I own nothing. All things recognizable are property of G.R.R. Martin, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, & company, & the asoiaf wiki.
The title is taken from one of my favorite X-Files two-part episodes. While, if you are familiar with X-Files, in this fandom's canon, we already know which one would be the Mulder and which one is the Spender, but, since this is AU, that is not the case.
Chapter 1: Rhaegar
He pretends Lyanna hadn't stiffened when the herald call Elia's name. He cannot bring himself to turn towards Lyanna to offer a gesture of comfort. They must seem strong even if he does not feel like it. Seeing Elia, he knows he…they have to look strong.
Lyanna's hand twitched his. He pushes down the bile that keeps wanting to push past his lips.
Jaeherys. Their poor boy…
Since the moment he heard the news of his son's death, he had not known how to act. How does one cope when your son, your youngest child, died so far from home at that. There is no amount of comfort that he and Lyanna could give one another.
Years before, had he acted differently Elia would be sitting next to him as his wife, not Lyanna. But, after the war, though Aegon remained his heir, Lyanna was the wife kept. Perhaps he would have never had to face this.
Perhaps, Lyanna believed Elia's presence was a jape at their expense. He sent Elia away after their marriage was dissolved. And now, Jaeherys's death brought Elia back to King's Landing.
Perhaps Lyanna thought Elia would not come. Perhaps, she hoped. Part of him hoped it too, but, he knew better. It was not because Elia wanted to be here. He knew she did not. He already knew Elia had no reason to hold any love in her heart for them. She had no love for the place, either.
Not that she would show it. Elia wasn't the type…and if she was, it would be uncouth which Elia never was.
He shoves down the part of him that does not want to see her. It does not matter he does not want to be playing the host. Elia was here, publicly at least, to offer condolences as any other subject of his realm and it was his duty as her king to let her offer them. As it is, she was also not the first to pay respects. She will not be the last. After all, the death of the king's son is a matter of state, they both have to see one another even if neither desire it. Most importantly, he fully knew Elia was not here for him.
Though no longer his wife, Elia was still the mother of both his eldest child and his heir. Her absence would have been noted. Rhaenys was with child and could not make the journey. In her place, her Tully husband, arrived some days ago. He does not doubt Elia would see Tully once out of the hall. Though their Rhaenys is absent, their Aegon was here, though. Of course, Elia would have come to King's Landing to be near their son as he mourned his brother.
And so, he cannot bring himself to turn to his wife. Instead, he keeps looking to Aegon whose eyes alight with joy that his face will not allow.
Clad in in the red and black of their house, with his back straight, chin up, and movements crisp, Aegon looks every inch of what a crown prince ought to, he thinks, as Aegon lead Margaery down the dais. Ever since he recalled Aegon from Dragonstone with his wife and son, Aegon acted accordingly; Margaery too.
What he and Lyanna could not bring himself to do, and it seemed that list kept growing, Aegon and Margaery did. Aegon took his audiences, Aegon met with the Small Council in his stead, Aegon spoke to the High Septon, received Jaeherys body, the decisions for Jaeherys funeral rights, Aegon and his wife took charge of. Aegon's wife corralled ladies of the household and undertook fulfilling the other arrangements in preparations for the funerary proceedings.
Though his heart is weary, he knows he is so proud of his eldest son.
Eldest and now only.
He takes a deep breath.
Jaeherys, the only child his queen could give him, was dead. His youngest died in Lys, far away, drowned. That was Jaeherys' first and only voyage out of Westeros. Aegon ventured a handful of times, one voyage with one cousin, another with a different one. Jaeherys always begged to go too. Lyanna balked at each opportunity, but, this time, he let his son go. After all, Jaeherys was a man grown. He had let him and because of it, his son is dead.
And now he has to sit silently watching Aegon and Margaery bow deeply to Elia.
Aegon speaks first. "My lady mother, you honor me in my time of grief."
Elia steps forward and raises her arms. "My son, your grief is mine."
With that, mother and son embrace as if this was an everyday occurrence, though he himself knew he was the one to prevent it, even when he knew he ought not to have.
