luncheon with Helaena, a few days after Creganâs departure, she discarded her veil right away as soon as the door was closed behind her.Â
She waved her hand in front of her face, despairing in the heat of the South. Moongeist agreed, his tongue lolling out in a pant as he lapped at a small tub of water at the foot of the bed.Â
âItâs too hot for us here, dovey,â she whimpered, wiping sweat from her brow, beginning to strip the various layers of clothing she had onâ she did have somewhere to be later in the day, but she would simply have to redress. âI hope Dragonstone is more breezy, lest we melt.â
The layers flew off of her, pooling upon the floor like a puddle of dark ichor. It likely didnât help that she only wished to wear dark colors, attracting the heat of the sun to her poor constitution. Her cheeks flushed red with the errant warmth and she wondered if this was how those with Targaryen blood felt all of the timeâ constantly huffing, puffing, warm and sweating. It was terrible.Â
Finally in nothing but her shift and underclothes, she walked to the bed, hand reached out to peel back the blanket when something shiny caught her eye.Â
Investigating further, she found a small velvety box, opened to reveal a silver choker, inlaid with three sapphires. Blinking profusely, Shera carefully pried the piece out of its holdings and inspected it. It was, to say the least, flawless. It matched her silver earrings that she always wore almost down to the exact detail, the engravings even the sameâ long, flowing tendrils into the metal, outlining the gems like garlands. Pearls hung from the bottom of each sapphire. Her thumb roved over the center sapphire, the largest one and the most prominent. It was cool to the touch.Â
Gently placing the choker down, she dismantled the box looking for a note or any indication of who might have left it. She guessed it to be Jaceâ did he intend for her to wear it to the gala? She would have to find a garment to match.Â
Shera descended to her wardrobe, rummaging through until she landed on something that would go swimmingly with her new necklace. It was a dress she hadnât worn at all, and had been tailored for her shortly before leaving Winterfell. It was a silver and blue dress with intricate embroidery akin to that of a Godswood, but the leaves were a cool toned blue rather than red. She had a pearl-laden head garment, imbued with a silken veil and ringed headdress of sorts, with silver moons hanging down on each side.Â
Curious.
â
âYou⌠must stay outside, lovey,â Shera murmured to Moongeist. She had received a missiveâ unclear from who, but either Alicent and Rhaenyraâ that they would prefer if her wolf was not in attendance to the gala. She wanted to cry, leaving him outside of the ballroom. Contrary to popular belief, she didnât really command her companionâ their relationship, as impenetrable as others may see it, was the culmination of years of hard work and trust. They were so attuned to each other, Moongeist knowing when she was pushing herself too far, when she was in distress, and when he needed to step into a situation. He was, on all accounts, very polite and well-mannered â for a wolf. He had never bitten anyone who didnât deserve it. His good conduct thus far and impeccable record was apparently not enough for him to be admitted to the event. He whined as Shera snuffed into his fur, murmuring soft nothings into it. âIâll return as soon as I can,â she whispered. âIâll come get you when everyone leaves and you shall have all the scraps youâd like.âÂ
Tearing herself from him, he sat dutifully outside of the glass door that led from the gardens into the ballroom. She willed herself not to cry, not to cry.Â
She was unsteady on her own feet, hoping to find someone familiar to steady herself on. The last option of familiarity presented itself first. Jacaerys spotted her right away, putting a hand on her waist. âShera,â he smiled warmly. âYou look⌠wonderful tonight. Mother is going to be so happy to see you in attendance.âÂ
âJacaerys,â she responded, willing a smile on her face. He was better than no one. She steadied herself by putting a hand on his shoulder. His eyes, usually sparkling with mirth, were a bit dim. He seemed⌠forlorn. âWe donât have such lavish events like this muchâ up North⌠apart from feasts. There usually isnât much dancing.âÂ
He swallowed, his brow furrowing minutely. âMay I interest you in a dance, then?âÂ
âMm,â she hummed as they descended to the dance floor. She thought about her dance with Helaena and Aemond on the night of her betrothal dinnerâ it all felt so far away now. She tilted her head slightly as they danced. Jaceâs head was looking to the door, as if he was waiting for someone. âAs annoying as he isâ I miss him as well.â
Jace looked slightly bewildered. âPardon?â
âI may only be able to see from one eye, but Iâm not completely blind,â Shera murmured. âYouâll see him again.âÂ
The prince softened slightly, nodding his head. He was grateful for the words.
