And more đ§đŒđș and đđČđčđčđ đ đźđżđ°đČđč content at the đœđđđđ: đ»đđ đłđđđ đ«đđđđ fan event in Mexico đ!
I had to make another post because everything couldn't fit in one đ You can find it in my account âđ»
And I say again, I wanted to see him so much, and, be careful with spoilers if there are đ„!
summary: At the ripe age of ten, the Realmâs Jewel was nominated by her grandsire the King, despite all the protests of the Small Council, the official Royal Ambassador; thus, her voyages throughout the Seven Kingdoms started, and yet another nickname was forged for her by the Smallfolk: the Wandering Princess.
pairings: cregan stark x velaryon!reader (no use of y/n), platonic (familial) relationship between the targs/velaryon and reader
word count: 8.4k
warnings: language, mention of labours and pregnancies (nyra has just given birth to aegon), the ass freezing cold weather in the north, scars, nÄdrÄsy eats people, reader is a kid with a dream (marrying cregan) but my guy doesn't want anything to do with her, mention of cannibalism, if you catch the dante's inferno reference I will give you cookies
author's note: this took me forever but it's finally here!! enjoy :)
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Aegon is born skinny and scrawny, all twitching limbs and bloodied hair, screaming at the top of his lungs. âDear Gods, arenât you the ugliest thing?â you say as a midwife carefully passes him to you, fresh out of your motherâs womb. Youâre sure heâs at least thrice as ugly as Joff was when he was born â and thatâs all on Daemon.Â
You pass the babe to a nurse, who then passes him to your mother, whoâs breathing heavily but still smiling. She nods to one of her handmaidens. âGo fetch Daemon, tell him itâs a boy.â
A bit after you went to your grandsire and took place in court as Kingâs Justice, the reason why your mother had wanted to marry Daemon so hastily quickly got out: she was pregnant, pretty surely out of marriage â not that other people aside you and your grandsire were allowed to speculate on that.Â
Speaking of your grandsire, he was furious once he discovered that after all, they had really married. You had never seen him so angry, not since Aemond tried to kill you; he broke vases, screamed at the men in the council and behaved insufferably for a whole sennight, before just accepting his defeat. He still refuses to open any of your mother and uncle's letters, even after word of rhaenyraâs pregnancy got out.Â
If it wasnât for the babe, you wouldnât have talked to your mother for much, much longer. But a pregnancy isnât an easy thing, and even if you have every right to be mad at her right now, you will not let her die on the childbed without any support â because of fucking course Daemon isnât there when she delivers little Aegon. Heâs run off Gods know where, too scared to face another birthing wife in fear she might die. Coward.Â
âIâll head to Kingâs Landing on the morrow.â you murmur as the servants finish changing the sheets and exit the room. Now itâs only you, your mother and the suckling-milk monster latched onto her breast. She sends you a bleary gaze, confused, hair mussed and skin still glistening in sweat. âWhat?â she breathes out.Â
âSo that for now I can give you my help in washing off all the blood,â you reply. âAnd then, once they wake up, say goodbye to my siblings.â
âBut⊠you just got here yesterday. Your brothers havenât even seen you and youâre already running away.â well, that is true. Youâve arrived on Dragonstone after supper was already finished, and the boys had already gone to sleep; then your motherâs labours began barely after the sun rose, so they were yet to wake. Now it was well into the night, and the only person who you have seen is Helaena, who at some point came to see how things were going and offered a kind word to her half-sister.Â
You sigh, knowing she would've said that. âThe prisons in all the Seven Kingdoms are overflowing, mother. And once the lords heard that the Kingâs Justice didnât have to be paid, they either started bringing their prisoners to the Crownlands or started asking if I could come to clean their dirty laundry.â you furrow your eyebrows sadly as Aegon gurgles, hiding deeper in Rhaenyraâs chest. âI thought we already talked about that. I have to be in the Riverlands tomorrow to clean Lord Elmo Tullyâs⊠wastes.âÂ
She shakes her head, bewildered. âYou donât have to be anywhere! You are a Targaryen, you have the right to show up when and if you want to. I already donât like the fact that fatherâs making you do a peasantâs job, but the fact that you think you have to be somewhere is simply outrageous. Andââ
âSorry, I worded that wrongly,â you interrupt her. âI am making myself go to the Riverlands by tomorrow. I actually have more than a prison to wipe out.â once again, it seems you have a list. âYet another revolt between Blackwood and Bracken broke out, and I canât wait to see their faces when they see that their beloved Lord Tully has called for reinforcements. Besides, travelling throughout Westeros is fun,â you add. âYou know, Iâm getting to know all the lords â or better, their heirs, the one that when I rule will sit on their thrones. I have become good friends with Oscar Tullyâ Elmoâs grandson.â
You look between her and the babe; thereâs something strange in your gaze, something that says you should be doing this instead of me. âI am doing us both a favour, mother. Do you have any idea how many times Iâve caught the Hightowers trying to poison grandsire? I already had him change his food tester twelve times and between the change and Otto managing to bribe them into poisoning the King thereâs at most a week. Itâs never something I can accuse him with, though,â you scoff, âItâs always the poor tasters that I have to make NÄdrÄsy eat.â
You shake your head as Aegon falls asleep, your mother having tears in her eyes. âYour hasty marriage to Daemon and precocious pregnancy have angered many lords that hoped to marry into the Royal Family. I am merely trying to help our cause.â
âWhat was I supposed to do?â she whispers. âHaving Aegon born out of marriage? Having a real bastard this time?â
You were just trying to say that chastity belts existed and there are many things to do rather than to copulate with your uncle, but surely youâre not going to say that to a woman who has just given birth. âHow many years has it been since Queen Aemmaâs death?â you ask. You know, but you want her to understand your point.Â
âAlmost nineteen years,â she quickly responds.Â
You raise an eyebrow. âAnd when did grandsire marry Alicent?â
âSeventeen years ago.â
âSee?â you point out. âGrandsire respected the mourning period well enough, yet you still resent him for remarrying and hold a particular disdain for Alicent. And youâre trying to tell me that Iâm not allowed to hold against you the fact that you remarried barely four moons after my fatherâs death?âÂ
She shakes her head vehemently, âThat is not whyââ
âIt is!â you insist. âI have all the right reasons to hold my deepest disdain for Daemon and resent you for marrying him. Why?â you scoff, âBecause as your daughter, I want whatâs best for you. And thatâs not a man who runs away as soon as he hears that his wife's labours have started. Jace, Luke and Joff may have not been fatherâs children, but he didnât miss a single birth, and he was always just out of the birthing chamber.â
âDaemon has been through a lot,â she protests.Â
âI have been through a lot too!â you hiss. âYet I have watched you give birth twice, out of worry that it might be the last time I see you! And Iâm how many years younger than him?â
âYour uncle has seen his second wife make her dragon burn her alive for the immense pain she was feeling during the labour,â
âAnd he also probably killed the first one,â
She sends you a look. âAnd I saw my fatherâs carbonised body,â you mutter. âYet me and my dragon burn down to a crisp criminals for a living. Scratch that, not even for that, itâs just to make the lords understand that once the kingdom passes down to you or to me, it will be well taken care of.â
âMy father didnât have to prove himself worthy of ruling, so why should we? The throne will be ours by right, and the people will just have to accept it.â
The door creaks open, but you donât turn to see who entered â by the steps, you know itâs Daemon, returning with his tail between his legs. âThatâs where you are wrong, mother,â you reason. âGrandsire didnât, but he is a man. Stop acting like people donât doubt our capability of ruling simply because of our birth. My grandmother proved herself perfectly capable of being queen, yet she was passed down simply because she is, and will always be, a woman. And that, in our world, is one of the biggest disgraces to men.â you shake your head yet again â it seems this talk is full of disappointment on both ends.
