The Grey Wolf & The Golden Dragon | Aegon Targaryen II

Introductions

Aegon

The summer sun beat down on the inhabitants of the Red Keep, stinging the skin of Aegon Targaryen's neck as he shifted his body weight from heel to heel, fighting the urge to let out another annoyed sigh. His mother had already chastised him twice for his fidgeting and the last thing he desired was another smack on the back of the head, which was sure to come if he made another sound of complaint.

Still, they had been standing in the outer yard of the keep for nearly an hour and spent even longer making sure everything was ready for the arrival of his bride-to-be. The keep had been scrubbed and polished for the last fortnight; fresh flowers placed in every vase almost daily. The prince was far past annoyed with the pageantry. After a few weeks, their guests would hardly notice, and the flowers would stop being refilled. Aegon knew he was sweating beneath his many layers, and he was eager to escape the heat and change out of his stuffy clothes.

"Where is she?" Alicent hissed at her father before casting another glare down at her eldest son. Aegon watched a bead of sweat trickle down his mother's temple as she fanned herself. Somehow, she must have though he was to blame for all of this. After all, it was Aegon who had begged his mother not to make him marry Helaena in the first place.

"Please, mother! Give me someone, anyone, other than my own fucking sister! Make an alliance with one of the other noble houses, I beg you!" The prince had badgered her repeatedly, until she finally relented and sent word to Winterfell, suggesting that the young lord, Cregan, betroth his younger sister to Aegon.

Alysanne Stark was only a year younger than the prince; nearly a decade younger than her own brother, and seemed the best match, in Otto's opinion. The Starks had long since pledged obeisance to Rhaenyra, but the Hand insisted that the marriage would assure an alliance with Winterfell, should they need it.

In truth, Aegon didn't care who he was forced to marry. After the wedding, he planned to carry on as he always had. A wife was nothing more than the assurance he would conceive heirs, as was his duty. But Helaena... Anyone was better than Helaena.

Despite his outward indifference, Aegon loved his sister, as he loved his brothers, but the thought of fucking Helaena made his stomach turn. Plus, her obsession with insects and her incessant muttering drove him absolutely mad.

"She was supposed to be here at midday!" Alicent complained, arguing in a tight whisper with her father. "The scouts did report seeing the wheelhouse on the Kingsroad, did they not?" Otto answered the affirmative and she huffed and shook her head. "Absolutely disrespectful..." she muttered. "Come on," the Queen turned to her daughter, "let us go inside. There's no point in us standing in the heat of the sun until they arrive." With Helaena at her side, the Queen stormed back into the castle, her face red from both the heat and her own irritation.

Inside the shade of the castle, Aegon immediately slumped down at the bottom great staircase, pointedly ignoring his mother's narrowed gaze as he stretched out on the lowest step. He didn't care if his clothes were wrinkled, he merely wanted this farce to be over.

"I need a fucking cup of wine..." he muttered, tugging on his collar.

"You need no such thing!" Alicent snapped, "I will not have you drunk and making a fool of yourself when the Lady Alysanne arrives!"

"If she arrives," Aegon corrected sarcastically, "Perhaps the Starks have decided this match wasn't a good idea, after all..." Alicent looked horrified by his suggestion. Part of him hoped he was right, relieved to be able to put marriage off for another year or so.

Another part of him, the side he hid from everyone, prayed that there was no truth to his own jest. He had always known he was a disappointment to his mother and grandfather, but a total stranger deciding he wasn't even worth meeting... The thought made his chest ache, and his cheeks reddened with embarrassment.