summary: (based on this request here!) Valarr ends up wasted and passes out on the street just to wake up to a pretty commoner.
warnings: 🤫
notes: Reader is a single mother and a commoner. (how bad can her life get) might do Dunk next
wc: 1,784!
(Ako ning basura, ako lang ni) (Esta basura es mía, y solo mía)
this is not proofread.
Valarr was out of his depth. He had begrudgingly taken up Daeron's offer to go to a tavern. He was deeply disheartened by Kiera's latest pregnancy which had led to another stillborn. He had hopes this babe would have been born healthy, he had gotten his hopes up too much with this pregnancy. He had believed that the full term would mean an heir, he was met with a boy whose heart did not even beat.
He prayed and prayed, yet it was not enough for the Seven. He downed another beer with Daeron clapping his back. He was doing his best to match Daeron's intake. No one paid them mind since they were both in cloaks and his silver streak was hidden under his hood.
As the night went on, Valarr decided to head back while Daeron wanted to stay. He clumsily landed a hand on Daeron's shoulder who cackled at him. Valarr stumbled out and heaved himself down the roads. He doesn't remember much about what happened next, but he tripped and went down.
— —
You were just walking down your usual trail with your young child, Aden. The young boy was waddling around slowly, but he made effort and you were glad. The sooner he could endure long walks, the sooner he could help you.
You stared ahead and held a small sack in you hand when your son stopped and pointed at a heap of cloth. You furrowed your brows and grabbed his hand gently, "Don't point, Aden." You peered closer and noticed a man with flushed cheeks and you frowned. You glanced around and cursed your nature. "Please do not be evil." You murmured it before handing your small bag to your son and bringing yourself to heave the tall man back home.
You looked to your son as you used all your weight, "Go on, sweet boy. We shall take him home." The boy frowned before leading the way.
— —
Valarr could smell something warm before he opened his eyes groggily. He shot up and breathed heavily at the unfamiliar scene. He was in a small room and he threw the blanket off. His cloak and boots were off. He swallowed hard and slowly brought himself off the small bed.
He tugged his boots on right away, trying to fight his headache. He grabbed his cloak that was folded on a chair and cracked open the door. He peeked his head out and didn't see anyone. He made his way down a hallway and he stuck his head around the corner. He saw you cooking and went wide-eyed, he debated what to do.
Something touched his leg and he jumped. He let out an unmanly noise and a little boy stared up at him with furrowed brows. The boy pointed at him, "Hair." Valarr blinked and smoothed his hair, then realized the boy meant his white streak.
He nodded at the boy who still pointed. Valarr licked his dry lips before putting his arm out to set the boy's arm down. The boy then rushed to you and you let out a small gasp. You then realized Valarr was awake and swallowed hard, "Hello. My son here is the one who found you last night. I thought that you sleeping here would be better than sleeping in a ditch."
He bowed his head awkwardly, none of his princely manners present. "I-I greatly appreciate, my lady." You became a bit flustered, "I am no noble, my lord." He winced at the pain in his head and you instantly went to his side. You then led him down to a chair to sit and he looked to the boy who was wide eyed and eating a piece of bread. He offered the bread to Valarr and you immediately pulled your son's hand away, "No, Aden. You do not share food that has been in your mouth." The boy puffed his cheeks full of bread and plopped himself onto the chair next to Valarr.
You served him salt beef with a small plate of bread and nuts, "I apologize if it is not much, my Lord." He shook his head immediately, "It is enough, my lady. There is no need to call me, my Lord." You tilted your head at him, "Then what shall I call you?"
He hesitated, "Valarr. Just Valarr."
He watched your expression get wary. You stood up straight and you had to muster the courage. You shifted and looked around him to see the white streak in his hair. "You're the prince."
He clenched his jaw and nodded, "Yes, my lady." You wiped your palms on your apron. You genuinely did not know what to do or say. You glanced to the food you made and gave to him. He thought that you believed you had offended him with the food and he shoved a piece of bread into his mouth and nodded as he chewed. He swallowed it down, "Taste delicious, my lady."
You were mortified and so was he. He quickly tried to play it off and ruffled your son's hair after he gave Valarr a smile. You gestured to the boy, "His name is Aden."