âYou could be the bravest knight of the Seven Kingdoms and still be looked down upon because they think your only purpose is to birth children. I am merely trying to change that perspective.â
âIs there a problem?â Daemon has now crossed the room and is right behind you, hand on his sword, hesitant gaze towards his wife. You have to hold yourself back from rolling your eyes. âNo,â you reply, back on your feet and going for the exit. âI was already about to leave.â
He blocks you by taking you by the bicep, eyebrows raised. âWhy donât you stay for a while?â he asks. âIâm sure your bastard could take a day or two without eating criminals.â
You stare at him up and down. âIâll stay for a while when youâre either gone or dead. By your inconsistency and age, it wonât take too long. And please, take a bath,â you shake his hand off of your arm, âYou stink of dragon, and even if she doesnât tell you that, your wife suffers the smell.â
It is glorious to see the Hightowerâs faces fall â mostly, it is endearing to hear the Lord Handâs voice stutter. Because he knows youâve got him.Â
âButâ but the Princess is but a child!â his daughter protests, looking at your grandsire, outraged. Viserys shakes his head, âThis was solely my decision, and I will not let any of you think that your opinion counts on this matter.â
âAegon is much older,â Otto merely chimes in. He knows his case is weak. âAnd so is Aemond. Theyâre men, well experienced and highly educated. I am sorry, Your Grace, but I donât understand your decision.â
âFor starters, I donât ride my dragon drunk,â you reply to him, the biggest smirk on your face. Alicentâs face reddens at the mention of her firstbornâs biggest problem; you only stand straighter, with now the eyes of the whole Small Council pointed towards you. âNor am I missing an eye â but even if I was, my dragon listens to my orders. Did you hear about Vhagar's latest mishaps, Lord Hand?â
Her waking up for your uncle to climb on her saddle, only to fall back asleep as soon as heâs on, sleeping so silent that the dragon keepers thought she was dead for good â and then, once they had finally managed to reach the skies, a whole farm burned down when Aemond had simply asked her to land. Either sheâs senile, or she doesnât really like Aemond.Â
âAlso, I wouldnât call Aegon highly educated nor well experienced,â you add. âMaybe, yes â if you need a good brothel in Flea Bottom, heâs the man youâre searching for. For political matters?â you shake your hand. âWould you rather him falling off of Sunfyre on the way to Winterfell while drunk, or not knowing a single thing about how he should act? Or maybe send Aemond, and have the possibility of Vhagar burning the entire place down?â you scoff.
âPlease, Lord Hand. We donât want any diplomatic incidents.â you just know Ser Tyland is holding in his laughter.Â
âThe Princess is heir,â your grandsire adds, and you pretend to act as if you donât hear Alicent gritting her teeth from the end of the table, where youâre standing. âShe is highly educated, as she is to be Queen, she knows her way with swords and with words, and her dragon is as loyal as can be. She is a skilled rider and has already ended other menâs lives via him. She is fit for this task, and as I said, if she does well, it will be hers for the time to come.âÂ
âShe is but ten summers old,â the Queen objects.
âIâm still a better option than a drunkard and a cripple,â you raise an eyebrow towards her, then towards her father, who is just about to speak. âAnd I would be able to make a better evaluation than you, Lord Hand, if thatâs what you want to suggest. No prayers could ever woo me.â
Ottoâs eye twitches. Nobody else on the council tries to say anything; the decision is taken, and since everyone in this room values their life and you look pretty threatening with your hand on the grip of your sword, they are smart enough to keep silent.Â
âAnd whose fault is it that my son is a cripple?â Alicent taunts.Â
You laugh. âIâm not the one who raised an ungrateful brat. You should be happy Iâm here, considering that if I wasnât and it was his fault, his neck would have been cut. Next time you have a son, maybe teach him to differentiate between a friend and an enemy.â
âThat is enough, sweetling,â the King says gently. He looks around the room, at his council members. âYouâre all dismissed. Sweetling, would you mind accompanying me to my chambers?âÂ
You nod dutifully, moving to his side as the others get up and handing him his cane. âAh, thank you,â
As much as he doesnât like to admit it, your grandsire is getting old. He canât walk as much as he used to, and he is getting easier to tire. Small Council meetings almost exhaust him, now more than ever, and travelling isnât much of an option anymore.Â
âHowâs little Aegon?â he asks, as you help him climb the stairs towards his chamber. He has yet to reply to any of his daughter or his brotherâs letters, preferring to take any information he can from you.Â
âGrowing steadily,â you reply. âHeâs almost six moons now. His dragon hatched; Luke has called him Stormcloud. I went to visit them on Dragonstone last week, after settling the matters with the prisoners on Driftmark. Heâs learned how to stand and babbles soundly all the time.â
The King hums as the stairs come to an end, two guards opening the doors of his rooms for you two. âThatâs good. Maybe one day you can bring him and your brothers here â I havenât seen them in ages.â
You hold back a grimace as he takes a seat by the table that sits in the main room, resting his chin upon the hilt of the cane. âIâll see what I can do,â you promise him. âMother isnât fond of Kingâs Landing, but maybe she would let me bring them here. She has been particularly lenient these last few moons.â thatâs just because sheâs trying to win you back, but thatâs another story.
