#serduncansdelight

There was a bluebird on the sill of your window.

You had been in the middle of your embroidery, the shiny needle coming to stop between the fabric as you came to stare at the creature in awe. Its fidgeting body had hopped and fluttered on the stone ledge, chirping away as it observed you from across the room. Excitement pulsed through you as you gently settled your embroidery hoop onto the table as delicately as you could before you began approaching the bird.

Its song filled the silence, each chirp sending a little echo through the vast room as you dragged yourself to the creature in a crouch. Your skirts crumpled beneath your body as you approached. Your heart came to swell in your throat as you pushed down memories of your mother and sister, tears coming to collect at the edges of your eyes as you admire the delicate hues of blue on the birds wings. 

You had been so captured by the bird of your family's history you didn't hear the door to your room open or shut behind you until the bird suddenly let out a hard cry and fled through the open window. You remained in a low crouch until your name being called behind you made your body instinctively straighten as you rose and turned around to face the only other person who was allowed into the room. Your fear left you with no choice but to stand still as heavy boots trudged into the room while your eyes found the floor.

"It seems my lady wife has forgotten how to greet her husband," although his tone came as a tease, Aerion's hardened gaze bore into the side of your face— your months of marriage letting you know well enough that he was not in a joking mood.

You bowed before the Prince as you spoke, "I did not expect you today, my prince". Your words coming out airy and rushed as you continued to avoid his gaze. 

You knew what he had come for, its the only reason he had ever deigned to visit your secluded chambers in the Keep. 

When he didn't respond, your eyes reluctantly left the stone floor and found his body a few feet from you though his gaze was now on the window behind you. You watch his eyes flicker between the stone ledge and your crumpled skirts, your hands coming to smooth your appearance despite futile attempts. 

"Ah," he tutted, a smile slowly spreading to show his bright teeth that matched the color of his hair. "Let me guess. Was that your mother? Maybe it was your father?" his smile had turned wicked before he let out a chuckle as he approached until he was a step away from connecting your chests. "Or, perhaps it was your sister?" 

Despite the amount of mockery or bullying he had done to you, you could still feel pure disbelief bubble beneath your skin.

Aerion knew that your family had the stories of old just as his ancestry did—how his family had dragons while your family had bluebirds that the departed would use to visit you during tough times and yet he still mocked your traditions and family legacy.

You swallow a sob as you steel yourself before the man you married. 

Guilt fills you when—for a split second—you curse your sister for dying. It had originally been your sister that had been selected as the prince's intended, the waves of happiness that had overflowed from her at the mention of becoming a princess had left your family scrambling to depart from your home and only leaving your eldest brother and yourself to stay back. 

Then news came of an upturned carriage. You could still remember the moment the scout had arrived, ears coming to ring and muffle the words of how he found the bodies of your beloved mother and father with their throats slit while your sister was found not a few feet away face down in the river.

You were only allowed a few days of mourning until a raven came with a message of acceptance of you being a suitable stand in. Your brother had come to explain how your father had owed a debt and the debt would need to be paid one way or another. The last time you had seen your brother was months ago when he put you into a carriage that arrived from Kings Landing, multiple guards attached to escort you to your new husband. 

Aerion's fingers brushing your fallen tears brought you back to the present. His body had come to crouch down to look straight into your eyes that had dropped to stare at the floor. His iris' filled with unbridled lust as he shushed you, wiping away tears with false-sympathies. 

"You should not cry for that old family," he whispered, the tone sounding so sweet you almost consider leaning into the falsehood for comfort. "I am your family now, the only one you should consider."

His words only make your body jolt in despair. He allows two more tears to slip before he lets out a loud sigh of annoyance and pulled himself away to sprawl onto the furs of your bed. His hands undo the strings of his shirt until his chest is exposed. Aerion adjusts his position before he looks at you and jerks his head at you. "Come."

Flashes from your wedding night peppered into your mind at the sight of him, saying the same words he did when the time came to consummate the marriage. The knot in your throat was just like the one you had then, blocking all words as you forced yourself into his lap. The fabric of your skirts separated your body from his as he gazed up at you with boredom before he pulled a blade from the scabbard on his hip. He had done the same thing that night, the only difference was that you now knew what to expect of Aerion Targaryen when he came to your chambers. 

Bringing the edge of the blade to your corset, he gives no warning as he slowly drags the metal down and tears the front of your dress. The tip of his blade skims the surface of your chest and between the valley of your breasts while the sound of fabric tearing fills the room. You are forced to watch as the gown you had worn had now been reduced to scraps at the princes' sick attempt at seduction. His eyes found yours in bliss as he removed the top layer of your dress and left you bare. 

"This is how you should be greeting me"

Your skin pebbled with the exposure to the cold air, the crackling fire in the hearth doing nothing but adding to the ambience within your chamber walls. Your chest rises and falls with each breath as Aerion comes close and brings your breast to his mouth, the sudden warmth making honey of your bones despite the distaste you felt in your heart for the man. His mouth latched on as his tongue circled, pebbling your nipple until the brush of his tongue made a small whimper rip from your throat. He repeated the action on the other as his hands traveled to the strings of your skirts and pulled at the knot until the fabric loosened, he pulled away and dragged the skirts over your head. 

Aerion brought the blade back to your flesh, bringing the dagger to drag against your waist as he spoke. "You want to make your husband happy, yes?" You can only nod as you fix your gaze on the cherished knife of the prince. He seemed pleased with your response as he tossed the blade to the empty space beside him on the bed.

Your body felt three times heavier as he brought his hand up and grasped at your neck and forced you closer to look into his eyes. Irritation bloomed beneath his iris' as he squeezed the flesh of your throat, not hard enough to cut off your airway but enough to make your eyes widen as you looked down at him. You’re forced still as he works his stare over your face until he finally lets go and smacks your thigh hard enough to earn a small hiss from you. He comes to smile once more before he tells you to stand.

You knew better than to hope for his departure.  He had done the jest too many times.

You roll off of his body and stand to the side as he rose from the furs and raised his hands in wait. Your body moved mindlessly as you brought your hands to pull at the strings quickly, earning a chuckle from Aerion who joked about your impatience for him. 

You only wanted to get this over with.

You fiddle with the string of his trousers, eyes fixed on the fabric so as to still your shaking fingers when his hands stop yours with a swat and instructions to lay on the bed. You follow instructions as your fate was sealed the second you repeated the vows back to him in the Great Sept of Baelor, so you lie down and watch as Aerion removed his pants.

As you drag your gaze up his body, you hold the speckle of attraction you felt as the target of your resentment. You hated the way your body instinctively shifted and preened at the sight of his toned body, his figure shaped from his time training in the castle courtyard, his smooth flesh making one think he was untrained. It was when you look upon his hands that you can see the years of training etched into the creases of his palms, taut skin scarred with nicks and cuts. Your eyes land on his toned back that gleamed with the reflection of the flame in the center of the room.

His body turns to face you fully and you're quick to force your eyes to his face, avoiding the hardened part of his body that brought you both to pleasure and pain. His eyebrow raise at the sight of your reddened face, a low chuckle coming from his chest that came flush against yours as he brings his body over you with his entire weight. His eyes find yours as his brings his head to the side of your neck and bites down, his teeth grinding your skin in between each ridge so hard you cry. 

He pulls away and you give your best smile, ignoring the tears pooling out of your eyes. He leans down again, licking at your tears as his hands come to fondle your chest. His thighs have now come up to straddle your hips, his hard cock resting against your lower belly. You can't ignore the heat he radiates or the weight of what laid between the two of you. He gives you one last glance before he pulls back off of your body and spits directly on your center, missing by a few inches but it didn't matter as his spit dripped down, his fingers come down and glide the glob of saliva up and down your lips before he pressed into you with his fingers.

The sudden intrusion makes a gasp whisper past your lips, his groan sounding over your noise. "You're so wet," he mumbled, pushing his fingers in deeper before gliding them back out. "'And you said you weren't expecting me? Was this for someone else?" his fingers come to curl inside you, your slick making a squelch sound as he curled his fingers over and over like a scratch. You shake your head at him, maybe as an answer or in protest but the response seemed to satisfy him enough to lean down and kiss your lips gently. His thumb comes to flick your clit, making your mouth open in shock before he plunges his tongue into your mouth. Simultaneously kissing and rubbing, you've no way to choose how to respond and he ends up biting you when you don't kiss back. 

He hums at the sight of you, wet and undone by his fingers. He pulls his fingers from you, cutting you from reaching completion and flicks his hands of your slick before bringing his fingers into his mouth of the remnants. "My sweet girl, my wife" his breathless words mix with the lulling vibrations of your body and you can only watch as he rubs the head of his cock against you. His body rocks against you, bumping over and under your pearl all while he held himself up to hover over you and come up right to your eye line. It overwhelmed you, the intensity of his stare. All that you bubbled down to survive in his presense had started to come up. Your gaze travels up to the decorated canopy bed, focusing on the linen sheets that resembled your family house colors, the ones that matched the sky and the wings of the birds you wished you could become.

Aerion's eyebrows furrow at your expression, not looking at him but through him. It angered him to the point of stopping to reach up and pinch your face between his fingers, your eyes zoning back in and masking once more into a loving gaze. 

But he could tell it was fake, the shining eyes he had caught a glimpse of when he entered your separate chambers, eyes on a stupid filthy bird that twittered and scraped its talons on stone—that got a look of devotion while he got antipathy. He couldn't help the snarl that came from him as he released his grip, kissing his teeth as he rose from the bed. He turned his back to dress, leaving you confused and listless as you watched his back muscles move.

