Raven

"Prepare yourself," Aerion told his squire as they rode through the city gates. "The smell—" he cut himself off, pinching his nose. Gods, it was worse than last time. He faintly heard Garrett gag beside him and smirked under his hand.

Garrett's eyes widened, and Aerion couldn't help but grin. "It's worse than last time!" the squire exclaimed. Aerion blinked at the comment, his curiosity piqued. He thought this would have been the boy's first time.

"Wait, you've been before?" Aerion asked, his curiosity piqued. He thought this was Garrett's first time in the city.

"Yes, I watched you fight" he said "That's why I went to my father and asked to be your squire" he said, Aerion blinking in surprise and tilting his head. He thought Lord Bracken had picked him, not Garrett.

He eyed the Red Keep on the horizon, the familiar building only setting his nerves alight. Before he turned back to Garrett.

"Well you'll watch me fight again" he said with a grin, this time would be much harder. He'd be fighting with full grown men, he would be one of, if not the youngest one there. 

—-

The King wasn't in the throne room, the hand had greeted them and sent them to their rooms. Aerion eyed his chambers, slightly bigger than last time. The only reason he even had a room in the Redkeep was because Garrett was his squire. 

He quickly took off his riding leathers, putting on more appropriate clothing. It was all dark of course, his sword still rested at his hip, his dagger still on the small of his back. 

But it was better than just leathers, he opened his door only to stop at the sight of Garrett looking up at him. He tilted his head questioningly, the boy quickly picking up his gesture.

"Ser, can we train?" he said excitedly "I never got to train here last time" he grinned, bouncing on his toes. Aerion almost groaned, but held it in as he walked past the child.

"Come" he said as he started to walk through the busy corridors. He wanted to visit the damned gardens, but his knightly duties came first. 

—-

Aerion deflected the wooden blade, the training yard was quite busy. Filled with Knights, most of the men fighting one another with real steel, the clashes of metal and grunts filling the yard.

"Sloppy" he remarked as the wooden blade gently tapped Garretts shoulder. "Keep your defence up at all times" he corrected as he stepped back from a swift swipe. 

"Better" he complimented "But loosen your grip, you're choking the blade" he remarked as he stepped around another blow. He sent his blade towards the squire only for the boy to sloppily, but successfully parry it.

Garrett grinned and went on the counter, Aerion smiling himself but stepping around the swings with ease. "You'll tire yourself out" Aerion laughed as he deflected another swing. 

And sure enough he was breathing far heavier, sweat starting to drip down his brow. Aerion snorted, stepping back from another strike, his footwork leading Garrett in circles. 

His blade tapped gently against the boy's side, and Garrett puffed loudly. His cheeks flushed with exertion as he sloppily swung his blade down in a reckless move. 

But then as Aerion stepped back the boy stepped in himself, lifting his blade in a quick upward slash. Aerion felt a grin rise on his face, this is what he wanted to teach.

So he let the wooden blade slash across his stomach, Garrett grinning at his success as he huffed and puffed. The boy fell onto his back with a grin on his face. Aerion snorted, stepping closer and offering the boy his hand.

But Garrett's eyes widened as he glanced at something behind Aerion. Aerion followed his gaze, turning slowly. Platinum blonde hair greeted him from the balcony above. 

Princess Rhaenyra.

Aerion's breath caught in surprise when his dark eyes met her amused lilac gaze. He stood frozen, unsure if he should look away or hold her stare.

He was broken from his reverie by Garrett grabbing his still outstretched hand, Aerion instinctively pulling the boy to his feet. Garretts gaze flicked to the Princess for a moment.

"She's looking at us!" He whispered, Aerion turned to him and smirked.

"Looks like you've caught the Crown Princess' eye" Aerion said, his tone dry. "Keep it up, and you'll be betrothed by the month's end."

Garret stumbled back from him, spluttering slightly as his face reddened even further. Aerion snorted as he nodded to the boy, trying to ignore the urge to look up and to his left. 

"Come on, we're done" he remarked as took Garretts wooden blade, quickly dropping it off in a basket outside the barracks. He heard Garrett groan but both of them knew he was exhausted.

The boy followed behind, not after he shot a long glance at the Princess.

—-

Aerion had dropped the squire off at his chambers, the boys room was much bigger than his. He brushed past a rushing servant as he walked the familiar route. He couldn't help the nerves burning through him.

