𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 ||Aegon Targaryen||

13. „You have the heart of a dragon within you"

After rhaenyra escorted the boys into their chambers, she kissed alysanne and she asked Cregan to accompany her daughter to her chambers.After all, they will be husband and wife.
The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the chamber as Cregan followed Alysanne inside, both burdened by the weight of the evening's events. The air was thick with tension, mirroring the turmoil that gripped the halls of the Red Keep. Alysanne settled on a small bench by the window, her gaze fixed on the moonlit courtyard below, lost in troubled thoughts.

Cregan approached cautiously, his concern etched on his face. He hesitated for a moment before sitting down on a cushion nearby. "Alysanne," he began softly, "about what Aemond said earlier..."

Alysanne's shoulders tensed, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of her sleeve. She looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "Cregan, I was there. I heard him."

"When he called me and my brothers bastards..." Her voice trembled with hurt and disbelief. "I know he was trying to hurt us. But the worst part is... I believed him, Cregan. For a moment, I believed his cruel words."

Cregan listened intently, his brow furrowing with concern. "Alysanne," he said gently, "you are not a bastard. You and your brothers are more than what Armond's spiteful words imply. Don't let him make you doubt yourself. And even if, in some impossible scenario, it were true—it wouldn't change how I feel about you. I would still care for you just as much."

Alysanne sniffled, wiping away tears with the back of her hand. "But it's hard, Cregan. When someone says such awful things, it's easy to start wondering if they're true."

Cregan moved closer, sitting beside her and placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Aemond's words are lies, meant to hurt you," he insisted firmly. "You have to remember who you are and the strength you have inside. You come from a proud family, and nothing can change that."

Alysanne nodded slowly, a small smile breaking through her sadness. "Thank you, Cregan. Your words mean a lot to me. But..." She hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm scared."

Cregan's expression softened with concern. "Scared of what?"

"I'm scared that one day you'll believe him too, and you'll leave me," she admitted quietly, her vulnerability laid bare.

Cregan shook his head, squeezing her gently. "Alysanne, I promise you, I will never believe anything that man says. My friendship with you is unwavering. I'm not going anywhere, no matter what anyone says."

Alysanne managed a small smile through her tears, a mixture of relief and lingering worry in her eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You don't have to find out," Cregan assured her gently, wiping away her tears with his sleeve. "I'm here for you, always."

As they sat together in the quiet of the chambers, the weight of their shared emotions hung heavy in the air. Outside, the night wore on, the moon casting a silvery glow that illuminated their faces. Cregan looked around the room, finding a cushion. He decided to place it beside the bench where Alysanne sat, creating a makeshift bed for himself. "Alysanne," he said softly, "I'll sleep here tonight. You take the bed."

Alysanne glanced at him with concern, her eyes reflecting gratitude mixed with lingering unease. "Are you sure, Cregan? I don't want to inconvenience you."

Cregan smiled reassuringly. "It's no inconvenience. I want you to get some rest. You've had a tough evening."

Reluctantly, Alysanne nodded, understanding his gesture of kindness. "Thank you, Cregan."