You do your best to hide your relief from your face.  He would most likely return to the streets of silk.

You sit up as he pulls on his white linen shirt, your hands coming to wrap your body with the sheets when a loud chirp sounds through the room. You both still, the sound not believed to be heard until it comes again more than once. 

Not a bluebird, please don't be a bluebird.

Your eyes remain on Aerion as he drops the pants he intended to put on, letting out a chuckle as he turns toward the windowsill. You follow his gaze after you see his joyous expression, seeing a bluebird fidget on the stone as it looked about the room as if invited to comment on the decor. You feel the gasp before you hear it, finding its eyes look at you often.

Aerion walked over until he came up beside you and pulled the sheets from your chest to display you to the small audience the two of you gained. Your hands fly up to cover yourself but Aerion was always faster, his hands curling around your wrist before pushing them onto the bed and coming to hover over you once more.

"I think daddy dearest wanted to check on his little girl," he jeered, not caring that your gaze remained on the bird. You protest, your eyes filling with tears as your pleas go unheard. Aerion's free hand came down between you two and lined his pulsing cock to your core and slowly inched forward. His moan filled the room as he sheathed himself in you before he let go of your hands and brought both of his to frame your face and turn your gaze to him. "Let's show him, yeah? Show him that you are all mine"

Aerion's violet eyes fix on yours as he pumps into you, each rock making the head of his cock kiss your insides. He watched you fight the pleasure he knew you felt, your lips coming to form an 'o' like it had countless times before. He let go one side of your face to grip the underside of your thigh, brining it up to angle you so he could reach deeper. His panting breaths mixed with your shallow breathing, he licked his lips before he kissed you. His hand caressed your face once before he pulled out to turn you over. 

You're face down in the mattress before you process what happened, the furs and sheets now rumpled beneath your two bodies coming together once more. His hands came down onto your head, fingers weaving into your hair and pulling to make you turn away from the sheets and toward the room, specifically toward the window. 

"Aerion please—"

He shushes you sweetly, now petting your head as he continued his thrusts. "Your little birds gets to see what I get to do with mine"

His thrusts deepen as he holds you for balance by your head. His moans mix with the echoing slapping of skin coming together over and over. The fire continues to pop in its hearth and the bird continues to watch as your brought to completion despite your best efforts against it. He continues to thrust until he reached his rapture, filling you to the brim before removing himself from you and watched as his seed slowly glided down your leg and onto the floor.

His eyes travel to the side of your face before traveling to the window that was now vacant. He dressed himself, relishing in his satisfaction of the start of his early morning. He watched you until you rose from the bed. You take a moment to collect your expression before you turn to gaze at Aerion, ensuring your eyes meet his. He stays quiet a moment, looking over your face a few times before he reaches out and grasps your chin in between his fingers ever so gently.

“You slipped away for a little bird,” he stated, his grip cradling your chin a little. He skimmed the edge of your jaw with his rough fingers, a mock pout stretched across his face while he forced his deep violet eyes onto yours. His face is close enough to show off his unblemished skin and sharp cheekbones. He looked princely, but you knew better. 

A hiss escapes you when his fingers come and tighten on your jaw hard enough for you to know that it would leave a mark.

“Ensure it doesn’t happen again”

Giving you a pointed look, he released your face with a push and made his way out of the room without a glance back. At the sound of the door clicking to a close, your gaze lingers on the door for a moment before you feel your body jolt forward and you hear yourself let out a quiet sob.

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It was hours later when a knock came at your door. 

You knew it wasn't Aerion as he would've walked in without so much as a 'hello', so you stand and walk to the door. You take cautious steps toward the door, opening it a crack until you see it is a knight that usually follows your husband. His face holding a kind smile as he present you with a box wrapped in a singular red string bow.

"A gift from Prince Aerion, your grace" 

Your face comes into a frown before you could stop yourself, the door creaking as you open it wider. You look behind the man expecting to see Aerion right beside him, smirking as he usually was—only, it was the lone knight and he looked confused as to why you had not responded. The question slips out before you could think of a more proper way of asking, your fear coming out a soft whisper.

"Is he on the way?"

The knight gives you a a frown of remorse, probably thinking the princess had missed her husband terribly in the few hours they spent apart. He shakes your head and relays the instructions he was given. 

"I was told to present this on behalf of His Highness, the prince. He is in the courtyard just outside your window and says he wishes to see your face as you open your gift"

Aerion, in all your time wed, had never sent you a gift.

The knight entered the room and walked to the sill, placing the small box down before bowing to you once then leaving. The door closed with a groan and a click but you could only stare at the box that lay a few feet away, a deep forboding feeling filling you from your toes to the crown of your head. 

A loud whistle just beyond the castle walls called out, the familiar tune letting you know that what the knight said was true. Your feet move before you realize and you are standing at the window looking down at Aerion, who was waiting for you just below on horseback. His familiar steed dressed in it's riding leathers made to look like scales of a dragon that no longer ruled the great skies.

"Open it," he called out, shrugging his shoulders with nonchalance as he stared up the stone wall. "I saw this while out this morning and knew you had to have it"

Your heart thumped right on the bone of your ribcage as you dragged your gaze from the smiling Targaryen prince to the box. Your shaky hands returned as you pulled the string and fumbled with box until it opened and you let out a cry before you fell to the floor.

There, in a box on the windowsill, laid the small body of a bluebird with broken wings and a note.

A bluebird for my bluebird —A.

The scream you let out as laughter traveled up the wall and through the window made your heart bleed just as deeply as you hurt. You don't know how long you stay there, screaming out your pain when just beyond the door, you hear the guards stand to attention and the door opens to reveal your husband. 

Your eyes had swollen and your face was smeared with your tears and despair when you come to look up at the unfeeling prince. In all your time being married, this was the cruelest thing he had done. You'd forgiven him when he had your family colors removed from all your wardrobe, coming to understand that you were now under his protection in the eyes of the seven. You even forgave him when he had all your belongings removed and replaced with ones to his liking. 

This was beyond forgiveness. 

Aerion goes to lay on the fresh sheets that were replaced mere moments after he departed from your chambers, his eyes on you as you come to stand. He raised his eyebrow at you, the look of entitlement painted clear on his face. He adjusts himself on the bed before he jerks his head at you. "Come my little blue bird"

The wind is knocked out of you at his sadistic smile, beaming bright at the sight of your fresh tears. You are out of the room before you realized that you moved, the sight of the knight in the corridor making your feet carry you out of there faster as your name is called from behind you. You reach the flight of stairs, the long winding steps stretching out the longer you stared.

You couldn't do it anymore. It would never stop. He will never stop.

Your body had racked forward with each sob you couldn't keep at bay, your tears burning the already raw skin on your face. Your hand had come up to grasp the rail when Aerion's voice called out to you from behind. 

You don't turn as you shake your head. You wouldn't go back, you'd rather—

You let out a breath and turn to face Aerion whose usual bored stance had come to attention as he gazed at you a few steps away, his brows scrunching together while he assessed your next move. It must've been written on your face because he was taking a few step forward until he was only an arms distance away.

"Step away," he muttered annoyed, keeping his eyes on yours. "If you wish to weep, you can do so in your chambers"

You shake your head and step back, stumbling until you catch yourself on the railing. He remained the bored princeling as you finally spoke. "Why do you do this?"

Aerion says nothing as he looks at you. A sob rocks your body as you ask again, your voice coming to yell loud enough to echo down the stair hall. Your hands are in your hair, pulling as if the answer will fall out along with your hair. He says something but you've come to ignore it as you cy out, hysterics taking over and making you pace until you stop and look at him.

As Aerion stands there was a dumb expression on his face, you decide then and there that the life you had dreamed of as a child would never come to pass. The image of a loving husband, who would come to kiss you the moment his eyes laid on you, would never come to pass. The laughter that echoed in your dreams of your partner and you sharing a look of love as your children say something funny or outlandish burned away along with any hope of anything getting better. 

You call his name once, your voice coming out a whisper as he looks up to your vacant face. He knew it was going to happen, he could see it within your eyes that stared back void of any emotion or light. It was like you were looking at him but more like you were staring directly into his soul. 

"I don't want to be your wife anymore"

Before he could say a word, you threw yourself back. The last thing you see is Aerion reaching out to you before the world goes black.

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You could feel the cold fingertips on your forehead before you felt the world of pain that followed right after. You try to sit up in your bed only to be pushed down and instructed to remain still. You hear a voice whisper instructions to fetch a maester before you hear footsteps rush out of the room. Your hand flies up to your head when darkness greets you, panic of the possibility of blindness making your hands begin to shake.

A woman's sweet voice reassured you that you were only bandaged for your head. "Maester Robynn will see to your bandages once he arrives but you must remain calm"

You settle yourself at the womans instruction, coming to trust her by the mere sound of her voice. 

The peace only lasted so long before the sound of shouts and boots against pavement filled the halls. You had no choice but to lay there as the sounds approached until they were in the room with you. You listen as the boots come to stop at the threshold before the soft voice cuts the silence. 

"Your Grace, we await the maester but the princess is awake"

You fidget before your hands grip the sheets that covered you and go to sit up once more. You hear movement before you feel a hand on your shoulder pushing you back down. "Don't move, wait for a maester" the voice that speaks sounds strained, tight with emotion as if the words were forced out.

You settle down again but notice the hand on your shoulder had not moved from its point of contact, the warmth seeping through your clothes and burning your skin. You shrug away the hand just as another set of footsteps arrive and enter the room.

You're patient when the disembodied voice explains that your stitches would heal nicely, understanding when you're told you'd be on bed rest for a while and demure when the maester tells you to rely on your ladies in waiting for any and every need as to not strain yourself.

