✦ New Faith ✦ Aegon Targaryen

○ twenty ○

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Soon after, the room fell silent, as though the rest of the attendees sensed what was about to happen.

"Let the bedding begin, my lords!" one of Aegon's rowdy friends shouted, his voice thick with wine and mischief. Laughter erupted, and the men around her began to close in, grabbing her arms and dragging her toward the hall, yelling crude remarks that echoed in her ears.

Tanda glanced back, her heart sinking as she caught sight of her parents’ faces, a mix of disappointment and sorrow etched into their features. They would never have allowed this if they had a choice.

The laughter and cheers rang hollow to her ears as the men began to rip bits of her clothing away, the fabric tearing with a sickening finality. She tried to pray, to remind herself that this was tradition, that it was expected, but a single tear slipped down her cheek, leaving a cold trail on her skin.

Through the haze of commotion, she spotted Aegon, who was also being pulled along by a gaggle of laughing ladies, each tugging at his clothing with teasing glee. He seemed to enjoy it, his laughter ringing out over the raucous crowd.

If only I were a man, she thought bitterly, as they made their way toward the bedding chamber, the weight of the tradition pressing down on her.

When they finally entered the chamber, she found herself enveloped in a dim, flickering light. A thin curtain hung to one side of the room, obscuring the view of the onlookers. There, waiting for them, were Queen Alicent, King Viserys, and two maesters. The sight of them made her heart race, nerves exploding within her like firecrackers.

Aegon glanced at her, his earlier bravado dimming slightly, but he managed to keep a crooked grin. "Don’t be nervous, little wife. It’s for the Seven, no?" He laughed, his tone a mixture of mockery and something softer, something that almost felt like concern. "Or has your faith wavered?"

"No, I will honor them," she replied firmly, though her voice trembled. "We will be husband and wife."

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from her pink cheek, his touch igniting a flicker of warmth against the chill of her fear. Leaning in, he pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, then trailed his lips down to her neck, sending shivers down her spine. With a sudden movement, he pulled her toward the bed, and she felt the cool sheets beneath her.

As she lay there, Aegon hovered above her, his eyes darkened with a mix of lust and uncertainty. Her underdress was raised, exposing her to the chill air, and she winced, instinctively pulling away.

"I won't hurt you," he breathed into her ear, his voice surprisingly soft. “Just relax.”

Tanda nodded, though doubt twisted in her stomach, knotting it tightly. The moment stretched, and her heart pounded as he entered her. A cry escaped her lips before she could stifle it, her hands gripping his shoulders in instinctive reflex. She searched his eyes, desperate for reassurance, and saw the flicker of concern mirrored in his gaze.

Time passed, though she could hardly say how long it was before they both lay side by side, breaths heavy and mingling in the dim light. The sounds of the door opening and closing echoed around them as the guests began to depart, leaving only the two of them in the dimly lit chamber.

Tanda turned to look at Aegon, who had succumbed to the wine and fatigue, passed out with his arm draped over her. In that moment, she felt an overwhelming wave of emotion—a mixture of relief, anxiety, and something unnameable. With trembling hands, she pressed a silent prayer to the Seven, seeking blessings for fertility and hope, before surrendering to the weariness that tugged at her eyelids.