The unwanted princess - H.o.D.

Sacred family

Aegon was pacing in the hallway in front of his door and wincing everytime Valora let out a groan. She had done this before, several times, he knew, and she had with her some of the best maesters and midwives, but still, it made Aegon slightly uncomfortable to hear his wife crying out like this. From outside, he could hear Baelyx whining and hissing from above the Keep and when Valora let out a rather painful cry, so did her dragon.

Aegon paced in front of the door of his chambers, his mind too full for him to form any coherent thought, but, eventually, he heard hurried steps coming from down the hallway. Aegon turned to them, then, his brows furrowed when he noticed both Otto and Alicent Hightower making their way over.

"Mother." He breathed out, almost surprised. Alicent offered her son a nod of her head, but when Valora groaned from inside the chambers again, she slipped past him and straight into the room. "Mother!"

"Leave her." Otto said, his tone steady and firm as always, as he placed a hand over his grandson's shoulder. "We did not expect this conversation to happen like this, but it had to happen eventually. It has to happen now."

"I don't think Valora will be in the mood for a conversation right now." Aegon said, to which Otto barely reacted.

"Which is why I came to talk to you as well, my boy." He said, and Aegon raised a surprised eyebrow at the term of endearment. "I shall tell you exactly what your mother will tell Valora and once your lady-wife's labours are done, you will tell her again."

"What is so important you might think interrupting a woman's labours is alright?" Aegon asked, almost exasperated.

"Your father is dead." Otto said, no emotion at all behind his words in a way that almost made Aegon want to step back from him. "I'm sure you have heard it by now, but your father's dead."

"So I've heard." Aegon nodded.

"And so you know what that means, I presume?"

"It means Rhaenyra is Queen."

"It means..." Otto corrected harshly, Valora's desperate cries not affecting him at all. "It means that if Rhaenyra ascends to the throne, war will follow. It means you pose a threat to her claim and her bastard's sons claim. It means your life is at risk and that of your brothers and your children. It means your sacred family is going to be put to the sword."

Aegon glanced at the door of his chambers as Valora cried out again. She was saying something, but with her sobs and Baelyx's whines, he couldn't make out the words.

"What will have me do, grandsire?" Aegon asked, as he looked over at the Lord Hand again.

"Your mother was with your father when he passed." Otto said. "She was the one who heard his dying wish. For you to be King after him, and not Rhaenyra."

At that, Aegon couldn't help but laugh. His father? Wanting anything to do with Aegon? Wanting to give something to him over Rhaenyra? It was all bullshit, he knew.

"That's convenient." Aegon rolled his eyes. "Though you and I both know that not to be the truth, grandsire."

"Your mother swears it. By the seven gods, she swears it." Otto insisted. "But true or not, the danger remains the same. Your family is at risk, Aegon, and as foolish as you may be, I know you care for them. If I didn't know any better, I might even say you love them."

Aegon hesitated then. It was complicated. Did he? Did he love his family? He wasn't sure love was the word he would use to describe how he felt about his siblings. How could he when all they ever did was argue and clash? Aegon didn't even know if he'd use the word to describe Alicent, his own mother. Valora, his half-sister, his wife, the mother of his children... He wasn't sure he was worthy enough of calling whatever they had love but with his children? His Aemma, Jaeherys, Jaehera, Daena and those babes coming into the world just then? He loved them. He knew he did. He loved them fiercely.

"Take what has been given you, Aegon." Otto said, his eyes fleeting over at the chamber doors when Valora yelled out an ugly curse. "Take the throne."

"I've never wanted it." Aegon hesitated.

"But it's yours now." Otto said. "You can make good use of it. You can protect your family."

Aegon didn't exactly know what to say. Instead, he looked away from his grandsire when he heard Valora call out his name.

"Get out! Get out! Get out!" Valora cried. "Aegon!"

And, with one last look at his grandsire, Aegon stepped back from him and away from his touch as he slammed open the chamber doors, only to wince at the scene in front of him. Valora, in her night-gown, covered in blood as she kneeled over the birthing chair and leaned her arms over the back of it with a maester sat in between her legs. Alicent stood in front of her, a neutral look on her face as her stepdaughter yelled at her.

"Get out!" She cried again. "Aegon! Get her out. Please. Please, Aegon. Get her out!" She cried, groaning loudly again as she pushed.

"Mother." Aegon sent his mother a glare as the woman sighed, but nodded as she slipped past her son.

"Talk to her once she's calmer." Alicent said, to which Aegon scoffed.

"Just get out of the fucking chambers." He said.

Alicent hesitated, a weird look on her face as she looked at her son. Aegon noticed the way Alicent's finger twitched, her hands unfolding from in front of her body as if ready to reach out and touch him, but when Valora groaned again, she shook her head and slipped out, closing the chambers doors after her, leaving Aegon to his thoughts and, as it seemed, his birthing lady-wife.