❝ 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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Later that night, Aurelia corners her. Most people had already retired to their tents, and the moon was high in the sky, pale beams shining down on them. Guards milled about but none of them paid much attention to the two princesses, beyond scanning the woods for any danger to the two. Rhaenyra was sitting on a small wooden bench, a blanket draped over her legs and a carved dragon in her hands that she's half paying attention to.
Aurelia appears and sits on the bench next to her, a blanket draped around her own shoulders and a goblet of mulled wine in her hands.
"Aurelia," she greets.
Aurelia cocks her head in greeting, passing a goblet to Rhaenyra.
"Does it hurt?"
Aurelia cocks an eyebrow at her, amusement dancing across her features. "Does what hurt? Being pregnant?"
Rhaenyra nods, embarrassment burning in her cheeks. Aurelia gives a slight laugh, rubbing the swell of her stomach with a soft smile on her face. Then she goes serious.
"Yes," she murmurs. "It does. Not as much as childbirth, but it does hurt."
Anxiety builds inside of Rhaenyra, it's like an hourglass inside of her counting down the seconds until she's shackled into marriage and staring death, the birthing bed, right in the face.
"Why?" She croaks out, her voice strangled and taut. "Why do you do it?"
Aurelia gives her a pitying look, her hand coming to grasp Rhaenyra's, rubbing soothing circles over her skin. "Why do I do it? Or why do women in general do it?"
"Either. It doesn't matter."
Aurelia sits quietly, contemplative for a moment. Rhaenyra's anxiety builds.
"I guess many do it for duty, because they have no choice at the end of the day," Aurelia answers. "Daemon and I, we didn't plan it really. Not the twins and not this one, but I love my girls and I already love this one, so I guess in part it's also because of love."
"Why though?" Rhaenyra almost sobs, fear filling her as she remembers her mother and her constant pregnancies, how she spent more time pregnant than not — all in pursuit of a son to be her father's heir. Why? Why do women do it? Put themselves through pain and suffering and the chance of death all for a screaming, wailing creature?
"Because you want to," Aurelia breaths softly, discarding her goblet on the bench. "Because even though they make you suffer, even though they put you through the worst pain imaginable, you love them."
"You love them." Rhaenyra echoes.
Aurelia nods, pulling her into a hug. "Yes. Because you love them"
Rhaenyra wraps her own arms around Aurelia's shoulders, burying her face into her neck and sobs. Cries like she hasn't since her mother's death. Lets out all the pain and suffering and terror. Aurelia rubs gentle, slow circles over her back, whispering sweet nothings into her ears.
