Ashes In The Castle ||| Aemond Targaryen

forty-seven

News travelled fast from the birthing chamber that the Queen had given birth to a boy. The new heir to the Iron Throne.

Naerys was cleaned and changed after her very exhaustive affair. She laid back in bed carefully, finally eating after everything. And she was still in pain, still feeling lesser contractions. But it was nothing compared to her previous pain.

Aemond held their son while Naerys took time to recover. She tried to walk, which was also excruciating, and decided laying in bed was what she needed.

They talked much about his name in the hours after. Many iterations were discussed, new and old.

But together, they decided on Rhaegar for their son. To pay homage to Rhaenyra, Naerys' mother.

That was why there were tears after he was born. Naerys loved him so much and wished desperately that her family was there. They all deserved to meet him. Rhaenyra would never know her grandchild.

Naerys still had family, though. Corlys, Baela, Rhaena, Aegon. And they could meet him.

When she felt ready and not like her entire body was falling apart, Naerys told Aemond he could let everyone know. They could meet him.

She was alone with him for the first time. He was sleeping away in her arms, wrapped in blankets and cloth. Naerys spoke quietly to him in Valyrian.

"You are so loved. I promise I will always love you. And I will guide you. One day, you will rule the Kingdom we leave behind."

There was a soft knock on the side of the door and Naerys looked up. Aemond had returned to her, trailed by Corlys, Baela, Rhaena, and Aegon.

They were quiet as mice when they entered the room, smiles on every face around. Corlys was there first to approach Naerys.

He first leant down and kissed her forehead, a hand on her shoulder. "Well done," he encouraged, asking if he could hold his great-grandson. "Look at you. What a fine King you'll make."

Corlys rocked the sleeping boy and moved away, letting the others approach Naerys.

Baela and Rhaena sat on the edge of the bed while Aegon crawled onto it beside his sister.

"Was the labour easy?" Baela asked, setting one of her hands on Naerys' legs.

"I think I called the midwife—" Naerys covered Aegon's ears despite his age. She just wanted to make him laugh. "—a cunt."

"Oh." Rhaena's face of surprise made Naerys and Baela laugh.

"Have you decided on a name?" Corlys asked, still rocking the baby in his arms.

"Rhaegar," Aemond offered from the side, his arms crossed as he watched his son.

"Rhaegar Targaryen. A name fit for a King."

***

Alicent visited after Naerys' family had seen Rhaegar. She came with Jaehaera, who was quiet and curious.

The woman took the baby from her son, a smile lit up her entire face. She remembered when her own children had been that small. He was going to be so loved.