The days that followed after the wedding cancellation were cold and tense, colder than winter itself. The Dragon King and the Northern Queen kept their distance from each other, the only time they ever spoke was at meetings, but even then they were cold and distant. Unfortunately, their council members have taken notice of this change.
"I called you all here because we all noticed something amiss between our two sovereigns." Tyrion announced as they all gathered around the table within one of the private chambers.
"That's an understatement." Ser Davos quipped as he glanced around at the advisors present; Tyrion, Varys, Ser Jorah, Missandei, Sansa, and himself.
"Those two never made much effort to keep their relationship a secret. Yet all of a sudden they can't stand to be in the same room with each other." Sansa stated, having noticed the atmosphere around her sister and Aegon. Before they could not bear to be apart, then they don't want to be close all.
"When did this happen?" Missandei asked, looking troubled for the emotional state of their ruling monarchs.
"Sometime after Red Priests arrived." Ser Davos answered, "Her Grace looked under the weather. The King never left her alone while she was in that state."
"From what I heard from the servants, those two went to the Godswood, but when Queen Lyra returned, she came back alone and looked upset." Varys informed them, his voice tinged with worry.
"Something must've happened while they were in the Godswood." Sansa stated then sighed, "When I went to check in on her she was pale and sickly, can't keep food down. I tried to talk to her, but she refuses to speak." She said, remembering how she found her sister that day curled up in bed with tear tracks on her face. Never had she seen her strong and resilient sister in that state before.
"Has anyone approached the Dragon King of this matter?" Ser Davos asked the members of Aegon's council.
"About his lover's quarrel?" Tyrion shook his head, "No."
"Though we are his advisors, I fear we don't have that close emotional tie when it comes to personal relationships." Varys stated as he glanced at Tyrion.
Tyrion shrugged, "I'd give him advice, though I don't think I'm a good example when it comes to romance. The one who should talk to him is someone of familial bond."
All eyes turned to Ser Jorah simultaneously who has remained silent since the start of this meeting.
Aegon was sparring with the Dothraki and Unsullied outside of Winterfell. It felt like the best thing for everyone to do at this point to stay in good form and to stop feeling cold. But for him, he needed something to vent his frustrations. It's been days since he last spoke with Lyra who he recently discovered to be his late brother's child; his niece who he has been fucking for two months. He should feel disgusted and ashamed, but honestly, he's more pissed at Rhaegar for not coming before the realm and admitting his actions, and at Eddard Stark for labelling her as a bastard.
That fury made his strike more forceful, catching the Dothraki by surprise as he was defeated by his Khal. Aegon was panting, but his frustrations haven't abated.
"Your Grace."
Aegon turned and saw his sworn sword at the edge of the makeshift training circle.
"Ser Jorah." Aegon greeted as he gave the training sword to an Unsullied and approached the bear.
"May I have a word with you, in private please?" The older man requested since what they're about to discuss is crucial.
Aegon had no problem with that as they walked away from the field towards where the dragons laid together. They sat on the rock and watched the majestic beasts relax against each other in a pile to preserve their warmth. Seeing them like this brought a sense of peace to the Dragon King.
"Something happened between you and your bride-to-be?" Ser Jorah asked, not wanting to beat around the bush with his surrogate son.
Aegon made a noise in his throat and turned to the man.
"Yes, I noticed, yours and the Queen's council noticed as well. You're both terrible at hiding it." Ser Jorah stated with a stern look a father gives their child.
Aegon opened his mouth, but no sound came out as he faced forward with a shake of his head.
Ser Jorah sighed, "Aegon, I've known you since you were a lad, a man who was barely out of the fighting pits. I've seen you through most of your struggles, your triumphs, and everything in between. I know I'm the last person to give you relationship advice considering my failure of a marriage, but you can still talk to me about what's going on between you."
Aegon bowed his head, feeling like a little boy who has done something completely wrong and needs to confront his mistakes but has no idea where to start. Taking a deep breath, he turned to his sworn sword, "Can you keep this a secret?"
The bear nodded before the Dragon King told him everything.
Lyra was not in a favorable position at the moment.
She was back in her bed chamber kneeling over the chamber pot vomiting her guts out. She spat and wheezed before leaning away from the pot's contents.
"Okay, that is it." Sansa declared from the doorway as she and a servant marched over to her sister. "We are getting Maester Wolkan, and he is going to heal you by whatever means necessary." She stated as she heaved her sister onto her feet and towards the bed.
