Chapter 43: Hightowers II
(Aerion's POV)
"Oh, Daeron!" I said as the young prince ran up to me
"Aerion!" He said with a smile as he reached me, "I heard!"
I was waiting as the gates had opened and the Hightower escort had entered. Prince Daeron had been riding a horse and immediately dismounted when he saw me.
"Heard what?" I asked
"Well, that you were at war!" He said with a bright smile, "You beat a bunch of dornishmen and forced them to retreat."
"Ah, yes." I said as I ruffled my hair, "Yes, I did in fact do that. How have you been, cousin?"
"Good." He said with a chuckle, "I hear there's a tourney for my niece."
I nodded, "Indeed." I said, "And I will participate."
"Yea, Uncle Gwayne is partaking too." He said
As he said that, Ser Gwayne walked up to us, "My Lord." He said, "Congratulations on your Victory on the Stepstones and more importantly, your daughter. I find that children are a joy that should always be appreciated."
I nodded, "Thank you, Ser." I said with a slight smile, "So you will partake in the Melee?"
"Yes, I find it hard to resist a good showdown." He said with a smug smile, "Will you?"
"Yes." I said simply
"Oh wow, Uncle is quite good, cousin." Daeron said with a smile, "Will you lose?"
I shook my head, "If we're to meet in the arena?" I said, "Nah, I'd win." [A/N: iykyk ;) }
Gwayne chuckled, "Well, I admire that confidence." He said as he looked around, "Well, I think it is about time I greet my Father and Sister. As well as my other Nephews and well, my dear Niece."
I nodded, "Of course." I said, "You going to see your Family, Daeron?"
"I wanna stay with you." Daeron said, "Teach me a bit of the sword."
"My Prince, you should really go see your Mother." Gwayne said
"Brother." I heard a familiar voice say, "You are finally here."
We turned to see Aemond walking up to us, a serious look on his face. He was getting taller, I find, a few inches but slowly getting bigger. He's around eleven, I think, I didn't think he'd grow this much.
"Aemond!" Daeron said as he ran towards his brother, "It's good to see you!"
Daeron hugged Aemond who did not react, merely looking at me with a serious face.
"My Prince." Gwayne said with a slight bow, "How have you been?"
"I have been good, Uncle." Aemond said as Daeron pulled away, "And what have we here? Lord Aerion, The Red Dragon."
I frowned, "I don't think I like that name...." I muttered
"That's what everyone is calling you." Aemond said, "I hear you're taking part in the Melee, good fortune to you, cousin."
I nodded, "Thank you, my prince." I said, "Have you, by any chance, gone and seen your Niece?"
"No." He said, "And I do not intend to do so. Do tell your sons to make sure they don't approach me....We don't want another incident....Come, Daeron, we have a lot to catch up..."
I watched as Aemond turned and walked away, being followed by Daeron.
"Huh..." I said, "So they're my sons now...huh?"
"Well, you are the husband of their Mother..." Gwayne said, "And they are your wife's sons....so...I would assume so that you would be inclined to be considered the boys' father....even if not related by blood."
I looked at him, "You know, like your Father, you don't really help much when opening your mouth." I said with a frown, "Does it really run in the Family?"
He chuckled, "Ah, you got me there, My Lord." He said
"Hm..." I said as I began to walk up the stairs to the door, "Good day, Ser Gwayne..."
"Good fortune to you on the Tourney."
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"Mother!" Daeron said as she ran up to Queen Alicent
I was on my way to Rhaenyra's chambers, to check in on them and the children when I ran into Alicent pacing in the hallway outside the door, and by some coincidence, Daeron was there as well.
"D-Daeron!" Alicent said with surprise
The young boy hugged his mother who caught him with surprise, "I missed you...."
"Oh, my sweet boy..." Alicent hugged him, "As did I....sometimes I wish to keep you here...."
"Your Grace." I said as I stood there
"Aerion..." Alicent said as she straightened up, "I....I came to see if Rhaenyra would like to introduce me to the Princess...but I have not found the courage to do so...."
"Ah..." I said as walked past her, "Well, I can ask if she's okay with it."
