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MY MOON, MY MAN
Summary: Stuck on a conundrum pulled in by her younger cousin, Naerisse Targaryen must find her way back to her husband who desperately aches at the news of her disappearance after she went looking for her cousins who derailed from their entourage on their way to a tourney. The sun must use the gravitational pull of the moon to find her way.
Pairing: Valarr Targaryen x Naerisse Targaryen
Warnings: Incest. Violence. Angst. Valarr being an overprotective husband. Mentions of death. Aerion. Underage drinking. Mentions of an illness. Alcoholism.
1 , 2
IT HAD BEEN MOONS SINCE NAERISSE TARGARYN HAD SEEN HER BELOVED HUSBAND SINCE HE DEPARTED TO ASHFORD MEADOW WITH THE SELECT FEW OF HER FAMILY. She had initially planned to stay back in Red Keep but the sudden conundrum she let Egg pull her into, prevented her from doing so. Egg had been appointed as Daeron’s squire, and as much as she favored Daeron from the rest of her cousins, she knew he always dealt a heavy hand when it came to anything that made him incoherent. She knew what he dealt with, enough to where he confided in her to tell her of the dreams that terrorized him for so long. Dreams so vivid and tantalizing, he began to blur the lines between life and sleep. He resorted to drinking wine or ale, or anything he could get his hands on to forget.
When word got to her that Egg and Daeron had been missing, she knew she couldn’t stay put. So with a good horse as strong as three combined and supplies that would last her days, she ventured off. Dressed in common clothing she sneaked out, with two golden cloaks on her trail, unbeknownst to her. When she managed to gather enough clues for their whereabouts, she spotted them in a lonesome tavern. Egg had been outside in rugged armor, mounting a horse while Daeron had been inside the tavern, heavily drunk.
“Egg!” Naerisse hissed. Aegon with a startled jump, turned to her with beady eyes. His eyes softened as he saw his older cousin, her lilac eyes shimmering under the torchlight. Despite the cloak she bore, her silver long hair had managed to slip out the hood, her curled streaks of golden strands shimmering like a thousand suns. Aegon often found warmth and comfort in his older cousin, who never saw Aegon as a pest like Aerion or Aelor saw him. Naerisse and Daeron had always been attached to the hip and on the occasion, Aegon himself would stick to his older brother and Naerisse found no reason to not be cordial to her younger her cousin, often involving them in their activities. She even developed a maternal sense, often serving as his trusted older adult. “What happened to your hair?! Where’s Daeron?!” She unmounted her horse, trying it to a nearby plank. She rushed towards the younger Prince, immediately engulfing him a crushing hug while he sat mounted on the horse. She reached towards him, taking his face in her hands and examining him. Aegon rolled his eyes trying to pry her hands off of him. “Stop that, Naerisse! I’m fine, i promise.” He backed up.
She huffed, coming to stand again. “Your hair is gone and you expect me to not feign concern. Are you serious, Egg?!” She began to reprimand him to which she held his hands up in protest.
“I’m fine.” He plainly stated. “To the gods, i swear it.” She searched his face only to find certainty. They would only involve the gods if they meant something truly, and her young cousin seemed to have meant it. She nodded. “And what are you doing here? You could have been harmed on the way here!” Aegon recalled.
“You think i’d stay put with the knowledge that you and Daeron are missing?”
Aegon blinked. “You are a Princess. You are Valarr’s wife! If anything happened to you, Grandpa Daeron would be massacring the realm looking for you! Valarr would even lead the raids himself!” Aegon dramatically flared his arms.
“Need I remind you that you are only nine namedays old!”
“Almost a man!”
“Practically a babe!”
“We weren’t even lost!” Naerisse crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. Aegon rolled his eyes. “Perhaps we strayed but it wasn’t my fault. Daeron promised me—” She shook her head.
“Egg, my love, it’s Daeron. We’ve long known he usually isn’t a man of his word when he’s inebriated half the time.” Aegon slumped his shoulder, shaking his head in agreement. She stuck out her bottom lip, reaching her hand to caressed his face. “Where is he?”
“Inside.”
She nodded. “Wait for me here. I’ll go fetch him. Don’t do anything you’re prone to do. Do you understand me?” Aegon nodded. About to turn, she turned back to Aegon. “Answer me this. Do I look like myself? Does this cloak hide me well enough?” She turned to Egg expectedly. He tiled his head in thought.