"I'm fine Sansa, it's just a stomach thing, it'll pass." Lyra groaned as she was deposited onto the mattress. "There's no need to waste precious medicine on me." She breathed heavily, feeling constricted in her clothing.
"Five days you've been like this, and it won't go away on its own." Sansa shook her head at her strong-willed sister as she and the servant began to loosen the outer layer of her clothes.
Lyra sighed as she wiped the perspiration from her forehead. "I've frozen my arse half to death Beyond the Wall at least three times. This is nothing."
"This is not nothing if it has carried on like this for so long." Sansa stated as she finally got the outer part of her leather off the woman.
Maester Wolkan arrived, his chains jingled as he entered and bowed before the two women. "You sent for me milady?"
Sansa turned to the Maester, "Yes, if you could look over this stubborn Queen and find the cause of her illness, that would be wonderful."
"Can we just skip all that and just say I'm okay?" Lyra groaned like a petulant child despite how crappy she felt.
Even though her sister was blind, Sansa place her hands on her hips and gave her a firm look. "Absolutely not, you are going to let the Maester check you, and you will do so without quarrel."
The Maester silently watched the two sisters argue before the elder gave in with an annoyed sigh, "Alright fine, but I still think this is completely unnecessary."
The old man took this as his que to begin his examination.
Ser Jorah has been surprised many times since he met Aegon. From dragons hatching as Aegon emerged unburnt, the ruins of Old Valyria, even the fabled undead army. But this...this has to take the cake.
"Are you certain of this?" Jorah asked when he found his voice before he began to pace, trying to calm himself down.
"Yes, I had no reason to doubt." Aegon sighed and shook his head, "It all makes sense. Everyone says she looks like Lyanna, and how Eddard Stark refused to talk about Lyra's mother. Her connection to the dragons, to Rhaegal," He glanced at the aforementioned dragon, "and..." He swallowed, "...why we are always drawn to each other. Our Valyrian blood called to the other." He quietly said to himself as he remembered the first time he saw her at Dragonstone, how he felt compelled to be by her side.
"You say she's trueborn?" Jorah asked for clarification.
"Yes. Her real name is Visenya Targaryen." Aegon laughed softly, "Which makes sense given how she fights."
"How did you react?" Jorah asked, watching the smile fall from the Dragon King's lips.
"Not very well." Aegon sighed, "So many things went through my mind; Robert's Rebellion built on a lie, my brother running away with the woman he loves, how I wasn't the only Targaryen in the world." He lowered his head, regret etched onto his face, "All of that in my head and all that came out of my mouth was the Iron Throne. I fucked up." He growled at himself for his folly.
"She wants nothing to do with the Iron Throne or its succession." The bear surmised, sensing the Northern Queen's distaste towards the one thing her family was killed over.
"The only ones who know about this are me, Lyra, you, Samwell Tarly, and Bran Stark." Aegon shook his head and looked up at Jorah, "Once this gets out, they will go after her for her bloodright. Whether she renounces her claim to the Iron Throne or not won't matter to them."
"But shouldn't your marriage to her secure both of your claims?"
Aegon's face filled with pain, "She cancelled the betrothal. She said she'll support my right to the Iron Throne, but she will not stand beside me as my wife."
Jorah breathed out a long sigh before he sat beside Aegon on the rock again, "She's only known about this secret for a short time. She must've felt a great deal of conflict upon learning the truth of her parentage."
Aegon was silent as he stewed in his regret.
"She's just like you in that sense." Jorah said, making Aegon turn to him, "You both spent your whole life hearing one story, then you hear another version from those that witnessed the events unfolded. It took you a while to accept the truth about your father. You can imagine the struggle Queen Lyra is going through right now."
Aegon's eyes widened as he listened to his sworn sword, remembering the gut wrenching feeling within him when he learned the stories of the Mad King were true, how they conflicted with Viserys' version of their father. It took a long time for him to accept that monster who fathered him, knowing that he needed to move forward to mend the mistakes his sire made two decades ago. For Lyra, it's not just her parentage, it's her whole identity being torn apart.
The way she looked at him, pained and tormented after revealing the truth. He felt like an utter fool for not holding her, for not telling her that everything is okay, that she's still Lyra, the love of his life.
Aegon hung his head and ran his fingers through his hair, "I'm such a fool."
"Yes, you are." Jorah bluntly said before he rested a hand on his shoulder, "But even a fool can admit his mistakes and you can still make this right. You still have time. Just tell her you're sorry, that you still love her." Aegon looked up at Jorah who gave him a strong and encouraging stare, "Snow or Targaryen. Direwolf or dragon. She is the one you are meant to be with."
