Misguided Asgardian

Year 106 A.C

The night had fallen over King’s Landing, and it found three Targaryens sitting in the small council’s chambers, the King, Viserys, and his two brothers, Daemon and Aegon Targaryen. 

“I made my decision”, he said shortly, “I know who I am to marry”, both younger brothers shared concerned looks at his Brother’s words, this was not to be taken lightly.

“Well?”, mocked Daemon

“The Lady Alicent Hightower”, he said slowly. They both tried to remain calm, but failed, miserably. 

“I think marrying Alicent Hightower is a mistake brother”, the youngest said, exasperated 

“And why would that be?”, asked Viserys, mockingly

“BECAUSE OTTO IS A CUNT!”, grunted both brothers as the same time, Viserys looked at his brothers alternatively, and then sighed loudly as he slumped on his chair of the small council chambers, “and she is your daughter’s best friend”, continued Aegon 

“So?”, he asked

“YOUR DAUGHTER’S FRIEND!”, he repeated 

“Is it because you want to marry her, don’t you?”, he mocked, and Aegon shutted his mouth, it was, one of the main reasons…

He hadn't courted her, but he was thinking about it, Otto was an intelligent man, a powerful one, he had served as hand and very well, but now that his brother was a widower, it was dangerous, he was going to put his daughter under his eyes, if he hadn't already, there must be a reason why Viserys wanted to marry the girl. Alicent was a sweet girl, he could see her, cute too… the idea didn’t dislike him, and if he got betrothed to her, he could wait a couple more years until she was ready. 

There was an uncomfortable silence

Daemon was looking at his younger brother, and Aegon refused to look back, he didn’t want to make Viserys feel like they were somewhat plotting against him, that there was something between them that he wasn’t in on.

“I think is better for both of you to do your duties to the realm”, the King said finally, and Aegon snapped 

“You are going to send me away?”, he asked enraged, “only because I gave my opinion?”

“No…”

“I took you for many things brother, a tyrant isn’t one of them”

“You will marry lady Cerenna Lannister as discussed”, he continued

“But she is a Lannister!”, he complained 

“The eldest sister of Jason and Tyland”, he continued, Aegon sighed 

“I’ve never even seen her”, he grunted, Daemon chuckled, and Aegon slide him with an angry look 

“And you, return to your wife in the Vale”, and then Aegon barked out a laugh.

“Brother, if you really meant on having Rhaenyra as heir, you can’t marry anyone else, you can’t have more children”, he said then

“What I do, is my business alone, you both, if you like your posts in the privy council and in court, will do as I say”, he said, pleased with himself, “it is clear to me now that Otto is right, you are both marryless, childless, you had not performed your duty to this House, to this family”, now both brothers shared concerned looks, “I’m trusting you to strengthen the House of the Dragon”.

The relation between Aegon and Viserys was complicated, the latter trusted and confided in his baby brother, so much so, Aegon now felt the liberty to contradict him, the King, he needed to put him back in his place.

“Yes your grace”, muttered Aegon, Daemon only watched the interaction, amused, “tomorrow at first light, I shall go to Casterly Rock to initiate courtship of the Lady Lannister”

Viserys nodded, pleased, Daemon couldn’t stop looking at him.

The King stood up from his seat and left his two brothers in the small council chamber, they shared concerned looks

Aegon stood up and directed himself to the table on one side, pouring himself a cup of wine for himself and one for his brother 

“Arbour?”, asked Daemon as he received the cup, looking up at his baby brother 

“Yeah”, he took his seat at the other side of the table, and drank in silence. 

“You are going to let a Hightower marry our brother, the King?”, asked Daemon

“Well, is not that I can command him Daemon…”, they were interrupted, even though it was the higher hours of the night already, “I have clearly failed to see the closeness between them, he acted faster than I thought”

As he had been summoned, Otto Hightower himself entered the chamber. 

“I was not notified of a council meeting”, he said, with a shit-eating grin on his face

“This wasn’t a council meeting, Otto”, Aegon was a skilled diplomat, only him could make a name sound as the most vile of insults

“This is a private meeting”, grumbled Daemon, Aegon just chuckled softly. The smile got wiped out of the Hand’s face.

“If it's something of importance to the Kingdom I should have been made aware”, he said slowly, like he was speaking to children.

“Exactly, it's our brother’s duty to whistle up his dog, not ours”, Daemon said simply, both brothers stood up and walked away from the privy council meeting room, leaving The Hand alone. 

Small pleasures the brothers could still give themselves. 

“What you lack in politics, brother, I lack in swordfight experience”, chuckled Aegon, making his sibling laugh too. 

They decided to leave the Keep, after all, it was a known fact that walls had ears, and the brothers were not interested in being spied on tonight. They walked until the street of silk, where the most “respectable” establishments were, once they selected one, or rather Dameon did, they were quick to take a seat and order Ale

“Never thought he had it in him”, muttered Aegon, as he sipped his beer

“Have what?”, he asked

“Be a cunt”, he growled, Daemon only chuckled 

“Yeah, tell me about it”, he murmured, “She is a Hightower brat, and yet, you wanted to be the one to marry her, you don’t fool me”

“Otto has had his eye on me for years”, he muttered, “but now, after our sweet Queen’s passing, he realised he can have the King of the seven kingdoms”, he whispered, “I can control Otto, our brother? not so much”, Daemon hummed, approving of his brother’s words

“Are you really going to Casterly Rock tomorrow?”, he asked, Aegon barely nodded

“I will do my duty, we cannot fall from our brother’s grace, not right now Daemon”, his brother nodded again

“I will go back to my bronze bitch then”, he giggled, sipping on his cup

“Yeah, sure”, the other mocked. Daemon offered his cup in a gesture to toast

“To the women we love and marry”, he said openly, Aegon met him half way, ”may they never met”, dropping ale everywhere making them laugh. The brothers stayed at the bar sharing stories and drinks, but soon it wasn't enough for Daemon

“Let me invite you to a treat”, Daemon said as he stood from the table, and walked towards the double doors at the end of the tavern

“No thanks brother, I wouldn’t like for my cock to fall off before my wedding night”, he mocked, standing from the table too, if he wanted to go when the day broke, he had to sleep well tonight

The last thing Aegon heard was Daemon’s laugh before the double doors closed after his brother.

. . .

He rose with the sun, even though he had only a couple of hours of sleep. 

He got dressed slowly, making sure he was wearing his best riding attire, he was going on dragon back, but again, he was going to court a lady. He wondered if he needed to go with an escort, with his house, servants and soldiers.

The girl was a Lannister, of course she was going to expect fanfare, opulence and regality. But his dragon would have to suffice. 

He grabbed his sword and was ready to depart. The Keep had risen already, servants and guards all doing their rounds. They greeted him as they saw him walk by. 

But it wasn’t until he left Maegor’s Holdfast that he felt two skinny arms surrounding him. 

“Don’t leave me uncle!”, said Rhaenyra, hugging his midsection tightly, “please”, Aegon smiled softly, caressing the top of her head, and her back softly

“You are going to be fine, little one”

“Please”, she begged, separating herself from him to look up at his face. Aegon thought she didn’t even know yet the betrayal looming over her, about her best friend and her father. 

“Is what my King asks of me”, he said softly, they separated, and Aegon grabbed her shoulders softly to be able to gaze into her eyes, “I’m only a dragon ride away”, he whispered as he winked. 