The consultation is cut short when an irritated voice vocalized what you had been wanting to ask for since you woke. "Remove the linen before I have you replaced"

A body approached you before you felt the wrappings around your head begin to fall loose, light coming in with each wrap removed. The maester informed you that bright lights should be avoided just as the last linen cloth is removed. You blink a bit as you try to focus, seeing blobs that slowly shifted to focus to see a nurse, a maester and a few knights in the room.

All begin to welcome you back with a smile you have no choice but to return until your eyes find the only person in the room that had yet to say a word. You look around the room to see everyone giving the man with white hair a look of relief. The man lets out a low sigh as he comes to look into your eyes before a small smile spreads onto his face. 

His hand comes to hold the one closest to him before he begins to speak. "You've been out for a few days now. They told me you might not make it but I knew," his voice faded into a breathy whisper as he continued. "I knew you'd wake. I knew it."

His fingers squeeze yours before he comes in close enough that you could smell the scent of wine and sharp smoke seeping off of his black and red clothes. He gave you another smile before he turned and began commanding everyone in the room to prepare a bath when you finally speak.

"I'm sorry, but who are you to me?"

Three knocks sounded off against the wooden chamber door. 

Aerion would have been annoyed at the sudden interruption, if it wasn't for the amusing reaction of your panicked state. Your eyes had grown wide, lips parted in shock as your hands unconsciously come up to quickly fist his shirt before traveling to his hands, hurriedly pulling at the entertained princeling in attempts to get him up from the bed and behind the privacy screen. 

The main thing he noted was your hands, what others would never consider to do, you'd done it in less than a thought. You had never initiated touch first and the mere action left his speechless.

He kept forgetting about your temporary lapse in sense—forced to understand why you were panicked at the thought of being caught alone with your husband. Nonetheless, he humored you and let you drag his body behind the divider with a chuckle. The walls of the Red Keep were the only witness to Aerion's sudden compliance when your finger unconsciously traveled up to his smile, the cool touch smooth against his lips to shush his unspoken words. His smile turns to a serious frown as you pull away and walk toward the door, not seeing the way his eyes traveled up and down your backside. 

He could look all he wanted—you were his wife. His deluded wife.

Finally pulling his gaze away, his eyes find the tossed dress you wore earlier in the day, fingers gripping the blue fabric in distaste as he listens to someone enter. It should be red, was all he could think over the hushed tones coming from the door. The interaction lasts for a moment longer than necessary before the door shut and he strolled out to find you standing near the hearth, picking underneath your fingers with a far off expression he had come to dislike.

He called your name once, only earning a low hum of inattentiveness before he marched forward and stood just before you. You finally knock back to the present at his proximity, forcing a polite smile you had learned to maintain decorum. 

Just like that, the small moment you had come alive was gone.

Aerion's anger was quick, fingers suddenly grasping your face tight as he angled your stare upright and into his violent one. Before he could speak a word, another set of knocks sounded off just behind him. Rage bristled Aerion's frame as he turned to the door—ready to throw the wooden slab open and demand everyone within the keep to leave—only to stop with his hand at the handle, your hands simple touch on his skin calming him. You pull open the door, trapping him just behind in utter disbelief, as you grab the tray the maid brought and urge her to close the door behind you. With the swing close, Aerion appeared from the shadows with a scowl as you made your way deeper into the room. 

You hear him follow behind, no doubt stewing in his wrath, before you settle the tray on the table. Aerion doesn't hide his confusion at the sight of a cup, a flagon and a small dish of orange hard candies—he was most surprised when you began to serve a cup that poured out red instead of clear. 

A flash of your shared wedding night slipped into his mind at the sight of you pouring a cup with shaky hands, the memories may have left you but the person you were remained. That night being the first time the two of you were alone together—Aerion would never forget the way you kept glancing up at him, the whisper of your lashes fluttering against your wet cheeks as you mumbled your promises to be a good wife then calling him 'my prince' as he laid himself into you with a definitive thrust.

It seems too long since he's heard you say that to him.

Aerion blinked back the memory, focusing back onto your hands that now plopped a single candy into your mouth before you offered the drink to him with a small voice. "You were interrupted and I could tell you were getting a little…tense, your grace"

He gave you a puzzled expression as you offered him the drink once more, his hand slowly reaching forward and grabbing the cup. Your fingertips linger on the stem, ensuring his slack hand had grasped the cup correctly, only to pause as his fingers cover yours. Aerion could feel it, the fingers beneath his own flexing before letting go, leaving him to grab the drink before it fell while you turn back to the table.

"You mentioned you were to depart to Summerhall, is that right your grace?" you ask, busying your body with tidying as you send him a polite smile over your shoulder. You don't give him a chance to speak before you continued. "It's odd that you depart so soon since my brother arrives in three days time with my sister"

Aerion scoffs, taking one gulp of his drink before slamming the chalice down onto the table with a thud, sloshing a little bit of liquid onto the mahogany. You jump at the sound and watch as his face twists into unrestrained outrage. "You have truly lost all sense— why would you be here? If your sister was meant to be my bride, why would you be here?!"

A frown greets the prince as you explain, "Your uncle and Maester Robynn informed me that I was sent here before my sister to help get things ready for the princess to be— settling her chambers and preferences—being that I am her closest friend and family member. Apparently my fall caused more lapses in my memory than they thought because I believed my sister arrived before me" 

"Your fall?" he asked, skepticism clear in his tone. His face pinched tight in strained frustration as he watched you step away and continue. "Yes, I was told I was prepping my sisters' chambers when I slipped and fell down the stairs"

Your answer only makes him spin around and curse his uncle before vowing to have the maester sent to the wall. He doesn't say anything else as he grabbed the drink off the table harshly, letting out a deep sigh before drinking down the rest of the cup. Aerion placed the cup on the table, licking his teeth before settling his gaze on you, which you misinterpret. You move forward and reach for the cup to refill it while ignoring his fierce stare. You pour again and hand it to him, offering a meek smile without looking at his face, turning back to the task at hand.

His stopped midway of bringing it to his lips, his eyes finding your body back at the table, cleaning his spill, when a sudden though pops into his head. "I don't get one?"

"Your grace?" you ask turning, eyes following his head jutting toward the small tray of hard candies by your side. "Oh," you grab the small bowl and keep it to your chest. "I take these to help with sleep, I'm told too many can make ones senses hinder so—"

"—so give me one and be done with it" he cut off, voice growing more irate by the second. 

Not wanting to anger the prince, you pluck a small candy from the tray and outstretch your hand and to dangle the piece on the edge of your fingers. He shook his head and licked his lips before gesturing you to come closer. 

"Too many of these can hinder my senses?" he asked, playfully shaking his body as if in fear while cocking his brow at your approaching fingers that lingered in the air, the orange candy distracting him from what he originally came for. You nod and go to put the candy back into the cup when he tuts and opens his mouth. His unoccupied hand comes out to your waist and brings you closer, ignoring the way your eyes widened or how your feet dragged. He finds joy in your thwarted expression, sticking out his tongue while wiggling his eyebrows with a tightened grip on your waist.

You are quick to push the candy into his mouth, trying and failing to avoid his tongue that flicked out against your skin. The warmth from his tongue had you jolt back and avoid his lust-filled eyes. You clear your throat before finally gaining the courage to speak. "Did you need anything else, your grace?"

He stayed quiet while letting out a low chuckle, looking you over and sipping on his wine. 

A loud crunch snapped through the room, the candied sweet now in smithereens in Aerion's mouth. "Summerhall." he said curtly, biting down once more with a tense jaw. "You seem to think these candies have 'hindered my senses' as much as yours were when you woke weeks ago"

You open your mouth but he cuts you off, waving his hand to silence you. "You mentioned being sent here to help settle your sister— well then, you are to settle things for your sister. In Summerhall."

Aerion watched as you fumbled with the candy dish, his own body coming toward you despite the sluggish feeling that enveloped his muscles. He reached forward and plucked the tray from your grip and placed it beside his cup on the tabletop. He could feel his body burning as he breathed in, your chambers being a nest of your essence as he looked you over, a sudden drunk-ish feeling filling him up. 

He couldn't help but notice your eyes, wide with suspicion. Part of him had the idea to knock you upside the head to get you to remember him, but after the countless hours of waiting to see if you would live—it awoke something within him. Now what he spoke in the sept had echoed loudly in his head, his half-hearted vows now full of weight since the sight of your vacant look when you asked him who he was. 

It didn't matter now— all that mattered was that he had you once more and nothing would take that away, not even you. 

He let out a small sigh as he smiled down at you, hand coming up to brush your hair from your face. You can't hide your disbelief as he gives you a mock pout to match your own, his plump lips fighting back a smile as his thumb rubs your cheekbones. Aerion's eyes become a little heavy, low-lidded as they try focusing on your face. His lips pursed as he squinted at you, slowly slouching forward with a stumble into your frame.Your hands fly up to catch him while he let out a husky laugh and mumbled oops. His arms come around your waist, securing himself upright before he spun and sent the two of you toppling toward the bed.He managed to land onto his back, arms coming to lock around your waist as he landed with a small grunt onto the mattress. Your face is now a breath away from his and you remain there despite your attempts to free yourself.

"I need my wife by my side," he mumbled, eyes scanning your face as he kept one hand locked around you while the other came to poke at your furrowed brow.

