#ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇᴀʀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ( House of the Dragon ) - Aegon Targaryen

[wcrriorhearts]

The laughter of children fills the entrance hall as the brothers file out of the castle and into the courtyard to go train at the beach, but Aegon lingers, staying behind as the other five head out. He knows his mother is in one of the sitting rooms, and so instead of following just yet, he steers towards the open door. With four brothers and a half sister who live here with him, it is not always easy to spend time alone with either one of his parents, but Aegon tries. There is no one in the world he loves more than his mother, so he has a tendency to stick to her side whenever he can. Stepping into the room, he finds it flooded with sunlight and it makes his mother look even more ethereal than she already does. Smiling, he walks over to her and kisses her cheek. "We are done with our lessons for today. The others have gone to the beach with Rhaena. Can I stay with you for a while?"

@halfyearsqueen liked for a starter from Aegon

[wcrriorhearts]

It was good to hear that he would have a crown of his own, one that fit him and wasn't his mother's. One day he would hopefully wear it with pride, when he had grown into it, both figuratively and literally, but for now those were shoes he could not fill yet. He was the fourth son, the sixth child, the one who should not have to bother with matters of the state. And naturally, at his young age, he had never seen a council chamber's inside before all of this, so there was much to learn. He had no real interest in it, especially not in a time like this, when all he could think about was what he had lost, but he had an honor to uphold. His brothers had died bravely and valiantly for their mother's cause and he would not shame them by being a failure.

"She doesn't like me very much. She never speaks", he muttered, thinking of the scared little girl he visited sometimes. The servants told him it was not his fault; Jaehaera had barely ever spoken to anyone outside her immediate family and much like his own, they were all dead now. Both children shared so much trauma and grief, it should have helped them bond over it, but instead Aegon didn't know how to speak to her. Her family had killed his and vice versa, so how could one bridge that divide with a marriage between children? Also something he didn't want, but he was too young to truly care about the repercussions. They would be married in name only for years to come and perhaps even as adults it would be nothing more than a facade.

A crooked smile appeared on the boy's lips for the briefest of seconds when Cregan spoke and he nodded. "Thank you, Lord Cregan. I am glad I have you", the boy said and sat down on a chair, because he felt exhausted. He had to learn so many new things each day and there were constantly people around him who wanted something. All Aegon wanted to do was sit somewhere quietly, play with his toys and be at peace for a while. Unfortunately, the only time to himself he got was at night and then he most often lay awake, pondering on everything that had happened and missing his family.

Cregan   watched   the   boy-king’s   restless   hands   and   the   flicker   of   doubt   that   shadowed   his   young   face.   The   solemn   title   felt   a   weight   Aegon   had   never   wished   to   bear,   yet   here   he   was—barely   ten   years   old   and   already   carrying   the   burden   of   a   crown.   Cregan’s   heart   twisted   for   him,   for   the   child   he   saw   sitting   there   beneath   the   weighty   legacy   of   a   kingdom.

Cregan   knelt   lower,   steadying   himself   as   he   looked   Aegon   in   the   eye,   softening   his   voice   as   he   spoke.   “Aegon,”   he   began,   letting   go   of   the   formalities   that   only   seemed   to   deepen   the   boy's   isolation,   “I’ll   gladly   set   aside   the   titles   if   it   eases   you.   You’ve   my   loyalty   for   who   you   are,   not   just   the   throne   you   sit   upon.”   He   reached   out,   pausing   to   see   if   Aegon   would   accept   the   familiarity   before   placing   a   firm,   warm   hand   on   his   shoulder.

“There’ll   be   a   crown,”   he   assured   him.   “Not   one   too   heavy,   mind   you.   And   if   it’s   to   be   crafted,   we’ll   find   the   coin—it   is   a   symbol   of   what   you’re   to   become,   and   it   should   fit   you,   not   your   mother   or   anyone   else.”   He   allowed   a   hint   of   a   smile,   hoping   to   lighten   the   boy’s   troubled   expression.

“As   for   Jaehaera,   no   one   expects   you   to   know   her   heart   yet.   Give   yourselves   time,   and   don’t   fret   too   much   about   the   wedding.   I’ll   see   to   it   that   she   has   a   dress   she   feels   comfortable   in,   and   I   heard   she   enjoys   dolls   and   cats   that   roam   the   Keep   and   flowers.”   She   is   but   a   kid.   So   was   the   king.   But   duty   was   duty.

