Colours
Baela dragged her sister to Hogsmeade for the first time. Usually, it was the other way around. Rhaena would beg and plead for Baela to go shopping and model outfits with her. Now that the dance was one day away, it was Baela pulling up a long green dress while trying to convince Rhaena to go with Erryk Cargyll. Rhaena completely dismissed the suggestion, the Gryffindor boy was known to be silly and fool around with girls. A very unserious student with a reputation for sneaking cheap liquored Butterbeer around. She would rather waste her night away and had no intention of going with him, but Baela insisted.
"No one asked you to go yet so just give him a chance." Baela’s persistence was wearing Rhaena down.
She thought back to Corwyn. Sending him a gift basket and writing him a letter the day before, she didn’t want to mention that she had any idea how he got injured.
"Maybe I just won't go, there's always next year."
"No Rhaena you have to come with us. It won't be the same without you." Somehow, Rhaena highly doubted that. She knew her sister like the back of her hand and knew for certain Baela’s entire night would be spent wrapped around Jace.
"I don't know, we'll see." With that, Baela turned to look for some help from a seamstress. She was being picky, wanting the right dress to highlight her growing curves and make her stand out. Sighing heavily, Rhaena turned in her bench to stare out the old creaky window.
The Wizarding World was busy outside and the soft snow falling replaced any snow being removed.
By the time she completed her daydreaming and turned back around, Baela was already in her third dress checking herself out in the mirror. Rhaena had been holding off bringing Aemond up, not wanting to seem suspicious. Not that she’d done anything wrong, but she felt silly all the same. Self-conscious and guilty about how she was feeling, she wanted to keep her thoughts and feelings about Aemond private.
"Who's Aemond going with?"
Baela turned with a curious face, confused by Rhaena's sudden questioning. She never brought him up once ever since he’d become a student at Hogwarts. Years and years, everyone was under the impression they had little to no interactions beyond greetings.
"Who cares about him, he'll probably just lurk around. He thinks he's too good for girls at school."
Rhaena shook her head, frustrated that her sister couldn't read her mind. She should have known Baela would dismiss her question since her and Aemond had an unspoken rivalry. Every mention of Aemond was followed by a dig. Baela might not have cared, but Rhaena certainly did.
"I mean, I saw him with a girl once."
Laughing, Baela shimmied out of the dress and went to put her clothes back on.
“Well maybe he’s too timid to tell some girls no, but I just know he’s too strange to have anything serious.” That was exactly what Rhaena had been hoping to hear, and she hid her smile while they checked out and left the store.
She knew it was wrong of her to feel so entitled to someone she didn’t want herself. He could come to her and fall to his knees, beg for forgiveness, and she would say no. A twisted part of her yearned to tell a groveling Aemond no just to see disappointment smearing on his face. Or just to see him alone.
He’d have to earn his way back into her life, but she didn’t want to see him with anyone else.
"You're so naïve. Girls just want to play, they're not interested in any type of commitment." Baela started to lecture her as they walked around peering into shop windows, boots crunching into the snow.
“How do you know?” She unwrapped a piece of candy and waited for her sister to teach her on the ways of teenagers.
"Well, what about you Rhae?"
Baela playfully shimmied her shoulder at her sister, "Have you been keeping and snogging secret boys I don’t know about?"
Blinking hard, Rhaena just took a deep breath and dismissed her sister's accusations. If she'd been truthful with herself, she’d always envisioned her coming of age differently. She was sure her childhood bond with Aemond would grow into something. She didn’t know what exactly to call it, but something. The reality had grown into the exact opposite, they had only grown apart.
Erryk ran up fast and Baela’s smirk crept slowly, a telling sign she’d already asked the boy to come speak to Rhaena.
“You want to go to the dance?” No greeting or flowers given to her; he’d gotten straight to the point. The wind picked up, blowing his long hair into his face and he pushed it aside waiting for Rhaena’s answer.
