You Are The One

Notes:

I don't know for sure if chocolate exists in this universe, but in this version, it officially does...and that's because I'm too lazy to research or make up a fancy name myself.

Chapter 12

"Aegon the Conqueror, but not really first of his name."

Aegon fights the stiffness off his shoulders at being so easily crept up on, especially by the short man. Who is stood behind him when he slowly turns.

"You were named after your uncle, if my memory still serves...which, despite the copious abuse I've put it through over the years, astonishingly still does." The short man says as he eyes Aegon curiously.

Aegon tilts his head, arcs a lazy brow and deducts more than questions, "You are a book man."

He turns his nod into a respectful bow of his head as he extends a hand up to Aegon and introduces himself as; "Tyrion Lannister, Sire."

Aegon is surprised both by the name and that that name standing before him is so freely holding out a welcoming hand to him.

Nonetheless, Aegon steps forward and takes the smaller hand in his. Surprised again by the strong grip, though, he can't say he has known many...dwarves? Is he allowed to say that anymore? (He isn't taking the chance either way.)

Tyrion smirks slightly at the look on the Conqueror's face. "A Lannister, yes, you heard right." He nods as he takes a step back after their hands shake and pull apart. "I was actually the Hand to the almost Targaryen Queen..."

Aegon nods, says, "Yes, Her Grace has told me about her; Daenerys." He scowls and adds, "Who was never a true queen at all. J—Aegonyra was the almost never queen."

Tyrion arches a brow. "She hasn't told you everything then." He says in a low voice for only the two of them to hear. He glances around, counts the few people still fluttering about. He motions with a tilt of his head and turns towards the closest door to them.

Aegon closes the door behind them, turns and smiles when he sees he's in the library—Rhaenys' favourite place on this entire island, as well as their mother's.

His mother whose life ended far too early...

"—my life was ended for trying to save everyone else's..."

Aegon is back to scowling again, deeply, and uneasily as he stalks forward and asks very sternly, "What does Her Grace mean when she says that her life was ended for trying to save everyone else's?"

He watches Tyrion's expressions very carefully. Sees them flicker through surprise, defence, and then, sadness.

"Tell me or I will not let you leave this room conscious." Aegon demands in a low tone, taking a solid step forward and glaring right down at the smaller man.

Much to his dismay as well as his admiration, the smaller man doesn't even flinch, doesn't look away from his menacing gaze once.

Even with the threat of a dragon now behind Jon, Tyrion still believes his safer option is to piss her off instead of pissing the fucking Conqueror himself off. So, he huffs, takes a step back to lean against a nearby column, tips his head back with another huff and glares right back into Aegon's eyes to let him know just how not happy he is about talking behind his Queen's—and more importantly, his friend's back.

Aegon merely rolls his eyes in agitation, but he's quickly stilling at the short man's next words...

"As I'm sure you've noticed already, Her Grace is not a woman who beats around with bush with neither her words nor her actions. She was a crow, then, Lord Commander, then, killed for betraying The Watch when she tried to save the Wildlings. A choice that made sense tactically, no matter what, considering that their bodies would have only added numbers to the army we were all trying to fight in the end."

Tyrion folds his arms over his chest, showing that he refuses to speak about it anymore. At least, not without Jon's permission.

Clearly, Aegon doesn't give a shit as he says, "She told me all of that, minus the getting killed part. She just said she betrayed them; they paid her back in kind; which, made her leave..."

Tyrion swears under his breath. Glares back up at Aegon and tells him, "I will be telling Her Grace you threatened this information out of me."

Aegon waves him off as he mutters, "You won't have to." He turns, but pauses and shoots the shorter man a sheepish smile and a mumbled thanks before darting off towards the door.

"I better not! I don't want to be eaten by a dragon!" Tyrion snaps after him just as the door closes behind him.

Aegon makes his way to the Chamber of the Painted Table first. When he sees it's empty, he makes his swift journey to his chambers where he pauses with his hand raised ready to knock when he hears her lovely voice...

"Really, Maliah, I'm fine. It was definitely scarier riding this one, but at least he chose me this time."

He smiles at her chuckle.

"Well, that is not what I hear, Your Grace. The first dragon you ever rode was named after your father—the people say it is a sign you were meant to sit upon a dragon as well as you are meant for the Iron Throne."

Aegon likes this girl's attitude already.

"Yes, well, I say that the dragon with the keen sense of smell most likely recognised the Targaryen whiff in my blood."

Aegon holds back his chuckle as Maliah surely does not, a bubbly sound of laughter escaping her before she says, "I wonder what Targaryens smell like."

However, it's Jon's muttered retort that makes him snort his laughter out and give away his position...

