Innocence// AEMOND TARGARYEN ✔️

Chapter thirty-three

The silence that filled the room after the boys dragged Aegon out was so peaceful, Eirlys wanted to preserve it in a jar.

It was a rare occurrence for her to experience such bliss with her name day and wedding preparations taking place at court.

Silence like this felt like a luxury.

She sank down into her chair by the fireplace, silently observing the flames dancing atop the heaps of coal and wood.

Her conversation that she had with her brothers started to play out again in her mind and she pinched the bridge of her nose.

She refused to believe it.

"What are you saying Luke?"

"Harwin Strong" he spoke in a hushed tone, not wanting anyone to overhear this "the one they all claim to be our father"

"A nasty rumour yes" Eirlys ushered for him to continue.

"It's not a rumour" the younger boy sighed "you, me, Jace and Joffrey... we're his.."

"Lucerys if this is another tale you are jesting about, it is not funny in the slightest" Eirlys' tone grew stern "it is quiet a dangerous thing you say. Mother would be ruined and we-"

"I wouldn't lie to about this, gods why would I jest about something that confirms us to be bastards?" Luke looked almost offended that his sister thought he was daft enough to joke on such matters "it is the truth, Jace knows. Joffrey is the only one who doesn't"

"It can't be..." Eirlys' voice trailed off. She quickly rose from her bed and headed out, with a curious Luke following her like a lost puppy.

She marched right into Jace's room that was right next to Luke's.

The younger boy shut the door behind him while Jace was completely oblivious as to why his younger sister barged into his room looking like she'd seen a ghost.

Perhaps she had?

"What's wrong?" He grinned, trying to scare her further "seen the castle ghost have you? 'Tis said that once you see her she will always follow you until the very-"

"Harwin Strong is my father?" She cut him off, making sure to keep her voice down.

Jace looked stunned.

He glanced from Eirlys to Luke, now looking a bit disappointed.

He wanted to hold off telling her about it, or at the very least have their mother tell her.

"You've told her I see" Jace sighed "couldn't you have waited until after her wedding?"

"So it's true?" Eirlys could feel the air being sucked out of her lungs. Her entire life was a lie.

She was no Velaryon princess. Infact, she had no Velaryon blood in her at all.

The reality of the situation kicked in:

She was a bastard.

Which in turn meant even her siblings were bastards.

By that knowledge, Jace wouldn't be able to inherit the iron throne, Luke wouldn't be heir to Driftmark. She, nor Joffrey would be heir to Dragonstone.

"I will be shamed at court" Eirlys sank down at the edge of Jace's bed as she felt her eyes starting to sting"what of my marriage? M-my titles?"

"No no no" Jace placed his hands on her shoulders and he bent on his knees to level with her "don't cry. No one has to know and no one will know. Besides, you look exactly like mother, there isn't a single person who will doubt your legitimacy"