“It’s your hair.” She pouted her lips to the side. She turned to her horse, her eyes gleaming as they settled on a small piece of linen. She strode towards her horse and snatching the fabric. Letting the hood of her cloak fall back, she bent forward letting her hair fall over. In a precise motion, she bunched her hair, wrapping it in the fabric and tightly knotted it in the back, making sure all her hair was covered and tucked away. She straightened herself up again fixing any flyaway strands and propping her hood back up. She turned to him once more. Egg nodded with a small smile. She smiled at him, looking at him one last time before retreating inside the tavern.
She swung the door opened to a dimly lit tavern. Inside, a man sat by the door turned to her but she paid him not mind heading straight for the shorter woman who seemed to be the keeper of the tavern. Her face was covered well by her hood, only illuminating the higher points of her face.
“What can I do for ‘yer?” The woman responded. Naerisse turned to the woman who still hadn’t seen her face. Naerisse looked around the tavern for any signs of Daeron but none seemed to have appeared.
“I’m looking for someone.” The tavern lady chortled.
“Many of men come around here. You’ve got to be more specific.” Dunk from where he sat, couldn’t make out her face. But noticed the reaction of the Tavern Keeper’s face when they met Naerisse’s amethyst eyes that seemed to have looked even more vibrant in the dark. The keeper mumbled something Dunk couldn’t decipher, watching their exchange from a distance. He watched the keeper nodding as the mysterious person took ahold of their hand and put a great deal of stags in her hands watching the faceless person walk up the stairs. Dunk watched the woman look to the great sum of gold in her hands, clutching them and holding them to her chest. She looked up, meeting Dunk’s curious eyes. She slightly scowled at him. “Mind your eyes, ser. Your food will oughta get cold.” She walked away, leaving Dunk confused from her sudden shift in behavior, his eyes trailing to the staircase where the mysterious figure ventured off to.
Turning a left, Naerisse opened the door to a rather crammed room. A smaller bed was placed in the corner with a desk right next to it. Daeron had been slumped against the bed, his body nearly toppling off the bed. Naerisse shook her head and closed the door, stepping towards the bed and taking a look at the state Daeron was in. It was clear he had been drunk out of his mind, a bottle of ale was still in his grasp and his drool had been traveling across his cheek. She exasperated, grabbing the bottle of Ale and placing it on the desk. Daeron shuffled in his drunken sleep. Grabbing ahold of her cloak, she wiped the drool off and pushing him further into the bed.
“Daeron.” She whispered. He stirred where he laid, not quite awake. Her hands reached for his hair that covered his face, slightly pushing it to the side. Daeron in his sleep eased at the touch, knowing who it was that seemed to slowly ease him out of another dream that seemed to overcome and cloud his peaceful sleep.
“Gold.” He murmured. Naerisse accustomed to his ramblings, let him be. She knew this was his way of trying to escape the dreams that seemed to plague him. “Shrouds the seed.” She rubbed his forearm, knowing that he felt her. She was anchoring him to reality. “Gold.” He murmured again. “Dragon plants his fire. Golden it becomes.” He choked on his breath. Instantly, Naerisse sits him up and begins to pat his back. His eyes flew open, trying to regain his breath. He looked around the room, his eyes darting around until they landed on Naerisse who looked at him in worry. His breath began to even up, his gaze still turned on Naerisse.
“Naerisse. Cousin.” His voice was rasped. She nodded at him, rubbing his back. He looked past her to find no one besides her in the room. “What? What are you doing here?”
“Never mind that. Are you alright?” He gulped, nodding. “Were you dreaming again?” Daeron nodded, turning to stare at his lap.
“I thought I had drank enough not to. I guess that was not the case.” He dryly chuckled. Naerisse shook her head displeased.
“I thought we had agreed that there was better alternatives than you sucking your cups dry.” Daeron shook his head, falling back on the pillow. His eyes trained on the ceiling above him.
“I can’t escape them, Naer. Milk of the poppy tastes rancid and it only helps for so little time.” He explained, rubbing his eyes.
“And Ale doesn’t taste as rancid? If anything, it tastes like feet and metal.” Daeron laughed invoking a small smile from his cousin. Naerisse sat staring at the floor, feeling comfortable in the silence. She turned back to him, noticing how droopy his eyes looked. “What did you dream about?” Daeron lazily turned his head to her with a sigh. Naerisse rolled her eyes. “Fine. Don’t tell me. You’ll tell me at your own time, perhaps when you smell of sweat and wine.” A small tug pulled at Daeron’s lips.