“Sure she’ll go with you.” Rhaena had only begun to open her mouth before a snickering Baela agreed on her behalf and shooed the boy off with a wave of her hand. Erryk gave Rhaena a quick smile and muttered a “see you later” before patting her arm and running off to his waiting brother.
“Baela!” She knew better than to waste her time arguing though. The older boy Rhaena only knew in passing had already disappeared down the street and Baela was dragging her into the next store to pick out her dress.
-
Rhaena let out a huff and adjusted the zipper. The baby pink dress she’d picked out for the ball fit her perfectly as they watched their professor twirl around on the dance floor. The music was blaring and Rhaena enjoyed the distraction from any of her thoughts. Erryk entered the hall smiling and approached Rhaena. His outfit could only be described as ancient. She knew his family didn't live in poverty, but they weren’t known to have the riches and clout of Targaryens, Velaryons, and Hightowers.
Rhaena stared down at the ruffles of his collars before she finally said, “It suits you,” in a quiet voice. Erryk gave her a unsuspecting smile and nodded his head. “Thanks! I knew you would like it.” Rhaena smiled wider, feeling better already. He was at least decent to be around but had already started to wonder off to see his brother and the older girls that flocked around him.
She’d figured he’d wanted to brag to his friends about being with a Targaryen at the ball but also wanted to spend his night trying to get lucky. Smiling, Rhaena knew she succeeded and giving off a tone that let Erryk know she wouldn’t be the girl he could make out with tonight.
The time went by with drinks and twirling. The band Hogwarts had hired seemed to have collectively decided to make each song worse as the hours went on. Rhaena and Erryk danced, and she excused herself from him when he got too handsy. She found herself amused at the way Jace tried to spin her around later that night. As children, she had told him she wanted to be a ballerina. Rhaena laughed harder watching him stumble around when he’d asked if she was alright just two songs in. They had to cut their fun short once Cregan departed from Nettles to offer Baela a drink.
Sitting and watching her breath, Rhaena relaxed and observed Jace stealing Baela away from the wandering older boy. Daeron had gone unnoticed the entire night, and she didn't see him enter with his date. He'd come in and the Slytherin girl he was slow danced with held his face in her hands. By the soft smile on his face, Daeron seemed to be tranced by her whispered words.
Rhaena turned her attention back to Jace. Cregan had gone back to Nettles and the pair seemed to be sneaking drinks between each other. Hands were touching and she lost herself watching the entire student body had the time of their lives.
The chair behind her squeaked and Rhaena turned to see a done up Aemond. As much as she wanted to be stunned by his black daper attire, she wasn’t. He’d always had grooming and style standards that even riveled wealthy old ladies. A mysterious smirk grew on Aemond’s upturned lips when he carefully sat in the chair next to Rhaena, making sure to keep his arm on the back of her wooden seat. He could only laughed at Rhaena darting her gaze away from him.
“You look nice.” Widening his eye, he seemed to be mocking her. His daring tone remained diligent when he raised his voice higher than normal to be heard over the guitar solo.
Rhaena decided the best response was to give a mimick of her own, giving him a hum and sneaking a peak at his black eyepatch before looking away. She scanned the room, desperately looking for a distraction.
Does he just get off on pestering me now, as if he has nothing better to do?
Daeron was still dancing away behind the mass of students and Jace and Baela held only each other’s attention.
A loud squeak rang out and Aemond’s chair was closer. Rhaena continued looking away, refusing to give Aemond the attention he wanted.
“What are you looking at?” He leaned in while speaking and Rhaena almost couldn’t hear his lowering voice over the blaring guitar. Aemond followed her gaze to the jumping teenagers falling all over each other. He was unimpressed and uninspired by what he would surely consider juvenile behavior on the part of his peers.
Shaking her head, Rhaena held back a laugh. This game being played would quickly get old to her. One day Aemond was cold, hateful, and cruel to her. Then, she would swear he was trying to get so physically close they could merge into one.