He   paused,   choosing   his   next   words   carefully.   “You   aren’t   alone   in   this,   Aegon.   The   North   stands   with   you—not   as   warriors   alone,   but   as   your   friends.   I’ll   be   here   for   every   question   and   every   uncertain   moment.   The   crown   may   feel   like   a   curse   now,   but   I’ll   do   everything   I   can   to   help   you   grow   into   it.”

[wcrriorhearts]

"Mother, mother!" Aegon came barging into the sitting room, cheeks flushed red, clothes mud stained, bootprints from the front door leading to this very room. His hair was wind swept, but he beamed at his mother. "I helped father find an egg for the baby! It's golden and black and looks very pretty! I am sure it will hatch a beautiful dragon", he exclaimed cheerfully as he rushed to his mother's side, sitting down on the ground before her armchair. He had gone to the mountains with his father and the older boys to retrieve an egg for the new babe and had loved the adventure. "Are you well, mother?"

@halfyearsqueen liked for her son

[wcrriorhearts]

You have royalty in your blood. You are excellent in every way. — Rhaenyra for Aegon?

Aegon's brows furrowed into a frown at his mother's words, shaking his head slightly. "Blood does not make me excellent, nor a good royal", he said softly, because he strongly believed that character was the most important attribute of any ruler. And he had never even imagined to sit on the iron throne. Three brothers should have come before him, yet here he was now, his mother's unwilling heir in the wake of their deaths.

He wanted to tell his mother many things, especially that he did not desire the throne, nor the crown. His reign was hopefully in the very distant future, because he was only a boy, not ready to rule the seven kingdoms. All he wanted was to stay close to his mother and be by her side while she ruled. To him she was the most flawless person he knew and he would never be like her. "I will never be like you."

[wcrriorhearts]

His hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment, eyes trailing back to Viserys, who was sound asleep curled up in his bed. Unlike his older brother, he had no issues falling asleep, despite the unrest in their family after Luke's death. He was still little and Aegon did not fault him for it, wishing he could find the same peace. So much had changed in such a short time and it was hard for the ten year old to come to terms with it. Quietly, he opened the door to the nursery and sneaked out, knowing his mother would most likely be sitting by the fire in the parlour, for she struggled to sleep as much as he did. And as he had predicted, he found her there, staring into the flames as if she was trying to find answers in them. "Mother? I cannot sleep. Can I sit with you?", he asked quietly as he approached on naked feet, hoping she would let him.

@manupropria gets a starter for Rhaenyra

[wcrriorhearts]

Everything had changed in such a short period of time. Their whole lives had been turned upside down and every day anew Aegon felt like being trapped in a nightmare. Luke was dead, Visenya and Viserys most likely as well, father had gone to kill Aemond and Jace had almost died trying to protect his family. It was beyond the boy's comprehension why his own blood was such a big threat to them. Having grown up on Dragonstone entirely, he knew little of the divide in their family, nor of life at court. He did not like the Keep much and rarely left his mother's side. She was in a council meeting now, however, and Aegon had abandoned Elinda to see Jace. He had been kept from doing so thus farm, because his brother needed to rest, but he wanted to see him with his own eyes. Sneaking into his chambers, he found him awake in bed. "Why not? Do you not want to see me?", he asked as he approached, sitting on the edge of Jace's bed. "She is in a council meeting so I could not tell her. Are you feeling better?" Even though Jace had apologized, his little brother didn't know what for. He hadn't done anything wrong, nor failed anyone.

@wcrriorhearts / extremely short starter call (for Aegon III)

"I'm sorry." It is the first time he's seeing his little brother since he had returned, injured and having failed. Not only had he gone against his mother's orders to fly to the Gullet, he had promised Aegon he would find their brother, and he had not done so, had nearly died in the attempt. Even now, only a few days later, he was still stuck in bed, unable to walk. He wasn't sure if his mother had allowed this - doubtful, since his brother was alone. Determined to keep him from opening his injuries again, and his brother did not need to see him this way, weak and battered. "You probably should not be here, though. Does mother know you came in here?"