“Oh, dearest cousin. You know me so well.” He joked, yawning.
“If i did, i wouldn’t have to ask why you ran off with Egg to act a drunken fool in a middle of nowhere tavern!” Daeron huffed.
“I don’t like tourneys.”
“Then you should have let him squire for someone else.”
Daeron chuckled. “And let him squire for Aerion? He wouldn’t have survived a day. I’m doing him a favor.” Naerisse shook head, pinching the bridge of her nose trying to understand the situation.
“So letting him be one with the horses outside is also a favor? When he could be at Ashford Meadow right now and perhaps learning a thing or two.” Daeron closed his eyes.
“No. He would most likely arrive there by tomorrow. We travel in carriages remember? Our dragons died out ages ago.” Naerisse ran hand down her face.
“You are quite infuriating when you lack sleep, you know that?” Daeron didn’t respond, just hummed. Finding no resolution in squabbling with him, she placed her hood back on. “I will escort Egg to Ashford Meadow. Perhaps my husband will take him as his squire. And as for you, do it is what you need to do. Get it out of your system but I expect to see you gallantly walk those muddy fields of Ashford by tomorrow. I mean it, Daeron.” She instructed. Daeron slightly dozing off, faintly mumbled incoherently . “Just rest.” She soothed him by patting his forearm.
She stood up as she noticed his breath even out. Heading straight for the door, his shuffling stopped her. “Get there safe, ser.” He joked of her appearance even in his sleep. She chuckled, eventually finding her way out the door and down the stairs.
Stepping outside the tavern, she stopped in her tracks watching Aegon converse with the man from earlier.
“Take me with you, Ser. Please.” Aegon reached closer, unaware of Naerisse who stood nearby. Dunk turned around, his eyes meeting her cloaked face gesturing towards her.
“And what might he say?”
Egg turned to Naerisse. “Not much.”
Dunk turned again to Naerisse and twirled again. “That’s ‘yer father standing right there!” Egg scrunched his eyebrows at the sudden assumption. It dawned on him, he wasn’t very bright.
“My mother is dead.” Aegon solemnly spoke trying to ease the attention away from Naerisse who felt stumped.
“You’re an orphan boy.” Dunk assumed incorrectly again. Taking this as his chance to deflect, Naerisse began to grab her dagger that was hidden by her ankles.
“Are you?” Aegon began to question. His eyes darted behind the rather tall man and watched his cousin reach for her dagger. Alarmed, he tried to subtly grab her attention.
“I was. Once.” Dunk answered turning to stare at the ground. “Till my ser took me in. Taught me arms and riding, and ...” Naerisee began to inch closer, watching her steps. From afar, the two golden cloaks watched in anticipation, their guards ready to pounce at any given time. “and taught me everything really.” Egg frantically shooed her away to no avail. Naerisse behind Dunk shook her head, bringing her index finger to her mouth. “Best he could.” When she was only a step away, Dunk turned around to meet her calculating stare. Her Lilac eyes pierced through his as he stepped back, leaving Naerisse to stumble in her step. “What are you doing, Ser?” Dunk walked away like nothing, as if Naerisse wasn’t a swift motion away from piercing his neck. “Who are you?”
Naerisse still bewildered from his earlier assumption cleared her throat. Egg knowing she was about to blow their cover intervened quickly. “They’re with me.” Egg walked towards Naerisse, nudging her for encouragement. She huffed, clearing her throat.
“I am no ‘ser.” She protested. She pulled down her hood to reveal her wrapped head. Dunk’s eyes widened.
“Oh, excuse me, my lady, I did not mean to—”
Naerisse placed her hand on her hip. “Does my lack of hair make me less of a woman, Ser? Must I have long luscious locs for you to grant me my womanhood?!” She began to pick at the strangely tall man. His face flustered, reddening by the second.
“Forgive me if I offended yo—”
“I suffered a nasty sickness only moons past. My hair gravely fell out in handfuls. Would you like to see it? I am quite bald, if you must know.” Aegon stifled his giggles, turning to stare at the floor.
“No! I believe you, my lady. Forgive me if I’ve offended you. It was not my intention.” Dunk apologized. Naerisse feigned contemplation and nodded her head.
