#tagging so it doesnt flood the dash of my moots that do not care for this show

[pettyprocrastination]

I think that Alicent drilled Aemond on courting when he was young. 

She teaches him about love and care and that a husband should not tolerate his wife, he should cherish her. Aemond is perceptive enough to see the way his father waves off his mother’s concern. The sight of her, the only one to defend him after losing his eye is one that will stick with his for the rest of his life. He promises her that when the time comes and she chooses a match for him, he will be a faithful and loving husband as the Gods (and his mother) intends. 

When it happens and you are named his betrothed you’re....unsettled. 

Not because of his eye. Gods no, you think its beautiful and captivating just like the rest of him. What worries you is that your soon-to-be-husband is...robotic. 

He bows his head and kisses your hand upon introduction. Calls you “my lady” accompanies you to court and walks through the garden, but its all too rehearsed and empty. 

Each move of his hand and word from his mouth sounds as if it has been practice several times over with no emotion behind it. There’s no care within them, only precision. You beleive he’s bored of you. A man of his status has no desire for a wife, only bitter obligation. 

But that isn’t right. 

The truth isn’t that Aemond is cruel or cold to you. He’s inexperienced. 

He is the king’s son, but he hides a vicious scar on his face that ladies of the court whisper when they think he cannot hear them. He knows more of swordsmanship and philosophy than he could ever dream to know about women. 

So when you curtsy and call him “lord husband” he goes silent. He doesn’t know how to respond to you, eyes grazing over his face without fear or disgust but instead curiosity. He falls back on the lessons he had with his mother, of how a man should address a woman and where his hand should lay on your waist never too high and never too low so as to not draw foul rumors to your name. 

All he can hope is that some day he may address you properly without feeling like his mouth is full of cotton and his hands will cease to shake.