His steady hands were sobbing uncontrollably in the corner, not even minding the hovering of his aunt. Aegon frowned up at his sister, not understanding. "She yet lives," she pointed out, scratching the back of his head. His own lady mother had been plagued with head colds. They were dreadful, with all the coughing and such, but rarely fatal. The only pity was that the afflicted person ought to remain abed.
Rhaenys shrugged. "They are rather close, Aegon. 'Tis normal for him to worry. When she is well again, he'll regain his spirits." She returned her attention to a small booklet. Unfortunately for them, Rhaenys was their minder for the time being. If one could convince Viserys to join in on an adventure, his own sister was as stubborn as a mule. She would not budge once instructions had been given. And their instructions had been to remain within the nursery until the return of their septa. Nasty old biddy thought to keep him locked away. Well, Aegon would not have it and he would also quiet the other boy down.
With a decidedly firm step, he made his way to Jon Baratheon's hunched form and lowered himself to the ground in a similar position. The other boy's profile was barely visible from the cradle of his arms. Aegon cleared his throat. Jon sniffed softly, but made no other move to acknowledge him.
"Can you not do something?" Daenerys asked in a quiet voice. "He is not himself. I tried telling him common colds go away swiftly." Her silver locks brushed the other's shoulders as she bent forth. "Even my lady mother had one and she is well now." She huffed impatiently after a few moments and rightened herself. "Be thus then."
The young Princess walked up to his sister and climbed upon the long bench. Whatever it was she said to Rhaenys, the other looked up, nodded and then pulled the child on her lap, showing her something within the pages of the booklet. Aegon shook his head and returned his attention to Jon. "'Tis right that she said so," he started softly. "Your lady mother shall be well."
Jon shook his head and his muffled voice came through with a note of disbelief. As he did not clarify, however, the prince was left with little choice but to poke his arm. The unexpected gesture caused the child to look up and into Aegon's eyes. "Leave me be," he whined, lips curling in a snarl.
"The way you are being is annoying," Aegon returned in the same kind of voice."'Tis just a cold." To that, Jon did not answer, yet his eyes narrowed and his lips thinned in a straight line pulling at the seams of his scars. "Stop crying," the Prince insisted nonetheless. "I'll show you the dragon tome." If that was not enticement enough then nothing else would ever be.
But to the Prince's great astonishment, the child's head dropped back to its initial position. Still, what he whispered made little sense. "I've no need for it."
No need for it? Sacrilegious. What manner of speech was that? Unable to allow such an insult past, Aegon grabbed onto the other's shoulders and dragged him to his feet. The two girls paid them no mind to his great luck. "There is everything about dragons in there. How can you not wish to see it?"
"I just don't," his companion growled back.
Flabbergasted, Aegon let go. "But why?" If he pestered hard enough, he'd get an answer. It always worked with others.
Jon stared quizzically back at him. "I can't tell," he answered, lips setting themselves in a pout as he rubbed his eyes dry. "I'm not supposed to."
"You can tell me," he said, pointing to himself for emphasis. "Father said you are the steady hands and I am the keen eyes and that we should work together. So, since you are my steady Hand from now forth, you are not allowed to keep secrets from me."
"Princes don't have Hands," Jon snorted, a flicker of amusement present, "Your Grace."
"This one does." Aegon grinned at the other boy, pleased that he had not been flatly refused. "So, Lord Hand, no secrets?"
Jon seemed to consider the proposition. He looked towards Rhaenys and Daenerys, but they were absorbed on their book. He looked to the door, but there was no sight of a septa. Biting into his lower lip, he answered, "I suppose. But you mustn't tell anyone. I promised both His Majesty and my lady mother." At the mention of the woman his face fell again.
Quick to take control of the situation, Aegon complied. "I swear. To the old gods and the new. You can trust in me. I shan't tell another soul." he leaned in, turning his head to the side when Jon beckoned, so the other might whisper in his ear.
"I found a live dragon," the boy told him, his voice filled with awe.
"What?" Aegon could not help but exclaim, startling Jon and causing Rhaenys to look at them. Desperate to save the situation, he opened his mouth once again. "What do you mean you despise peas?"