“I will take your word for it.. Ser…” Naerisse trailed on.
“Best hold on to it. He will take us to Ashford.” Aegon quipped. Dunk whipped his head to the smaller boy. “I could squire for him.” He turned to Naerisse, silently pleading for her to follow along. “And you can teach me best you can.” He turned to Dunk.
“No, I have no need for a squire, lad.”
“Every knight needs a squire. And you look like you need one more than most.” Aegon tried to reason. “And she can help with caring for your horses. Animals love her.” Naerisse gaped her mouth.
“And you look like you need a good clout in the ear.” He threw a sack towards Egg. “Fill me a sack of oats. I’m off to Ashford. Alone.” Egg defeated walked away. Her chest tightened at the sight of it, knowing it takes a mighty lot to defeat her fiery cousin.
“You insult my womanhood and then you deny him a safe escort. Are you bloody mad?” Dunk said nothing. A long silence dragged.
“It is not that simple for me to drag you along. I barely have enough for myself to get by. Two extra mouths and we’ll all be starved before coming winter.” Naerisse scoffed. “You are both better off not tending for the likes of me.” He mounted his horse. He flipped a coin towards their way. Aegon turned back to the hedge knight. “Sulk all you wish. I know you’ll scoop it up as soon as I’m gone.” He spoke, his horse galloped away. They watched as he rode away, her arms coming to wrap around his head, bringing him closer to her frame.
“If he won’t help you, i’ll get you there, Egg.” He hummed.
“And how will you do that?”
“The Gods have cared for me all my life. I’m sure they won’t desert me now.” Aegon turned towards her.
“Say we get there, then what? Uncle Baelor and my father and Valarr will all be there. What if they see you when they thought you’d be back home in Kingslanding?”
“That is my problem, Egg. Don’t you fret about it.” Egg nodded.
ALAS, IT SHOULD HAVE DAWNED ON NAERISSE THAT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY END UP HER PROBLEM AND HERS ALONE. She had been set on waking early to devise a plan that would eventually and surely bring them to Ashford. Only to find an empty bed and a certain bare headed cousin nowhere to be seen.
“Daeron! Where’s Egg?!” She shook Daeron. He grunted, shoving her hands off of him. She hastened towards the nearby rooms, opening and closing doors hoping he’d be in one. But all she had found was drowsy men who jolted awake at her sudden appearance.
“He left at sunrise.” He mumbled incoherently. Naerisse gasped, storming back into the tiny room. She threw a nearby rag at him.
“And you didn’t stop him?!” Daeron hummed in his sleep. “Gods help me.” She pinched her nose bridge. “You let a prince of nine years of age run away to chase a man who claims to be a knight. A prince who seems to lack survival skills and has been pampered his whole life!”
“What knight?” He slurred. Naerisse grunted in frustration.
“Daeron!” She hissed.
“Cousin, please. You wished for me to rest. I am resting.” He shuffled on the bed. Naerisse walked to where her cloak was resting and gabbing the dagger that rested on the small wooden bedside table. She grabbed his sack of gold, tucking it into the pockets of her pants.
Turning back to the sleeping man, she adjusted her cloak. “Rest all you wish. But i warn you, if you are not at that tourney by the time i get there, you will respond to me.” She threatened him. Daeron hadn’t moved a muscle. “And i’ll tell your father that you are ready to host a tourney to invite all the young ladies of the realm. And I do not mean it for your erratic amusement.” She spoke heading towards the door. If there’s two things her cousin loved was wine, and women. Something he wouldn’t be able to indulge while hosting a tourney in his honor, assuming the role of a Prince and not some inebriated fool. Daeron sprung up from the bed, whipping his head towards the now closed door. He huffed, lazily throwing his head back on the pillow.
Her footsteps were hot and heavy. She stomped across the tavern grounds until she found herself in the forest beyond the road. Pushing through bushes, she found a clearing. Golden cloaks laid on the ground, surrounding a dying fire. Both men still asleep despite the sunlight pouring on their face.
“Good morrow, Ser’s.”
The men jolted awake. Dried drool rested on their cheeks from the deep slumber. “Princess!” They scrambled onto their feet. “How did you know—” She shook her head.
“You were not as discreet as you may have thought. I caught on only a mile into my journey.” She explained. “Enough of that, i hope you both slept wonderfully. So splendid that you didn’t notice the Prince Aegon had ran off in the middle of dawn!” She smiled.
