Kiss

"Where is Rhaenyra?" Viserys inquired, his brow knitting in concern as he scanned the garden. Alicent followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly as she too failed to spot the princess.

"Aerion's gone as well," Daemon observed with a smirk tugging at his lips. His voice held an edge, his amusement barely concealed, yet something else was hidden beneath.

Viserys blinked, his eyes sweeping the garden once more, confirming their absence. His jaw tightened, and a slow exhale escaped him, his grip on the goblet firming.

"Perhaps they went to the gallery?" Alicent suggested, her tone polite but guarded, an uncomfortable smile tugging at her lips as her gaze shifted briefly toward Daemon. There was something hidden in her eyes, a flicker of unease.

Viserys' lips curved upward in a bitter smile, though his chest tightened with simmering anger. "They do not care for tapestries," he almost growled, taking a long sip from his wine, the fire in his voice barely restrained. His eyes flicked to Alicent, something unspoken and old burning beneath the surface.

"I send her on a grand tour of the Realm, and she quits halfway through, why does she need to be so rebellious" he muttered, bitterness lacing his words. His hand gestured sharply to a nearby Kingsguard, the force of the motion betraying his growing irritation.

"Find my daughter," he commanded, his tone colder now, authority ringing in his voice. The Kingsguard nodded without hesitation and turned swiftly to carry out the order, leaving behind the growing tension in the royal gathering.

"Your Grace," Alicent said, catching her husband's attention. "She needs to think she has a choice" she said gently. Viserys shook his head, sighing as he took another long sip of wine. 

"She does have a choice," he said, looking suddenly tired. "She has the biggest choice of anyone in the realm" Alicent nodded, her eyes lingering on the nearby Weirwood tree for a moment. 

Memories of the two talking played through her mind, she was watching as they seemed to easily talk, she felt an odd ball of resentment build at that. 

"Perhaps a match between them would benefit us all" Alicent suggested, the words escaping her lips. An uncomfortable feeling blooming in her chest at her own words. Viserys' head turned, his eyes seeming to narrow in thought.

He'd thought of it before, he knew they sent letters to one another, that they were at least friendly. Daemon's voice however sliced through Viserys' thoughts.

"The Heir of the Throne wedding a legitimised bastard, especially one so…controversial would cause quite the stir," Daemon said casually, swirling the wine in his cup. "Even I've heard rumours about Aerion" he added, his voice dripping with suggestion.

Viserys' attention snapped to his younger brother, his gaze sharp. Daemon met his eyes, unbothered, before taking a slow sip of his wine. Then, with a mocking edge, he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

"His magics," Daemon whispered, the word laced with mockery. "The 'Skinstealer' rumour is particularly…vivid."

A tension filled the air, Daemon's words hanging like a dark omen. Viserys' expression hardened, though he remained silent, while Alicent's unease grew. 

"Would those prideful lords ever bow to Rhaenyra, with him by her side" Daemon said, seemingly more to himself than anyone else, yet they all heard the words. Viserys' jaw tightened, a clear image being painted in his mind. 

—-

"These are quite…" Aerion tilted his head, trying to find the words. "…unique?" He tried as Rhaenyra snorted. Both of them looked up at some tapestries. The image of a human mating with a dragon stitched skilfully onto the piece.

"Is this truly the extent of Valyrian artistry?" He asked as he looked around at more of the Gallery, it seemed all the Valyrian pieces were…exotic to say the least. Very colourful as well, lots of reds and oranges. 

Rhaenyra laughed softly, her eyes glittering mischievously as she glanced from the tapestries to Aerion. 

"You're not a fan I take it?" She said, her tone light yet laced with sarcasm. She walked closer to a tapestry depicting a woman with a snake's body, her arms wrapping around a man with the head of a dragon.

The whole scene was…unique to say the least. Rhaenyra raised a hand to point at a particularly detailed part of the tapestry, her lips twitching in another laugh.

"Look, I'm not sure what exactly is happening here" she gestured to the section, "But it definitely involves his...tail" she said, a smile tugging at her lips as she struggled to keep her face serious. Her eyes held a gleam, the laughter in her voice growing as she tried to describe the image. 

"Gods" Aerion sighed as a smile tugged at his lips.

As Rhaenyra moved closer to inspect another tapestry, Aerion noticed the way the light played across her hair, catching the gleam of silver in her platinum blonde locks. 

"I didn't realise you were so well-versed in Valyrian culture." He forced his gaze away, his voice casual.

Rhaenyra raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms with a slight smirk. "I know enough. Besides, it's my heritage. Our heritage." 