Rhaenyra felt like she was losing her ally, her protector, and an uncle and friend. 

“I will be soon back, to marry here in the capital, under the King’s watchful eyes”, he said gently, she nodded, “I’ll expect you there, of course”, that seemed to please the princess, who nodded enthusiastically 

With a nod of his head, and accompanied by guards, he left the Red Keep on horseback, followed by guards, in the direction of the dragonpit, where his mount awaited him. 

The city was barely awakening, and yet the people who crossed his path nodded in his direction and greeted him

A thousand thoughts ran through his head, he had never courted anyone before, he did have his paramours, he had playfully flirted with ladies at court, yet he had never dared to make anything official. 

And now he was on his way to court his future wife. 

He waited patiently as the dragon masters brought him his dragon Karnax, born to him on his crib, the great white beast roared in excitement as he came up the ramp and saw his rider waiting for him.

He took a long breath, to focus on the fly ahead. He enjoyed flying on his dragon, it cleared his head, it made him feel free and powerful.

The flight to Casterley Rock was long, he had to stop along the way. But two days later he saw the biggest structure in the entire continent. Casterly Rock. 

He made Karnax land near the stone bridge that led to the entrance of the huge fortress. 

He was not surprised to realize the Lannisters were waiting for him at the gates. 

The prince had never been to the huge castle, and to his amazement he realized that the castle was built into the rock itself, no only sitting at the top as many had described it, it was massive, greater than The Wall in the North, and the young prince could begin to understand why the Lannisters had gained the right to be as prideful as the Lion in their sigil.

He was met by the acting Lady of Casterly Rock Ceira Lanniser, flanked by his twin sons Jason and Tyland. 

“I’m Prince Aegon, of House Targaryen”, he said loudly, bowing his head to the welcoming house, “son of Baelon and Alyssa Targaryen, and brother to King Viserys, and I’m here to court the Lady Cerenna”, he said

“It took you long enough”, said the older woman sharply, making him flinch, “we have been waiting a year, my eldest daughter had been waiting”, it was a true biting at the Prince’s heel, but it was too late now to correct that, he was here now and had to be enough. 

“I’m truly sorry”, he finally said, “I'm here now”, she only hummed, clearly not pleased but he could see she was not going to refuse him, with just one gesture of her hand, guards moved around the group. 

They led him through the gates inbeded in the rock, and he was inmediatly faced with a huge hall, that it was as big as ostentacious as he could only dream off. the tall walls dressed in tapestries telling the tale of the House from even before the conquest, and exquisite furniture bathed in gold leafs. 

“The Lady Cerenna of house Lannister” a soldier presented, he looked up, and from a balcony on the second floor, there she appeared, like the figure of the maiden in human form. Golden curls fell down from her beautiful head, deep green eyes looked down at him, she was dressed in Lannister Red with golden jewelry adorning her neck. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. 

He released the breath he had been holding, as he seemed to forget how to breathe at all

When he saw her for the first time, he truly believed this is how those who had claimed adult dragons must have felt. He felt incredibly nervous, but excited in equal measure

“My Lady”, he greeted, bowing again, “I’m here, humbly to ask for your hand in marriage”, he only looked at him, he was sweaty, his hair messy from the flight here, he was wearing his riding gear, and he smelled like dragon, he looked back at her, at her face who seem to be made of marble.

Then she gave him a smile that branded his heart with fire.

“Yes, this one will do”, she said simply.

. . . 

Only one week was neccesary for the courtship, before they decided to marry in King’s Landing. 

Due to Aegon’s political responsabilities and the Lannister’s own political ambitions, the couple decided to stay in the capital after the extravagant wedding, where Aegon could still participate in the small council’s meetings and the life at court. 

Year 115 A.C

Aegon watched the sun hiding in the sunset sea, and then he looked down at his arms where his daughter was sleeping in his arms, the baby was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She seemed to have a golden halo around her tiny head, big rosy round cheeks, she was as beautiful as her mother. 

“Look, the sun shines for you”, he murmured, kissing her forehead. “my golden princess”, he said with an adoring voice. He turned to look at his wife, still in the bed. She was looking at the scene with a tired smile, she was so pale…

“Try not to spoil her so much”, she whispered. It had taken them nine years to finally gave birth to their child, a little girl. When Cerenna finally got pregnant, they moved back to Casterly Rock, far from schemes from court, from sharp tongues that had treated Cerenna poorly. 

“Impossible”, he said, “she has already wrapped me around her little finger”, she chuckled, but also a pained whine followed her amusement. “Just like her beautiful mother”, she smiled at the love she knew her husband held for her, she loved him back as fiercely and in equal measure. 

“Aegon”, she called, “take care of her”

“With my life”, he said, so happy, he was missing what was truly happening, his gaze was lost on his daughter, but when he looked back at the bed, Cerenna had closed her eyes.

“Cerenna?”, he called

But he got no answer. 

. . .

Daemon descended from his mount Caraxes, on top of the Rock, to find his brother Aegon waiting for him. dressed head to toe in black, and a disturbed look on his face. 

“Brother”, it was like a cry for help. Daemon was quick to encounter his brother and engulfed him on a tight hug. “I lost her”, he whined on his brother’s ear, “she died”

“I’m sorry”, he said, when they finally parted

“But she gave me a beautiful daughter”, he said with a sad smile

“I know…”, he said, “and I brought you something”, only then he noticed he was carrying a bag, and from within, came a black dragon egg. Daemon offered it to him with reverence, and he took it with the admiration such a gift deserved. 

“My daughter is a Lannister”, he said carefully, knowing fully well his brother’s sentiment for the golden lion house. 

“Your daughter is a Targaryen”, he said back

“Thank you”, he whispered. 

Daemon, despite his best instincts, stayed at Casterly Rock to support his baby brother. 

“9 years we waited to be blessed by the gods with a child”, he said sadly, “and when they did, I lost my wife”, he whispered, his voice choking with tears, “I should have stopped trying… I should have…”

“There is nothing you could have done, and there was no way of you knowing”, Daemon whispered.

“I did the same thing Viserys did”, he lamented, only in the comfort and privacy of his study, “forced my wife to bare children until it killed her”

He knew it wasn’t true, Cerenna wanted a child as much as he did. And there have no traumatic miscarriages or stillbirths, she just never got pregnant until his daughter. 

“It is done,” said Daemon, “you have a daughter now and that is all that matters”, he said.

When Aegon woke the next morning, the first thing he did was check onto his baby daughter, and chuckled in relief when he saw a small dragon in her crib, the small creature was black as coal, his skin looked like it had been bathed in lamp oil, he was coiled around his daughter, his tiny head cuddling her cheek, both sleeping like they were born together. 

After the appropriate period of mourning, Casterly Rock decided to celebrate the birth of their little lady, and the birth of a dragon in the crib of a Lannister

Since prince Aegon married Cerenna Lannister, and not only that, but that he had decided to take residence on Casterly Rock, the Lannisters could not hold their boast, their ego was soaring, not only they had a little princess, they had Aegon Targaryen. 