They danced a bit more and mingled, more so Jacaerys talking to people and stringing Shera along. Somehow, through it all, she became separated from him, walking on her own through the throngs of people. The heat, even with her less thick layers than usual, was stiflingâ from all of the bodies.Â
She suddenly felt⌠panicked, like when she was lost in the tunnels that one evening. âExcuse me,â she whispered hurriedly as she pushed through people, who didnât even seem to see her there. âPardon mââÂ
Her voice was cut off by a strong arm pulling her around her waist. Her anxiety damped right away as the familiar smell of sandalwood and leather took over her senses. Aemond looked down at her. âLost again?â he was wearing a black and deep purple button-up doublet, with a long overcoat. It had a flared collar. He looked niceâ it wasnât much different color wise to his usual garb, but it absolutely wasnât something he would spar in. He was even without his swordâ but a brush of Sheraâs hand near his waist revealed he did have his dagger strapped to his belt.Â
â... mayhaps.â
âAnd where is your guide? It is unlike your dog to abandon his post.âÂ
âHe wasnât invited to the gala,â Shera frowned.
âAnd youâve⌠been left alone?â
âJacaerys wasââÂ
Aemond held up his hand. âYou donât need to tell me any more,â he rolled his one eye. âHe wouldnât be able to keep track of you if you were the size of a dragon.âÂ
They fell into an easy swayâ he was much more relaxed than he was when they first danced. But Shera couldnât shake what her brother had saidâ they⌠Rhaenyra and her brood, which included Shera now, would be leaving a few days after the gala. She hadnât told Aemond, she didnât know how.
âYouâre worried,â he tilted her chin up to him so their gazes could meet. âI can feel your unease from here.âÂ
â... IâŚâ her mouth felt dry, her hand clutching his inner elbow shakily. âWeâre leaving.âÂ
Aemond stayed silent.
âJacaerys and I⌠are to be wed upon Dragonstoneâ and we are to leave⌠in a few days.âÂ
Aemond still declined to speak.
âAemond,â she pressed her thumb into his skin.Â
âYou canât leave again,â he stated. He did not ask, nor plead. He stated it, as if it was a definitive fact. âI wonât let you.â the same moment of rage she had seen before was there, bubbling under the surface. A vein in his neck bulged out and she could feel the control he was trying to keep over himself, over the situation. He gripped her face with both hands now, boring into her with a surprising and sudden placid smile.
â
With a hand over her swollen belly, Rhaenyra scanned the crowd. Itâd been so long since she properly enjoyed an event. The planning of it with Alicent had been⌠more fun than she thought itâd be, and the two women quickly fell back into a rapport, akin to when they were girls together.
It felt right.
Her eyes eventually fell upon two familiar facesâ Shera, her veil pulled back slightly by Rhaenyraâs half-brother, Aemond. His hand gripped her face softly, but with intensity as the two locked gazes, lips pursed, brows furrowed, clearly in a heated conversation. It took Rhaenyra all but five seconds to be teleported back to her own wedding to Laenor, all those years ago, where she and Daemon had been in the exact same positionâ where she had dared Daemon to cleave through her fatherâs men, steal her away to Dragonstone and make her his wife.Â
Fuck.
