from the ashes - hotd

izula ampā

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It had almost been three weeks since Meya Lannister had seen her son. Her behavior upon her arrival in the capital weeks ago, caused a lot more trouble in Jarok's eyes then she had anticipated. Her husband's jealousy had caused him to swoop down to an even lower level than before. Jarok had ordered his men to not allow her to leave her chambers. Meya had begged and screamed to be let out...to see her son...but the guards just stood there. She did not know how much longer her punishment would last, nor how much longer she could endure it.

Meya sat on a single chair in front of the window. Her hair was unruly as it fell down her back, she had made no attempt to make herself presentable. Even her maid, Mary, had been forbidden from entering. She wore her sleeping gown, her eyes watching the trees gently sway in the wind. However, she jumped up as her door opened. She was hoping it was her son, but she was grateful and slightly shocked to see her little sister, Raina.

"Meya." the younger Aelius gasped upon the sight of her sister, "what has happened to you."

Meya paused, debating whether or not she wanted to be truthful to her sister. Meya decided to tell Raina the truth, for herself, as she had kept these transgressions to herself for many years. But, Meya also wanted Raina to understand her place, as the girl herself would be married in due time.

"Little sister, there is much to know about my Lord husband. He's a sly and jealous man. He has forbidden me from leaving this room...he has taken Tobias from me."

Raina's eyes widened, "He..he can't do that to you...you are his wife and the mother of his child."

"The only thing Jarok Lannister cares about is power and appearance. He has not been a kind or dutiful husband to me." Meya spoke, her own voice cracking at the end. She once too, was naive and hopeful like her little sister. The thought of a life-changing love story had been a dream for her. Like Raina, she had seen her parents' love story, but a love like that was very uncommon for individuals in positions like them, where they had no say in who they were married to.

"Meya," Raina frowned and crossed the room, embracing her sister, not caring for the lack of put togetherness or smell, "I wish there was something I could do."

Meya melted into the touch of her sister, it was refreshing, but she then pulled away and cupped her sister's cheek, "You can."

"What do I do?"

"Do not make the same mistakes I did. I too had this fairytale fantasy about Jarok, about what our marriage would be like. A love like mother and father is an anomaly, once in a lifetime opportunity. They were lucky, we will not be."

Raina shook her head, "Do not fret sister, Prince Aemond has made it clear he cannot love me."

Meya stepped back and grabbed another chair from her vanity and put it aside the one she already had, she took a seat, gesturing for her sister to do the same. Raina sat and Meya automatically grabbed her hand, "He has already made that clear?"

"In the garden many weeks ago, he told me that any scenario I had of our marriage was a waste of time. That he would do his duty as a husband, but any of the affection I could have wanted, he would never give me."

"At least you will have your children to keep you company, Tobias is the only thing that has kept me strong. I'm sorry sister that this is how it has to be."

Raina was silent for a moment, but then spoke, "Carrden said he would take me away."

Meya laughed, thinking that her sister was joking, but stopped upon the realization that it was not, "Sister, where would the two of you go? I would think it very unwise to betray not only the ruling family...but do you think that their beasts will stop flying once they hit the Narrow Sea?"

Raina looked up, "No sister, it's just a wild thought. Carrden is very adamant about keeping his promise, he wants me happy."

"You will be as happy as you can be." Meya spoke.

The two sisters sat in silence for a couple of minutes, and then Meya asked a question.

"How did you get the guards to let you in?"

"Well at first they would not let me in, and then I demanded them too."

"You demanded them? That could not have possibly worked."

Raina shook her head, her cheeks turning a little red, "It did not. They laughed at me-"

Meya frowned, but was proud nonetheless at her sister's attempt.

"But then Prince Aegon appeared and demanded them to let me in."

"Prince Aegon? The drunk one?"

"Yes, I'm still confused about the whole ordeal myself."

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Later that evening, Raina found herself walking silently back to her chambers. Her heart was heavy as she crossed the threshold of the door, she did not wish to leave her sister locked up. Raina decided that she would talk to Carrden in the morning, and see if there was truly not anything they could do.

Upon reaching her own chambers, Raina walked in and automatically took her cloak off. She placed it on the back of a chair and started to take her necklaces off when something caught her eye. On her bed laid a pile of clothes that had not been there when she had left earlier in the day. A frown covered her face, but her curiosity was piqued as she walked over.

The clothes were rather disgusting in color and smell. A letter was beside the pile, and Raina picked it up. Her eyes read over the words.

It's rather soon, I know. But time to pay up for earlier, Lady Raina.

Once the sun sets, put these clothes on, twist the dragon on the fireplace mantel and we shall have our fun.

- Your most charming savior, Aegon

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