I'm not the little boy that I used to be, I'm all grown up now
This is my first fanfiction! I’m a long time lurker tho lol
Aerion Targaryen x older!F!Reader
Tw: Aerion, reader is Maekar’s age, reader has been married and has children, violence, drinking, slightly sexual content, death mention (very slight), creepy behavior
Aerion never took being told ‘no’ lightly. He’s a prince of the realm, the blood of the dragon, he is in line for the iron throne. Once he set his eye on something nothing could stop him from getting it. His family noticed this behavior young; whether it was getting attention from his mother, proving himself to be a better knight than his older brother, or even just a honey cake he had to be the one to have during a feast.
The boy could not take denial, but can give it out plentifully. Anyone who caught his ire would have to face the wrath of the dragon. It could be a lady of the court, a beggar, a king's guard, or even one of his family members; no one was safe from his wrath. The boy got even worse after his mothers death, it seemed no one could calm him like she once had. His family was at their wits end, with King Daeron contemplating sending the boy across the narrow sea in hopes that time away would do him some good. Maekar had struck this idea down as taking any of the blood of the dragon away from Westeros could cause a bigger problem with a possibility of assassination or kidnapping being much higher.
But still, Aerion had become too much to handle in any keep so his father and uncle decided that it would be best to marry him off, maybe a calm lady could quell his fire. Especially after Maekar was enlightened to Aerion’s frequency to the pleasure houses of Kings Landing, there were enough silver haired bastards running around to form a second Blackfyre Rebellion just within Flea Bottom. With a young blushing bride, Aerion could become an honest man and not a fool of his family in front of the entire realm.
The men decided to hold a feast for the boy's name day, using it as an opportunity to bring all young women of marrying age into the realm. Families all across the realm, from smaller and larger houses all gathered in the keep for the possibility of having their daughter be wed to a Targaryen prince. Your family is included in this bunch.
When you were younger you had come to court for a similar situation but for the prince's father Maekar. The process was grueling and tiring and in the end you were to be sent back home with no betrothed. Thankfully the Gods smiled down at you, when lady Dyanna Dayne was chosen she had chosen you to stay by her side as her lady in waiting. You had stayed by her side up until she announced her first pregnancy. At the time you were called back to your home, a neighboring lord had asked for your hand and there stood no reason to refuse. Dyanna was heartbroken that you wouldn’t be there to support her during her first pregnancy, but understood you had a duty to your house first. With tears and an extremely tight hug you promised to write and were on your way back home. Sadly that would be the last time you saw Dyanna until her funeral years later.
Years later, you had enjoyed your married life. Your husband had been sweet and attentive, did not get drunk and belligerent, never threatened you, and had no interest in whore houses. You had three children, two boys and a girl. You two had loved each other until his last day. Your husband had sadly passed away from an illness he caught while traveling. The mourning process was long and destroyed you, but your children had kept you together and kept the house running while you were grief stricken.
Your oldest son, Darren, had taken to being lord like a fish to water. He excelled at caring for his people and handling diplomatic matters. He was exactly like his father was at his age. He was talented with a sword and a bow and arrow, he often led hunting expositions and won tournys. Your second son, Niclas, was softer, kinder, he cared more for the matters of wildlife and plants than that of trade disputes. He was often seen caring for the horses in the stables, feeding the hunting dogs, or simply watching birds as they flew around. Your daughter Eleana was the perfect lady, she was quiet and kind but not meek. She was well adored both in your Keep and in the lands surrounding it. Many of the lords around had asked for her to be wed to them once she was of age, you had refused saying she should pick who she wished to spend her life with.
One morning as your family gathered to break your fasts, a maester brought in a letter sent from the Red Keep. Prince Maekar had personally invited your family to join them for Prince Aerion’s name day. He also left a note stating that Aerion was to be married soon so to bring your daughter in all of her finery. Eleana was ecstatic, she had never been to Kings Landing before and could not wait to see what the capital had to offer. Darren was more concerned with ensuring the house would be alright with all of you gone for so long. He was secretly excited about having new competition for jousting, he had faced most of the men in the surrounding area and bested them with ease. Niclas was excited to see the Kings Woods and see the tapestries hanging in the keep.
And while you were happy for your children and what this would do for them, you still felt a deep pit of sadness in your stomach. You had not been to the Red Keep since Dyanna’s wedding to Maekar, as they had moved to Summerhall shortly after the wedding. You had not faced Maekar since Dyanna’s death, too heartbroken. You hadn’t even spoken to him at the funeral, just clung to your husband and held your son near to you as she was taken away. You had meant to send a letter to Maekar, apologize for your coldness check on his children, but you never could. It reminded you too greatly of your past friend. A part of you blamed him for her death especially when you learned it was during the birth of her sixth child she had passed.