He leaned down, "Hello there, Aden. My name is Valarr." the boy smiled happily.
Aden shuffled off his chair to get a cup for Valarr, you said it was tea for his headache.
— —
Valarr started coming back to your cottage, which was at the edge of a village, when he wanted to escape from his royal duties and from the castle's pressure. He would wear a cloak and common rags to take Aden out to the markets. You were in disbelief whenever he would show up with fresh food and toys from the market for Aden. You thanked him profoundly and he would just stay with you. He liked the peace.
You would teach him how to clean the vegetables and how to cook. You even showed him how you would sew Aden's clothes. Valarr frowned when you almost pricked yourself, so he came up with the best solution. He showed up with thick clothes for both you and Aden.
He even carried Aden in his arms as the young child picked out a new toy from the stalls in the mornings. He had let his hood slip a bit one morning and he noticed a royal guard narrow his eyes in his direction. He calmly led Aden to another stall. He did not wish to startle the quiet boy.
— —
Valarr was called to Baelor's study that same night, "And, where have you been this morrow?" Valarr kept his composure, "Exploring the forest, much to see father." Baelor was not convinced, yet let him go after a few more words about political matters. Valarr did his best to stay calm and muster confidence in his lies.
— —
Valarr was surprisingly in his element when he wore older boots and had his trousers rolled up as he washed Aden's clothes outside in a basin. The young boy played with a toy on a thick quilt Valarr had bought a fortnight ago. He had sweat on his brow and he smiled at Aden. You were inside baking bread. He felt content with this lifestyle.
It took Valarr too long to notice the approaching figures. Aden pointed towards the pathway, "Knight." Valarr's heart dropped when he saw a few guards come near the entrance of your cottage. He stood up abruptly and wiped his hands on his apron. He immediately yanked off the apron when he saw his father among the knights.
The older man had a look in his eyes. Valarr could see the disappointment and disbelief, yet he could not care about it. Aden clung to Valarr's leg and tried to hide himself. Valarr smoothed the young boy's hair. "It is alright, go inside with your mother." He lifted him up to place him in the direction of the cottage door. You had already appeared at the entrance and brought Aden in.
— —
The knights stood guard and Baelor sat inside the same chair Valarr sat in when he first ate at the cottage. He fiddled with his ring while you tried your best to tidy your humble home. Aden grabbed a wooden toy and went over to Valarr. You had tried to stop him, but Valarr shook his head at you and picked up the boy. Aden tucked himself into Valarr's chest.
Baelor could not help, but find the sight endearing. Baelor fiddled with his own rings, he only dared to speak when you exited to give space. "Have you lost your senses?" His father still spoke calmly, only for the young boy who was now drifting to sleep in Valarr's arms.
Valarr did not meet his eyes, "You are married. Your lady wife is awaiting for you to grace her with your presence."Baelor did not get to continue, "I do not care for her the way a husband should." Valarr's voice trembled. "I am in love with another." Baelor did not know what to do, Valarr held the young boy tighter.
Baelor stood up slowly, "We are to return back to the castle. At once." Baelor could see the light leave Valarr's eyes. Aden yawned and rubbed his eyes. Valarr made his way back to one of the rooms and slowly tucked Aden into bed. He got up and you were standing at the hallway with teary eyes.
He avoided his father's warning look and headed to you. He exhaled shakily and took off his signet ring. He placed it onto your finger and kissed your knuckles slowly. He squeezed your hand and used his free one to cup your cheek. He pressed a kiss to your forehead and lingered for a bit. He grabbed his cloak and led his father out. Baelor looked to you in pity, he could see the genuine heartbreak in your eyes.
They walked out and the knights followed behind and Baelor tried to speak to Valarr again. The younger prince simply mounted one of the horses without a word and made his way through the village. His face hardened and Baelor had no words to help, not this time.
They finally arrived at the castle and he dismounted with no care for formalities. Kiera was waiting at the edge of the yard and his eyes went dark. He brushed past her and went to his chambers. He threw his cloak off and he headed to the balcony. The wind whipped at his face and it was the only thing that could ground him. He stared out on the distance. He could see your village from afar. He wondered if he would ever see you again.
