i. Viserys caught her hand and pulled her behind the column. "Uncle, this is truly bad manners," Visenya complained lightly, swatting his hand away. "The King has summoned me. I cannot keep him waiting."
"You and I both know the truth of it," he laughed, tapping a finger to one of her cheeks. "I have a warning for you, however."
Straightening herself, Visenya caught his gaze with her. "A warning? Now what could you possibly wish to warn me about?"
"Oh, what else?" Viserys asked impatiently. "Our dear Queen has taken it into her head that you are old enough to be wedded. Preferably somewhere far, far away. Or, failing that, somewhere very close to her."
"What mean you?" The mere thought of it frightened her.
"Trystane Martell," Viserys said simply.
ii. Anger churned in her stomach, rising bitter and stinging. Visenya schooled her features into a mask of neutrality. She would not wed any Martell, be he the Prince of Dorne himself. "Are you saying that father has accepted?"
"I am saying that the King cannot stave them off forever." Her uncle squeezed her shoulder. "Rhaegar would not hear of wedding you to any Essosi noblemen, thus you may have your pick of Westerosi lords. I urge you to choose wisely, niece."
"The Queen has never before concerned herself with me. Why would she do so now?" Visenya sputtered unhappily. "This is not fair."
"Not fair," Viserya repeated. "You are not a child, Visenya. Life is rarely fair. It is up to you to make the best of it however you can."
iii. The Spider have her a slanted look. Visenya wrinkled her nose at him, more out of habit than any real need. The man had his uses, but she would never trust him even as far as she could throw him.
"You are here to see the King, dear lady?" the eunuch questioned, a smile on his face.
"No, indeed. I have come to hear the latest affairs of the realm," she answered mordantly. Teasing did not work with her, at least not when she was near her wit's end.
"Ah, so cruel," Varys offered in reply. "I daresay, my lady, you would be a most fearsome opponent if you ever took it into your mind to be so."
"I would be a lot of things if I took it to my mind," she murmured under her breath.
iv. "It can be anyone of your choosing, my daughter. I do not wish to see you unhappy, nor would I rush you without reason, but we must hurry and decide." Her father was looking at her through determined eyes. Visenya finally understood. He meant to protect her. The Queen had much power for her position permitted it, and Visenya had too little to counter a scheme if it came her way.
"Anyone, father?" Visenya questioned, her mind working through the possibilities.
"It is the name that offers protection," the King advised. "Think carefully upon the matter and come to me with a reply as soon as you have decided."
"Very well," she said. Leaning in she placed a soft kiss upon his cheek. Her father gave her an odd little smile.
v. She would ever be at a loss when it came to Aegon and his moods. Her brother had made it his mission to avoid her. Visenya had indeed been called to greet him, yet where she had expected warmth, Aegon had cast a wall of ice that she could not melt nor scale. Thinking that he had finally given up on whatever plans had been going through his mind, Visenya had been content to let matters be. Thus, she worried not for him and thought about her own problems, which she might have continued to do, happily, had the Prince not come upon her from out of nowhere.
And for the life of her, Visenya could not comprehend why he looked at her with such a gaze as the one he sported. It burned right through her.
vi. A gasp of disbelief swiftly passed her lips as his grip of her wrist tightened even more. "Your Grace, I pray you, let go of my hand," she managed to speak through gritted teeth. The gall of him. He said not two words to her and then contrived to pull her about as if she were a ragdoll.
"Visenya, don't test my patience," Aegon warned. Her wrist strained under the power of his grip. She narrowed her eyes at him and tentatively tugged her hand hag. He would still not let go.
"I have no patience for your game," she said in the end, seeing he would not give in. "Unlike you, my dear brother, I have concerns that need seeing to."
"Like wedding, you mean?" he sneered.
vii. Rage exploded on her face. "Aye, like wedding. Not all of us have the good fortune of being protected at all times," she quipped unapologetically. "Let go of my hand, now," Visenya hissed, more than prepared to lung at him at any moment.
"I will not," came the oddly calm answer. It was so very unusual that Visenya had to stop a moment and make sure she was in fact speaking to Aegon. "Not until you explain something to me."
"If you have questions have a maesters see to them," she tried once more. Still nothing.
"A master knows not the answer I seek," Aegon replied, forcing her to sit down in a chair. He unceremoniously picked up her list of eligible matches and crumpled it in his hand. Visenya heroically resisted the urge to smack him.
viii. "You should accept," Robyn advised, her trembling fingers fiddling with a piece of string. "He is the crown Prince, after all, and he shall protect you better than any."
"Robyn, what if he lies. He is the Prince. If he so wishes he could make use of me only to throw me away." Worry gnawed at her. Visenya folded her hands in her lap. "Besides, the Queen would have my hide for it."
"Dorne is ever concerned with Dorne, my lady," her companion soothed, "but if a binding marriage takes place between then two of you, she would not have any way of parting you through words."
Deeds, of course, were a different matter. "I cannot do this without support, Robyn. A Queen without a house is useless save for the heirs she may produce. And I have no house."
ix. "If we can time this, then all should be well," Viserys explained. "You must only make it into the gardens come midnight and from there on Aegon can bare you forth to Dragonstone on my ship. By the time they understand that both of you are missing, we should have made enough progress."
Aegon locked his arm around her waist. Visenya pressed into his side. "I do not know, uncle. It seems to me that father should know of this."
"He shall, when the time is right," came the assurance. "But for now, continue your search for suitors. Your Grace," Viserys nodded to Aegon. There was a warning somewhere in there. Visenya tensed slightly. She looked between the two men with mounting anxiety.
Dear gods, what had she agreed to?
x. Had her mother felt thus as well, Visenya wondered as she pulled the hood of her cloak lower to conceal her face. Had it been so thrilling for her? She could barely walk straight. Visenya held tightly onto Aegon's hand. Doubt clouded her vision.
She suddenly wished to turn back. Alas her brother would have none of that. He urged her on with an unyielding pull and she stumbled after him, trying her best to keep up with his long strides. Even so early, the port was not empty.
"Just a little more," Aegon told her, nodding towards a vessel.
Viserys leaned against the railing. He did not wave, but acknowledged them with an almost imperceptible nod. Visenya glanced back at Robyn.
She was truly going to do it.