“The Prince! Forgive us, Princess, we—”
“Do not blame yourselves. Much of the fault falls on me. He is very devious that one. But thank the gods, I know where he is headed.” She began to explain. “Ashford Meadow. If we head now, we may arrive before he does.” The Golden Cloaks nodded.
“We’ll ready the hors-.” One turned, to find no said horse in sight but just the clearing. “-es.” Naerisse closed her eyes for a second. “They were right there!” Another pointed to a nearby tree. “They must have been taken while we slept!” She squared her shoulders.
“Then we walk..”
“Princess, Ashford is miles away. We cannot—”
“Prince Aegon is already well on the road. We must act now.” She stepped back, turning to the deserted road just beyond the bushes. She turned back to the men. “You swore an oath to protect me. Now it’s time to prove it.”
AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, NAERISSE HAD FINALLY ARRIVED TO ASHFORD MEADOW WELL INTO THE HOUR OF THE OWL. After a tiresome trek, she had learned a couple things about herself. Finding herself without a roof, she learned rainstorms weren’t as pretty when you walked on foot rather than watching them from her tower. Although it was a rainstorm that lasted no more than an hour, she found herself defeated when she had to wait out the rainstorm under a canopy made up of two golden cloak capes. She also had learned she did not farewell walking in complete silence. Godrey Flowers and Doran Yronwood appeared to be great listeners, ranging from the weather to dragons to her scoundrel cousins and to her voyages across the seven kingdoms. Not that they had much in the say, but they often were immersed in her elaborate tales. And her occasional high valyrian dialect slipping in every now and then.
The guards had found her pleasant. That was until they lost her when they arrived at the bustling tourney. She had wandered off looking for Aegon, leaving her guards to scurry around trying to find any trace of her. But with her pale hair covered, it was clear that they had a problem in their hands.
She had been looking for a certain prince when she found him wandering around one of the tents.
“Egg!”
The prince jumped in his stead, his eyes frantically connecting with his dear cousin.
“What were you thinking wandering off like that?!” She shook him. Aegon backed up, shrugging off her hands.
“I wanted to come to the tourney!”
“I could’ve taken you myself!”
“By the time we arrived, the tourney would have finished.” Aegon grumbled. Naerisse sighed, crossing her arms.
“You are a prince!” She harshly whispered. “You cannot simply wander off just because you have that boisterous inkling of yours!” Aegon threw his head back rubbing his bald head.
“It’s not an inkling, i want to be a knight!” Naerisse rubbed her temple closing her eyes for a brief moment
“We have teachers and skilled knights for that, Egg.”
“I will not learn anything if i’m pampered like Valarr.” Aegon rambled off. Naerisse quirked an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes. “I mean no insult, Naerisse.” She faintly smiled at this.
“But you are not a common boy, Egg. And neither is Valarr. You are princes of the realm, harm done to princes of the realm is harm done to the crown. You must understand this.”
“But i want to learn.” He fiercely spoke. “What it means to be a knight, a real knight.” Naerisse stood quiet. She intently stared at him, his eyes pleading for her to reason with him. How could she refuse a boy she has looked after since the cradle? She exhaled slowly, inhaling her atmosphere. A thick pungent smell of wine, sweat and steel clouded her nose. If this is what knights dreamed of, she thanked the gods she was born a princess of the realm.
“And you wish to learn from a hedge knight who has yet to learn of the attributes of a real knight?”
“Naerisse.” Aegon groaned. She laughed shaking her head.
“I suppose i can turn a blind eye if you really wish this.” His face brightened up as he ran towards her. She embraced him, slouching to cradle his head to her waist. “But you must swear you will not be out of my sight again until i know i can trust this hedge knight of yours.” Aegon ferociously nodded, a large smile plastered on his face.
“Thank you, Naerisse. Thank you. Thank you.” He pulled apart from her, craning his head to look at her.
“You are very most welcome.” She spoke. “And just so you know, my husband is a real night, you shiny dragon egg.” Aegon chuckled at this, nodding. His eyes then averted to the towering presence behind her. Naerisse turned to be met with the tall man, his gaze wavering as he recognized her.
“And you!” She began. Dunk backed up, holding both hands in the air. “Do you have any sense at all? Allowing a child to follow you across half a realm!”
“Allow? He followed me, i swear! Come on, tell her, boy!”
Aegon shrugged his shoulders earning a pointed look from Dunk.
