PYROPHILIA ▸ Aegon the Conqueror

chapter v.

LYARRA HAD GROWN tired of the constant travelling. It felt like ages ago that they left Winterfell and they had been on the road ever since. The sound of the horses galloping had become a song always echoing in her head, that even when they camped for the night the sound would never leave her ears.

Lyarra couldn't even come to imagine how exhausting travelling could be. The farthest she had ever been was White Harbour, but the South was a whole different thing. Only, Rhaenys seemed to enjoy the trip, something that didn't surprise Lyarra, for Rhaenys had the ability to find good in all things. She was thankful for it and even in the long nights that Lyarra missed her home and her family, Rhaenys was always there to comfort her and bring a smile to her lips again. In those long nights that never seemed to end, Rhaenys' sweet and melodic singing was all that helped her sleep.

Visenya on the other hand bore none of her sister's joy, only a foul mood. Visenya hated to travel on horse too. Many times she would jump down and choose to walk instead of ride. In some of those times, Lyarra had joined her, aching from the sore riding gave her. Visenya looked bothered at first, as if Lyarra was invading her privacy, since Visenya enjoyed to ride or walk away from the crowd. After a while she grew more and more accustomed to having Lyarra near her. The constant brooding and sour expression left her face and some could even say that she liked having someone with her.

Lyarra often felt bad for Visenya. She started wondering how it would be to be as lonely as her. Aegon and Rhaenys spent most of the time together during both the day and night, something that made the Stark girl believe was the reason why Visenya preferred to distance herself from them. It should be painful to watch your husband favour in such a shameless way another woman, especially her sister and so Lyarra learnt to forgive Visenya's rude comments and glares. For someone raised in Dragonstone, Visenya had a little too much of the North in her. Similar to the weather and the people in Winterfell, there were bad days and there were good days, but even the good ones, although better, could hardly be considered good.

In all honesty, she had even started to enjoy Visenya's company, as much as anyone could, when they were walking together. Sometimes there would be only silence between them, but in Visenya's good days they would often talk. Most of their talks involved their adventures during Aegon's conquest, while every time the subject turned to either Aegon or Rhaenys, Visenya was quick to change it. It was obvious speaking of her siblings made her uncomfortable. And the more time she spent with them the more reasonable it seemed.

Aegon always rode first, ahead of everyone else, except for Rhaenys who was always next to her husband. Only a few times would he ask of Lyarra to ride with them, but Lyarra had not been alone with him ever since the last night in Winterfell when he admitted to her that her presence brought him peace.

Lyarra would often think about what Elric had to say about that, for even when they were departing her brother had not left behind his spite for Aegon. He had glared at him and even when he hugged his sister he asked for her to be careful and cautious of the people around her.