"Probably smoke and incest."

Aegon tries to suck the sound back down his throat, but it's already too late.

"What... What was that noise?"

Inside, Jon sighs—while hiding a smirk—and sarcastically mutters, "Two guesses," as she's already making her way over to the door.

As predicted, Aegon is stood on the other side of the door when she opens it. He smiles cheekily, gives her a pathetic little wave, wiggling his fingers.

Jon arcs a brow, now forcing back her amusement as she notes to him, "You know, I'm not very impressed with The Conqueror's actual lack of stealth."

Aegon blinks; blinks passed the focus his brain suddenly wants to keep over the new skin he's seeing. It's only her bare forearms and her throat, but it somehow feels like a step closer to her. Like she's letting him see more of her.

He clears his throat when he realises she's clearly waiting for an answer. "Forgive me, Your Grace—I only wished to speak with You, but I can wait until the morrow. You must have Your rest, of course."

The sly little smirk on her servant girl behind her obviously means he's not as subtle as he thinks he's trying to be.

He gives the girl a polite nod of his head and turns to leave.

Only to have Jon stop him with the simple word: "Stay."

He doesn't know if it's a request or a command, but it matters not when he's almost instinctively halting his steps and turning back around to face her. He feels hopeful when he sees the light flush on her cheeks.

Jon opens the door wider for him, then, turns and walks slowly back into the room. "Maliah, please bring me some ale instead of wine and have one of the men bring up some more firewood." She says when she notes the girl's curious stare on Aegon.

Gods, she really must be pathetic to be jealous of him merely looking at another woman. What is wrong with her?

Jon fights back a wince on that last thought, while thinking to herself: so fucking many things; why do I even ask stupid questions?

"Of course, Your Grace." Maliah bows her head before rushing off without a second glance back...at Aegon, anyway.

Jon finds herself fighting back a smirk when Maliah grins mischievously at her until she's closed the door behind Aegon...who hasn't taken his eyes off of Jon once.

Jon definitely isn't smiling now. Doesn't think she has the motor skills while he's looking at her like she's the only thing worth looking at.

"I have a confession to make." Aegon says and Jon has to tear her eyes away before her focus hones in on the way he bites his bottom lip. He smiles tightly, looking uncomfortable until the next words leave his mouth, "I was listening in on your conversation with your maester."

Jon gives him a surprised look. She's not angry, not all that bothered, really.

Not when she's more bothered about whatever the fuck this growing feeling for this man she barely knows is inside of her...

"Oh?"

It's Aegon's turn to look surprised as he parrots, "Oh?" Sighs in relief, then, smiles lightly and chirps, "That's it?"

Jon shrugs. Then, pauses and notes. "I did wonder what Drogon was staring at..."

Aegon grins sheepishly. "Yes, well, your dragon has every reason to be on his guard."

Jon's face sours a little, along with her mood. She knows he didn't mean it the way she takes it, yet, she still can't help scoffing up a chuckle and bitterly muttering, "Of course he does."

Aegon frowns, then, softens with a sad smile and tells her, "That is not what I'm talking about."

He shoots her a withering look when she only rolls her eyes in disbelief and shuffles away from him. He follows slowly after her, giving her space, while not actually wanting to.

Gods, he's never felt so fucking smitten. It's almost pathetic...

"I know you think it's because King's Landing holds horrid memories, but I, in fact, believe Drogon brought you here to keep you safe. I do not know where he was hatched, but all dragons, like all Targaryens, have a special bond with Dragonstone."

And that is where he should probably stop talking. Because he needs her to trust him. But more importantly, he wants her to...to like him. To see him. And Gods, he wishes he knew why, because it can't just be as easy as him falling for her already...

Jon arcs a brow when he stalks slowly up to her. Stares up at him as he stares back down and her when he's stood right in front of her a moment later. Tries to convince herself she's taking in the detail of his expression and not the actual beauty of his face.

He seems to have a habit of doing this. Looming over her and trying to stare right into her soul.

If only she had one left to look at...

Still—Aegon must find what he's looking for, because there's a tiny smile tugging at the ends if his lips.

"Your father did well when he chose your mother." He tilts his head, eyes leaving hers and roaming leisurely over her face as he speaks. "A Targaryen with eyes as warm and as dark as hot chocolate..." He lifts a hand up to curl a few of her locks around his fingertips, rubbing the soft silk against his skin and holding back a shiver as he looks back into her eyes and says, "And with hair as black as midnight..."

Gods, he fucking loves her hair. He can't even begin to describe just how much.