"I despise them." Jon shrugged, having understood his cue. "They are gross."
"Aegon," his sister cut in with a shake of the head, "you refused to eat your own peas the last I recall. Don't pester poor Jon with such nonsense. Better yet come to me and sit here."
"'Tis fine, Your Grace, he is not bothering me," Jon said after a moment. Rhaenys looked uncertainly from one to the other. But Jon simply sat back down and Aegon did the same. His sister returned to her book.
"Where is it?" he questioned after a moment's span, when he was certain none looked at them. "How come none of us have seen it?"
"With the King," Jon said. "I hid it away," he continued by way of explanation. "I wish I could see it now. Might be it could tell me of something to help mother."
It confused Aegon that Jon would think a dragon might know anything about colds. But the heart of the matter was that he could see a dragon. If they managed to get past Rhaenys. Which they might if the situation was handled accordingly.
"Pretend that you need the chamber pot," he whispered to the stag. "Rhaenys won't follow us there." It was genius. It was fool proof. Marvellous indeed.
As it turned out, Rhaenys was happy enough to be rid of them in that state that they were and only made them promise to return as soon as they were done. Aunt Daenerys pulled a face and covered her ears at the mention of such indecent a subject. Just as well. He'd get to see a dragon. And she wouldn't. Aegon barely resisted the urge to taunt her. Somehow, he managed to.
Breaking out of their prison was not an easy task. For as they pursued their escape, the ruddy creature known as Septa Elayne made her appearance, her thick form threatening to put an end to all of their grand plans.
"Where to, Your Grace and my lord?" she questioned, beady eyes upon them.
She'd insist on taking them one at a time. Aegon looked at Jon, trying to convey that they should run around her. The fat witch would probably fall down on her bottom or cushy middle if she tried to keep up with them. Jon nodded back.
In the next moment they were both dashing towards her sides. As Aegon had anticipated, the wide form was not nearly agile enough to stop them, thus with a feint and a well placed shove, both he and Jon were down the hall, heading for the stairs, helping one another along as they traverses the obstacles which were the slippery stairs of the Red Keep .
The loud, fishwife-like yells of the septa put no end to their efforts. In fact, Aegon felt compelled to give a warning. "If we do not hurry, she shall catch up and have out hides for this. Run." He even went as far as to grab onto the other's hand to help him along, being the faster of the two. Jon offered no manner of protest, in fact, he hurried to do as he was bid; no doubt the warning of punishment keeping him agile.
The two of them managed to make it to the ascending staircase. Aegon glanced behind, just to make sure the septa still had difficulty in catching up. He could not see her, which no doubt meant she'd run along to get aid. Smiling smugly to himself, he tapped Jon's shoulder and nodded for him to proceed. The younger boy breathed; loudly, his lungs still doing some much needed catching up. Yet with a quiet groan, he gathered his strength and began climbing.
Aegon followed close behind. Unfortunately for him, his glee made paying attention all too difficult. His foot caught in one of the stairs, sending him tumbling. The Prince was certain he'd soon feel the kiss of the sharp stone and he might well have, but for Jon's timely intervention.
Steady hands indeed, the older one though, rightening himself before the Stormlander lord. Jon simply gave an uneasy smile and turned to continue along. What could Aegon do but follow, until the both of them found themselves standing before one annoyed looking Barristan Selmy and his Darry fellow Kingsguard.
"Your Grace, my lord," the older man began, "the King is not holding audience." His warning served for naught, for Aegon would not budge. He simply requested that he and Jon be allowed within. "Apologies, but the King is receiving no one," Selmy said once more.
Ser Darry moved towards them. "Might be if you returned another time," he suggested, ready to help them back to the nursery.
Perceiving there was only one way to ride himself of the nuisance, Aegon, like the smart boy that he was, teared up and began wailing before his two-men audience. The racket would draw his father out, for if the King despised anything when he was at work, then loud noise distracting him was it.
"Your Grace," Jonothor Darry spoke softly, "pray do not make this difficult." But Aegon was beyond caring. He would have father out in the hallway or he would lose his voice trying.
Jon stared at him in confusion for a few moments before he saw Aegon signalling him. And then, as if the heavens themselves had given him the thought, his own faced crumbled. The symphony of tearful wails was completed with the voice of the Baratheon stag.
