Little Devil / Viserys Targaryen / Tommy Shelby

40. Rumors

~7 Moons Later~

The timing was all wrong. Aislynn knew it, Harwin knew it too. He had married Rhaenyra a fortnight after her fathers fall, after her initial wedding. 

"You didnt drink the tea." Aislynn whispered. Rhaenyra's gaze locked on her. "You got what you wanted, a husband, a good husband. One that would love you forever and now you, Ali and I are all pregnant but you see your wedding was last,  I have been married forever, Alicent still has another 2 moons... you see what I'm saying?" 

"Criston." Rhaenyra whispered touching her stomach. 

"Yes and you and Criston hate each other, recall? You embarrassed him, made him feel cheap and worthless and he left your service and came into mine." Aislynn went on. Her tone was calm but Rhaenyra heard the bitter undertone. "Rhaenyra, I love you but your husband is not friends with your baby daddy, what do you think he's going to  say?"

"Targaryen genes are strong-" Rhaenyra offered. 

"My children got some Hightower streaks." Aislynn countered. "Hair doesnt matter, timing does." 

"I could be early?"

"YOu are as plump as a melon about to burst." Aislynn corrected. 

"Are you going to tell them?" 

"No, but that doesnt mean that they don't already know." Aislynn remarked as she headed off. 

Harwin had been happy. Until the morning sickness and the pregnancy started. He thought it was his, but he did the math, of course he did. Rhaenyra had fucked Daemon, this was his child, that was the only reasonable explanation. Harwin's father had been proud of Harwin, he would be king consort one day but Harwin knew the baby in Rhaenyra's womb was not his. The heir's heir would be a bastard.

"can I talk to you your grace?" Criston questioned. Aislynn looked up from Jaeton and Anari they were playing with Viserys figurines on the floor while Aegon pulled the books and trinkets from the shelves. So this was how this day was going to be. 

"Yes, because I need a moment to not tell Aegon," Aislynn warned. "To stop throwing things because I'm done picking up after him." Aegon dropped the book a mischievous smile on his lips. "Pick it up please." Aegon shook his head. "You have until I'm done talking to Ser Criston to have all these toys picked up or I'm setting uncle Tommy on you." AIslynn warned. Aegon's jaw dropped and he quickly shoved everything onto the shelves. 

"Go on." Aislynn assured Criston. 

"You are the only one that knew, that knows about... what happened before." Criston remarked. 

"Yes." Aislynn agreed simply. 

"And... is it stupid to think that Rhaenyra is... carrying my child?" Criston questioned softly. 

"Not stupid at all." Aislynn agreed. 

"So..." Criston urged. 

"Mother daughter confidentiality." 

"Lie to me, lie with me," Criston offered. 

"Some times you have to burn some bridges to help with distance." Aislynn offered him a drink. He took a sip.  

"Now all my drinks and all my feelings are all mixed," Criston mused. 

"Hey Amoret I-" Tommy stopped himself. "Criston." 

"Ser Tommy." Criston answered as he got up. AIslynn pat his arm. "Thanks for the talk Your grace." 

"Criston, talk to her." Aislynn suggested. 

"She doesnt want anything to do with me. I didnt think I wanted anything to do with her." Criston countered. 

"But..." Aislynn urged. 

"But nothing. I have no say to mess up her life when she doesnt want me in it." Criston reminded her. 

"You are a good man, any kid would be lucky to have you as a father." Aislynn remarked. Criston gave a pained smile before he headed off. 

"This about Rhaenyra?" Tommy questioned taking Criston's place on the couch beside Aislynn. 

"I cleaned it up!" Aegon shouted. "Dont let him get me!"  Tommy chuckled, wrapping an arm around Aislynn's shoulders. 

"What did you do last time Aegon got a time out?" Aislynn murmured. 

"It's clean!" Aegon demanded gesturing around. 

"Good job, Aegon." TOmmy agreed, Aegon wiped a hand over his brow in success. 

"What did you do to my son?" Aislynn demanded, a laugh on her red lips. 

"Nothing." Tommy answered with a wink. Anari pulled herself up tugging on Tommy's pants to try and get into his lap.  "So... Rhaenyra is having a bastard." 

"You caught that too?" 

"What does the king have to say about it?" Tommy questioned. 

"He doesnt know. Honestly I dont think he realizes." AIslynn informed him. "After Ali's wedding, he lost his arm, we spent more time in council meetings with father and Viserys lay in bed..." It was hard to see him so miserable. Aislynn did love him. She didnt want to hurt him, she knew she had to end things with Tommy but she couldnt. He was her brother, he was her sworn sword, he was her best friend. You can't cut ties with someone that you love so deeply in so many ways. 

Aislynn wanted Viserys to be okay, needed him to be okay so when he finally got out of bed, you lost an arm not a leg, Aislynn had reminded him when he said he couldnt walk. Aislynn had been persistent. Otto liked being the man in charge. Aislynn wanted Viserys feeling better so when Rhaenyra's pregnancy started showing, Aislynn didnt want to add to Viserys stress. Didnt want him to lose another limb. 

If it was criston, black hair was still the goal right? But Targaryen genes were strong... Aislynn wondered what harwin would think if the babe had silver hair, if he would think it was Daemon, that the rumors were true. Wondered if Harwin would justify dark hair as an early birth. Aislynn adored Rhaenyra, she had been like a little sister to her for most her life, and then became her daughter, she didnt want her to lose everything over a night of fun.