He nods silently, gaze tender and warm as he looks at you. His eyebrows narrow, though. âThe North is harsh,â he warns. âIâve been there just once, and after I had a fever that lasted the whole way back home. Northerners areâ different. Tougher, harsher, more brutal. I need you to understand what you are getting into, before I send you there.âÂ
âCregan Stark is the rightful heir of Winterfell,â you murmur, warmed by his worry. âThe North is one of our biggest allies. To me it is clear that Bennard Stark is an usurper. And as an heir to the Iron Throne, it is only right that we treat usurpers as the law commands.â you purse your lips, âBy death.â
âNortherners like to take care of their own matters,â your grandsire murmurs, âwe rarely get involved, but⊠well, Lord Cregan is barely a man. He is but Aemondâs age, and even if the Small Council insists on not sending anyone, I canât help but worry. An usurper who manages to get on a throne will only get greedier and greedier as time goes on. One day, we could find ourselves against the North if he ever were to succeed.â
âHe has three sons,â you nod, âCregan is but five-and-ten. And seeing northern standards, he wonât get married for at least another five years. Yes, there are rumours going around of Bennard murdering his first wife, but⊠itâs not rare that a womanâs death is overlooked on the promise of stability.â
Your grandsire shakes his head, sighing. âGreedy men, always grasping at everything they can take, even if it means killing your own nephew.â he presses his lips against each other, then tries to smile at you. âWe will have to send you to Winterfell well equipped. I will send servants down to the market to look for coats and cloaks, but for nowâ thereâs something I feel like you should have.â
He raises from his seat, going for the bed, kneeling carefully by it and reaching for something under it. He takes out a long silver box, decorated with dragon carvings and ruby stones; he motions for you to come near him, and he opens the case.Â
Inside, thereâs Blackfyre.Â
Blackfyre is House Targaryenâs longsword, made out of Valyrian Steel, and once it was his chosen weapon. It is passed down from king to king, a symbol of power and duty, and even if youâve never seen your grandsire wield it, you know he uses it as a scepter while holding court.Â
ââTis only fair that it passes down to you,â he says, holding it out for you to take. âDark Sister would be more appropriate for a woman, as it is more slim and light, but unfortunately it is in the possession of my brother, and I am sure that even if I were to force him to give it to you, you would refuse simply because it came from him. Blackfyre is the sword of kings, though; and now it shall be of a queen, too.â
You shake your head, bewildered, âGrandsire, as much as I am honoured, you still need it.â
He laughs. âAnd for what? To hold it as a stick during court? Please, granddaughter of mine, donât jest. With me as its wielder, it will just grow musty, as I can barely even raise it. I insist you take it.â
Reluctantly, you take it in your arms and observe it; it is as you remember, clean silver and dark handle, a ruby on its end and something resembling a dragon wing at the start of the blade. It is too long for you to wear normally, that is already clear, so youâll probably have to wear it on your back and hope it doesnât reach the ground.Â
Your grandsire smiles. âA good sword for a worthy wielder.â
The next sennight is filled with fittings and preparations for your upcoming trip to the North â which will be the farthest youâve ever gone from Kingâs Landing. It will be a harsh and long journey, but you and NÄdrÄsy are ready for it.Â
The night before your departure you ask the servants for a bath; a hot one, with the water almost boiling, as Targaryens like it. You take your sweet time, sending away the maids and sinking in the bathtub, tasting a warmth you probably wonât feel for a while. Looking at the mirror sitting a few feet away from the tub, you canât help but glare at the scar on your temple â and it seems to glare back.Â
It has now turned pink-ish, a little red on some days, and looks a bit like a thunder going from your head almost down to your cheekbone. In a year and a half of having it, you have yet to get used to it. For your ninth nameday, your grandsire gave you a white gold coronet that you always wear. Itâs some sort of replica of his own crown, as they are much similar â the only differences being the way they fit, the colours and the Great Houses emblems; in fact, in place of those, you have amethyst stones, a nice touch requested by your grandsire.Â
The coronet is a great relief, as it hides most of the scar from others, and if anyone notices, it seems they value their tongue too much to comment about it. The only one who has protested is Alicent, who insists that since you are neither a king nor a queen, you have no right to wear such a thing. Your grandsire, of course, ignores her, almost as well as you do.Â
You only take the coronet off to go to bed and to wash yourself, otherwise, itâs always on your head. It acts as a shield between you and your insecurities, and youâre more than okay with it, especially because it is one of the prettiest jewels you own. The fact that for most of your days you now wear your usual dragon riding attire doesnât mean you donât like pretty dresses and shiny things anymore â in fact, you thrive on the days where you can wear your beloved gowns and show off all your jewellery. You already plan on bringing your best pieces to Winterfell.Â
A look at your scar is enough to bring back all the memories you only wish to bury deep in the sand â Aemondâs attack, Jace and Lukeâs little faces covered in blood, your mother injured and the sight of your father's carbonised body, added to the screams of your grandmother. You really wish things had been different.Â
You leave on the morrow, right after breaking your fast. All the things youâll need are already loaded on NÄdrÄsyâs back, near the saddle, and your grandsire comes with you to the Dragonpit to be able to bid you his goodbyes. Surprisingly, Aegon tags along.
Heâs yawning for the whole ride, falling asleep at some point. He already reeks of wine and has blood-shot eyes, yet you appreciate the gesture. You donât have that much of a relationship, aside from him teaching you the right words to insult Daemon, but still. Heâs not really a bad person, heâs just⊠lost. Something tells you that if your mother had raised him, he wouldnât be drowning in his cups every day all day.Â
By the time you all exit the carriage, heâs wide awake and a man on a mission. âBring me the best wine you can find,â he says, with a lucidity untypical of him. You burst out laughing, âWell, uncle, Iâm pretty sure they donât make wine in the North. But Iâll look for the strongest ale I can find.â
He sighs dreamily. âOh, sweet niece, what would I do without you?â
You raise an eyebrow. âWithout me always defending you your mother would have killed you a long time ago for the sake of the family â canât really say Iâd blame her.â
He pouts grumpily while your grandsire joins you, having just exited the carriage. âFarewell, sweetling,â he murmurs, tears in his eyes, hugging you tight. âBe careful, please.â
You laugh softly. âDonât you worry, grandsire, Iâll make sure to come back all in one piece.â
He hugs you again, Aegon standing there awkwardly â Viserys has never really shown affection for him, nor for his siblings. You always reprimand him for that, but heâs a lost cause. You do feel pity for them, to only have Alicent to love them â and what kind of love it must be! Maybe she whacks them twenty times instead of the usual thirty when they do something wrong.Â
After securing Blackfyre on your back again, you mount NÄdrÄsyâs saddle, and he roars happily, spreading his wings. âBe careful!â your grandsire screams, as your uncle yells, âRemember the ale!â
Soon after, the Red Keep becomes but a small dot on the ground, and you are to reach Winterfell.Â
They had warned you that the North was cold, but not even in your wildest dreams you could have thought it was this cold. Youâve been in the Riverlands, and itâs cold there too, yes, but the North? Nothing the maids had said could have ever prepared you.Â
It feels like years since youâve seen a green speck of land; now itâs all covered in snow, and itâs a miracle that dragons have a particular high body temperature, because otherwise you and NÄdrÄsy wouldâve been swaddled by the hailstorms and snowfalls, for they are violent and â have you already said cold?
The coronet by now is freezing, so cold that your head hurts. Youâve already damned enough Gods and Saints to grant yourself the ugliest spot in one of the deepest pits of the Seven Hells, and judging by his grumpiness and complaints, your dragon is suffering too. Heâs constantly huffing fire in an attempt to melt the ice and snow, trying his best to protect you, and even if itâs not of much use you are thankful for him. You briefly think that Syrax would never be able to sustain such a voyage, as spoiled as she is, and despite everything it brings a small smile to your face.