As if the summon had been addressed to the Stranger himself, the door of the chamber opened loudly and a none too pleased ruler of the Seven Kingdoms stood before the two of them along with the Kingsguards.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded in a thunderous voice, rather grim until his eyes landed of the children. Then, as if their mere presence was a worker of miracles, the fierceness faded away. "What are the two of you doing here."
"It's about–" Aegon began but stopped short. He did not know how to put it.
Thankfully, Jon was there to aid. "I told him, Your Majesty."
Upon hearing those words, the man sighed. He beckoned them within and after they'd entered, Aegon could clearly hear his father saying, "If there is anyone else at the door, for the love of the gods, remove them to the dungeons." He nearly choked on his laughter as he thought about his septa being escorted to sit in the dark with the rats. Pleasing an image as it was, he had precious little time to contemplate it.
Father returned after a moment and kneeling before the two of them, he gave each a hard stare. "We shall talk about your lack of obedience." The warning flew right past Aegon. "But for now, I suppose you've come to see it."
"Darys," Jon said. "Its name is Darys." If father was surprised he said nothing. By way of explanation, Jon added for him, "He was the first one. Kings are always first." Aegon nodded in understanding, his mind reeling for an appropriate name for his own dragon when it would hatch. He would find one eventually.
The King stood to his feet and led them to the smaller chamber which housed the dragon. It was then that Jon began speaking once more. "Can dragonmagic heal, Your Majesty? His Grace said he found a book."
The man seemed stunned. Aegon looked from one to the other, not knowing if he should speak or not. Thus he waited quietly for his father to say something. And the King did not disappoint. "Why would dragonmagic affect your lady mother?"
"Darys felt it." Jon shrugged. Well, if Darys said it, then it had to be true, Aegon thought.
"The book might have something on it, father," he said, eminently helpful .
Whether his father considered it or not, he couldn't say for the door of the chamber opened and without warning, a small, agile creature sprang from within before anyone could stop it. Aegon cried out as one of its thin talons scratched against his hand in the beast's struggle to het into Jon's arms. The dragon cracked and hissed, the strange noises reverberating through the chamber. Aegon stared at the creature quizzically.
"What is happening?" he asked Jon whose attention had shifted entirely on the dragon, as if he were listening to it speak.
The Stormlander looked up after a few moments. "Its sibling is hatching."
Excitement lit up Aegon's face. However he could swear he heard his father muttering about the poor timing of dragons. Nonetheless, the three of them made their way towards a chest which when opened, sure enough, revealed an egg in the process of cracking. It was the most wonderful thing Aegon had ever seen.
The looked on in awe as the scales came apart when one thin limb struck through. The rick green of its own scales shone like emeralds. Without even thinking upon it, Aegon stretched out his hand just as the head came up. The newborn's forked tongue came out like a spear from its mouth, a shrill cry not far behind. A dragon was born.
His dragon, Aegon decided, looking into the slow-blinking eyes of the creature. It must have been fate which had put the idea in his mind. He smiled down at the babe. And, for some odd reason, the creature croaked once more, a softer version of its first shrill weep. The dragon allowed him to touch its fragile head, the scales covering it yet more like fish-armour in its softness.
"I seems that you have found your wings," he heard father say, yet did not look up, much too absorbed in his newest finding. Aegon could not help but agree though. He had found more than just his wings.
Rhaegar looked down with uncertainty upon Jon. This was his son standing before him and yet he could not even as much as embrace him in comfort. The only thing allowed to him was to offer empty, pretty speech to the boy in an attempt to quell his fears regarding his lady mother. And even that he did not feel apt to follow through with.
The acolyte could tell him all he wanted that there was a great chance of recovery. Until Lyanna opened her eyes and spoke to him, he'd not rest easy. No more than his younger son could do so with the knowledge that his mother suffered. Alas, unlike Jon he knew better than to put on a forlorn mien and instead adopted a neutral mask for the task. He told himself he was going along with the young boy because he wished to make sure nothing befell the dragon. He told himself that he already knew Lyanna's state and another sighting of her form would not improve or lower his spirits. He told himself that he hadn't missed her, even with the knowledge that she took her uneasy sleep within his keep.
