Nameday

Sun shone brightly through his solar window, lightly illuminating his desk. Aerion was sitting at a chair, his eyes on a nearby opened letter. He leaned back in his chair, gently fiddling with the wax seal as he tried to stave off a growing sense of excitement. 

A knock banged against his door.

"Come in" Aerion said, his eyes now focusing on the thick wooden door that opened with a light creak. Briefly he caught sight of the two guards outside his door letting a familiar platinum blonde figure inside.

Vaeron.

Aerion met eyes with the man who took a seat across from him, a brief silence ensuing as Vaeron looked down at the letter sitting on the rich wooden desk. 

"Do you know when she's arriving?" Vaeron asked, his tone tinged with worry. "The cooks are wondering when to serve the feast." Aerion's eyes briefly lifted to the ceiling as he considered Vaerons words.

"Serve it an hour before dusk, whether she arrives or not," Aerion tilted his head, an uncomfortable feeling tightening his chest. "If she's not here by then, we'll turn it into a feast for the guardsmen and hardworking smallfolk."

Vaeron nodded, his eyes running across Aerion's face as he thought to himself. His fingers ran up to his Maesters chain links and fiddled gently with them as his mind raced. 

"Do you know if she is arriving by dragon?" Vaeron asked, his tone curious but worried. "We don't have the farm life to sustain a dragon for long, well we do but it would be—"

"—No, I've not a clue" Aerion interrupted with an annoyed sigh. "She merely says she'll be arriving for a surprise" he scoffed as the sun gently spread across his face. His dark brown hair gleamed a golden hue, his eyes lighting up as the rays gently brushed his pale face. 

A moment of silence passed.

"You seem stressed?" Vaeron asked, his brows furrowing together in worry. "It's your nameday, mayhaps you should come down through the keep?" The maester suggested. 

Aerions eyes ran over the man for a moment, sighing as he slowly stood. He felt as heavy as a castle as he came to his full height. 

"Come then" Aerion said as he nodded towards the solar doors. "We ought to figure out what to fix next" Aerion said, his tone almost resigned. 

The castle has faced numerous problems lately. A tower had nearly collapsed, and only the grace of the gods prevented a serving woman from being crushed by the fallen debris.

Vaeron stood himself, already making his way to the door, the Maesters eyes lingering for a moment on the bronze spiky circlet sat atop a small pedestal in the solar. 

"Have you not thought of wearing it?" Vaeron asked as they started walking through the castle's halls. "The circlet" he clarified, Aerions jaw tightening at the words.

Aerions eyes glanced out a murder hole, briefly seeing a glimpse of small folk children training with bow and arrow. 

"I must admit, I have but…" Aerion paused, his mind racing with the power he felt with the circlet atop his head. It was intoxicating, the memories of Marq kneeling to him played through his mind. 

Vaeron glanced at him curiously, his light purple eyes glancing into Aerions dark purple. 

"It's complicated" Aerion eventually settled on as Vaeron pushed open a door, fresh air rushing through the hall as they walked outside. 

The sound of practising children overcame them, the mutters and excited whispers they shared amongst one another filling the courtyard. The instructor's voice was firm as he guided the kids. 

"Would you not consider a different circlet?" Vaeron asked. "It may enforce your Royal title to any visiting lords" the man grumbled.

A few lords recently stopped by the castle on their way to Kingslanding, haughty cunts. They insisted on consistently calling Aerion a lord, but even then it seemed mocking. 

He'd had them sent from the castle within a few hours, they seemed rather surprised at that.

As if he was below them. 

"Mayhaps" Aerion considered as he eyed the nearby practising children, they'd gotten good—suddenly he had to step to the side to avoid an extremely misplaced arrow. 

Well most had gotten good. 

The courtyard went silent, a curly haired boy gasping in shock as his hands trembled around the bow. The children looked around at each other with wide eyes. 

"Hob!" One of the children shouted at the curly haired boy "You nearly killed the Prince!" He shouted in his height pitched voice, a small smirk tugging at Aerions lips at the indignation in the boys voice. 

"On his name-day too" one of the other children said quietly, their eyes settling nervously on Hob. But the children's attention seemed to have suddenly shifted as quite a few turned to the Prince.

Quite a few suddenly ran up to the Prince, swarming him as they all spoke up at once. 

"It's your nameday?" "My mother asked me to give you this my prince" "How old are you? My father said you're young but you look old my Prince" "My Prince it's me name-day too, are we twins!" 

The voices called out in a high pitched cacophony. Vaeron watched on in amusement as the excited chatter filled the yard, Aerion dropping to a knee as he started to converse with the children. 

Gifts were being handed to the Prince, simple things, homemade and cheap, clearly given to the man not out of duty or propriety, but genuine care.

"Mum said you have messy hair" a little girl said as he handed him a bone comb, Aerion snorting at the blunt words. 

"Tell you mother I'm very grateful" he informed the girl as another boy approached, a small engraved wooden raven in his hands. 

"Here My Prince" the boy said, a blush covering his cheeks as he ducked his head shyly. Aerion smiled, gently taking the figure from the boys outstretched palms,

"Who made this?" He asked as he eyed it curiously "It's very well made" he complimented, though several imperfections could be seen on closer inspection.

The boy mumbled "I did, My Prince" his voice was nervous as he kept his eyes on the ground below. Aerion hummed, eyeing the crow in new light. 

"My thanks" Aerion said, patting the boys head as another child approached a small gift in hand.

"Dragon!" A guard atop a tower suddenly shouted, a mix of panic and awe in his voice. Aerions head snapping to the man as a horn suddenly blasted through the castle. 

A distant rumble echoed through the sky, growing louder as shadows loomed overhead. Dark clouds parted briefly to reveal a familiar golden dragon dipping gracefully from the heavens, it's scales shimmering in the sunlight.

Syrax

—-

Aerion approached at a steady pace, the dragon having landed just outside of his keep. It's burning eyes tracking his approaching form, his cloak snapped back from a sudden burst of air as it snorted. 

Princess Rhaenyra slid down the dragons back, hitting the ground with a light thud as she eyed him, a smile tugging at her lips. 

"Princess" Aerion bowed his head, his eyes lingering on her form as he did. 

"Ser" she greeted, her lips twitching at the familiar greeting. Slowly approaching the Prince, taking off her gloves as she did. 

"You were…vague in your letter" Aerion said with a questioning tone. His eyes running over Syrax, the dragon curling down in the dirt, settling its head onto its wing.

"I was" she agreed, her eyes briefly running over the castle behind Aerion. 

"Do you want a tour?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"No, I want to give you a tour" she said as she tilted her head, her hair shining silver in the sun. 

"Of mine own castle?" He shot back, a smile tugging at his lips.

"No, of my castle" she said, tilting her head, Aerion felt a grin growing at the words. He knew her title and lands, everyone in the realm did. 

Princess of Dragonstone.