Fragment: Distant Dream

Aegor

Aegor arrived at the small Sept located at the north of the Blackfyre Keep before sunrise.

Despite Daemon's popularity, this was never meant to be a huge social event. While Daemon had confessed to him about how he wanted the ceremony to be more lively, he understood the political necessity to make it a quiet affair. Only a few people Daemon trusted were invited…

...Though when Aegor saw Brynden leaning against the wall and smirking at him under his hood, he regretted not handling the invitation himself. Under the moonlight, his hideous birthmark was less apparent, yet his mocking red eyes still shone sinisterly.

"Congratulations, brother." Brynden clapped slowly, "I'm honoured to be here for your big day. Glad to see that you have moved on from—"

He must be doing this deliberately, Aegor decided. Burying his white-hot anger, he asked, "Shiera isn't with you?"

Brynden sighed mockingly, "She wanted to attend too. But it would be too awkward, she felt, and it would be… disrespectful if her presence distracted you."

Small mercy that Shiera was not here. Daemon probably invited them in hopes of getting the three of them to reconcile, but that was something Aegor refused to do. The wound was too fresh, and he was never the kind of person to just simply forget a feud.

It was petty, he knew, especially concerning what he was going to do today… he would forget about Shiera in time, but just not yet.

Not when Brynden came all the way from King's Landing to mock him.

"Why don't you go home and stay with her then? Your… blessing is well received. You can leave now." Aegor did not want to deal with him now, not on this day, not when he was determined to treat this as a joyous event. He was to enter the Sept and be glad that he was marrying Calla, to make the little girl not worry about marrying a man fourteen years older than her. He was not supposed to feel… bitter. Jealous.

Angry.

Brynden chuckled, "Don't be so cold, brother. Am I not worthy of a seat at your wedding? As the host, the least you could do is to welcome me in."

Aegor clenched his teeth, "This is Daemon's castle, not mine. Has Daemon not welcomed you in and offered you bread and salt? Or did you stay outside of the comfort of a fireplace without announcing your presence just to mock me?"

Brynden's smile brightened, "You know me well. Because we're similar, I'll say."

Not at all, Aegor swallowed the words that came to his lips. He was not going to waste time entertaining Brynden. Determined to ignore him, he walked past the albino man leaning on the wall of the Sept, when he whispered—

"I'm here to offer you a chance to change your mind."

Aegor stopped abruptly in his tracks and turned to look at Brynden. He was crossing his arm, lowering his head, his long white hair covering his eyes. There was, for once, nothing taunting in his voice.

This was the brother that Aegor had known before he started to hate him, before either of them started courting Shiera. Yet Aegor could not believe him. "You… don't want me to marry Calla?"

"It's not a matter of wanting. I merely wish you to reconsider your actions. Is this really the choice you want to make? I see no good outcome from this," he sighed, this time sounding sincere.

Doubts that Aegor had suppressed previously rose to the surface— of Calla's happiness, of his own happiness. She was, after all, a child. Was he ready to commit himself to her? To wait until she matured? To give as much as he could to this marriage?

If it was any other political marriage, he would not have so much anxiety. But she was Daemon's daughter, and Daemon was entrusting her to Aegor because he trusted him. Aegor had promised Daemon to protect her, to make her happy.

He could not break this trust. He would put Daemon on the Iron Throne, make Calla into a princess, and do his utmost to repay the chance they gave him. So, he should not hesitate. He should not have his resolve waned just because of Brynden's words.

Yet… "You aren't offering to withdraw yourself from Shiera?"

An intense self-hatred rose up to his throat the moment he spoke those words. He should not ask that. How could he still dream of obtaining Shiera when Daemon had offered him something better?

A thin smile formed on Brynden's lips. "No, I'm not so great, so selfless to do that. There's a lot I can offer you, but not Shiera. Besides… she isn't mine to give away."

Did disappointment strike his heart? "Indeed, she is not." Not letting his emotions show, Aegor hissed, "If you are to even consider making this offer, then you don't deserve to stay with her."

"It isn't our decision to make, either way," smiling wryly, Brynden's gaze sharpened, "It's Shiera's choice if she wants to talk to you about herself. The reason I'm here isn't related to Shiera, but simply my last advice for you as your brother. Go in and tell Daemon to cancel the wedding. He'll forgive you if you tell him the truth, he always does. If you don't do it now… there's no turning back."

Aegor sighed. "Why do you care?" He thought they had passed the point of considering each other's feelings. Too much had divided them, leaving nothing but mutual loathing.