The chill of her arms started to feel warm and she knew he was leaning even closer, and the smell of his expensive cologne started to overwhelm her.
“Don’t ignore me Rhaena.”
She let out a harsh breath, losing her self-restraint. “What do you want?”
Aemond raised her eyebrows, looking at her curiously. He didn’t seem to be taken aback but amused that she got less and less gentle with him every time they spoke. Rhaena’s patience ran thin with his smug crassness, but she couldn’t tell if him peering into her eyes would give away her feelings for him.
“Why can’t you ever say what you mean? It’s not that hard.” He smiled at her infuriation and her voice only grew louder. He didn’t answer still. Rhaena still didn’t know what Aemond wanted.
She let a silence fill them, not wanting to carry a one-sided conversation. Curiosity got the best of Rhaena when she peered to see Aemond looking at their family members. He never paid attention to Jace and Baela outside of taunts and Quidditch talk.
This time he stared at them dancing, with his face still close to Rhaena. She was hoping he would at least move back so Baela wouldn’t see them and get ideas. He moved on to look at Daeron, his eyebrows furrowing indicating he didn’t know the girl his little brother danced with.
His ulterior motives weren't obvious. She couldn’t believe he showed up without a date. Rhaena couldn't help but wonder why he’d even bother coming to the dance, let alone sitting next to her. When the next song started, she looked around desperately trying to find where Erryk had ran off to.
If he’d seen Aemond sitting next to her, she was sure he would stay away. She didn’t have the brazenness to push Aemond away from her or curse him and tell him off.
If Rhaena were honest with herself she didn’t want Aemond to leave, but she wouldn’t stick to any illusions. They would never fall back into their old ways, and they were no longer children. If he had been thinking the same thoughts as her, they would glide to the dance floor and hold each other closer than Jace and Baela ever did.
Aemond’s scent still surrounded her, smelling like black pepper and cedar. It was intoxicating enough, just him so nearby but refusing to interact with her started to sour the smell.
He cleared his throat and she saw him shifting in his chair. Rhaena had been so caught up in her thoughts about Aemond, she had almost forgotten he was sitting right next to her. She peeked, a quick glance at him just out of curiosity. He cleared his throat again and she saw his eye darting around frantically, but he no longer seemed to be watching anyone.
Moving his large hand up, he moved his tie around and pulled it down. He was sweating and she finally saw he had been sitting next to her sweating. He’s nervous.
Rhaena felt a sudden shift of a power imbalance and her head swirled with endless possibilities. It was amusing to her, to have Aemond of all people slipping up and showing signs of being uncomfortable. She turned towards him, smiling and he finally rested his eye on her.
“Do you like me?” She leaned towards him while speaking. If he had come to bother her, perhaps annoy her and ruin her night she was wanting to turn the tides on him.
Aemond croaked out his reply, grimacing while he spoke, “Why would you ask me a silly question like that?”
Rhaena widened her smile, knowing he was trying to take the reigns and shift power back to himself. Aemond straightened in his seat while he spoke, taking his hand off his chair and his brows stayed furrowed. “Obviously, we’re family so I don’t hate you or anything.”
A soft laugh escaped Rhaena’s lips when she watched a bead of sweat drip down his reddening forehead.
“Do you like me?” She emphasized the like, even though they were both fully aware of what she was talking about.
Huffing loudly, Aemond cocked his head up and looked his eye down at Rhaena. Waiting patiently, she looked around to see if anyone was coming to interrupt their conversation before looking back at him. His face was getting even more flushed, and he looked as if he desperately wanted to vomit out his words.
Rhaena nodded at him, hoping to give some encouragement for what she knew would be a failed apology attempt. He lowered his eyes briefly, slowly looking back up and lifting his hand. Aemond eclipsed her smaller hands, gently grabbing them from her lap ansswiftly he stood up.
