The Grey Wolf & The Golden Dragon | Aegon Targaryen II

Aftermath

Alysanne

Aegon guided her through the corridors and, to Alysanne's dismay, continued on past their shared chambers. As they approached the doors that had once been owned by Viserys, she stiffened. They wasted no time, did they? she thought bitterly. Not two days had passed since the good King's death, and already his chambers had been cleared. Where the effigy of Old Valyria had once sat, there was a large empty space and the sight left Alysanne feeling inexplicably bereft.

"Here," Aegon offered, guiding her toward the copper tub filled with steaming water. He set to work, gently plucking the pins from her hair until it fell down the center of her back. "I know it is awful to say, given what has been lost this day," he ventured as he pushed her hair forward over one shoulder and unhooked the clasps of her gown, "but I regret not being able to thoroughly enjoy this dress."

"It was a lovely dress," she agreed softly, relaxing into his touch. If nothing else could soothe her, Aegon could. He always could.

"Do you regret it?" he asked in her ear, pulling the dress from her shoulders, "Agreeing—"

"No," she replied suddenly, feeling nowhere near as sure as she sounded, "Not ever. Not if it means keeping our family safe. This isn't just about you and Rhaenyra; it's about all of us. Your family has become my own and I would never want to see any of you in danger."

When the dress fell to the floor, she turned to face her husband. "I love you, Aegon. No matter what comes, no matter what happens, I will always love you. Now... How about you give your new queen a bath so we both can rest?" It had been nearly three days since she had last slept, and the exhaustion was taking a heavy toll on her.

Aegon helped her into the tub and then kneeled on the floor beside her, leaning against the edge.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, reaching out and pushing a stray curl away from her temple."

"I'm filthy," she replied with a grimace.

"And beautiful, still," he insisted, his eyes shining with emotion. "I am the luckiest man in the world." A warm kiss was planted on her forehead and then Aegon was pulling off his shirts. "Lay back, I'll wash your hair." They had servants for such a task, and the fact that her husband, the King, would rather wash her hair himself left her feeling warm.

"Is Torlyn with Daeron?" she asked softly as she dipped her head back in the water. He hummed the affirmative as he reached for the soap, lathering his hands, and pushing them into her curls. "Tell me..." she insisted after a long period of silence. She knew that Otto and Alicent would have called the council immediately after their arrival.

"Ser Erryk is the one who released Rhaenys. He is gone. We can only assume he went to Dragonstone." Alysanne couldn't form a response. Ser Erryk had always seemed loyal to a fault. "We are sending terms to Rhaenyra..." he finally said.

"Decent terms?" she asked. "She offered us friendship only days ago, Aegon. We must not insult her with—"

"I know, darling," he interjected. "We've offered all of her children places at court. She is to keep Dragonstone if she bends the knee, and Jace, after her. Lucerys will keep Driftmark."

"It's not enough..." Alysanne whispered under her breath. "Send word that the offer for betrothal stands..." Aegon's fingers stilled in her hair. "Her children may yet rule alongside our own; that knowledge—"

"Might be salt in a rather fresh wound." Aegon finished.

"Or a balm." Alysanne countered stubbornly.

"I suppose we shall see..." Aegon answered, before shoving her head beneath the water.

"What the fuck?" she gasped as she came up sputtering; glaring daggers at him. Aegon offered her a crooked smile.