Rhaenyra does treat her girls well.Â
The thought of your mother warms you, despite your discrepancies, and you wonder how she fares; you had written to her about your journey to Winterfell, but had not stayed long enough to receive a reply. Hopefully, little Aegon and all your brothers are well and thriving and arenât having too much trouble adjusting to another sibling learning how to walk in the house â you know a thing or two about that. And about that, Rhaenyra treating her girls well reminds you about somethingâŠÂ
âIvestragon, valÄ«tsos,â Say, boy, âZiry iksos nĆ«mÄzma jÄda Ä«lon rhaenagon naejot pendagon nĆ«mÄzma lÄ« belmos syt ao, iksin nyke paktot?â It's about time we start to think about those rings for you, am I right?
Your teeth are cluttering against each other, but your smile is loud and clear, and your dragon roars happily. You should've gotten him those horn rings ages ago, before Joffrey was even born, but with everything that happened it just slipped your mind. You promise yourself it will be the first thing you think about when back to Kingâs Landing, as he has more than earned them, especially after this trip.Â
Your mother once said that a trip from the Crownlands to Winterfell on dragonback would have taken two days, but it takes you and your dragon five whole days, as you two are slowed by the bad weather and the constant stops to just light a fire and warm up a bit. Even as Winterfell enters your view, the snow doesnât stop, and by now the scarf that is covering most of your face is basically frozen and crusted with ice, as well as the hairs that escaped your cowl.Â
âNinkiot, NÄdrÄsy!â Land, âKonÄ«r, ondoso se dĆros!â There, by the walls!
You have no intentions of scaring the Starks â or, should you say, the Stark? â so, for now, as much as it pains you, your dragon will have to stay outside. As the huge door that brings inside Winterfell is slowly opened, you open the chains that bind you to NÄdrÄsy while in the skies, as he stirs his wings and lets out a big yawn â that to the guards probably seems like a threat, because they immediately sheath their swords, preparing to attack.Â
As if our dragons didnât melt enough swords to make a throne of it, already.
âLay down the blades!â a voice comes in. âItâs the Royal Ambassador youâre pointing them at, and Iâm sure King Viserys would be dismayed if a diplomatic incident were to happen.â
You recognize him instantly â ah, first love, always hard to forget. Heâs grown, of course, and now resembles more a bear than a man, especially with all the furs heâs wearing, and you take immediate notice of the difference between him and Aemond. Theyâre the same age â your uncleâs a little bit older, if youâre not wrong â and yet heâs still skinny and scrawny, bony, even with all the food his mother forces him to eat.Â
And, of course, Lord Cregan Stark is much, much taller than him.Â
Heâs on a horse, followed by what you assume are his guards and men, and he quickly dismounts, bowing. âPrincess, it is an honour to be able to host you in the Starkâs holdfast. It is a pity that it must be under such dire circumstances.âÂ
You hide a smile. Ah, Starks. So up their asses.Â
âHopefully I am not late for supper, am I, Lord Cregan?â you ask, pulling down your scarf to be able to talk better. You take out the dagger tied to your waist, manoeuvring yourself to be able to cut the cords that bind your luggages to NÄdrÄsy. They fall on the snow below, surely without much damage.Â
He gets up, shaking his head. âNot at all, Princess, we werenât even about to eat. You have the time to change into warmer clothes before the food is ready.â
You nod. âGood.â
You easily slide off your dragonâs wing, not noticing the way the boy reaches out â afraid that youâll fall or worse. Gods know what kind of war a dead princess in Winterfell would bring to the North. You look back at NÄdrÄsy, âĆños iÄ perzys lo jaelÄ, yn umbagon kesÄ«r!â Light a fire if you want, but stay here!
He roars, not happy at all, and you turn back at him, glaring. Your next words are yelled and incomprehensible to Cregan, as he doesnât know a single thing about High Valyrian, but he knows well the way insults and cursing words are said, and those sound like a lot of them. Itâs so scary that him and some of his men shiver â and itâs not for the cold.Â
Once you are done with him, heâs grumbling, quietly opening his mouth to burn a tree nearby, then hugging it with his body with a huff. You scoff, âYou think you have raised a decent dragon and he turns out to be spoiled. Whatâs next? Iâll have to cook and cut up the meat for him to eat like they do for Syrax?â
He roars again, but this time you ignore him, walking towards the Lord of Winterfell, who stands there with his mouth agape. You held out your hand expectantly, raising an eyebrow as he looks between you and your dragon. In the end, he takes your hand in his, kissing the ring with the Targaryen emblem that sits on your middle finger, trying to ignore your worryingly big dragon.Â
Standing straight again, he motions over two of his men, pointing at the bags left in the snow. âTake those and bring them to the chambers we reserved for the Princess,â he then looks at you, âI took it upon myself to appoint you three maids, Princess. The King advised me to, as he said you wouldâve come here alone, and as much as I would like to think that your travels were nice, the weather suggests otherwise.â
Thatâs because right now the wind is icy, freezing, with splutters of snow falling from the sky. You nod, âThank you, Lord Stark. Itâs warming to see such a welcome after the freezing journey.â Quite literally.
He winces. âCregan will suffice. Weâre both far too young for you to call me Lord Stark.â
You chuckle. âAs you wish. I will not ask you to stop referring to me as Princess, though, I hope you know that.â
He frowns. âOf course. I would never ask Your Grace to do that.â
He gently gestures towards his horse, dark hair frizzled by the wind, ââTis best if we go back to the castle, Princess; yet another hailstorm is brewing. You can ride with me.âÂ
You donât let him repeat himself twice, letting him help you up on the saddle then quickly jumping on behind you, manoeuvring the horse towards the gates, which close behind you. If he sees the dagger you stole from him, he makes no mention of it. ââTis cold in Winterfell, my Princess, but I assure you that you will have the warmest room of the castle. The maids will make sure to keep the fire going; I imagine that going from the warm temperatures of Kingâs Landing to the constant snowing of the North mustnât be easy.â
His northern accent makes butterflies explode in your stomach in such a good way that you think that if all men had the same tone, dealing with them wouldnât be so difficult. You swing your legs over the side of the horse, careful not to hit it, and you focus on your hands, trying to take your mind off from your warm cheeks. âThank you, Lord Cregan.â
He raises an eyebrow at your sudden silence. ââŠOf course, Princess. Anytime.âÂ
Truth is, you havenât seen Cregan in years. Itâs now a bit more than two summers since your last encounter, when he had all but stood you up on the dancefloor, on your own birthday. And as much as you would like to feign anger, or disinterest in his regards, heâs just too⊠well.Â
Heâs young, yet heâs able to hold on his shoulder such a heavy burden, being the Lord of Winterfell and going against his uncle. You can act tough all you want, but you are too a little girl who likes to listen to the love stories the septa tells you, and you wish for a husband who will treat you right â not like Daemon, who ran away from Dragonstone as soon as your motherâs labours began.Â
Something tells you Cregan would treat you right. (In truth thatâs just your inner child's dream speaking. Youâve liked him since before you were even able to really see or remember.)