[wcrriorhearts]

@halfyearsqueen said: comb .   comb  fingers  through  my  muse’s  hair . / aegon iii

he was sleepy, head resting in his mother's lap, the salty sea breeze in his hair, as well as her fingers. a smile curled up the corners of his mouth at the touch and the quiet moment between them, for once without the interruption of one of his brothers. even though he loved them dearly, he sometimes longed for more time alone with his mother. he was not as loud as the others, not as demanding and did not know how to fight for his place sometimes. with a new babe to add to the mix soon, his mother's attention would be once again divided, so he enjoyed the moment even more.

"i love you, mother", he muttered, hand catching hers to pull it close to his mouth so he could place a kiss against her knuckles. "you make me very happy. i could not imagine a better mother." he opened one eye and blinked up at her, grinning slightly, before snuggling back against her and yawning, the calling of the seagulls overhead lulling him into a gentle slumber.

[wcrriorhearts]

@halfyearsqueen said: ❛ shed no tears for me. i will be back before you know it. ❜  / aegon iii

he awakes with a gasp, panting, his mother's words still ringing in his ears, even after he has woken up, the remnants of his nightmare still making his skin crawl. hot tears prickle behind his eyes and he rubs them angrily, before burying his face in his hands for a moment, trying to get his breathing under control. his wife is asleep next to him and he takes care to cover her shoulder with their blanket, before slipping out of the bed, naked feet touching the cold stone floor. he grabs his robe and shrugs it on, as he slips out of the bedchamber. for a moment aegon halts in the sitting room, listening to the silence to make sure his children are asleep in the nursery, before carrying on.

it is still darkest night outside and the corridors lie entirely deserted before him, as he descends deeper and deeper into the belly of the keep, down dozens of staircases, until he has reached the crypts. the light of numerous candles illuminates the massive skeleton of his grandfather's former dragon and amidst the candles lies his mother's crown, the one thing he saved from dragonstone, where she lies buried now. it is the only thing he has left of her, the one memorabilia he has here at the capital, when her remains are so far away from him. he placed the crown on the altar many years ago and no one ever dared to remove it. now aegon comes here whenever he craves the comfort of her presence and even though he cannot see her, she feels as though she is here with him. "you said you would always come back to me", he says softly, nimble fingers reaching out to touch the metal warmed by the heat of the candles. there is no accusation in is voice, only sadness. so many years have passed since and he will never stop missing his mother, aegon knows it. will never stop being haunted by the memory of her death either. the tears that prickled behind his eyes earlier now roll down his cheeks and aegon doesn't bother to wipe them away. he has been king for four and ten years, yet he still feels like an imposter on the throne, because it should be her reigning now, not him.

"i wish you could have kept your promise. i miss you."

[wcrriorhearts]

"Jace, Jace", Aegon called out, racing through the corridors of Dragonstone to find his older brother. He was dirty from head to toe, face speckled with mud and sea water, but a wide grin was plastered on his features. When he finally skidded to a halt before his oldest brother in one of the sitting rooms where Jace was studying, he beamed. "Father took me flying on Caraxes and when we went to the mountains, we saw that Syrax has a new clutch of eggs! Father said I can come with you to get one for the babe!" When Viserys had been born, Aegon himself was barely more than a toddler, but he was thrilled to be old enough now to be invited for the occasion. "We might lose limbs, though. Syrax is rather moody when you get too close. I am glad mother is not as snappish. What are you doing?"

@aforgottenpride liked for a starter and gets Aegon

[wcrriorhearts]

Sometimes it felt like a burden to remember them all. Aegon had every memory and detail of that time etched into his mind and could not forget. The last time seeing Luke, Jace leaving for battle, their father saying goodbye and never returning, Joffrey disappearing - it all was still there, haunting him, but nothing as much as watching their mother die. Maybe he had put her on a pedestal she did not deserve, because he only remembered the good in her, but to Aegon she still was everything. He wore black every single day to show that he still mourned them, but it never felt enough, because he was alive, while they were not.

Looking over at Viserys, he reached out and patted his shoulder. "I am sure she will grow and thrive. We have lost too much already. The Gods owe us some mercy at times. Quite a number of Targaryen children had been born sickly and small, but ended up thriving. He would give Viserys whatever it took to ensure the little girl grew up. It was strange to think his brother had become a father so young, but his children had grown on the young King. The little ones in the family were the only ones who could evoke some semblance of happiness and contentment from him, because he tried harder for them. They did not understand the shadows that loomed over their families. "Maybe she should see the Maester again. Or spend some time outside the city. Maybe the countryside will do her some good."

