Castles Crumbling / Helaena Targaryen/ Taelon Targaryen

9. Love of my Life

Use Me / Cersei Lannister out now!

She's so lucky so blessed they all said it. The queen was already pregnant with her second child. Meanwhile the heir and his wife had yet to carry a child to term.

In three years since another stillborn birth, they had lost one more child before taelon urged his wife to make moonteas.

He loved her he loved how they felt moving together everything about his beautiful wife, but he refused to sacrifice her health and safety for child they didn't even know was possible. But calla desperately wanted a child so she forgot every now and then to make the teas.

He was so worried about her and wanted to protect her but her life was not going to be completely fulfilled without a child.

"Hail, hail Aegon, the Conqueror-Babe, Second of His Name! Here's to His Grace on his second name day!' the crowd continued to cheer as Aegon was lifted up. Calla moved forward reaching out for aegon.

"Hello my sweet happy name day!" Calla declared. Aegon smiled snuggling into her.

"Caaa!" Aegon agreed. 

"You get your fill of cake at the first party little man?" Taelon questioned ruffling his hair. Aegon scrunched up his face snuggling into calla once more. "Little ladies man."

Taelon knew calla wanted more than anything a child. Something taelon apparently couldn't give her. So aegon was a blessing.

"I'm going to head in check on alicent." Calla remarked shifting aegon in her arms.

"I'm going to find Tom." Taelon kissed her before she headed off.

'Lady Johanna was reported to have been abducted when one of Lord Swann's ships sailed through the Stepstones.' Ceira Lannister remarked.

'What will happen to Lady Johanna?' Alicent questioned.

'She's to be sold to a pillow house in the Free Cities if you believe the rumors.' Ciera told her. The women cooed seeing aegon come in. He blushed hiding his face. Calla ran a gentle hand over his back.

"My prince."

"Save it harwin." Taelon assured.  "Where is Tom? He is supposed to save me from all this formality."

"Lurking." Harwin answered

"He gets that from larys no doubt."

'I fear the gods did not make me for hunting. Might I sit with you, my ladies?' Larys questioned as he approached the group of women chattering.

'But of course. Please join us. Larys Strong, the youngest son of our Master of Law, Lord Lyonel.' Alicent remarked. Larys reached out touching aegons hand.

"I saw a mandrake on the way here." Calla whispered

"Those are rare. Where?" Larys questioned eagerly

"A mile or two back from here."

'My Lord husband says that no King has even been able to tame the Stepstones for long. It's an inhospitable place suited only for savages.' Alicent went on she wished she had the motherly love that Calla did. But it wasn't for her. Mothering wasn't for her. Calla should have been a mother ten times over and yet she couldn't have a child while alicent was burdened with children.

'Perhaps the Princess... can give us some insight.' Ceira remarked as they looked to Rhaenyra in the doorway.

'Oh, I'm not sure how I could. I've never been to the Stepstones.' Rhaenyra reminded them.

'Your dear uncle is the great mind behind this war. Is he not?' Ceira questioned.

'He's made a mess and the King must put an end to it.' Joselyn Redwyne remarked. 'Send fleets and men and clear out the Triarchy for good.'

'But the crown is not at war.' Rhaenyra told them. Calla knew the war was underfoot taelon went to help but he couldn't bear to be apart from  Calla for that long so he never stayed away long. But he wasn't useful taking a day or two to help so the war raged on with daemon and corlys in the lead.

'The crown... is at war, Princess. Though your father refuses to admit it, we've been dragged into it by your uncle and The Sea Snake.' Joselyn told her.

'And how have you served the realm of late, Lady Redwyne, by eating cake?' Rhaenyra pondered.

"Oh rhaenyra," calla tsked but rhaenyra was already running out.  Heading outside she needed a breath of fresh air, this life was not for her. this place was not for her. Viserys had a son and she was becoming obsolete.

'I wonder, Princess... was your own second name day as grand as this?' Jason remarked.

'I honestly don't recall and neither will Aegon.' Rhaenyra remarked.

"Any luck on the baby front?"

"We are men let's not." Taelon countered

"What ?" Harwin mused "can't two friends speak of life?"

"Death follows us." Taelon corrected. "Yet my brother is getting lucky with his new bride."

"Don't tell me you are thinking of taking a mistress?" Harwin mused

"Never." Taelon answered without hesitation. "I love calla. She just wants a child so badly and what if it is me?"

"Taelon-"

"If i wasnt heir... i feel like im letting my brother down." Taelon mumbled. "Letting calla down."

'Lord Jason Lannister.' He introduced

'I gathered that from all the lions.' Rhaenyra remarked noting his cloak.

'I don't think we've been properly introduced.'

'Your twin serves on my father's council.'

'Tyland is... frightfully dull, gods love him.' Jason said as he handed her a glass of wine. 'The finest honeyed wine you'll ever taste. Made in Lannisport, of course.'

"Rhaenyra is being moody again lets focus on that." T aelon suggested. Harwin chuckled.

"He is so perfect alicent."

"He certainly loves you most." Alicent offered watching Aegon giggle into callas chest.

"Oh you are good mother. He loves You most." Calla assured peering around for taelon the love of her life.