You raise your gaze, looking at the boy in question. âAre you perhaps betrothed to anyone, Lord Cregan?â
He stills, a bit awkward, the horse stopping in front of the gates of the castle, âWell, no, Princess. By northern standards I am far too young. Here, usually men marry well into their twenties, or after their eighteenth summer.â
You hum. âNot in the Crownlands.â
Cregan frowns a bit, âIf you are suggesting aâŠâ he hesitates, âBetrothal, between you and me, Princess â and forgive me if Iâm wrong â I think you are far too young to think about that, and I am too. I donât think it would work.â Heâs trying to break it to you in the nicest way possible, because â yes. You are a kid, barely ten summers of age, whoâs probably already doing too much for her House, and marriage shouldnât even cross your mind yet. He doesnât find you funny nor is he attracted to you, obviously, so thereâs no way heâs ever going to marry you. Besides, princesses are expensive, known to be spoiled, and he isnât sure if he would ever be able to fulfil your needs and listen to you whine all day.Â
You glare at him â and if looks could kill, he would already be in the family crypt, right beside his father. âFine.â you hop off the horse before he can protest, strutting over the entrance, scaring the servants who are asked to show you around the place. âPrincess, I should be the one to do thatââ he tries to protest, in vain.
âNonsense, Lord Stark!â you yell, dismissing him with a hand, not even turning back to look at him. âIâm sure the servants know the holdfast better than you.â and then youâre gone, followed by a maid who sends him a pleading look, inside the castle acting like you own it. If he doesnât want to marry you, youâll make sure to make him regret that â not only in this trip, but also in the years to come.Â
Ah, childrenâs ego. So big yet so fragile.Â
Cregan sighs, getting off his horse, immediately joined by Ser Rodrick, heir to House Cerwyn and in Winterfell to support him in this battle against his uncle. âWhat did you do to make her react that way?â he asks, bewildered.Â
The boy huffs, kicking a rock nearby. âI rejected her marriage proposal.â
His friend pales. âIsnât she, like⊠ten summers old?â
The Stark laughs, even if heâs not amused at all. âShe is.â he shakes his head, in disbelief. âChildren acting like adults. The King, between all of his capable and loyal subjects, chose his petty and spoiled granddaughter who has never heard a no in her entire life to send here to help me.â
He sighs again, getting into a foetal position, commiserating himself. âShe would be capable of threatening me to give Winterfell to my uncle unless I marry her.â
You ponder the option of giving Winterfell to Bennard Stark unless Cregan is at least betrothed to you, but then again, it wouldnât be the right thing to do. Besides, you suspect he wouldnât treat you well if you forced him to marry you.Â
Maybe heâs right. You shouldnât think of marriage right now, as you are simply here to prove yourself worthy of the honour of being Royal Ambassador. Iâll shorten the trip, you think to yourself, as the maids show you your chambers and strip you down, guiding you to a hot bath. Iâll deal with the Stark usurper after supper. Besides, all I have to do is hear him out and then kill him. That was what Viserys had told you to do â Bennard had proven himself guilty, and unfortunately had too many people to support him for you to let him live. Youâll depart tomorrow after breaking your fast, and let NÄdrÄsy play with his preys if he wants. You could visit the Riverlands, pass by Riverrun to say hi to Oscar, and then by Dragonstone to see your brothers and mother.Â
One of the maids asks you if she can take off the coronet to tie your hair up, and when you nod she proceeds â only to quietly gasp at the sight of your scar. She immediately pales and apologises when you glare at her, quickly laying the coronet on a stool, going back to tying your hair up so that it doesnât get wet.Â
You know itâs hideous, but the least she could do is pretend itâs not. The urge to go away as soon as you can gets stronger.Â
They dress you in the warmest dress you have brought, the purple one with embroidered pearls and fur sleeves, then braid your hair into a loose plait, delicately putting your coronet back on your head, hiding your scar. They make no mention of it, thankfully.
They guide you to the Great Hall for supper, and you are not surprised to see everyone already seated â you had taken a lot more than you normally would just to spite Cregan. The Hall seems to contain at least five hundred people, with four long tables and a raised platform for the Lord of Winterfell, noble guests and his closest men â you guess, since he doesnât really have any family left â banners with the Stark emblem on every wall, covering the stone.Â
Cregan quickly gets down from his table, up on the platform, to greet you, offering his arm, which you â kind of rudely too â donât accept. âI⊠I hope the chambers were of your liking, Princess.â
You snob him. âThey couldâve been warmer. As could have been the bath.âÂ
He nods patiently. âIâll make sure to alert the servants to burn more wood for the rest of your stay.â
âDonât worry, Lord Stark,â he winces, âI wonât annoy you for too long. Iâll take my leave tomorrow.â
âTomorrow?â he asks, panicked. In all of this you are walking towards the platform, towards your table, and everybody is yet to sit down. âButâ the King said you were supposed to stay for a sennight, Princess. The matters for the settlement of the succession must beââ
You groan loudly, âI know, donât worry, you will have your throne by the time I go back to Kingâs Landing.â you sigh, âMen, always only caring about what is owed to them and what they want.â
That seems to shut him up, and without another word you go up the stairs that take to the table, him begrudgingly taking out the chair for you, sitting down quietly. Then everyone follows your example, relieved huffs echoing in the hall, immediately followed by a quiet chattering while waiting for the food.Â
It seems that everyone is on their best behaviour tonight, because Creganâs men are unusually educated and cordial for being soldiers and guards â you know that once out of this room, theyâll let out all the burps theyâre holding back now, as they chug on beer tankards (but with their pinky fingers raised politely, no doubt a try at tea parties etiquette).
Roasted honey venison with olives, peas and beans is served, and as you eat the men start to get a bit impatient â having lasted most of the day without eating, they are starving, and it shows: they are scarving down the venison like eventually itâll come back to life and run away. Cregan glares at them, even if it shows that he himself is a bit rusty when it comes to manners, since he has bread crumbs all over his tunic. That must happen when a boy not even six and ten is left in charge of an entire household, you guess.Â
As dessert is served and dinner is finished, you are the first one to get up from your seat, looking at Cregan with a raised eyebrow â even now that you are standing, heâs taller than you, and heâs still seated. âWhere is Ser Bennard Stark?â you ask him, determined to end this matter as quickly as possible.Â
He raises his brows, confused. âIn the dungeons, with his sons, of course. Butâ surely you donât mean to go there now, Princess, do you? Itâs late. The sun has already setââ
âAnd I am to leave tomorrow. I wish to see him now.â
Childish and petty, Cregan thinks. But that is what you are, no? A child. The fact that you will inherit the Iron Throne doesnât change anything, for you are still ten, and him at your age was still playing knights with his friends, with barely a care in the world. How in the Seven Hells have the Targaryen raised you?