Elia pleads, "Let me take him."
He understands her fear, but, he cannot allow this. He will not. Aegon was his heir, his son's place could not be far from him. She has Rhaenys. He knew not having both Aegon and Rhaenys tore at her, because the same tore at him, but, she had not fought because she knew he could have kept both their children. He thought she made peace with this as he had.
He demands. "Is that why you came back?"
The tears she had not shed now gush out in an irate lament. "The only reason I am here is because my baby I nearly died to bring into the world for you, is on death's doorstep. You think I want to be here? Where I spent the worst year of my life? I would have been happy to never set foot in these gods forsaken halls. But, you kept our son and now you kept his illness from me?"
"Elia, I swear. He was just sick. I just did not want to worry you."
She laughs wetly. "Every day he is not in front of me, I worry. I was right to do so. When you keep my boy under the same roof as the person who has all the reasons to want him dead, of course I will!"
His eyes widen. He knew how he and Lyanna hurt her but this?
Shock and horror warring within him at the bald accusation, he demands, "Elia, calm yourself."
"I will not be calm when you do not care if my son dies."
"He is my son, too, Elia!"
"As you told me when you practically pushed me out of the gates. It's barely been two years and look what happened since you left our boy in her care."
He knew Elia had all the right to dislike Lyanna, but, to accuse his wife of this? "She did not-"
"You expect me to believe anything you say when it comes to her designs?"
"Lyanna has no designs."
She laughs, the sound harsh. "Like she had no designs against me to get to you!"
"Elia, now is not the time."
She demands, "When, then? When she holds a pillow across my son's face."
He grows white in horror. "Elia, you can say things without proof!"
"Her son and mine share a nursery, yet, only my son fell ill. What more proof do I need?" He does not want to believe it. He cannot. Lyanna loves him. She would never endanger his children. Lyanna would never- He steps forward. "Children fall ill, Elia. I promise you this. That is all this is. I swear. Elia, you will trust me."
She steps back. "All the world knows you do not care for me, but, act now for our son. You must not keep him here." She inhales deeply and straightens her spine. "Fear not Rhaegar, I will not waste my breath further when we both know you would go lengths to protect your wife at our children's expense. How much more would you have me worry about him since you do not seem to at all? But, I cannot take the risk."
"I cannot give him to you Elia. He is my heir."
"And how long do you think that will last if she does manage to kill him?"
"Elia, I gave you our daughter, I will not give your our son, too."
She almost looks to strike him. "Then, send him to Dragonstone, to your mother. Because he is your heir, it would have been his seat one day. Send him there."
Had she gone mad? "Dragonstone? What?"
"If you will not give him to me, his mother, then send him to her, to yours. He was born there, the household is still the same, yes? Men and women we can both trust?"
"You can trust me."
She shakes her head wildly. "I trusted you when we married. I trusted you at Harrenhal. I trusted you when you returned to King's Landing. I trusted you when you said our son would be better off with you." She straightens her back. "If you cannot bear to give Aegon to his mother, send him to yours. I will deliver him to Rhaella myself if that is what it takes to make you take the threat to our son's life seriously."
After they both went to Dragonstone to give their son to Mother's care, they barely saw one another and most of those moments occurred when their children were grown. But, those were happier times: Rhaenys' wedding at Riverrun; Aegon wedding Margaery Tyrell at the Great Sept; the birth of their eldest grandchild, his dear Edmyn. The last time they saw one another was Aemon's birth on Dragonstone.
Just as then Margaery, too embraced Elia and called her mother. Unlike then, this was not a happy time.
But, there was one other common thing and the thing that makes his blood boil most: Elia on arms of her husband, Lord Baelor Hightower.
He hated Baelor Hightower since day after they celebrated his mother's forty-fifth Name Day. His mother asked him to join her and Aegon in breaking their fasts and letting him know that Ser Baelor, as the man was called then, would be joining them. He had not thought anything of it, after all, he had been too busy with the festivities and, in truth, he rather enjoyed being led around Dragonstone by his son.