Ceira Lannister found Aegon in his study, his gaze lost in the flames

“Are you going to go back to King’s Landing?”, she asked him, her hands clasped in front of her

“I do not know”, he whispered without looking at her

“Don’t take her”, she whispered, then Aegon looked back at her, his mother by law had never asked him for nothing, demanded maybe. “I lost my daughter”, she said, her voice almost cracked… almost, “I don’t want to loose my grandaughter”

“I will not leave my child”, he said with a sharp voice

“Stay here then”, she said, “you know we cannot pass Casterly Rock to her before Jason or Tyland, but…”

“I’ll be called back to King’s Landing”, he whispered sadly, “my brother needs me”

“You need your brother now, and where is he?”, she said bitterly, “you had stayed there at court, concerted marriages, you are the arquitect of your family and it has thrived under your design and yet… they left you alone when you needed them the most”, Aegon looked at her, “she will be better here, under our care, under our family”

She know she was right, Lannister might be seen as prideful, egotistical and entitled, but to their own they were incredibly fierce and loyal. 

“You know that we wanted to pass Casterly Rock to your male heir, and we know that is not possible now… yet…Don’t take her”, she begged, “you can stay here if you wish”, Aegon barely nodded. She might be right. 

He was married to Cerenne to stablish a tight relationship fromt he Lannisters to the House of the Dragon, if he left now and took his child, the alliance could crumble.

“She will be raised here”, he sentenced, looking back at the flames 

There was an understanding to change the line of succession of Casterly Rock to Cerenna, if and when she gave birth to a son.

But she was a girl. 

. . .

Year 120 A.C

Five years later, the Prince, counseled by his brother Daemon, decided to take a trip to King’s Landing, where he had an audience with his brother King Viserys. 

He was kept in the loop of what was happening in the capital; his brother, this same year as his daughter, had received the gift of a second son, who he named Aemond, and third child with the Queen. And then she gave birth to a fourth child, another boy. 

Aegon though the last five years had been travelling back and forth, yet never returning to court, and he did not leave his daughter longer than a few weeks, having a dragon let him travel easily between both countries. 

“It’s been a long time”, is the first thing Viserys said when he got him alone

“I did my duty to you, brother”, he said simply, “Doing my duties as Warden of the West, keeping the alliance with the Lannisters strong…”

“Yes you have,”, he said pleased, “And yet, you didn’t bring the princess with you?”, he asked

“I did not”, he said, “and I wish to return to her, as soon as possible”, the King smiled sadly at his younger brother’s words. 

“I wish to have you by my side”, he said, “it’s been five years now since the passing of Cerenna”

“Yet I’m a father now”, he fought, he nodded. “I’m needed there”

“Daemon has married the Lady Laena Velaryon”, he said softly, “and Rhaenyra Harwin Strong, as you had insisted upon, and has her children, it’s been five years, maybe its time for you to take another wife”, Aegon looked at his brother like he just insulted him

“You seek me to sell me again? to whom? maybe the Starks this time? Tullys?”, King Viserys felt shame, and looked down at the table. 

“It is not how I meant it”, he said softly, “I wish for you to find happiness again, to have heirs”

“I have my heir”, he said simply.

“A boy, that can carry the name…”

“We have three of those”, he said mindlesly, “many dragons are as adangerous as few”, a akward silence grew in the King’s private chambers.

“I’ve been told that your daughter has hatched a dradon herself”, he said then

“It’s a stange creture”, Aegon answered, a smile breaking on his face, “lean and black, as a dragon glass spear”, he whispered, “she makes strange noises, like the ones of a bird”, the she dragon was a strange mixture between Caraxes and Sunfyre, lean, oily black sin, delicate looking, yet the creature was as fierce as the bloodwyrm 

“I need you back at court, brother”, Viserys said then. He understood his words, his brother was feeling lonely, he needed his siblings.

“I do not wish to come to court permanently, but, you have me and my allegiance, you always had”

“Rhaenyra is going to be Queen one day, and even though I made all Lords and Ladies from the greater houses bow to her, I fear it will not be enough…”

“If you had the balls to marry your daughter’s best friend and have not only one but two male heirs, brother, have the balls to name Aegon Heir!”, he said with greeted teeth. Ceira was right, yes his brother was King, yet he was seeking to use him, not caring for what he truly wished, he understood it though, “groom him to succeed you, let Rhaenyra live her life in peace”

“Rhaenyra is my heir”, he said shaking his head

“Look me in the eyes and say it again”, he said, and Viserys raised his head and looked at his baby brother in the eyes

“Rhaenyra is my heir”, he said, “it’s Aemma’s blood, my blood, your blood”, Aegon then nodded

“Very well”, he said decisively, “I will support you, and her, and I will do anything in my power to protect you and her inheritance, I will put all my efforts in making your will stand even after you are gone”, Viserys face lit up, to have his brother by his side, and the knowledge that he was going to be there to protect his daughter, was everything to him, meant the world. Because Viserys believed that Aegon could make his will stand 

King Viserys hid his hand, who was already lacking two fingers, under the table. 

“How is your daughter?”

“She is well”, he said simply, with a soft smile.

“You should bring her to court”, he said, but he did not like the smile on his brother’s face

“She is too young still”, he said, “too innocent for the schemes and lies”, he said dismissively, “in Casterly Rock she can play, and breathe fresh air and fly around as she pleases”, he said simply. “she is the Lady of the castle”, he chuckled, “despite Jason’s complains”

“Is she now?”, he asked lightly.

“Ceira absolutly adores her, and she still is with good health despite her age, she won’t let the girl out of her sight”, Viserys hummed, pleased, “there was a hunt some moons ago, Tyland and Jason had cornered a Lioness, and brought her two cubs”

“Lion cubs”

“They sleep in her bed, she cuddles them and had made golden collars for them”, Viserys chuckles. “She convinced Jason to train them as companions for battles”

“Battles”, the King whispered, looking at the table. 

“Of course, Onixa, her dragon, wasn’t pleased”

“Onixa”, Viserys paladated the name

“It was that name… or Coalflake”, he hummed, Viserys laughed, “Onixa lived in my daughters chambers until they had to carve a bigger doorframe because she didn’t fit anymore”, he said lightly with a silly smile on his face. 

“A spoiled little dragon”, Aegon wasn’t sure if his brother meant Onixa or his daughter, but both deserved said tittle.

“One day when she is older, I will bring her to court, but… not yet”, he said, and it was a promise. 

When Aegon came back from that trip, he had to face said dragon… the cubs had grown big and they were training their teeth… with her daughter dresses, bedding and furniture and had to be taken to the woods. 

. . .

Year 133 A.C

Your father entered your rooms after being anounced by your guard, and found you sitting in front of your mirror in your vanity, you had just dismissed your ladies who had helped you getting ready for the day ahead, your were braiding your hair, as you insisted on doing yourself, and you wanted to take a short flight in Onixa before supper. 

“Father”, you murmured, finishing the braid. 

“How did you do on your lessons?”, he asked, he looked, concerned, but not with you, so you guessed he had received news from the capital… which wasn’t odd these days. 

“I won, again”, you said simply, the lessons in which he spoke off, consisted in you sitting with your uncle and grandfather, and play games of strategy and war. “Jason’s pridefullness is not fun anymore, it starts to become dangerous”, you said lightly, smiling at your father through the mirror. 

“You inherited your mother’s wits”, he said with a smile, “she beat him too in numerous ocassions”, a pride of your own made you smile, feeling your cheeks heated. 

“Did you need to tell me something father?”, you asked. He sat on the edge of the bed, close to you. 

“My brother, King Viserys, has summoned us to court”, he said, and it wasn’t the first time. What was different now though, was the sense of finality. 

