Aerion Targaryen x Tyrell! Reader
Summary: How did the dragon prince know about an old and forgotten tradition?
Long before the disastrous Tourney at Ashford Meadow, the answer was hidden amid the dust of the Summerhall library, it was a girl's discovery and her act of sharing knowledge with the prince Aerion Targaryen, that unwittingly sowed the seeds of the realm's greatest tragedy. (2.6K)
Warning/Tags: Slight Canon divergence, fluff, childhood sweethearts, established non official relationship, slight mention of injuries, no physical description of reader, Daddy Issues, Domestic Aerion
Note: I know there´s a lot of other houses but house tyrell is one of my favorites and one the closest to Summerhall. Also, i finished this fic in a day but editing took longer than expected, hope you enjoy!
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âUhmâŚa trial by combat, that is my right.â The hedge knight, Sir Duncan, murmured in front of the lords.
âI refusedâ Aerion countered the knight.
âYou cannot refuseâ His father Maekar, replied with a furious tone.
âAny knight accused of a crime has the right to demand as suchâ The Hand of the king and Heir to the Iron Throne, Prince Baelor ´Breakspear´ responded to his nephew. âUnless you withdraw your claim?â
The young prince thought for a moment; there had to be a way to punish the hedge knight for his crime. Then, he knew exactly what he would do.
âA trial of sevenâ Aerion spoke, great pride filling his tone. âThat is my right, I do believe.â
âWhat the fuck is a trial of seven?â
It happened years ago, when the prince was looking for a maestre in the library. It had seamed the space was empty but a shimmer of gold caught his attention. As he got closer, he noticed a girl in a green and gold dress sitting comfortably onthe floor of the library.
âWhat are you doing on the floor?â The prince looked down at her.
He didnât recognize her, but from the colors of her clothes, reminiscent of House Tyrell, he could determine that the strange girl sitting on the floor was a lady related to someone from the court. Then, he started remembering: when his grandfather King Daeron II anointed a new member of his noble court as the Master of Laws, there was a little girl there, standing next to a boy taller and older than her, her father and her mother as they presented themselves in front of the court. At that time, Aerion hadnât noticed her, all he had been thinking about was what kind of food was going to be served that night.
âI grew tired of trying to move the chairs to be closer to this bookstand⌠and no servants were near to assist me. So I chose the floor, so the books would be within reach, my prince.â She looked down at the numerous dusty books pilled up beside her and on her lap, wiping the dust away with her hand before showing one to the prince the book she had in her hands. âIâm reading about the Andalsâ
âAnd why would you be reading about them?â The prince was curious about this girl. He couldnât understand the interest in those people when there were so many more interesting things to read about, like the dragons of Old Valyria or Aegonâs Conquest.
âI was reading about Maegorâs reign, and it mentioned an old Andal traditionâŚâ The girl laid down the book and picked up another, a volume that looked much older than the others âA Trial of Seven.â
âA trial of seven?â Aerion scoffed crossing his arms as he looked down at her with a smirk on his lips. âWhy would that be important when you can have a real fight? Only fools would care about itâ
The girl didn't shrink away from his sharp tone, instead, she looked up at him, her eyes bright with the thrill of her findings.
âBecause, my prince, it is not just a fight, it is holy law,â she explained, tapping the yellowed page with a finger in the section she was reading before the interruption. âThe septons say that if seven combatants face another seven, the gods themselves will judge the righteous and whoever wins is proven innocent in the eyes of the godsâŚthere has not been another since Maegor but the law still stands. It is an absolute right for any knight or highborn, it cannot be denied.â
Aerionâs smirk faded, replaced by a sudden intense curiosity. An absolute right.
He had trained constantly and had been taught by the best septas and maestres of the Seven Kingdoms, but since the tradition was so ancient, it had been forgotten due to the great losses suffered during that last trial and nobody seemed to have mentioned it until this strange girl on the floor.
âAn ancient law, you say?â Aerion murmured taking a step closer, his purple eyes narrowing as he stared at the heavy book on her lap. âShow me.â
Instead of being afraid of the proximity, the girl offered him a small smile and patted the empty space on the floor beside her, a gesture inviting the prince to join her. For a moment, Aerion hesitated, he could hear his father's voice saying âThat´s not fit for a princeâ but his curiosity and the audacity of her invitation, won over. He sat down beside her, his red and black silk robes resting against the cold stone floor
That afternoon in the library, something happened, something blossomed between the two souls.
