𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 | 𝐀𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐞𝐧

THREE

Aemond and Danera left breakfast together, laughing about their childhood and filling eachother in on what they had missed. "Aegon hasn't changed" Danera said with an expression of frustration. "I'm afraid not" Aemond said with a sigh, "I'm not sure he ever will". They walked into the gardens, "sorry, but as much as it's nice to speak to you again, I have training" Aemond looked at her apologetically. "It's alright, I wanted a walk in the gardens today" Danera smiled at him. They parted ways and Danera walked further into the large gardens. This was always her favourite thing about The Red Keep, the beautiful gardens that surrounded the castle. She walked for a while, wrapped up in her own thoughts of dragons and suitors, before a servant caught up with her. "The queen has asked for you my lady" she said out of breath, she obviously ran around to find Danera. "Of course, I will make my way there now" Danera said with a smile she didn't mean. She wasn't sure how she could face the queen alone. Walking back inside, she vaguely remembered her way around alone. She approached the doors to the queens chambers, "the queen requested me" she explained to the guards outside. They let her in without a word.
"Ah my dear you found your way" Alicent spoke to her, smiling and patting the seat next to her. "How has your first morning here been, I am so sorry to have missed breakfast, but I assume you know of the kings ill health" she explained further. "Do not worry, I would rather my grandsire be well" Danera forced herself to look into Alicents eyes. "Now, I know your mother and I do not see eye to eye, but I want to you feel you can come to me whenever you need. I want to find you a suitor who will make you happy" Danera was taken aback by Alicents words. Although she did not know what to expect from the meeting, she was not sure whether to trust the queens kindness. "Myself and your mother were once the closest of friends, and I miss her grately, how is she doing back on Dragonstone?" Alicent said. "She is well, her pregnancy with my brother was rough towards the end, but it was worth it for young Joffrey" Danera smiled, trying to match Alicents kindness. She decided if she were to survive here, she one person she would need on her side was the queen. They spoke for an hour or so about Dragonstone and her mother, Danera being careful not to give away too much. Alicent explained there would likely be tourney in the coming weeks to celebrate the princess, and for any man interested to show his favour. After their meeting, Danera walked back to her room, as she walked around the corner to her corridor, she bumped into Aegon. She tried to walk past him without any conversation, but he grabbed her arm. She turned around, still angry with him. He went to speak, but no words came out, so he just stared at her. "What" she said harshly. "I uh, wanted to apologise" Aegon said, almost too quietly to hear, "I was drunk and not thinking, it was unbecoming of me".  Danera was shocked, she had never heard Aegon apologise, especially not to her. After that, he scuttled off, leaving her gobsmacked.

-

Aegon had built up the courage all day to apologise. It was unfamiliar to him, to feel sorry for his actions. Usually he was too drunk to care, but today, he had not touched a drop. Because of this, he was quicker in training, he could listen more in council meetings, and he felt better, for a while. However, once he was back to his rooms, the guilt stepped in. He had never meant to upset her. He walked out of the room, still caught up in thoughts, in search of a servant to get him some wine. When he walked down the corridor, he bumped into her. He couldn't bring himself to do it at first, but he looked into her bright purple eyes, and melted. She could've made him do anything he wanted then and there, not that she knew it. Once he had apologised, he walked off, he couldn't feel like this, he couldn't have her. Once he found the closest bottle of wine, Aegon slunk back to his room, drinking himself into the evening.

The servants knocked to make him aware dinner was ready. He walked out, looking the girl up and down before pushing past her. He needed Danera out of his head, but nothing was stopping it, even the wine. He sat down, as far away from her as he could, pouring himself a large glass. "Aegon you have finally joined us" his mother looked at him scowling. He did not reply, just looked at her. As dinner went on, he could see his brother and Danera chatting and laughing. The more he looked over at them, the more jealous he felt. How could his brother have such an effect on his girl, he was ugly and grumpy. He never took an interest in women. "I have decided we are to hold an tourney, in honour of Danera" his father spoke loudly, holding up his cup, "I am sure many suitors will attend to win her favour". "Not likely" Aegon scoffed out of jealousy, laughing into his cup. "What was that brother" Aemond looked at him, daggers in his eyes. "I said, not likely" Aegon spoke again, deciding that if he could not have her, no one could. "How dare you" Aemond stood up storming towards his brother holding a dagger to his neck. "Aemond! Stop this!" Shouted Alicent, standing up. "Of course, defend him as you always do mother" Aemond remarked, as he walked out of the room. Danera was sat at the other end of the table, tears in her eyes but refusing to give Aegon the satisfaction of crying. "Looks like someone wants you, a shame his is a cripple" Aegon looked at Danera, laughing again. "Aegon, go!" Alicent shouted at him. Aegon took his wine and walked off back to his chambers. The wine was finally making him feel like himself again. He did not care for his stupid niece. There were many whores who knew how to satisfy him much better than she could.

-

Danera left the table not long after her uncles, she could not hold the tears back much longer, but refused to show weakness in front of her family. She finally returned to her rooms, sobbing into her hands as she sat down. How could he be so cruel, she thought. She didn't understand him, one moment he apologised, she thought maybe she should give him a chance, but he had ruined it now.

Later that evening, Danera could not sleep, she had wandered around her room for hours overthinking the everything that had happened. Finally, she decided to find a book, they always calmed her down and helped her drift off. The library was not far from her rooms on Dragonstone, so she would often slip out at night to read. Danera walked to her door, peaking out to see if the guards had left for the night. She snuck out, in only her nightgown and robe to find the library. Once she came across the large oak doors, she knew she had found the right place. Gently, she pushed her way in, turning around to close the door behind her. Suddenly, she felt a knife at her neck. "What are you doing here" she heard, realising it was Aegons voice. "Aegon what the fuck" she pushed him off. "Oh shit it's you" he realised in dismay. He had thought it to be a servant trying to steal. "Yes it's me, what are you doing here, I didn't think the great Aegon Targaryen cared to read" she scoffed at him. Angry that she now could not do what she wanted. "I come here to think sometimes, no one looks for me here as they always assume I'm down the streets of silk when not in my rooms" he explains gingerly. Danera could not keep up with Aegons changing moods. One minute he hated her and the next he was nervous around her. "Well if you'd move out of my way, I'm here to read" Danera walked past him, looking over the shelves in amazement. Dragonstones library was vast, but nothing compared to this. Most books were in High Valerian, something she was confident, but not fluent with. She found one that took her fancy, and sat down with it near the fire. She saw another book abandoned in the chair opposite as Aegon picked it up and sat down. "Must you stay here" she sighed. "I think you will find, dear niece, that it was you who invaded my space" he smiled at her, and somehow, she felt it was genuine. They sat in silence for a few hours, and when she finally felt sleepy enough, she walked back to her rooms, saying a barely audible goodnight to Aegon as she left.

I'm not as happy with this chapter, but I'm trying to quicken the pace of the story. I want to show how broken Aegon is, and how he has a hard time showing his feelings to anyone. Let me know if you're enjoying it!