“Us?”, you asked, that truly peeked your interest, turning on your chair to look at your father.

“He is gravely sick, and with Rhaenyra still being appointed as his heir, they need me there permanently, to make sure his wishes come true”, he explained, you hummed your understanding. 

“It also occurred to me that I must find you a husband”, he said shortly, waiting for your reaction, and he saw what you felt, excitement, and yet, a bit of fear, “you are eight and ten now”

“I know”, you whispered, gripping the back of the chair, expecting 

“I have received offers for your hand, and I was considering, with Jason’s permission to have lords come here to court you, yet, as we have been summoned to King’s Landing, we might just killed two birds with one stone”, he said, you always adored how your father would make you part of the process, about his thinking, about his decision making, and yet you didn’t know what to say. He saw your hesitation, “King’s Landing can be dangerous”, he continued

“It’s the royal court, one would think its the safest place”, you tried to lighten the mood, and you succeeded

“The dangers I speak of are of treasons, schemes and betrayals”, he said, “you’ll come to find that court is a battlefield of its own”, he said, you hummed, “you’ll need to find allies, and identify really quickly who might desire your downfall”

“I’m just a girl”, you said with a chuckle

“You are the niece of a King, a Lannister, heir on your own right to fortunes that could buy armies of a hundred thousand soldiers, and my child a Targaryen princess”, he finished, “you are a beautiful young girl who is seeking for a husband, every single lord will seek your hand”, he said, and chuckled when he looked at you and your horrified face, “I will not leave you, I will be by your side at every step of the way”, he whispered. “You will be able to make your choice of husband”, he completed. “Including, meeting your family, Rhaenyra is returning as well, with her eldest son Jacaerys”, he said then, “and there is also your cousins, Aegon and Aemond…”

“Daeron is in Old Town”, you completed, your father nodded, even though you never met them, you knew where they were. 

“I also summoned the heir to Winterfell”, your father himself had to interve a couple of years ago, they had tried to usurp the Capital of the North, the own uncle of the true heir. “Dorne is showing up… the other great families…”

It was a lot to internalize in a short amount of time. An invitation, that sounded more like a challenge to war, and yet as such you were excited, the prospect of seeing who were your friends and who were your foes, and to finally meet your family. 

“I see”, you answered

“You don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to”, he said then

“But it was a royal command”, you said with a laugh

“There is perks to being the brother of the king”, he said lightly, you hummed truly considering the possibilities. 

“If you don’t want to come with me, and prefer to stay here, I will go answer the King’s call, I will hold audiences for the Lords who want to court you, and send some here”, he said, “I need to get you married before you turn nine and ten”

“I understand father”, you said with a soft smile

Even though the thought of going to the capital, to the royal court, excited you with no measure, there was also a feeling of unease in your chest. 

Would you go to King’s Landing with your father?

If you want to go with your father, go to chapter “King’s Landing (soon)”

“One more moon, my lady”, sentenced the Maester

You felt your nose tingle, your lips pouting, and then came the tears, as you whispered in your mouth

“I can’t take it anymore”, you cried, you felt your husband’s hands on your shoulders, caressing your skin covered by your dress

“Come on, my love”, he whispered, “you’ll get through this”, he said, with just the tinge of mockery it took to awaken the dragon

“I hate you!”, you cried, “you did this to me”, you whined childishly, hiding your face in your palms

You just couldn’t keep being pregnant, especially a whole moon.

You were huge, you could barely rise from the bed or from chairs after supper, you were so uncomfortable, there were days where you couldn’t even wear shoes, as your feet had enlarged, it has been moons since you could see your toes at all.                     

Yet you curled onto him, and he held you in his arms 

“I know my love”, he whispered, “I know what can make you feel better”, he whispered, “a bath, boiling hot water, what do you say?”

“Lukewarm, my lord”, remembered the maester. You whined against his chest making him laugh.

But he prepared that bath nonetheless… and now you were content, the water allowed you to float a bit, to not feel the weight of your belly, it was terribly soothing. 

“Remember me to commission a bigger tub, so we can both fit in there, or rather, us three”, you frowned, looking at him angrily. He just looked back at you, with that grin, he sat by your side, his arm around the edge of the tub, his head on top, he looked like a lazy cat 

“You are implying I’m going to let you do this to me again”, you said with a mocking smile, he only chuckled

He took time to admire you, he even placed his big hand on your round belly. There, strongly, your abbe kicked right under Lyonel’s hand, as he or she knew it was their father

“That’s my little stag in there”, he said gently, with a dreamy smile, feeling another kick

“Well, it does feel like he has antlers”, you whined, “or the wings of a dragon”, you said sheepishly

“Is your discomfort so great, my love?”, he asked, almost feeling guilty

“Our child is… of big size”, you answered on a sigh, "I feel so heavy, like I can’t walk, it’s hard to move….”, he laughed then, a frank, honest laugh that soothed your aching chest, you leaned in until your head softly laid against his

“Baratheons make big babes”, he said softly, “I am very sorry my love”. A child who was going to grow as big as his father…

“A son of fire and storm”, you whispered, “What if… it’s a girl?”, you asked him, he frowned

“Oh wouldn’t that be nice”, he said, with a dreamy smile, “a little girl, with my locks and your beautiful face? please”, he whispered, “Poor girl, she’ll have to become a Septa, no sorry bastard in this whole world would be good enough for her”, you giggle, just imagine how good of a father he was going to be

“Wouldn’t you be disappointed?”, you asked, he scoffed

“A little doe”, he whispered dreamly, “A boy or a girl, either way the Storm Gods had decided to bless us”, he said, “besides we can always have more”, you splashed water on his face and he laughed yet again. 

He kept admiring your naked body 

“The water is getting cold”, he said softly, “Let’s get you out of there so I can massage your feet…. and other parts of your body that surely will make you feel better”, he teased

“I’m the size of a horse”, you said, “how can you desire me still?”

“You have never looked more beautiful”, he whispered in your ear, as he helped you up.

He took you to your shared rooms, he made sweet, gentle love to you, and then he made you put on a simple shift, so you could both lay in bed as he massaged your feet

You were about to start purring

“This isn’t necessary”, you whispered, apologetically

“I think it is”, said Lyonel, his big hand pressing right in the best spot on your swelling feet, “after you almost bite the head off of your lady”, he said mockingly, with a big grin on his face, “you wouldn’t let anyone else touch you”, he noted, massaging your feet

You hands went to your huge belly, caressing it softly

“Any husband would be happy about that”, you noted sheepishly

“And trust me, I am”, he said proudly. “Besides I already been grown used to the fact that when you are pregnant, you had make me your slave”, you snorted a laugh

“A slave?”, you mocked

“Yes, you had you at your beck and call, I draw you baths, you even slaved me in the chambers, making me do strange acts to you”

“Strange?”, you kept teasing

“Oh yes, I am starting to think that you are a some sort of Lustful witch”, he mocked, making you laugh once again

“Lustful witch”, you whispered, “I kind of like it”

“Oh of course you would”, he whispered, “I’m nothing but your sex slave”

“I seem to recall you enjoyed doing those things to me”, you said then

“Oh yes, added to the fact that I’ve never knew if you were going to chew my head of… or ride it”, you both laughed wholeheartedly

The hour had grown late, the sun already hidden behind the sunset sea, and yet, there was knocking at your private chambers. You shared concerned looks, at the people in the castle knew better than to disturb you if it weren’t important

“Come in”, said Lyonel, kissing your feet before releasing them, and placing a big quilt over your body before the person could enter

It was the maester

“My Lord, my lady, I’m very sorry for the late hour, yet, I must inform you of the most recent unfolding events…”

“yes, yes, out with it”, mocked Lyonel

“A storm is coming”, he said solemnly, you both kept quiet and just looked at him

“Yes, well, it is the Stormlands…. and this is Storm’s End, this is what we do”, you husband said sarcastically

“No my lord, this is the kind of storm that floods the streets and does permanent damages to rooftops and houses alike, men of knowledge from Essos agree that is like none other”

“Yes, well, alright, what should we expect?”, he asked impatiently

“Well, we, as the castle are well sorted and expected to just… ‘wait it out’”, he said nodding, “But as a precaution I send the majority of the household back to their homes with supplies to weather this out”

“Good, good”, you however, grew worried

“What about…?”