"Because I love Daemon, too. You're not the only one who thinks he's the best brother and friend one could have. I don't want to hurt him." Brynden frowned slightly, "I have said all I wanted to. Don't disappoint me… don't disappoint Daemon."

He left the castle ground without letting Aegor question him. Later, when Aegor asked Daemon, it was clear that he did not invite Brynden and Shiera at all.

"The wound is still too fresh, isn't it? Give it time. One day, you can talk to them normally without jealousy. It might take years, but that day will come," Daemon was smiling comfortably when he said that.

...Aegor did not allow himself to digest Brynden's words. He could not look back. If he looked back, he…

…He was afraid that he would falter.

Despite the small number of guests, the Sept was crowded.

It could not be helped. This place was even smaller than the rest of the Blackfyre Keep. Daemon was not especially pious, and such the Sept was deserted most of the days except for important events… like today.

The few rows of chairs sat men Aegor was familiar with, his teacher, his peers and comrades. His Bracken cousins were here too, and Aegor had made enough time to hear their congratulations. But they were not who Aegor wanted to see now.

The front row reserved for the Blackfyres sat three children and one woman— one of Rohanne's ladies from Tyrosh, Aegor recognised. Did she speak common, or only Valyrian?

When he approached them, two pairs of violet eyes spun to glare at him. "What's taking so long, Uncle? We've spent ages sitting here!" the loudest of those children hissed at him, rolling her eyes as hard as possible.

Naming her after Daemon's mother— Daena the Defiant was all too appropriate, it seemed. Encouraged by his sister's example, young Aenys crossed his arms and opened his mouth angrily, readying to make another attack. Haegon patted their heads with both hands and scolded lightly, "Now don't be rude, Daena, Aenys. Our dear uncle must be so nervous about the wedding!"

No, that's not the problem, Aegor thought, but it was not his intent to argue with children. Daena and Aenys pouted and glared at Haegon, yet they did not protest further. The boy was the only one keeping those two in check, Aegor noted, and said, "The ceremony will start shortly. Where is your father? I need to talk to him."

Specifically, about Calla. As much as Aegor did not want to consider Brynden's words… he did come here for a reason, and it was not to annoy him. If he was making a mistake by marrying Calla, then it must be because… the girl did not want it.

There was, in no way, for Calla to "want it" from the beginning— he was her uncle, who was there to celebrate with her father after she was born, who had watched her grow from a babe to a girl. But she would grow up to be a woman, and by that time… their relationship might be different. That was what Daemon wished, and it was… it was Aegor's wish as well.

But if she was terrified and repulsed by the idea of wedding him, then it would not work out as they had hoped for. Aegor needed to know. If she could not possibly love him… could not possibly be happy in this marriage, then it would be better to call it off.

It would not look good for him, but he was still Daemon's brother and his staunchest supporter. They would find a way. Better that than hurting Daemon's daughter.

"Oh, Daemon kept saying he has something important to tell father, so Father went with him," Haegon answered, pointing to the outside of the Sept.

Daemon. Aegor knew that Haegon was referring to the son instead of the father. Daemon the younger was not quite his father's son; the boy was more fond of songs than swords. But then, he was young and the third son, there was no reason to push him more than necessary.

And as a father, Daemon always indulged his children's dreams when it was possible.

Yet when he found Daemon, it was the son without the father. His oldest brothers surrounded him, seemingly laughing at Daemon.

"Why won't you believe me?" the boy asked, tears dripping down his reddened cheeks, his voice shaking, "You'll die, Aegon! You too, Aemon!"

"What, are you cursing me to death?" the elder of the twins— Aegon snorted. "Speaking your dreams out loud won't make it come true, brother."

"This is just stupid. It's one thing to annoy us with your nonsense, but to bother Father with it— on Calla's wedding, even? What's wrong with you, Daemon?" the younger twin— Aemon frowned, mercilessly glaring into his brother's crying face.

Daemon sniffed, his fists clenched. "I saw it. Aegon, Father, you. Falling, one by one. You'll regret not listening to me, but by then, there will be no turning back—"

"Children," Aegor called out, approaching them with heavy steps. He did not like how Daemon was spouting those… delusions. Just like…

If you don't do it now… there's no turning back.

Coincidence? Hearing the same warning twice a day could be a coincidence, but considering Brynden… he did not rely on luck.

Damn Brynden, damn his mind games, and damn his persistent way.

Aegor kneeled down to the boys' height, looked into Daemon's eyes, and spoke, "Whatever you've dreamed, it's a trick someone is playing on you. Don't spend time dwelling on it, and it shall pass." He did not know whether Brynden was capable of influencing people's dreams, but it was more than likely that he was involved.

