The Red Keep, King's Landing: Mid 112 AC
Aelinor approached the balcony that overlooked the Kingsguard candidates. Ser Ryam Redwyne had passed away, and now his spot would be filled.
"The candidates, Ser Harrold?" she asked. Ser Arryk followed her as always, her loyal shadow. Ser Harrold began to announce them all until one caught her attention.
Ser Criston Cole. She gripped the railing, a vision flashing before her eyes. If Ser Criston joined, his path would waver between his love/lust for her, or his duty. Aelinor shifted, already feeling his dark gaze trained on her.
No, she would not let him join.
"Princess?" Arryk asked. At this point, the Kingsguard had been let in on her magic, though they had all sworn a blood contract to never, ever, speak of her magic or out her to the Faith unless they wanted a painfully, bloody death.
"Just a headache, Ser Arryk." she lied. When Ser Addam Dondarrion, a second son, was announced, her magic gave her a vision that showed the man could be trusted. "I choose Ser Addam Dondarrion." she declared.
Who was also Arryk's lover. Her bodyguard gave her a look that was a mix of exasperation and 'thank you'.
Later that night, Addam proved to be open minded when he accepted her magic without a blink, and calmly signed the blood contract.
"Why did you not choose Ser Criston?" Arryk asked her later. "Because he would have not been loyal." she answered. "The life of a Kingsguard would not have suited him."
Arryk's brow furrowed, but he didn't push her. "I see." was all he said.
The Red Keep, King's Landing: Mid 112 AC
The next day, Daemon spirited her father away to claim a dragon. Her father returned on the back of Vermithor, the Bronze Fury.
"You did it, Kepa!" (Father) Aelinor smiled, hugging her father tightly after he returned to the Red Keep.
"Having a dragon will benefit your health dearly, cousin." Rhaenys said. The two exchanged a look, and Aelinor couldn't place what it meant.
Later that day, she meet her father in his solar.
"Yes Father?" she asked.
Her father meet her gaze. "Aelinor, I will not let you marry until you are of age, but... I do request you look into a husband."
"I have an idea in mind." Aelinor said tentatively. Maybe in another life she would have picked her uncle, for she knew he could be trusted. But her uncle was married now.
(And she didn't know why her soul cried out whenever she saw Daemon with Laena.)
"Ser Laenor Velaryon." she informed her father.
Notes:
Ser Criston, hoping to get into the Kingsguard and crushing on Aelinor: I hope she chooses me, and I can become her swornshield! I'll be loyal to her above all else!
Arryk, her swornshield/bodyguard: I'm about to ruin this man's whole career.
Ser Crispy is not getting in the Kingsguard in this book, absolutely not!
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The White Queen
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