In the midst of the dragon home, tensions arise and sides are chosen. To keep peace between the greens and blacks, Rhaenyra offers her eldest child, Aelanys Velaryon, to wed Alicent Hightower's son, Aegon II.
Aelanys knew being the eldest and futur...
A ROUTINE had been established between Aelanys and Aemond. Nearly every night the two would sneak away, riding into the night on Vyrax. It had been their little secret. Today though, Aemond seemed off. Something wasn't right and she wanted to figure out what bothered him once they landed in the lavender fields. "Has something happened?" The princess asked, sitting down in the field. Plopping down beside her, Aemond took a deep breath, "They gave me a pig..."
"What?" Confused, she watched tears well in the prince's eyes.
"After training when your mother fetched you to see the new babe... Aegon and your brothers told me they had a surprise for me," A tear fell from his eye as he continued, "The pink dread, they called it. even attached fake wings onto the damn thing." The princess grabbed him and squeezed the prince in her arms hugging him as tight as she could. She held onto him as he sobbed quietly on her shoulder. Her heart ached hearing such things had happened ─especially at her own brother's hands. Peace was all the girl wanted between their families.
"I'm so sorry Aemond. It was cruel of them to do such a thing," Aelanys muttered rubbing his back as his tears came to a sniffle. Though a part of her did see some humor in it, she would never admit it out loud. She felt guilty for even trying to find humor in the prank her brothers pulled on Aemond. Although she was not the one to make sure a cruel joke, her stomach still twisted with shame and guilt.
"It is no fault of yours Aelanys."
He removed himself from the hug, sitting back down with his arms resting on his knees. "I will make my brothers apologize. They should not treat you in such a way," Anger overtook the princess' features. Aemond glanced over at her and for the first time he saw a glimpse of the dragon every Targaryen held within them. She had the same blazing fire every Targaryen had ─the type of fire that was known to start and end wars. "I doubt they would apologize. They think lowly of me...I know of all the names they call me," Aemond sighed hanging his head low. "Aemond, look at me." It took him a few minutes before he did as asked. The sorrow that filled his eyes disheartened the princess' heart. "They only treat you this way because they fear you ─everything you could be. Those boys know as much as I that you are the best of us Aemond Targaryen."
His heart swelled hearing this ─he enjoyed the validation from her words. Validation seemed to be one of the many things he lacked in his short life with his parents. Though, when the princess gave it to him ardently, he found himself craving more. Aelanys always seemed to drown all his worries with all the right words. She was a comfort to the lonely prince. One he cherished greatly. He laid his head on the princess' lap as he peered at the gleaming stars and stole a glance at her unique eyes when she wasn't paying attention. "I wish for us to stay like this forever. No politics, worries, or anything. Only contentment and peace." Aelanys smiled at the prince's words and smoothed his hair back, "If only it were that easy."
