( Worried that she might come across as desperate or clingy, Alicent refrained from wrapping her arms around Aemond for comfort and support, but as his hand blindly searches for her and brings it around him, all those notions vanishes as she wraps her arms tightly around him and presses her chest flush against his back. Her body trembles with a mixture of fear and the vibrations thrumming through the great beast.

The jostling and increasing speed are nearly overwhelming, and they haven't left the ground yet. Alicent buries her face against his shoulder, unbothered by the silken strands of silver that brush against her face. The fingers of one hand grip at his leathers while the other splays flat against his lower chest and stomach, fingers slipping through the space between the buckles of his flight leathers.

Feeling the air rush past her and hearing the flapping worn but strong wings, Alicent squeezes her eyes shut as they break away from the ground and begin climbing into the sky. She feels like she might be sick, the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. While she wishes to hide against Aemond, she must show strength and bravery. She must overcome this lingering fear that has stuck with her since adolescence.

She lifts her head and opens her eyes with a slow, reluctant motion. Immediately, they widen, and fear begins to mar her features, but it slips away and is replaced with awe as Alicent leans to look around them. When he looks back at her, there is the beginning of a smile tugging at her lips, and when she turns her attention to him, it pulls into a full one.

She tightens her hold on him, nuzzling her face against his shoulder, and rests her chin upon it. )

Never in my most wild and detailed dreams could I have imagined this.