“Your ladies had been sent home, my lady, since there is a moon yet to expect the little lordling, yet, I insisted that Betha Storm remained”, you could breathe a little more easily, now, as Betha was the lead nurse maid and midwife of the household, she had been with you since the maester confirmed the pregnancy, teaching you things, helping you through the changes, and preparing you for the day. 

“Good”, you said, yet feeling uneasy.

“Now leave us, old man, my lady needs to rest and so do you”

“Yes my lord, at once”, he said making a short bow and retreating.

“Fun”, you just muttered with a soft smile.

“Now…. where were we?”, he asked, jumping into the bed making you laugh once again.

The maester was right

The huge storm made the stone of the castle tremble beneath its fury, Lyonel held you tightly as if you could fly away, and you tried to sleep through it, as many other storms before.

But this felt different…. you were moved by strange dreams, that some turn to nightmares, you didn’t know who was making those sounds, rather the storm or your mind.

And then, began the pains

You were so deep in your dreams you didn’t know if they were real, they came and went like the waves crushing against the stones below, yet somewhere in the midst of a hurricane you felt some kind of pressure and then relief….

And then the pain was sharper than the others…

And then a voice

Lyonel's voice.

“Wake up my love", he said, “there is something wrong….”

Then you felt how…wet… you were

“What is happening?”, you managed to ask, as you believed the entire wall had been blown to pieces and storm had drenched the entire bed

Lyonel jumped from the bed and removed the covers, to reveal a dark spot all around your midsection, the room was lit up by torches Lyonel set up no doubt

“What…?”, you asked, and then the pain returned, crashing over you, making you cry out. This was it, what your Midwife warned you about

“I’m in labour”, you cried, and Lyonel stood there, drenched too, “The maester said a moon””, you cried, “its too early”, you whined

The fear in your voice seem to woke him up

“I will fetch Betha right now”, he said quickly, “you are going to be fine my love”, he said surely. 

You could hear his screams for the woman over your own

In five minutes, the woman entered the room, followed by a maid, they brought clean linens and boiled water.

“You!”, she demanded of a soldier, “bring the birthing chair, if you drop it, you are dead”, the man shakily nodded and went with one of his fellow guards to bring the precious item.

You stored it nearby, it was a strange contraption, you still laid on the bed, but Betha was quick to reach your side and helped you up like you weighed nothing. Once you were settled, she turned to Lyonel, who stood there like a deer in front of a hunter

“This is no place for a man”, the midwife snapped, grabbing him, one of the tallest men in the Seven Kingdoms and pushing him out of the way like he weighed nothing. 

You had no strength to argue, to say you wanted him here, the fear and pain clouded every other necessity, yet your body has entered a state of prime instinct, as it seemed like she knew what to do, even if you didn’t.

You hold onto the arms of the chair for dear life as another wave of pain bathes you.

“It’s too soon”, you cried

“It is not my lady”, she said with certainty, “the baby is ready to join us”, you realised she told you that to soothe you, you can see the furrow in her brow.

She helped you put your feet on the wooden holders, spreading them, as you clung into the arms of the chair, you felt so exposed like this, yet the pain was growing to intense you didn’t have more time to think about it

“You are almost ready”, she said

“It’s happening quite fast”, admitted the maid, but she did not seem concerned 

The situation wasn’t ideal, the maester had dismissed most of the group of nurse maids and wetnurses Lyonel had assembled for you, as your ladies, the maester was asleep and you also believed it was too soon.

You cried out, even if you weren't shaken by a wave of pain.

It was tortuous hours, yet the sun didn’t shine because of the storm still rattling the foundations of the castle made 4 thousand years ago, 

And yet… After hours of effort… a cry that seemed to rival the storm could be heard over the room.

“A boy my lday!”, she said happily, “strong as a horse”

“A stag Betha”, laughed the sweet maid.

They had him cleaned, and you as well, and they brought you your son.

He was so small, incredibly so, you smiled widely, feeling an incredible relief, he was alright, he was healthy and he was here in your arms

“He came right of”, said Betha, pleased, “afterbith and all”

“That was ‘right off’?”, you asked, they both laughed, they cleaned you next, and then, like the storm raging outside, Lyonel entered the room as you cuddled your son to youc hest 

“A boy!”, he said, pleased, wasting no time in reaching you, still sitting on the strange chair. “Let me see him”, he whispered happily.

And yet, when you were about to show your son’s face to his own father for the first time, another wave of pain hit you so suddenly you believed you had been struck by lightening

“OH…. FUCK!”, you cursed. You luckily didn’t crush your son who started crying as well, “what’s happening?”, you whined, you, instinctively, placed your feet back again in the holders, spreading your legs.

betha was between your legs in a second

“I think there is another babe”, she said, surprised

“What?”, Elisa took your child, while Lyonel was standing there, not knowing what to do. 

While Elisa was tending to your child, another pain struck your weakened body

“Lyonel don’t leave me”, you cried, reaching for him, that seemed tot ake him out of his stupor

“Not even death would tear me from your side my love”, he said firmly, grabbing onto your hand, you smiled at him, before another contraction shook your body

“Well, I need him here”, demanded the midwife, grabbing onto him and placing him between your legs. You would have felt terribly ashamed, if it weren’t for the excruciating pain.

Lyonel had this face, this astonished, shocked face 

“It’s the head”, claimed the midwife, “come on my lady, you’ve done this once already”

“I can’t do this again”, you cried

“Yes you can”

“What do I do?”, asked Lyonel, desperate, the woman gave him a big blanket

“You are going to catch your child as he enters this world”, she said, determined, 

It felt like another set of hours, yet this time was quick, it was minutes

You managed to push the baby out of your body with a final cry, and Lyonel catched him, you would never forget the face he had.

“A girl”, said the midwife, pleased, and yet, Lyonel was completely paralyzed, with the child in his hands. You cried with relief and with happiness, a little girl, but your body was so shaken by pain you couldn’t quite see her yet, and more importantly, you couldn’t hear her. 