"Your Grace, I—"

"—My prince," he cut you off, whispering and bringing his thumb to your bottom lip. "Just say it once" 

You almost do it, answer his plea with just two words. His eyes had filled with a look of longing enough to make you gasp at the vulnerability you'd never seen before from him. It leaves you still as Aerion's hands come to brush against your face as he muttered little nothing's, pleased with your gentle presence as he settled himself deeper into the sheets. 

Then you hear what he had been stuttering over and over. My bird.

The nickname punched a hole in your chest, gasping and leaving you to pull away harder until you are finally free and standing over him. Aerion's head had fallen back to onto your pillow, no longer mumbling as he gazed up at you with an unreadable look from the bed. The two of you stare at another for a long moment of silence until Aerion huffed out a wistful sigh, eyes blinking to a close when he finally spoke. 

"Maybe it is best you don't remember"

The silence that followed had no effect in calming your over-beating heart, keeping the steady rise and fall of Aerion's chest in your sights as you stood a foot away from the bod on your mattress. It's a few minutes before you are able to pull your eyes away from him and toward the door you had desperately wanted to escape through. You had come up with a million different ways to approach the usually creaky door, not able to find the one that had no noise. 

You had half a mind when you asked for your regular sedative, the small candy the maesters made for your aversion to milk of the poppy, it worked just the same only went down easier. You had originally wanted to take one, enough to get him to see you needed to sleep but then he demanded one of his own. Maester Robynn explained the potency of each candy, one being enough to get your pain down while causing severe sedation and loss of consciousness and two would leave you out for more than a day. 

He had to be out for more than a few hours… maybe you could make it out before he would be the wiser.

Feeling the starting effects of your medicine, you begin to head to the door when Aerion's warm hand reached out as you passed and gripped your hand as tight as the day you woke. He mumbled and groaned before pulling you over him and onto the bed, nestling you beneath his body. His head comes to rest on top of your head while his large hand is sprawled out over your belly. Aerion's lips brushed the top of your head, his deep breath shushing your struggles as he settles you down until you both are quietly breathing in each others scent. 

You decide to wait for him to fall back asleep to make your escape but before you know it, your breathing had matched his own and you were lulled to sleep alongside Aerion.

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Your sleep is disrupted with a ticklish feeling along your brow, the light tracing followed until it reached your cheekbone and stopped when you twitched. You settle after a few moments only to feel warm fingers caressing your arm, smooth skin brushing your own. You let out a hum and lean closer to the warmth until you hear a small chuckle come from above you. With one eye open, you lean back and look upon Aerion's serene expression, his hair was mussed and in all directions.

You say nothing as you pull yourself upright to sit, keeping your eyes on Aerion's pleased expression as he adjusts in his spot. You never considered the infamous prince to be a morning person but at the sight of his smile, you learn to never take things for their appearances. 

"Your grace, my apologies," you mumble, voice cracking until he hands you a cup of water from the bedside table. Your eyes remain on the cup as you drink, panicking at the thought of anyone knowing Aerion was in your chambers. He must've noted your expression because he explained calling his knight to bring the refreshments before being told to leave. You settle into your spot and let the morning sleepiness fade, through it all Aerion remained at your side with nothing to be said. It becomes unbearable, the silence eating through you more than the stare Aerion gave at your side. You finish off the cup and move to stand when he suddenly speaks. 

"A knock came at your door this morning" his words have you freeze, trying to process his reaction as well as your own, you remain silent—the safest option—and wait for him to continue.

"It seems," he started by grabbing the empty cup from your hands and placing it on the bedside. "My new brother has arrived this morning" He came to face you, his eyes remained fixed on your face. 

He was waiting for a reaction at the news of your brothers arrival to Kings Landing days before he was supposed to. 

He sees surprise register in your eyes before he pats your free hands, clutching them under his palm. He stays like that for a moment before he stood and turned to you. "Dress, we can both go down to greet him" 

He gestured toward your screened divider, making a dramatic show of throwing himself onto the bed and throwing his arm over his eyes when you protested at his presence. He mumbled something under his breath when you continued and finally got up and walked to the door. He stopped at the handle and turned to look at you, a deep look on his face before he stepped out of the room. When the door clicked to a close, you allow your mask to slip and your body slips into a cold sweat. 

Maekar had said to be at the ready and you ended up sleeping with his son. 

You give yourself a few seconds before you rush for your bag, stuffing it with items of importance. You fill it with just enough things that you needed before walking over to your privacy screen and begin looking through your trunks of clothing only to stop at the sight of a single black and red dress intermingled but delicately folded within your dresses. It's design was worthy of a princess and the embroidery was beyond what you could imagine, but this was not your dress.

You hold up the dress between your fingers, dangling the fabric in the air as you admire it before settling it back down. It felt like a trap. You retreat, deciding to play it safe and wear what you wore already. You made your way to the door and open it only to stop at Aerion's bored expression leaning against the wall just opposite of your bedroom, a knight by his side and at the ready. At your arrival, the other man greeted you by bowing while Aerion's bored expression was replaced with a frown at the sight of you. 

"Is something amiss, your highness?" you hesitantly ask, not liking his approaching figure that glanced between you and the room behind you. He shook his head and offered his arm to you, still clothed in his dressings from the previous night. Deciding to play it safe, you grab onto his arm, grasping your light blue gown and make your way toward the dining hall. 

Before entering the main corridor that lead toward the dining room, you are quick to pull away from Aerion and walk forward a few paces with your head looking forward. You can hear him mutter a curse, the profanity so low you let it go and approach the doors and wait for your announcement of arrival.

The second the doors opened and you spotted the familiar silhouette of your brother, your body had thrown itself forward and into his expecting embrace. You couldn't hear anything over the sound of your crying as you tightened your arms around his tall frame. He didn't say anything to soothe you but you could feel it in his hold that he had missed you . The reunion is cut short when a throat clearing off to your side calls your attention and you face Baelor Targaryen who wore that all too familiar everything-is-okay smile. You try to regain your composure to which he insists to give you two a moment and clears the room.

You keep your head low until the room is slowly cleared of a certain lingering princeling who finally relented in his refusal to depart. The room grew quiet once the door closed and all that was left was the silence between you two as you embraced once more. After another round of cries, your elder brother shushed you with news.

"You've come just as Prince Baelor had brought me up to the recent events," he said. Grasping your hand, he brought you to a chair and sat you down, and delivered news you hadn't expected.

────────────

In his solar, Baelor Targaryen raised his voice to his younger brother while his nephew watched just as enraged. "You went behind my back, that would be considered treason to others!"

Maekar remained ever poised. "Treason? I agreed to your suggestions to send the girl home!"

"Send her home to recover—not this misconstrued nonsense of annulling their marriage—did you know this?" Baelor glanced at his nephew whose jaw tightened with a glare fixed toward his father. He spoke up before the young prince could. "Not only was a raven sent in secrecy but now her brother arrives to collect her in an unmarked carriage? You've outdone yourself brother" 

Baelor couldn't believe the underhanded attempt Maekar had attempted. Aerion said nothing as his father spoke with his brother, his entire mind was catching up to the information. His own father—behind his back— had attempted to take what he had given his devotion to.

Baelor silenced the disagreement with a simple wave of his hand and looked between the two starry-blonde men and gave them both a look of disappointment. One was a schemer annulling a marriage while the other may have possibly thrown his wife down a few steps. 

The Targaryen madness came in many forms of inane.

"It doesn't matter," he professed to the room. "The decisions been made and it is final"

Baelor looks between the two, noting the way Aerion's eyes were wild while Maekar kept his expression stoic— but Baelor knew his brother. 

He knew the reason Maekar tried to get rid of you was for your safety and the secrecy was to ensure Aerion wouldn't get upset as he was known to. Many wondered when the princeling had shifted to such harsh attitudes but to Baelor it was obviously after his mother's passing. He was young when it happened and it reflected in his relationships with his siblings. 

Aerion shifted under his uncle's intense stare before he finally spoke up, "Well?"

Baelor took a deep breath, leaning back into his chair before looking between the two.

"The marriage between you two has not been annulled but she is to be sent home until she has shown signs of recovery—they leave as soon as all her items have been gathered and she is ready to depart"

The second Baelor finished his statement, Aerion had flown out of the room in rage and rushed back to the room he had left you in. When he didn't find you there, he rushed to your room that had nothing but servants tidying up and resettling the room, his anger quick to dismiss them from the premises. His name is called from behind him, he registered one as his father while the other was his uncle—but he was still stalking into other rooms you frequented. 

He is pulled to a stop by a large hand on his shoulder belonging to his father who held a regretful frown. "Aerion—"

"No." he snapped, pushing his father's hand away. 

He knew what his father would say, he just didn't wouldn't accept it. You were gone—without a word—and he could do nothing but accept it? Wrong. 

Baelor arrived just behind Maekar, knights stationed on either side of the Hand of the King. He stood between father and son, gesturing the knights to take a step back, before he spoke. "I understand your anger Aerion," he said calmly despite the hard anger behind the young prince's eyes. "We must give it time—there is to be a tournament, in Ashford. Give it until then—maybe you could visit" he reasoned, voice going down a tilt.

Aerion shook his head at both of his supposed family members and pushed past them, heading to the room you occupied for weeks for a lingering sliver of you. This continued until he was forced out of the room and onto his steed to head toward Ashford.

note: tysm for all the support on little bluebird! 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯♡ ⤷ if you'd like to be added to the taglist, let me know in comment ˎˊ˗ ⤷ next part here!

It had been a few days after your agreement to start anew with Aerion when you were summoned to dine with Maekar Targaryen. You had been traveling to the library with your knight in the early morning when the two of you were cut off by a white cloak that delivered his order sternly, leading you straight to the dining hall without another word.

