PYROPHILIA ▸ Aegon the Conqueror

chapter x.

CHAPTER X

LYARRA KNOCKED ON the door in front of her softly, quietly, her fingertips scratcing the wooden surface. She hoped for a moment that her call would not be answered, that the door would not open, but they were thoughts she rushed to brush off.

She had come right after she left Cyran's room. The young Tyrell was eager to keep her there for as long as he could, claiming he wanted to speak with her, know her better, but Lyarra had politely declined, saying she needed to rest, still worn out by her recent illness. After all, they would have an entire lifetime to know each other and she definitely didn't want to start today.

Of course, these were all lies, among with everything that had come out of her mouth lately. She had decided to stick with the original plan, taking matters into her own hands, something she should have done a lot sooner.

This situation with Aegon should have never started in the first place. She should never have lain next to him that night in his room. She should never have confessed her love to him, but most importantly she should never have kissed him. She should have stopped him, but even the reminiscing of that moment now made her blood freeze in her veins, her heartbeat to cease and her breath to become uneven. This was their goodbye and she would treasure it for the rest of her life, the life she had now promised to spend with Cyran.

After a while, the door was finally pulled open, Aegon appearing at the other side of it. He seemed surprised by her visit, but his face quickly softened at her sight, his lips parting as she stared at the melancholic girl that stood in front of him. "Lyarra" He finally exclaimed.

"Can we speak in private?" She had decided to keep herself straight and forward about solving this mess that she had created. Aegon nodded his head and waved for her to get inside, before he checked the halls for any prying eyes and shut the door behind him.

As she entered, her gaze wandered around the large room. Lyarra's mind was flooded by images from that night, the memory of her and Aegon sleeping next to each other still vivid in her head.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, his voice fazed. Lyarra let out a sad chuckle at his question.

"Far from it." She responded. "I am leaving in a few days."

Aegon's eyes went wide, his jaw dropping slightly. He didn't expect to hear that, that was certain, but there was a hint of something different than mere surprise in his expression.

"Where?" He cleared his throat roughly, keeping his eyes directly to the ground and away from her.

"Highgarden."

Aegon furrowed his brows at her response, nodding his head and biting his lip. "So" He said raising his gaze at her. "You are marrying him."

"I am."

"So what do you want here?" He sounded bitter and annoyed.

"We need to talk."

"Is there anything to be said?" He questioned. "You are marrying and you are leaving. What else is there to say?"

"I didn't mean for that to happen."

"Which one, Lyarra?" He shook his head. "The kiss? That night? Me?"

"Everything." She replied, her voice shaking. "It was stupid of me-"

"No." He stopped her, his tone a little calmer."No, it was my fault. It's just..." he paused, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Just what?" Lyarra's eyes brightened.

"I can't really control myself when I am around you, Lyarra." He confessed, letting out a laugh. Lyarra expression went blank at his statement, one that she definitely did not expect.

"Aegon" Lyarra tried to speak but she found her words lost and tangled.

"I know." He nodded his head. "I know I shouldn't, but" He paused again. He raised his eyes, glancing at her, before he took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them, taking her face in his palms and thrusting his lips against her own.

As he kissed her, it felt as if the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. He ran his other hand down her spine, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.

His lips parted and moved slightly back, allowing Lyarra to take in a breath, her chest panting against his. "Why do you do that?" She cried out. "Why can't you just let me go?"

Her voice came out as a weak whisper, a pleading. Aegon rested his forehead on hers, their faces only a breath away from each other. "Because I want you to stay. Don't go, Lyarra."

"And what am I supposed to do?" A tear finally escaped from her stormy eyes and Aegon rushed to brush it with his thumb.

"Stay." He repeated. "Stay and we will figure it out."

Lyarra took a step back, escaping his grip, after gathering all the strength she had. She wiped the tears that streamed down her cheeks with the back of her hand, trying to pull herself together.

"Give me one good reason to stay" Her voice as firm as she could in her state, "and I will."

Aegon pinched the bridge of his nose once again, before she stared back at Lyarra's icy irises. "Because I want you." He replied. It was exactly what she wanted to hear. It was what she needed to make up her mind.

"I want you, Lyarra Stark." He repeated.