Baelor turned towards him looking, mournful. "My king, if you recall, my lady wife, Rhonda, succumbed to sweating sickness some years ago."
He nods remembering, too well, the sickness flew through much of the kingdom. "A terrible loss."
Baelor, still seeming despondent, "It was for myself and my two sons; the rest of my family as well. But, as it is, with my father being so ill and my mother having to devote herself to his care, the care of my house and Oldtown falls to me."
Naturally," he remarks, waiting for the man to continue.
Then, the man does: "One of my duties includes finding a wife and mother to my children. I have been in negotiations for marriage and they have since concluded."
A wedding invitation. Was that it? Such a simple thing. Then, Baelor smiles. "The Queen Dowager", the Reachman nods politely to his mother who politely nods back "has accepted an invitation on her own behalf of course, but, most of all Prince Aegon's presence would delight me and of course, my betrothed." Then Baelor turns to Aegon with that bright smile and Aegon returns it.
He blinks. His son?
"Aegon?"
Aegon turns to him, looking hopeful, and well, he cannot afford to offend the Reach though why the man would want his son at the wedding outside of politics is beyond him. "Of course, he can attend."
Baelor smiles at him. "Excellent, it would mean so much to Elia and Rhaenys."
Surprised, he blinks. But, when his mother replies, "It would", he practically strains his neck with the speed by which he turned to her.
He looks to mother who stared placidly back, betraying nothing and everything. He turns away when Aegon exclaims, "Mama and Rhae?"
His son's face is practically shining.
Aegon smiles at the man the same way now. He embraces Lord Baelor just as tightly as he had Elia. It's the breathless "Baelor, thank you for being here" that Aegon whispers and the man's, "I am here for you Aegon. As always, whatever you need, just tell me," has him clenching his fists.
Jaeherys died in Lys and Hightower's youngest sister, Lady Lynesse, who resided in Lys had been called by the city's leadership to identify his son's confused and alarmed companions who reported his son missing. Later Lady Lynesse arranged for their son's remains to be brought back to Westeros along with his son's distraught companions.
He vaguely remembered the woman, but, Lyanna darkly recounted the story of she and her husband were exiled and the lady promptly abandoned her husband, to become the favored concubine of a wealthy Lyseni merchant. While Lyanna held little regard for the woman due to the high regard the ladies of Bear Island had for the Starks, his hatred was reserved for the woman's brother.
It tore at him to have to share his Rhaenys with Baelor, but, why did Aegon, too, feel drawn to the man?
After the Elia wed the man and Aegon and his mother returned from Oldtown, he had visited Dragonstone.
He had been curious, and it was not as though he could make demands of Doran Martell and he certainly was not going to write to Elia.
To him, his mother, with a too blank face, said the ceremony had been "A relatively intimate affair. Quite tasteful". And he thought that was that until she said other things to Viserys.
"Elia already had a grand wedding; Ser Baelor, too. The Rowans would have been insulted if this wedding of Ser Baelor's was more lavish than the one where he married Lady Rhonda and Elia did not want to make a show of it. People's tongues wag swiftly enough. Elia is happy with her Ser Baelor. Most importantly, Elia and Rhaenys are cared for and he welcomed our Aegon well."
He'd hoped to get more from Ser Gerold, Lord Leyton's uncle, because he attended as well. The man came back saying, "It went quite well" and both pretended the White Bull's shoulders had not returned from his childhood home slumped.
This time he asked his mother what that was about, and she had been less circumspect.
She said, "No matter how practiced a lady is, no bride wants a man at a wedding who was an active participant in ruining her first marriage."
He pushes down the guilt he feels. "Ser Gerold did not do that. I did."
Face growing dark, his mother replies, "Yes, and he just stood by and watched; something he has done for years."
At that he feels a different type of guilt well up. But, not so much that it distracts him.
"Was she rude to him?"
His mother drew her back up. "Of course not. Outside of pleasantries she ignored him. It is no fault of hers that Lord Leyton or other lords of the Reach had little to say to a man who hid out in a war while their kinsmen were fighting for us."