With every passing day, the pair became closer, stirring up whispers in court that disappeared with the wind. They were mostly bad rumors, but there was something that couldnât be denied: as the moons turned, the prince became more and more fascinated by her mind. He loved to listen to her voice as she read from crumbling books, hanging on every one of her opinions.
Soon, and after being discovered by a Septa in their usual spot, who scolded them for how improper it was, their appearances became public in the bright light of the court. They began adding more activities to their routine, they began taking walks side by side beneath the shade of the trees, with the smell of flowers and grass thick in the air. Aerion, who usually walked fast with an arrogant stride, would slow his pace just to match hers, listening intently as she told him her favorite flowers from the Reach, or as she shared tales of her home, at least, the little things she could still remember.
When they were old enough to, they were expected at feasts and social gatherings, but there was no difference. Though the prince was known for his temper and cruel teases towards other lords, his demeanor shifted the moment he took her hand to dance. He held her closely, refusing to let any other nobleman share a dance with her and never leaving her side
Behind the scenes, the Dragon Princeâs devotion only grew. He had ordered roses and different plants from the Reach to be brought and planted in the gardens of Summerhall, ensuring she would always have a piece of her home. He even demanded the restoration of the old library, including the addition of plush velvet cushions to make their reading sessions more comfortable. And when tragedy struck after the passing of Lord Tyrell, it was Aerion who begged his father to offer residency at Summerhall to the Lady and her mother. Prince Aerion worked in the shadows, ensuring his rose would blossom safely by his side. As the years bled into one another, the young adults now heard the whispers in the corridors even more loudly, they did not care to hide themselves from the rumors, aftell all, the court love watching them with anticipation; it was no longer a matter of if the prince would claim her, but when.
The official announcement of the Tourney at Ashford Meadow threw Summerhall into a lot of preparation, but amid the chaos, the prince and his lady sought the quiet sanctuary where their story had begun. The library was dark, except for the warm flickering glow of a single candle on the desk. Now, they sat close together on a plush velvet settee with no space between them, Aerion had his head resting in her lap as she gently ran her fingers through his short silver hair. Only in these quiet moments, away from his fatherâs harsh eyes and the court's judgment over his temper, did the tension leave Aerionâs shoulders completely.
âThey say half the realm will be thereâŚI wish I could go but my mother needs me by her side.â she murmured softly, her eyes tracing his sharp Valyrian features in the candlelight. âThe road is long, Aerion. Promise me you will be carefulâŚDo not let your pride blind you in the lists.â
Aerion closed his eyes, leaning into the comfort of her touch. To anyone else, such advice would have sparked a furious outburst, but from her lips, it only felt like a protective embrace. He caught her hand, kissing the inside of her wrist where her pulse fluttered, before looking up at her with an intensity that made her breath catch.
âI am a dragon, my lady, they cannot harm meâ he whispered, his voice uncharacteristically soft, stripped of all its usual arrogance. âBut I promise, I will ride hard and win all the jousts, and when I return, you and I will marry; I´ll finally make you mine.â
She could feel was the mixture of overwhelming affection and a strange lingering dread she couldn't quite shake. She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small silk favor she had spent nights embroidering in secret, a three-headed dragon with one head yellow, another red, and one orange; something they had talked about before, his own banner.
âTake it with you, it will bring you luck.â
After Aerion´s departure, there was nothing left for her to do but wait and pray. She spent her days looking for new stories to tell him or in the town´s sept, lighting candles to the mother for his safety and to the Warrior for his victory, counting the grueling days until his promised return but instead, Prince Maekar´s returned brought with him looming and sad news.
The grim news travelled through Summerhall like wildfire. In his pride and madness, Aerion had demanded a Trial of Seven. He had forced an ancient combat to punish a hedge knight, a choice that ended in the worst disaster the realm could have anticipated: Prince Baelor Breakspear, the beloved Hand of the King and Heir to the Iron Throne, was dead. And Aerion, by some cruel twist of fate or the strange mercy of the Seven, had survived the very horror he had unleashed. Stricken with shock, she ran toward the princeâs bedchamber, her heart hammering against her chest; she did not stop until she noticed him.
Prince Maekar stood outside the heavy oak doors, a hard and grim expression carven upon his face. The lady immediately halted, standing before the prince.
âYour Grace, I am deeply sorry for your loss.â With a formal bow, the lady greeted the prince, and with a nod of his head, he returned the courtesy.
âThank you, Lady Tyrell.â The prince did not move from his place; instead, he clasped his hands in front of him, maintaining his rigid posture. âI know well why you are here, and I will not deny you the right to see him, but I was hoping we might have a word.â His voice was low, heavy with a father's grief and profound shame.
