❝ There was a feeling of inevitability when I met you. And our lives were fated to converge like some cosmic dance. And I think I had to break your heart and you had to break mine. ❞
As Cressida Black's lungs ceased to draw breath, Aurelia Martell's...
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The Kingswood, the Crownlands
Rhaenyra stepped out of the carriage after seeing the twins and Danae safely on the ground, just in time to hear Lord Horbert Hightower yell out: "Hail, hail Aegon, the Conqueror-Babe, Second of His Name!"
Rolling her eyes, she took Edrick's outstretched arm with Aurelia holding her other one. She purposely ignored the Hightower fanatics acting as if the two-year-old babe was some kind of god.
Only when she heard the chuckle of Aunt Viserra did her steps falter and she looked back as the crowd went silent. "I'm sorry Lord Horbert," she said between her laughs as she came to stand near the young royals. "I swear you just declared this babe the second of his name? Which causes me quite to confusion as our King stands right there, whole and healthy, as does his heir."
Hobert looked toward his niece and brother, all of them shifting uneasily. Otto quickly took control, stepping forward. "I believe all my brother meant was Aegon is the second since the Conqueror," he said, seemingly quite confident in his answer.
"But what about Aegon the Uncrowned, wasn't he the second?" Johanna Swann wondered out loud for all to hear as she approached with Danae holding her hand, the little girl awed by everything and everyone around her in her first time outside the court.
"And wasn't Jaehaerys & Alysanne's first son the third boy named Aegon?" Bethany Strong asked as she approached with her oldest brother and sister, Aurelia's father walking beside the widowed Strong daughter.
"And your own late brother, Uncle, he was named for the Conqueror as well, wasn't he? Making him the fourth?" Edrick finished, eyes wide as he stared at the King.
"Yes, I do believe so," Rhaenyra answered at once. "And, of course, if we were to count the Aegons since the Doom, it would be a much longer list, wouldn't it?"
No one moved, no one breathed, all waiting for the King's response. "Y-yes well, I-I'm sure they simply misspoke," her father said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "We all know we Targaryens tend to overuse the name now don't we?" It was said with a chuckle that was copied by the onlookers.
"Now let's all enjoy the hunt! Come, my dear, I shall accompany you to the tent." Her father then led her away, leaving his wife, son and Hand behind.
━━ ⋅𖥔⋅ ━━✶━━ ⋅𖥔⋅ ━━
"I saw you speaking to Emilee," Aurelia said as she walked up to Adrian. "Would you wish to marry her?"
Adrian looked at his daughter. "If I say yes, are you going to tell me that I should court the Princess instead?"
Aurelia smiled. "No, not at all," she leaned in closer. "I would rather have a stepmother who is older than me. And Emilee is a good woman. I can see us becoming closer. Just, give her a proper courtship. She's the widow of a prominent lord and the daughter of a member of the Small Council. She deserves the very best."