Despite the hunger that boiled in your belly, you could only poke at the roasted pork on your plate as the sound of clinking cutlery filled the tense silence between you and Maekar. You try not to catch the disapproving scowl he wore a few seats away as you grab a cup off the table, a futile attempt to soothe your dry mouth and sickly feeling in your chest. You had only settled your cup back onto the table when Maekar finally spoke.

"The maesters have spoke on your diligent care of the prince these days past," although sounding like praise, his words seemed to hold a hint of insinuation. "I am told he is willingly following the maester's instructions and is taking serious caution to his injuries"

You feel yourself sit upright at the mention of Aerion although his name hadn't been spoken—Maekar would never say his sons' name when the two of you discussed his progress. You finally look up toward the head of the table, a reserved smile spreading on your face. "Yes," you say nodding. "Prince Aerion is doing much better now that he is awake and moving. Maester Robynn mentioned that although he is making steady progress, traveling would not be in the princes' interest—"

Maekar's hand rose, his palm facing you and making you stop speaking. "It won't be long before the preparations for the prince's departure will be complete"

At the mention of Aerion's departure, your smile dropped. Your hands come to clutch the fork in your hand tightly, the pressure making your palm ache as you brave yourself before the Hand of the King. "Your grace, if I may—"

"You may not." Maekar's scowl was enough to stop the sound of your strained voice.

The sight of the anger simmering in the iris' of Maekar's eyes should've been enough to stop your words in your mouth but, against your better judgment and senses, you continue. "Maester Robynn agreed to the idea of delaying the voyage, Prince Aerion is still recuperating—"

"— Aerion will leave for Lys if I have to carry his fucking body to the ship myself" Maekar snapped, the irritation obvious all throughout his body. The harshness in his tone saying his sons' name startled you enough to drop your cutlery and let out a low gasp. 

You understood why Maekar was like this, having lost his brother just recently. You had heard the gruesome details of how the events occurred, Aerion demanding an ancient ritual of combat that resulted in his uncle's untimely death at the hands of his own brother.

You realize the loud bang that suddenly echoed out was caused by your own hands slamming onto the oak wooden table. You were just as surprised as Maekar was when you came to throw a harsh look at the elder man. Everyone can grieve, they could do it in many ways, but harsh words and deep pain were no excuse to hurt others.

"It could kill him," you blurt out. Maekar's anger was ever present as he slammed his hands down the same way you did but you continue nonetheless. "Your desperation to see him shipped off in chains will only result in having him depart in a coffin"

Maekar shot up from his seat, his harsh glare making you feel a hundred times smaller than you were. Your heart beat through your chest as the man stood rigid in heated anger, staring at you with an equally hardened glare. "How dare you—he brought this fate upon himself" his voice was low, dangerous as he leaned forward. You remain silent as he turns from the table suddenly and stalked toward the door, his shoulders stiff as he paused at the doorway.

You watch his rigid back as he grabs the handle, opening the door before he finally cast a glance over his shoulder as he spoke. "The second the prince is able to stand without vomiting, he goes to the ships"

────────────

Some time later you had been crouched in the corner of the large library when heavy footsteps suddenly stomped into the room. Your attention was pulled away from gathering books of romantic declarations and harrowing sword fights to find Ser Tommen's exasperated expression being followed by a young knight who has recently become known to stay attached to his side.

"Sorry to interrupt princess—" is all Ser Tommen is able to get out before he is cut off by the other man who followed close behind. "Prince Aerion awaits you in his chambers your grace."

You give a small smile as you place the book down and stand. "Thank you Ser Raymond," you glance to Ser Tommen, whose expression is soured before you continue. "Will you please take the stack of books with you and let him know that I am on the way?"

You watch the you knight look between the two of you before he attends to your order with dedication. He bows and exits the room. Ser Tommen waits until the door is closed before he lets out a grimace. You can't help the laugh that slips out at your friends' discomfort. "It can't be that bad" you joke, gathering more items before walking alongside the knight who shoots you a peeved look.

It had been one of the few things that changed after you confirmed your wish to start anew with Aerion.

Upon entering the familiar corridor, you notice Ser Raymond standing outside the prince's chambers with a downcast expression. His face was quickly fixed when you approached and he greeted you with no inkling of unease. Before you are able to comment, he announced your presence and opened the door. 

"Ah," comes a sweetened greeting. "My wife has finally arrived."

Unable to help it, a familiar smile paints your face as you made your way into the room only stopping to add the items you carried to the pile already on the table. Aerion wastes no time in looking toward the two knights entering behind you and dismissing them. 

"That will be all Ser Raymond," Aerion orders before looking toward your loyal knight. "And you as well Ser Theon"

Both knights say nothing as they leave, bowing and turning to leave. You wait until the door is closed to finally speak. "You do know his name is Ser Tommen."

Aerion shrugged his shoulders before gesturing you forward with an extended hand. A mock frown paints your face as you make your way further into the room and toward the foot of the bed where Aerion Targaryen laid. "Did you wait long?" you tease, watching as he adjusted his body to face you. He grunts a reply before nudging you with his foot. "Regardless, you made your prince wait—some are punished for less"

You shake your head before finally coming closer and sitting just beside Aerion's covered hip. Casting a fake scowl at the man, you watch the wicked grin spread on his face before he jutted his chin to you.

"Is this how you greet your beloved husband?"

"And pray tell, how am I supposed to greet my husband?" You raise a brow before he finally let out a low chuckle and spread out his arms. 

"Come wife, I've been patient long enough."

You lean forward, bringing your body over his recovering one and let out a sigh as your hand comes up to cup the side of his face that had been maimed. Thumb brushing over the welted skin, you give the prince a small smile before you finally leaned in and placed a simple kiss on his lips. 

but Aerion was never one to be simple.

Aerion's hands were quick to come around you and bring you closer as he delved deeper into the kiss and transforming it into a heated display. His tongue traced the edge of your lips before his impatience brought forth his hand to your chin, nudging your jaw open. His tongue slid in and traced the rim of your tongue before you quickly pull away at his groan.

You asses his body for injury as you ask if he was hurt, his head shook as he tried to pull you forward once more. You manage away by standing and heading to the books on the table despite his incessant calls back to his side. You were glad the maesters restricted him to his bed and ever more glad when Aerion actually listened to your instructions to attend to his recovery. You gather a few books before returning to his bedside and show him titles, letting him pick which you would read from as you keep him company. You become too distracted in your thoughts that you fail to notice his attention on you until his hand is on your chin and pulling you to look at him. His raised eyebrow is all you needed to confess. "Your father summoned me today"

The room is quiet for a long moment.

Aerion let out a scoff before leaning back in his spot on the bed, eyeing you for a moment before he gestured for you to continue. "Your father says once you are able to, he will be sending you away to Lys."

After what felt like forever, you finally glanced up to look at Aerion only to find his face spread with a smile. Your face falls to a frown at the clear joy he held after you had thrown yourself to the mercy of Maekar to have him stay. He finally speaks when he notes your furrowed brows. "Our time in Lys will be spent like our time here, you need not worry of it"

"Aerion," you begin, clutching the skirt of your dress as an anchor. "I don't believe your father intends to send me along with you."

The second the words leave your lips, Aerion's expression fell into anger and you knew this could only mean one thing: trouble.

Without warning, Aerion yelled out for Ser Raymond with a growl. The man appeared within seconds in the doorway, hand on the pommel of his sword as he stood to attention. Behind him, Ser Tommen stands at the doorway peeking in to see what caused the prince to shout out in anger that had not been present the last few days.

"See to it that all my wife's items are brought into that room and call a maester at once."

Aerion waits until the man has left the room to call in Ser Tommen, his eyes now in narrowed slits as he watched your guard enter and stand closer to the bed then his shadow did. "Were you the one who allowed my wife to be dragged before the Hand?" his tone is harsh, the words biting and making you flinch. "Aerion, please—"

Your words cut off when Aerion's hand comes down on your own, squeezing tight as he says nothing. His eyes remained fixed on your straight-faced knight who only nods. "Prince Maekar sent for the princess when she was on her way to the library"

"And you deemed that enough to allow her alone with my father?"

"He is the Hand of the King your grace. My vows are to obey and protect the crown—"

A knock on the door stops the conversation. A low shaky voice calls out from behind the wooden slab letting you know it was the maester. You waste no time in standing from the bed, removing your hand from Aerion's and moving to open the door. The elder man enters with an expression that was telling. He knew Aerion was not in the best of moods just by walking into the room.

"Your Grace" is mumbled as the old man bows. Aerion dismissed the previous conversation with a flick of his hand. Everyone else moves to leave as you gather a cup of water before Aerion turns and dismisses you as well. It came as a shock to not only the maester but yourself. You take a few seconds before you are out of the room, giving one last glance back to the angered princeling and the fearful maester. 

Needing a minute alone, you dismiss Ser Tommen with instructions to oversee the room change before you make your way to the library. You were halfway up the large steps when a figure appeared coming out of one of the extra rooms to the side. You give your best polite smile, shoving down the confusion you felt until the man stands to block your path. It is only then that your kind smile drops.

Glancing up, you feel a scratch of familiarity at the sight of his face. The man wears a stricken expression between fear and disbelief as he moves once more to block your attempt to walk past. He mutters many things under his breath, the quiet whispers receiving no echo in the deserted hall. He begins to crowd you until your back is against the wall, just a few steps away from the large open window that sat high up above the courtyard.

Clammy hands grasp your own in a sweaty grip that continuously slipped and gathered your fingers. You feel yourself freeze in fright as he glanced around before bringing you closer to whisper in your ear. "Princess" the man breathed, the stench of his breath making you recoil in both disgust and fear. You push away and manage your hands free, cradling them to your chest before demanding he explain himself.

