Led By Fiery Passion (currently being revised)

Part 25

King Viserys moved slowly toward his seat, already wearied from the short walk. He paused, scanning the faces gathered around the table—his family, those most dear to him. After a moment, he rose to speak.

"It both gladdens my heart and fills it with sorrow to see so many familiar faces here—faces I hold most dear in all the world. Yet, in recent years, you have all grown distant from one another."

A heavy silence fell as Viserys removed his mask, revealing half of his face, ravaged and decomposed. Aenyra's breath caught—she couldn't believe how much his condition had worsened in the few years they had been apart, and yet no one had spoken of it before now.

"My own face is no longer a handsome one—if indeed it ever was. But tonight, I ask you to see me as I truly am, not merely as your king, but as a father, a brother, a husband, and a grandsire who may not walk among you much longer. Let us set aside all ill feelings. Put aside your differences—not for the crown's sake, but for this old man who loves you all dearly."

The walls seemed to close in as the weight of his words hung in the tense air. Eyes shifted uneasily as each family member glanced around at the others, feeling the unspoken rift between them.

Rhaenyra reluctantly stood up with her glass of wine in hand "I wish to raise my cup to her Grace, the Queen. I love my father but I must admit that no one has stood more loyally by his side than his good wife. She has tended to his with unfailing devotion, love and honor and for that she has my gratitude."

"Your graciousness moves me deeply, princess. We are both mothers and we love our children. We have more in common than we sometimes know.i raise my cup to you and your house, you will make a fine Queen." Alicent said raising a cup to Rhaenyra.

The tension in the hall gradually eased as music began to fill the room and conversations started to flow. Aenyra tried to focus on the lively chatter between Jace and Baela, but her attention kept drifting back to Aemond's intense gaze, which made her cheeks flush with warmth.

Aegon leaned close to her ear, his voice low and teasing. "Care for a dance, niece?"

Aenyra smiled and accepted, placing her hand in his. They began to sway together to the music, moving at a comfortable, unhurried pace.

"Tell me something, Uncle," she whispered, a playful glint in her eyes. "Do you always ignore your sweet wife for other women?"

Aegon chuckled, twirling her effortlessly as the tempo picked up. "Ha, Helena may be my wife by law, but I see her only as a sister. We fulfilled our duties by having children, but she knows I don't love her in that way."

He grinned down at her. "What about you? Last I heard, you were betrothed to Cregan Stark."

Aenyra began to laugh as they still swayed to the music. "Cregan? Where did you hear a thing like that? how should I put it... he's a very dear friend to me. I did have the opportunity to stay in Winterfell for sometime and we did grow close but-" Aenyra was cut off by the sudden twirl

"So you're not betrothed? Aegon asks with a raised brow like he just heard something very interesting.

"No, I'm not betrothed no have I ever been... but-"

Aenyra paused thoughtfully at the mention of one of her closest friends. She swayed gently with Aegon to the music.

"Cregan? Where did you hear that?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. "How should I put it... he's a very, very dear friend. I did spend some time at Winterfell, and we grew close, but—"