Viserys shouldn't have been so harsh with his words. Aegon was doing everything just to wake up and be the King. He could never imagine enduring what his brother had, and the fact he had been sent away didn't help. Viserys had only heard things in passing while he was hidden away and safe, whereas Aegon had witnessed what no one ever should have. He couldn't imagine what he must feel; being so harsh was rather awful. "I am sorry. I was much too harsh with you. We are all dealing with this in our own way.."

"We barely got to know our mother and father. We were at war without even knowing it. We had to watch while the ones we loved were going to fight.." He spoke with a shake of his head. It had been so confusing then, and every day was terrifying. Trust wasn't something he knew because of it. "You will, Aeg. I know you will." He spoke with a small smile. "They are constantly growing. She is. I do worry about her thought. She is small and fragile but walking a little more.."

[wcrriorhearts]

aegon knows that he is not yet a man, but he also no longer feels like a boy. his life on dragonstone had been peaceful and sheltered, but the events of the last months have made him grow up rapidly. there is so much missing from him now, parts he will never recover, because most broken pieces have been left behind by people. when his mother assures that he is allowed to speak of them, he averts his gaze down to his hands. she says it now, but he can see how her face tightens whenever their names come up. he can see how she clenches her hands and her body stiffens, as if the memory of them causes her physical pain. he cannot be the source of that. and so he shakes his head and lies, because it is the easiest way to handle this. "i do not wish to speak of them", he says quietly and hopes it is convincing enough. in all honesty, he truly does not wish to speak of them to her. his grief will only worsen his mother's and he promised his father to be strong before he left.

"not aegon the conquerer", the little boy decides, shaking his head. he has never found his namesake very appealing. "i don't think he was a good man. he was very cruel and did not treat his wives equally", he adds, looking up at his mother. if he has learned anything growing up around her, he understands the value and worth of a woman. his mother is the brightest, strongest and most wonderful soul in all the seven kingdoms and he does not like men who see women inferior to men. it were not women who have slain his brothers, but men. "i would love to hear about grandmother", aegon says and a genuine smile forms on his lips. he never met the late queen aemma, but he wants to believe that she was a lot like his mother. shifting slightly, he curls up next to her and places his head in the queen's lap, ready to listen to whatever tale of his grandmother will be told. it must have been hard for his mother to have lost queen aemma at such a young age. how blessed he is to have her with him still, after so many of his loved ones have already perished.

" you are still little, " she points out, " you will not be a man for a while yet, " neither had his brothers been, and their bravery had ripped them from her completely - she should have known, she should have known better, known not to send jacaerys after luke - yet try as she well may, try as she might to take back decisions that had already wrought devastating consequence , it was already too late. brows drawing in, she grimaces - eyes never leaving his face . it makes him sad, as well it should , what he has lost - and the words only serve to make the fissure beneath her ribs widen , cracking and spiraling painfully beneath the skin. did his worry for his mother mean he did not believe he could rely on her ? that she would not be able to comfort him ? " you can talk about them, aegon, " her words are soft, reassuring, " your brothers, and your father. do not worry for me, sweetling.i wish to know all that toubles you . "

rhaenyra hums, and the smile she offers as he settles in beside her is one that is tentative, but it is true, geniune , if not entirely weary. " what shall it be about, then ? your namesake, mayhaps ? or do you wish to decide ? " and then his hand seeks out hers, and that tells her far more then any word may . leaning over, she brushes a kiss to the top of his head, vowing silently that no matter what may come.... she would make this life safe for him again. she cared little for the throne if that was the cost of it ; if she had stayed , would he too have been lost to her ? she could not have taken that chance . " perhaps about my own mother, the first queen of your late grandsire. " he wished for stories of excitement, of dragonlords of old and battles fought by his father ; kings and queens - and yet... aemma arryn was the most important of them she has told him. the one that had shaped how she had raised her own children, " if, " she allowed, " you would like to hear about her. "

[wcrriorhearts]

The boy King knew that his child bride was anxious and withdrawn. Even though they were cousins, they had never met each other before Aegon came to the capital and it was needless to say that their introduction did not go well after Blood and Cheese. Aegon could hardly blame her for being suspicious of absolutely anyone, given many people still wanted her dead for being a member of the wrong Targaryen family. To the boy it mattered not, but he was also not interested in her. They were strangers, forced to exchange vows they didn't understand and that alone didn't make him like her. He genuinely felt for her, after everything she had endured, but that was about it. Aegon was far to consumed by his own grief to share that of others.

