𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 | 𝐀𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐞𝐧

FOUR

The next morning Aegon woke up to Aemond shaking him. "Brother if you do not get up within the next 5 minutes I will happily train without you" he heard as the door slammed shut. Ruining Aegons finally content mood from the night before. He got up, pulled on his clothes and walked towards the training ground. He had clearly missed breakfast as he saw Danera walking out of the dining hall with Helena, giggling together like sisters. Aegon stepped backwards swiftly behind the nearest column, watching Danera as she glided past him. Her beauty caused him to stop breathing for a moment, he took in her features as if he would never remember what she looked like again. Once she was clearly past him, he continued. After last night, he decided he needed to be better for her, if she was ever going to be his.

-

Danera decided she would watch Aemond train that morning, as Helena had gone to choose fabrics with her mother, something she had little interest in. Thinking it unlikely Aegon would be there, as he usually missed training due to his common hungover state, so she felt she was safe from his constant mood swings. Walking towards the training grounds, Danera smiled at Aemond, moving to sit on the nearest bench, watching closely as he effortlessly dodged each attack. Then, her eyes were drawn away, to Aegon, who was somehow sober. Rolling her eyes, wanting nothing more to do with him. Focusing back on Aemond, she tried to ignore Aegons presence. "Ah brother you made it, were you up late in the streets of silk?" Aemond jested at his brother, who only smiled. Both Cole and Aemond took that to be a yes. Although Danera looked at him, confused. She was slightly annoyed to think thats where he would've usually been. Ignoring her thoughts she sat back and watched the practice. Surprised at Aegons talent, after all, she was told he never bothered to make any effort when it came to training, that's if he even turned up. Her eyes glanced over him, his face, his jawline, his lips. He had muscle, just enough to show through his training clothes. Shaking her head, this is ridiculous, she did not have feelings for him except hatred, he made her childhood miserable. The confusion she felt, maybe he did mean what he said the other night, maybe he couldn't stop thinking about her.

-

After another uneventful day, Danera ventured to the Library. She wanted answers and if Aegon was really interested in her, he would be there. Tiptoeing out of her chambers, slowly checking each corridor as she passed. Slipping the door closed, she found herself in the library within moments. To her disappointment, no one was there. Picking up the book discarded from the previous night, settling herself in the large velvet chair. After an hour or so, she got up, disappointed in herself for thinking someone so awful could be any different. Placing the book back where she found it, she walked towards the door. Turning quickly, the sound of another door opening stopped her in her tracks, not wanting to be found somewhere she shouldn't be. The stranger gingerly stepped into the large room, looking around in the darkness. The dim candlelight not helping to show who it was, stepping back behind the nearest bookshelf. The figure sighed, pushing the nearest book of the table and dragging their hands through their hair in frustration. They sat down, head in their hands, at that moment, she saw the unmistakable features of Aegon. Had he come for her? No, he had probably just seen some whore and now couldn't sleep from drinking too much. She tried to slowly step towards the door. "Danera?" Aegon whispered. She stopped in her tracks. "Aegon?" She whispered back, turning towards him. Walking into the candlelight, forgetting that her nightgown left her quite exposed, he looked at her, in awe, then quickly looking away. "I don't mind" Danera smiled, not knowing where this sudden confidence came from. Aegon shook his head "I don't want to be like that with you" he replied, putting his head in his hands again. Against her better judgement, she sat opposite him. She needed to know what was going on, was she making it all up? Did he care? "What's going on Aegon" she said attempting to make her voice sound stern. He didn't look up. "Aegon" she said, louder, she definitely had her fathers lack of patience. "Why did you come into my room that night" she asked again, quieter this time, slightly scared of how he would answer. "I don't know" he mumbled, still refusing to look at her. "Why did you come back" Danera asked, losing patience again. "Because I needed to get away" he spoke quietly, his voice cracking, tears stinging his eyes. What he didn't ant to explain to Danera, was that he had just come from another argument with his mother, she was trying to marry him off, again, to some lady he would never care for. He knew what he wanted, it was her. They fought, and he was yet again reminded of the disappointment he would always be to his family. Letting the tears fall, he covered his eyes, not wanting to look as weak as he felt. Taken aback, Daner felt frozen to her spot, she had never seen Aegon vunerable. Hesitating for a moment, still not trusting the broken man opposite her. She knelt in front of him, prying his hands from his face, looking into his eyes. He couldn't look at her at first, but only for a moment, not able to stop himself. "I'm sorry, I just need some wine" he pushed her off, about to get up. "Are you joking" she spat at him, flopping back in the velvet chair. "I cannot believe you Aegon." He finally look at her, into her eyes. "Do you not get it" he said frustrated, "it's you, it's all fucking you." She looked at him shocked, what did he mean all her, she had barely seen him. "You make me like this." He stared at the fire, not meaning to express his true feelings to her. Looking at him, confused, pissed off at his unpredictable behaviour. "Wh...what do you mean, Aegon" Danera said timidly. He looked up at her, scanning her face, maybe she cared for him too. "I want to be better" Aegon muttered, his tears drying onto his pale cheeks.
Danera stood up and stepped over to him, more confident this time, reaching her delicate hand out to stroke his hair. She had never realised how broken he was, how much he just needed to be cared for. He had been sober all day, something she hadn't known him to do since she was a child. He leant into Danera, her nightgown soft against his skin. "Thank you" he breathed.

They stayed like that for about ten minutes, before Danera got restless and moved away. Aegon looked up at her, worried, and then pulled her to his lap. She let him guide her down, they couldn't take their eyes off eachother. He glided his fingers through her long white hair, finally calm. Danera, still confused, pushed away her worries and let him hold her. There was a part of her that had started to care for him, that wished this was all true, that he wasn't just using her. She was nervous, her heart racing, she had never been close with someone like this before, but somehow, it felt right. Their eyes closed, listening to eachother breathe, they did not speak as they drifted off.

An hour later, Danera woke, she felt arms around her, their hands intertwined. Remembering where she was, she jolted up. "Aegon" she whispered sharply. "Mmm" he mumbled, pulling her back into his chest. "Shhh Dany" he said nestling himself into her neck. Dany? She'd never been called that before. She blushed, the feeling of butterflies in her stomach. Danera lifted her hand to stroke the side of his face, she had to amit, he was perfect. "We have to get up, if we are found here.." she whispered to him, "I know" he replied grumpily, barely awake. As Aegon drifted back off, she pried herself from his grip, tiptoeing to the door, for a second, looking back to the sleeping boy she was unfortunately falling for.

-

Aegon awoke in the same spot Danera had left him that night. Upset to find himself alone. Slowly standing up, dreamily walking back to his chambers. It must have been early, the sun barley above the surrounding buildings. He usually only saw this hour walking back after a night of drinking, but this time, it was nice to feel sober. Aegon wondered if she really felt the way he did, or if she was just being kind. He always liked that about her, her care for others. She cared for Aemond when he didn't, when his eye was taken. Aegon finally found himself back in his bed, but without Danera, he felt he would never be able to sleep peacefully. He spent the next hours wondering when he would next see her, wanting nothing more than her back in his arms.

Ahhh, they are finally admitting feelings - to themselves at least - however, it's still a bumpy road ahead. Aegon won't change that easily. Thank you for all the reads so far, I'm loving writing this.