“I know he did but least you could do was send him back or send for me!” Dunk appalled at the sudden defensiveness, almost tripped backwards, his legs tangling up.
“And risk the journey back! He wouldn’t have gone!” In that moment, Dunk had cursed the seven with his tall stature wishing he could just shrivel up and let the ground eat him up. But he couldn’t when he was closer to the sky than to the ground. “Come on, tell her!”
IT HAD TAKEN NAERISSE FOR DUNK TO ALMOST WET HIS TROUSERS BEFORE SHE HAD THE DECENCY TO STOP TORMENTING HIM. He could admit for a woman lesser in height compared to him, she was indeed fury in a bottle. They set in a tent, conversing, trying to ease Dunk’s nerves.
“So you’re a Dornish-born? A bastard of House Dayne?” Dunk questioned. Naerisse nodded smiling.
“Proudly so.” She drank the Ale, her face grimaced as her tongue touched the rancid liquid. Setting the cup down, she pushed it away.
“Well, that explains your eyes. I had thought you were a Targaryen bastard.” Dunk chuckled to himself, raising his cup to his lips and taking a giant swig. Aegon nervously chuckled earning a kicked from Naerisse who sat beside him. He winced.
“Saerisse Waters has a better ring to it than Saerisse Sand, does it not?” Dunk nodded.
“Indeed, my lady. A fine name regardless of the last. Though, i cannot help but think it reminds me of a name i’ve once encountered. Perhaps you’ve heard of Princess Naerisse Targaryen. Were you named after her?” Naerisse throat ran dry. Her eyes quickly darted to Egg who shook his head, this time kicking her in the shin. She winced at the impact.
“Not that i’m aware. But people tend to do that, name a child after someone grand.” Dunk nodded.
“Grand they are, that house.” He thought for a moment. “If i could call myself champion of Ashford Meadow, even for an hour, maybe some great house might take me into its service. Perhaps even a House Targaryen.” Both looked up at him.
“You suppose the dragon house employs many hedge knights, ser?”
“Enough of that. I’ll have you know Ser Donnel of the Kingsguard is but the son of a crabber.” Naerisse shook her head, swishing around the cup of ale.
“Ser Donnel? Of Duskendale?”
“Yeah.”
“His father owns half the crabbing fleets of Westeros.”
Unbelieving, Dunk turned to confirm with Naerisse. All she could do was nod. “What?!” He turned back to Egg. “How would you know?”
Egg shrugged his shoulders. “I like fishing.” Suddenly, cheer erupted and a horn blew. “It’s time!” Dunk chugged the last of his ale.
“Come on, pick your feet up. Let’s go!” Dunk began to walk. Naerisse turned to Egg, flashing him a smile.
“Good save, dragon egg.”
NAERISSE STOOD NEXT TO DUNK, THANKING HER STATURE THAT HELPED HER OVERLOOK MOST HEADS. Egg sat on Dunk’s shoulders knowing his height would only allow him to see sweaty backs rather than the tourney itself. They pushed through the crowd until they landed themselves on a decent spot.
The royal box was coincidentally right in front them, only feet apart. Naerisse turned to watch the crowd erupt in cheers as her Uncles and Aerion arrive to the tourney. She turned to Egg who had been staring back at her warily before turning back to the fighting grounds. She cleared her throat, adjusting the head wrap.
Medgar Tully rode into view with a fish in hand.
“For the new gods and old!” He shouted in glory, biting the head off of the fish. Naerisse grimaced looking away.
“How barbaric.” She scoffed. The man next to her laughed at her commentary. Without looking at her, he spoke.
“Well, this is a tourney, girl! If ‘yer expecting a wedding, best be gone.” The guy comically said. Naerisse shook her head smiling. All the men began to gear up, her palms tapped against the thin fabric of her cloak. A habit she picked up after her father. Anxiety gnawed at her knowing anytime soon, her husband would surely appear. She knew that a lot of work was put into the tourney to secure a safe space for Valarr to demonstrate his strength. Coddled, some would say but Naerisse knew it was a precaution. He was a Prince, and many weren’t in favor of the Targaryen’s as of late.