He feels her words like a slap. "The war was years ago."
His mother glides towards the window to look out to where he knew Aegon was training Dragonstone's courtyard. Then she turns back to him, she says, "My son, when so many reap the consequences of that which they had not decided themselves, such a thought has little merit."
When he asked Aegon about the wedding in between the expected if uncomfortable litany of things about Elia and Rhaenys his son gushed about, and every other sentence was, "Baelor this", "Baelor that", and "Look what Baelor gave me".
He tried to hide his jealousy then, fearing that would only cause Aegon to cling to his mother's husband. He thought that would stop after a few months. After all, when he was here, there was no need for Baelor Hightower.
But, he was not always there for his son and Aegon had grown to a man who had not ultimately needed him and, to him, it showed. Since his mother passed, Aegon had taken the reins at Dragonstone fully. It was a comfort because he knew he could trust Aegon with the realm's future. It was less of one because it reminded him of how little time he truly spent with his eldest son until Aegon, then a man grown, started spending more time in King's Landing fully embracing his duties as Crown Prince.
Aegon had since he was a boy. While he could only go to Dragonstone so often, he wrote and he had regular reports from his mother on Aegon's progress. Through them he realized that his mother started to send Aegon to visit nearby lords. The first was to close destinations such Driftmark and then to Lord Jaremy Rykker of Duskendale but also to Sunspear where she had to leave Viserys. Those he had worried about, yet, not questioned.
But, on the heels of Aegon's second trip to Oldtown he asked her what prompted those.
She looks at him tiredly. "To quell any troublesome rumors before they start in earnest."
"What rumors?"
Hs mother looked as though she was close to striking him. Then she asks a question that horrifies him.
"Aegon is your heir, yes?"
His eyes go wide. "Of course, he is. Why would you even ask that?"
His mother shakes her head, "As much as it pleases me to hear you say it, I fear, Son, that no one is going to believe it when you do not show it."
"What do you mean?"
She presses her lips together. "Did you think no one else witnessed you staying silent as your wife denies your son what you already promised he could have because his brother wants something else after he has been absent from the Red Keep for more than a year?"
He flushes uncomfortably. "It was a matter of sweets."
His mother harrumphs. "Today, it was sweets. What about his birthright tomorrow?"
"I would never replace him as my heir."
"When you replaced his mother, would it surprise anyone if you replaced her son for your current queen's?"
After that, he let his mother do as she liked when it came to Aegon's upbringing. To see how mindful and dutiful Aegon is and to see his affable and sharp son grew to be a man cognizant of his duties made him proud.
But, the way Aegon's fulfilled his duties the more they seemed to intertwine with now Lord Baelor's own and Aegon welcomed it, only caused him to hate Baelor Hightower even more.
He remembers sitting in his solar with Lyanna and Aegon before Rhaenys' wedding.
"Aegon, now that your sister is nearly settled, I think it is time we would discuss your own marriage."
Aegon drew himself up. "Yes, I suppose it is. When will you write to Oldtown?" Aegon frowns. Then, his face alights with certainty. "Or do you think I should? Mother might take it better coming from me. Yes, I should write her."
"Elia?"
Aegon laughs uproariously. "Father, really? I would have felicity in my household. I can see no greater disaster than to have my wife and my mother at odds. I am certain the High Tower can spare her."
He feels foolish. Of course, Elia should have a say in who Aegon marries. And though his regrets are not quite those his mother wishes he felt, remembering how deeply he underestimated his mother's reticence towards his second marriage, he thinks, perhaps, his son is not wrong.
Then, Aegon smiles. "Baelor might have a thought or two as well."
It is on the tip of his tongue to ask him why Baelor Hightower should have an opinion on his son's marriage, but, he could not demand Aegon listen to Lyanna and exclude Elia's husband from voicing 'a thought or two'.
Even as he thinks that, Aegon says: "Well, I suppose we don't have to write now. We will see our Mother and Baelor at the wedding. You all can see which house of the Reach will work for us best."
