The Grey Wolf & The Golden Dragon | Aegon Targaryen II

Impending Arrival

Alysanne

Alysanne paced back and forth outside the stadium, the sun beating down on her. The weather had cooled, if only marginally, but the rays of the sun still bit against her skin, making it sting. She knew that, by the time they returned to the keep, her shoulders would be red.

"Come into the shade, love," Aegon insisted; a cup of wine in his hand as he joined her. "Why are you standing in the heat?"

"They were supposed to be here already," she complained, using the back of her hand to wipe the moisture from her hairline.

"They're probably fucking," Aegon replied with a shrug. Once Aemond had made his courtship of Elin public, the pair had become inseparable.

"They were supposed to be right behind us. It's Aemond's nameday celebration and he's not even here!" she complained with a huff of frustration.

"You sound like my mother," Aegon chided with a teasing grin; his comment making her glare. Alysanne knew his teasing words were right, but she couldn't help herself. As her belly grew, Aegon drank less and his ear was occupied by Otto more. In turn, Alysanne found herself spending an awful lot of time with the Queen and Helaena.

"Perhaps it's the Hightower blood fermenting in my womb," she sneered, fanning herself. The further into her pregnancy she got, the more her stress and anxiety ate her from the inside out.

"Since when do you care what anyone thinks?" he asked.

"I don't," his wife insisted.

"Relax, ñuha dōna." He breathed, stroking his hand over her swelling belly. The maesters assured her that she had nearly two more moons until the babe would come. Automatically, Alysanne leaned into his touch, her head dropping against his chest as she suddenly let out a soft sob. "Baby, what is it?" She shook her head, not knowing what was wrong, only that her emotions were running rampant for no particular reason at all.

"Just hold me," she begged, clinging to him. Gods, what the fuck is wrong with me?

"I'm here, baby. Always." Aegon assured her, stroking gentle lines up and down her back. Alysanne was still encased in his embrace when the wheelhouse rolled to a stop and Aemond, Elin, and Daeron climbed out.

"Fucking finally!" Alysanne complained, gripping Aemond by the arm and tugging him toward the tourney stadium.

"Fucking hells, Lys," he complained, glancing backward at Elin, who merely offered the pair a shrug.

"Your mother has been complaining in my ear for the last hour! What took so long?" she asked, continuing to drag him along.

"Elin couldn't find the necklace I gave her," Aemond replied with a sarcastic grin, only solidifying what Aegon had guessed they'd been doing.

"This entire ordeal is a celebration of your fucking nameday and you couldn't be the slightest bit interested," she scolded as she pulled him along. Behind them, Elin was accompanied by both of Aemond's brothers as they made their way up into the stands.

"What's there to be interested in?" Aemond replied, "When I fight a man with a sword, it's not for show. I'm training for improvement or I'm intending to fucking kill someone." Alysanne snorted and shook her head as they took their seats, and the Queen finally announced their arrival. It didn't seem fair to Alysanne that the King was stuck in his rooms, alone and ill. Halfway through the tourney, when she could no longer stand the sight of the blood, she slipped from the box.

"Would you like me to—"

"No, Dorran," she replied without hesitation. "Crim will protect me. Stay with Elin." Her knight only nodded, settling back into position at the back of the box as the direwolf followed her mistress out. Alysanne stroked her fingers through Crimson's fur as they walked, fanning herself with her hand.