"You forget the torment the one you call husband put you through—what he puts us all through"

You make your way to leave again, keeping his frame in your vision as you circle around him until you are up a few more steps and away from the man. "Leave sir, before I call for a guard and you are taken from this place"

You turn toward the steps at the sight of his crestfallen face, giving him the chance to live rather than see his hands chopped for daring to touch a member of the royal family. You go to push the incident from your mind when his sing-song voice echoes out into the stair hall. "I know something you don't know"

When you say nothing and keep walking, his voice rings out once more. "Don't you want to know the truth? About your life before the gaps in your memory? The reason why you flinch at hearing the one you call husband say your name? Or why you threw yourself from the steps of the tower?"

At this you stop. Turning to face the man, your left with nothing to say at the sight of his shaky hands. 

"Ah," he tuts, smiling as he climbed one step at a time before he finally stood one step below you. You don't flinch at the proximity. "I think I have finally got your attention"

Snapping out of your confusion, you step away. "You forget yourself"

"You forget yourself!" 

The shout echoes off the walls and into the ribs of your chest. You are stricken still at the reality of it all, because you had forgotten. The man takes the silence as an opportunity to approach once more to speak. "Don't you find it odd? You just happened to fall from the steps and yet were restricted to lower levels of the castle?"

"That was to ensure my safety"

"Or, was it to ensure you wouldn't attempt at your life once more?"

"What do you mean?"

The man scoffs in your face, shaking his head as if dealing with a small child. “I mean,” he sneered, approaching until he was close enough that you could smell the stink of his sweat. “Your life with the prince was never a happy one. The only person that was happy was Prince Maekar for not having to deal with his degenerate son”

You flinch back, a small pain spreading as you shake your head. You open your mouth, ready to defend a reality you knew when loud shouts are heard throughout the halls. The man looks behind him before he turns to you. "Should you wish to know more—to know the truth, ask the one you call husband why you are not allowed in the north tower"

Like a puff of smoke, the man disappears up the steps and around the corner. You stand there mulling over his words until Ser Raymond and Ser Tommen are racing up the steps, each wearing a feared expression as they approached. Each flank to your side, grabbing your arms as they escort you down the steps. Despite your never-ending demands to know what has happened, the two men say nothing as they made their way through the halls. Reaching a different corridor, you are led to a new room where a guard is posted just outside. 

Ser Tommen is the first to speak after you are let into the large room. "There has been an attempt at the prince's life. Maester Robynn is dead."

The lurching in your stomach was ceaseless and the constant shaking of the carriage did not make matters any better. You had picked at your nails until they were throbbing and chewed the inside of your cheek with such consternation that the pain was proof of it all—this was your reality. Your brother however, remained unbothered as he rode on horseback, clopping along just outside the cart with a disinterested expression as the procession made their way through the Roseroad.It had been days into your journey heading back toward Kings Landing, the summons arriving to your family home a few days after the news of Baelor Targaryen's tragic passing in Ashford.

The familiar road brought back memories of the day you had finally been taken from the Red Keep after a few weeks of confusion. Your brother had taken the route back as the perfect time to finally piece together part of your memories, shattering the peaceful confabulation your brain had created. Without mincing his words, he explained in horrific detail your family's tragic deaths and the settlement for you as a suitable replacement. He was quick to witness how listless and despondent you became and vowed to return you to what you used to be, watching you settle back into your home until everything came crumbling down when the raven arrived. Watching how quick you became ill, he saw it as a sign you'd be better off with the maesters in Kings Landing, no longer hesitant with your return.

Shouts from outside the carriage alerted you of short distance left to approach the castle, hearing it was only a few leagues away your body jolted at the thought of stepping out to stretch your legs. You sneak a peek out of the cartage, accidentally making eye contact with your brother who then calls out for a halt. Within seconds, every previous motion that bothered you had come to a stop. A knock brings your body to face the wooden door to where your knight, Ser Tommen, spoke out.

"Your brother calls for your presence my lady"

You give a low reply, letting him know you'd need just a moment when the door opened to your brother's annoyed expression. He doesn't give you a moment of respite as he shoves his way into the carriage and commands the door shut. The two of you sit in silence until it becomes too much for your sibling and he hissed out his words. "You have to understand that this is not something we can fight"

You nod your head, not bothering to respond at all since it wouldn't matter what you said. The decision had been made and nothing could change that. Seeing the defeated look on your face, your brother softened his heated stare and let out a low sigh before he peeked out the small window. Once satisfied, he shut the curtain and leaned close.

"It doesn't matter if he is the prince," he brought his hand to cradle your face, wiping the unshed tears from your eyes. "You send a raven and I will be here on the morrow."

Or you could've refused in the first place…

You remain silent and resolve to just nod. The life that once thrived through your bones at your childhood home has grown brittle, crumbling the further you traveled away. Gone were the days you'd spend walking the bailey with your guard, reading on the sill of your favorite spot in the family library. Everything and nothing was pulled from underneath your feet and left you stumbling back toward the life you had no recollection of but neverending fear for. In the short time the royal family had granted you peace at your family home, it had come to an end.

Frustrated at your lack of effort to speak or look at him, your brother lets out a sigh and leaves the carriage without a glance back. A few moments later, another shout rings out and the carriage moves forward, only this time a little faster than before.

When you finally catch sight of the high walls of the Red Keep, you feel your chest pull tight with a string of dread, pulling tighter as the castle stones become more defined. Your eyes unconsciously drift up toward one of the high towers of the castle, the open balcony capturing your attention rather than the opening gates or the welcoming party that stood in the open courtyard. It isn't until the carriage comes to a stop that you realize that among the various people waiting to greet you, Maekar Targaryen stood there too—the unmistakable frown on his face resting where it always was.

A small knock is rattled against the door, making your body pull away from the small window before the door opens to a dutiful Ser Tommen, a governing expression on his face as he holds out his hand to help you out of the transport. You take the hand, your skin coming in contact with the glove dyed to match your house colors, and step down to unshaking ground. You see your brother talking with Maekar from the corner of your eye but choose to follow procedure and greet everyone else before finally turning to the elder gentleman. You give a quick bow and nod to the man, his eyes resting on your stoic face and vacant stare before he gestures everyone to do their job. He turns to you, instructing you to say your goodbye's before joining him at his solar.

Your left alone with your brother who waits until Maekar is out of earshot to speak in a low voice. "Don't forget our words, hmm?" His half-smile seemed to ache just as much as you did as you nodded, biting your lip to stop your cries. "'Our wings, unbroken"

Looking at him, you realize he forgot that you were no longer a part of this 'our' he was speaking of. You were married to a Targaryen, your words were now 'fire and blood'.

He gives you a tight smile before pulling you into a tight embrace, kissing your forehead and whispering his wishes for your health and safety. He mentions his clearance on having Ser Tommen stay with you and pulls away. With one last farewell, you back away until your brother is back on his horse. His retreating back is the last you see of him before Ser Tommen calls to escort you away.

────────────

"I am sure your filial brother has explained your return" was the first thing Maekar said as you entered the private solar of the Hand. You take a quick look around the dimly lit room before you nod. "Yes," you begin, holding your fingers tightly behind your back. "He informed me of Prince Baelor's passing in Ashford. I offer you my deepest condolences your grace."

Maekar gives a grunt, turning away to face the various books on the shelves as he seemingly ignored your words. You watch as the man leans a hand on a lower shelf, gripping the wooden surface and turning his knuckles white. You could sympathize with the man, having felt the pain he held within his body. He finally turns back to you before he finally speaks.

"Your return is primarily to serve as an attendant to Prince Aerion and then soon after, he shall sail to Lys the second his complete recovery is achieved"

You hardly remember what was said after Prince Maekar mentioned Lys, the news becoming so jarring it left your mind blank as you were instructed from the solar. Ser Tommen had stayed close by your side as you were shown around, familiarizing yourselves with the layout of the famous castle until you finally reach Aerion's chambers which happened to be the room right next to yours. You're given time to refresh before you are directed toward the room you had been dreading to be in.

Walking into Aerion's chambers, the first thing you get is a large whiff of incense and candle wax, the scent hitting your nose and leaving you to scrunch your nose at the aroma that assaulted your senses. Small streams of light peek through the drapes that covered the lattice windows, casting a large spotlight the attendants walked through as they focus on the prince's betterment. Letting Ser Tommen stand guard just outside the cracked door, you walk further into the room until you are at Aerion's bedside and able to see the face that popped into your head the many weeks you had been away. You can't hold back the gasp at the sight of his motionless body, so still and arranged that it felt like you were at a viewing before a burning funeral pyre. Your hand had flown to your mouth as you look over his state and assess the depth of his injuries. Aerion's pristine face had now been battered and bruised, his eye swollen and lip split. Something washed over you at the look of his once flawless frame had now been beaten and pulverized. 

Despite everything, Aerion was beautiful. 

You must've stared forever, watching the rise and fall of his chest until a low cough called your attention away from Aerion. You pull your eyes away from his docile body and find Maester Robynn shakily making his way to the corner of the room, beckoning you with his frail hand. You join the elder, you listen to his whispered updates of the prince. 

"For days, the prince has come and gone through consciousness and milk of the poppy is given in rotations every other hour for the pain princess," You ignore the title, and continue to listen to his findings. "There are more wounds all through his body but recovery is feasible" 

You both come to agreement for Aerion's care and soon, life at the Red Keep slowly fell into routine. 

Your first few visits with Aerion were as stiff as his body was as he laid on his recovery bed.