Lyanna asks, "You want to marry a woman of the Reach?"
Though she tried masking it, he senses Lyanna's dismay. She hoped to finally heal the rift with the North by marrying Aegon to one of her nieces.
Aegon shrugs. "Your Grace, as you know, the Reach has been one of our staunchest allies."
Though far an in-between an occurrence, he marked how Lyanna was always "Your Grace" but Elia's husband was "Baelor". And yet, as always, he hesitated to comment for fear of Aegon taking it wrongly. Besides, he told himself, Lyanna never objected.
He tries to ignore Lyanna's frown. The Reachmen had been allies of his house, but, for Lyanna, as much as they both tried to move past the war, the Reachmen did not warm to Lyanna as much as they'd hoped. That Elia was married to one…
Then, Aegon muses, "There are too many houses in the Reach with daughters of an age to seek a husband. The Tyrells alone…Lord Mace has a daughter, Lady Margaery. Three of Lord Mace's cousins all have at least one daughter; Ser Leo has two, in fact. Lord Paxter's daughter, Lady Desmera, is also Lord Mace's niece by his sister. Beyond them, Lord Tarly has three daughters. Our sister speaks highly of Lady Talla particularly."
The more his son speaks, he finds himself nodding along. Aegon speaks sensibly.
Then, Aegon's face softens. "Many ladies of note will attend our sister's wedding. I have had the opportunity to be acquainted with a number of them, of course, but, I think it best, Father, if you see for yourself who you think would suit us best. We can also become more familiar with the ladies of the Riverlands before we need to decide. Of course, since our sister is already marrying her fish, there is no reason to be overly generous to the Riverlands with a royal match, I think."
He found himself agreeing, then. He had been impressed. His Aegon's reasoning was well founded and, in truth, he had been in no rush. He dismissed Aegon then. At the time he thought nothing of the way Aegon looked relieved, but, then, he learned how little faith in him his children had on the day of Rhaenys' wedding.
He hears Aegon say, "You look beautiful, Sister."
Rhaenys retorts. "You are just saying that because you are my brother."
"I am saying it because it's true."
Rhaenys retorts, "You are supposed to say that to the bride."
Aegon guffaws. "Are you calling me a liar?"
He smiles as his children share a laugh. It dies when Aegon says, "But, you aren't happy. Does Edmure not please you?"
Rhaenys says, "He does."
Aegon asks, "Then, what?"
"It should be Baelor walking with me." What? How could his daughter say that?
Aegon sighs and wraps an arm around Rhaenys' waist. Then, Aegon says, "Let him have this, Rhaenys, you had Baelor for the rest."
What? And the way Aegon said it…Had Aegon wanted-No!
Rhaenys lets out a frustrated sound. "I'm sorry, Aegon. I do not mean to be selfish. And I know it's only a few moments-"
Aegon sighs again. "There is nothing for you to be sorry about. I will not pretend that I spent many nights on Dragonstone wishing that I was with you and Mother. But, you know Father would have never allowed it. He barely allowed me to visit when I was old enough to ask and-"
Rhaenys finishes, "He would have found an excuse to forsake you as he did mother and I."
Is that what children think? It tore at him to be separated from Rhaenys, but, he couldn't in good conscious keep both children from Elia. Aegon had been his heir, so he had to part with Rhaenys. Besides, did not daughters need their mothers? And Aegon? He would have never forsaken him. Had only sent Aegon to Dragonstone because of Elia's worry. He would have never otherwise! Who had told them such lies? How long had Elia been filling their heads with this nonsense?
"It's not fair," Rhaenys starts. "Baelor was the one who taught me how to run up those steps without tripping, the one who I went to drive the nightmares away, the one who would let me accompany him to the Citadel, he was the one who bought my first hawk, helped me tame it. And now, on my wedding day, he has to sit in the audience because Father wants to drape me in colors I never wore and trot down the Sept in Oldtown on his arm as if he didn't throw me away before I was barely old enough to walk upright."