Aegon felt like his fire returned and is ready to blaze through the night. He shot to his feet and was about to run back to the castle, but back peddled to give Jorah a hug. This caught the bear by surprise as he laughed and returned the young man's embrace.
Aegon pulled back, giving the older man a grateful smile, "Thank you." He said before he ran back to Winterfell.
Jorah watched with a proud grin as the Dragon King git further away from him.
Aegon made it back to the castle and asked the servants about the Northern Queen's whereabouts.
"I heard Her Grace is still in her bedchambers. Maester Wolkan was summoned there by Lady Sansa's request." She answered the Dragon King who looked stunned and worried.
"Is she sick?" Aegon asked, eyes wide with fear for his lover's health.
"It's been like this for a few days now. By now the Maester-"
Aegon didn't stick around to hear her explanation as he all but ran towards his Queen's chambers.
When he arrived, he didn't bother with knocking as he opened the door and saw Lyra in a white tunic sitting on the bed with Sansa beside her rubbing her pale hand, and Maester Wolkan standing beside them away from the bed. All three turned to the breathless Dragon King, their faces grim and filled with trepidation.
"What happened?" Aegon glanced at Lyra, stepping further into the room.
Lyra pursed her lips and looked down, her dark hair falling around her.
Sansa wrapped an arm around her sister's shoulder while giving Aegon an icy stare.
Maester Wolkan swallowed and bowed his head to Aegon, "Her Grace...is with child."
Those five words strung together in one sentence he never thought he would ever hear. His breath left his system, and his legs nearly gave out as he held the wall behind him.
He took a moment to get his bearings then spoke, "Are you sure?"
"He's a Maester, of course he's sure." Sansa said as she gave him a cold look. Even though she accepted him as her sister's lover, she still doesn't like him.
"Sansa." Lyra spoke softly, her tone gentle as she reprimanded her.
Silence filled the room before the Northern Queen spoke again, "I wish to speak with the Dragon King alone."
Though Sansa was hesitant, she nodded before leaving the bed, gesturing for Maester Wolkan to follow her. As she passed by Aegon, she whispered, "Don't hurt her." Then she left the room.
Maester Wolkan followed after her and mouthed, "Good luck."
The chamber doors closed, leaving Aegon and Lyra alone for the first time since the Godswood. Aegon kept his distance from the bed, worried that any close proximity to her would hurt her body.
Lyra patted the mattress, "It's okay."
Aegon walked over to his beloved and sat in the spot Sansa previously occupied. Silence fell over them, neither of them knowing what to say in this situation.
Aegon swallowed before he summoned the courage to ask, "How are you feeling?"
Lyra leaned her head back against the headboard, "Physically, like shit."
Aegon breathed out a small chuckle before composing himself quickly.
"Emotionally...I haven't quite figured it out yet. Maester Wolkan says I'm already several weeks along. Two and a half moons to be precise." Lyra said with a half-smile.
Aegon ran his hands down his face and sighed, "Since the boat. Our first time together."
"This should not be possible." Lyra whispered, staring off into the darkness, her hands on her lap.
"Why do you say that? You must've suspected when you missed your moon blood." Aegon stated as he glanced at her.
Lyra breathed out through her nose, "My body has taken so much damage before my death. When Melisandre brought me back, I stopped getting my moon blood." She shook her head, "She told me those that were brought back are unable to bear children anymore. She was wrong. Again." She slumped forward and rested her head in her hands, "I'm such a fool."
Aegon scooted closer to wrap his arms around her, letting her lean into her chest as he rubbed her back. "Lyra, this is not on you. You never knew." He sighed as he lowered his head, "When I lost my wife and son, the witch who took them said she placed a curse on me, that I can't have children of my own. But this proves that witches are not always right."
Lyra wept against Aegon's chest, her heart and body longed for his embrace, his touch. "I don't know what to do." She pulled away, but didn't let go of his arms, "How could this happen at this time? The Long Night...This baby should not be born in such a nightmare." She gasped and shook her head, "This should not have happened."
Aegon cupped her cheeks and raised her face to look at him, "Lyra, do you not want this baby?" Though it broke his heart at the very thought of ridding the only proof of their bond, he's more than aware of the precarious situation and how terrible the timing is for both of them.
Lyra sniffled as she looked down and touched her belly, "I don't hate it. I'm afraid I won't be able to protect it." She screwed her eyes shut, "I couldn't protect a baby Beyond the Wall when his father offered him to the White Walkers. How can I keep this one safe?" She shook her head, "Every time I think about this baby, all I can see is the Night King's cold hands touching it and turning it into a White Walker." She raised her head to face him as tears streamed down her face, "I don't know how we do this."
