the library of alexandria is, she thinks, a work of art. a showcase of what their world has of finest art, literature and knowledge, a place for scholars to converge and share their discoveries. it would be a lie to say what callista is proudest of isn’t the atlantean contribution — she’s gone through plans with the best architects she could find to ensure that wing of the library retained the same serenity the lulling waves make her feel, the eerie glow of crystalline lanterns on the walls at nightfall, everything she loves and wants to preserve about her country wrapped into a suite of rooms. ( a few people notice the wreaths of broken oaths the queen has grown around the majestic columns, but even fewer comment on them. )
she finds him in the westerosi section, where things are still being arranged and organized. it remains the messiest to this day, maybe because westeros is the one continent they’ve found out about too late, with generations upon generations of books and science and music to catch up on. aerion is shoulders deep in manuscripts, as she expects him to be. she clears her throat before wrapping her arms around his neck, her head resting on top of his. with her chest pressed against his back, he must feel the way her heartbeat thumps against her ribs, a fast-paced and rythmic boom boom boom. guess her excitement, even without seeing her flushed cheeks, the hair that’s been mussed up by running and the grin that splits her face.
“ can you guess a secret ? ” she whispers against his neck. “ you’re going to tell me even if i say yes, ” her husband replies. she can feel him smile, pulls away with a huff that’s meant to express indignation. it doesn’t last long ; she pouts, sits back down besides him, leans against his shoulder. “ you know me too well. ” how long have they been married now ? more than two decades, enough for age to start to show on his face. she likes it, in a way ; it allows her to map their years toether, to remember how far they’ve come from the wild-hearted, carefree princess and the soft-spoken, kind maester who’d put up with her and made her fall without even realizing he had. “ no, i do want you to guess, she insists, lacing his fingers with hers. he grins at her, and she resists the urge to lean forward and feel him smile beneath her lips. “ did that bill you wanted to pass make it through ? ” “ yes, yes it did, but that’s not my point ! ” on and on they go, lightly bantering back and forth as the sun sets and servants roam the halls to make the crystals light up along their way.
after what feels like an eternity, aerion throws his hands up. “ that’s it, love, you’ve got to tell me now. you have your cat-got-the-cream face on anyway. ” okay, she’s that predictable when it comes to him. “ just one hint, ” she says, refusing to cave in and confess just yet. “ we’ve tried for a very long time. ” just one hint was enough, apparently: she can see the spark of realization in his eyes, then the awe that replaces it as he reaches for her. “ we’re gonna have a baby, ” callista tells him, feeling as giddy as a child, “ we’re going to have a baby ! ” it feels like a miracle, it feels unbelievable, but his arms are around her waist and his lips on hers and she thinks, ghonis, i’m a fool.
he’s with me, i found him, he found me, i could never believe something impossible.