You may not control all the events that happen to you nor get to make decisions for yourself. However, sometimes you can make the decision right by doing it on your own. Growing up Aegon and his cousin Celeste had a very different life in many ways...
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For the family dinner, it was quite awkward in the beginning before Viserys joined them. The table was split when it came to talking to each other. The greens talked only to themselves like the blacks were. When Viserys came in everyone stood at their chairs before sitting. Luckily for Aegon and Celeste they sat next to each other because Jace switched spots with her. They just knew they had to act a bit so Alicent and Otto wouldn't do or say anything.
"How good it is... to see you all tonight... together." Viserys says looking at everyone at the table.
After praying they toast to the celebration of the boys and girls being betrothed and Luke being future Lord of the Tides. "Jace, you do know how the act is done, I assume? If not you can ask either of us." Aegon decides to joke leaning across Celeste, "I can teach you how to get her moa-,"
Celeste smacks his leg under the table, "Knock it off." She gives him a look.
"I'm just having fun."
"I don't need to hear about you two. I really don't." Jace whispers back to him and Aegon laughs.
Celeste still gives him a look as he tries to stop his laughing, "You are so childish." She shakes his head at him trying not to smile.
Viserys starts to stand up so everyone looks at him, "It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table. The faces most dear to me in all the world... yet grown so distant from each other... in the years past." He sighs so Aegon takes Celeste's hand under the table. "My own face...is no longer a handsome one... if indeed it ever was. But tonight, I wish you to see me as I am. Not just a king but your father. Your brother. Your husband... Your uncle and your grandsire." Viserys says then adds for them to please just get along for his sake.
Rhaenyra stands up next to raise her cup to Alicent for taking care of Viserys after all this time and apologizes. Alicent thanks her and says they have more in common than they think. She then stands up raising her cup telling her she'll make a fine queen.
Everyone drinks and Otto keeps his eyes on the two he wants to keep apart from each other, "I want to tell my father." Aegon whispers turning his head slightly towards Celeste.
She chokes on her drink a bit, "Are you insane?" She asks and Jace sees Otto and Aemond looking at the two so he stands up to raise his glass to get their attention off them.
"To Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond. We have not seen each other in years, but I have fond memories of our shared youth. And as men, I hope we may yet be friends and allies. To you and your family's good health, dear uncles."
Next to stand was Helaena with a little toast to the ones betrothed saying it's not bad because in her case Aegon ignores her but she knows theirs will be better. "And to Celeste, I hope our daughters can become close in time." She smiles then sits back down.
Aegon stands up with his cup looking around, "To my nephews, I wish the best for you both in your marriages and futures. I at times think back to the memories we share. And to Celeste, " He looks at her so she looks up at him, "I'm glad to see you are doing well. It feels like just yesterday you were getting on me for being a pain in your ass. I wish you and your daughters the best." He drinks.
Once the music starts Jace gets up asking Helaena to dance and she accepts. On the way to the center of the room, she stops going to grab Celeste to join them. As the three playfully dance around Aegon turns around to look at them, well mostly Celeste. She sees him so she smiles over at him making he turn around to see Otto looking at him.
Celeste leaves the two walking over to Aegon putting her hand out to him, "Don't embarrass me now." She smiles so he gets up taking her hand spinning her around.
"What happened to not wanting me to get in trouble with them?" He asks as they dance.
"I think we can get away with it since the King wants us all to get along."
"You know, you are right." He smiles picking her up and spinning around.
As the two continue to dance and chat, Alicent looks over at them feeling guilty for making Aegon unhappy all this time. While watching, a handmaid walks in with the girls saying Dahlia had been screaming for her mother which made Astraea start to cry. Celeste takes them and her, Jace, Aegon and Helaena play with the two of them.
Suddenly it hits Alicent as she watches them all. If Jace wasn't the father who was? Celeste wasn't married to anyone or betrothed. That meant the twins were bastards and they were Aegon's daughters. The way he looked at them was completely different from the way he looked at Jaehaera.
At the same time, Viserys was looking around just happy to have his family with him. As his eyes landed on Celeste dancing with Dahlia and Aegon danced with Astraea. Yesterday she came by introducing the girls to him and he thought they were the cutest things. And now seeing the way how his son looked at them he knew the truth. It's the same look he had given Rhaenyra many many years ago when she was born.
Not feeling very well the guards help Viserys out of the room but he asks for Aegon first outside the room, "Don't lose her again...Don't let them go. For your dear old father...be happy with them." He says before leaving Aegon alone.
He looks over at Celeste going to take a seat at the table with the girls but Dahlia leaves her lap going to Luke wanting to be held. As Aegon takes his seat, Astraea, on her mothers lap, tugs on his sleeve. As he looks at her way he sees Luke chuckle at the pig on the table thinking back and it pisses Aemond off.
"Final tribute. To the health of my nephews: Jace... Luke... and Joffrey. Each of them...handsome, wise..." He paused and a few knew where he was going with it, "Strong."
"Aemond," Alicent says his name.
"Let us drain our cups to these three..." He raises his cup and Aegon raises his cup too but then puts it down with the next part, "Strong boys." He smiles, "And Celeste," He looks at her then at Aegon, "Luckily little Dahlia and Astraea will never know their drunk father truly."
That makes all hers, Aegon's, Rhaenyra's, Daemon's, and Alicent's jaws drop surprised he brought the twins into this as well now.
"I dare you to say that again." Jace speaks up, "And leave her daughters out of it."
"Why? Twas only a compliment. And I can toast to my little," Jace punches Aemond causing Luke to jump up passing Dahlia to Rhaena but Aegon jumps up to stop him holding him back.
"That's enough!" Alicent yells as Celeste rushes over to Dahlia, who starts to cry and Astraea starts as well, due to the sudden commotion.
The guards step in holding Jace and Luke back while Aegon moves to check on Dahlia. She moves from her mother to Aegon holding onto his leg slowing her crying down.
"Though it seems my nephews aren't quite as proud of theirs. Nor do they want the truth out about Dahlia and Astraea." Aemond turns to face the others.
Jace tries to rush at him and Celeste does the same after giving Aegon Astraea to hold, "Keep their names out of your mouth!" She shouts at him.
"You learned from the best." He smiles at her so she slaps him across the face and Daemon moves her back. She walks back over taking Astraea back as she reaches for her.
Rhaenyra tells everyone to go to their chambers so they leave and Aegon picks up Dahlia helping Celeste out. Otto rolls his eyes as they leave then Alicent walks over to Rhaenyra. "I think it's best if we get back to Dragonstone."
"You've only just arrived." Alicent takes her hand. Rhaenyra says let her take the children home then will come back alone on dragon back. "It's true, right? The girls being Aegon's?"
Rhaenyra nods her head, "He had snuck away to see her and they had a night together before she told him to move on." She tells her the truth, "You son loves my cousin, Alicent. I wish you could have seen that years ago." It was Alicent's turn to nod her head before Rhaenyra walks off.
