The Way I Are
Summary: Helaena Targaryen has to attend a dinner alone with Jason Lannister and Johanna Westerling. She is bored to death by his talks and has too many cups of wine to manage the situation.
Word count: 1565
Genres: Fluff and comedy
Song inspo: The Way I Are by Timbaland, Keri Hilson, D.O.E., Sebastian
Author's note: Hello! Oh em gee I'm actually posting a fanfiction. I wrote this earlier in May. I'm totally open to requests for House of The Dragon characters so if you wanna see anything specific, please let me know. Other then that, enjoy!
Helaena Targaryen had no taste for wine. She found the liquid bitter on her tongue, preferring something far sweeter such as apple juice. It was immature of her yet she found it comforting. It was something that hadn’t changed since her childhood. She shared her father’s trait of having a sweet tooth. Viserys would always ask for dessert before the rest of the royal table was done eating (something Helaena took great advantage of when she could). Her husband, Aegon, had quite the taste for alcohol. She found she had nursed him through more hangovers than either of them cared to admit. She had never been drunk, she couldn’t see why he would reach for another jug after throwing up the contents of his first. It couldn’t be worth the pounding headaches she had to guide him through nor the way it heightened his anxiety.
Yet on one particular night, she found herself gripping her goblet filled with the grape. She was at a dinner, in the presence of Lord Jason Lannister and his lady wife Johanna Westerling. Aegon was spending some much needed time with the twins. Jaehaerys and Jaehaera were three. They constantly asked for him after learning how to speak. It was endearing enough for her husband to set his cups aside for a day to bond with them. Her mother was tending to her father, his sickness had spread throughout his body and the King spent most of his days in unbearable pain. Aemond had no care for the Lannisters and had the ability to merely decline an invitation to the dinner (a luxury Helaena wished she could have). This left the young woman alone, a polite yet strained smile on her face as she listened to another round of Jason’s ramblings about Casterly Rock’s winery.
The girl kept sipping from her cup as the Lord went on and on about things she had no care for. She was not interested in the reputation nor the profitability of his business endeavours. The Red Keep had no ties to the Lannisters besides their eagerness to see Aegon take the throne over Rhaenyra once their father’s sickness took him. One goblet of wine became two, became three, became four until she had had several full chalices of the drink. It was safe to say she felt the effects kicking in. She had been eating alongside her beverage but after a certain point, the food didn’t soak up nearly enough for her to not be drunk. She was slouched in her seat, her violet eyes barely peeking over the edge of the table. She rolled them and dramatically tilted her head back to the ceiling as she heard another rant begin leaving the lion’s lips, this time about his condolences surrounding the King’s illness and how he looked forward to Aegon’s coronation (the one even the young prince didn’t wish to happen).
“You do not seem to understand, my Lord, but it is my half-sister, Rhaenyra, who shall be ascending the throne instead of my husband.. an arrangement we both think is best,” the girl said once she had enough of the blonde’s rambles.
Jason gave a curt smile. “Why, of course, my Lady.”
“Princess,” Helaena was quick to correct, pushing herself up in her seat so that her posture was back to its usual placement. She settled her elbow on the table, her cheek pressed against her fist. Her gaze bore into his, awaiting the apology she was owed after such a mistake. It never came. The man merely continued to eat his pie, making quiet jests to his wife. “Well then,” she said, getting to her feet and briefly stumbling as she figured out her centre of gravity since the room around her seemed to distort into unusual shapes thanks to the amount of liquor in her system, “thank you for your company this evening, Ser Lannister, Lady Johanna,” she gave a brief nod to them both, “but I ought to take my leave. Please enjoy dessert on my behalf.” She turned to leave, her silver hair moving against her back.
“It is Lord Lannister, your highness,” Jason spoke up, a bewildered look on his face.
Helaena didn’t grace him with a response, taking brisk steps out of the hall they were dining in.