â
âThey think you are tame and controlledâ but I can see it, the blood welling and boiling just under the surface of your skin. Youâre hardly holding it together,â she whispered harshly. âDo you not think Iâve tried to devise everything I could⌠to stay? To stop any of this?â
âQuell me, then. Let me take you to marriage and let me cut your lip, taste your blood in the ways of old. Dampen my molten blood. Iâll do it in an instant, under the heart tree, in the molten halls of the Dragonmontâ anywhere,â his nail pressed into her cheek, angling her head upward to look directly at him. No escape from madness, look me in the eye, he seemed to taunt silently.
It was overwhelming. She was overwhelmed with the warmth in her stomach, the butterflies she feltâ they bursted into ash, searing into her like a brand. Shera felt the world around her chill, her extremities cold. âA-Aemond,â she croaked, her hand grasping at his shoulder with all of her might, but itâd only came through as a light tug. âA-Aemââ
Coldness spread through her, her vision fading to white. Then she was warm, extremely soâ like she was on fire, panting and spewing hot breaths from her open maw.Â
Blinking her eyesâ she was outside, her heavy wisps fogging the glass pane on the door. Wait. She had full vision, not just the one. It felt odd, so wrong for her to be able to see all around her like she was whole and normal.Â
Why was she outside? Just let me in, Godsdammit, let me in! She growled low, hands coming up to scratch at the wood and glass, nails digging into it. Her nails were longer than normal and much sharper, a deep black in color.Â
She wanted in, in, in, inâ her hands, noâ her paws and claws shredded at the door, eyes peering into the crowd. They were gathered around, shifting slightly to let her see what was going onâ
They were gathered around her, eyes rolled back in her head as she laid limp in Aemondâs arms. She saw Jacaerys storming over, already hurling accusations towards Aemond.Â
No, no, he didnât do this, stop! She screamed, barking and howling, her teeth biting into the wood and beginning to rip it apart, splintering and cracking the glass.Â
Shera watched in horror as Jacaerys unsheathed his sword. Aemond was still holding her, loathing to give her upâÂ
Stop, stop, stopstopstop! She bursted through the weakened door, glass and all, feeling it tear at her fur and skin. Patrons gasped around her as she mulled through them towards the center, snapping and snarling.Â
âMoongeist, calm down!â Jacaerys said, his eyes wide in surprise as she sat between him and Aemond.Â
So she was Moongeistâ that is why it felt so familiar. She, no, they drew their lips back in a growl, hackles raised. Back off, back off, back off! They screamed, snapping at anyone who got too close.Â
âThat wolf has gone mad!âÂ
âIs that the princeâs intended?â
âYes, but not the prince thatâs holding her.â
âHow wanton.âÂ
They panted heavily, still feeling a deep rage within them. Everyone was too close, too closeâ the sounds of the gala drowned out as they looked to the upper windows of the ballroom. A familiar sight to beholdâ the cream colored blur and sirenâs song of a voice.Â
A beige and cream colored barn owl sat atop the eave of the window, staring down at them with wide eyes.
âNow you know, dear Shera.â
â
Shera awoke later, still cold as ice. She was back in her own body but still felt the remnants of itching fervor from being in Moongeistâ not âinâ, it had a word. Warg. She heard childrenâs tales about it, how a man can enter the mind of a beast and become one with it.Â
She glanced around the room. Aemond was pacingâ she was in⌠her chambers. Jaw clenched, she sat up from the settee with surprising vigor.Â
âSheraââ Aemond sputtered, stopping his pacing.Â
âHush, come with me,â she grabbed his wrist and strung him along, feeling more lively than she had in ages. Moongeist padded alongside them, hugging to her leg just in case.Â
She led them down to the weirwood, not letting go of her grip on him.
âYou cannot lie to me, Aemond Targaryen, not here. Do you see that?â she gestures to the face etched in the bark of the Great Oakâ staring back at the two of them.
How silly they must look.
