authorsnote: little bit of fluffy filler but sometimes thats what ya need

do enjoy

also fc wise, I always imagine aegon as the adult rhaegar in the flashbacks from got, wilf scolding (sick name too)

songrecs: bloodstream - stateless

Come morning, the weight of her acceptance settled over her.

When her handmaids arrived, they introduced themselves as hers, picked by the King himself, they would serve her from there on out. They consisted of women her age, all smiling, giggling, happy to take part in idle gossip as they readied her for the day, their lack of seriousness, and their proximity to her age put her at ease.

Dresses were delivered to her door, and the dressmaker made an appointment to see her the next day, to measure her for a full wardrobe, in the meantime she was dressed in a very pretty snow blue dress he'd whipped together overnight, with grey trim, it fit perfectly, and with her hair plaited in a crown and the rest flowing free she looked quite a picture.

What added to it was the smile.

For it didn't feel like a weight, this acceptance, it felt like a gift, she remembered Aegon down on one knee, he'd even looked a little nervous, a rarity for the Targaryen King, and she'd said yes without fully absorbing the political implications, she'd let her heart talk first, something she hadn't done in a long, long time.

She knew his advisors wouldn't have agreed with this, in truth she was a poor match to make, of a completely different Kingdom, her sway in the Vale and Riverlands was nothing compared to what marrying Margaery Tyrell or Arianna Martell might have done for him, he already had wonderful relations with the North, marrying her added little to his rule.

And as she walked to breakfast, Blackrain at her right shoulder as he always was now, a comfort to her to know he had sworn to her and would protect her no matter what. A Stark guard of Jons, a young gruff man called Yorn made up the compliment, he'd been hand picked by Jon and immediately put her at ease when he said she looked to be the age of his eldest daughter and had only looked at her with respect.

All in all it was a settled, happy picture Sansa Stark made as she walked into the Court room to break her fast, dressed in pretty new clothes, groomed and looked after, guarded well, and as soon as she stepped inside and was announced Aegon motioned to the empty seat on his left, that he'd kept free … for her.

She took it with a smile.

Because, as she sat and Aegon offered her a kiss on the back of her knuckles and a smile, it occurred to her that if she was a poor political match, Aegon was doing it for other reasons, reasons perhaps that matched hers, and that truly had her smiling, as she reached for a lemoncake and some water.

She couldn't quite trust she'd be happy yet, she'd been through too much for that, but she had hope, and that little flame of it, nurtured in her soul, in her heart, was enough to lean into Aegons kiss on her hand, and smile for it, her cheeks pink.

She was to be his Queen after all.

Many looked at them, there had been no official announcement yet, but the Court were agog, Sansa ignored them, knowing she wouldn't have the luxury of doing so for long and revelling in it, in the meantime.

"How are you?" Aegon asked, Tyrion was sat on his right-side wolfing down breakfast and wine, he offered her a nod but otherwise left them to it, Jon was further down sat with his men, he too offered a wave, but otherwise they were left be.

"I'm well" She said with a small shy smile, she'd never be bold in public, not anymore, her walls were firmly up, Sansa had survived much and never by wearing her heart on her sleeve, she couldn't, not if she wanted to survive here.

Because that was what she would have to do, every single day. She wanted to stay to marry Aegon, to be with him, but Kings Landing wouldn't be her preferred choice, she would weather it though, learn to love it as she once had, for him.

And she'd be Queen of it all, that certainly sweetened the picture.

"Did you sleep okay?" He asked and the genuine concern in her voice was warming to her.

Hope indeed.

"I did" She said, "Very well, did you?"

"I had good dreams" He said with a grin, those purple eyes twinkling, and she smiled, she knew her cheeks were flaming, new the Court was watching them, and for a moment, just a moment, she let herself not care.

"What were they about?" She asked, leaning in to Aegon now, both were fully absorbed in each other, as their people watched, they didn't even notice.

It looked to outsiders like love.

"Putting a crown on your head" He said in a conspiratorial whisper and her eyes widened, she liked that picture, she liked it very much, and he knew it, stroked the back of her knuckles with his finger, and she smiled, a bigger smile, her cheeks still stung pink.

"I think the High Septon does that bit" She joked, tempted to reach for water, but she didn't want to break his gaze, his purple to her blue, she could surely drown in his.

She didn't know he'd thought the same of her, long before she had.

"Aren't I the King?" He asked with a mock raise of his eyebrow, "Surely I can change the ceremony?"

"Hmm" She said, and a little giggle left her lips, "I don't think the Faith would be very happy for that"

"Curse the Seven" He whispered, and she gasped and batted his arm and he just laughed, and whispered again, "Its not like either of us worship to them" He winked then, and she giggled again.

"Do try to pretend you do at least" Tyrion interjected, "It would make my life a lot easier"

"And when have I ever made your life easier?" Aegon mocked, and Sansa giggled again, already they were their own little couple, joking, laughing, they truly looked like two young people in love, probably because they were.

"I'm sure Lady Sansa will be my aid in this" Tyrion said with a shrug and a smile as he looked at them, "She at least is sensible"

"Ahh until I lead her to ruin!" Aegon mocked again, more giggles and Tyrion rolled his eyes, as though giving up.

"When will we announce this?" Sansa asked then, having wondered that since she'd woken, "And where?"

"I think now seems okay" Aegon said, and even as Tyrion protested and even Sansa tried to interject he stood to his feet to all of the Court, held up a goblet and said-

"My dear Courtiers, I appreciate your continued support in filling my court and offering both advice and good wishes" He said with a smile, he wasn't joking now, he looked sincere, true, his gaze was one that could be trusted, as far as a Targaryen could, many would think, but Aegon had already proved himself fair and just, his reputation wasn't just booming with the common people, he was already beloved.