The Princess began walking through the empty corridors back to her own chambers. During her journey, she decided that her pumps against the rocky stone floor were doing her balance no favours. She lazily kicked her shoes off, reaching down to pick them up. With one heel in each hand, she continued to make her way back to her room. Everything felt strangely fuzzy, her senses dulled. It was a new experience for her. She had never drank enough to be tipsy before nevermind inebriated (she let her husband drink enough wine for the both of them). She giggled at the thought. Her? Drunk? If Aemond were here, she knew he would be struggling to believe his eyes.. eye.. she giggled again which caused a few of the maids to cast worried glances toward her. She awkwardly coughed, straightening her posture out as she approached her and Aegon’s room. She didn’t know what her husband’s reaction would be to her solution for handling Lord Lannister’s rambles. She doubted he would’ve reacted differently other than drinking more than she had. She pushed open one of the two wooden doors that lead into their room, blinking at the sight.
Aegon was sat on their bed, cross-legged, working little braids out of his short and shaggy hair. His eyes shifted from where his hands were tugging out the plaits, seeing his wife. “I thought the dinner was meant to go on until midnight? Surely it isn’t that late?” He asked.
Helaena merely blinked at him again, her head tilting. “Are those.. your fringe has been braided?” She asked.
“Very astute of you,” Aegon grumbled back, working out the last two twists, “the twins wished to make one of us a princess.. I suggested maybe that is something Jaehaera would enjoy, the two shook their head in unison and I was made Princess Dada of Westeros.”
“If it makes you feel any better, you are an awfully pretty princess,” Helaena said, unable to stop the grin pulling at the corners of her lips.
“It does make me feel better, thank you so much,” her husband replied, his hands falling to his lap. His hair was left curlier then it usually was due to their children’s work. He looked at her for a moment, “Helaena Elanor Targaryen.. you are drunk.”
The girl felt herself straighten up again at his assumption, her hands twisting in the fabric of her skirt. “Very astute of you,” she mumbled back lamely.
Her husband’s face turned into a devilish grin. Aegon got to his feet, walking over to her. He set his hands on her shoulders, keeping her steady as she seemed to be swaying on the spot. “Ñuha jorrāelagon, nyke would daor pirtir naejot ao. Lannisters issi qopsa naejot rȳbagon naejot syt tolī bōsa mijegon mirri averilla,” [My dear, I would not lie to you. Lannisters are hard to listen to for too long without some wine] he said smoothly, his thumbs brushing over the fabric of her dress.
Helaena grunted in agreement, her body tilting forward so that his hands held more of her weight. Everything felt heavier, even her hair.
“Ivestragī īlva jiōragon ao naejot ēdrugon, Helaena,” [Let us get you to sleep, Helaena] Aegon spoke again, keeping his voice nice and soft to reduce the chances of her getting a headache. One was likely to happen but he’d be damned if he was the cause of it.
“Uh huh,” Helaena mumbled in agreement, beginning to move further into the room. Aegon moved to her side with one arm wrapped around her waist, the one now furthest from her body still settled on her shoulder to keep her steady.
Aegon guided her towards the bed, carefully setting her down on top of the blankets. He took her heels, putting them at the bottom of the bed. “Do you need some water? A snack?” He asked, kneeling down in front of her. He took her hands within his own, his thumbs brushing across her knuckles.
“Hm.. you’re cute,” she mumbled back lazily, “but you talk a lot.”
“I’m glad you think so. I do talk a lot, don’t I? Enough talking then, to bed with you,” Aegon said, getting to his feet. He gently lifted her legs by her ankles, essentially spinning her to be sat horizontally on the bed.
“Hey! I am perfectly capable of putting myself to bed, ao orvorta,” [You dick] she grumbled, lying back with her head comfortably landing on the pillows. Her husband merely chuckled, leaning down to press a loving kiss to her forehead.
“I am sure you are, ñuha jorrāelagon,” [My dear] he murmured, “I will see you in the morning where, I assure you, you will be begging me for that cup of water I offered. I love you.” He pulled the duvet up to her shoulders, tucking her in.
“I love you, too.. even if you talk a lot,” Helaena replied, her eyes already feeling heavy but she saw the adoring smile on her husband’s face just before her eyes closed to get some much needed rest.