“Lyonel?”, you asked, but he was looking at the bundle in his hands, you had never seen this expression on his face

Then a cry, who brought your husband a breath of his own as he smiled widely

He couldn’t believe what he just saw, what he just did, as his crying daughter was still caked in her mother’s blood

“A girl”, he said, with the widest smile you had ever seen on his face, as he cradled the babe against his chest, “my little fawn” 

It's a story he would tell to anyone who would listen, how you gave him not one but two babes, how he was there, ‘like a real man’, not like other men who preferred to stay outside their wives'birthing chambers, how you were a goddess in human form, well, he knew that already

But now here you were, laying on the bed with your son in your arms, trying to nurse him, while Lyonel paced around the room with his daughter in his arms

“I don’t understand", he said quietly, “how can you love someone this much?”, he whispered, his eyes never leaving her small, sleeping form

“A wonder of nature”, you whispered, admiring your son

“And even…. if we have more, how can I possibly love them as much?”, he asked outloud, you would have laughed, if the pain didn’t linger still.

“Love is infinite", you said surely, “it doesn't divide, it just multiplies”

You spend precious moments in silence, the storm has broken, giving away to a greyish dawn, letting you see everything vividly

Your babies had their father’s hair, as for their eyes, you couldn’t quite see them clearly yet.

“We don’t have a crib for our daughter”, you observed, as if you couldn’t acquire one before the sun hid in the horizon.

“She can sleep in my arms” he said as if it was nothing, you didn’t see how he was going to let her go, as he had barely let Betha clean her.

“We don’t have a name either”, you whispered, you then looked at him, “can we name the boy Orys”, Lyonel smiled, of course his Targaryen wife would like to name her son like the rumored bastard brother of Aegon the conqueror, living proof of the bond between your two houses.

“Only if we name her Argella”, he whispered, caressing her round cheek

“I like it”, you agreed

She began to make suckling noises, her tiny mouth trying to suck what didn’t exist.

“want to trade?”, you asked, he nodded, not convinced, yet holding his son was something he wanted to do as well, he handed your daughter in your other arm, and then took his son 

“Well… now that we know I am well, and our children are well… I can safely say… I think, and I do not intend to speak for you, my love, but it seems like all that discomfort was not only worth it, but a bargain well struck”, you said simply

He smiled, looking at your son in his arms

“What do you mean?”, he asked

“We got two, for the discomfort of one”, you said simply, I’d say it’s the best deal ever”

You tried to ignore it, you did, you tried to ignore the fact that after the birth of your second son your husband never visited your chambers again, you tried to ignore the steps and giggles outside his chambers at night, you tried to ignore the glances he would give to any other new young woman who showed up in Storm’s End. And you mostly did, you were grateful even, that he at least was discreet in public.

The neglect was harder to ignore though

He started to leave you to have your supper and break fast alone

And your boys, of five and two, Orys and Steffon, were starting to miss their father. 

You had tried to seek him out, and he would indulge you, you believed that was the worst part, he would indulge you in these feasts like dinners, all big fake smiles and grand gestures, he would tell you about his day, kiss the side of your face and then move along to his chambers. 

It is not like you tried…. but… something had happened in the birth of your son, and now… it hurts, those first times you tried with him, it hurted, and the worst part is, that you kept desiring him and yet your body kept betraying you.

That brings you here, to King’s Landing.

It was the celebration of the King’s 60th name day, and all great houses had been invited. Lyonel wouldn’t have come if it weren’t for the promised jousting, and the feast too. He had weirdly insisted you join him, you did not want to attend, you had no lost love for King’s Landing. 

And seems like basic decency has abandoned your husband, seems like all reason and his respect for you too…

He was entertaining a woman, sitting her on his lap while you sat just a few feet away

You tried to look forwards to the puppet show that was happening in front of you, but they were not being discreet no matter how much they believed they were. You could still hear their whispers, her moans

You couldn’t believe this.

You catched a glimpse and this woman was actually moving like she was  impaling herself….

You wanted to throw up

You wanted to run, but  were completely paralyzed and couldn’t move

You felt gazes on you, of the other servants, of your lady in waiting.

“Mommy!”, you could only drew breath when you heard the voice of your eldest son, grabbing onto your arm, “let’s go closer”, he said excitedly.

“Y-yes my love”, you said shakily, and rose from your seat. You actually let the boy of four name days guide you through the darkish tent, letting him be your strength, you didn’t even know how your knees didn’t buckle under you. 

You sat amongst other children in the very first row, not caring anymore for what was proper, you sat there crossing your legs under the thick skirts of your dress to prevent them from shaking, your son was happy to sit in your lap. 

You couldn’t keep the tears from falling, you couldn’t keep the trembling of your fingers, you felt so disgusted.

“Why are you crying mommy?”, asked your son, placing his chubby hands on your cheeks

“I…”, you could barely talk, your throat tightened by an invisible hand, “I’m just scared of the sorcerer”, you drew out, referring to the malevolent puppet who had enchanted the princess or something like that. He huffed and surrounded your neck with his hands

“I’ll protect you mommy”, he said with certainty, you hugged him tight as your life depended on it, letting him ground you against what was happening.

You felt nauseous

Once the show was over, they lit up a few candles so people could leave, you were quick to stand, and there he was, he was still sitting there, with that wench on his lap, now, in front of everyone who could tell what was happening. You didn’t stop to suffer it any longer, you grabbed onto your youngest Steffon, who was getting fuzzy in the hands of his nurse, and took him with you, holding tightly onto Orys by his tiny hand, who was oblivious to what his father was doing. 

The puppeteers' show was being held in a tent in the garden, and the walk back to the Red Keep was well signaled, and your boys were sleepy, so you walked back to the castle to put them to bed, as the hour had grown late. 

You went to their assigned room, right next to yours, with the help of their nanny you put on their pajamas and when they were ready, you tucked them in yourself, kissed their sleepy foreheads and cuddled them until they slept. 

Despite it all, as you looked at your sleeping babies, you realized they made everything worth it.

You walked back to your rooms, thinking Lyonel might spend the night elsewhere, the thought brought you both dread and relief at the same time, not entirely sure how.

But as you sat on the vanity, brushing your hair Lyonel stumbled into the room, clearly drunk

“Oops”, you heard him mumble with a chuckle

“What are you doing here?”, you asked bitterly

“These are my rooms”, he said mockingly, it was sad really, you saw him and you barely recognized the handsome man you had married, the gallant knight, “can’t I sleep with my own wife?”

“Not before you take ten baths with salt water and lemon”, you said bitterly, turning your back on him to keep brushing your hair

“Oh, that”, he chuckled. “got a bit carried away”

Yes in front of important lords of the realm and you believed even Prince Baelor was there too

“Yes, a bit”, you mocked, as you angrily brushed your tears your anger began to slip out. 

“Oh come on woman!”, he said, “it was just…”, you fucking someone else in front of you and other people

“I don’t know why you brought me here”, you interrupted him, not hiding your tears, turning to him again, “to humiliate me?”

“No…”, he sighed, as the conversation bored him

“I do not know what I could have possibly done to you, for you to treat me like this”, you kept going, “I don’t deserve this!”

“You won’t let me fuck you!”, he said as if it was the answer to all your problems

“I told you it hurts!”, you said angrily, bitter tears falling down your cheeks, “Steffon ripped me apart when he was born and the maesters told us the muscles had healed the wrong way!, they also told us that slowly… with practice… but you won’t….”, he grunted, interrupting you, falling to the bed

“Come here then”, he said, ”let’s practice”

“You are disgusting", you cried, standing from your bench and walking towards the door

“Where are you going?”, he asked

“To sleep anywhere else”

You felt immediately guilty after closing the door so had it sounded all over the empty hallway, there could have been people sleeping you just woke up.

