labour.

xxvi.



Aegon had done a fine job of avoiding her, enough that even Daeron noticed it as he gave a nudge to her side and motioned to their eldest brother. He sat on the other side of the room with his back to them, Rose just beside him as they had plucked up a friendly conversation. Nyra shouldn't say it hurt her but it did to see him so carefree, to laugh and smile like Rose was his best friend and he was so keen on every last word she had to say.

Her shoulders rose in a shrug, a shake of her head at Daeron's silent question. What was Aegon doing with Rose? And why was Rose laughing like everything he said was hilarious? Nyra swallowed down a huff, glancing at the food in front of her and her mother on the other side of the table. She looked at ease in High Tower, the climate suiting her as she laughed and smiled, conversing with people that she had known for years.

It made her wonder if perhaps her mother had never wanted to leave High Tower, had she always been happy here before her Grandsire got chosen to be Hand of the King. "You're looking rather withdrawn today, my love." Alicent nodded over a cup of tea, her dark eyes stilling on her daughter who hadn't smiled once since sitting down for breakfast. "Is everything alright?"

Nyra hummed. "Absolutely fine." She muttered, reaching for her fork before pushing it into the eggs. She couldn't stomach the thought of eating one of them, much preferring to make it seem like she was interested in something on the table.

"Is it because we'll be leaving?" Alicent asked. She had completely forgotten that they'd be leaving tonight, everything already set and packed to be taken by horse carriage back to King's Landing. "It's okay to miss people, Nira."

She nodded. "I know it is." She said defensively before glancing across the table back to Aegon. He was standing from the table, offering Rose his hand to take.

Alicent frowned at her, at how distracted she looked. "Then what has got you like this?"

Dark eyes snapped back to Alicent, her head shaking. "Nothing." She dismissed, dropping the fork entirely. Alicent didn't comment, instead turning to Daeron who knew exactly what his sister was looking at. He was curious too as light eyes followed the pair out of the room and through the courtyard, the pair looking content.

"What is it?" Alicent hissed, seeing the two youngest focusing on anything but the conversation she was trying to keep with her.

It wasn't until they were out of sight and Nyra whipped around to look at Daeron with a fierce gaze. "What is he doing?" Daeron asked, having seen his brother's wild ways years before but never having been so bold as to court a lady - much less Nyra's closest friend, so openly in the gardens.

"What is who doing?" Alicent tried to cut in, wanting some clue as to what exactly was going on.

"Rose asked me yesterday, I didn't think it'd become as serious as that." Nyra said, voice low and harsh as she whispered to Daeron.

"It's hardly serious, Nyra. It's a walk in the garden." Daeron piped up with a roll of his eyes. "I was thinking more of why he was choosing her - she's nothing like his normal type of woman." Aegon had a normal type of woman? That was surprising. "He likes the dark haired ones." Alicent's eyes couldn't help but dart from one child to the other, growing increasingly impatient as she felt out of the loop.

"Well I may have told him what Rose had asked me." Nyra let slip, a flush in her cheeks. "He told me he wasn't interested."

Daeron rolled his eyes. "He's interested in anything with a pulse!" Evidently.