² 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃 ━━ rhaenyra targaryen

𝟎𝟎𝟒. pile of duties

I. Never not mine
Rhaenyra Targaryen x Ariyanna Hawthorne

—

TWO DAYS. It took only two days for Draemon Targaryen to live and only to die in the end. The little babe was sick the moment he was born and the Maesters of the Keep did all they could to try and heal the living heir of their King but to no avail. Rhaenyra Targaryen had a cousin for only two days. Ariyanna and Nathar had a cousin for only two days. It was a devastating week for the Targaryens and Hawthornes together. So much so that the Red Keep was silent for a month until it was back to its busy castle work.

Of course, it's all in the past. It's been almost three years ever since and Ariyanna was well off in hiding her everlasting grief. No one could ever understand her even if she tries to open her wounds and let all her pain out to relieve herself. The only way she could do that is go to the dragonpit and reign Astraea away from her chains, riding on her back and for them to fly away for relief. She felt enormous pain by being in the Red Keep where every room is another memory she would rather not face and whenever it would happen, her solution is Astraea.

Her father is no help no matter how hard he tried to be. Ever since his twin sister's death, he was trying to be more sympathetic to his daughter and tried to console her in which every time, Ariyanna pushes him away every chance he tries. Bryllden could not blame her even if it's been three years ever since he tried to be a more involved father to her. He was thirteen years too late for that privilege and Ariyanna hold her ground and stubborn thought of not needing him even if she wanted him to be a parent.

Rhaenyra Targaryen would like to say she's the closest thing to a friend Ariyanna had. Ever since Marya had died, the girl was nothing but trouble to anyone who served her. Her father forbade her to ride on Astraea whenever she was distraught, thinking she'd be in danger for her own emotions and specifically instructed her kingsguards to not let her go to the dragonpit if she ever does go with a hot head. Of course, Ariyanna is a force of a nature who likes to think her own menacing words to her own kingsguard made them bow to her.

The nervous knights behind Ariyanna was the first thing Rhaenyra saw when she approaches the variety of the dragonpit, approaching the girl who was patiently waiting for Astraea to be come forth.

"Gōntan nathar gaomagon mirros doru-borto arlī? [ Did Nathar do something stupid again? ] " Rhaenyra speaks first in High Valyrian, putting on her gloves as she walks and Ariyanna turns her head to look at her. "Aōha Dārotiazantyr issi tolī zūgagon hen ao than aōha kepa. [ Your Kingsguard are more afraid of you than your own father. ]" Rhaenyra slightly grins, now standing besides her.

"Pōnta gīmigon sȳrkta than naejot bēmagon nyke hen jāre kesīr. [ They know better than to restrain me from going here. ] " Ariyanna responds, acting her part as well with her hands together in front of her, glancing at Rhaenyra who lightly chuckles. "Good morrow, Princess. Issi ao dakogōre qrīdrughagon hen mirros tolī? [ Good Morrow, Princess. Are you running away from something too? ] "

"Daorun isse particular unlike ao, nyke pāsagon. [ Nothing in particular. Unlike you, I believe. ] "

"Ah, you're projecting." Ariyanna says, deflecting Rhaenyra's own allegations to hers, playing fire with fire with a touch of teasing.

"So are you."

"Then we're not so different after all."

Ariyanna never truly asked for a friend after her aunt's death. But moments such as these kept pulling her and Rhaenyra together to spark up a conversation that she is obligated to do so. Not that she only talks to the princess because she needs to, she quite enjoys Rhaenyra's company better than anyone in King's Landing. Her brother is difficult, he always worries for her and it's mostly what they discuss whenever they are in one room and Ariyanna was just sick of it. Alicent was worried as well. She may not be as blunt as Nathar was but it was obvious when she was trying to talk about something else when something was clearly bothering her to talk about.