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25

Choice Given

The dragons landed us here, on the other side of a stone peak, between this valley.

Daenerys and Drogon were near. We saw them from our flight but our dragons chose this area instead. I hadn't the strength to wonder. I lay flat on Rhaegal. My body lifted up and down with each breath. He was exhausted. We've never flown together. He did well, incredibly well. His golden brother stayed close to us. His rider had trailed down the valley to ensure our safety. I know not how long ago. Viserys wouldn't stray far though. In either way, the dragons wouldn't land us here if they sensed danger.

I tempted myself upright. It could be worse than it was. When I fell, I hit Rhaegal as though he were a boulder. His catch was perfect though. I would praise him but the pain kept me riving. My shoulder popped as it moved. I cried out.

Rhaegal moved both his wings up, bending them in slightly to hold me. He worried.

"What happened?" I heard him through the wing. I saw his shadow behind the translucent green. I looked up as the wing lowered and faced the delusion.

In full body, he stood there.

No words came.

Rhaegar wore Viserys. He, is here, truly. His clothes were tighter on him. The muscles of his arms, chest and abdomen stretched the tunic in a masculine feat. His violet eyes were colored bright with a silver glint. His hair had darkened somewhat, though it complimented against the white Targaryen silver. Even his facial hair, styled short and rugged, held an attractive contrast. He let me take him in. When I finished, he moved closer. Slowly as to not startle our dragons, they looked to him the same as I. They saw him too. I've not lost my mind.

"You're hurt," he reached his arms out for me. I glanced at them then to him then again. He smiled, "it's alright."

I hesitated again but he closed the distance and grabbed my waist. He paused briefly, expecting me to struggle.

"It hurts," had I said that?

Rhaegar nodded in concern as he lifted me up and set me down. My surroundings blurred. His arms tightened. I felt movement behind us and might have called to one of the dragons. Both Rhaegar and Rhaegal looked to me. In humor and with sound mind, I would have smiled.

"Perhaps," Rhaegar kept us together. "We should give this one another name, shortened from its true. His title is much too similar to mine. It would be easier. What do you think?"

As he spoke, I felt different. With each word, his hand had wandered up to my shoulder, down my waist and was now raising my leg, the injured one. It could have been a dance. The way we moved, it burned but not in fever, more healing. He now had my lower body flush against his. The leg that once throbbed from the impact, dangled down his side. I stood on just one foot but was entirely supported by him.

The healing burn seemed to circle his touch and my flesh.

Soon, I felt whole.

Nothing hurt.

Had he- could it- he healed me.

My gaze widened, his narrowed in knowing. We stood together, like this, for what seemed hours. He was the first to place me back, slowly. I saw in his eyes, he enjoyed our position.

"Aegon," I spoke more clearly this time, though still unnerved. The name came to me, despite this situation, perhaps from memory? When Rhaegar carried me through the halls of King's Landing, when his wife appeared, was that not the name of their son?

He tilted his head in recognition but then came to realize my meaning. As we parted upright, he smiled. "Aegon? Yes, it seems fitting for your dragon. Take out the 'R,' add a similiar tone but different. Though, I must admit, it saddens me. It reminds me too much of my own child, who's grown without a father."

I nodded, still fazed and conflicted by all this.

He watched me. I must look terrible. Although my body had healed, by a force I've yet to completely understand, my mind felt raw. Before I could change it, his own lit up. "Gael! It seems fitting, perfect even. You, his mother, could perhaps claim it his middle name? Rhaegal Gael, Aegon, Targaryen. Yes," he chuckled. "Your thoughts?"

Gael. Gey-el. It sounds different, unusual, but was that not the purpose?

His youthful excitement brought warmth into my heart. I nodded again. I need to speak if not later. He agreed though and suddenly lifted me in a twirl. I grasped his shoulders from below and felt the muscles move as we spun. He stopped just as fast, embracing as he lowered me. I clung to him, breathed in his scent, I remember this. Of blood, fire and winter rose, I shook alive then. We faced each other.

"How," I studied him closer and challenged this. "How long are you, here?" In this body, with Viserys, beneath? I knew not the words.

He cringed slightly, his breath hitched. Panic overtook his entire.

I watched him carefully. What's happening?

"My son," he lowered his tone and seemed to peer through me. His gaze suddenly turned sharp. The mauve heightened into a powerful state. His hand clutched over his chest. After a few breaths, he met my eyes and searched them for, relief? I softened them, thinking it would help. Another moment past before he smiled in calm. I didn't understand but waited patiently for an explanation. He then began, "She died giving birth to him. You were there, sweet girl, though you may not remember," he waited for, recognition? I can't keep up. He continued in the same patience. "Lyanna Stark, the woman I stole, bore me a son. I took her when I had the chance. Her beauty, it struck me, I chose poorly in my actions I know. But a child was born the day I died. My son, Jon, he may yet be in danger. I felt it, my heart gave warning. I've been watching over him just as I have you and Daenerys, my family. But if anything should happen, I will need to leave this body to protect him. I would bring him back from death if I must. When- If I do, Nalareth, Viserys will be here, filling the void. But he won't be the man he's become through me. In any chance, it would be difficult for me not to return to you. I have loved you, Nalareth. Perhaps I always have, I know none of this makes sense. It will take you much longer to even grasp the reality of my presence. But if, in time, you'd wish for me gone, I can leave. Viserys will become your husband and I, a memory. As I told you though, he will revert back to the man you might have hated."

He was right. It took me even longer to understand, to repeat his words in my head, over and over until I could try to respond. Once it finally settled, I held myself higher and found the strength renewed. But he stopped my lips in pause before I could open them.

"Nalareth," his thumb caressed my bottom lip. Was he trembling? "If I do- Could you-" he closed his eyes and breathed in. Opening them again, "Do you want him back?"

Did I want Viserys back as he was before, after, now? That's not it, I knew what he meant, in an instant. Do you want him or me? Rhaegar, he would give everything. It was there in his eyes, in his soul. I was his second chance. He was mine. Throughout everything, the love I had for Viserys had come and gone then returned. But it returned with a fury, through Rhaegar. The answer was here. Our timing had never been right. He had another life, I was forced into this one. But it's all come together now, with us here.

I moved closer, reached for his heart, kept it there as I told him. "I want you just as much, if not more," make it known. "Rhaegar, I want you with me as long as you'll have me."

His eyes, lips, body said it all. The moment I finished, our kiss finally came. Not in a dream, not in a vision, in true, we were thanking each other. If he should leave to save his son, the one named Jon, I will say goodbye to Viserys. He would die as he was, perhaps, meant to. Rhaegar may speak to him in the place souls meet. He may explain our reasons. Viserys may even accept it.

Certain in its entire, this was it. Fate kept us apart, with reason I know, but now we could have it.

We pulled apart. Heavy breathing, lips wet from our taste, we felt it.

The dragons had been on us. I may have forgotten their presence. But Viserion and, Gael, made themselves known again. It was soft at first but then grew alarmed. Rhaegar went to them, petting their snouts. They leaned into him, pacified, though still trying to communicate. So natural, so at ease was he with them. I almost lost myself in the sight, forgetting their panic.

"It's Daenerys," he looked back to me. Gael nudged him, he was correct. "I can feel it the same as them. Something has her. Something large, massive in size, not Drogon. He's a distance from her. Why are they apart? No," his attention swept to the land. "They have her again."

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a/n

New story art has been made, with Rhaegar added! Please look if you are so inclined. It's the story's new image if you're looking via the website. There's also a link on my profile page. Copy & Paste & Close Up Granted.

Thoughts, on everything, perhaps?