âDo⌠not⌠lie to me,â Shera pleaded. She approached him, her hand skimming the edge of his jaw. He was so warm, always so warmâ he permeated through the cold she always felt. âYou can lie to everyone else. Keep⌠those walls up and donât let anyone in. But not⌠not to me. Never to me,â she was trembling with the weight of what she was asking, her fingers drumming against his skin. âDid you mean it? Did⌠you mean it? You want me here with you?â
He stilled her by covering her hand with his own. âI wouldnâtâ,â Aemond murmured, his free hand coming up to unhook his eyepatch. Her breath hitched as he discarded it. The moonlight caught the concaves of the gem first, expanding over the flecks of blue, all shades of it.
A sapphire.
She palmed the matching stones on her mysteriously gifted choker. âYou⌠you⌠your eyeâŚâ Shera stumbled slightly, her knees wobbling beneath her.
Aemond held her upright with one arm, slung around her waist. âHm?â he asked in return, a playful lilt to his voiceâ something only reserved for her.
âItâs⌠itâs blue!â she squeaked, pulling his face closer to her, observing with the same scrutiny that she had when they were sketching together. âAnd⌠andâŚâ she kept babbling, tugging at her gifted choker. âAnd this? You⌠you git! You⌠cad! Oh, youâre incorrigible.â her words were inflammatory in nature but she⌠was laughingâ as much as she could anyways. It was a quiet giggle, like the soft trill of a small bell.
It made Aemond chuckle in return. The two of them soon devolved into a fit of joviality. âI quite like you in blue, Shera. In my color,â he leaned down to whisper in the shell of her ear. âI had to let Jacaerys know⌠exactlyâŚâ he punctuated each word as his hand made a home on her jaw, inching closer to her lips. â... where and to whom,â his thumb pulled down her bottom lip. âYou belong.âÂ
Every nerve in her body was on fire. Sheâs never felt so warm, so hot in her life. Is this what it felt like to be a Targaryen? Gods, it was fucking stifling.
âAnd⌠to be clear,â he continued. âYou belong here. With me.âÂ
Her mouth parted, she was barely breathing. She⌠she wanted⌠she wanted to kiss him. She wanted him, more than anything sheâd wanted before. She was mad; this was mad. Even on shaking legs, she pushed herself on her tippy-toes, pressing their lips together.Â
She felt⌠elated. More than elated, it felt like she was flying, skimming the clouds like a dragon, wings spread⌠free.
Aemond melted into her right away, pulling her closer as they melded together. His tongue swiped against her lower lip as he caressed her so softly, so gentlyâ more gentle than she could ever imagine him being.
This was the first time she ever took somethingâ something she wanted, and she got it. It was selfish, she knewâ selfish and dangerous and reckless and just⌠hers. This was hers. He was hers. âMine,â she whispered as they caught their respectful breaths. âIf⌠Iâm yours, then⌠you are mine, right?â she clarified, a bit less confident than her previous possessive declaration. âQuite right, little wolf.â he hummed, pressing another kiss to her temple.Â
In a brazen show of exuberance, she captured his lips once more.
Things were forgotten. Namely, everything that wasnât them in this moment. Their individual turmoils, their shared despair. All notions of her mysterious collapse, Aemondâs scuffle with Jacaerys, Sheraâs impending marriage to the said prince, tensions rising between two sides of a familyâ
This was for them.Â
The only time that either of them had taken anything for themselves in the last ten years.
--
a/n: ART IN THIS CHAPTER BY @lonelymagpies who, as always, was LOVELY to work with! they captured the scene perfectly.