“Helmet!” Valarr ordered, galloping in with his black horse. And suddenly, all the air had been sucked out of Naerisse. As if seeing her husband for the first time. He looked tired. Despite his chivalrous demeanor of a great knight, he looked fatigued. Like he hadn’t slept in moons. Naerisse could tell from far away from his rigid posture and his light colored eye bags. Her heart tore at this knowing she may have been the culprit. She was sure he had sent ravens to the keep expecting to have received a response only to find none. Hells, word may have gotten to him of her sudden disappearance knowing how protective King Daeron was of her.
“Hey, who’s that?” Dunk questioned. Egg turned to Naerisse and back at Valarr.
“Prince Valarr, Baelor’s son.” Egg softly spoke. Naerisse hummed beside them, her eyes trained on Valarr who scanned the crowd, taking the palm of his hand to rest on his cheek, breathing in his wrist. Naerisse knew he carried a vial of her fragrance oil whenever they parted so he had a piece of her near him. Going as far as to dabbing a small droplet on his wrist. Naerisse unknowingly copied his actions, her heart skipping another beat. He took a shallow breath before putting on his helmet. “Second in line to the throne. Married to Naerisse Targaryen. The princess you mentioned earlier.” Naerisse lightly beamed, her eyes twinkled.
“He’s the favorite, I’d wager.”
“I’ll take that bet, ser.” Aegon agreed.
“The prince as the favorite? You’ve got to be joking.” The man beside them spoke. They all turned to him. “If anything, his wife is. Naerisse the Golden. He may have been the first grandson but she was the first granddaughter, that has to count for something.” The man chomped on some stale bread. All men began to ride to their stations.
“You’re placing your bets on the Princess, i wager.”
“I place my bets on sense. Not that there’s any around. Or any contained, for the matter.”
“What are you getting at?” Dunk replied.
“The royal family will go as mad as the rest that came before them. With two princes missing, you could say that’s bad enough.”
“What could be worse than two Princes missing?” Dunk questioned.
“There are whispers the Princess is missing too. Princess Naerisse gone without a trace.” Dunk felt his jaw drop. “Ay. It’s got every lord whispering. Seven hells, it got every commoner worried, far more than the king who appears to care less. They’re saying he’s got something to do with it given how calm he is.”
“King Daeron meddling with the disappearance of the Princess Naerisse? You’ve got to be jesting.” Naerisse spoke up. Her own name felt weird on her tongue.
“It’s odd isn’t it? They’re saying Prince Baelor has gotten involved that he ordered a search party. And Prince Maekar is storming the grounds ready to strike anyone who has something to do with the disappearance of his sons and his niece. And better yet, Prince Aerys is near losing his wits over it. No sign of his only child would break any man.”
Naerisse turned to the floor in guilt.
“And what of her husband? Surely he must be losing his mind.”
The man nodded, turning to the Prince who sat on his horse far away.
“He hasn’t slept a wink. I’ve heard he has been trying to abandon the tourney but Prince Baelor has stationed more men at his tent to prevent him from doing so.” Her eyes flickered to her husband who tightly held onto his reigns. “If you ask me, it’ll be a miracle if he lasts any longer than he has now.” She cleared her throat. Everyone felt silent as the horses neighed and hooves stomped on the ground.
“Lord Ashford fucks his sheep!” Everyone laughed and the horns blew. The men rode towards each other and full pace. Naerisse covered her face, waiting for the sound of impact. Cheers erupted. Nervously, she peeked through her hands hoping to find her husband whole. Her face relaxed when she recognized her husband’s gear amongst the others. They rode again.
“Ser. Put me down, ser.” Aegon ordered. Dunk looked up at him and set him down. With a newfound courage, Egg pushed his way to the very front and climbed onto the wooden railings. Naerisse and Dunk followed behind and this time, all eyes were on her husband as he marched towards his opponent. He struck and they crashed onto the ground, taking some of the wooden railings with them. As the jousting progressed, more men fell and surrendered until Valarr was the last one standing. Her cheering had been the loudest sound she ever made. And she was proud it was in support of her husband.
NAERISSE SAT IN SILENCE AS SHE WATCHED EGG PLAY PRETEND WITH A WODDEN STICK. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and her head rested atop. A few feet away, Dunk sat contemplating. She turned to Dunk, throwing a small pebble at him.
“Magnificent riding tonight.” She called out. “Though, the raw fish biting was a tad barbaric.” She mused. Dunk sat still in his own head.
“Something the matter, ser?” Aegon took notice of this.
