A P H R O D I T E

athena

Dorne

The eldest of the twins sat in her bedroom trying to pay attention to the maester who had been assigned to teach her everything about that she would need to sit on the Dornish throne, she had been attending these since she was younger than six years. She enjoyed them much more than her father had, her curiosity made every word muttered a new story, every word that flooded her brain filled her with power, she would use this knowledge to rule. But today she was yearning to leave, she could not stand not having her sister within twenty steps, she had been watching them until they disappeared around a thick patch of greenery, she still didn't quite trust the Targaryen.

"Athena, you must pay attention." A sharp voice cracked through her thoughts and she immediately whipped her head around, she needed a break, she knew she wasn't to bother the betrothed couple but she wouldn't be too much of a bother if she just popped in to say hello.

"I apologize deeply, I fear I am just a bit distracted today." Athena bowed her head as she apologized, she knew that every wrong move would make it back to her father and she would be scolded but it wasn't every anything serious, just a disapproving gaze and then a tight embrace because he couldn't remain angry with his own kin.

At the thought of her father she remembered about the hunt she would be attending later on and her heart skipped a beat. She had honestly been waiting on this hunt forever, her father had suddenly allowed her to attend and she wasn't going to miss out just because she felt like spying on her sister.

-

It was quite warm outside and if it had been anywhere else in the world it would have been suspicious though in Dorne this weather was much appreciated. The gardens were littered with children and Lords and Lady's that wished to soak in the Dornish sun. The children would run around as naked as the day they were born and splash loudly in pools of higher lords that knew that they didn't belong but pretended they hadn't seen the kids roaming about. The gentle Lady's always keeping an eye on the kids as they roamed and splashed. It was a great time and there had been a time when Athena would rejoice in the sun, but now all that she wanted was to leave, the sun was in the middle of the sky and it was nearing time for the men to leave for the hunt. Athena couldn't sit still as she awaited her father, as she sat her mind wandered to her sister. Aphrodite was probably conversing with Viserys or she had taken to the other child like hobbies and was swimming in a pool, though she could have been reading as she did usually.

"Athena, are you ready darling?" Her mother pressed her hand onto her shoulder as she looked down at the young girl, by now the girl had attended more hunts than could be counted but her mother still asked the same question every time she left. The teasing words always calmed her nerves.

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Aphrodite screamed with glee as she was splashed in the face by her friends, though they were younger than her she still enjoyed their company, they were all equal in their nudity though Aphrodite had taken to a thin under gown to shield her body from the eyes of any older watchers. Although it seemed the only person that watched her any differently from the others was Viserys, he stood off to the side and watched his betrothed splash about. Daenerys was playing along side them, he kept a close eye on the both of them, he could tell that Aphrodite was also watching her she would call a foul play anytime Daenerys looked slightly upset and encourage her to play more.

"Aphrodite," Viserys called for her over the squeals and childish chants, he was far too old to be playing among the naked children as he had began to blossom nearly 3 years ago and had a bit more going on than them. But that didn't stop him from being asked to watch them while Doran and the others had a meeting about his crown. Although Aphrodite was growing too old to be joining them, she still seemed as happy as them to be splashing around in the cool water.

"Yes, my darling dragon?" Aphrodite teased up at him and for a moment Viserys could see them in the future both seated on the throne and completely in love. She wrapped her self in a silk  robe as she stood next to him, his hand wrapped around to her hip and she smiled at him.

"Do you wish to accompany me for a walk later?" Viserys asked in a snobby voice as she giggled and shoved at his forehead.

"No I am afraid I cannot accept your offer as someone else a bit less," Aphrodite paused, "noble has asked me to attend a much less formal occasion." Aphrodite pushed him away and pulled him in all the same, she was this amazing blend of sugar and spice, she was almost as fiery as the Targaryen bloodline had been, though there was a different madness behind her eyes.

"Well then, I would just have to have them burned alive or maybe just beheaded, it's up to you truly." Viserys quirked an eyebrow as he teased her, it was a morbid kind of teasing that seemed to fit Viserys perfectly, he wasn't like the other boys who would pull on her hair until she cried or pinch her until she screamed, he would probably do everything he had just said if she wished it.

"I think I'll take you up on your offer, a walk after supper perhaps?" She smiled at him with a blinding look in her eyes, she wouldn't know this for years but there was something inside of her that could fuel or extinguish the fire in Viserys' mind and blood. 

Aphrodite stood next to Viserys simply watching the children playing, she knew that her time playing with them had come to an end, she was three and ten and she had bled eons ago, her youth was ending. She knew that she would wed Viserys soon, her mother had been speaking with her about it, her sweet words made weddings seem so magical and every bone in Aphrodite's body yearned for her own.

"Viserys, why do you want the throne so badly?" She asked curiously as she looked at the platinum haired boy, his face contorted as he thought about it, it had always been in his head, he knew that the people that had feared his father would fear him just the same, but was that so bad?

"My father once sat on the throne, they called him the mad king, I will kill everyone that's ever looked down upon my name and when I am done I will lead the seven kingdoms into the greatness that once was Valyria, they will write me as the greatest ruler the world has ever seen." Viserys' calm voice showed no clue to the wild thoughts that ran through his head.

"And I'll support you through it all." Aphrodite smiled at him as she imagined him with a crown atop his head, it would fit him well.