dinner in america | feels so good, it must be wrong
i come bearing gifts once again
BILL SKARSGĂ RD as Boy in BOY KILLS WORLD 2023 â dir. Moritz Mohr
KYLE GALLNER as 'Benson' & JOHNNY BERCHTOLD as Randy Bradley The Passenger (2023) ¡ Film ¡ Drama ¡ Horror ¡ dir. Carter Smith
sami zayn is #girlboss
one of my deepest darkest secrets is that the taggie x rupert relationship dynamic is literal catnip to me it hits every time. give me rakish older man who's so ruthless he scorches the ground of any place he's ever called home and then goes back to his empty life in his empty house and tries to remember how to be human, put a girl in front of him who's so genuinely good and unsullied and a little vulnerable and so sure he can be better than who he's always been that she almost makes him believe he can do it too and then - and this is crucial - make it so he absolutely cannot touch her no matter what. and then sit back and watch me implode
By The Light Of The Second Moon
A Darth Maul x AFAB!Reader Fanfiction
âYou dream all night long. You dream of the sun, of the stars and the moons, of war-torn, far away worlds. You dream of fruit and water and light. You dream of the unknown galaxy. You dream of Maul. And finally, you dream of a place that lies beneath the deepest part of the most violent ocean, at the centre of the universe, and how freeing it would be, to be trapped there with him.â
SUMMARY: You have spent your entire life on a quiet planet, leading a safe yet unfulfilling life as the daughter of a surgeon. The arrival of a mysterious ship threatens that safety, and you soon find yourself befriending a dark and dangerous soul. As your attachment deepens, events more monumental and complex than you could ever know unravel around you. You soon learn that the only solace you can find is in the hours spent with your dark lover, by the light of the second moon.
Female/AFAB!Reader x Darth Maul romance. Set before the events of TPM. No use of y/n. Includes smut.
RATING/WARNINGS: EXPLICIT. This fic is strictly 18+ due to sexual content.
There is absolutely no graphic/gratuitous depictions of violence or non-con elements. The 18+ rating is for the smut! However, please see the beginning of each chapter for specific CW/TWs in case of your own personal squicks. Please take care of yourself.
WORD COUNT (SO FAR): 112k
A/N: This is a multi-part, (currently) work in progress/incomplete fanfiction - an f!reader!insert x Darth Maul romance, that includes a lot of smut. Chapters are updated as frequently as possible - this fic does have a full plan and will eventually be completed. The art featured in the above graphic was drawn by the ever wonderful @elledjarin. Thank you my darling!
Moodboards (made by me): The Ship / The Woods / The Sketchpad
MINORS, DO NOT INTERACT.
Each chapter will be individually uploaded on Tumblr at the same time that it goes live on AO3. I do my best to update every 2-4 weeks. All are linked below â
Summer and the Moon
The Shadow of The Woods
Beautiful, Cruel Man
In The Trees, An Electric Feel
Devastatingly Wicked
Inside Your Mind
Of The Rains and Of The Dreams
Me, Only Me
Life In The Dark, Itâs Who You Are
The Broken, The Damned
You Know, You Always Knew
A Force of Truth
Fear of the Water
Never Let Me Go
Your Power
Memories and Lies
To The Eye of The Storm
All That Glitters
Lonesome Swan
Farewell
Epilogue: By The Light of The Second Moon
By The Light of The Second Moon Playlist:
check out some incredible art and edits inspired by this fic!:
stunning artwork created by the wonderful @elledjarin:
Darth Maul / Secret Sketchpad
beautiful birthday gifts by the lovely @kimageddon:
BTLOTSM Moodboard & Maul and Reader Art
a NSFW swoon-worthy birthday art gift by the amazing @the-chains-are-the-easy-part:
NSFW - BTLOTSM
incredibly beautiful edits made by the darling @stardustbee:
BTLOTSM Edit / Feeling
such a gorgeous and fantastic aesthetic board made by @gods-and-monsterss:
BTLOTSM Aesthetic Board
huge shout-out to my gorgeous friends for these pieces!!!! thank you so much for the time and effort you spent on your fanart/edits/gifts. they are beautiful and you mean the world to me! â¨đđ
[ NETFLIXNATURAL ] chuck is gone, but the carver edlund series lives foreverâŚ.welcome to the SPNCU (supernatural cinematic universe).    Â
  â for @hellodeanââs and @dadstielââs #spnficwriterscelebration, congrats guys! â¤ď¸
click on the first gif and scroll through the panels to load gifs properly. fics used listed under the cut, definitely go check them out and donât forget to leave a kudos/comment!
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