"I can't change the way she views us. She doesn't like me either", she said with a shrug, dismissing the topic of Jaehaera. "I wish for my sisters to be called to court. Baela and Rhaena. I miss them", he then said, because thinking of Jaehaera had reminded him of the very few family members he had left now. The twins were what remained; though he had only grown up with Rhaena permanently by his side, he was fond of them both, so having them here would give him a source of comfort. "Can I go now?" Sometimes he forgot that, in theory, he was the ruling monarch and gave the orders. But Corlys was the one who made the calls with assistance from Cregan and Aegon still found himself asking for their permission whenever he was about to do something.

"Your wife is scared and frail, Your Grace. My wife is with her, but even her she has a hard time trusting." Cregan's wife was a Hightower, the youngest sister to queen Alicent, she was Jaeheraś family. But the girl would not open up.

"We will do our best to educate you in ruling, Your Grace, Corlys and I." He assured Aegon. "We will aid you in your duty as King, to become a good and just King, Your Grace." Some would say Cregan was acting out of self interest, but they did not understand how Northeners worked, how Starks worked. Cregan wanted only to make sure the King would act well for the realm's sake. He was honour bound to assure Aegon III was nothing like Aegon II.

[wcrriorhearts]

he beamed up at his mother and briefly nuzzled his cheek against her hand when she cupped it, enjoying the affection. his mother was aegon's favorite person in the world and though he knew that with so many children in the castle he could not always be glued to her side, he enjoyed nothing more than her company. "no, luke got to choose it, but i also thought it was the prettiest egg", he told his mother eagerly, not put off by his older brother's choice. He worshiped Luke in a way that none of his other brothers could ever possibly reach, so he could never be jealous of him. Out of the lot, Luke was the kindest and gentlest with the young boys and spent the most time playing with them. When he was scared, he went to Luke first and he told him everything.

his had reached out to rest on the swell of her mother's stomach, hoping to feel the babe move within. at his age, he understood little about pregnancy and could not remember viserys' birth, so he was excited to meet the new addition to the family. but given how attached he was to his mother, the idea of her having to struggle so to bring the child into this world made him anxious. just like his preferred brother, aegon was equally sensitive and gentle, which made him worry about his loved ones even on good days. "yes, i had a lot of fun. syrax was not in a good mood, however. i wouldn't be either if someone stole my egg. but we will bring the hatchling back to her eventually, so i hope she will not mind", he told his mother and shrugged slightly. "joffrey has a bloody nose, though. he slipped on rocks, but father says it isn't bad. he took him to see the maester, while jace and luke have gone flying."

she smiles warmly as @wcrriorhearts enters her sitting room, excitement ringing in every syllable of the word mother. she could not think of a title that brought her quite as much joy as that. though the coming child tired her far more easily, the further she got in her pregnancy — aegon’s joy rarely took form in such an overt manner, and she treasured and encouraged it when she saw such displays. and for the sake of his younger sibling, too - he had been far too young to do the same when viserys had been a babe. “ that sounds pretty indeed, “ she says softly, her hand reaching to cradle the side of his face as he kneels at her side, thumb brushing the apple of his cheek tenderly. “ did they let you choose ? “ they had not went alone on their journey to the dragonmount. his three elder brothers had went along with them, and only viserys had remained in the castle with her. “ i am sure your sister or brother will love it, perhaps as much as you love your stormcloud, “ tone teasing, mischief dancing in her eyes. she wants nothing more then for her babe to be a girl — though she loves her sons more then all else. she cannot remember a time where she has not longed for a daughter. “ i am, “ she reassured, “ i am merely resting for the moment, “ she had exerted herself a bit too much in the time they’d been gone, and her body demanded a rest, “ tell me, did you have fun ? “ an easy change of subject, she did not want him to worry for her more then he absolutely must.