He eyed the approaching gardens, walking past the guards at one of the many entrances. A pang of nostalgia hit him at the sight of the weirwood, though it was tinged with something darker. Kingslanding had always felt chaotic. 

Slowly he walked over, the silence of the garden overtaking him.

Casually he dropped in between the massive roots, laying his head back against the white bark. He closed his eyes, the faint sound of his crow beating his wings greeted him. 

He could feel his animal, in less than a second he was seeing through its eyes. He was atop a branch of the weirwood, everything as a crow was sharp, any movement instantly caught his attention. 

Each time he entered the crow's mind, it felt less like a skill and more like a tether pulling him closer to something unknown. But the advantages it gave him were astounding. 

Sometimes he wondered, what would happen if the crow was killed while he was in its body? The possibilities sent chills through his spine, almost instinctively pulling away from the bird at the thoughts.

He shivered slightly, the faint clicking of armour alerting him to someone's presence. His crow released a caw to warn him as well.

"Ser" the familiar voice brought his lips into a grin, his eyes opening as his head turned to the figure. Wearing a bright red dress, rings sparkling on her fingers, Rhaenyra stood. 

"Princess" he said as he bowed his head, his hair momentarily falling over his eyes at the gesture. Her lips upturned slightly as she herself walked over to the tree, settling between the roots a couple metres to his left. 

"You're back," she murmured, her eyes never leaving her book, but the air between them shifted slightly, like the hint of a storm. Aerion felt it—a familiar weight, lingering between them.

"I did say I would return," Aerion responded evenly, though his mind churned over the words. It felt like a game, one he wasn't sure he knew the rules to.

She hummed softly, flipping a page with deliberate slowness, her fingers brushing over the thick parchment. "I suppose you did." Her tone was light, but there was something else, something beneath the surface that made his grip tighten on the roots beside him.

A pause. The rustling leaves filled the silence between them.

Aerion glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She wasn't looking at him, but he knew she was aware of him, just as he was of her. Her presence always seemed to demand his attention, whether or not she spoke.

"You fought well last time," she said suddenly, her tone casual but precise. "Though I wonder if you've learned anything new since then."

Aerion felt her words like a challenge, veiled in politeness. He felt a grin tug at his lips. "I'll be jousting this time" Her lips twitched into the faintest of smiles. 

"I'll be watching closely," she said, the weight of her words lingering in the air. A promise, or a warning, he couldn't tell.

The Kingsguard shifted slightly, Aerion's attention focusing on the man. He blinked when he noticed it wasn't who he was used to. He eyed the man for a second before realising who it was.

"Criston Cole?" He half asked the man, his brow furrowing. The Kingsguard shifted, hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Ser Aerion" He acknowledged evenly, his tone was formal. "I see you've returned for the tourney" Aerion nodded, sensing the distance that duty demanded from him. 

"I did, I do hope we don't face one another early" he admitted with a chuckle, the older man was a far better jouster than he, that he could guarantee. The Kingsguard nodded, a silence falling over the garden once more.

Aerions eyes flicked back to the Princess, the weight of his ring oddly heavy as his right hand fell to his pouch. He gently grabbed the necklace, the jewellery slipping through his fingers.

Criston shifted, the clinking of armour a stark reminder of his presence. His eyes flicked to the ground for a moment before he took his hand out of the pouch, the necklace forgotten.

The sudden caw of a crow made him lift his head, his eyes focused on his companion. Aerion whistled sharply, catching both Rhaenyra and Cristons attention. He outstretched his arm, and within moments the crow swooped down, digging its talons into Aerions forearm. 

"So the rumours are true?" Rhaenyras voice startled him, turning his head to the Princess in confusion. His eyebrows furrowed, clearly questioning.

"Rumours?" He questioned, his mind racing. The Princesses eyes lingered on the bird for a moment before meeting his eyes. 

"The Blackwoods are spreading them around the court" she said, glancing back down at her book. She clearly didn't care too much for the rumours going by her demeanour. 

"According to them, a Bracken bastard knight has dared to adopt their clan's sigil" she said, a hint of amusement in her tone.

"This is a crow," he said, slightly dumbfounded. The Blackwoods had always prided themselves on their ravens.

How did they even hear of his crow?

—

Thoughts?