With a sigh, Lysei sinks into her lying chair in her rooms. She's diodged Rhaenys and Vysenya at the doors though they sense something is wrong.
Fact is that Aegon came to her that morning and requested her presence. She's not sure what to think of it but
when she checks her agenda she can see nothing that requires offical meetings and neither Rhaenys nor Vysenya know something.
Has she done something to upset him? For all that his sisters have laid aside any enemy feelings, she's never spend a moment alone with Aegon.
She will be with him alone todayand she's not really feeling it. Her shoulder throbs in agreement. Though the owund is fully healed now, the scar is still to pink to already ride Vezerax. She misses it, riding off whenever she wants.
No matter how she turns or tosses on the question why he wants to see her, there is only one solution.
She will have to find out for herself.
The sounds of laughter reach her when she walks into the gardens. She finds Aegon standing not too far from her surrounded by nobles from his court. She spots Orys Baratheon and his wife who has come from her home for now.
Old habits come back and for a moment the desire to turn and flee comes up. But she squashes it down, reminding herself that Aegon, though her husband, is also her king, and he has requested for her to come to him.
So she raises her head and walks with shoulders straight. The laughter falls silent as soon as she arrives. Aegon watches her with those typical Targaryen eyes and she wishes immediately she had worn less jewellery. The want to make herself unnoticable and small in his eyes comes back each time.
But he says nothing and she senses no disdain in his movements or his face and so she keeps walking, clearing her throat.
" My lady, are you joining us today?" She's a new face at court, Lysei realises. Her hair is an earthy brown colour and beautiful long perfect waves are in her hair, almost like loose curls. Her eyes are a beautiful color, a mix between grey and a sort of brown and it makes her stand out.
Lysei realises immediately that she is her to try and seduce Aegon.
Lysei isn't sure what to think of that and somewhere her heart wrenches and she wonders if he will cast her aside like the king always does in her favourite story when she was a child.
It is a sad story, "The song of her Majesty". It is a story her mother used to tell among others to her and her siblings when a child, but the story of the tears was always her favourite. It is a story about a king with a lovely queen but she becomes older and looses her youth. The maincharacter in the story, a girl from the fields comes to court and the king falls in love with her and he puts aside his queen for her. The queen, heartbroken turns to revenge, and builds her own kingdom to attack the one she lost.
When she was younger, Lysei always hated the villain, but as the years pass and she has become queen, Lysei , though still loving the story, has started to sympathise with the evil queen.
The look in the young woman's eyes reminds her of the story, where Aegon is the king, she the queen about to be cast aside and the young maiden the girl from the fields. While Alytta was a real annoyance, she never tried to seduce Aegon, and changed her tune once she saw how Lysei pulled together an army to save her family.
But this girl. She is beautiful and coveted by other nobles and she knows it.
Lysei throat moves apprehensively as she looks the young woman in the eyes. Eventually the young woman bows. " I have not introduced myself yet. My name is Esena. " She bows and Lysei nods.
Aegon approaches her silentely and for a moment she isn't sure what to think. His eyes stare into hers and then he offers his arm which she takes wih trembling fingers.
It is a stark contrast, the darkhaired queen with a large silver crown on her head and long whitegolden skirts and next to her the white-silverhaired king, with a simple crown upon his brow and armour blinking in the sun.
They walk in silence for a moment, while the court follows, jeering, smiling and trailing behind them. It doesn't last for long however.
Aegon stops suddenly and turns his head. " All of you remain here." Most nod but one face turns angry and Lysei can't help but feel it is directed towards her.
Aegon doesn't pay attention to the nobles in the back. " Lysei, come." He says and then starts walking again. She follows him, hand stuk on his armour.
" Are you nervous?.' He asks. She nowds slightly. " I've never really spoken to you, alone." " You don't have to be." Aegon says. " I know we've been not off to a good start and I wish to start over. You are after all my wife. "
At that Lysei blushes. -" Rhaenys and Vysenya speak nothing but good off you. I've seen you with them, how relaxed you can become. I want that as well, so that you don't feel the need to guard yourself around me. If we are to spent a life together, I prefer it be in honesty and without inhibitions." At that Lysei's shoulders droop and she stops. She takes her hand off Aegon's arm and then steps back, wandering over towards a small bench. With a heavy sigh she sits.
" Heavy is the head that wears the crown." Aegon says and Lysei looks up, realising it is what she said so long ago when she barely knew them.
" I don't want to guard myself." Lysei says. Aegon sees it's difficult for her, opening up to a man she barely knows. " But it is easier to keep my feelings hidden from you then share them. I've alwayse felt like an intruder. You already had two wives, you didn't need another. And suddenly here I am, bound to you by law, a crown upon my head and the fourth member in a marriage tha tworks perfectly fine without me. How can you not dislike me for doing that? You fought so hard to have what you have today and i was given all off it without a fight."
