The Grey Wolf & The Golden Dragon | Aegon Targaryen II

A New Dragon

Alysanne

"You must push, my lady!" Alysanne felt like she had been pushing for hours already; she was completely exhausted.

Until her labors began, Aly always thought she handled pain rather well. Her first contractions were only a minor inconvenience, but that pain quickly became all-consuming, radiating up her back and stealing the breath from her lungs. Hours had passed since the contractions had grown strong, and Alysanne was covered in sweat and gripping the edge of the bed in front of her.

"Can't I be in there with her?" Aly could hear Aegon's voice on the edge of hysteria and echoing down the long the corridor.

"It's not the way, my prince," one of the maids insisted. "Traditionally—"

"Fuck tradition," Alysanne snapped, "let my fucking husband in!"

Aegon was there in a heartbeat, shoving aside one of the maids and sprawling across the bed. He cupped her face in his hands, pushing her sweaty hair back off her forehead and kissing her damp skin.

"I'm here, my starlight, I'm right here." Aegon assured her softly.

"You don't smell like wine," she breathed in a relieved sigh before another contraction rocked through her and the pain stole her words away. 

"Of course not," he sounded both amused and offended by her observation. "You think I'd be drunk the day you bring my child into the world?"

"Tell me you love me, Aegon," Aly begged, tears pricking her eyes as a thousand thoughts ran through her head. "Promise me that if anything happens—"

"Don't you dare, Aly. Look at me baby..." His eyes were shining like amethysts when her worried gaze met his. "Nothing is going to happen to you. I won't let it. Now, listen to the maester and do as he says, so we can hold our little dragon." Aly nodded, chewing on her bottom lip.

"When the next contraction comes, you must push again, my lady," Orwyle instructed. Aegon nodded in encouragement, keeping his eyes locked on hers.

"You can do this, my love," he whispered, kissing her softly, just before another wave of pain rolled through her.

"Push, Princess," Torlyn encouraged. Alysanne did just that, bearing down and clenching her jaw through the pain as sweat dripped down her temples. Her eyes squeezed shut and she pressed her forehead to Aegon's, his presence offering her a small bit of comfort.

"I see the crown! Deep breath and then push again, my lady!" Orwyle instructed.

The agony was nearly unbearable, white hot and burning through her until she thought she might faint. Then, suddenly, the pressure was gone, leaving a searing pain in its wake. A searing pain that immediately melted away as a tiny, sharp cry pierced through the short silence in the chambers.

At the sound, Alysanne burst into tears, relief and joy overwhelming her as Aegon kissed her forehead.

"A boy! It's a boy!" the midwife announced as she swaddled the babe and offered her to Alysanne.

"A boy..." she breathed in awe as the tiny bundle was placed in her arms. "We have a son," she sobbed, looking up at Aegon.

"We have a son..." he echoed, staring at the tiny human in bewilderment, as if he didn't believe he was real.

"Do you want to hold him?" Alysanne placed the babe in her husband's trembling arms as the midwife showed him how to hold the infant properly. Another wave of pain had Aly gasping for air as the afterbirth came, and then the maids were surrounding her and cleaning the mess.