Smoke in the water - Fem!avatar!reader x Maekar Targaryen (chapter one)
Tags: fem!reader, widower!maekar, slight age gap but its not like 18/30, its like 25/30ish okay, atla-fusion/crossover idk what the difference is tbh, reader is the Avatar and is kind of implied to be of water tribe descent BUT that doesnāt actually mean anything tbh.
Relationship: reader x Maekarās Targaryen
Summary: In which reader is the avatar, protecting her kingdom, just off the coast of Essos. As part of the marriage treaty, she must marry the recently widowed second prince (i cut aerys and rhaegal cause they werenāt relevant), and fight for them in the case of a rebellion.
I do not give consent for my work to be fed to AI, nor will I ever use AI in my work.
āIruna! Iruna! Look!ā You grabbed your mentorās arm and dragged her to the prow of the boat, pointing at the turrets in the sky as the Red Keep got larger and larger on the horizon.
The castle loomed over Blackwater bay, surrounded by harsh cliffs that you could only admire. Sadok, your polar bear lynx, perked up once you sat down beside him and waited for the boat to dock.
King Daeron was waiting to greet you by the time you got to the gates of the castle, accompanied only by Iruna, your airbending teacher.
Youād been the one to suggest a marriage treaty, after the Targaryens refused to accept a military alliance without collateral. And, just your luck, youād be the one to marry the second-born prince, only recently widowered, with six children, the eldest only being thirteen. Though, as the Avatar, you had a duty to do this, to ensure peace for your people, even through giving yourself up, through marriage.
āYour Majesty,ā you curtsied to King Daeron, with Iruna beside you, as the boat pulled away from the port and prepared for the journey back home. They really were leaving you in the lionās- dragonās- den, here, alone, save for Sadok and Iruna.
āAvatar,ā he greeted back, near amicably, āI bid you meet my sons, Baelor and Maekar.ā
Baelor smiled easily at you, with an expression that spoke of contentment and regality. Maekar studied you with a scowl which, judging by the lines on his face, was a semi-permanent expression he wore.
āYour highnesses,ā you dipped your head at them, and they did the same, though a nudge from Baelor had Maekar stepping forward to take your hand and ghost his lips over your knuckles.
You raised an eyebrow and made eye contact with Iruna, who hid her confusion expertly. You sighed. You hated when Iruna didnāt have the answer to something; she was the most qualified person in your kingdom on Westerosi customs and history, which was most of the reason sheād been chosen to join you here. That and she was supposed to help you connect to the Spiritual Aspect of being The Avatar.
Daeron was already halfway up the path back to the castle by the time Maekar stepped away from you, forcing everyone else to hurry after him. You passed by the gates, then the training grounds, which were being renovated, apparently, and then into the Red Keep, proper.
Iruna followed the servants to your rooms whilst you kept in step with King Daeron, admiring the architecture of the building. Mounted in the middle of a long corridor was a family portrait, though definitely not recent, you could at least vaguely recognise Baelor, Maekar, and King Daeron. From that, you figured out that the woman beside King Daeron was likely Myriah Martel, the woman beside Baelor was Jena Dondarrion, and beside Maekar was his late wife- Dyanna Dayne. Even the kingās grandchildren were included- Jena was holding a baby, likely her younger son, Matarys, whilst a ten-or-so year old Valarr held her hand. Maekar held his older daughter, Daella, whilst his sons stood around him and Dyanna. Notably, his youngest, Rhae, wasnāt in the portrait.
This portrait was perhaps years old by this point- old enough to omit family members who had not been born yet, and old enough to still show princess Dyanna Dayne in the peak of her health. Even Maekar was smiling, albeit faintly.
ā-obviously, when you and Maekar are married, youāll move to Summerhall, most likely,ā Daeron continued and you realised you had fallen behind him.
āThe residency in Stormās End, Maekarās residency. The wedding and celebrations will take place here.ā
āWhat if I'm needed here?ā
āThen we send a raven to Summerhall.ā Daeron smiled at you, easily, āyou should rest before the feast tonight.ā
āTo announce your betrothal.ā
You nodded, of course, obviously.
āIāll go find Iruna.ā
Iruna, predictably, had already started sketching out a new layout for the training grounds, to keep training.
āCan I not rest for the time we are here? Come on, Iruna, I'm getting married.ā You sprawled out on your bed and stared at her upside down, your head hanging off the edge.