He feels his heart crack even as he hears shuffling. Then, as if his heart could not shatter more, he hears Aegon say, "If I had my way, I would let you do as you like, but, I do not. We must uphold traditions. It isn't fair, but, as you said, it is only a few minutes. People will talk-"
Rhaenys huffs, "I know, Little Brother. And blame will fall on Mother for my impertinence. I will not allow that. I was never going to embarrass Mother and Baelor, certainly not at my wedding to a Tully of all men."
He can hear Aegon's smile. "Family, Duty, Honor."
Rhaenys laughs. "I mean to honor our family by doing my duty. Our mother and Baelor deserve the best of me."
He recalls Aegon concluded: "They do" but all he truly heard then was: "Our mother and Baelor" and he found himself stepping away in a clouded haze.
The phrase followed him when his daughter walked regally towards the Sept on his arm and in his colors though there was nothing demonstrating she wanted anyone else next to her. They kept repeating later when he took a dance with her, with her practiced moves feeling slightly stiff and unfamiliar to him. All he could think of was that was his doing. That jealousy that flared when he remembered Aegon's childish face at Dragonstone, flared when he watched his daughter effortlessly gliding in Baelor Hightower's arms.
He understood Rhaenys' sentiments. He let Elia keep Rhaenys and where Elia went Rhaenys was going to follow. Yet, the ease by which Aegon too, embraced the Reachman as his own unnerve him.
He had seen it each time they revisited the matter of Aegon's marriage.
Perhaps, had Aegon not been correct about the virtues of the young ladies of the Reach, he might have been able to put it behind him, but, Aegon had been correct. Still, he attempted to cast a wide net. After all, this is a matter of his eldest son and heir. He could just not restrict himself to search for a bride from one region alone. As it happened, Aegon did not either, but, the results of Aegon's own brand of study came with other unpleasant realizations.
Aegon considers. "It is a shame that there is no daughter from a Crownlands house of age to marry. Of course, with Dorne, even if Arianne has not already wed Uncle Viserys, the thought of marrying my own cousin sits not well with me. Ynys Yronwood?"
Despite his own misgivings and Lyanna's, he is glad when Elia shakes her head. "She is spoken for. She is to marry Ryon Allyrion."
Seemingly unaffected, Aegon says, "Do you know when? I should send a gift."
Elia says, "Some months. You might go. Arianne and Viserys are attending. Tyene and Sarella are as well."
Aegon remarks, "It would be good to see them and the rest again, too."
Aegon and Elia share a fond look. Elia says, "Naturally. Shall I write or will you?"
Aegon says, "I will write myself." Then Aegon asks Elia, "Should I bother considering other houses-"
Elia smiles ruefully. "As much as I would like it, outside of Dorne would be more beneficial for you at present."
Aegon continues blandly, "Any lady I may have considered would deem it better to be a lady in her own right."
While Baelor and Elia do not even flinch, he and Lyanna share uncomfortable glances. They all know what Aegon refuses to say: Dorne will not give him any good-daughter even if Aegon was to be king. Giving Viserys to Doran's heir had not changed how low they thought of him now.
Aegon coughs and starts again. "I do not fancy taking a bride from the Stormlands; best to leave them alone. As to the Westerlands?"
Elia remarks, "If you must, Joanna Marbrand is a lovely girl though I do not fancy being tied forever to the Lannisters; Ser Jaime excepted."
Before he can even mention Lyanna's nieces, Baelor flashes a grin Aegon and asks, "Who were you considering, Aegon?"
Aegon replies, "Plenty, though I think Lady Margaery, Lady Desmera, and Lady Talla, would be best to choose from."
Elia and Hightower nod along; not surprised at Aegon's choices. Why would they? All Reach ladies. Aegon continues, "In addition to being well dowered, they are of an age with me." Then to Hightower, Aegon cheerfully grouses, "This would have been easier if Leto or Duncan had been born a girl."
His heart clenches when Hightower, laughing, thumps Aegon's shoulder while Elia titters. Hightower grins, "Margaery is my niece, you know."