The brown-haired queen turns to look away at the breeze that plays through the flowers.
Aegon is quiet for awhile and she thinks she is alone, until he approaches. His hand, brings coldness when he places it in the back of her neck.
"Something you didn't get right." He says and steps forward. Then he kneels. "You were sent here on my bidding. I sent for you after I first met you. I summoned your parents to court and made them a proposition. I would take you in as my wife without dowry and give enough money to provide better connections for commerce if they allowed me to wed you immediately."
Lysei's eyes widen at Aegon's confession. " But Rhaenys and Vysenya-...; " - " Knew what I was planning. Some of my council suggested I take you as a lover but Vysenya was against it saying it would taint our hard work. Rhaenys was more concerned of the consequences it would have on you, should I tire of you. Then again I never thought of having you come to me out of wedlock. I was against it the moment they proposed it."
Lysei frowns. " So you didn't know me yet married me because you thought, what? I would be a good bedwarmer?"
Aegon shook his head. " No. Was I curious? Yes. Did I think you beautiful? yes.
But lust ? No. That only came later once you lived with us. " At that Lysei blushes. Aegon stil looks at her. " Come." He stands up and takes her hand.
He walks from the gardens, hand stil tugging her forward. Soon they find themselves away from the Aegonfort and out in the fields. " Wait here." He says. She nods, not sure what to think until a large roar interrupts the calm sky. She sees the undeniable silhouette of Balerion and before she knows it, the dragon drops down. Though Vezerax is certainly not small, Balerion is stil the biggest of the four of them and Lysei is again surprised by his sheer size.
" I know you miss flying. " Aegon says. " And I know you wil not be able to ride before your scar had healed completely so I am going to take you with me."
He turns to her and moves his head. Lysei nods, clears her throat and then follows Aegon to the large breathing creature. He steps up easily, as if it's nothing and then holds out his hand to Lysei. She starts climbing up the dragon, holding on to his leg until she is high enough to grip Aegon's gloved hand. Soon enough, she sits behind him. " Hold on tight." He whispers and brings her arms around his waist.
Then he moves the reigns and Balerion starts walking, then running and he is off into the sky.
At that moment; when she is in the sky, Lysei realises how much she's missed the freedom of flying, even though she fell off the last time.
Head against Aegon's back and arms around his waist, they fly for hours, until eventually the sun gets lower in the sky. Lysei looks at it with arelaxed face, feeling Aegon stroking her hands with his own while holding the reigns with his other hand.
Eventually Balerion starts to drop down to land. Aegon helps her of Balerion and the dragon takes flight.
The king takes her by the hand and they walk back towards the castle.
That evening, when her legs are cramped and she sist in her rooms reading over some documents, Rhaenys and Vysenya arrive. They both are still working on documents as well, but don't bother to stay in the library or throne room. All of them take a seat and work in silence.
When Aegon arrives not long after, and Lyei catches his eyes, he smiles easily at her. Rhaenys wiggles her brows at Lysei and Vysenya shushes her, but a knowing smirk is on her face.
Lysei rolls her eyes at the three of them but doesn't say anything.
When it becomes dark outside and the torches are lit, Vysenya gets up. "I'm going to retire to my rooms." She says. Rhaneys and Aegon nod and both stand up. Lysei smiles at them and focuses back on her documents, only to realize they are all watching her.
" Well are you coming?" Lysei frowns. " Ho.." -"Vysenya has a huge couch to sit in. Come, let's drink a glass before going to bed. Might unwind us from work." Rhaenys grins. Vysenya steps back and tugs at Lysei's hands. " You've worked enough, come." Rhaenys stands next to Aegon, hand on his shouder and smirks. " Come on, Lysei, live a little. We don't bite, unless you want us to."
That evening, when Lysei is fast asleep on the couch in Vynsenya's room, Aegon speaks to Rhaenys, all the while not trying to disturb Vysenya who is already in deep slumber.
" I know you meant it as a joke, Rhaenys, but.." -" Did I?" The youngest Targaryen drawls. " Perhaps you are not the only one who is looking forward to having her in our bed Aegon." Rhaenys sighs and then kisses her brother on the lips.
" I just want her to feel what we feel. " Aegon nods. " And she will, once she is ready." Rhaenys grins, and then stands up. " Come, let's go to my bedchamber. Vysenya is already asleep and for Lysei it is too early.
Aegon stands, strokes Lysei's face and kisses Vysenya's cheek. " Let's go." He whispers, eyes full off lust. Rhaenys giggles and closes the door behind her.
On her bed, Vysenya groans. " Ugh, children, all off them." Then she looks at the woman on her couch, nods and blows out the candle next to her own bed.