âOf course, Your Grace,â the lady replied.
He hesitated for a moment before speaking, for it was an arduous task to touch upon such a matter after having been a witness to the young love this girl and his boy shared.
âYour father came to me when you became of age, he proposed a marriage between you and Aerion, I refused.â Maekar spoke, looking down at her with grim solemnity. âAfter his passing, I spent many years wondering if I was wrong. Every day, when you two passed through the gardens, I saw my son in a way I never thought to see him againâŚyet, I can now say with certainty, it was well that I never gave my approval to your father's request. I wished to spare you from a destiny bound to tragedy. I know my son, and he carries madness within his blood, i had been blind for sometime but I saw it clearly when he requested the trial, and now, our people have suffered the consequences of his insolence.â He drew a deep, heavy breath before continuing. âI have decided that Aerion shall sail to Essos. A time spent in the Free Cities might be best to cure the cruelty within him.â
The young lady stood frozen, the world spinning around her as she processed his words. Her father, the betrothal, her love, everything suddenly felt torn out of place. Yet, gathering what little strength remained in her trembling body, she looked up into the eyes of the Prince of Summerhall.
âHe will not go without me, Your Grace, you know it as well as I do.â The young girl spoke fiercely, baring the sharp thorns of a beautiful rose. âWe shall leave Westeros together, He will be good with me. He has always been good to me; he only required someone who could read him well, and I am a great reader, my lord.â Her expression shifted, taking a decisive step toward the door. âI beg for your trust. He will be fine at my side, and he shall not be left alone in a strange land.â
âYou speak with bravery, my ladyâŚand with the blindness of a heart in love,â Maekar murmured, his voice laced with an exhaustion that ran deeper than his bones. He took a slow step back, his heavy boots echoing against the stone floor and reached for the iron handle of the door. âBut a dragon is not a book to be read, Lady Tyrell. It is a beast of fire and blood. If you truly believe you can tame the fire inside him, then go inside; Look upon my son and tell me if you still wish to burn alongside him.â
The Prince pushed the oak door open granting her entry into the dim chamber where Aerion awaited. Once she stepped inside, the heavy oak door clicked shut behind her, cutting off the muted sounds of the corridor and burying her in a suffocating silence. The scent of incense and milk of the poppy hung heavy in the air, and a few maestres were still in the room, keeping vigil over the prince's wounds.
There, sitting on the edge of the massive bed, was Aerion. He didnât look up when the door opened, assuming it was another servant or his father returning; he just sat there.
âAerionâŚâ she whispered.
At the sound of her voice, the prince stiffened. His shoulders went rigid beneath his linen shirt, and slowly he lifted his head. Aerion Brightflame, the untouchable prince had a dark bruise spanning across his face, the shades of green and purple decorated his cheekbones.
When she took another step into the room, he didnât push her away, instead, he reached out, his scraped hand catching her wrist and pulling her gently but firmly until she sat beside him on the edge of the bed. For a long moment, he simply stared at her; His violet eyes held a darkness inside, the humillation of losing a combat, and the incoming fear of being send far away from her.
âI guess you saw my father at the entryâ Aerion murmured, his voice low and rough. His hand found hers, intertwining his bruised fingers with hers, holding on tightly. Â âHe came to tell me he is sending me away to the free cities.â He paused, his grip tightening until it almost hurt, a sudden fierce intensity bleeding into his quiet tone. "I will not be parted from you"
âWe wonât be separated.â she whispered, her voice carrying the same strength she had spoken of to his father. She brought her free hand to his cheek, her thumb gently brushing just beneath the dark, painful bruise on his cheekbone; Aerion leaned his face into her palm.
"My father wants me gone," he murmured against her skin, his voice cracked and exhausted. "But I am not leaving without you, I cannot."
"You won't" she promised, nothing else mattered anymore. "Let them send you away, I don't care where we go, Aerion. I am going with you."
A long slow breath escaped Aerionâs lips, his rigid shoulders finally dropping as a sudden, genuine wave of relief washed over him. All of this madness, the trial, the violence and all the chaos he had unleashed, had been born from his desperate need to prove his prowess to her. Yet here, in the quiet wreckage of his defeat, he realized he didn't need to prove anything to her; even with his glory stripped away and his skills broken, she was still by his side.
He squeezed her hand, a soft, exhausted line smoothing his brow as he simply let himself rest against her, safe in the knowledge that whatever it may lay ahead, they would face them together.