[wcrriorhearts]

Aegon nodded and for the first time a small smile was coaxed to his lips at the thought of seeing his sisters again. He had not been close to Baela growing up, but Rhaena had been by his side since he was born. It would give him great comfort to be in her presence again, because it would feel like a part of the family and home he once knew still existed. The person he truly wanted, however, was his mother.

When Cregan cupped his cheek, Aegon's fingers wrapped around his mother's necklace that he wore and never took off. It was his anchor, his rock and his only connection to her. He felt that as long as he wore it, she would be with him in spirit somehow, even though that was perhaps not true. But what else could he believe in? The Gods no longer held meaning to him. They had allowed his family to tear itself apart, leaving two lost little children behind.

"Perhaps you can teach me with the sword. My...my father used to, before the war. I suppose I should continue my training", he mused, not wanting to part with Cregan. The rough Northerner was a great comfort to him and Aegon wanted him to stay at court for as long as possible. Corlys' health was failing and he suspected that his grandsire would not live to see the next year. Not that he was actually Aegon's grandsire, but the boy thought of him as such.

He was a child. Cregan saw nothing but a hurt, scared boy, not a King. It made him angry, not at the boy, but at all the adults who had failed him.

"Yes, you may go." Cregan said. He gestured the Kings Guard and heaved a deep sigh. "I will convein with Corlys in bringing your sisters to court." He told the King. He stood, too, cupping Aegon's face, looking him in the purple eyes. "Please, if you need anything, let me know. I am here to serve, not the other way around." He said. Though he suspected the boy did not need to be served, but to be parented. And he did not feel that that was his place.

[wcrriorhearts]

Aegon felt like every word spoken to him these days was heavy with importance and gravity. He missed the mindless conversations he had shared with his mother and brothers, as they talked about things that didn't involve war, legacy or loyalty. He missed being nothing but a little boy. He missed feeling whole. His fingers fiddled with the hem of his black shirt as Cregan knelt before him, both on eye level now. It almost felt like speaking to one of his older brothers, who had often lowered themselves to be his height when they talked. But Cregan was not his blood and his words were once again heavy with the burdens the boy had to bear now. Decisions and weights that did not belong on the shoulders of a child barely ten years of age.

Yet there was no one else left and so he had to do his best. Cregan was trying to give him hope and reassurance, but it wasn't fully helping. What was he supposed to reply? He merely nodded and averted his gaze. Even though he had almost nothing in common with the cousin he was supposed to wed in a fortnight, Aegon understood her anxiety when people spoke to her. Jaehaera almost never spoke, not even to him, and he assumed it was also because there was so very little children like them could tell the adults around them. Their whole world had collapsed under the weight of a war the remaining children had never even fully grasped. Neither one of them knew how to exist in a kingdom of their own that they had inevitably inherited against their own will.

"Could...could you stop calling me 'Your Grace' when it's just us? I don't like it", Aegon finally said, looking back up at the Lord of the North. It was a title he associated with his mother, not himself, and the formality of it didn't belong in his private chambers, he felt. "I am grateful for your loyalty and support. There is no denying that I will need it, just like my brother and mother required it. You are a good man. Not only because you honored the vow you gave them, but because you still stand by it, even though it means serving a child. My brothers' grandsire has decided I am to wed Princess Jaehaera soon to bridge the divide between our families. I don't think she likes me very much and I cannot blame her. But I suppose I'll have to plan a wedding? She ought to have a...dress, I think, and perhaps a crown? I should have a crown as well...My mother's does not fit me. Can we have that made? Or is there no coin left?"

Cregan   watched   the   boy,   the   weight   of   his   crown   seeming   too   heavy   for   such   young   shoulders.   Aegon’s   voice,   though   quiet,   held   a   pain   that   Cregan   understood   all   too   well—the   loss   of   family,   the   burden   of   surviving   when   so   many   hadn’t.   His   grey   eyes   softened   as   he   regarded   the   young   king.   Aegon   had   been   thrust   into   a   world   that   had   no   mercy   for   children,   and   though   he   bore   the   Targaryen   name,   he   was   still   just   a   boy   lost   in   grief.