They were lies of the worst sort. Not even he believed the words. How could he expect others to do so then, Rhaegar wondered, eyes upon the precious satchel Jon carried. It was for the best that Aegon had remained with the other dragon licked within the chamber. With any sort of luck, he could announce upon the morrow the existence of the dragon eggs and dragons themselves. The truth would have to be trimmed a tad, he knew. And yet, if it kept within his reach the son he'd not known was his, then Rhaegar would even take a blade to it.
He found himself standing before Lyanna's door once more. A gentle knock on the door was delivered by Jon and the chamber opened for them to reveal an exhausted-looking Ashara Dayne. Her lips thinned in a straight line at the sight of him. "Your Majesty, I had though the running of the realm would not permit daily visits to an invalid's sickbed." She allowed Jon past her, not minding his movement. "I say this for you are my brother's dearest companion, you play with fire, Your Majesty."
"Fire," Rhaegar returned with a modicum of annoyance, hands clenching at his sides, "does not burn the dragon."
Ashara raised an eyebrow at him. She was much too impertinent. Like her brother. "It certainly burns the wolf," she retorted. Her piece spoken, she allowed him entrance as well, not standing with them. Might be in a bid of mercy, she claimed a task. "I shall seek the acolyte out and see if I need give my good-sister aught else."
Rhaegar would have thanked her were he not still trying to get the boil to a simmer. He found Lyanna as he'd left her the other day, fast asleep, her forehead covered in beads of sweat. Tendrils of hair stuck to the side of her face, damp and darkened by the heavy water. Dried lips pressed together in a emotionless line and her eyes were tightly shut.
He would have stood there as long as it took for her to open her eyes, but for Jon trying to climb the bed distracting him. Rhaegar moved to the boy's side and helped him up, Darys having already escaped from its satchel. Observing the small dragon, Rhaegar cursed himself for a fool. He'd not even looked through the dratted book. It had been enough for him that a babe had given him a crumb of hope. He felt the fool. And deserved it well. What man would entrust the life of his beloved to a winged fire-breather?
Darys dragged his body slowly along the sheets until he reached Lyanna's side. Its tail coiled through the air, maintained its position for a blink of an eye and then he jumped upon her middle, alarming not only Jon but Rhaegar as well. Yet when the child moved to pry the beast away from his mother's abdomen, the creature hissed in protest, curling into itself. Rhaegar scowled. He ought to have refused.
Moving to the other side of the bed, where a bassinet of water had been placed, he watched his son, heart ahurting, press into his mother's side. The sting of pesky tears and the unpleasant burning in his throat was enough of a warning for his face to turn from the sight and his hands to busy themselves with wetting a rag.
From behind him Darys croaked. A king indeed by his act, Rhaegar thought with no small amount of disgruntlement. He returned to Lyanna's side, sitting on the edge of the bed. Jon's burning stare made his skin prickle with awareness. Rhaegar did not look away from Lyanna's face though. He might do something unforgivable otherwise.
With a gentle touch, he moved the cloth against her heated forehead, washing away the sighs of suffering the whiteness of the material much too close to her own tone for his liking. He bit back a sigh as the door opened with a moan of protest behind them. Rhaegar glanced over his shoulder to meet the familiar form of Benjen Stark. The youngest of Lord Stark's children gave him a suspicious look, but nonetheless had the foresight to not question anything.
He made his way to Jon instead and picked the child up. "Come, aunt Shara says it's time for you to eat something." It was only that close that he took note of the dragon sitting on Lyanna's stomach and his whole face drained of blood. "What–"
"There is nothing out of ordinary here," Rhaegar told him in a calm manner. He suspected that this particular Stark would not run his mouth. Darys looked up from his comfortable seat, hissed at the guest, forked tongue delving out of its mouth and then returned to its rest.
"Indeed," Benjen muttered. "Why would anyone consider that," he pointed to the dragon, "out of ordinary baffles me. Truly, Your Majesty, nothing out of ordinary."
"I would thank you not to push the limits of my patience," he returned, feeling his demeanour crack beneath the weight of his annoyance. "Jon, you may have your meal, I shall sit with your mother until you return."
