𝐢𝐢. 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

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─ ⋆ ─

Aera sighs loudly, coughing the tingle out of her throat and tapping her fingers against the spine of her book. "Must you always stay silent?" She hums, eyes moving to the sun glaring through the windows. Ser Tristian stays silent, huffing to himself and making more space between the two. "Do you know why Daemon has called for me?" Aera asks, stopping her walk and turning to face Ser Tristian. "Well?"

"I was simply instructed to escort you to the Chamber of the Painted Table, Princess." He nods, face stoic as always. Aera hums, nodding slowly. She turns around once again and speed walks to where Daemon was, eyes downcast and tongue poking at the side of her mouth.

"I heard from your mother of your.. disagreement this morning." He hums, fingers moving to trace the names on the table. "There was no disagreement. You have heard wrong. We spoke, and then we left. That is that." Aera shuts him down, running her tongue along her bottom lip and rolling her eyes. "It is not your business, Daemon. What is it you wish to discuss?"

"We depart for King's Landing on the morrow." Daemon states with no further explanation, merely watching Aera for a reaction. When he got none, he carried on. "Both you and the prince Aemond are unwed and not promised to anyone," He shrugs, rounding the table to move closer to the brunette. "I believe that a betrothment between the two of you would benefit us greatly. Combine the two sides of our family together." Aera shakes her head, eyes blazing with fire as she laughs to herself. "Marry the boy who attacked my brothers years ago? You both have truly lost your judgement. Alicent would never accept anyways, especially to one of the children who cost her her poor boy's eye." She states, voice dead serious as she moves away from Daemon.

"I shall pack for our travels, but I will not agree to such a ridiculous suggestion." Aera turns on her heels, nodding to Daemon mockingly and walking out of the room, Ser Tristan trailing far behind.

Her fingers move to anxiously play with one and other, nails picking at the hanging skin that comes from her usual anxious biting. Daemon calls after the girl, moving to lean against the brown door, but Aera simply ignores him, keeping her head held high as she quickly rounded the corner.

─ ⋆ ─

The brunette girl stood hesitantly in front of her mother's chambers as she had done towards the start of the day. Her palm laid flat against the cold wood as she took in a deep breath. After a few more minutes in her eerie silence, Aera knocks the door thrice and pushes the doors open, finding her mother reading on her bed.

"Mother." She greeted, nodding at the Princess before walking over to her bed. She stood at the bottom of the frame, refusing to move closer or relax her body language. Rhaenyra hummed softly, her eyes not leaving the book as she raised an eyebrow at the girl.

"Having Daemon speak with me did not change my mind. Did you truly believe it would?" She asks, voice calm but eyes twitching. If her mother had wished to wed her to Aemond, why not just say so and not make their morning conversation so open and awkward. "I had hoped he would convince you more. He is a smart man. Maybe that would tie you over."

"That was foolish of you, dear mother. Very. Blinded by your wish for an heir, maybe. Like someone else once was." Aera had muttered the last part to herself, not intending for the princess to understand what was said. But, like all mothers, Rhaenyra held the cursed ability to always hear a child's snide words.

"What was that?" The woman snapped, eyes finally leaving the book she held. Her eyes fell hard, a look of disappointment and anger flashing through her lavender eyes. "You speak with ignorance and spite. I have not raised you to speak in such a way, and I do not expect you to. Such words shall not leave your mouth again. Understood?" Rhaenyra scolded, dropping the book onto the mattress in front of her.

Aera's jaw was clenched, eyes blurry as she closed up her fists, knuckles turning white. She gives a stubborn nod, eyes not moving from the wooden bed frame in front of her.

"What is it you wanted, Aera?" Rhaenyra asks, moving a hand to brush her hair from her perfect skin. How Aera dreamt of looking so perfect. Rhaenyra sat her silently, now moving the golden ring that sat comfortably on her finger.

Aera huffed to herself, closing her eyes harshly before speaking; "Why is it we leave for King's Landing on the morrow, mother?" Rhaenyra's fidgeting stops for a moment, eyes flickering up towards her daughter before humming quietly. "It is not about the weddings," She confirms, clicking her tongue as she waits for Aera to lift her head.

"A trial has been called to discuss who shall inherit Driftmark," She explained, watching Aera's head snap up in confusion. "Lucerys is." Aera's eyebrows were furrowed. "Corlys said so himself. There is no need for such a silly discussion." Aera's eyes flickering from the bedding to her mother, face stern as she holds the piercing gaze.

"Your uncle Vaemond is challenging the established line of succession and the cou-" "Fuck the council!" Aera growled, face scrunched up in annoyance. Her nose twitched slightly, nails digging into her palm. "Those bastards only goal is to ensure that Lucerys is not granted his only birthright! Fuck Vaemond, he isn't even important. Just turn the man down and send him in his way. There is no need for such meetings!" The nail indented palm hit the frame, her other hand moving to rest on her forehead.

"It is an important discussion that must happen. Even if they turned him down, he would still boast his claim and drag Lucerys down with him." Rhaenyra spoke sternly. She threw Aera a warning glace, which Aera avoided in favour of staring at the wall.

"We shall do our duty. As an honourable family and the future rulers of the realm." She trailed, her eyes now leaving her daughter's tense body. She coughed quietly, slapping her chest as she attempted to clear her throat. "If we must." Aera hummed mockingly. She sent Rhaenyra a tight-lipped smile before rushing through the doors, leaving Rhaenyra alone with her book and thoughts.

─ ⋆ ─

Six years.

That's how long it has been.

Six years without seeing any of them, six years since the incident at Driftmark that wedged a huge divide between the children.

Aera knew something was going to happen, call it a gut feeling.

She felt queasy even thinking about the family city.

Oh, what would the Conquerors think? A Valyrian fearful of the land they once overthrown.

How they must be mocking her right now.

Even with the unease flowing through her veins, Aera still yearned for the reunion that she dreamt of as a kid. Where they would all forgive one another and go back to how they were. Simple children.

Yet she also resented the idea. She refused to feel joy at the thought of meeting the family, who not only slandered her but her mother and brothers too. She felt sick at seeing the quiet boy who attacked her little brothers and cousins on that fateful night.

The only person she found happiness in seeing is Helaena, but maybe she had changed to. What if her marriage broke the girl? What if her mother's poison seeped into her ears as well? Aera would pray it didn't, or all hope for a peaceful time would be thrown out the window.

─ ⋆ ─

౨ৎ - I know this chapter is short, and I apologise. I had all my chapters up to 15 written, but then wattpad deleted them, so I wrote this in a rush x

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