“Do great knights live in the hedges and die by the side of a muddy road?” He suddenly spoke. “I think not.” He stared at nothing in particular. “Ser Arlan wasn’t gifted with sword or lance, and he drank, and he whored and he was a hard man to know. He made no friends either.” Both Egg and Naerisse sat quiet, drinking in his words of remembrance. “He lived nigh on 60 years and never was a champion. Mm, what chance do i have? Truly?” He looked at the two Targaryens who stared back at him. “But he was good to me. I wasn’t his family.. but he kept me like we were.”
“Forgive me, Ser. But how did you meet him?” Dunk turned towards her. He smiled at the faint memory like it has been only yesterday.
“I was just a boy when there was a celebration throughout the realm. I didn’t know until later that it had been to honor the birth of Princess Naerisse, the Miraculous Year; they called it.” Naerisse raised her eyebrows in astonishment. “It was a great thing. The first child of a Prince, who i don’t remember his name, had folks thinking he would never have any. King Daeron’s proudest joy. The streets celebrated like mad, all throughout the year. After her, more princesses followed. Four, if i’m not mistaken.” Naerisse smiled at this fondly. “There was food everywhere, music littered the streets. But gods, the food. I’d been starving for a while and i was as sick as a pig. It was the first full meal i’ve had thanks to those celebrations. I ate until i was sure i could burst.” Dunk smiled at this memory. “Had i not eaten, i would have never met Ser Arlan, who i had met a few weeks after that. I may be stupid, but i would never forget that name.” Silence followed. “Which is why I pray for her safety, had it not been for her, i wouldn’t have lived, least i can do.”
“You were talking about how you met Ser Arlan, Ser!” Egg called out.
Dunk nodded, fumbling with his hands, spoke again. “I remember a guard had been talking bad on the Princess’s name and i remember going livid. Something overcame me and i attacked. I hadn’t realize the guard had been taller than me at the time and i got a good beating. Ser Arlan stepped in to save me and beat him bloody. Took me in as family.” Naerisse hummed. “He raised me to be an honorable man and all these noble lords can’t even remember his name. His name was Ser Arlan of Pennytree and I am his legacy. On the morrow, we will show them what his hand has wrought.”
Eventually they all dozed off to sleep, minus Naerisse who stared at the sky. She missed her husband. She missed staring into his mismatched eyes and caressing his silver streak. She missed the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. His eyes always had a certain twinkle to them. But when she had seen them today, they were dull. Joy stripped from his irises. So she couldn’t help but wonder, if her little adventure was affecting him more than he let on. Was it affecting her Grandpa Daeron or her Father Aerys? Would Valarr be unable to sleep tonight thinking she is not safe? She couldn’t have that. She just couldn’t. She knew she had to find her way back to him before the Moon lost its gravitational pull and descended into darkness.
Everybody is wrong obviously Duncan is a highland cow and Egg is a hairless cat and they’re best of friends and nothing bad ever happens to them good night
Had a sweet thought and decided to share it.
So Egg eventually marries Betha of House Blackwood which is a love match because he wasn’t betrothed to anyone and was so far down in the line of succession it didn’t really matter who he married.
Now in Episode 3 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Dunk starts teaching Egg how to sew and I think that’d be such a fun little way to have a meet cute with his future bride, if/when we get to that time in Dunk and Egg’s Journey.
Dunk and Egg are at a Tourney at Raventree Hall and invited to a celebratory feast and Ball. During the festivities, while Dunk is awkwardly dealing with Lords and Ladies, Egg finds young Betha whose dress has torn. Using his sewing skills he quickly fixes her dress so she can return to the party.
Nothing else happens. Just a brief meeting and Egg showing her a kindness using a skill he never would have learned if not for Dunk setting him on a path of future happiness.
Admittedly this may just be because I’ve been watching Bridgerton at the same time as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms so the romantic in me is coming out.
Fire and Roses
Modern Shifter AU! Baelor x Female!OC, Maekar x Black!FemaleOC, Daeron x Female!OC
My first A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fic. I tried to write in British English but I am an American and I apologize in advance. I plan to keep to the heart of the original series while creating a different world.
Thanks to @asoiaf-things @newlibrary @superhoeva @chara-hugs and @targaryenvampireslayer for letting me talk about this in their DMs
Warnings: Future violence, drama, smut, Aerion being Aerion, maybe some fluff
Chapter 1
Egg
Baelor: Aegon, stop insulting Aerion. Egg: I am describing him.