"Is that wise?" he heard Benjen question, eyes already fastened back to Lyanna's face.
"It shall be if nary a word leaves your mouth. Just say that she is looked over." In fact, he did not much care what was said, as long as no one returned to bother them.
That out of the way, he was left alone with the slumbering woman. Unable to refuse himself the urge now that he was not being watched anymore, Rhaegar cupped one of her cheeks, thumb stroking lightly over the damp skin. "You shall be the death of me," he murmured, not entirely sure if she was aware of anything in her heavy sleep. "You must be daft, woman, and I all the more so for loving you." It was just his fortune to have given his heart to a creature like her.
His son's dragon made a small noise, as if in agreement. Without even looking, Rhaegar addressed it. "As for you, you sleep now and don't bother me, else you'll see yourself out of this chamber." Wisely, mayhap, the beast ignored him but for a low hiss.
As he looked down at her visage it seemed to him that her lower lip trembled. He gave a shake of the head, trying to clear his mind. Had that been his imagination? He glanced at her once more and sure enough her lower lip did move, parting softly from the seam of the other.
Instinctively, he drew himself lower over her, trying to catch anything but the sound of her breathing. It was weak, to be sure, and he'd hardly believed he'd heard a thing when she repeated it once more, but the third time around, Rhaegar heard her speak. What words she'd said and what it meant, he had no idea and no care to know either.
"Lyanna," he called her name softly, one hand hooking behind her back to draw her to a sitting position. Her head fell onto his shoulder, warm breath spilling over onto his skin. "Lyanna, can you hear me? Open your eyes."
She said nothing more, nor did she open her eyes, but there was a tremor he could feel. The dragon that had been dislodged from its initial position returned to sit on her lap. Rhaegar gave it a wary look, silently asking the gods that the dratted creature not bother her. If there was anything that he did not need then that was it.
Rhaegar turned to face Lyanna once again, assured by the constant waves of warm breath lapping at his skin that she yet lived.
A pair of familiar eyes started back at him.
Clues for 4 u:
1) 15-11-1-25 19-15 6-15-18 20-8-15-19-5 15-6 25-15-21 23-8-15 8-1-22-5 14-15-20 22-9-19-9-20-5-4 20-8-5 3-15-13-13-5-14-20 19-5-3-20-9-15-14 12-25-1-14-14-1 9-19 16-18-5-7-14-1-14-20 1-14-4 20-8-5 3-8-9-12-4 9-19 1-12-9-22-5 8-15-23-5-22-5-18 20-8-9-19 3-8-9-12-4 9-19 14-15-20 20-8-5 19-15-21-18-3-5 15-6 20-8-5 4-18-1-7-15-14-13-1-7-9-3
2) 25-5-19 1-19-8-1-18-1 1-14-4 1-18-20-8-21-18 1-18-5 20-23-15 16-12-15-20-20-5-18-19 15-6 20-8-5 23-15-18-19-20 11-9-14-4 20-8-5-25 1-3-20-21-1-12-12-25 7-5-20 1-12-15-14-7 23-9-20-8 15-14-5 1-14-15-20-8-5-18 17-21-9-20-5 23-5-12-12 1-12-20-8-15-21-7-8 15-14 20-8-9-19 16-1-18-20-9-3-21-12-1-18 15-3-3-1-19-9-15-14 9-20 9-19 14-15-20 19-15 1 2-1-20-20-12-5 15-6 23-9-12-12-19 1-14-4 19-11-9-12-12-19 9-19 19-21-18-5 20-15 5-14-19-21-5
3) 1 23-15-18-18-9-5-19 11-9-14-7 9-19 1-14 1-2-19-5-14-20 11-9-14-7 1-14-4 23-9-20-8 5-22-5-18-25 22-15-9-4 15-6 16-15-23-5-18 20-8-15-19-5 19-5-5-11-9-14-7 20-15 5-12-5-22-1-20-5 20-8-5-13-19-5-12-22-5-19 23-9-12-12 20-18-25 20-8-5-9-18 8-1-14-4 1-20 3-5-18-20-1-9-14 19-3-8-5-13-5-19