“What are you-” She stopped talking when she felt him pulling. He looked as if he expected her to jump up after him and follow wherever he wanted to go. The confidence on Aemond’s face irked Rhaena and the goading amusement she had was quickly replaced with offense.
“I don’t want to dance with you.” She was firm and felt his hand grabbing even tighter.
He rolled his one eye, taking a deep breath again to calm his frustration as if she had come to bother him.
“Rhaena.” He squinted before continuing. “We’re going to dance.” She couldn’t weigh herself down to stop him from pulling her up by her arm and she used the other to push against him.
To Aemond, she could only imagine what her face looked like. Rhaena tried to scowl and intimidate as much as she could before she lifted herself on the tips of her toes to meet most of his height.
“I don’t want you.” Rhaena shocked herself with the mean words that released themselves. She had tried to think of a cruel, hurtful thing she could say to him.
He winced, loosening his iron clad grip on her hand and she pulled it away, straightening her dress. Somehow Aemond, in all his menacing glory, for a moment looked hurt and delicate towering over Rhaena. His eye widened and he stared at her, waiting for a smile or inkling of hope that she didn’t really mean what she said.
“What’s going on?” Aemond stepped back from her to see Jace walking up to the table with a concerned face. Rhaena took a step away from Aemond, looking behind Jace to see Baela heading off to the girl’s restroom.
“Nothing nephew, just chatting.” Aemond desperately tried to feign confidence, speaking loudly and quickly putting on the notorious smirk.
Jace went to stand beside Rhaena, placing a hand on her back when she gave him a reassuring smile.
“We’re just talking about schoolwork is all.”
She was terrible at lying to Baela and Jace, and she was sure her eyes had given away atleast some of the recent moments with Aemond.
“What business of it is yours what we speak about?” Aemond gave an unnecessary chime in, poking at Jace the way he used to do when they were children.
Jace lifted his head tall and looked Aemond up and down before retorting. “Just making sure you aren’t messing with her.”
“And why would I do that?” Aemond lifted his brows at him, daring Jace to accuse him of something, anything. “What are you implying?”
“Aemond, I’m not doing this with you today.” He didn’t want to argue or fight, at least not in front of the entire school. Especially not when he had plans to continue the party after the ball.
Always the one to push an issue along, Aemond continued. He grabbed a handful of Jace’s brown hair and twirled it around his fingers.
“How do you comb this hair without scraping your horns?”
“Aemond stop it.” Rhaena tried to intervene, knowing Jace and how sensitive he was about his lack of silver hair. Having these two going at it would be an embarrassment for their family. They were told to only fight in private at least to have decency.
Rhaena grabbed Jace’s arm, wanting to stop any incoming swings that might arise. He waved the other hand to her, indicating he wasn’t going to do anything before looking over to Baela waltzing back into the room. She smiled and patted people on the back as she made her way over to them.
“I’ve known some pricks in my life but you uncle are the cactus. Enjoy your night alone.” Jace knew exactly how Aemond would react. He always had to get the last word in, so Jace ushered Rhaena away from him quick rushing her towards Baela.
“It’s getting late. Let’s go back and relax for the rest of the night.” Baela looked confused but didn’t question him. Erryk noticed them leaving and waved a quick goodbye, Rhaena waved back not sure why he had even bothered when they were barely dates for the night.
They were on their way out, heaving through a wave of students when Rhaena turned to look at Aemond. His hard face was a mixture of so many emotions. He looked pissed at Jace, wounded by Rhaena, and annoyed at the sudden loud crowd of dancing kids that flew past him.
Rhaena felt uncomfortable. She was glad Jace had liberated her from the looming Aemond and she was proud of herself for boldly telling Aemond off. Though a small part of her regretted the sting on Aemond’s expression.
She made her way through the rest of the night quietly. No longer wanting any socialization she said her goodbyes and made her way to her room to pack. It was hard enough to keep focus on school and general anxieties of their age. Now she sat in her room alone, packing up her bags and thought about seeing Aemond again once they got home for Christmas break.