006 The Second Name Day (3)

"Ah fuck, not again!" Aegon groaned as he looked at the black void filled with white smoke.

TSK

He clicked his tongue in annoyance as he looked at the looming heads of a dragon.

"Why did I fall asleep?" he berated himself. When Rhaenyra said they should go as per the king's orders, Alicent took Aegon from her, and Aegon, in the comfort of his mother's arms, fell asleep.

"Fuck this shit!" he cursed as he creased his brows; he could feel one of the heads rushing toward him, but he could do nothing but stay still in resignation.

"I wonder when this—"

*ROOOAAARRR*

...

Aegon's eyes fluttered open as he woke up from his sleep. He squinted his eyes, thinking about the dream, but then shook his head and mumbled, 'It's no use thinking about it.'

He looked at his surroundings; he was in what seemed to be a carriage. The carriage was spacious and elliptical in shape.

He was sitting on the lap of a maid, with Viserys on one side and Alicent on the other.

Right by the door was Rhaenyra, who did not look happy at all.

'Right…' Aegon sighed inwardly as he looked at her.

Viserys, oblivious to all of this, had a bright smile plastered on his face as he said, "This is nice, all of the family gathered together." He

Alicent smiled at her husband; she turned to look at Rhaenyra, who ignored her father's remarks.

"You should join me in the hunt, Rhaenyra," Viserys said, looking at his daughter.

"No." That was the only word that came out of Rhaenyra's mouth, which annoyed Viserys.

"It is your duty, Rhaenyra, your duty as a princess," Viserys added with narrowed eyes.

"The boars squeal like children when they are dying. I find it discomforting," Rhaenyra excused.

Just then, the carriage bumped heavily, causing everyone to jump slightly in the air slightly.

"Ugh!" Alicent grumbled as she clutched her womb. She adjusted the pillows to make them more comfortable while looking at her son, who was looking at her with worry.

"Are you sure you can travel in such conditions?" Rhaenyra asked, a hint of worry in her purple eyes.

"Yes, the maesters told me that going out would be refreshing for me and the baby." She answered with a smile.

Rhaenyra nodded her head in understanding, but the hint of worry didn't leave her face.

She moved a bit closer to her friend, which made Aegon raise an eyebrow at his sister: 'Good, at least she cares about Mother.'

Alicent's smile widened at her friend's gesture, feeling thankful that their relationship was slowly mending, but she didn't voice it and embarrass her friend.

The rest of the journey was smooth, with Viserys babbling some nonsense that Aegon didn't care to listen to.

In an hour, they had reached Kingswood. The carriage stopped with Viserys standing up from his seat.

'Now, what should I do?' Aegon mumbled to himself. 'Leaving Rhaenyra alone would only make her feel isolated,' he thought as he looked at her.

'But taking her with me would make it more dangerous, as she would feel more isolated.'

After all, in her words, no one is here for her, and almost every one of them wishes Aegon to be king.

'Should I leave her alone or take her with me?' He fell into a dilemma.

Rhaenyra was biting her lip as she heard the cheering claps from outside. She felt constricted; none of them were here for her, and none of them supported her just because she was born a woman.

Just then, her aunt Rhaenys's words echoed in her mind: 'The men of the kingdoms would rather burn the realm than let a woman rule them!'

Hatred gnawed at her heart as Cuserys stepped out of the carriage, along with Alicent, followed by Aegon, who was being carried by the maid.

Aegon stared at his sister intently; he decided to leave her be for now as making her stand before the crowd who cheered for her brother would only grow her hatred. 'I will leave her for now and will be with her later, can't leave her alone for long.'

THUD

The door to the carriage closed with a thud, leaving Rhaenyra alone with her thoughts.

Rhaenyra's eyes watered with hatred as she heard the praises. She didn't know to whom to project her hatred to.

Her father was the one who named her his heir; her friend Alicent was innocent and was forced to marry her father by Otto. Her brother was two years old and was innocent, and he liked her.

"This is so frustrating," she mumbled as she bit her lip, her small hands curling into fists until they whitened.

...

Rhaenyra walked into the main tent of the camp. She cooled down in the carriage for a few minutes and then came to the feast.

She could see her father, the king, feasting while talking to some lords.

Alicent was talking to some ladies of different houses and Aegon… Where's Aegon?

She looked around to see her brother, but he wasn't there. 'Did he fall asleep?' She mused.

But then she felt a tug at her coat from below.

"Hmm?" She hummed and looked down below while narrowing her eyes.

"Sister! Lift!" Aegon exclaimed as he raised his arms, his eyes sparkling with innocence and enthusiasm, melting the ladies hearts.

Rhaenyra looked at him dumbfounded for a moment, her heart clenched as she looked at the source of her problems, the one who was challenging her claim to the throne, the one who was causing her isolation.

'No, Aegon is innocent.' Rhaenyra thought to herself as she shook her dark thoughts away; she glanced at him once more before saying, "...Sure."

She then lifted him in her arms while the maids taking care of Aegon rushed to her side after spotting him.

"We are sorry, Your Grace." The maids said as they bowed.

"Don't worry about it, I will carry him," Rhaenyra said and dismissed them; she could feel the curious gaze of all the lords and ladies on her, while Viserys and Alicent were smiling at the siblings.

'Hmm, I should try to spend more time with her,' Aegon mumbled as he hugged her around the neck.

But just as Aegon was about to speak, a smooth voice came from behind.

"I don't think I have introduced myself, but I am Jason Lannister. It's truly nice to meet you, princess."