You had mostly avoided looking in his direction and conversed with the attendants, seeking to know more of their achievements and routines, when you couldn't do that you came to embroider in your spare time. That's how Maekar had found you that first day, surprising you by visiting his disgraced son. You had gotten a disapproving scowl and a reminder that you were to attend to your husband. 

Now you awkwardly stand off to the side of Maester Robynn as he attended each of Aerion's wounds with the help of the acolytes. Your face pinching each time the maester pulled back the dressings on Aerion's wound located across his pelvis, inner groin and upper thigh. 

Slowly, as each day passed, less and less assistants appeared and you had become one of the sole people to attend to the prince aside from Maester Robynn. It was in the care of Aerion that you came to loved the art of medicine, taking any chance Maester Robynn was present to learn and ask questions he would shake his head at. You came to learn a lot of medicine as the days passed and when Aerion finally started showing signs of recovery, he was left in your care at Maekar's behest. It was on the fourth day when you had exploring the library that the idea came to you. 

────────────

After leaving Ser Tommen with a nod, you enter the familiar room you had come to know with the many days that passed in Kings Landing. It is until the door is closed behind you with a definitive click that you finally let out a sigh and a smile slowly makes its way onto your face. 

"Shall we continue where we left off?" you ask, giving a low chuckle into the silent room as you made your way forward and to a low seat just beside the bed. The book decorated with gold paint and elegant script rivaling your own sat atop the blue pinned fabric of the seat, left completely untouched by everyone but yourself. Grasping the heavy text with both hands, you settle into your seat not bothering to adjust the sky blue silk that fell around your legs.

"Now" you let out a low scoff. "Please don't rush me" you whisper teasingly. You received no response—something you've grown used to—and settle to open the book to where you last left off and began to read. The time slipped passed you as you read page after page, only stopping when your throat dried and you needed water. You had originally tried to read his family histories but the blood and gore became too much and you settled for romances or the occasional adventure tale. Luckily, it was your pick and romance had been the filler of silence despite the circumstances.

"and with little space between the two, the young knight took his charge into his arms and proclaimed out for all to hear the depth of his love…" on the last word, your eyes traveled to the comatose body that had not moved since the last time you'd given the prince his medicine.

When he wasn't pacing the room or causing terror, Aerion could be quite beautiful, almost ethereal.

You don't notice that you had moved from the seat, putting down the book in the spot you had just occupied, and left just a small space between you two as you come to asses his face closely. The bruising had now faded into a yellow-ish tint and the split in his lip had somewhat healed and still, looking at the quiet unmoving prince, it made your face fall into a frown.

"It's sad," you confess. "This story of love is the closest thing the two of us will ever have to it"

You can feel your face twist with sorrow, the tremble in your heart spreading until you feel a few tears slip down your face. You quickly wipe the tears away and force a smile as you stand. "It seems this story was a poor choice on my part," you sniff, blinking back the raw emotion behind your eyes. "I will bring something better next time, yes?" 

Your body must've cast a shadow or bothered his space because his body began to twitch and then his eyes slowly opened up to look at you. You watch as Aerion's eyes flutter open, blinking at you slowly like he was still processing your presence being there. You can't help but freeze as he looks your face over. 

"Is this another dream?" he croaked, clearing his throat. You move forward at the sound of his slurred tone, the medication still lingering within his system. Your hands reach past his naked chest and land on his shoulder, gently propping him up while adding another pillow behind his head. You are proud of how well you avoided the intensity of Aerion's stare, the close proximity making his already big and dazed eyes glimmer. You quickly turn and gather a cup of water before helping Aerion so he can sip at the cup. 

"Take it easy, your grace" you finally whisper. 

A frown immediately paints Aerion's face at your response, his lips coming to pout as he muttered, "No, not a dream"

"And what makes you so sure it isn't?"

Aerion gives you a long look before taking a sip from the cup in your hands, bringing one hand to cover one of your own. You pull the cup away and place it on the table. "If this was a dream, you'd be calling me something else" he says.

You choose to ignore his words and ask how he was feeling, coming around the bed to remove the covers and check on his stitching until his hard grip stopped your hand in their tracks. Your eyes snap up to his wide ones, mouth hanging open as he demands to know what you are doing. 

"I am attending to you as I have been these past few days" you explain, pulling your hand away to try again. His hands grip harder and he hissed at you to sit down. He released you and gripped the sheets into fists, bringing them back over the lower half of his body for a speckle of decency. The sight of Aerion's attempt at modesty brought a smile to your face, something you didn't think would be possible in his conscious state or presence. 

"I will need to check your wounds sooner than late. It will happen now or when that milk of the poppy makes you sleep again"

Aerion only shook his head, licking at his lip as he demanded a maester instead. You figured the proud princeling would've taken advantage of this opportunity, having a woman strip and tend to him. You stand and turn to face him.

"I will give you a few minutes," you sigh, stepping around until you are half way to the door. "Once you are asleep, I will be sure to check the stitches" 

Aerion goes to say something but you are already out the door and telling Ser Tommen you were to return within a few minutes and walk straight to your chamber and close the door.

────────────

Aerion's attitude changed soon after he woke from his poppy induced coma.

Anytime you attempted to enter his room, he would yell to have you removed and denied entry. It got to the point where the maesters had suggested you stay away as to not overwhelm the prince. You had to hold back the scoff you had wanted to let out at that. They never showed you that kindness when you had been in recovery. It took Prince Maeker visiting to settle the issue. 

For the time being, you were to avoid coming near Aerion so as he may recover without becoming upset.

It had been days and from what Ser Tommen could tell you, Aerion had started to settle for salves and insisted on attempting to walk despite the maesters strict instructions to remain in bed. So you were left to live life in Kings Landing the same way you did before, secluded. 

They should've just left you home at this point.

"We can take a walk through the gallery," Ser Tommen suggested, following closely behind on your daily walk in the courtyard. "I hear the new additions have exquisite embroidery patterns that may be in your interest"

You slow your pace and turn to look at the knight from your home, his trying smile making a soft spot bubble in your heart. Ser Tommen, since coming under your instruction, had done his duty with the dedication deserved of a knight. You can still remember how quickly the two of you came to become familiar, conversing on your daily walks through the bailey back home. His kindness and disposition making him one of your utmost trusted confidant. In any other circumstance, his looks would've made you blush and wonder at the possibility of what if.

You give Ser Tommen a wide smile at the mention of your favorite past-time. "That sounds lovely!" 

Grinning down at your smiling face, he offers his arm with a dramatic flair with a overly polite 'my lady'. You can't help the laugh that escapes you as you accept with an equally enthusiastic 'my good ser' and let Ser Tommen guide you toward the entrance of the Red Keep. You had been mid-laugh at a small remark Ser Tommen had whispered to you when a white cloaked knight came into your path with a small bow and message.

"Prince Aerion has summoned you to his chambers"

You know Ser Tommen could feel the way your body locked up at the mention of the prince and you were grateful he made no comment on the matter as he nodded to the knight and began guiding you up the steps and toward the familiar hallway leading to your room. "Would you like to freshen up before you see him princess?"

"No," you reply, the word spilling from you quickly. "Let's not keep him waiting. I'm sure it will be a short visit regardless"

You release your arm from his and drag your hands over the surface of the simple blue dress you wore, smoothing the wrinkles and marching forward until you were faced directly in front of Aerion's chamber door. You settle your nerves as the white cloak at the door knocked then announced your presence, opening the door just enough for you to slip through before closing the door. Too focused on taking in the changed room, you fail to notice Aerion who stood propped up against the pillar of the open balcony until he finally turns to look at you.

"I see you've enjoyed your return to Kings Landing" he stated, placing his palm flat on the wall. His head cocked to asses your expression, looking over the soft blue you wore on your body. You find yourself moving forward when his hand stutters against the pillar, your hands instinctively coming to brace his frame at his hips. Before Aerion could speak or make sense of your actions, you had thrown his arm over your shoulder and wrapped your arm around his waist. 

Aerion could only stare as you began to fuss over him, asking him a series of 'does it hurt? are you alright?' and ranging to angrily demanding he make sense of himself. His eyes had come to travel over your worried brow and pouted lips, not having seen you since he demanded your removal from his chambers. He almost forgot why he ended his detox until you mentioned summoning a knight to fetch the maester.

"No," he hissed, leaning into your frame as you guided him from the fresh blowing winds and toward the mattress. 

You settle him down onto the furs, keeping yourself close enough to assist him should he need it. Aerion repeats himself with a snarl and waits until you finally look up to cock his brow at you. You give him a small scrunch of your nose at his attitude, not being able to control your expression before you speak. "I've made the best of what I could since my arrival"

Aerion allows your response to linger in the quiet before he speaks. "I was told you were to return when you regained your memory," he comments, keeping his gaze on you as you nod. "So you have regained your memories?"

At this you shake your head, your hands come to rest on your lap as you pick against your nails. "No," you sigh before looking at his frustrated face. "We received word about your uncle, which I offer my condolence to you, then a summons arrived" 

"A summons?" Aerion ignored your other words.

You nod. "Yes, your father demanded our presence back immediately. My brother personally escorted me to Kings Landing and I am to remain at your side while your health is recovering" You peek toward the Targaryen princeling, catching the violet eyes staring at you. 

"So that explains the shadow I've never seen" he reasoned, the tone of his voice sounding more annoyed than reasonable.

"Oh, you must mean Ser Tommen. Were you worried?"

"Why would I be worried?" he scoffed.