Aegon smirks, "The Redwynes are just as wealthy as the Tyrells and have a grand fleet."
Hightower throws his head back and laughs uproariously. "A Redwyne? You wound me, Boy", Hightower says, laughing, to his son, before Hightower turns to Elia. "When did your son become so impudent?"
His jaw clenches when Elia laughs. "From me," she says. "I thought you liked that."
Hightower brings Elia's hand to his lips to press a kiss to it.
He pretends he does not see Aegon's fond look and how grateful he'd been when he had to postpone subject once again when called away.
The last time he approaches Aegon they were alone, he starts with Lyanna's suggestion. One, he notes, Lyanna had no opportunity to present.
"What of Lady Sansa?"
Both Lyanna's nieces had been at his daughter's wedding. Lyanna seemed to gravitate towards the younger one; the one who shared her looks. However, due to her age, she barely registered with Aegon. Lyanna reluctantly admitted the elder girl, Sansa, might suit Aegon better.
Aegon asks, "What of her?"
Lady Sansa, he saw, was a lovely girl, polite, and had the correct graces. Lyanna, however, had been less than pleased at how the girl followed her mother's faith just as closely as she respected her father's and how little Lady Sansa and she had in common. Still, she seemed to fit well with Rhaenys and the gaggle of ladies his daughter kept company with. That allowed him to approach Aegon with the match.
He asks, "You would not have her as a wife?" though he already suspects the answer. The girl was of age with some of the Tyrell cousins Aegon already stopped considering.
With an impassive face, Aegon questions him, "Do you require it of me?"
Painfully aware of how little regard Aegon seems to think he has of him, he concludes, "You would rather not."
Without hesitation Aegon replies: "No."
"Is this due to your mother's sentiments?"
With obvious reluctance, Aegon replies, "While I would be a poor son in failing to take my mother's sentiments into account, I hesitate to entertain a less than advantageous match, I fear, you would have me consider only due to Her Grace's sentiment."
That, he had not expected of Aegon. Perhaps he should have. Aegon was always conscientious. Perhaps too conscientious, he thinks, dismally recalling that conversation between his eldest children. But, Aegon was not wrong. He had observed how the Northmen, while polite, had not embraced his wife as warmly they might have once even in a felicitous setting. No doubt, Aegon saw the same.
Still, he tried again. "Is not the queen wise in saying we should bind our families closer? Our relations are not as they should be."
For now, Aegon straightens. "As you say, the lack of warmth is troubling. However, that alone cannot drive our decisions. Father, we have been long since linked to Winterfell through your marriage and my brother. And now my sister is good sister to Lady Stark. Unlike Lord Jon Arryn and Lord Hoster, you pardoned Lord Stark as you had our cousin, Baratheon, when it was only our cousin who had not taken up arms against us. You have consistently sent men and resources to the Wall and you also took charge of the fight against the Ironborn. As is our duty, we will continue to do provide for the North; but, how much more should we try to fill a bottomless pit? While I can understand Her Grace's yearnings, the realm does not begin and end in Winterfell."
While Aegon pauses for breath, despite himself he cannot find himself to interject. The set of Aegon's hands as they wrapped themselves against the edge of his chair's arms, and the sharpness of judgment glinting from eyes that mirror his own should not have startled him, but, he sits frozen. Is this what supplicants seeking mercy for their wrongdoings on Dragonstone felt when Aegon sat in judgement?
Was he doing wrong in pressing this? Was he truly going to fight his son on this? But, this was not his son, Aegon. The man in front of him was Aegon, the realm's Crown Prince. And, once again, he knew the Crown Prince had the right of it. This was not the first time it has been implied that marrying Lyanna had been disadvantageous. In truth, there had been resentment form certain quarters, not just Elia's family, regarding the concessions he had made to the North at Lyanna's desperate urgings.
He finds himself breathlessly entranced when Aegon begins anew, "There is no wisdom in leaving our proven allies with nothing but our thanks so that we may continue to reward our former enemies. That is also why I have not considered a match with the Vale, either. But, you are my father and my king. I will do as you wish."
