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House of The Dragon-For The Queen, Not The Prince: What Could Have Been: Chapter 21
🕑 Added 2025-04-09 21:31:45 +0000 UTC(Aerion's POV)
"What a magnificent day to wake up to!" Uncle said as he approached the table
I stood up and bowed slightly, "Your Grace." I said
He waved me off, "Aerion, come on my boy." he said with a smile, "You do not have to do that."
I frowned, "I..." I started, "Well...."
"Sit, sit." He gestured at my seat
I nodded, "If you say so." I said as I sat back down, "I am honored to have you join us."
"Of course." He said as he sat down in his seat, "My Daughter...."
He looked at Rhaenyra who was sitting next to me, smiling.
"Father...." She said, "Good Morrow to you."
"It is good to see that you are smiling, glowing, oh my precious girl." Uncle said, "I am overjoyed to see you like this."
"T-Thank you...." She said, flustered
"So, how are the two of you on this day?" He asked us, "Anything to discuss with your King?"
"Well." I said, "I...."
"Aerion wishes to return to Runestone before we go to Dragonstone." Rhaenyra spoke up, "I intend to go with him should he go."
"Ah." He said, "I do not see why not. To depart from your kin, I understand."
I nodded, "Thank you." I said, "It means a lot to me."
He then scanned me up and down, as if studying me intently.
"How do you feel, Aerion?" He asked me
"What do you mean?" I asked him
"You were....." He said before clearing his throat, "....Tense...when you returned."
"Oh." I said as I rubbed my neck, "I suppose I do not feel tense any longer."
"Hm, that is good." He said before smiling at Rhaenyra, "I take it she is the reason for that."
"I...." I started
Rhaenyra grabbed my hand, "I suppose I am." She said as she gave me a smile, "Am I not, Husband?"
I blinked, "Well...." I said before clearing my throat, "I am sorry, I do not know how to respond to that."
Uncle chuckled, "Ah, we joke." He said, "Lighten up, it is good for you. Where is your Mother, Aerion? The Lady Rhea?"
"She was preparing to leave to Runestone." I said, "The other Royce Knights as well."
"I see." He said, "I hope she will say her goodbyes to the King, then."
"She will." I said, "She would never leave without saying goodbye."
He then gave me a somewhat serious look, "And your Father?"
I shook my head, "I do not know." I said, "I have not spoken to him since yesterday."
"I take it you have heard, then." He said
I nodded, "I have." I said, "That he has been unfaithful to my Mother. An insult I will not tolerate."
"The two of you need to speak calmly." Uncle said, "I know my brother, he can get quite rowdy. The two of us can get into fierce arguments."
"I am aware of that." I said
"Aerion." Rhaenyra said with a warning tone
Uncle chuckled, "Yes, you are." He said, "To say that Daemon is a complicated man would be a serious understatement. But he loves you, he cares deeply for his son."
"It is not I he should care for." I said, "My Mother is his wife, who has been nothing but faithful to him. She is honorable and has kept her dignity while he goes on and betrays her trust."
"I understand." He said, "But....."
"I know, Your Grace." I said, "It is complicated."
"It appears not even Targaryen Princes can escape that cruel reality, Aerion." He said, "Some men just happen to develop an affection for someone who is not their wife."
My eye twitched as I felt Rhaenyra's hand loosen its grip on mine.
"I am not that kind of man." I said seriously, "I would never betray my wife's trust that way. And anyone who would dare assume that is but a fool."
He smiled, "I am glad to hear that." He said, "I know that very well, Aerion."
I looked at Rhaenyra who was looking at me with a bit of surprise. After a few seconds of looking at me, she looked away and tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling slightly.
"Alright, enough of this." Uncle said, "Let us eat and enjoy our Morrow."
****************
"I will see you home, My Precious Boy." Mother said as she pulled me down so she kissed me on the cheek, "I love you."
"Hm." I said as I straightened back up, "Safe travels, Mother. Write to me when you get to Runestone."
"I will." She said with a smile as she patted my sleeves, "You and Rhaenyra best fly safely as well."
I nodded, "We will."
"Good." She said, "I must take my leave now, your cousins await me."
"Take care." I told her
She turned around and began to walk away before stopping and clearing her throat, "Uhm.." She said as she looked at me, "Aerion, Your Father and I have spoken....."
I raised an eyebrow, "You saw him?"
She nodded, "He does not want another child." She said, a hint of disappointment in her voice, "He told me that you were enough."
I felt my face harden, "Is that so?" I said, "Am I enough? As his child or am I enough as a child given to him from you?"
"I do not know." She said as she looked down, "Regardless....I will have no choice but to accept that decision. Goodbye, Son."
I stood there and watched as she turned back around and began to walk away, leaving me in the courtyard alone.
I could not believe this.
Why would Father be so crude? Why would he refuse to give her another child? Is that not what he wants? More Targaryen children that continue his line? I am not enough, even I know that.
I heard footsteps behind me and I immediately turned around to see a certain someone walking up to me.
"It has been a long time, Young Lord." Ser Harwin said as he stopped, resting his forearm on his sword's handle, "How have you been?"
I blinked, "Ser Harwin." I said, "What can I help you with?"
He shook his head, "Not much." He said, "I just wanted to personally congratulate you on your wedding."
"It already happened." I told him
"I am aware." He said
"Why wait till after?" I asked
"I had no time to approach you, you were with the Princess." He said with a serious expression
"Hm." I said, "And is Rhaenyra warding you off for some reason?"
His eyes narrowed slightly, "That is not what I meant." He said, "I did not intend to cause some discord."
"I appreciate that." I said, "But I am aware that you did not want to do that in order for my Father not to plunge a blade through your chest."
"I am not afraid of your Father." He said, "If that is what you are implying. Nor am I afraid of you, if that is what you are thinking."
"I was not implying anything." I said seriously, "I am merely stating the fact. My Father was going to kill you should a scandal break out. And I am glad that it did not, not because you still live, but because I did not want the slander be directed against my wife."
He took a single step forward, "Let me make one thing clear, Lord Aerion." he said seriously, "I....I am a man of honor. I respect the circumstances that befell the Princess.....and I respect you."
"Do you?" I asked
"In a way." He said, "But do not forget one thing; She and I loved each other."
"Loved." I told him, "Past tense. But I want you to not forget this; she is with me now. And you say that you are not afraid of my Father but it is not he you should worry about. You say that you are not afraid of me but allow me to tell you this; You should. I have fought and slain hundreds of Breakbones, you would not be any different. Approach my wife and I will kill you. Speak about her in any way that is so much taken as slander and I will kill you."
"You would murder me?" He said with a raised eyebrow, "An honorable Knight like yourself?"
"No." I said, "Murder is something my Father would do. I will kill you in Combat, one on one, a fair duel. I would say that I would challenge you to a duel and fight.....but it is much easier to say the outcome of that instance...."
"You will die easily."