Daemon blinked, fighting his tears, his lips stubbornly twisted downwards. "But it's real," he whispered.

"It isn't, dumbass," Aegon rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. "Uncle Aegor. Let me apologise on the behalf of my younger brother. He can't distinguish between dreams and reality."

"He will learn with time." With the success of Aegor's plan, no harm would come to those children… "Where is your father? I need to talk to him."

Aegon paused, exchanged a look with his twin. A few seconds later, Aemon grudgingly nodded, and Aegon opened his mouth hesitantly, "Mother said that… Calla doesn't want to come out of the room."

Aegor cursed in his mind. It was true, then? She was so against getting married to him?

He should have spent more time trying to talk to her beforehand. Quiet, shy, dutiful Calla. Too caught up with his problems, he did not consider how she might feel.

He wished he could have considered this possibility earlier, instead of the day of the wedding. But there was nothing to it. He had to fix it immediately.

...Damn Brynden for being correct.

Carefully, Aegor knocked on the door of the pavilion inside the small Sept. "Calla," he called, "Are you inside? We should talk."

He did not have to wait, as Daemon opened the door immediately, deep frustration in his features. "Aegor, sorry for the delay, but please give us a second. Calla is having some trouble."

What trouble, Aegor wanted to ask, but thought better of it. Isn't it obvious? "I guessed it. Which is why I want to—"

"Daemon, I think we should let the man himself talk to her," from the deeper end of the pavilion, Rohanne appeared, her concerned gaze meeting Aegor's. "We… I trust you to reassure her and smooth her anxiety." Her eyes narrowed, "If you can't do that, you don't get to marry my daughter."

"Ahaha, it'll be alright," Daemon pushed Aegor's back, the force he applied less than it should be. Leaning towards Aegor's ear, he whispered, "...I suppose Rohanne has a point." When Aegor looked back, Daemon was smiling wryly.

"She has," Aegor whispered back. He was not good at comforting people, especially not little girls. But they were right, of course. If he told Calla that she did not have to marry him, at least she would be—

His thoughts faded when he saw the face buried in the pile of black and red cloth.

It was not detested or dejection for the man she was forced to marry, but a surprise, nervous smile that greeted him. "Huh… Uncle Aegor…?" Her fingers, covered by laces on the edges of her long sleeves, were twisted together. "You're here? Do you like… how I look…"

"Yes. Of course," he said, breathlessly. Something about this scene was too gorgeous for him. From the blush on her cheeks to the light reflected in her eyes—

The blush deepened as she lowered her head, showing her back— with her maiden cloak, a three-headed black dragon dancing in the centre. It was plain, the needlework neat but nothing fancy. She made it herself, Aegor recalled, as Daemon had said that she wanted to contribute to the preparation. "...do it?" she murmured.

"Sorry, I missed that." Aegor sat down beside her, still feeling dazed. Images flashed through his mind, from the first meeting with Shiera to… to Calla, in the same dress but older, smiling at him. "What did you say?" It was too good to be true.

"I don't know if… if I can do it. I know why it has to be done, but…" Worried, Calla sighed, "I'm… not as pretty as Aunt Shiera."

Aegor frowned, his face twisted. She knew… of course, she knew. Gossips spread faster than wildfire in King's Landing. "Don't say that. It's not about her. I don't need you to be her."

"Then... What should I do? I'm a child. I can't do… anything." Those words escaped her throat difficultly. She was using all her might just to say this.

His heart ached. She was afraid of the wedding, but not for the reasons he had presumed. "You just have to be yourself. I won't ask anything from you." The image of Calla… in her wedding dress, but older, around Shiera's age, flashed through his mind again. It was more lively than a few moments ago when it first appeared. She would grow up to be that woman, he believed. Because she was more kind and pure and beautiful than he deserved.

"Father told me… you will make me happy, and I'll make you happy as well. Mother said… they chose the best man they could find for me, just like how her parents chose Father. So I… have to make you happy." Large violet eyes blinked, "Are you… happy?"

"Yes," he forced out a smile, "I'm glad that you will honour me today," He took her hands and squeezed them, her small fingers briefly intertwined with his. He could cover her whole hand with one palm… she really was a child. "I promise to make you happy, as well."

When she nodded with a slight smile, he felt that some part of him was saved.

But there was one thing he could not say to her.

Sorry. Giving you this burden is a selfish thing to do. But I want a chance to have what Daemon described to me. Not now, but in the future. Even if Brynden is right, and our paths will only lead to tragedy… I still want to try.

Because you're so bright, that one moment, you have made me believe the impossible. You made me believe that I can love, and be loved.

Even if it's just a distant dream.