Thaeserys left her sister to her thoughts, knowing she would be of no comfort today. She would have been a painful reminder, of freedom that Daenerys would soon be denied of. As she stared at her sister's pale face, Thaeserys prayed silently that her sister would be free one day. She fumbled in her thoughts, never truly believing in the gods before. Where were they when their parents were killed? Where were they when they were being hunted down and had to leave their home to stay alive? The gods had not been kind, but she prayed anyway, for mercy, for hope.
A dull sense of foreboding sunk in. She could feel it pulsing within her, a dark dread that told her everything was going to change. The change would have the potential to uproot everything she held on to. Thaeserys held her breath, clenching her fists as she steeled herself to ignore that depressing taunt. She had already expected change. But she could only hope that it would be for the better. She didn't want to think it would be anything but. She suddenly felt hollow, drained by her emotions, so she ran.
Turning sharply at a corner, she collided into something hard, the force pushing her towards the ground. Just before she hit the concrete floor, she felt someone grab her by the waist, stopping her fall altogether. She blinked, panting slightly from the run and her subsequent shock, as that someone pulled her to her feet, still holding her steady. As her breathing evened out, she looked up, sighing in relief, hugging her saviour.
"How is it that my little flower always manages to get herself into trouble?" Viserys mused, the slight irritation upon waking up gone with her usual acts of endearment.
"Cause I know my big brother's always there to protect me," she grinned cheekily.
"And when I'm not by your side…?" he quipped, an eyebrow raised. He was still somewhat sore that she had not stayed with him.
"Daeny's leaving," her voice came out as a whisper, her chest clenched as her brother's remark unwittingly reminded her of the thought that made her run in the first place.
"What?" he demanded, suddenly angry, and was about to turn away to confront his other sister. Realising that her words were misinterpreted, Thaeserys grabbed his arm, preventing him from leaving.
"I meant that once Daeny is married today, she's going to be away from us," she clarified, her voice strong, but it quivered in the heat, betraying her reluctance to let her sister go. Viserys heaved a sigh of relief. If Daenerys ran away, what was to become of his army and his ambitions?
"Silly girl, we're going to be travelling with her. She's not leaving, not really," he assured.
"It's different," she insisted. That sense of foreboding she had been running from earlier had caught up with her in that moment, and desperation washed over her like a flood. Her eyes flashed wildly, her body trembling slightly, as she clutched her brother's arm like it were a lifesaver.
"Are you going to leave me too?" her voice had dropped to a low murmur, as if she had to ask, but was afraid of him hearing it, afraid of his response. She felt weak, small, scared of the future.
"Never," he stated confidently, proud even. You were made for me. I had been waiting for you… Four years for you to appear. I have always been waiting for you, and I always will until you come to me. You're mine, and I've become yours as well, so I cannot leave you. I will not leave you. His one word carried thoughts he held deep inside him, the part of him that no one else saw. It was a singularly simple word, but it encompassed everything. It was his promise, his vow. They were two halves to a whole.
Viserys knew what she needed. Assurance. He drew her into his embrace once again, holding her close, his arms locked tight. He kept her there, safe, as her eyes prickled with tears from his promise. It was her anchor, one that kept her grounded so that she would not be tempted to slip away. He made her feel safe and wanted. He was everything she wanted. He had promised her eternity.
The scorching heat seemed to do little in dampening the festivities; neither did the look of apprehension on Daenerys' face as the ceremony continued with much fanfare. Thaeserys kept her head tilted down meekly, averting her eyes from the rowdy proceedings before her. She shifted in her seat uneasily, her eyes flickering with worry as she sneaked glances at her sister every once in a while. As she felt a warm hand taking hers, she flinched slightly before smiling a weak, grateful smile at the small comfort her brother offered while Viserys proceeded to enter into conversation with the Magister. She barely registered the exchange between her brother and their benefactor, as she kept her eyes trained on her sister, her body tense, as if ready to leap out to comfort her sister at any time.
As Daenerys paled, Thaeserys turned to look at what had disturbed her sister, as Viserys' hand gripping hers tightly now, whispering in her ear not to look. The warning having come a second too late, red blotched flecked in the darkness behind her eyes, as she held her breath subconsciously. She calmed down slowly as Viserys' tiny gesture of stroking her held hand with his thumb, exhaling and inhaling softly in a bid to forget the sight she had just witnessed by blocking out everything around her. She concentrated on the faint sound of the waves that could barely be heard due to the sounds of cheers and drums, on her brother's soothing act of comfort. And in those moments, she heard nothing but the crashing of the waves, an unwavering reminder of what lay beyond the tides, afflicted with a strong feeling of yearning for home. The noise from the celebrations was but a buzz in the back of her mind.
