𝑨 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝑶𝒇 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒔 // 𝑨𝒆𝒈𝒐𝒏 𝑰𝑰 𝑻𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒚𝒆𝒏

6. Kinslayer, Kinslayer, Kinslayer...

"I won!"

"You cheated!"

The soft laughter, or as of now, the small argument of Baelon and Rhaegar echoed through the inner gardens, a joyful sound filling the air, making most of the servants passing by smile softly. Alyssa watched her sons from the terrace, her hands holding the railing with her eyes fixed on the two young princes playing in the gardens.

She smiled as she watched them, their innocent games and carefree laughter was the very opposite to what had been these past days. For a brief moment, she could almost forget her worries and her grief, her mind occupied with the sight of Baelon chasing Rhaegar through the rows of bushes. Rhaegar's curls flowed in the gust of wind that formed at their speed, his hair a copy of his mother's.

Alyssa glanced up at the soft sound of footsteps, her attention pulled away from the boys in the garden. She saw Maester Gedeon approach her, his face solemn and serious. Instantly, her heart skipped a beat. About two days had passed since she entrusted the letter to him and he had not once sought her out. A part of her was even afraid that there would soon come a pair of guards behind him, ready to take her to the dungeon. Another hoped that she had not made a mistake by asking for his help.

"Maester," She tried to keep her face neutral but the way her voice came out when she spoke did indeed betray her. Gedeon gave her a respectful bow. "A word, my queen."

"Of course, what is it?"

Gedeon glanced over his shoulder once more, making sure they were truly alone, before continuing. "It involves our previous conversation," he said, his voice kept low and discreet. "I've sent it, as you instructed. It is now on its way to Dragonstone."

She felt a jolt of surprise at his words, her heart skipping yet another beat. She tried to keep her composure, but her hands clenched tighter around each other in a nervous gesture. "And no one else read it?"

"No one else has read it," he confirmed, his expression earnest. "I personally sealed the letter and took it to the ravenry myself. Your words are safe, my queen."

Alyssa let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, a wave of relief rushing through her. She had trusted Gedeon, and it seemed her trust was well placed. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice soft yet sincere. "Your discretion is appreciated at most. I shall have the payment sent to you by my maid later."

Gedeon stood next to her silently, his eyes fixed on the princes playing in the garden below. The two boys were now chasing each other, their laughter filling the air. Gedeon, though, seemed lost in thought, his brow slightly furrowed. "I needed not read the the content of the letter to understand it, Your Grace."

Alyssa kept her eyes firmly on her boys, she knew that asking Gedeon for help would be an either-or move. She fidgeted with the rings on her fingers, her eyes flickering up and down.

"If it came out, you'd be seen as a traitor."

A traitor

A traitor...

She turned to look at the young man before speaking. "If you wish to tell my husband about the letter, then you could," she admitted, lifting her chin, holding his gaze. "I would rather have history remember me as the traitor wife of Aegon Targaryen than to lose my children in this damn war."

The garden was quiet for a moment, the sounds of the prince's laughter fading into the background. Alyssa held Gedeon's gaze, her eyes steady and unblinking. He held her gaze for a few more tense moments before finally speaking. "I have no intention of reporting to the king," he said quietly. "If I had wanted to do so, I would have done it before sending the letter. I... understand your fears, my queen. And I sympathize."