hot and humble

She has never seen a place more alive. It’s nothing like the streets surrounding Highgarden, where everything is prim and polished and proper. There is no promenading, no carriages bumping along cobblestone streets, no polite nods and proper conversation. There is only noise- music, laughter, loud voices trying to be heard over one another and only made louder by drink. The streets are not streets at all, but a mix of downtrodden dirt and planks of wood made sticky with spilled liquor. Sound pours out of open doors, people on every corner, the lanterns and moon lighting their way as Aegon guides her through the streets.

It is everything she has been taught not to be. Obnoxious and loud and obvious in its need for attention.

It should disgust her.

Somehow, it only thrills her.

She trots by Aegon’s side like an overeager puppy, staring wide eyed as she takes in everything around her. His voice only adds to the noise as he laughs at something his kingsguard has said, his response loud but gone entirely unheard by her, the excitement leaving her short sighted. She peers into every window and open door they pass, taking in everything she can in the three steps it takes to pass by. The messy jumble of people and tables in the tavern, the barkeep pouring clear liquor into a metal cup, the way a man throws his arm around a woman’s shoulders as they sing a song she can’t place before they are gone. Two men sit on a porch beneath a single, moth laden lantern, a pair of dice thrown between them, the one on the left cursing as they pass them by.

She had thought her life as she knew it was over the moment her marriage to Prince Aemond had been announced. And she had been fine with that. Truly. The thought of being a princess had been enough to soften the blow of leaving her friends and family behind, of leaving home, but then she had met her intended. Sullen and quiet, seemingly without a sense of humour, and very obviously not prepared for marriage. He cared more for his books and sword than he did getting to know his betrothed and that had stung more than she cared to admit. Despite her best efforts, he had remained a stranger to her even after their wedding night, and she found herself less and less eager to resign herself to her fate.

But then Aegon had seen her unhappiness. He had offered her conversation and an ear to listen to her plight, had made her laugh and seemed to genuinely enjoy her company. So when he had offered to take her to Flea Bottom- one night of freedom, he had said, more tempting than he had any right to be- of course she had agreed. It seemed only logical. If she was to be shuttered away in the Red Keep with her silent husband and his books, then she deserved to have a little bit of fun.

She is so enthralled with it all that when they pass an alleyway, the sight stops her in her tracks. Aegon and the others carry on unnoticing and though she knows she would be a fool to stop and allow herself to be entirely alone here, she cannot bring herself to keep walking, shock rooting her to the spot.