You couldn’t go back to your children like this, so you just kept walking down. You also did not know the Red Keep that well, this thing was like some labyrinth, you just kept walking aimlessly. 

Until you reached what you guessed was a different tower. 

“Are you alright?”, you jumped in your place, turning quickly towards the voice. There he stood, in all his glory, Baelor Targaryen

He was looking at you like he would look at a missing child

“I’m very sorry, your grace”, the man held so many titles you didn’t know how to call him, as he was also Lord Hand of The King, but you guessed he was first and foremost a Prince. You saw that he was patiently waiting for you answer, "I am, I just… sleep evaded me so I went for a walk”, you tried to explain

“Yes, sleep would evade me as well if a saw my husband engaging in such activities”, he said and you stood very still

You wanted the floor to swallow you whole

“I’m sorry”, you didn’t even know what to say but to apologise for your… husband…

“You do not need to apologise, if anything…. your husband should”, he said firmly. His gaze was so intense, so felt like you were bare in front of him, “sleep did escape me as well, perhaps a cup of wine will ease us into slumber, if you’d join me”, he said softly

How did you say no to a Prince?

“That would be lovely”, you said with a soft smile. You did not care if it was the hour of the owl, you did not care if it was improper for a married lady and a prince to be alone.

He invited you to the tower of the hand, the soldier guarding their prince stood there solemn, not even giving you an errant look

Baelor Targaryen was seen as the perfect heir, perfect son and gallant gentleman.

If he had not encountered you this night, alone, with tears marks on your cheeks, after that poor display of the Baratheon, he would have never pursued you, no matter how beautiful to him you were, how fetching, how sweet.

But he did find you there, lost.

Baelor Targaryen had always been the type of man who liked to save people, he had the savior complex, and tonight…. he wanted to save you. From what? Perhaps he couldn’t save you from the humiliation and cruelty of your husband, but he certainly could aid in soothing those pains for you. 

You did not intend to feel as comfortably as you did, sitting there across from him, goblet of wine in hand, a silly smile on your face, a giggle in your mouth when he told you something silly, or maybe it wasn’t silly at all. 

You did not intend to relax around him, but he put down his intimidating presence and made it seem like he was the safest person in this castle.

You did not intent to let him kiss you softly like the touch of the feather

You certainly did not intend on going with him to the Hand of the King’s rooms, hand in hand, heart pounding on your chest.

You had warned him about the pains, but he assured you were going to take it slow, that at the minimum show of pain he was going to stop, that there was other ways to have sex that did not involved penetration, that he planned of making you feel loved and worshipped

And he did

Oh he did 

His hands were the softest you’ve ever felt, his mouth was the most delicate you ever had on your skin, and he unmade you with them twice, before he even thought of revealing his nakedness to you 

He had admitted he had never done this before, meaning taking to bed a married woman, or anyone else since his wife passed, and you believed him

You didn’t even think about your cheating husband, he was not worth it. 

The only thing you could think of was Baelor inside of you, making you feel that pleasure that seemed to bring you back to life. 

It was so mind blowing, you only woke up when the sun was already shining brightly over the narrow sea.

“Oh no!”, you shouted, standing from the bed like it was on fire

“What’s the matter?”, he asked, a soft smile on his lips

“I need to leave”, they all would awaken by now, your children, even your husband if the sun had hit the window right… 

“Will I have you again?”, he asked, extremely calm for someone of his standing

“I don’t think so”, you said quickly, while placing back your dress as best as you could, he only chuckle from the bed, raising slowly, you jumped when he placed his big hands on your back, helping you tightening it 

“Thank you”, you whispered, and with one last look, you left, running down the stairs of the tower of the hand.

When you arrived at your sons’ quarters they were already awake

“Mama!”, greeted Orys, smiling at you as he ate a piece of apple his nanny had cut for him, “we are going playing with papa!”, he said proudly, and you paled, Lyonel had been here and he had not seen you. 

“My lady”, said your lady in waiting, smiling at you apologetically, “shall I draw you a bath?”

“Yes”, you said, “quickly”

Oh gods…. did they know? they seemed like they all knew, you, appearing there in the same dress as last night, all riled up, clearly not have been sleeping there….

You still felt Belor Breakspear between your legs. What have you done?

You had committed adultery, you had sex with another man who wasn’t your husband.

The bath was quickly set up, and soon you find yourself soaking your regrets in warm water, your trembling hands washed your body, especially between your legs

You did not regret it, not one bit, Baelor had awoken a crucial part of you that you believed was dead, or at least broken. You had experienced pleasure in his hand you had never felt before, he had adored you, worshiped your body. 

“Wife!”, water splashed everywhere from when your husband called you, “taking a bath, at such a strange hour?”, you looked at him weirdly, hugging your legs against your chest, “where were you this morning?”, he asked, he was wearing this sick smile on his lips.

“Here”, you lied, he chuckled

“No you were not”, he teased, he was dressed very appropriately, and you could tell he had bathed and used the essences he used to wear back when you married, back when he wanted to impress you, and woo you, and present himself as this gallant man. 

“I went to have a walk”, you said then, “sleep evaded me, due to what I had to experience last night”, you said disdainfully, he hummed.

He walked around the bathtub, slowly, circling you, like he was measuring you

“All night?”, he asked, “because I came to find you after our argument, since you had sober me up, and couldn’t find you, and then early this morning and yet my beautiful wife was not here either” 

He was playing you

“Did you wish to tell me something husband?”, you asked, he sat on the edge of the copper tub, looking down at you with this shit eating grin, like the cat who ate the canary

“Just that…. you were right…”, he said dismissively, looking directly at your face. “What happened yesterday was…. “

“Sickening”, you said, his eyes never left yours, this was some sort of battle of wills

“Inexcusable”, he continued, “you have done nothing but be a loving, caring wife… you provided me heirs…. you had organized Storm’s End, ruling with a gentle yet tight fist”, he said, “and I have been…”

“Unfaithful… disloyal… a cunt”, you listed, he laughed

“Yes”, he admitted, still with that smile on his face, “I have, while you…. had been there, in your own place, standing there, strong like an oak”, you squinted as you looked at him, you did not like this at all. “As you remained the faithful and loyal wife I do not deserve”, you flinched when his hand went to the side of your face, to arrange a lock of hair behind your ear, “or you where, until now”

“What are you doing?”, you asked him

“Where were you last night?”, he asked again

“Why do you care?”, you asked him, “go fuck another wench, servant, lady I do not care”

“Ah but you do”, he teased

“I just don’t like to be humiliated, that’s all”, you said with greeted teeth. His smile got wiped from his face

“Neither do I”, he said sharply, his hand travelled dangerously close to your neck but kept it there, his fingers ghosting your throat, “where were you last night?”, he asked again

Of course he could fuck a thousand women and you couldn’t fuck one man, that’s just how it worked you guessed. 

“I told you I was walking”, you said simply

“Mmmm to who’s chambers?”, he asked, he knew you were lying, his unsettling smile creeped back into his face. “You deny me yet you welcome other men?”, he asked gently

“I do not know what you speak of”, you said firmly, looking at him. And he knew you were not going to budge 

“Look, in light of my past indiscretions… I’m willing to look the other way”, he said simply, you nodded slowly, “just this once”

“Lyonel….”, he shushed you

“Just this once”, he said sharply, with a tone of voice you had never heard, at least, not directed at you

You barely nodded, he then again smiled, satisfied, gave you soft pats on your cheek and left you.