Jon's eyes are almost fluttering when his own suddenly zone in on something, his gaze hardening, eyes then slowly narrowing. His fingertips brush over the right of her cheek, curling around her eye—along with the scar she now realises he is tracing—the only wound she ever kept from a Walker (astonishingly.)

"How have I never noticed this one before?" His voice is a soft mumble, making Jon's heart flutter instead.

"Maybe because my black as midnight hair is always in the way." Jon replies with a small taunting smirk. Which only widens into a smile when he chuckles.

"So," Jon pulls herself away so she can fucking breathe right at last. Turns and makes her way over to the lonely wooden stool by the foot of the bed. Perches on top of the stool, stares at him again and asks, "Why were you listening to my conversation?"

"Because I don't like your maester." Aegon replies with brutal honesty and a pleasant smile.

Jon chuckles. "OK."

Aegon arcs a brow. Again, asks, "That's it?"

Jon shrugs again. "You told me. I now know. It's no longer a secret. There's no longer a problem." She blinks, asks, "What else is there?"

Aegon scoffs out a laugh and before he can stop himself, says, "Visenya would love you."

His smile falters when he looks up and sees her slight frown. He clears his throat when she (too) calmly looks away from him. Tells her, "I'm sure Rhaenys would love you, too, but she's more of a lover in general anyway, so, it wouldn't make much of a difference on any day of the week, and..."

And on top of rambling at the end there...'lover' was definitely a poor choice of a word on his part...

Fuck.

Jon merely nods in response and busies herself with resting her right ankle upon her left knee before slowly beginning to untie her boot laces.

He would make an excuse to leave. Except, he doesn't want to. And she did invite him in. Even with her handmaiden present as witness. Which means the girl is trustworthy or the Queen gives no shits either way.

It makes him want to smile proudly at her boldness.

"The reason I knocked," Aegon says, feels like he can breathe right again when she finally looks at him. "The things I said previously about not being able to please everyone all of the time,"

Now that he has her full attention, he can't carry on speaking with his fully intact until he walks over and kneels at her feet and begins to untie the laces of her boot for her. She looks surprised, startled, even, but sets her hands to the sides of the stool and lets him pull her foot into his lap.

Aegon feels her eyes heating him from the inside out. He takes a silent breath to steady his nerves of which she sets each in a fucking blaze, and keeps his own eyes focused on his task of unbooting the Queen.

"You do not fear death, yet, you feel like you should fear your own dragon. You truly perplex me, beastie." When he chances a glance up at her, he's glad to see her smiling.

"Even if I'm not afraid of dying, I'm still afraid of being in a lot of pain...like most normal people."

And even more thrilled to hear her going back to snarking him instead of politely ignoring him. Even if it was only for a few minutes.

(No, Gods, he isn't almost pathetic; he really is pathetic.)

"I don't know about that." Aegon tells her, staring up into her eyes as he tells her, "You seem like a person who takes all of theirs in stride, and even some more on top, so that others don't have to... A person who is afraid isn't afraid because they're a coward, they're afraid of themselves, whether it being too much or not enough."

Aegon chuckles when she asks, "And which one are you?" Because it was exactly what he was about to ask her next.

He grins, tells her, "Clearly the latter, otherwise I would not have bothered to conquer the entire Realm."

Jon scoffs and mutters with a smug smirk, "Almost the entire Realm."

Aegon arcs a brow, tries and fails not to smirk back.

"That's right; I know things." Jon says with proud glint in her eyes and her smirk widening.

Aegon grins, nods. Says, "Well, then, pardon me for not quite getting them all." He pauses, then, pouts and adds, "Still, all but one isn't bad, right?"

Jon's lips tilt in a shrug of their own.

Aegon's eyes narrow slowly before widening in both shock and surprise.

Jon chuckles. "Don't look at me. Dani was the one who got them on her side."

"That's..." Aegon scowls, demands, "How?"

Jon arcs a brow—yeah, she really is already starting to get used to this whole Queen thing. Or this title thing in general...

Especially when Aegon the fucking Conqueror, of all people in all of time and space, smiles a sweetly boyish smile and says, "Apologies, Your Grace."

Jon rolls her eyes, gives a lazy wave of dismissal. And before he can carry on buttering her up for whatever he's trying to tell her, she states rather than asks: "You heard everything then. And now, you're curious. Just like everyone is when they hear about it."

Aegon feels his heart ache horribly when she closes her eyes and looks like she's just trying not to fall the fuck apart.

Jon pulls her foot from his grasp, presses it the floor and lifts her other still-booted foot to his lap. Then, sighs steadily and says, "Finish what you started," (Something Lord Stark used to tell her for anything and everything.) "And then, I'll finish my story."