So, I was considering something else but ultimately, I am going with one scene per update, or at least one POV. They may be short. But they encompass a lot.
Azalea I
"Azzy sad," Viserys poked at her cheek. She was sure there were frown lines somewhere that he had problems with.
They sat in her solar, as she took care of the correspondence.
Olenna Tyrell was a force to be reckoned with and Azalea had been working on this particular angle for some while now. The Queen of Thorns had not been hostile, quite the contrary.
But Olenna's history with Targaryens was not as sound as Azalea would prefer.
Targaryens did not have a sound history with anyone, it seemed. Not even themselves.
She supposed that was one quirk of love, dealing with messy families and family histories.
She looked at the latest from Casterly Rock and Sunspear. She almost groaned.
She was angry. He left her behind. She understood the reasoning, she did. She had to keep up with the times. It was radical enough that she was ruling in his stead so soon after the marriage.
As her goodmother insisted on reminding her, Azalea had failed in her duties. She had no heir. The first time it had been brought up while Rhaegar had still been in the capital, Azalea had simply said that it was between her and Rhaegar. But the Dowager Queen only had vitriol for her. Prenatal depression was not a surprise in light of Rhaella's life with Aerys and the miscarriages. It had only been exacerbated with Rhaegar's departure.
Rhaella was angry that Azalea had not supported her in keeping Rhaegar home. It came out again and again in different forms. One time right before Rhaegar was due to leave, Azalea had snapped and said that there would be no heirs until Azalea wished it.
But mostly she had ignored the cruel words, instead focusing on preventing a miscarriage or her death. She had the loyalty of the servants and she tweaked around with what maesters did. Azalea did know a lot more than this primitive medicine or healing.
Yes, that is what the Lightbringer was reduced to Running a keep and city, taking care of an acerbic, nearly-dying pregnant woman.
She poured over the map with encampments. And she looked at all the places where a raid had taken place, or Baratheon himself had been cited.
He had a scar going down his cheek now from what reports said.
There was a meaning, some coherence in the seemingly random attacks. He had no moves toward the North, none whatsoever. He was insisting that Lyanna was his one true love and Targaryens insisted on taking away people he loved and that he would get her back and rule Westeros. Despite such loud claims, he was ignoring the North.
She could help; she knew it, if only.
"Azzy! Sad," Viserys was angrily pouting now.
She looked at the angelic face of her husband's little brother. It was painful to look at it. Gosh, she was angry at Rhaegar but she missed him terribly.
"Yes, Visy, Azzy is sad." She confessed. It was easier to admit it to the 3-year-old than to her brigade of minions.
Hightower looked a little shocked at Rhaella's cruel words and watched Azalea like she was about to burst and run away from it. As if he had not seen Targaryens be cruel! And Azalea had more backbone than that. But Rhaella's demeanor had been surprising for everyone but her. She had seen what losses and perceived losses could do to people.
The Small Council just about waited for a sign of weakness from her. One small instance of vulnerability and they would have an excuse to set her aside and take over.
Ashara was the only light and even she did not get Azalea's frustration at being off a warfield.
"Why?" Viserys would ask innocently.
She had taken over his care completely, and Rhaella was on complete bed rest. His care was the one thing she did not mind.
She got up and picked him up from the couch where he played with paper and crayons that she had just brought out from her trunk.
Viserys scrambled in her arms, nesting immediately in her bosom and snuggling under the crook of her neck. Rhaella loved him but she was also embroiled in royal protocol. Viserys loved hugs but he rarely got any.
Your stupid brother marched to a war and left me behind. Her heart spat.
"Azzy is sad because she is missing Rhaegar." She would tell him gently instead.
"Call him back," He said, batting his silver eyelashes innocently at her.
"Oh, my beautiful baby boy, if only it were that easy," She caught one of his silver curls in her fingers and plopped a kiss on his forehead.
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