A crack of sunlight filtered into the room, the curtains mostly drawn. But that flicker of sunlight was most inconveniently pointing to the middle of the room, where the bed was. Viserys scrunched his nose in annoyance at the intensity of the weak ray. Today was going to be sweltering hot. He shifted slightly, eyes still closed, reluctant to wake, when he realised he was alone. At this, he shot up, groaning. Where was she?
Thaeserys had woken up several hours before, finding herself cuddled up to something really warm. It felt nice, bringing a soft smile to her face. It was far too early in the morning, and she had barely gotten any sleep. She wanted to stay in bed, with her surprisingly warm cushion, probably due to the sun. It was then when she snapped her eyes open. She didn't recall having an oversized cushion. Her heart stopped for a minute as she held her breath, puzzled. When did she fall asleep? Her brother must have brought her back and fell asleep as well.
The thought of his sweet gesture brought a slight blush to her cheeks, her lips curled in a small smile, as she watched him sleep for a moment. He looked peaceful in his sleep, beautiful, like a guardian angel. Her guardian angel. For as long as she could remember, he had always been there to protect her. It made her feel special. She knew his tenderness was not a side that most bore witness to, as compared to his usually pompous, calculating self. He had a hard life, all three of them did, but Viserys, especially so, with the burden of two younger sisters to care for. He was demanding and easily frustrated, often wanting to take the easy way out, but who didn't? Fate had dealt them a bad hand, and he had done the best he could. Thaeserys couldn't fault him for that, and it was his faults that made her feel that he was more human. Regardless of what people said about him, he was the best big brother she ever had, someone she loved and admired with all her heart.
Something was nagging at the back of her mind, something important that she shouldn't have forgotten. Her eyes scanned the room, as if she would be able to pick up some sort of hint, but she just couldn't remember. She contemplated asking Daeny. Surely she was already up. Recognition flashed in her eyes as her mind went into overdrive. Daeny. She was supposed to prepare her for her wedding today! How could she have forgotten? Thaeserys bit her lip, visibly upset at herself for not being there for her sister last night. She could only hope Daenerys had slept with relatively ease, although she knew her sister well enough to know that she would have been up all night and even if she were there, Daeny would have been inconsolable. But, she still should have been there. Thaeserys jumped up, hastily closing the curtains to let her brother rest more before racing out the door to look for her sister.
"Am I late?" Thaeserys huffed. She had gone to her sister's room only to find it empty, causing her to run all over the estate to find her. She had almost run past the balcony when she spotted her sister from the corner of her eye. She looked sad and alone, but Thaeserys didn't know how to comfort her. Nothing she could say or do would have made her sister's situation better, so she chose to keep quiet.
"I never realised how beautiful the view is from here. It makes me think of home." Daenerys' voice was airy, distant. Having been taken across the Narrow Sea as infants, the twins had no recollection of their home in Westeros, but they still liked to think of how it would feel like to be able to go home. The closest thing that had to a home was in Braavos, and Thaeserys wondered briefly if her sister still sometimes thought of that big, red door, and the kind Ser William who had taken care of them. Those were happy times.
Much as Thaeserys wanted to go home, she thought more of Braavos than she cared to admit. It had been a peculiar place, with many confusing religions that her sister couldn't fully comprehend either. They were strangers in a foreign land and it wasn't safe back home, but Thaeserys had been happy. After all that they had been through growing up, she learnt that she didn't need anything, really; she just needed her siblings to be with her. And unbelievable as it sounded, she had felt safe there, even if only for a short while.
"Let me go, let me go!" she kicked and screamed, flailing wildly in the air. Her resistance was futile, her oppressor being a tall, lanky boy a few years older, who had lifted her up with ease. She should have listened to her brother and not left the house alone, but she had been foolish, only thinking of getting some fresh air and seeing what the city had to offer. She had been a curious child, naïve at that. Guilt for running out without permission left tears streaming down her face as she closed her eyes and braced herself for another hit, whimpering like an injured puppy.
The blow never came, but she landed on the ground with a soft thud. She cautiously opened her eyes and sobbed in relief as she hugged her saviour. "I'm sorry, Viserys, I'm sorry," she cried upon seeing her brother's face red with anger, his jaw taut and his eyes fierce. She heard the scuttling of feet, presumably the boy escaping her brother's wrath, clenching the corner of her brother's shirt tightly.
"Did he hurt you?" his voice tempered, like steel, she thought, like the sound of metal being hammers at the blacksmith's. She didn't reply; she couldn't, not while she was still sobbing, as she cowered against her brother's lean frame. He felt tense, and he probably was, rightly so, still angry with her for not listening to him. He had every right to be angry.
He ran his hand through her hair, while holding her close; it was a familiar and comforting gesture, slowly soothing and calming her down. "Come on, let's get you back," he relented, his eyes softening at her tear-stained face, noting her wince as he grabbed her by the waist and carried her home.
"Clean her up," he barked to Daenerys, who had been pacing back and forth as if it would bring her sister home earlier. She followed her siblings up the stairs and instructed the servants to bring some medical supplies and a basin of warm water while her brother set Thaeserys down on her bed. Her heart almost stopped as she lifted up her shirt to reveal a large bluish bruise and immediately fussed about her sister, trying to make her feel comfortable while she took care of her.
