บท 24: Visiting Cousins
(Aerion's POV)
[King's Landing]
"Lord Aerion." Criston Cole nodded as he stood guard in front of the door
I stood in front of him, my arm resting on the handle of Lady Rhea, "Ser Criston.' I said, "Been a while."
"It has." He said, "Shame that the last time we saw each other, it was a bit of a hostile one."
"Every time we meet, it seems I cannot be rid of your glaring, Cole." I said, "I would be surprised if the last time we see each other, it would be in good and amicable circumstances."
"You speak too much for someone who broods a lot." He said
"That is quite ironic...coming from you." I said as the doors opened and the Queen walked out
"Ser Criston." Queen Alicent said as she cleared her throat, "Lord Aerion, I thank you for coming all the way over here. I apologize if your welcoming was not up to par, we are dealing with some matters at the moment, the council and whatnot."
I nodded, "Your Grace." I said, "It is of no consequence."
She gestured for me to walk inside, "If you please." She said
I walked past Cole and her and through the door, wondering why the Queen had called me all the way here if it was not about my Uncle, The King.
"Apologies if I have any doubts, Your Grace." I said, "But I cannot seem to feel comfortable, being alone here, without my wife as you so hastily called me."
"I am sorry, Aerion." She said as she shut the door and walked past me, "But you were the only one she was comfortable with."
I raised an eyebrow, "Pardon?"
She gestured at a bed as she placed her hand on her neck, rubbing it anxiously. I saw Helaena sitting on it, clinging onto sheets as she looked down, shaking slightly. Her hair was a mess and I noticed that she was crying, shedding tears as she was muttering under her bed.
I looked at Alicent, "What's wrong?" I asked
"I do not know, Aerion..." She said, "Ever since Viserys announced that she and Aegon were to wed, she has been inconsolable. Viserys has decided to spend more time with Aemond, attempting to quell the boy's ire as Aegon does what Aegon does....."
I sighed, "Oh..." I said, "And you called me for this?"
"I am sorry, Aerion, I really am." She said as she sniffed, "But what would you have me do? I know that we insulted you and Rhaenyra by not attending your wedding, I do wholeheartedly apologize for that but I did not want another scene like Driftmark. I....think of me as you will, but I have never refused you when you wanted to see your cousins. I care for you, I always have, nephew."
I nodded, "Of course, Your Grace." I said, "May I speak with her?"
"Yes, Please." She said softly
I walked over to Helaena who shifted, moving back and forth as her muttering got faster.
"Cousin." I said as I crouched down in front of her, "It is I, Aerion."
"B-Bronze flames fill the sand...the sun...." she muttered quickly
I frowned, "Helaena?" I said as I gently touched her shoulder
She jerked away, "N-No!" She shouted, "Don't touch me, Aegon!"
This was probably the loudest I've heard her speak, sweet and gentle Helaena.
"No, it's Aerion, cousin." I said as I placed my hand on her shoulder, "Helaena, look at me."
She tried shaking me off but I persisted in a gentle and firm grasp, "N-No..." she said as she looked up, "N-No....A-Aerion?"
I nodded, "It is me, Princess." I said softly, "Not Aegon...."
Her lips quivered, "A-Aerion...." she said, "I...No...I don't want it...."
"Want what?" I asked, "What's the matter, dearest cousin?"
Her eyes darted around, "T-The..." She started, "One becomes two...pain and suffering....the head will be gone..."
I frowned, "What does that mean?" I asked, "Someone lost their head? Is that what it is?"
She nodded slowly as she sniffed, "I don't want him to touch me...." She whispered, "Don't let him."
"Aegon?" I asked
"He does things to the maids...." She said as she looked at me
I looked down and shook my head, "Fucking Aegon...." I muttered before looking up at her, "Helaena...I'm sorry....."
"Bronze flames fill the sands..." She said softly, "Two blades cut through the sun...."
I was aware of Helaena's....well, they call it an affliction but it's quite clear that everyone in the world is different. She's one of them, a gentle and sweet soul with a misunderstood demeanor. Some say she was possessed by spirits and all, but it is all slander, shit to cover up their ignorance.
"Bronze flames? Sands...sun...." I said with a raised eyebrow and leaned in, "You mean Vermithor, right? He burns the sands....the stepstones...I assume.....I think. And the sun....well, if I put two and two together, that means the Martells.....Hm, I fight the Dornish armies on the Stepstones on Vermithor?"
Heleana calmed down, her shaking easing, "Yes..." She whispered, "Yes....."
I patted her head and chuckled, "You've been dreaming too much, my cousin." I said, "That mind of yours needs to be at ease."
"Bronze flames, Aerion..." She said as she embraced her sheets tighter
I was told once by Uncle that there are dreamers in the Targaryen bloodline. I never believed him until I paid attention to the ramblings that Helaena had when I visited King's Landing. Some things came to fruition with her vague and ominous remarks.
I nodded, "Hm...." I said as I looked back at Alicent, "You should give her something to ease her sleeping, Your Grace."
"I don't want it." Helaena gripped my arms tightly, "Aerion, please."
"Hey hey...." I said softly as I patted her shoulder, "Aegon, right? You're speaking about Aegon?"
"Y-Yes...." she said
"Sweet Helaena..." I said, "I cannot do anything much about the union, the King has spoken. But....if he dares to treat you the same way he treats any other woman....I vow to you, my dear cousin, I will cut open his belly and feed his innards to the dogs....He will not defile you."
She looked down, nodding slowly, "P-Promise?" she asked
"I do." I said, "I will write to you frequently, I promise. I am sorry for not being able to visit much, I have been preoccupied."
"Your Bronze Flames raze the ground..." she muttered
I straightened up and gently patted her shoulder again, looking at her Mother, "A bit of space and some tea for sleep should work, Your Grace." I told her as I walked towards her, "And a bit of your Maternal gaze."
She looked at me, "What do you mean?"
"She does not want to marry Aegon." She said, "She worries that Aegon, being himself, will hurt her."
"He will not." She said with anger, "Never, not my girl."
"Well, you should make sure, though." I told her as I looked back at her, "She needs more reassurance than just me. I cannot always be here, even if you summon me just for this."
"What would you have me do?" She asked me
"Just give him a stern talking to, he'll listen to you." I told her, "Unless you want me to give him the talk."
Alicent looked down and shook her head, "You'll cause a bigger shift between us..." She said softly, "I am so sorry, Aerion...."
"I should not say this, but...." I said as I shrugged, "Maybe...just maybe.....you made the wrong choice."
She looked at me, "What?"
"In so hastily defending your girl...." I told her, "You put her in a worse position than you feared she was going to be. But you are The Queen, no? You know what you are doing. Now, if you excuse me...."
"I will take my leave and see my Uncle."
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