Though Sansa knew, as he looked at her then, he was about to get less love from the girls simpering up at him, and somehow that made her happy.

"And so I would like to announce to you, before all else, that I asked Lady Sansa for her hand yesterday" He paused then, a few gasps peppered throughout the court, and as Aegon held his hand to her, Sansa took it without hesitation and raised to stand by his side, as he raised their arms, "And I am delighted to say she accepted, and so please"

He paused then, placing a kiss to her knuckles again, her smile was wide, her gaze only a touch guarded, as he said, "Meet your new Queen"

And when the Court bowed, many dipping into low curtsies, all but Aegon and Jon, and even Jon inclined his head in respect, Sansa felt truly ontop of the world.

For more reasons than one.

"He did what?" A fiery voice said across the room.

"Honestly Dany you would think I'm a terrible King with how often I draw your ire" Aegon mocked, "And I am in the room"

"You draw my ire nephew" She said cuttingly, truly talking to him like a bossy aunt now, "Because for some reason you abdicate all political thinking and guile when you are in the company of Sansa Stark"

"I do not" He said, though he had no retort really, for she was probably right, he felt a need to add, "We needed to announce it to the Court, I announced it"

"The Court is currently full of people expecting to be given a chance to be betrothed to you, Margaery Tyrell, Arianna Martell and hosts of less prominent Ladys, at the very least the major houses should have been given some warning" Varys said gently, he was always the most levelheaded in these meetings, not that that was hard with two Targaryen's in the room.

"This is what I want" Aegon said, "I will sacrifice all I need to, to be King, I have fought, I have bled, I have left the first home I knew to me, I have lost" He paused then, and took a breath, "But I will not give up Sansa, not under any circumstances"

"We're not asking you to" Tyrion said, for he knew it was done, "We're just asking you to be a touch more delicate"

"That is not the Targaryen way" Aegon said with a shrug, and glanced at Dany, he could have sworn he saw her crack a smile. "Aren't we meant to be above this courtly squabbling for approval? We are Targaryens"

"I agree with you on that Aegon" Dany said, and she sighed then, rolling her eyes at him, "But we are not in a strong enough position to think ourselves closer to gods than men, not yet at least"

"We have three dragons" Aegon said, "Are Margaery Tyrell and Arianna Martell a threat to that?"

"Two when Jon goes North, Rhaegal will not be parted from his side" Dany reminded him, "And no, but we have to be more delicate than this, Tyrion is right"

"I will not be ashamed of Sansa, ravens can now flood the Kingdoms with the announcement, but I wouldn't hide her in the Keep, sneaking around whilst we let the prominent families know our plans, or ask their permission" He said with a shake of his head, "I am their King, I am fair, and just, but I will not answer to them on this"

"I know you care for her" Dany began, diplomatically now which was a bad sign, "And I know you won't put her aside, but understand she is a complication"

"I love her"

The second he said it out loud he knew it was both true and had almost burst from him, like dragonfire would from Viserion. He hadn't bene able to stop himself because it was true, he realised then, almost dazzled by his own revelation, he did love her.

Part of him was worried it was too soon, another wanted to rush and tell her, he loved her.

And whereas Jon had been in love before, had spoken of Ygritte, of missing her so much it ached, he never had. He loved his family of course, deeply, loved his people as a King should, had loved and lost, but had never been in love, not even close, he knew that, as he felt it now, he was.

He loved Sansa Stark.

"I do" He repeated to the shocked expressions of Dany and Tyrion, only Varys looked unsurprised, Aegon reflected again just how scarily suited to being a spymaster that man was, "I love her, and I will marry her and I will not hear her be called a complication" He said it gently, but firmly.

And to his surprise Dany nodded then, even stepped forward and took his hands, she seemed gentler then as she went up on tiptoes and he stooped so she could kiss his forehead, he felt younger then, more fragile, but he welcomed the familial affection.

"I love you Aegon" Dany said quietly, "You're my family, and if you love her I will too, but I am useless to you if I don't speak the truth"

He nodded then, for he knew it was true, he did not want to be surrounded by sycophants, it would be useless. He had his trusted advisors, more to name yes but he had them, and they were trusted for not just their ability to advise and give their expertise, but also for their candor and their trust they could be truthful with him.

"I know" He said and kissed her forehead in kind then, "But I won't be swayed on this"

"And then I will say I am glad you are happy" Dany smiled wistfully then, "Love is … it is truly another kind of happiness, singular and wonderful" She said, and seemed sorrowful for a moment then before she stepped back, "We must make arrangements then"

"I will send the ravens" Tyrion said then, having fallen quiet alongside Varys as the aunt and nephew, more like brother and sister really came to an accord, Targaryens would always stand together.

Fire and Blood.

"And your Grace, might I suggest additional guards to Sansa now?" Varys said with a nod, as he too headed for the door, "She is the future Queen"

"Agreed" He said and turned to Dany "Can you supply another Unsullied? And ask Jon for another Northern guard?" Dany nodded, and he smiled.

"I would suggest naming your Kingsguard sooner rather than later your Grace, and then you may assign one to Lady Sansa" Varys said, and Aegon nodded, there was much to do.

"Call the Small Council" Aegon said, "I have given you the names Tyrion, please call them, and from there we can begin on matters of state"

Tyrion nodded, but before he could leave-

"And please ensure Lady Sansa is invited"

No one was surprised this time.

I love writing dany so expect more of her

thoughts? I thought the announcement was very on brand for Aegon, remember the Targs are purest snobs, they do think they are better than everyone (except bby boy humble Jon ofc).

also you'll see more of jon next time, he needs a bride too, and he has suddenly become the biggest prize left on the board... can you guess who?

do review!