Rhaelys is really starting to hate the sea. They were on the boat heading back to Kingslanding and the sea was rough. She went onto the deck to get a little fresh air as it felt like the cabin she was in felt stuffy.
She sees Rhaenyra and Criston standing alone when she walked closer. She heard them speaking.
"Did sleep elude you as well this morning?"
"I needed to see you princess?"
"I confess I had a similar desire."
" You have confided in me now and then through the years of our acquaintance. Forgive me, I feel I know you a bit."
"You know me more than a bit." Rhaelys was confused by what that meant but decided to ignore it for now.
"I've heard you say so many times how you loath your position , that you would be married off at your father's whim and now the day comes. Ser Laenor is a good and decent man. But you did not choose him, he was chosen for you."
"That's true."
"If there was another path, one that led to freedom, would you tread it? Rhaenyra before I came here I was a knight of the stormlands. I have a deep knowledge of the port at Sunspear. I have seen the ships of Essos sail with their whole of oranges and cinnamon. I always wished to see where they went."
"Are you asking for leave?"
"I'm asking you to come with me, away from all of this, from the burden and worries of being a princess. Let's leave it all behind and see the world together. We'd be free to do as we like, love who we like. In Essos your could marry me, a marriage for love not for the crown." Rhaelys felt sympathy for Criston, it sounded almoat as if he were in love with Rhaenyra.
"I'm a princess of the Crown. I may chafe at my duties but I would choose infamy for a bushel of oranges or a ship to Asshai. It is my duty to marry a noble man from a great house and Ser Laenor will make a great husband." Criston face falls at the rejection.
She walks closer to him.
"But... my marriage does not have to be the end. Ser Criston, Laenor and I have an understanding, I've granted him leave to pursue his own interests and in turn his granted me the same."
"So you want me to be your whore?"
"I want us to continue as began as you as my sworn protector, my white knight." Rhaenyra smiled.
"I took an oath, as a knight of your Kingsguard, a oath of chastity. I've broken it." Rhaelys knew then and there that it was Criston that Rhaenyra had lost her maiden head to and not daemon. That news gave her some sort of comfort, knowing that Daemon had not been with Rhaenyra.
"I won't tell anyone."
"I soiled my white cloak...it's the only thing I have to my fucking name. I thought if we were married I might be able to restore it."
"The iron throne looms larger than me , larger than anyone in my family. Aegon the Conqueror united the seven kingdoms and put them on a path..."
Criston walks away.
"Ser Criston..." Rhaenyra calls after him.
Rhaelys walks out facing her.
"He didn't ask for a history lesson Rhaenyra, he asked you to love him. But how could he expect you to love him when you're not capable of it."
Rhaelys turns around and leaves.
*******
They arrived in Kingslanding and they got out of the carriage. As soon as Viserys steps out he crashes to the ground. Rhaelys runs to her father and starts shaking him , trying to wake him up, but he did not. "Get the maester."says Lyonel. Rhaelys stood next to her father waiting for the Maester to arrive. She only left his side when the maesters took him to his chambers.
Rhaelys went to look for Aegon. She walked through the keep.
Rhaelys arrived at Aegon's room and finds him playing on the ground. He looks up and and jumps off the ground.
"REE!'he shouts and runs toward her. She readies herself to catch him and he jumps into her arms.
"AEGON! I've missed you, my little dragon."She admitted while peppering his face with kisses making him laugh.
"Ree...stop...please." He says between laughs.
Rhaelys looks to his nanny. "Where is the queen?"
The nanny answers," In her chambers princess."
A moment later a wetnurse arrived with Helaena in her arms. Rhaelys places Aegon on the ground and took Helaena into her arms. She holds her close.
"Hello my sweet Helaena. Did you miss me? Of course you did."She says kissing Helaena's cheek.
"Come along Aegon, we are going to my chambers"
Aegon runs to fetch some of his toys and walks past her. "You both can come to if you wish."Rhaelys says looking at the two women infront of her before walking after Aegon.
Rhaelys opens her chamber door allowing Aegon in. "Okay, first we are going to tell each other what? Aegon answer."
"That we love each other."He answers proudly.
Rhaelys nods her head."Good, well done. You will go first."
Aegon tries to climb on the bed but his still to short. Rhaelys chuckles and helps him up. He gets comfortable and looks to her.
"I love you, I love mother, I love Helaena and I love cake."
"Well done. My turn. I love you, Helaena, Alicent, father and strawberries."
Rhaelys places Helaena next to Aegon and picks up Aegon's toys.
A maid brings in a tray of food and places it on the bed. On the tray is cake, small sandwiches and a selection of fruit as well as juice for Aegon and milk for Helaena. Rhaelys thanks her and the maid left. They ate and soon fell asleep.
Alicent went looking for her children and found then in Rhaelys's chambers sound asleep with an exhausted looking Rhaelys.
Rhaelys looks to Alicent."They fell asleep."
"You must have enjoyed yourselves."
"We did. You can take them if you want."
Alicent shakes her head. "I know who slept with Rhaenyra."
"I know to. I think he was in love with her."
"She lied to me. She swore on her mother, and I believed her."
Rhaelys hands clenched into a fist. "Rhaenyra has no limits. She hides behind her titles and our father, knowing he will take her side. She had your sacked, the only man that was on our side. Thus can't go one."
Alicent looks to her." What should we do? The king will always protect her."
Rhaelys hated that alicent was right.
"We will have to let her know that we know and there's only one way."
Alicent was confused."War?"
Rhaelys smirked."Yes. Remember our studies, thats all I'm going to say."
Alicent and rhaelys sat down next to each other and starts eating on the food that Aegon had not touched.
YOU ARE READING
The Dragon Queen
أدب الهواةBeing a twin in a royal family, people expect you to be loved. But Rhaelys was not, well at least not by her father and she blamed her sister for it all. Ambition for a son killed her mother. Desperation for an successor made her heir. But a power...
