Keeping up with the Summerhall angst, maybe can we get the reconciliation between Dunk and the dunkreaderlings? There's a heart to heart conversation that needs to be had and you have such a rich characters goshhhh the milestone celebration can not end without some healing in the family đ€§
âweâll leave on the morrow. talf is well enough, and i cannot stay longer.â
dunk had heard aeonâs words loud and clear. you had made the twins supper, your mind at ease now that talf had been well enough to move around and talk without repercussions. although dunk hadnât been at the dinner table, he felt the tenderness seep into his bones. there was some normalcy, even if he hadn't been involved.
talf hadnât spoken on the matter. dunk imagined him sitting there, shoveling food into his mouth to keep himself compliant. aeonâs grudge upset you well enough; he didnât want to add to that pain.
the sun fell and rose within the quiet hours. you slept tucked into your husband, just as youâd always done, when the door creaked. he awoke instantly, his eyes cracking open to see a faint light illuminate the bright eyes of his son. talf looked so much like dunk, in height and in gaze. he was almost a mirror, and dunk could hardly believe this wasn't a dream.
the hesitancy made dunk choke.
âiâmâŠiâm sorry i didnât come sooner,â talf stepped inside, his voice quiet as to not disturb you. âi was ill, andâŠand aeon, he gets so uptight, you know. i was lucky enough to get past him now.â
as he walked over, he picked up the chair in the corner and brought it closer to the bed. talf sat with a grunt, his body sore and hands damp.
âhow are you?â he asked. âma told us everything. iâm sorry about eggâcan i call him that? is that wrong of me? i remember him, somewhat. used to take us to the riverâŠâ
âaye,â dunk croaked, his eyes wet as he looked at his son. heâd grown so much. âhe loved taking you both on rides.â
âi think i remember that.â
dunk swallowed, trying to keep himself composed.
âma said you shouldnât be alive,â talf looked down at his lap. âsaid the burns were so retched, that the godsâŠthe gods were merciful to bring you back.â
without jostling you too much, dunk sat up. one of his boys was here in front of him, talking to him. it was more than he could ask for.
âthe fire,â talf began, âi heard eggâhe tried toâŠâ
at the doorway, aeon stood with his cloak fastened and bag heavy upon his thigh. the two met eye to eye, and talf refused to move.
"we must go," aeon stood tall, refusing to acknowledge his father. "lannisport awaits."
talf scoffed, "i will not go."
"i do not want to," he said, standing up. "has it occurred to you that i wish to speak with our father?"
that silenced his twin brother.
"does that anger you, aeon? will you continue to act as if he's already rotting in the ground? what then, brother?"
"we are not as important as his king," aeon hissed, mindful of your presence. "my father died the moment he chose duty over his family. was it honorable, leaving behind our mother with six children to raise on her own?â
dunk was frozen, paralyzed without means to defend himself. no matter if heâd been bound to aegon before you, he made an oath to the life youâd share. he caused irreparable damage to you, to your children. and he regretted it every waking moment.
âhis honor lies with a dead man. his duty has been taken from him, and he dares to crawl back."
âwhat i did was wrong,â dunk weakly managed, his hands trembling as he held onto you. he kept his focus on aeon, staring at his son now grown. âi will be tormented for the rest of my lifeââ
âaeon!â talf spoke his name like a curse.
âdo you easily forget the torment we went through?! our mothers torment that she tried to hide away? i do not,â aeon stepped closer to his brother. âi will not! i will forever think of her pain as you sit here and squabble. she cried for a man that never loved her enough to chose us over his diminutive princeling.â
âshe has forgiven him, why canât you?!â
aeon stumbled back as he was shoved. his body hitting the wall caused you to stir, and you awoke to your twins at a standstill. dunk tightened his hold on you, not wanting you to slip between the two giants.
"yes, aeon, it pains me to think of what has been done, and what weâve lostâbut i refuse to allow you to let your bitterness cling to me!â talf shouted, his voice cracking under the pressure of fighting with his other half. âwe all miss him, and he is here!â
aeon fought himself to not shove back at him or attempt to strike his brother. his glare was full of hate; his fists curled and ready. yet the thought of hurting talf overruled his anger.
"that's enough," dunk declared, pushing to get out of bed. "you are both men; you ought to act as such."
âwise words for an unwise man,â aeon snapped, still refusing to spare him a glance. right as dunk touched ground, he twisted to leave the room. when the front door slammed, talf tempered.
you, startled and worried, itched to get up. âi shouldââ
âno,â dunk kept you rooted at his side. âheâs far too old to be coddled.â
âand he wonât leave, either,â talf grumbled, returning to the chair. ânot without me.â
days passed, and aeon continued to keep his distance. talf spent more time with their father, and despite the tense atmosphere at timesâyou welcomed it. dunk was happier, and talf couldnât find it in him to depart.
it was a relief and a discomfort. one son was repairing what he could, as the other allowed the strain to consume him. no matter the pain, you did not want this.
âi have to leave,â aeon came to you one night, just as you were heading to bed. âon the morrow, it cannot wait any longer.â
you turned to him, feeling a familiar ache creep into your heart. âmust you?â
âyes,â he said firmly, and yet hesitated in question. âcouldâŠyou speak to talf?â
âtalf has made his choice. i wonât convince him to leave.â
âheâs forgettingââ
âheâs forgiving. something you ought to do.â
aeon breathed deep. âyou sound just like him.â
âdo i? well, we are your mother and father,â you forced yourself to turn back, leaving him to his frustration. âgoodnight, aeon.â i hope your heart will change.
what the morning would bring, you could not say.
LISTEN TO ME LISTEN TO ME ONE LAST ANGST TRIP BEFORE THE RECONCILIATION. FINAL PART WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW. THIS IS 1/2 OF THE RECONCILIATION IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
PLEASE ENJOY. LOVE U ARI. âđŒđ€§
ps who wants dunk + reader and their grandbabies
