Ashes Rising
"Out of question!"
Never before had Rhaena heard her brother roar like this. He sounded like a man in rage, despite being just fourteen and normally very soft-mannered. In fact, he sounded so much like their father that the King's Hand actually swallowed quite visibly. Rhaena tried not to gape. What was going on?
"Perhaps we should ask the Princess about her opinion?" Lord Rowan asked.
Please do! I want to know what's going on…
This time, Aegon actually shot to his feet. "Out!" he yelled. "I will not have it!"
Rhaena looked at the Hand, willing him to leave. Whatever the matter was, it could wait. Just by looking at Aegon, she could say that this conversation would bring up more brooding, more nightmares, more days of silence and avoiding human contact. It could not be worth it. Especially when it was, most likely, just another means for the Regents to increase their power. Aegon was no more than a pawn in their hands. They all were.
The man seemed to have read her thought, for he bowed lowly to the King and prepared to leave just before the two knights of the Kingsguard, alerted by Aegon's shouts, appeared, their cloaks bright white, their faces carefully impassive. Aegon raised a shaking hand.
"Get out of my sight," he yelled. "And never again dare to make such an outrageous proposal, do you hear me? I will not have it!"
A moment later, the two of them were alone. Once again, Rhaena wondered what had happened because she couldn't start mending it if she didn't know what it was. But she knew better than to ask.
Aegon huddled in his chair, holding his head in his hands. When he had been a little boy, he had toddled over to her each time he got hurt or scolded by his parents, demanding to be cuddled and soothed. Rhaena had complied gladly, for she had adored this little ball of incoherent words and wondering purple eyes. But these days, it was touch that caused him pain. Once again, anger towards Alicent the Deceiver, her upstart father, and their entire stealing family seized her. They had not only killed her father and Rhaenyra, Luke, Jace, and Joff, her grandmother and… No, Viserys isn't dead. Alyn said so. He's not dead. He's coming home… They had killed Aegon's spirit, ruined it just like they had ruined Baela's looks. Rhaena wanted to believe that her little brother would heal with time but she suspected that it wouldn't be so easy.
The entire Maegor's Holdfast seemed to hold its breath as the King hovered between anger and utter despair. Rhaena looked longingly at the sun making its way through the barred windows but she went to close the shutters anyway because the light surely hurt Aegon's eyes, after all those days he had spent closeted in his chambers. There was no Gaemon to distract him now, for Gaemon was dead and buried – yet another loss in Aegon's young life. Another innocent claimed by the monster of power and revenge.
"Is it better now?" she asked when, in the semi-darkness, she went to Aegon's chair, bringing a goblet of cold clear water. Small words, not too many, and the gratitude that he had left her in his chambers at all – that had to suffice. Her chest burned with sympathy and heartbreak at the sight of him, so young and so broken, so longing for comfort that something inside him would not let him accept.
To her surprise, he reached out and covered her hand with his own.
"Do not fear," he said resolutely. "I'll keep you safe. I won't let them do this to you."
At the end, it was Baela who told her what was about to come.
"A Hightower?" Rhaena repeated, hearing the high pitch in her own voice. Her embroidery flew in the air and from somewhere far away, Morning shrieked, feeling her horror. "I am to wed a Hightower?"
"I know," Baela agreed and laughed harshly. "I never thought I'd be grateful for the way I look now but by the gods, I am!"
Of course this Garmund Hightower would want to marry the beautiful sister. Hightowers weren't prone to seeing what really mattered. All they cared was brightness – the glitter of a crown, the soft shining of smooth skin. For the first time since the fall of Dragonstone, Rhaena felt no urge to comfort her sister, not that Baela would have accepted it more than Aegon would. She was too overwhelmed by the horror lying in wait for her in her future, a life spent with someone who had taken part in killing so many of her family.
Her parents had chosen her a suitable name, after all. Rhaena Targaryen, the Black Bride of Maegor's given name. But this Rhaena would have nowhere to fly to. She'd have to tolerate her husband because her brother could not help her, not like Jaehaerys had been able to help the first Rhaena. Yes, she had no doubt that she would be wed to the Hightower, no matter that Aegon might rage and weep with helplessness and humiliation.
