✶|𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺|✶ 𝘈𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘐𝘐 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘦𝘯

✶𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 39✶

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Sworn Sword

――✴✯✴――

✯Aegon's Pov ✯

Year 133 A.C

Westeros

Red Keep, King's Landing

"You look like you haven't slept in days." Gaemon remarked, swinging his practice sword down toward Aegon's chest.

The young king blocked the blow in time, his breathing ragged. 

"Maybe because I haven't. Then again... It's been a long time since I've slept peacefully."

He stepped back, bracing a foot behind him to steady for another attack, but Gaemon dodged it with ease.

"Fair enough." Gaemon replied, short and dry, as the two of them traded blows in the training yard, strike for strike, until at last Aegon managed to hook a foot behind Gaemon's ankle and sweep him to the ground, pointing his wooden sword at his chest in victory.

A round of applause rang out from the side of the yard. Both young men turned to see Ser Amaury Peake approaching, with his usual smug arrogance plastered across his face.

"Well." Ser Amaury drawled. "I'm glad to see a few threats were enough to drag His Grace back to training. Acceptable results, if nothing else."

Neither of them answered. Aegon merely reached down to help Gaemon to his feet before walking toward the benches where a row of simple glass bottles waited, water left at the king's own request.

"You fought well today."  Gaemon muttered just loud enough for Aegon to hear.

The king offered a small nod of gratitude as he drank, letting the cool liquid ease the dryness in his throat. He sat for only a moment thinking about his own problems, before Gaemon signaled toward the corridor.

Waiting there, Munkun.

Another problem. Another conversation.

Aegon sighed, setting the bottle down and rising, ignoring the disapproving stare of Ser Amaury, who remained standing with his arms crossed, clearly displeased that Aegon was leaving mid-training.

"Your Grace." Munkun greeted him with a small bow of respect. "Forgive the interruption, but matters regarding the future queen require your attention."

At the mention of it, Aegon felt his body tense. It wasn't even a surprise anymore. 

The past weeks had been chaos in King's Landing, negotiations with Lord Dayne, a council divided over his decision, and endless preparations for a wedding scheduled for the last month of the year.

He fell into step beside Munkun as they began to make their way toward his study. The Grand Maester wasted no time.

"Lady Serena has been moved to new quarters in the royal wing, to Queen Helaena's old rooms, to be precise."

Aegon kept his eyes on the floor as they walked.

"She's yet to be assigned more servants. I spoke to her yesterday. She insisted on keeping her current handmaiden and a young servant girl who's been with her since she arrived at the Red Keep. As for ladies-in-waiting... Lady Serena only selected two, despite my suggestion she have more. It's highly unusual for a future queen to be so modestly attended."