"Thank you..." Alicent said softly
I opened the door and walked through, seeing Rhaenyra was sitting on one of the couches while holding a book. I heard only silence in the room and I had assumed that both Joffrey and Visenya were asleep.
"Where were you?" Rhaenyra asked softly, "I have missed you."
I sighed, "I went to see the Queen, then your sister, and then I went to greet your youngest brother as he just arrived." I said, "A long couple of hours, if I do say so myself."
"What does the Queen want?" She asked
I gestured to the door, "She's right outside the door." I said, "She...wants to see her."
"Oh.." Rhaenyra said as she looked over at the cradle, "She's asleep....but if the Queen wishes to....well...I cannot refuse that, can I?"
"Are you sure?" I asked
She nodded as she continued in reading her book, "Sure, I don't see why not?" She said with a neutral tone
"Uhm...Your Brother is also here." I said
"Which one?" She asked
"Daeron." I said
"Let them both in, my love." She said softly
I nodded, "Okay..." I said as I walked back to the door
I opened it, seeing that Alicent was outside holding Daeron's hand as she bit the nail of her other hand.
"Visenya and Joffrey are asleep." I said as I opened the door further, "I suggest you maintain a quiet tone, My Queen, My Prince."
"S-She said it was okay?" Alicent asked
I nodded, "Yes." I said
I stepped to the side and watched as Daeron walked in as he pulled Alicent alongside him.
"Sister." Daeron said in a quiet tone
Rhaenyra looked up to see him, "Oh, Daeron." She said with a smile, "It has been so long, my dear. How have you been?"
I watched as Alicent let go of Daeron and stood in the middle of the room. As I walked over, I saw that she had a nervous look on her face, almost as if she was scared of what Rhaenyra was going to say to her.
"I've been good." Daeron said as he walked to the couch
Rhaenya patted Daeron's shoulder, "You've grown a lot, Daeron." She said with a smile, "Your hair is combed nicely. Say, you know who you remind me of?"
"Who?" Daeron asked
"Our Grandfather, Baelon." She said, "I've only met him when I was a little girl, I was around 5....I think...I think...if you cut your hair short, you may be a spitting image of him. I may have been young, but the impression he left on me was great."
"Grandfather? He rode Vhagar, right?" Daeron asked
Rhaenyra nodded, "He did." She said, "And he would be proud that Aemond claimed her."
I cleared my throat, "Her Grace, the Queen, my love..." I said
Rhaenyra stood up and bowed slightly, "My Queen." She said
"R-Rhaenyra..." Alicent said, "I...."
"You've come to see Visenya?" Rhaenyra asked, "She's asleep...as is Joffrey....I believe if you move her, she might wake and cry...."
Alicent gulped, "I...I would love to see the Princess." She said softly
Rhaenyra gestured to the cradle, "Be my guest, Your Grace." She said, "Prince Daeron..."
Daeron looked at me with a frown, somehow understanding the awkward tension.
I gave him a nod, "Go ahead." I whispered
"Right.." Alicent said as she and Daeron walked over to the cradle
I walked over to Rhaenyra and she immediately held my hand without looking away from Alicent and Daeron.
"Oh..." Alicent glanced back at us, "She's....she's stunning.....perfect.....spitting image of you, Rhaenyra."
"Thank you, Your Grace..." Rhaenyra said
"Wow...she's so small...." Daeron said, "She's...she's frowning....she looks more like Aerion."
"Ah, she does, doesn't she?" Alicent chuckled, "Aerion, who rarely smiled when he was younger."
I looked away, "Everyone says that.." I muttered
Alicent turned around as Daeron kept looking at the cradle, enthralled by the sight of the babe.
"Uhm..." Alicent said, "Congratulations, you two....I...I hope that there would be more children to come from the two of you. Possibly more daughters...I find that I would definitely had loved for more."
I nodded, "Thank you, your grace." I said
"And there's something I do wish to agree with you, Rhaenyra." She said
"What may that be?" Rhaenyra asked
"My son...and your husband..." She said as she gestured at both Daeron and myself, "Viserys has always told me how Aerion reminds him of his own Father...and well, from the stories that mine own tells me, I would say that the two of them...."
"They would make their Grandfather proud."
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