The loud celebrations had quietened down as the Khal got up and started walking towards the horses. Still holding Thaeserys' hand, Viserys gently shook it, bringing her back to reality, as they stood up, watching their sister follow behind in silence.
"Be happy, Daeny. I love you," Thaeserys whispered as she held her sister's hand, her heart wrenching with a sense of reluctance to let her sister go. Daenerys mustered up a weak smile, forcing a strong front despite the fear and anxiety of her future. She was just about to repeat the same three words back to her little sister when Thaeserys squeezed her hand and let go, stepping back behind Viserys.
"Make him happy" were the last words Daenerys heard as the Khal led their horses away.
The sun had barely set when the siblings made their way back to the house to rest and prepare for the journey ahead. Viserys had insisted on following the Dothraki so as to ensure he would have his army when they were ready to cross the Narrow Sea. Thaeserys had agreed, her enthusiasm matching her brother's, with her reluctance to leave her sister's side. They had always been together, be it since being in their mother's womb, and even as they were growing up. Even as she packed her things, Thaeserys felt restless. This was the first night she was spending without her twin, the one person who was her constant companion, the one who truly understood her. Thaeserys had always relied on her sister, and even with the knowledge that she would be joining her sister the very next day, this night felt long and incomplete.
Thaeserys tossed and turned as she thought back to the day's events. Daenerys' beauty, Viserys' warm hand, Khal Drogo's fierce gaze, Magister Illyrio's indifference. The slight burst of happiness from knowing that her sister would now have a home to belong to, a sense of belonging that she'd yearned so much for, and the gesture of comfort that still warmed her heart, snapped quickly into worry for her sister's future and happiness. While she trusted her brother to make the right decision, she could not ignore the seed of doubt implanted in her mind. Was Daeny really willing to sacrifice herself by marrying a man she scarcely knew just so they would be able to go home? She believed her brother's conviction in getting them home stemmed from love and pride of their family, that was the guardian and protector he had always been. But this was the first time she started wondering if it was really worth it.
"Do you have everything you need for tomorrow?" His voice was a soft velvet, one that fondly reminded her of the times when he used to tuck her into bed. She halted her negative thoughts at once, feeling that twinge of guilt for doubting the one person who had protected her, kept their family together. He had sacrificed everything for them, and the blows and losses incurred, forced by the hand of poverty and persecution, were too bitter to bear. Her brother had changed, undeniably, but she could not fault him, for their circumstances were to blame. It was not a burden he should have borne, not for all three of them. She would trust him, as she always had, because he was always doing the best he could.
"Stay close when we travel," he eyes now seemed clouded with a sense of wariness and distrust, as if betraying his insecurities and fears of losing her to the wild ways of the Dothraki. Thaeserys had always been shy, hiding behind her siblings as a child, despite her curious eyes that sparkled with a want for adventure. It was only a matter of time before she would warm up to their ways, to try to be part of them. That was a life he didn't want for her. It was a life he couldn't imagine, a life he didn't want to imagine; if her world stopped revolving around her family, around him. He clenched his fists reflexively before starting to calm himself down. That would never happen. Never.
Her warm hands found his, as she looked at him. It was the way she was looking at him right now that sent a jolt down his spine. It was as if she knew all of his thoughts, his fears, his irrationalities. It attracted him and scared him at the same time. That she understood and accepted all his imperfections. That she remained proud of him, that she respected and loved him. And it was always accompanied with a sense of sadness, a slight twinge of fear, that her adoration would never be enough, not with his big ambitions. But he especially loved the way she was looking at him. It reminded him. She was his. And he would wait until she would be his. Completely his.
"I miss Daeny," she whined slightly. Viserys sighed, his eyes flashing a glint of irritation. The sisters had always spent most of their time together. His jealousy was irrational. He knew it himself, but his feelings were uncontrollable. He wanted her world to consist of him, and only him.
"Can you stay?" she asked. Her tone was light, casual, but her eyes reflected her fear of being alone. Daeny had always been with her, but her sister now had a life that was far bigger. She had a new family, responsibilities toward another and his tribe. Viserys was her only hope, her lifeline. She had lived solely for her loved ones. And while she did not doubt that Daenerys still loved her greatly, they both had to let go.
Viserys nodded dumbly, as if in momentary shock. He was not unused to Thaeserys' constant clamour for his attention, but they always managed to make his pride flare up a little. It was only late into the night, as he held his sister, innocently curled up towards him, that realisation hit him like a ton of bricks, and got him a little light-headed. She was looking at him, and only him. He smirked. Soon. She would truly be his, soon.