The Gentle Queen: HOTD

Another|23|

"You are healing better, my queen, but I am noticing some changes that are a little concerning." Maester Grey said as he helped her sit up after checking her healing.

"Concerning, what do you mean?" Lilly asked, becoming scared.

"I apologize for my disrespect for your grace, but have you and the king been laying together since you gave birth to the princess?" He asked, cleaning his hands and looking at her as she looked down nervously.

"Yes, we have," she replied after a few moments.

"Well, you healed your grace, but there are some changes I noticed. May there be a chance you are with a child again."

"My husband and I have laid together; he desires another child, of course there is a chance," she said with a tense smile.

"It has been only a month and a half since the princess was born. It is not ideal; it puts your health at risk," he explained, making her nod.

"I am aware, Maester Grey. Thank you. May you just do the test, please?" She asked, making him nod and get things together, mixing them in the bowls.

"I will need a drop of blood, your grace," he said, handing her the needle and making her poke her finger, hissing slightly, before she placed her finger over the bowl, letting a few drops of blood fall.

She watched tensely as the blood began to spread, confirming that she was once again with a child. "You are with child, your grace," he said quietly, making her sigh.

"Thank you, Maester Grey," she said quietly, picking up the skin around her fingers. She was only ten and four and already had two children; now she will be ten and five with three children, but it was her duty to give the King and realm children, especially sons.

"Here, these will help you, my queen," he said, handing her a few bottles.

"What is it?" she asked, looking at them.

"This is rose oil; it is completely safe for you and the baby. Just rub a few drops between your wrists and neck; it will help with headaches and any stress you may feel," he explained for the first bottle that was pink.

"This is a peppermint-safe oil made from peppermint leaves. Put a drop or two in your tea, and it will help you with any nausea you will experience," he explained for the blue bottle.

"And this lemon oil is for the same thing, but it also helps with vomiting."

"Maester Mellos never gave me any of these," she said, looking at him.

"Well, Maester Mellos is an idiot and only does what is easiest for him; he gets impatient and does not believe in changing the medical ways," he said, rolling his eyes as he thought of the man.

"So that's why he just wanted to cut me open, but after we tried your way with walking around and kneeling down, the labor went smoother."

"Yes, my queen," he said, making her nod and hug him, surprising him.

"Thank you if you are fine with it. I would like you to be my maester for all my pregnancies and labors," she asked, making him smile.

"Already done, your grace," he said, making her smile.

"Thank you; now I must go," she said before leaving with a heavy pit in her stomach.

----

"Mama," Aegon said, running to her as she kneeled down, opening her arms.

"My sweet boy, hello," she said, kissing his head before letting him run back to his toys.

"Your Grace," Lucy and Grace, the children's handmaidens, said, bowing to her.

"hello." She greeted them before speaking again. "You may leave for now. I wish to be alone with my children," she told them.

"Very well, your grace," they said before leaving the room.

"Hello, my sweet dragonfly," she cooed, gently picking up a now awake Helena.

"Is she feeling better, mama?" Aegon asked, looking at the two.

"Yes, her fever is all gone, and she is nearly sleeping through the night, my dear. How are you feeling?" she asked, brushing her hand through his hair.

"I'm great, mama. Can we go get cookies from the kitchen?" he asked, making her smile.

"Why yes, we can, sweet boy. Let's go get cookies, then we can go for a walk in the gardens. How does that sound?"

"It sounds like fun. Come on, mama, come on," he said, pulling her hand to the door and making her laugh.

"Wait a second. Aegon, I must get a blanket for Helena," she said gently, making him nod.

"I will get it, mama," he said loudly as he ran to her crib, grabbing the baby blanket his mama made for her.

"Here, mama," he said, covering Helena with the blanket after she kneeled down so he could

"Thank you, my sweet boy. I am so proud of the young boy you are becoming," she said, kissing his head.

"I love you, mama."

"I love you, Aegon, with all my heart and soul."

"And Helena, right?" he asked, making her laugh.

"And Helena, I love you both so very much," she said, gently tapping his nose, making him giggle.

"Now let's go get those cookies," she said, making him cheer and her laugh.

-----

"Your Grace, My Prince, what can I do for you?" a kitchen maid asked, bowing to them.

"Some cookies, please," Aegon answered, making her coo at the sweet prince and nod.

"Well, of course it is a good thing. I just made a batch about an hour ago. Let me go get you those for you," the maid said, walking off to the back of the kitchen and making Aegon dance happily.

"Here you go, my Prince, chocolate chip cookies, and I added your mother's favorite desert, a few tarts in their strawberry," the maid said, winking at the queen, whom she had watched grow up since she was only five.

"Thank you, Dalila, truly." Lilly thanked the women before leaving, following a happy Aegon to the gardens, with the Cargyll twins following them.

Lilly sat on a blanket, feeding Helena, as she watched Aegon run around, chasing butterflies and leaves. She was happy, but scared.

She was only ten and four and had two kids; now she will have another in less than nine months, but she was happy that her children were her escape when things were bad. All she needed to do was hug her babies, and all her problems went away. Viserys didn't really desire her when she was with children.

-----

"You called for my grace," Lilly said as she walked into his chambers.

"Ah yes, I did come here," he said, patting the set next to him and making her sit.

"Is everything okay, my love?" she asked gently, noticing how tired he was.

"Yes, yes, I am fine. Rhaenyra and your sister should be back at Kings Landing in seven months. I thought you should know, and I heard you visited the master. Is everything fine?"

"Well, I hope for their safe travels. It will be nice to have them back home. Aegon misses them, and I cannot wait to introduce Helena to them," she said excitedly, making him smile.

"And the maester?" he asked, making her smile dim.

"I was being checked as I was at risk for an infection, and there I found out I was with a child again," she told him.

"Ah, what wonderful news! I am so happy to have another child, hopefully a son," he said, making her nod.

"Hopefully, husband, now it is quite late and I am not feeling the best, so I think I am going to go to bed if that is all right," she said, standing up and making him hum.

"Go ahead, good night."