He surrenders to your will, sighing and getting up, bidding goodbye to his men and guiding you out of the hall. Two guards swiftly follow you without being told to, and the way to the dungeons is silent. Both you and Cregan know the problem well â you have been informed of it by the Small Council, who chose Ser Bennardâs sentence, while he had lived it himself. There was pretty much nothing else to add to Bennard Starkâs case, and it was only because of his status that he had the right to be heard, even if his sentence was already declared â not that he or Cregan knew of it.Â
The Small Council said in the beginning that Bennard Stark had to be killed, but with him being the son of a lord, things could get messy quickly. You didnât really understand the problem, but apparently in the North everyoneâs pretty attached to the Starks, making it hard for them to⊠well, kill each other. A blessing by the King is needed, but yours will suffice too.Â
The dungeons are dimly lit and cold, with guards standing in front of each cell, vigilant and awake. Cregan guides you in front of one of the cells, and kicks at the metal bars of it. âUncle, you have visitors.â
Ser Bennard Stark is a gruff man, thin from his prison days, face unshaven and bleary eyes. âHe looks like you havenât been feeding him,â you comment. Cregan snorts. âWe do. He just refuses to eat.â
A guard brings you a seat, and you thank him and sit down. The man in the cellar looks at you, forehead pressed to the bars. âWho is she, dear nephew? Your playdate?â heâs sarcastic, that much you can tell. You already donât like him.Â
âUncle, this is the Princess firstborn of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velayon. She is here as Royal Ambassador to evaluate your case.â
His uncle raises his eyebrows, looking at you up and down. âI donât believe that. Sheâs barely a babe out of the womb.â
You glare at him, tapping your foot on the ground. âAnd you look like the worst scum out of Flea Bottom. But I guess looks can be deceiving.â you sigh heavily, crossing your arms. âSer Bennard Starkââ
âLord Bennard Stark,â he interjects.Â
You narrow your eyes. âIâll call you whatever in the Seven fucking Hells I want to. You are no Lord, and I am a Princess, so you are to speak only when interpelled. Are we clear?â
He makes no sign of a reply. âI said, are we clear?â
âPlease, uncle, you have already embarrassed this family enough,â Cregan reiterates. In the end, the man opts to make a small approving sound. You lean back in your seat. âGood.â
You take a small piece of paper out of your sleeve, having prepared it earlier. You open it, and show it to him. âThis is the order of the Small Councilâ your three sons will be executed as soon as your matters are settled, with or without you. They have no titles and are young, so there shouldnât be many against it. You, howeverâŠâ you tilt your head, âYour life sits in my hands. You are a knight, crowned by my own grandsire the King, and you are the son of a lord â a lord that was well liked and loved by his people.â
You sigh again, a bit tired from your journey, passing the paper to Cregan for him to read. âSo, Ser, give me a good reason why I should let you live.â
âFor instance, my good for nothing nephew ruling Winterfell alone would make the castle crumble to pieces in hours.â
You turn around, feigning confusion, staring at the walls and at the ceiling. âWhat a strange thing to say. Heâs been ruling alone for almost three sennights and Winterfell still stands strong.âÂ
The man narrows his eyes. âShouldnât you be playing with your dolls and learning the alphabet?â
You stay silent for a moment, your foot still tapping against the floor. âAnd shouldnât you have died of starvation by now? It would have made a lot of things easier. Do you know that there are people condemned to die of starvation?â
Your head turns to Cregan, who stands by your side and tilts his face to look at you. âHave you heard about that lord in the free cities?â
He thinks for a bit, then nods, and your gaze returns to the prisoner, âI think it was in Qohor. They locked up a man in a tower, with his four sons, and just waited for them to die, as they were left without food or water. They say he was the last one to die, and apparently, he ate the remains of his sons once he went mad from hunger. Unfortunately you donât seem to understand the situation youâre in. Have you got anything to defend yourself against the accuses of usurpation?â
He starts yelling, slamming against the bars, hands reaching for you and his nephew. âThat throne is mine! I wonât let children take it away from me!â
You laugh. âI guess weâre done here.â you rise from your seat, Cregan standing beside you to block Bennardâs attempts at reaching you. âThank the Gods; my dragon could really use some breakfast tomorrow.â
âIt is northern tradition that the Lord of Winterfell executes the prisonersââ
âDo I look northern to you?â
âNo, Princess, butââ
âYou have to understand that if you ask for the Crownlandsâ help, then the matters are going to be resolved in the Crownlandsâ ways,â you mutter, glaring at him. Bennard and his sons are tied to a tree, screaming and thrashing around, as NÄdrÄsy stares at them hungrily â he likes his preys scared, even if theyâre a bit too thin for his usual liking. Heâs waiting for your command. âBesides, my dragonâs hungry.â
âBut my uncle and cousins are still Starks,â he tries again. There are guards who are watching the exchange intently, stealing scared glances at your dragon. Some people of the smallfolk who heard about the execution have bundled up at a fair distance, not wanting to get near NÄdrÄsy. âIt is best if they die in our ways.â
You raise an eyebrow, staring at him like heâs crazy. âLord Stark, you do not realise that by trying to steal your right, they threatened the Crown. And by threatening the crown, they threatened me, and my whole family. It is right that I seek justice in the name of the Targaryens.â
He backs up a little bit, hesitantly nodding after a brief pause. You nod back. âPlease never question my judgement ever again. There is a reason why I was chosen to be Royal Ambassador, and it is not because I am spoiled or the favourite of my grandsire.â
Looking at your dragon, eager to have a taste at his relatives, Cregan understands why you have been chosen. NÄdrÄsy is scary, and his reputation precedes him, surely making any exchange easier.
His uncle and cousins die screaming, swallowed like flies by the dragonâs mouth, not even chewed on. The northermen can just stare, realising that if they ever were to be confronted by that monster, they would stand no chance. They look at their lord then, hoping that he never angers you in any way.
The matter is settled, so you are now ready to fly to the Riverlands, and once the sacks with your things are tied to NÄdrÄsyâs back you are free from your obligations and can go. You bid goodbye to Lord Cregan, thanking him for the hospitality, and climb on your dragonâs back, taking a hold of the reins, before stopping.
âOh, I almost forgotâ Lord Stark!â
He perks up, worried. âIs there any problem?â
âNo, no, everythingâs alright. Just⊠where do I find your best ale?â
I love the reader who canât stand up for themselves.
The reader who willingly lights themselves on fire to keep others warm. I love the reader who at the end of the day just wants to survive any way they can.
The reader who grants second chances and isnât strong. The reader who has to ask for help, who needs protection. Who needs financial support and can get it.
As someone who in real life has to be strong, and vicious and constantly on guard, there is something cathartic about being out in a POV where Iâm not. Where someone else is the caretaker, who takes control and makes the decisions.