This celebration would be the first time you truely met Dyanna’s children. She had written to you about them and how each of them were but death changes a person, there’s no saying that the kids were the same as the ones she wrote about. There’s no saying Maekar is the same as he was before her death. You prayed that he did not hate you, that the love you both shared for his wife did not sour against each other.
The trip to Kings Landing was rough and longer than you remember. You were in the carriage with your daughter and some of the luggage, while your sons rode their horses alongside their guards. The pit on your stomach seemed to worsen with each bump and jostle of the cart. Eleana was practically vibrating in her seat with excitement, reading on and on about Kings Landing and Targygen history. You humored her for as long as you could until the anxiety overtook you and made her voice disappear.
Thankfully, the smell of Kings Landing had alerted you to the fact you were finally there. You don’t remember it smelling so horrid but it could be that your memory is clouded with fondness for your time spent here in the past. By the time you were at the Keep your stomach was aching and poor Eleana looked terrified, both for you and at how over-powering the whole place is to experience. Finally the cart stopped, you practically jumped out but at the last moment remembered yourself and your station. Darren stood next to the door to the carriage, ready to help you and Eleana down. He is a perfect gentleman, even if Eleana did not find a husband at this event you are certain you would find Darren a wife.
As you started to make your way towards the entrance of the keep you spotted two men standing almost like soldiers ready to greet your party. As you got closer you recognized them as Prince Baelor, first born of King Daeron, and Prince Maekar, the fourth born and father of the boy to be celebrated. The little bit you had done to calm yourself had vanished in that moment, you felt frozen solid standing in that courtyard looking at the boy you once knew as a man now. Darren, noticing your pause calmly took your arm to continue walking and not make it obvious your fear. You turned to find your other children, Niclas had taken Eleana by her arm as well leading her behind yourself towards the princes.Slowly you came to be standing in front of the princes, you had to force yourself to breath before talking to the men.
“Prince Baelor, Prince Maekar. Thank you for the warm welcome. You honor our house greatly.” Darren had said, slipping into his role as man of the house easily. Keeping your eyes downcast, scared to look up and meet eyes with Maekar, you squeezed Darren’s arm as a way to tell him he’s doing well.
“Ser Darren (L/N), we thank you for joining us. Your family has always been a good friend to the crown and to my brother.” Prince Baelor said with a soft smile. That comment made you look up and lock eyes with Maekar, they were soft and held understanding you hadn’t felt in a long while. You gave the man a soft smile and a small nod, an agreement between you two formed. This weekend would be spent honoring Dyanna and her family she created, not worrying over past transgressions.
Slowly but surely, Maekar and you got friendly again. The main tipping point was during a feast where things got a little out of hand. When a dagger was drawn it was decided that the festivities for the night were over. Maekar had found you on your way back to your room, walking slowly and remembering the times you spent in the halls. He had been kind enough to ensure the room you stayed in was the same as the last time you were in the keep.
“…are you alright, my lady?”
Prince Maekar had softly asked, watching how you softly trailed your hand down the bricks of the old wall. A sad small smile stretched across your mouth as you turned to him, he held a bottle of wine you remember stealing with Dyanna years ago when the world felt smaller.
“It’s odd being back here, it makes me feel like nothing has changed.”
You both sat there in that silence for a moment. You turned to look at Maekar and smiled, “are you drinking all of that alone or may I join you, your grace?”
He smiled, a kind smile of the man you knew long ago and motioned for you to follow.
The two of you ended up drinking the whole bottle, passing it back and forth like old drinking buddies. Whilst drinking you shared stories of your children, of how his youngest son had an affinity for cats and was nicknamed Egg by his third son. You told him about how Niklas let all of the hunting hounds free when he was ten and attempted to sneak them into his room. It was nice to feel like you had a friend in the keep again.
The next day, cradling a headache from the wine, you were told that today would be the first day of the festivities. Quickly you went to Elaena’s room, finding her stressing over what color is the most appropriate to wear to a tourney. It reminded you of when you were her age. You helped her pick one in your house colors, a slightly scooped neckline and pooffed up short sleeves with a tight waist to show off her figure. By the end of the process of her getting ready it was time to leave, you quickly rushed into a dress you had brought without much care. It was a modest thing, definitely too warm to be sitting outside in the sun all day. The dress was a high neck line with long flowing sleeves, the front of the dress had a small window as the dress had to be altered after your second pregnancy to accommodate your chest.