"Because you are my …husband"

Aerion's eyes snapped to meet yours, the words that fell from your mouth making him sit up without needing assistance. Wild emotion danced around his iris as he fixed his gaze on yours and asked you to repeat yourself. It reminded you of when you woke what seemed like many moons ago. 

"So you know then?"

You nod. "Not all the details, just the truth. We were married in the sept, made man and wife and then I lost my memories." You notice his eyes glaze in thought as he nods while you continue. "I know about my sister and I thank you for your patience during the confusion. It must've been hard"

Aerion bristled at your words and moved his eyes to where your hand had come to rest on his clenched fist. You brag your thumb across the surface of his knuckles in an attempt to comfort. "I was told we were quite happy, before I came to fall from the steps just outside of our shared room"

He holds himself still as he takes in your expression, eyes filled with sympathies that he would usually spurn. You call out his title, a habit, and Aerion wasted no time to correct it.

"You would call me your prince" he murmured. Aerion looked off toward the window where the sun had now begun to set. You felt a small twinge in your heart at his confession, his low tone seemingly like a small child that was jilted. You scoot in close and pat his hands to gain his attention before you speak once more. "I've discussed this with the maesters and although they suggest I wait until my memories return, I don't want to wait for something that may never return," You don't allow him to speak, starting up once more. "This momentary confusion could serve as a sort of second chance … a chance for the both of us to come together once more"

The silence in the room seemed to last long enough to where it made you begin to regret your attempts to form a sort of lifeline to Aerion. His face remained unreadable as he moved his eyes over your face many times, his mouth slowly parting as he remained in thought. You begin to pull your hands away when he flipped his to face palm up and he interlocks your fingers with his. The warm from his body immediately spread to your own, making your hands clam up but not release.

Giving your fingers a small squeeze in his own, he pulls your hand forward until you are now hovered over him. You let out a gasp as his eyes come a few blinks from your own and his eyes had shifted into a warmer stare.

"You want us to start again?" he asked, disbelief clear on his face and voice.

note: thank you so much for reading my little bluebirds ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ your support means mountains ᯓᡣ𐭩

You didn’t think things would get as serious as they did when the rebellion first started, naivety still fresh in your bones when rumors of war began circling. 

You held on to naivety when families boarded up their homes and gathered what they could before they scrambled out of the city. You still held onto naivety when the Mother Superior was called away without warning, the septas somber expressions brushing off of your shoulders as you went back to bed that late night. 

Now you feel foolish to think peace would ever last.

If you could call scavenging for supplies peace.

Until recently life was simple, you had earned your keep by teaching and tending to the children at the local orphanage with what the motherhouses could provide. Soon you would take your vows to remain as a septa and care for the children. But then things became a mess. 

It had happened on a stormy morning, just after giving the children their daily meal. The sudden shouts and horse hooves outside sounded off loud enough to rattle around the impoverished walls and scare the children into a small corner of the room. Not a few moments later, Septa Ysilla rushed in and ordered all the silent sisters and children into the back rooms where they were to wait.

It was when she stopped you from joining them that dread settled into your heart.

“The light of the seven will protect you on your journey” was what she reassuringly mumbled to you as she claimed ‘only septas and silent sisters were to remain in the motherhouse’. It didn’t matter how much you begged and rationalized your devotion, it was simple to Septa Ysilla. 

You are not a septa.

You hadn’t taken the vows with Mother Superior.

With Septa Ysilla as the ruling verdict, you held onto a small sack filled with your only belongings and bit back tears as you said goodbye to the children. It got that much harder when they clung to the grey shift and apron you wore that you had no choice but to keep. 

“The Kings Gate has been shut but this should help you find a way to Tumbleton, if it’s any safer” came her hoarse voice, her brown tired eyes glazed over. Her wrinkled face looked up at you with sorrow as she placed a few coins in your hand and walked you to the back exit of the building. She squeezed your hand once before she shut the door and secured the latch on the other side, effectively locking you out.

It feels like you swallow your heart when you face the rampant streets of bustling soldiers, mud and chaos as you try to figure out which way is safest to go. Clutching your small pouch and making sure to face the ground, you choose to follow the small alley until you reach a safe spot to determine your next move. 

In a matter of seconds, you are drenched and cold. The fear has spiked as you hear berating coming from refugees and soldiers shout at beggars to make way. The smell of grime and muck filled the air while you shuffled around waste that littered the muddy roads. You finally come to a halt when you overhear soldiers speaking of an infiltration.

“The blackfyre bastards are within the city” spat one soldier, his face scrunched in disgust as he spat at the mere mention of the name. Unexpectedly, another soldier commanding with presence marched forward. “All travelers are to be inspected! Anyone traveling alone shall be detained for questioning!”

Commands began ringing all around you while commonfolk scattered like rats to avoid the onslaught of aggression from the soldiers donned in black, the red dragon in the middle of their chest plates glistening with the help of the rain. 

“Form a line across the road! Nobody passes until they’ve been questioned!”

“Keep the smallfolk moving in a single file!”

“Eyes open for weapons!”

You watch as the orders made everyone scramble closer to their loved ones while you could only cling to yourself. You had been dropped off at the motherhouse after birth so all you have ever known was the septas and the children. 

You push further down the back streets of the city until your attention is pulled to a mother soothing her child while bouncing her baby in her arms, the fear evident on her face as she claims everything was okay. Without a second thought, you make your way swiftly to her and crouch down to her small child.

“W-what are you–”

“Please, I need to head to the Roseroad,” you cut her off, rubbing the small child's arms as you glanced up with pleading eyes. “Toward Tumbleton. I have no family”

She began to shake her head, grasping at her child's arm to retreat when you were pulled back by the collar of your shift and made to face a man with a sneer. You note how quickly he put himself between you and the small family, checking in on the woman while keeping a firm gaze on you with a protective arm out. He must be the husband. 

“Please, I aim to leave the city for Tumbleton. All I ask is your help to get through the inspection” You pull forward the coins Septa Ysilla handed you just a mere hour or so before. “I have no family and I can pay, please?”

His gaze immediately fixed itself on the coins, the woman behind him no longer bouncing the babe. The sound of rain filled the silence for an agonizing few moments before his fingers grasp the coins from your hands and he nods once before speaking.

“ Let me do the talking. Take the young one and make no sound. If this should fail—you are on your own. I won’t risk my family.” 

Given the circumstances, you openly thank the man with tears brimming your eyes before you pick up the child and fall into a routine of soothing their cries. The man sends his wife a look before nodding and beckoning you two to follow toward the streets leading out of the city. 

-----

You make sure to stay close to Edrin and Mira, keeping your head low while you move up the line. Thunder rumbled overhead making the young one in your arms cry out, earning you a few looks from others. ‘This will be over soon’ was what you whispered over and over. You tell yourself it was for the child but deep down, you knew it was also for you. When they settled, you were left with your thoughts once more. 

Something will go wrong.

Something in you rattled with doubt, like you were to be made the second you come up to the front. One look at you and a soldier would say something like ‘Look at her boys, traveling alone during the war? She has to be with Blackfyre’.

You push down the paranoia and trudge forward through the mud once more.

----

Unease gripped your throat as the shouts and cries grew louder the closer you got to the checkpoint, noting how others shifted and huddled closer together. Your hand came to cradle the small child's head into your neck, partially to secure them but primarily to cling to something as you came to the front. 

This was it.

Two soldiers beckon the lot of you forward with a nod before two more soldiers appear from behind and seize all belongings and begin rummaging through each satchel and pouch. You swallow the growing fear in gulps as you comply with the soldiers demands. Ahead of you, the soldiers begin their questioning.

Edrin explains how you all are but a small family trying to make your way to safety as quickly and as far as you could, never once wavering in his tone. You try your best to pay attention to the rest of the conversation but the sudden feeling of the child being ripped from your arms brought you to the present. 

Cries of ‘momma’ shatter your ears as the child does its best to cling to you, small hands weaving into the strands of your hair as the soldiers demand compliance. Pain ripples through your scalp as you try to soothe the child, shushing them slightly as you gesture to the soldiers your attempt to cooperate. 

Mira appears just as you settle the child to the floor, gripping their hand fiercely as she keeps her eyes on you. 

“Well? Out with it, where are you headed?”

You could feel your eyes widen as the thunder crashed aloud the second you realize the question was directed at you, not Edrin. You swivel to look up at the towering soldier who seemed to grow more suspicious with the speckle of silence you let fester. 

You had been too preoccupied with the child that you missed what Edrin had told the soldiers.

You realize you took too long when the soldier takes a longer look at your face, to the child and woman, then back to you. The smile he gives you doesn’t reach his eyes as he speaks.

“You must be scared beyond your means, us tossing your bags, huh?”

You force yourself to keep your eyes on the man as you nod, words dead in your throat. The man gives you a mock pout before standing straight and gesturing for your bag to a nearby soldier. When the bag is placed in your hand, you grip it tightly to your chest and nod to the man. He leans down to come face to face once more.

“May the roads be kind on your journey to Tumbleton” comes his sickly sweet voice, a smile still on his face.

You remain quiet and nod as you watch him stand, take a step back and turn to leave. Your heart seemed to race even quicker as he began to walk away, rain slowly building. He takes a few steps when he stops suddenly. 

“Oh, wait!”

Chills travel through you when the soldier turns on his heel with a wide smile on his face, his hand coming up to smack himself on the forehead with a mocking playfulness. His body comes to stand in front of you once more, his body crouching down to rest his palms on his knees. 

“Your buddy over there said you all were traveling as far as you could. Now tell me," He comes in closer to whisper with just a breath of space between you two. 

“Why would someone wanting to travel as far as he can go settle for Tumbleton when BitterRidge was furthest?”