Still, he finds himself asking, "Are you certain your ties to the Reach do not influence your decisions?"
For a moment, Aegon lets slip usually unseen irritation. But, only a moment. Though he barely even moved, where Aegon had been relaxed, now, there was now a resolute majesty in the way he seemed to be filling the chair he sat in. "Uncle Doran thought to have my mother marry where doing so benefits House Martell. I will not pretend I do not sleep easier knowing that the Crownlands and Dorne bracket the Stormlands, the Reach and the Riverlands bracket the Westerlands, and the Riverlands blocks the Vale. However, but, that only reminds me that my responsibility is to ensure the preservation of the Seven Kingdoms, not just to make second hand amends to one."
As if he felt the need to soften the blow, Aegon continues, "Father, should you believe it necessary to bind ourselves further to Winterfell, I have a brother for whom such a match might hold appeal."
The words Aegon unsaid were heard all the same.
Remembering the warning in his mother's voice so long ago and yearning he heard in Aegon's so recently, he knows already pressed the matter enough. "Who do you prefer?"
He belatedly remembers Baelor Hightower already asked his son a similar question many moons ago.
Aegon decides: "Margaery Tyrell. Lady Talla would be a worthy wife and has the correct graces, but, put a Tarly over a Tyrell and even the Redwynes would sneer. The Tyrells are wealthy and have been allies of ours since the Conqueror. Also, like the Tully's, the Redwyne's are owed a royal match, Lady Margaery's grandmother was born a Redwyne, and was the Redwyne specifically owed the match, in fact. Lady Margaery also has an aunt who married another Redwyne. Through her, it gives us a fat Tyrell dowry, Tyrell goods, and access to the Redwyne resources."
Seeing the eager yet firm set of Aegon's mouth, his throat tightens. Aegon's decisions are always sound. He tries not to think of why. His eldest children rarely ask him for much beyond being allowed to see one another, he thinks guiltily. He tries not to think about how grateful Aegon looks when he tells him he will write to Lord Tyrell.
Margaery had proved herself worthy of being Aegon's wife and future queen, but, seeing his good-daughter with Elia and her husband only reminds him that it was Baelor's niece Aegon had wanted.
In the same way that though grated upon him, so too does watching Aegon move to embrace the young man who previously stood silently. Aegon smiles, though it is not a wide one. "Thank you for coming, Duncan."
Duncan, Baelor's son, embraces Aegon back. "Aegon, how have you been keeping?"
"It has been difficult. But, we must-" Aegon pauses, "I am well as can be. What of you? And how is Leto?"
Leto, Lord Baelor's his heir had not come. "He is well. He wanted to attend to you, but-"
Aegon says, with warmth evident in his tone, "Though I should have liked to see him as well, it is good our brother is mindful of his duty though our duties keep us separate."
Aegon calls Baelor's son, Brother, but being here to mourn Jaeherys, a duty.
He wants to scream but, he cannot do anything.
They were being watched. Even if he disliked the words, he could find no fault in them. There was no great level of mourning Elia and her other kinsmen would do here without it seeming false. Aegon knew that. And even if there was no one else watching, how could he demand Aegon be more effusive when he, himself, was never was capable of it?
As much as he disliked this closeness Aegon had with Elia's husband, he is not his father to go ranting and raving at nothing objectionable. To treat Aegon as though he had done wrong when he had not would make him exactly like that.
With Elia in front of him and Lyanna at his side, he thinks, of course, Aegon would be so careful to maintain cordial relations with the Lord of Oldtown. As much as he thinks Aegon would have never thought him capable of acting as his father once might have, while Jaeherys had lived, what else had his second son been except a reminder to Aegon that he could have been forsaken as his daughter thinks she had been?
If he ever betrayed his eldest son, while Martells might have been angry and perhaps the Baratheon's would have taken the opportunity, but, Aegon would have also had Baelor Hightower to turn to.
That thought is what causes his eyes to burn with unshed tears.