āAbsolutely not. You should have mastered the spirits by now, and besides, what if you end up needing it whilst weāre here?ā She always was the more logical out of the pair of you.
You groaned and hauled yourself up again, letting Sadok jump onto the bed and curl up at the edge, though he was far too big for that now, but you could never bring yourself to make him stop. You cooed at him whilst Iruna looked at you with something akin to exasperation and fondness in equal amounts.
āThat thing will crush you in your sleep one day.ā
āAnd I will have died happy,ā you shot back, sticking your tongue out at her.
A knock came from the door, making you groan.
Prince Maekar pushed open the door, standing awkwardly.
āIāve been asked to escort you to the feast, Lady.ā
āJust my name is fi-ā
āShe has no noble title, your highness. Call her by name or by āavatarā.ā
āExcuse my friend, your highness,ā you swung your legs off of the bed and stood, āsheās rude.ā
Maekar did not respond and simply offered his arm to you instead. Sadok jumped off of the bed and padded over to him, sniffing at his clothes. You whistled.
He whined and came back over to you, nudging your hand before settling on your bed again.
āYou spoil that creature too much,ā Iruna told you once you closed the door and took Maekarās arm. He kept silent for a moment, letting you and Iruna bicker.
āWhat does it mean? Sadok?ā
āIt's like aā¦ fishing net.ā
āYou namedā¦ your companion creatureā¦ āfishing netā?ā You could hear the judgement in your voice, which made you defensive.
āWell, I hail from a fishing village, and āSadokā is a common name there-ā
āSheās lying again.ā
āShe named him that because he used to run off as a kitten and jump into the waters to catch fish to eat.ā
āYou bitch.ā You gasped out, dramatically, which made Maekar huff a small laugh. You ignored the small swell of pride that rose within you and pushed open the doors to the feasting hall.
āPrince Maekar and his betrothed, The Avatar!ā A herald called, and all eyes turned towards the pair of you.
They seated you beside Maekar, with Iruna beside you, which made you feel marginally better because you could copy whatever she was doing, etiquette-wise. The feast hall was mostly empty- you were at the head table with the royal family, with knights and wards making up the rest of the tables. Maekarās children were scattered around the other side of the table, with Maekarās two youngest boys in front of you- Aemon and Aegon. Aemon couldnāt have been more than nine and Aegon a year or so younger than him. Aegon studied you intently whilst Aemon buried his head in the book heād brought, seemingly uncaring of the entire ordeal that this feast was.
āGrandfather says,ā Aegon started, āthat you can control water.ā
You smiled a little, endeared.
āAnd air, and fire, and the earth.ā
Aegonās eyes went wide and he leaned forward, almost conspiratorially.
You chanced a glance at Maekar, who was talking intently to Baelor on the kingās other side, seemingly intent on ignoring you.
āWhat do you want to see?ā
Aegon looked to each side, finding a target.
āMy brother, Aerion,ā you leaned back to get a better look at the far end of the table, āCan you do something to him?ā
āI can do that,ā you agreed, gently moving your fingers to manipulate the air around you and pushing it at him. The breeze hit him, ruffling his silver-blond hair and making him shiver. Aegon looked suitably disappointed.
āYou donāt believe me?ā You asked him, incredulous. Your abilities had never been questioned before, let alone by a boy.
You narrowed your eyes at him.
āGive me another task then, oh great Aegon.ā
He made a face at your words but complied anyway, looking around the table, his eyes landing on his brother, Daeron, this time.
āSomething with water.ā
You grinned; water was your favourite element.
Gently, you lifted the cider from Irunaās chalice, who was looking at you with exasperation, and levitated it, keeping it just out of sight for anyone not looking directly at it. You landed it in Daeronās drink and waited for him to take a sip.
You and Aegon both watched with anticipation when he went to drink it, coughing most of it out and spluttering, not expecting the taste to be so strong.
Heads turned to him, making his cheeks pinken.
āWhat the fuck is wrong with you, boy?ā Maekarās voice boomed from beside you and you resolutely kept your eyes on the table to keep yourself from laughing. Aegonās expression mirrored yours as Daeron tried to explain himself.
You lifted your gaze just slightly and glanced at Iruna, who glared at you, but you could see her trying to hide her amusement too.
You could see Aegon looking at you, almost reassessing, which was an unsettling expression to see on an eight year old.
āHardly,ā Aegon crossed his arms, almost dramatically, ābut it wasnāt bad.ā
āJust wait until i can show you fire.ā