So for the writers who create these readers who âdonât have a backboneâ who âdonât take up for themselvesâ or who are classified as âdoormatsâ: I love them. I love you. I love the stories and scenarios you create. đ
YES. This is the perfect explanation on why i always ended up writing soft!readers who sometimes easily forgive, easily get hurt and can a bit docile at times. thank you for putting it into wordsđ€đ»
summary | Sixteen years ago, Rhaenyra gave birth to a bastard, a girl in which she sent away. Sixteen years later, that bastard would fall into the hands of none other than Prince Aegon himself.
pairing | Aegon Targaryen x Bastard!Reader
tags | talks of birth, bastards, some sexual content mentioned, drunkenness, blood, mentions of drunkenness and ale, ooc!aegon because...he's complex. not proof read
w.c | 1.5k
note(s) | ITS HEREEEEE!!! This is set around the time of drift mark, so Aegon would be around like sixteen.
___________________________________________
Nine moons ago, Rhaenyra had gotten a speech from her dear uncle Daemon about how the âDragonâ could take what and whomever they wished. And in this case, Rhaenyra chose her uncle Daemon Targaryen. Outraged by the news that Rhaenyra could have possibly slept with someone outside of marriage, Queen Alicent Hightower gave Rhaenyra moon tea; A tea only made by the most skilled Maesters to therefore prevent or abort pregnancies. If brewed correctly, the tea could âtake care of the problemâ, which is what queen Alicent intended it to do.Â
Being complacent, Rhaenyra took the tea and drank it. But, what no one told her about moon tea, was that if brewed incorrectly, it would cause great, severe pains in the stomach and could lead to death-or worse, being pregnant.Â
And, Rhaenyra found out three moons later that the tea did in fact, not work. So, for the next seven months, Rhaenyra hid her pregnancy under the guise that âshe was gaining weightâ. She wore ill fitting clothes to hide her bump, and, as the time came closer for her to deliver, Rhaenyra was sent away under the pretext that she was visiting her uncle, Daemon Targaryen in Dragonstone.Â
And now, Rhaenyra sat in the bed, the pain between her legs only growing as she pushed. The servants comforted her from behind her as she labored. If she was to be fully honest the small comforts brought her only more anxiety. The stress from having to keep this a secret, to having to travel to a different town under the guise that she was âvisitingâ a family member, made this situation so much more consequential.Â
The birth was not easy. Rhaenyra felt like the world was shifting underneath her multiple times, and the pains that traveled through her back and towards her hips definitely did not help. She swore to herself multiple times that, feeling as though she would pass out at any moment. But then, the pain stopped, and so did the world as she heard the small cries of her infant.
âA girl, princess.â The servant smiled softly, handing the wrapped bundle to Rhaenyra.Â
As Rhaenyra held her babe, she felt an overwhelming sense of joy, fear, and protectiveness wash over her. This tiny, innocent creature came from her, her. The small girl nuzzled close to Rhaenyra, still whimpering. Rhaenyra smiled, holding her babe close whilst staring into her eyes. As she studied her new daughter, Rhaenyra noticed the small mark on the girl's chin. Rhaenyra reached up, and she ran a finger over the mark, her eyes studying it carefully.Â
For the next month, Rhaenyra stayed in Dragonstone, taking care of this babe and growing more and more fond of her. As she recovered, however, the time neared in which she would have to give her daughter up. Rhaenyra didnât know why, but the pain in her chest tightened daily as the day neared. She thought that it would be easier-to give away this babe-but, as she walked through Flea Bottom, dressed as an peasants costume, the realization dawned on her that she truly loved this babe; That parting with her firstborn daughter-even if she was sired by Daemon Targaryen-would be something she would regret for the rest of her life.Â
Rhaenyra walked up to the door of the brothel, her heart twisting around itself as she stared blankly at the door. Was this truly the fate she wished upon her daughter? To be forced into a shame filled life, a life in which she grew thinking that nobody would want her? NoâŠNo she couldnât possibly-Â
But then the door to the brothel opened, and there stood Madam Sylvie. Rhaenyra knew that there would be no going back now, that she had dug her own daughter's grave and now she must lie down in it.Â
âTake care of her. Gentle.â Rhaenyra spoke softly, handing her daughter, her precious girl, to the Madam. The Madam nodded gently, holding the girl close to her. The girl started to cry softly, missing the warmth of her mothers embrace. The madam looked up at Rhaenyra, but Rhaenyra stood strong; As strong as she could.Â
âShe is precious, do not let men use and hurt herâŠShe doesn't deserve such a fate.â The madam nodded gently at Rhaenyraâs words, listening intently over the infant's cries.Â
âOf course, Princess.â Rhaenyra watched her daughter squirm in the strangers arms, and she let out a breathy sigh.Â
âHer name is Y/n.â And with that, Rhaenyra turned and she left. At the sound of her mothers retreating steps, the babe started to cry louder. Rhaenyra had the urge to turn back, say forget it and deal with the shame of living at court with a bastard. But her pride got in the way, and while listening to the symphony of her daughter's cries, Rhaenyra left.Â
___________________________________________
Sixteen years later.Â
âY/N!â Madame Sylvie yelled out. She looked up from the cup that she was cleaning, searching for Sylvie. Her eyes softened slightly as she found Madam Slyvie approaching her.Â
âYes, Madame?â She spoke softly, gently placing the cup back down. The madam sighed softly as she placed a hand on her head.Â
âThe prince is over there, drunk of course. Could you bring him a pint, dear?âÂ
âOf course, Madame.â She was confused for a moment. The prince? Well, which one? It could be Daemon Targaryen, or Aemond, or Aegon, the girl did not know. But, nonetheless she smiled, quickly filling up a pint and quickly walking in the direction of the boy. She leans down, holding out the pint to him. The boy seemed dazed, his shoulder length hair greasy and messy, his cheeks rosy and his eyes elsewhere. Â
He turned, staring at her curiously as he gently took the pint. He seemed interested in her, the way her eyes held a certain gleam to them that he did not see in others.Â
â...You look..familiar.â The boy says. The phrase makes her pause, her hands gently brushing against his as she slides the pint into his hand. She didnât recognize the boy, barely ever having seen him amongst the hundreds of men's faces that she saw daily.Â
âI do not recall us meeting.â She spoke gently, so as to not accidentally offend the young man. When she went to stand, the boy grabbed her wrist, a drunken smirk caressing his juvenile features. He stared at her with a hunger that she had seen many times before in men; The hunger that the madam never let her satisfy.Â
âHow much do you charge, girl?â He asked slowly. She stared at him, confused for a moment. She withdrew her hand, much to the boy's dismay.Â
âI am notâŠI do not offer services, my lord.â She speaks softly, as to try and keep his inevitable anger at bay. But, much to her surprise, the boy didnât seem angered, only more determined.