Viserys had said nothing, choosing to stand in a corner, but his eyes narrowed and his fists clenched at the sight. A wild fury overtook his sight. How dare that obnoxious brat do this to his precious little rose? He should have protected her better, instead of letting this happen. If he were King, as is his birth-right, this would never have happened. They would have been home, safe, happy, with their parents and he would have taken the throne when the time came. Everyone would bow down to the dragon. His eyes blazed, cursing the world for this cruel fate that had been thrown upon them. They didn't deserve to live like this, to be exiled from their home, to be threatened with their lives. He had vowed to protect her, which he had failed to do today. What was Daenerys doing that she let Thaeserys out of her sight anyway? He fumed silently, marching out of the door, looking for something to release his frustration on.
Thaeserys had watched her brother silently as the cloth came into contact with her abdomen. It hurt. Tears sprung out as she stifled her sobs. She deserved it for making her siblings worry, for running out like that. She didn't want to cause them to worry more, so she sucked it up, warily noting her brother's expressions as she sighed, conceding. He was probably still angry at her.
It wasn't the first time he had found her just in time to save her from some mean kids she chanced upon. All she had wanted to do was fit in, to belong somewhere, to make friends. It was difficult, she knew, with her strange accent and unusual looks. But she didn't want to give up. Her siblings were doing so much to take care of her (she always was the immature one) and she just wanted to show them that she could take care of herself, although time has proven that she evidently could not, which was why her brother always had to save her. And in spite of the pain, she couldn't help but manage a weak smile on her face. Her brother, her protector, her guardian angel.
Thaeserys laughed as the breeze tickled her face. She was lying on her back on the grass with her brother next to her. They had come out to play and Ser William had been nice enough to get the servants to pack a small picnic for lunch to take along. Daenerys had been excited at the thought, initially, although she chose not to come in the end. It was strange, but Thaeserys forgot about it as soon as she saw the lush green meadow Ser William had told them about.
A 5 year old Thaeserys had been running about with her short legs, pouting each time her brother caught her with such ease. Her brother was older, bigger, and stronger, so it was no surprise he did that. He probably had better things to do, but he had chosen to take time out to spend the day with her. He was sweet, the best big brother she ever had. They laughed together as she finally collapsed into the grass from exhaustion, her tiny hand pulling his, as if to ask him to join her. And he did, lounging next to her, as they stared at the clear blue skies dotted with fluffy white clouds, Thaeserys childishly describing each one in detail as he grinned.
"And that one is a puppy!" she squealed happily, turning on her side to face him with a smile that met her twinkling eyes. He studied her intently for a moment. Perhaps it was the sun, but his chest burst with a warmth of happiness that, he reasoned, could only come from her. She always cheered him up when he had a bad day, which were most days because they couldn't go home. Somehow, she always knew to come to him when he felt particularly alone, acting upon some strange instinct, as if her soul knew when his was calling out for her. And despite her childishness, or perhaps it was because of it, he could relax when he was with her, be who he wanted to be.
"Viserys?" she questioned, her eyes wide with a tinge of worry, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I am because I'm with you," he grinned as she smiled brighter, the sunlight spilling on her snow-white hair, innocence colouring her lilac eyes. She was going to grow up beautifully.
"I love you," she declared, "I want to be with you and Daeny forever!"
"You will be," he assured, cooing softly as he reached out to pick a daisy, tucking it into her hair.
The gentle breeze against the warmth of the sun coupled with her exhaustion from frolicking around before made her feel tired. She didn't want to sleep, she wanted to spend more time with her brother. But she was still a little kid, and she gave in to her fatigue soon enough, with little resistance. "I wish I could marry you," she murmured just as she slipped into a dreamless sleep.
Viserys sighed contently, knowing that she probably didn't mean to say that, but it still made his heart soar. She really was made for him, was his other half. He let her sleep, resting her head in his lap as he held her tenderly. He sat still for an hour, not moving for fear of waking her, but the sun was setting soon and they had to get back. He nudged her lightly as her eyes, still bleary with sleep, struggled to adapt to her surroundings while he packed up what was left of their picnic. He quietly took her hand and they made their way back slowly in content silence.
A small smile tugged at Thaeserys as her mind wandered back to the precious moments she had shared with her brother. Daenerys had been thinking of home, back in Westeros, but Thaeserys thought of her siblings. That was where home was to her, as Ser William once told her, home was where the heart was, and when she was with them, she was home. Thaeserys stared at the city the balcony overlooked, the flurry of activity buzzing in the marketplace barely registering until she snapped out of her thoughts.
"Daeny, we really have to get you prepared. And you are going to be so beautiful that your betrothed is going to see you as his greatest treasure!" she jabbered on with false enthusiasm, with only hope for her sister's happiness fuelling her supposedly good spirits. Daenerys managed a weak smile, grateful that her sister was trying. She didn't want to be left to her thoughts or talk much about the future either and she let her sister lead her away to prepare her for the day.
Daenerys sighed with relief as she found the room empty and the bath filled. Thaeserys had dismissed all the servants, telling them that she would personally take care of her sister. As she sank into the bath, she let her mask break and fade away, crying softly as her sister could do nothing but watch on. She was grateful for Thaeserys' small gesture. Viserys would have been upset if he knew she'd cried.