A moment of silence passed, Aerions eyes lingering on her form. His eyes flicked back to the Tapestries, some of the only remaining pieces of Old Valyria. 

Old Valyria was undoubtedly the most powerful empire ever, and it would most likely stay that way for the rest of time. 

Yet even with all that power, influence and history…only tapestries and a single family remained.

"When I'm gone, I wonder what the realm will remember of me" he said as his eyes flicked to the tapestries. 

She tilted her head at the sudden change of topic. "What do you want them to remember?" She said as she took a step closer to him. 

Aerion sighed as he leaned back against a stone wall, his gaze lingering on her for a moment too long as he tried to put his wishes to words. His eyes roamed upto the high stone ceiling. 

He sighed, spending a moment more thinking as his eyes wandered over the high ceiling.

"House Brightflame…" he said cautiously. Rhaenyra smirked, leaning against the wall across from him. Her hair was like molten silver, her lilac eyes lighting up at his words. 

"That's it, your house?" She asked teasingly "Not your sword skills" she said as she tilted her head. "Your tourneys?"

Aerion remained silent, those tales wouldn't last the tale of time. 

"You know, I think I'll remember that tourney for the rest of my life" she said, Aerions heart skipping a beat at the words. "The squires one" she clarified as the memories seemed to play back through her mind.

Him winning the free for all by throwing a mace, that alone was memorable, his later fight with the Blackwood however had a habit of lingering in her mind.

"You…were fierce" she eventually said, memories of Aerion atop the older squire ran through her mind. The memory of watching her father Knight the boy clear in her head.

The memory of that day—the chaos, the blood, and the boy standing victorious—had stayed with her. Aerion had been wild, but there had been something else in him, something that had caught her attention and never quite left.

"Is that what you think I'll be remembered as?" He eventually spoke, his tone curious. "Fierce?"

"Fierce will definitely be in there" she said, her voice a whisper this time, her eyes locking with his. She took a step closer, the gap between them decreasing. He hummed consideringly, a brief silence overcoming the pair.

"What would you remember about me?" She asked, her head tilting. Aerion eyes ran across her form, focusing on her eyes, her nose, the rings on her fingers.

"A lot of things," he said, almost too quietly, as though afraid the words themselves might break whatever invisible thread held them together.

His hand reached out, gently taking hold of one of her hands as he looked down at her rings, slowly he started to gently run his fingers across one of them. 

Rhaenyra watched him closely, her lips parting slightly as his fingers twisted the ring. She didn't pull away, yet a flicker of uncertainty crossed her gaze—just for a moment.

"Anything specific" she breathed, her voice oddly quiet as her eyes dropped to his hand. 

"Your eyes" he responded, without a hint of hesitation. His head raised, gazing at her as she looked down at his hand. 

Rhaenyra's breath hitched at his words, her gaze locking with his again, more intense this time. "A lot of things" she repeated softly. "I wonder…"

Aerion's brow furrowed slightly. "Wonder what?"

She took a half step closer, the space between them shrinking further. "What else is there that you won't say?" she asked, her voice a bit bolder now, a challenge hidden in her tone.

He hesitated, feeling the pull between them. "There's nothing I haven't said," he replied, his voice steady, but the tension between them undeniable.

She tilted her head, studying him, her lips curving into a half-smile. "I'm not so sure about that." Her hand reached out this time, for the edge of his cloak, fingers grazing the fabric. "You're always so careful, Aerion. Too careful, maybe."

He felt the blood rush in his ears, the silence between them thick. "Maybe I have to be," he said.

"And maybe," she whispered, eyes glinting, "you don't."

A long silence prevailed, heavy with the implications as they looked at one another. Aerion swallowed as his eyes flicked down to her lips, temptation the likes he's never felt before burning through him. 

But before he could think on that temptation, he heard approaching footsteps, his eyes widened as his gaze shot to the entrance of the Royal Gallery. 

In walked The Queen, her eyes settling on them, standing too close to one another, quickly taking in the slight flush on Aerions cheeks and eyeing Rhaenyra's hand gently holding the lapels of Aerions cloak. 

The Prince took a hasty step back, his gaze dropping to the floor as he bowed his head. "Your Grace" he muttered respectfully. The Queen had frozen, the Kingsguard behind her staying quiet. 

A long moment of silence passed, Rhaenyra was staring straight at the Queen, an unreadable look on her face. Aerion however kept his head bowed, his pulse rushing through his ears. 

Alicent felt an uncomfortable pit of resentment building in her stomach, her jaw tightening as she glanced down at the ground for but a moment as she regained her composure. 

"I shall leave you both, to your…tapestries" she said with a bitter note in her tone, suddenly turning on her heel and leaving the room. 

—-

Thoughts?