As you arrived at the tourney grounds, you checked to make sure your sons were alright. Daren loved these types of events, while Niklas despised them, worrying more for the horses than for the riders. To ensure that he would not be forced to ride he was made Darren’s squire, something neither boy objected to. After checking on them and ensuring both were alright and ready for the day to come, you join your daughter in the stands near the royal box. Eleana was softly giggling with other girls from good families. As you went to your seat, you looked over to Prince Maekar. He also seemed to be feeling the wine's revenge this morning. When you locked eyes he smiled and did a slight nod of his head.
As the tourney began, you found that both Prince Aerion and Prince Valarr, Prince Baelor’s son, were competing. You silently prayed that your son knew his limits and did not try to challenge one of them. As you were watching the joust you felt eyes upon you, subtly you tried to find where it was coming from. Looking around the field you found a pale haired boy staring you down. His stare felt icy, you felt the need to shiver but held off as to not give him any satisfaction. Even still, the boy noticing you had seen him smirked and licked his lips. If you were a younger girl you would have blushed and turned away, instead you stared him down then slowly turned your eyes back to the events happening.
Prince Aerion didn’t take well to being ignored, since your house had come to the keep he had his sights set on you. When you had stepped off the carriage he had watched from a window high above the courtyard. During the feasts he constantly felt drawn to you, even while his father made him dance with other young women. And while you drank with his father he watched for a secret passageway in the walls watching as you got drunker and looser as the wine flowed. Your dress has slowly come undone, just the top but enough for Aerion to see what he wished for. You giggled with Prince Maekar and talked about married life, you told him that even though you don’t plan to remarry you do miss having a warm body in the bed with you. Maekar laughed heartily and cheers’d. Aerion seethed, the idea of someone else getting to see your body and feel it in bed next to them feeling you, filled him with anger. He watched as his father left and you struggled to take off your gown. He wanted to enter the room, rip the fabric from your body and see your full being. He imagined what it would be like to take you, not as a small thing that lays still but a woman who takes what she wants from who she lays with.
Your daughter was pretty, a fine girl for any lord to make into a bride and mother, but you were already a bride and mother. Many men would consider you too old to remarry or have more children, with them only wanting girls who had never known the marital bed. Aerion was tired of girls who didn’t know what they were doing, who laid there and tried to not make a noise. You had proven you could give a son and a healthy one at that.
Aerion was riding in the tourney, he watched as you checked on your sons the soft things. He watched as you returned to your seat, as you smiled and nodded to his father who did the same back. He felt something red and angry boil inside him at that moment. He should be the one you smile to, who you drink into the night with, who you let your walls down around, not his father. The anger he felt had nowhere to go but to his fists, as it was his turn to pick an opponent as is his right for his name day and being a prince. He slowly rode around the field taking in who else was here even though he already knew who he was picking. As he reached the next tent he watched as Darren stopped where he stood and watched the prince. Niklas stopped brushing the boy's horse to see what was going to happen. Aerion smirked at the two before lowering his lance from an upright position to be pointed at your oldest chest.
A murmur ran through the crowd, your son was strong and well known in your land but was not at the level to be challenging a prince of the realm. As you sat there silent, listening to what was said around you the fear slowly crept in. Many lords made comments about how it was unfair to your boy and were curious if he pulled the ire of the prince in some way. A voice behind you whispered about the prince’s past tourneys where he was known to play dirty to win. You turned to look at Prince Maekar who kept looking forward frowning at his second born. Your daughter reached and gripped your hand hard, you squeezed hers and watched as the boys readied themselves.
It all happened so fast, one second they were on opposite sides of the field the next they were meeting in a violent clash in the middle. Aerion’s lance met Darren’s shield, splintering into multiple pieces. Darren made it to the other end of the field where Niklas brought him a new shield. After a second they were back at it again, this time the hit landed harder, your son wasn’t able to withhold the pressure and was thrown from his horse. Eleana gasped, she held you tightly, slightly shaking beside you. A few men took to the field and helped get your son to the medical tent.
All the while, Aerion was slowly making his way towards the stands. Slowly trotting along, revealing in the attention. He made his way to be in front of your section, smirking, holding eye contact with you.
“Lady (L/N), if I may have your favor to provide me luck for the rest of the tourney”
Eleana turned to you, fear in her wide eyes. You slowly coaxed her to stand and walk to the edge of the platform. You stayed in your seat while she slowly walked towards the prince like a deer walking into a dragons den. She held the favor she made, hoping to give it to her brother after his win that would never come now. She placed the favor on the top of the lance and watched as it slid down to where Aerion's hand sat. “I wish you luck my prince” she said shyly, before scurrying back to her seat. Aerion’s eyes left Eleana and found you again, he smirked again before pulling away. You felt sick watching him trot off after harming your first born and taunting your house.