âA moment of your time then?â Asked the boy, his smirk still evident on his face. She seemed scared, for a moment thinking that he would take advantage of her, but the boy sighed heavily in his drunken state and he sat up a little. âI mean you no harm. I just wish for company.â He spoke softly. There was something almost comforting at his tone of voice, something juvenile and hurt lying beneath.Â
âAlright then. Company you shall have.âÂ
The two sat and talked for genuine hours. Madame Sylivie paid them no mind, happy to have someone distract the drunken prince from her girls. The prince confided int the girl, and the girl in him, and at the end of their talk, he handed her a bag of coins.Â
âFor your time.â He spoke. When placed in the girls hand she gasped, feeling its weight. She immediately went to hand it back to him.Â
âMy prince I could never take such a sum-â But the prince refused to hear it. He gently closed her hand over the bag of coins and smiled at her. Albeit a drunken one, she could not say that it was not a charming one.
âYou should be paid for your services, girl. They were most enjoyable.â And with that, he left her, flustered and confused. Until the next time he visited.Â
For the next few years Y/N sat with this Prince-who she learned was Aegon-in the same corner, at the same time, at the same place. He would not bed her, nor would he force her to do anything she didnât wish to. He found himself staring at her when she would not be looking, sneaking small touches, and so forth, but he refused to believe that he may like her, romantically. He could not have a lowly barmaid as his wife, even if he wished to (which he swore he didnât). So, the drunken prince found a friend in this barmaid. And, although he would not say it, perhaps something a little more than a friend.
A/N: A few days ago I was having what I call a âlow dayâ. Transparently Iâm going through my summer of healing, so Iâm doing a lot of heart work and sometimes I get down. So I wrote this to just⊠idk cope I guess. If anyone struggles with this kind of stuff, just know youâre loved, and youâre wanted and needed. - Mo
As an aside, Iâm running out of ideas!! Send me some ideas if you wantttt!!
The day started out well enough. The weather had finally turned a sweet cool, and there was a beautiful sunrise. You and Alfie shared a good strong cup of tea, he read the morning paper to you, and you gave a him more than a few kisses goodbye as he left for the office.
It was setting up to be a good day. You had a list of chores you wanted to get done, and a great meal planned out for tonight. It should have been a good day. It should have. It really should have.
Nothing, happened, per say. It was just your thoughts getting in the way. It had been like this for a few years now. Where you would get your hopes up for a good day. Have your plan. Get excited for the day. But as the day went on, you felt your body aches, your heart turning heavy, and your mind would just race without peace. Sometimes, you could control it and push through. But some days. Some days you could only lay back down and cry. Ever since youâve started living with Alfie, you tried to keep your crying to a minimum, not letting him see you. But heâd caught you sometimes. And heâd worry and caress you, asking what was wrong, if he had done anything. Bless him. He didnât do anything. He never did anything. Nothing happened. Nothing caused it. It just⊠washed over you. Shrouded you like a massive blanket that you couldnât get out from under.
Today was a crying day. You did the best you could. The laundry was never folded. The grand meal in your mind turned into pot roast to roast in the fire for the rest of the day. Then you just crawled into bed. Laying there. Staring into space, watch the plaster on the walls change in shape. Listening to the wind and voices outside your window. Hours passed. Tears fell. And soon enough the evening sun came, and the front door rustled with the sound of Alfieâs boots.
âDarling! Sweetheart Iâm home! Oh it smells great my dove. Dove? Darling?â
When Alfie heard the rustling of the sheets, he knew what kind of day it was. He just sighed, taking off his jacket and boots. He hated seeing you like this. Not because it was inconvenient or bothersome. No, just because it broke something deep within him. His darling, suffering so. Alfie was someone who found the solutions. Always had the answer. Always was able to piece together the broken china, fix the squeaky door, figure out where the draft was coming from. Thatâs what he does. He makes his sweet heart smile. Makes her day better. Thatâs what he does. Itâs his joy.
Alfie knows the sadness is no oneâs fault. He knows that it just is, and maybe one day itâll leave you. He just wishes he could take it from you. He wishes that if anything, he could hold it for you. He felt helpless not being able to carry it for you. All he could do was be there.
He find you huddled in the sheets and quilts that youâve made and collected. No longer in the dress he left you in. Your hair is loose, spread around you like another blanket, and you have one of his shirts wrapped right around you like a shield. Alfie changes from his outside clothes, and lifts the sheets and blankets up, âAll right little bird, scoot over yeah? Yeah let me get next to you. No no donât worry about your face and tears I donât wanna hear it. Now come here, tell your old husband whatâs the matter. Whatâs got my little wife upset. Your mind playing tricks again eh?â
You buried your face in his chest, just letting the tears flow freely. Alfie just hummed to you, patting the top of your head. Eventually, your breathing evens out, and you let your fingers trace the unruly curls on his chest. You finally feel ready to talk, âI donât know whatâs wrong with me Alfie.â
âNo no nothing, is wrong with you pet. Ollie, heâs got something wrong with him, that silly little boy. You are perfect sweet heart. So what you let your tears ruin all my shirts?â
âAlfie!!!!!â
âOh my dove I am just teasing you. No no donât be cross with me please treacle. You know those shirts were ruined before we even met.â
He places his palm beneath your quivering chin, tilting your face to look up at him, "You're safe little bird. No one is upset with you. You've done nothing wrong my darling."
Though his words were so soothing to your racing mind, you still felt the tears well up, "I just don't want you to feel like I'm a burden."
Alfie shook his head quickly, kissing the tip of your nose, "You've never been a burden to me dove. Frankly, I wish you would be more of a burden. A little too independent, leaving your poor old husband in the dust."
You let out a small giggle, and Alfie felt his heart lighten, and he just pressed your closer to him, "Oh my sweet girl. My sweet sweet girl. I know it hurts. I know. But I'll always be here to hold you. You trust me?"
You nodded kissing the corner of his mouth, "I trust you Alfie."
"Good, but you missed treacle lets try that again yeah?"
You couldn't help but roll your eyes and try to push him away, but his strong arms just pulled you right next to him, allowing him to pepper your face with his scratchy and bushy kisses. Once you both were thoroughly out of breath from roughhousing, Alfie just stared into your eyes, pushing the stray hair out of your face, "I love you so much darling. More than you know. Why don't you take a bath, and meet me in the parlor? We'll listen to the radio and play cards?"
You nodded in assent, kissing him gently but fully.
Days like this were hard. Sometimes it felt like the loneliest island in the world. But with Alfie, there was a saving grace. There you could escape from the loneliness and find safe harbor in his arms. With Alfie, you could survive anything. You could thrive. You could have a beautiful evening. You can feel love where you still need to love yourself.
BAD IDEA RE-READING THIS RIGHT BEFORE MY PERIOD, WHEN MY EMOTIONS ARE ALL OVER đ I can relate to this fic so much though and I hope you're doing okay, friend! My inbox is always open if you need someone and I hope one day we can all find someone who comforts us + holds us like Alfie would đ«â€ïž
Wait Iâm also on the verge of my period⊠twins???
And thank you so much for your words and kindness! Itâs definitely rough some days but we make it through ya know? Thank you for your heart đđđ