PYROPHILIA ▸ Aegon the Conqueror

chapter xiv.

CHAPTER XIV

THE DAY ORYS returned from Storm's End with the news of his wife's pregnancy, Lyarra finally saw a different side of him. He wasn't smirking nor pouting. He was happy – genuinely happy, smiling widely at everyone congratulating him. But it wasn't just Orys who was different, it was all of them. Despite the fact that Orys was just the Hand of the King, the city was celebrating for his heir as if he was a King himself.

Rhaenys had rushed to Orys' arms, once he revealed it to them, so hard that Lyarra thought she might crush him for a second. But she couldn't blame her. From what both her and Aegon had told her, Orys had grown up with them and they both thought of him more as a brother than a friend and so it came to no surprise to her when Aegon patted his friend's back, looking at him with such pride and such love that Lyarra couldn't control herself from smiling as well.

In the time that Lyarra had been in King's Landing, this was the happiest day that the Keep had seen, for there was no person in it that didn't feel Orys' joy; even Visenya. Her wishes might not have been as expressive as her siblings', but there was no doubt they came from her heart, as well. Her face was smoother and calmer than ever, the storm she kept in her eyes turning tame for the first time.

And when time came for Lyarra to congratulate him as well, the Stark girl couldn't contain a wide smile caused by the emotions filling the room, rather than her own sympathy for Orys, who didn't seem to notice and thanked her just like he had everyone else.

"May the gods bless you with an heir, my friend." Aegon had wished him in the Great Hall, his hand positioned on Orys' shoulder. Visenya nodded her head in agreement, but Rhaenys just furrowed her brows at her husband.

"May the gods bless you with a healthy child, whatever that is." She grinned at Aegon, correcting him, but Aegon didn't seem to mind.

"And how is the mother to be?" Visenya broke her silence, pouring more wine in her cup. "Is she happy?"

"I believe so, your Grace." Orys nodded his head, which caused a subtle smile from Visenya. "At least it appears so. This might be the first time she smiled in a long while."

It was then that Lyarra noticed something in Orys' eyes that she hadn't before, a remorse in the way he spoke of her. It was true that their union was not a happy one, for Argella was forced into it, hating Orys from the moment she saw him, but it was always clear that he didn't share those feelings. No, in fact it was rather clear that the Lord Hand cared deeply for his wife, perhaps even loving her. From the moment Lyarra heard of their story, she had felt sorry for Argella, but in that tiny moment and for the span of a second, she had felt sorry for him too. It must have been a horrible thing to love someone who felt nothing but distaste towards you.

"Well" Rhaenys broke the awkward silence that filled the room. "Wait until she holds her child in her arms and that smile will never brush off."

Lyarra's eyes unconsciously landed on Visenya, who kept her gaze straight on Rhaenys. Her image flashed in Lyarra's mind, sitting at the bench in the gardens next to her, when she announced to Lyarra she was not actually with child. Lyarra couldn't forget the sadness in her dark violet eyes, the pain in her breaking voice, how vulnerable she looked... It was the first time she had seen Visenya like that and it was an image she still couldn't shake.

"I hope so, your Grace." Orys smiled at Rhaenys and another grin appeared on Aegon's lips. It must have been at least a month since they first kissed and his smile still had the power to make her melt.