He didn’t even ask you who he was

He didn’t even ask you if this was the first time, you guessed, that since, like he had said, you had been always there, he knew for certain this was the first time you had…. slept with another man. 

He closed the bath room doors behind him, leaving you alone once more.

You tried to relax against the edge of the tub, and yet, something else drew your attention.

Moon tea

You needed moon tea. 

Perhaps you should talk to the maesters later.

But now, the jousting has begun.

You were in the stands near the royal box, you had your children with you.

This time of day, it was the turn of the great houses to present their champions, of course, Lyonel was the one to represent his House and the whole stormlands. Yet the knight who everyone deemed as the favorite was Otto Tyrell 

It was a beautiful day, your night spent in the arms of the prince had completely distracted your troubled mind, and you finally could see your husband without wanting to wretch, so that was something. 

You needed to calm yourself, you thought as you bounced your son over your knee making him giggle

“Nite!”, he said, pointing at a knight riding past

“Yes, knight”, you said proudly, he gave you that beautiful smile with the little teeth he was growing, making you beam at him.

A horn being blown interrupted the preparations for the joust

“Prince Baelor Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne and Hand to the King Daeron the good, has entered the lists”

And there he was, on his black steed, in his magnificent black armour, it was certainly something to gaze upon.

Memories from last night came flashing back to you…

He rode until he was in front of you, and he nodded at you, you froze in your place, not believing what you were seeing 

“Would you do me the honor, my graceful lady, to give me your favour?”, he asked.

You couldn’t believe him

Why?

Why would he do that?

You looked at your husband, who was atop his horse on the other side of the field, and he looked like he could kill someone.

No.

You gave him a crown made of mistletoe and golden daffodils 

Oh Lyonel, he spurred his horse, wanting to reach the prince, but the horn blew again and they were ready to start the jousting. 

Your stomach turned at the thought of both of them facing each other. Even from the stands you could see your husband atop his horse, furious, Oh Gods

What have you done?

What did Baelor do?

It was to your luck that they were not placed together on the lists, and since Lyonel had not been champion the day before, he did not get to choose his opponent, so he couldn’t pick Baelor. You now just had to wait, and prepare to face your husband’s wrath. 

But nothing could have prepared you for that. 

Once the jousting was done for the day, the nannies took your children with apologetic smiles and without you telling them to, you found it odd, but only because you trusted them entirely is that you let them go with them, but then, two Baratheon soldiers came to the stands.

“My Lady, Lord Lyonel asked us to escort you back to your rooms”, you did not want to go with them, but you also couldn’t make a scene in front of all the most important Lords of the Seven Kingdoms.

They escorted you back to your rooms, and made you sit on the table in the corner. You didn’t know what Lyonel could possibly have concocted from his horse and only his cousin as a squire, but now…. you feared for your integrity.

Your husband was known as the Laughing Storm, a jovial, funny man who liked his feasts and his wine, and his jousts.

To all lords he seemed like a man who could never be angry, to anyone.

And it was mostly true, you, his wife, had only seen him truly enraged a couple of times, due to a disloyal Lord who had failed his own words to provide grains to his people, or something else related to a big scale of a problem….

But this… the smile he was sporting this morning, the way he looked at you, you trembled in your spot

One hour, he held you, sitting there waiting for him. Until you heard his steps all the way down the hallway

You couldn’t believe that even in the Red Keep, of House Targaryen, he still managed to have a presence as imposing as the House of the Dragon itself.  

Both doors opened to let him in like a storm into the room, his greying curls almost covered his face due to his quick race to the room, he seemed to scan the room until he found you and when he did, those dark eyes of him seemed to become even darker

“Why didn’t you spread your legs for any other bastard out there, WHY DID IT HAD TO BE HIM?”, he roared, making you jump in your place. He slammed both doors closed, it was a miracle they still stood nailed to their hinges 

“Lyonel”, you called, you had never seen his this angry

He took long steps to reach and for the first time, you feared that he was going to strike. But he didn’t, he didn’t even touch you, he clenched his fists and started pacing around the room

“the fucking heir to the iron thorne, fucking my wife”, he started mumbling as he paced around the room.

“How many times?”, he asked, enraged

“Once”, you said simply, you actually fucked him like three times over the night but it counted as one, it was only one occasion really. 

“How could you!?”, he asked

“You told me that you didn’t care”, you said, “that you could let it slide just once”

“That was before I knew it was Baelor Fucking Targaryen!”, he said, losing it again, and you truly did not know what that made a difference. 

“You fuck every woman that stops by Storm’s End but I’m the worst person in the Seven Kingdoms?”, you asked.

He came near you again and slapped the table, hard, making you wince. 

He looked at you, truly looked at you, but you were afraid and did not want to anger him further, so you said nothing

“You know very well what I think about them”, he said simply. Yes many hated the reigning family of the Seven Kingdoms, and you had heard your husband speak nearly treason while on his cups, you never believed he was serious about it.

There was a knock on the door now, and Lyonel went to open it like he knew what it was, he came back with a ceramic jug and a small glass

“Drink”, he said

Moon tea

You wanted to, you meant to, but right now, you just looked at your husband. 

“You deny me, your husband, of your own body, and yet you spread your legs for Baelor fucking Targaryen, i bet it dind’t hurt when the perfect prince fucked you”, he said, so sharply it wounded you

“It didn’t”, you admitted, “he was gentle and kind”, he again clenched his fists and paced some more around the room

“Drink”, he demanded, standing in front of you, “I will not have you birthing bastards”

You did not want to anger him further, you grabbed the small pitcher, served yourself in the small glass, and drank it without question. You winced at the bitter taste, but he seemed pleased.

“You know what I can do to you?”

“Yes”, you said bitterly, “I know”

“You have make me a cuckhold”, he said darkly, “to none other than a fucking sister-fucking inbred cunt”, he whispered this part to you, making sure nobody else could hear it, for that was treason. 

He paced once gain, containing his fury, and then he turned to you again

“I still expect more children from you”, he informed you

“You are never going to touch me again!”, you defied

“You are my fucking wife, it is your duty and my right”, he said, as angry as you ever seen him before. “And you have no choice”, you held his gaze, he looked like a maniac

“Are you going to force me?”, you asked quietly

“No, because you are going to understand than you rather give me more children, as soon as its obvious you are not expecting a Targaryen bastard, or, I will send you to fucking Old town to become a silent sister, how’s that?”, he asked 

You just looked at the table, a single tear falling from your eye

That night Lyonel slept right next to you, he dind’t even touched you, and yet, you felt your body burnt all over. 

The very next day, the jousting continued. 

This time, Lyonel was on the field, yet Baelor was not, he had the audacity to come near you, while your husband was facing a knight

“My lady”

“Your grace”, you said courtly

“How….?”

“We shouldn’t be speaking”, you said, trying to look forwards, to the palizades, you played with your hands as you blinked quickly, trying to prevent the tears from falling

“Has he done something to you?”, he asked, whispering, “because I will…”

“You’ll do nothing”, you said, “he is my lord husband”

“If he lays a single finger….”

“He would never hurt me”, you said, “not physically, at least”, but he did not move, “if you truly wish to help me”, you said, without even looking at me, “you’ll never speak, or look in my direction again”

“I’m very sorry, for all the troubles it might cost you”, he said sfotly