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House of The Dragon-For The Queen, Not The Prince: What Could Have Been: Chapter 22
🕑 Added 2025-04-09 23:53:50 +0000 UTC(Aerion's POV)
"Aerion...." Rhaenyra said as she approached me with a hushed tone, "Why did you and Ser Harwin had a discussion? Why am I hearing that you swore to kill him should he approach me????"
I was in my chambers, holding some folded clothes that I was going to pack up.
"Hm." I said, "So we were overheard? Or did Breakbones sing?"
She looked at me, "Please, do not make a scene." She said softly, "I beg of you. People have stopped talking about us....about me....ever since we got married, they have stopped saying things, horrible things....they stopped because of you."
"I do not intend to cause one." I told her as I set the clothes down on the table, "I am sorry."
She sighed, "I....I just..." She said as she let out an exhale, "I am tired....."
I frowned, "Tired?"
"For years....for years, I have been stared at with sneers, I have heard the way people spoke behind my back." She said softly, "I was shut inside Dragonstone for two years straight, Aerion....I am tired....I wish to be myself, to live my life freely...to enjoy it....to walk the halls of the Red Keep or anywhere without anyone whispering about me running off and being with men."
I looked down, "I see...."
"I know it is stupid for me to say this..." She said as she gently grabbed my hand, "B-But....I have been through so much.....I do not expect for you to understand but-"
"I do." I said seriously, "I understand."
She gave me frown, "Aerion, what we both went through are as different as day and night." She said, "You....you were in a War.....You saw things..."
"I am a warrior.." I said, "It was expected."
"But you were so young..." She said with a sigh, "Gods, you are still young....I..I am Twenty and Four.....I am old...I am a woman....I was but a maiden....."
I nodded, "I am still your husband. And you are still my wife." I told her, "And I do not intend to allow others to speak ill of you."
"I appreciate that." She said with a smile
"I know that you were at one time fond of Harwin Strong." I told her as I lifted her hand with mine, "But whatever happened, at the very least, it did not go further than what everybody suspected."
"It did not. I give you my word...." She said softly, "I stayed a maiden until you."
"I know." I said as I kissed her hand, "And now....."
"Now, I am with you." She said, "And....while I admit....that at one point, I had feelings for him....when you were but a child....a small child...."
"Not anymore?" I asked
"No." She shook her head, "Not anymore."
"I understand." I told her
"W-What do you feel?" She asked me, peering into my eyes
What was she asking me? What did I feel? For her?
I am not sure.
We were betrothed to each other. I know she cared for me, at a level that only a cousin would do so. And I cared for her as well. But.....
We are Husband and Wife.
That is it.
Right?
"I....am fond of you." I said, "I have never felt any ill feelings towards you. I.....well, I am not so sure..."
"Heh, is that so?" She said, "I understand. There is so much in that mind of yours, I know. But I want you to know, Aerion.....I want you to understand one thing; I will never betray you. And I know that you will not betray me. But please, for my sake at least, do not do anything rash."
"Very well." I said, "But you need to understand things from my perspective. The fact that someone so young married the Realm's Delight, like you said, would garner the attention of those who at one point wanted you."
She nodded, "I know."
"And I am aware of who they are." I told her, "But worry not. I will not do anything, at least I will not start it. But should they try something, I cannot guarantee that I will simply stand by and do nothing."
"Right..." She said, "W-when do you plan on going to Runestone?"
"I...." I said as I looked at the clothes, "I do not know. Why do you ask?"
"I would like to spend some time here with you." She said with a smile as she stepped back, "As husband and wife...."
"Hm." I said, "I suppose so...."
She smiled, "G-Good...." she said as she said, "Do you want to go to the Secret Gardens?"
"And do what?" I asked
"Sit and talk...." She said
"Hm." I said as I looked down, "I suppose that would be acceptable."
***********
"The flowers are quite pretty." Rhaenyra said as we both sat in the bench, "Are they not?"
I nodded, "Yes."
She looked at me and grabbed my hand, "This is the same bench that we sat on a few years ago." She said with a smile, "Do you remember?"
"I do." I said
"So blunt." She said with a chuckle
I looked up and saw some petals flowing in the wind that came from the flowers that were planted in the garden.
"The flowers are pretty....." I said, "And their beauty resonates with your own, Rhaenyra. At that moment, when you approached me, I was unwilling to look up. Why? Simply because I did not wish to be blinded by your beauty. To me, you were larger than life at that moment. You were not my cousin, you were not the Princess of Westeros. You were something more. A divine being whose beauty would not be comprehended by someone like myself."
There was a bit of silence after I finished speaking.
I looked at Rhaenyra and she was merely staring at me with wide eyes, taken aback by what I had just told her.
"Aerion...." She said before smiling and chuckling, "You sure have your way of flirting with me."
"Hm." I said, "Even now, the beauty of the flowers pale in comparison to yours. All they do is resonate with your light and make you far more divine. No, they simply reveal your true divine beauty. You are nothing more than a Goddess, even now."
She looked at me again with a bit of surprise, "Oh." She said softly before blushing, "I see....."
"I speak only the truth." I told her
"The truth, eh?" She said as she looked ahead, "Well, you know what the truth about you is?"
"Do tell." I said
"You...." She said with a smile, "You are the one that is larger than life. A man.....a.....well, the other Lords call you the Warrior Incarnate. Everyone is scared of you, intimidated by your power....and I admit, even I was....I am nothing compared to you, Aerion Targaryen. I do not deserve to be with you, someone who is destined for greatness."
"You are the Heir." I told her
"And you are Aerion Targaryen." She said with a smile, "You are more than a Man. You are....you are the idea of power, the very concept of strength and....well, everything a man would strive to be. And you are so young.....how do I expect to comprehend that fact? The youngest Knight in the history of the Seven Kingdoms....he is my Husband...any woman would merely lust after you because of what you are....but.....me? I am hesitant, Aerion. You are....."
"I am what?" I asked her
She looked at me, "Your Mother said it best." She said,
"You are Perfect."
