Life

(Aerion's POV)

"For the first time in quite a while..." Rhaenyra said as she set Aegon down in his cradle, "Things have been quiet....You haven't left for some dangerous adventure." 

I frowned, "Well..." I said as I walked over to her

"Everything is perfect..." She said with a smile

I stood behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist as I leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, "Hm." I said, "Yes..." 

"My Husband." She said as she rubbed my hand, "Aerion Targaryen, he who can't help go off into danger." 

I raised an eyebrow, "What's this all of the sudden?" I said, "Am I in trouble?" 

"Are you?" She asked, "What do you intend to do in Runestone?" 

"It's hunting, Rhaenyra...." I said as I chuckled and hugged her from behind, "Just hunting...." 

"Your Mother died in a hunting accident." She said softly

"I know." I said, "But....I won't die to a hunting accident. There is nothing to worry about. It'll be fun....the boys and I will have some bonding time, as men." 

"I suppose that's true." She said

"You worry too much." I said as I gently rubbed her stomach, "How are you feeling?" 

"Good..." She said as she looked at me with a smile, "I feel so much vigor....." 

"Ah..." I chuckled, "Vigor, is it?" 

"Yes." She patted my cheek, "Vigor...." 

I leaned in and kissed her on the lips, embracing her firmly. She kissed me back as she gently caressed my cheek. 

"Mm..." She pulled away, "Can I ask you something?" 

I looked at her, "Yes...." I said as I was enamored by her beauty

"What really happened in The North?" She asked 

"Huh?" I said

"I waited so long to ask you, you told me not to worry because of the child." She said as she turned around and patted my chest, "Now that our son is out and sleeping soundly, I have to ask." 

I held her waist, "What I told you and everyone." I said, "We fought Wildlings....that's all....." 

"Wildlings.." She said softly, "I was told by Ser Willam that Wildlings are like the Tribesmen from the Vale....and I know you've fought many of those in your past. That look you had after you came back, it wasn't like anything I've seen before. I doubt you got that look from fighting Wildlings. Tell me, what did you see?" 

I haven't thought of what had happened back then, not in a while. I didn't want to think about it, but I knew sooner or later, I'd have to do something about it. Talk to someone. I haven't seen Willam in months, he's the only other one who knows the truth. Who's going to believe me? Would Rhaenyra? 

I smiled slightly, "Just snow and ice." I said as I leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, "Let's get some sleep, okay?" 

"Okay...." she said softly as I pulled away, "Wait." 

She grabbed my hand and stopped me. 

"What is it?" I asked

"It's been a while..." she said as she smiled, "Since we've talked....you know, like the first time you let your feelings out...." 

"Oh." I said, "Yea, that's true." 

"Every since then, it's been nothing but passionate love-making." She chuckled, "Which I do enjoy, of course. But....I would like to have your head on my lap again...." 

I nodded, "Well..." I said, "If you insist." 

****************************************

"Normally, you'd say something." Rhaenyra said with a chuckle as she caressed my cheek

I was laying down, my head on her lap as I looked up at her, her beautiful smile. I was mesmerized by her, she was bigger than life to me. Everything about her was perfect to me. I didn't care about anything else at the moment, the feeling of her thighs on my head felt amazing. I was in a perfect position, her soft hands running along my face, it was like a dream. 

This was a better dream than what happened in the North. 

"Hm...." I said, "Allow me to enjoy this sight....." 

"Oh?" She said

"Yes..." I said softly

"Hm, would you want us to progress to our usual nightly ritual?" She asked with a smile

"When you're ready." i said, "For now, we should enjoy this, my love." 

"Of course." She said with a smile, "So tell me, what's been on your mind? Ever since your return, you've been too quiet. What horrors did you see?" 

"I....." I said softly as I looked into her eyes

I got flashes of that night; the dead rising and chasing us through the snow and darkness. The howling of the wights that filled the air, the feeling of dread that crept all around us. I've cut down dozens of live flesh, piling corpses on the ground when in battle before, but that was different. It was a different feeling. These were corpses that I cut down, again and again....and again....it was terrible, hopeless. 

"Aerion?" She said

"It was just a dream, Rhaenyra....." I said softly, "A bad one.....like one that you'd get as a child, wake up in the night in a cold sweat. The cold, it was so cold....every fiber of my being felt frozen, unable to move at times. It was dark that night....so dark.....the only thing that I could see was the faint glow of the snow, reflecting the little moonlight there was...." 

"Oh...." She said, "What else?" 

"It....." I said as the sounds of the shrieking were still in my head, "If it gets past the Wall, there is nothing but death and ruin...." 

She frowned, "What?" 

"You...wouldn't understand, Rhaenyra...." I said softly, "The things I saw.....what I saw was.....it was different....so much different..." 

"Try to make me understand.." She whispered, "I want to know what has been giving you sleepless nights...." 

"Death." I said simply

"Death?" She asked

I nodded, "Death." I said, "I saw something....something that would bring nothing but ruin to the Realm...." 

The Corpse in The Wall. I've only had three dreams about that. And in all three dreams, I see the Corpse....no, the Man, standing atop a mountain of corpses, holding a sword made out of Ice. It looks at me as the corpses begin to move, standing up as he points his sword at me. 

"Aerion..." She said, "I need details...." 

"We cannot let the realm be divided, Rhaenyra." I told her, "We can't. Your Father betrothed us for this reason; I must make sure that someone sits on the Iron Throne, whether it be you or your son. But that threat must be dealt with when it comes." 

I slowly sat up as Rhaenyra frowned, "What?" She said, "Wait....you're talking about.." 

"Aegon's Dream." I said as I looked at her

"He told you?" She said softly

I nodded, "He puts so much faith in me." I said as I looked down, "All my life, I've wondered what my purpose has been. I've wandered the land, walked aimlessly without ambition, without a drive, with nothing but the yearning to get that man's attention. But now I know what my purpose is...." 

She looked at me and I saw a bit of tears on her face, "A-Aerion..." she said

I gave her a serious look, "My purpose, Rhaenyra...." I said softly, 

"It's to keep you on that Throne when you sit on it."