Enchanted // Rhae Royce

47. Glowing

 'He has your hair, Your Grace.'

'He does have my hair.' Viserys agreed, targaryen's and their silver hair, unmistakable.

"Quite unfortunate." Taelon agreed. Viserys glanced back at him as he filled Alicent and Rhae's glasses.

'He has your eyes, Your Grace.'

'Yes, he does.' Viserys agreed. 'And you have my nose, don't you?'

"Also unfortunate." Taelon agreed.

"Taelon, thank you. You are always a pleasure." Viserys mused.

"Here to help." Taelon agreed.

'Two years old and already our boy has a kingly presence.'

'He may yet, brother, but this morning he insisted on eating porridge with his hands.' Otto mused.

'He will grow. We're quite a party assembled in his honor. And surely by the end of this hunt, we shall have more to celebrate.' Hobert declared.

'And what is that, pray tell.'

'It is Aegon's second name day. His infancy's behind him. It only remains for Viserys to name him heir to the throne.'

'Taelon has proven... a good heir." Otto admitted. Hobert stared back at him perplexed.

"I never expected those words from you brother." Hobert countered.

"Me either." Otto admitted.

"You look like you are about to pop, mother." Taelon remarked, Alicent smiled back at him as he sat beside her.

"It feels like it." Alicent agreed and for a brief moment, she let herself believe that Taelon was the father and this was her life.

"Can I have a sip?" Thorin questioned reaching for Taelon's cup.

"Just a sip." Taelon agreed but his attention shifted to Rhae. "You are glowing." Taelon declared as Thorin handed him back his empty cup.

"Glowing am I?" Rhae mused.

"I didn't to get be there for the first pregnancy I'm very excited." Taelon informed her as he pulled her down into her lap. She expected him to say something along the lines of you are heavy now that you are carrying a child inside you but he pulled her closer as he brought his glass to his lips. He tipped it upside down confused before Thorin burped. Taelon's lips pursed as he put the glass down wordlessly. "Wasn't thirsty anyways." Taelon murmured running a hand over Rhae's stomach. "What do you think? Boy or girl?"

Alicent loved the way Taelon tended to Rhae, how affectionate he was. Alicent didn't think she wanted Viserys to be affectionate with her but still seeing them together, the genuine smiles on their faces made her love sick.

'Your Grace... I bring urgent news from the Stepstones.' Tyland Lannister said coming forward and putting a halt to the festivities. 'The Crabfeeder has dug in for siege on Bloodstone while his men sabotage our fleet under the cover of dark.

'Not today, Tyland.' Viserys urged.

'The matter of the Stepstones is regrettably urgent.' Tyland assured.

'It's been three years. It can wait another three days.' Viserys said calmly. 'Come, eat. Fortify yourselves for the journey. Please.' Viserys said gesturing to the feast. 'Is the baggage train ready?' Viserys whispered.

'It is presently massing at the River Gate. Lord Jason expects us in the Kings wood before midday.'

"I was thinking we fly." Taelon whispered to Rhae. "I mean the carriage... not really the most comfortable and that way-" Taelon looked to Alicent and offered a smile. Charming as always alicent thought fondly. "If we want to escape the idiots coming to stroke fathers cock... we have a quick getaway." Taelon whispered.

"Taelon!" Rhae declared slapping at his chest.

"What? Not literally, the cock part but literally for the getaway." Taelon assured her.

"Taelon, we can't abandon Alicent and Aegon." Rhae corrected. "this party is for them too." Aegon held up a cookie and Taelon smirked as he shoved it in his mouth.

"Cookie contest." Taelon whispered to them and Thorin grabbed a cookie holding it up. "GO!"

'Have you seen Rhaenyra?' Viserys questioned looking around.

'I have not, Your Grace.'

"Taelon?" Viserys countered, Taelon looked up from his cookie eating contest with Thorin and Aegon. "Have you seen your sister?"

"I see cookie crumbs." Taelon corrected.

'With the Triarchy now sheltering in Bloodstone's caves, the threat of the dragons is blunted.' Tyland told him following him down the feast table.

'They don't have foot soldiers.' Viserys reminded him piling food on his plate.

'But their sell swords have been withdrawing in droves, Your Grace. Even the mercenaries can see that it is a losing effort.' Tyland went on

'Where's Rhaenyra?" Viserys questioned Ser Cole.

'I cannot be sure at present, Your Grace.' He whispered back

'The Velaryon forces have suffered heavy attrition, Your Grace.' Tyland went on. 'The seeds of dissent are sown amongst the rank and file. Daemon has driven the men hard. They have begun to question his command. If the crown were ever to intervene...'

'Tyland..'

' ...now is the time.' Tyland finished.

'Daemon and The Sea Snake started their war without His Grace's leave. Were he to intervene now after so long, it would make the crown appear weak.' Otto told Tyland as the feast bickered around them.

'Can someone tell me where in the Seven Hells Rhaenyra might be?' Viserys demanded.