✦ New Faith ✦ Aegon Targaryen

○ twenty four ○

◇

I pushed open the door to my chambers, my heart heavy, only to find Aegon slouched by the fireplace, a half-empty goblet dangling from his hand. His face was flushed, his eyes glazed as he looked up, clearly startled to see me. A drunken grin crept onto his face.

"Tanda!" he slurred, lifting his goblet as though in a toast, then seemed to catch himself. His smile faltered as he noticed my tear-streaked cheeks.

"Oh," he mumbled, his brows knitting together in an unusual look of concern. "You... you're crying?" He set the goblet down, unsteady on his feet as he walked over to me.

I tried to turn away, to gather myself, but he placed a hand on my shoulder-an awkward, almost clumsy attempt to steady me. His fingers lingered for a moment, rough but warm.

"Don't," he murmured, his voice softer now, almost unsure. "What... what's wrong?"

For a moment, I wanted to pull away, but the warmth of his hand, the unexpected concern in his tone, held me there. I tried to smile, to brush off the weight of it all, but my voice trembled.

"My father... he's leaving. And I... I feel so alone here," I whispered, barely realizing I had said it aloud.

Aegon shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flicking around the room as if he were searching for the right words. "Oh," he said again, clearing his throat. He hesitated, then gave me a small, unsteady pat on the shoulder. "I suppose... you can always pray or... or something," he offered, glancing around as if the words embarrassed him.

His attempt was so awkward, so far from graceful, that it nearly made me laugh. Yet there was something almost endearing in his fumbling, in the way he struggled to find a way to comfort me. He looked down, his face reddening as he scratched the back of his head.

"I'm... not good at this," he muttered, almost to himself. "But... if you want, I'll stay here. Tonight, I mean."

I looked up at him, surprised by the unexpected kindness in his offer. His face held a hint of vulnerability, a glimpse beneath the cocky exterior. I nodded, managing a small, grateful smile.

"Thank you, Aegon."

He gave a short nod, as if embarrassed, and settled back onto a chair near the fireplace, pouring himself another drink but more slowly this time, as if keeping himself in check. He gestured toward a chair beside him, and I sat, feeling the warmth of the fire and a strange sense of comfort.

For a while, we sat in silence and even though we didn't speak, the quiet, awkward comfort of Aegon's presence felt like enough