Aegon held her close as she cried into his chest, his own fears for their unborn child present on his face. "We can figure it out together. I don't know how, but we will." He pulled back to look her in the eyes, wiping away her tears, "Maester Wolkan said you're over two moons now, and Bran said we bought ourselves some time."
"He said we have ten months left. But I'm not sure if I can trust in magic right now." Lyra shook her head, "I never hoped to have children of my own. This world is cruel and hateful towards bastards. I don't know what kind of life this child will have if we don't survive this war."
"Don't think like that." Aegon said strongly, "We are going to survive, and when it's all over, we're going to live together as a family." He took a deep breath and swallowed, "Lyra, I am so sorry for what happened in the Godswood. You've had to deal with this one your own for some time now. I should not have said those words, you never deserved this kind of pressure after everything you have fought for." He stroked her reddened cheek with his thumb, "Lyra, this doesn't change how I feel towards you. Whether you are Snow or Targaryen, you're still the same stubborn woman who came to Dragonstone to drag me up here."
Lyra sniffled, "All my life, I wished I was trueborn like my siblings. But the Gods are cruel to grant my wish and twist it into something else." She gasped as she held her belly protectively, "Now I feel the Gods want to punish me even further."
Aegon watched his beloved with sadness and understanding, knowing how it feels like the Gods are against them sometimes. "I don't believe that's true." He spoke softly, "If the Gods wanted to punish us, they would not have sent for you to lead us against the Long Night. Whether we were chosen or not, we are both here right now, together." He tucked a stray hair behind her ear, "Lyra, for so long we have lived believing we were both alone in world. But every day we were fighting and searching for each other. You came back from the dead to be with me, and I sailed across the Narrow Sea to find you." His hand ghosted down to touch her belly, "Even though this is not what we planned, I believe this is what we need. To remind us that there is still life after death, that we still have a future worth fighting for."
New tears fell down Lyra's cheeks, but these were not of sadness and despair. His words filled her with hope, they made her believe they can have a life beyond war, beyond bloodshed. Thinking back to that dream she had at the boat, of that beautiful baby boy emerging from a dragon egg. The love and fondness she felt as she cradled that small being within her arms. She wants it to be more than a dream.
"Egg." Lyra whispered through tears as her shaking hands found his face and brought him closer to hers. She kissed him, sweet and lovingly, one he returned in kind, holding the back of her head to deepen the contact they were deprived of for too long.
After what felt like an eternity, they separated, though tears still remained, she smiled beautifully, eyes shimmering with hope. "Aegon, I want to live in that future. I want to be there for our son as he grows, I want to hear his laughter, and I want to tell him stories of both of our lives and how we came to be. That's the life I want us to live in, you, me and Aemon."
Aegon smiled, "'Aemon.'"
"You did promise to name any son you bear after your great-uncle." Lyra reminded him with a soft smile as she thought of the old Maester, who was apparently her blood relative.
Aegon laughed softly, "Yes I did. Little Aemon." He said as he rubbed her belly affectionately then looked at Lyra, his eyes filled with love and wonder. "Lyra, I have something to ask you."
Lyra gave him her full attention.
"Will you marry me?" Aegon asked for the third and what he hopes will be the final time.
Lyra could hear the pleading within Aegon's voice, how desperate he sounds in his desire to finally have her as his wife. There is only one answer to that question, one she dares not take back ever again.
"Yes." Lyra nodded, "Let's get married."
Aegon laughed as he pulled her close and locked lips with her again, feeling whole once more after what felt like years of being apart.
They laid together, relishing in warmth and company as they held onto each other.
"I love you." Aegon whispered, his arm beneath her head and the other resting over her belly, feeling that very small bump beneath his palm.
"I love you too." Lyra whispered back, her fingers traced his jaw while her other hand laid over his on her abdomen.
Despite the precarious timing of this pregnancy, they made the decision not to despair and relish in the life growing within her womb.
Personally, I never expected to update this fast in three days. The revelation and the pregnancy has been what I was waiting to write. It's been an emotional roller coaster for both Aegon and Lyra. Lyra hasn't fully accepted her parentage, and she still holds no interest for the throne. Balancing leadership and pregnancy will be interesting for both of them. One more thing, next chapter; WEDDING!
Hit the review button below and thank you for sticking with me through this story. Not sure when I'll update, but I promise, I WILL NOT abandon this story.
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