After the tourney had ended you had rushed to your son's chambers, he laid on the bed while a maester looked him over and cared for his wounds. Hearing you enter the maester turned and Darren tried to sit up, you stopped him and came to join Niklas at the side of his bed.
“I’m sorry mother, I did not mean to make a spectacle of us.” Darron said with tears in his eyes. You grasped his face softly, smoothing down his hair as you told him, “you have done no such thing. You defended our house gracefully and stood your own. I’m quite proud of you.” Darren smiled a sad watery smile, similar to when he was a child and scraped his knee trying to chase after his father. Your heart clenched as you took him in and held him in your arms.
After he had calmed and your daughter had joined you in the room, she had small silent tears falling from her eyes that she wiped quickly so Darren could not see. Niklas sat silent and still as a statue in the other end of the room, seemingly shell shocked from what he witnessed. Darren had fallen at tourneys before but never that hard, never with that much force, it frightened all of you. There was a soft knock on the door, you had moved to get it and see who it was when Niklas beat you to it, standing at the door blocking whoever it was from seeing in.
“Your grace, to what do we owe the pleasure?” Niklas’ voice snapped. You quickly stood and went to remedy the situation before it got out of hand, you couldn’t afford more royal hostility. As you walked over you saw the white hair and was worried Aerion had come to attack your son again. Thankfully instead it was Maekar, and his youngest son no older than eight standing by his feet. You pushed your son back, having him go back to his seat while you talk to the two.
“Prince Maekar, Prince Aegon. I apologize for my son, he’s rather protective of his brother.” You slowly closed the door behind you, knowing your children would be listening in given the chance.
“It’s alright my lady, he has every right to be.” Maekar said “I wish to apologize for my sons actions, he’s always been temperamental but…none the less I wish to apologize. Aegon wished to see your family if that’s alright with you my lady.”
You smiled down at the young boy who smiled and looked at the ground, “I don’t see why not, but only if little Aegon will tell us about his cats he loves so much.”
Egg’s eyes lit up, excited to share about what he loved most about the keep. As you open the door to let him in you hear Niklas and him start a small conversation about animals. You turned to Maekar and were about to say something when he unfolded his hands from behind his back. In them held your daughter's favor. He handed it to you and said, “I was going to make him come down here and apologize but he seemed to be quite proud of himself for his actions. I apologize, I will handle scolding him.”
You smiled and took the small wreath from his hands. “It’s alright Maekar, my son is alright and only slightly shaken up, he will recover fine.” You touched one of the ribbons weaved into the crown, “I do wonder though, you said this event was to find Aerion a wife. Has he set his sights on any lady yet?” You had hoped that what you knew was wrong, that Aerion just had a passing fascination not a true interest. A small crush like that of a young lady on a tourney knight.
You watch as Maekar’s face changes, he grimaces slightly. “He seems to have a provocative towards your daughter, my lady. He has shown no interest in any other young ladies present.”
You felt your heart stop in that second. To deny a marriage to a prince was practically unheard of, but you couldn’t help but think of Eleana of how delicate she is. Aerion would hurt her, would humiliate her, would do whatever he could to make her feel small so he could feel big. You had heard of his reputation, of how the women in the pleasure houses cannot take any other after he is finished as he attacks them so violently. As you stood in that hallway, almost chest to chest with Prince Maekar you felt the world start to close in on you.
“My lady? You need not worry. I will not make your daughter suffer through my son if you wish it to not be.”
You felt your breath leave you. You looked Maekar in the eye and slightly nodded, “he will destroy her.” You said quietly, as if speaking louder would mean it would come to life. He nodded and grasped your hand slightly, giving it a soft squeeze before turning away and walking back down the hallway.
Later, after taking a bath and getting ready for bed, there was a pounding on your door. Before you could even speak or get up the door slams open and closed again, Aerion Targaryen stood in your room seething in anger.
“My prince? How can I help you on this fine night?” You ask, slowly turning in your seat to face the boy, he stomped his way across the room until he stood just an arms length away from you.
“You dare deny the dragon?”
“I have denied you nothing, my prince. What is this about?”
“Don’t play coy with me, woman. You are not a naive girl. You will give me what I want.”
“It’s not polite to enter a lady’s chambers and demand things. Someone could think the wrong thing. Run back along, or do you need to be tucked into bed, my prince?”
Aerion was filled with rage. He wanted to grab you, show you who you are messing with, make you beg. Instead he felt his face get hot, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him as he went. He refused to acknowledge what you were doing to him, refused to notice how you pulled something not even the pleasure house makes happen in him. He ignores his trousers getting tighter and how he wants you to laugh at him and tell him what to do all over again.