Anna May woke up and just knew it was going to be one of those days. Dread gnawed at her stomach like a demented chew toy as she forced herself through the motions of getting ready. She had promised her son pancakes today, after all.
Alas, today was definitely not her day. She stared blankly at the burnt excuse for a pancake currently sagging onto the pan. Fuck. Luke hated the smell of burnt food.
She sighed, scraping it into the trash can. As she turned back to the stove, she did a double take.
A strange man was in her kitchen. His inhumanly blue eyes, shadowed by a winged helmet, watched her with unwavering attention.
A litany of fuck fuck fuck rang in her head as she stared at the stranger, who was standing way too close to her. His form was weirdly transparent, like the cuttlefish trying and failing to camouflage in a new environment she saw on YouTube once. Behind him a glimmering white doorway (what the ever-loving fuck) was blocking her view of the microwave.
“Hello,” he cheerfully greeted her, taking another step way too far deep into her personal space. “I thank you kindly for your hospitality, miss…?”
He sounded just like Poecilometes. Did he work for Hermes? But with his fancy cloak and hat, it seemed more like he was cosplaying him. Or perhaps, trying to impersonate him. Was this some new ploy from Kronos? If so, it was a rather poor one.
Still, he claimed xenia, so now she couldn’t kick him out. God, why did you do this to her?
“It’s Anna May. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance,” she said, giving him her best dead-inside retail smile. She shoved her way past him back to the stove and set about making another pancake. Just because this weirdo wanted to ruin her morning didn’t mean he could ruin her son’s.
She did her best to ignore him. Really, she did. But as he continued to ransack her kitchen, the urge to strangle him rose exponentially. He just had to open and close every drawer he could find, making loud banging and rattling noises. And, as the stack of pancakes next to her rose, he kept chirping to ask “What is this?” or “What do you use this for, my lady?” If this didn’t wake Luke up, nothing would.
Sure enough, her sleepy little four-year-old wandered into the kitchen, his blonde hair a mess of unbrushed curls.
“Mommy…?” he said, rubbing his eyes. He blinked at the weirdo, an alarmed expression creeping onto his face.
“We have a guest right now, sweetheart,” she said, giving him a strained smile of her own. She gestured to the dining table. Stay close to the windows in case we need to run. Where before, the stranger had been a whirlwind of motion, he was now alarmingly still. His icy blue eyes were fixated on Luke.
“You’re my son,” he breathed, pupils dilating rapidly. The cabinets rattled as his aura suffocated the air. Fuck, she thought to herself with faintly rising hysteria. There was a god in her kitchen. A god who seemed to be obsessed with her son.
Luke flinched, shrinking back from the clearly unhinged nutcase currently invading their house. “But my daddy’s Hermes,” he said shyly.
The god let out a low croon that sent shivers racing down her spine. “I am Hermes. You belong with me, my sweet ones.”
Did she really sleep with this god? This weirdo with snake pupils and– were are those wings behind his ears?
No. Absolutely not. She refused to believe she fucked this weirdo. She had better taste than that. Didn’t she?
“You are Hermes? The Lord of Cyllene and Arkadia? The son of Maia, bringer of luck, messenger of the gods? That Hermes?”
Names had power. Hecate had taught her as much. If she could just draw the real Hermes here–
The stranger chuckled with dark amusement in his eyes. “I would hope so, Anna May. Considering you have given me a son. Your existence is a miracle.”
He drew out the last word with a crazed expression, still transfixed at the sight of Luke. Her son whimpered in fear, clinging to her as she tried to force her feet to move.
“I–”
The temperature plummeted as something dark and cloying roved over the apartment. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Someone was watching them, now. She could only hope it was Hermes.
The imposter’s form flickered like static. An aggrieved hiss emerged from the god in front of her, a snakelike tongue flicking out in agitation.
“I will be back for you,” he declared, eyes narrowed into pinpricks. “Both of you.”
Then, mercifully, he vanished. She collapsed to the floor, taking Luke with her. Fuck. That doorway of his was still here. He could be back at any moment.
“Luke,” she whispered, drawing her son close, “It’s going to be okay. Mommy’s going to protect you. No matter what.”
She had a few calls to make. After all, a magazine full of bullets should drive off this god for good, right?