Cregan   stepped   forward,   his   presence   steady   and   grounded   like   the   cold,   hard   soil   of   the   North.   "Your   family   would   be   proud   of   you   for   thinking   of   them,   Aegon,"   he   said,   his   deep   voice   measured   and   calm,   meant   to   anchor   the   boy   in   his   moment   of   doubt.   "It   is   no   easy   thing   to   carry   on,   to   rule,   when   you’ve   lost   so   much.   But   honor   is   not   found   in   knowing   everything   from   the   start.   It’s   found   in   the   desire   to   learn,   in   the   will   to   stand   firm   despite   the   storms   that   come   your   way."

He   glanced   down,   knowing   well   that   Aegon   needed   more   than   platitudes.   "I   do   not   expect   you   to   know   how   to   rule   today   or   even   tomorrow.   No   one   truly   knows   what   it   means   to   be   king   until   they’ve   been   tested   by   the   weight   of   it.   But   that’s   why   I   am   here,   and   others   like   me—to   serve   you,   to   guide   you.   You   are   not   alone,   Your   Grace."

Cregan   knelt   before   him   then,   a   gesture   not   of   submission   but   of   loyalty.   "I   swear   to   stand   beside   you,   Aegon,   to   be   your   hand   and   your   sword,   to   help   you   honor   your   family,   Jace   included."   He   lifted   his   head   to   meet   the   boy’s   eyes,   a   flicker   of   understanding   passing   between   them.   "You   carry   the   blood   of   dragons,   but   you   need   not   carry   all   the   weight   alone.   Let   us   help   you   bear   it."

[wcrriorhearts]

Aegon had grown sullen and quiet in the absence of his family. The pain of living while they all died was heavily weighing on him every day and now that he also bore a crown that should have never been his, the boy felt more lost than ever before. At his tender age, he was neither ready to rule, nor had he been prepared to do so. Four older brothers should have come before the boy and the weight of his losses did nothing to help him come to terms with the role he was supposed to fulfil. All he could think of daily was the fact that his mother should have been here, not him.

Cregan's words tugged painfully at the strings of Aegon's heart as he mentioned Jace and the boy looked down at his feet. He missed all of his older brothers. Their guidance, their wisdom, but most of all their presence at his side. Before the war, they had never spent a day apart in their lives and to be without them for the rest of his now seemed impossible to survive. "Thank you, Lord Cregan", Aegon said after a moment of silence between them, because he assumed that this pledge of loyalty required a reply from him. These oaths sworn to him were still unfamiliar to the boy, and he struggled to be the person everyone expected him to be.

"I don't know how to be a King and rule, but I wish to...honor my fallen family by doing well. I just don't know how yet", he muttered. He was only a child and knew he would need years to learn and understand his duties, but he still wanted to do justice to those who had fallen in an attempt to seat the rightful heir on the Iron Throne. It wasn't him, but he was all they were left with now. A child, disturbed and traumatized by the war that had been fought until very recently.

The   Winter   Wolf   stood   before   the   young   Aegon,   his   gaze   soft   yet   steadfast.   The   boy,   fragile   in   his   innocence,   bore   an   expression   that   seemed   to   echo   a   past   long   buried   beneath   the   weight   of   time   and   loss.   Cregan's   mind   wandered   back   to   the   days   of   fire   and   blood,   to   a   war   that   had   claimed   so   many   lives,   including   that   of   Prince   Jacaerys.   Despite   the   differences   in   their   features—Jace's   brown   eyes   and   darken   hair   in   contrast   to   the   Valyrian   features   of   the   young   one   before   him—Aegon   reminded   him   unmistakably   of   his   older   brother.   The   boy's   eyes,   though   clouded   with   the   remnants   of   sorrow,   held   a   spark   that   stirred   memories   in   Cregan's   heart. @wcrriorhearts ft. young aegon.

  He   wondered   how   much   of   the   war   Aegon   remembered,   if   his   recollections   were   a   blessing   or   a   curse.   The   burden   of   memory   could   be   a   heavy   one,   a   constant   echo   of   battles   fought   and   promises   broken.   Cregan   himself   had   been   bound   by   an   oath   to   Rhaenyra   Targaryen,   a   vow   that   had   perished   with   Jacaerys   but   had   never   left   his   heart.  

"You   remind   me   of   your   brother   Jacaerys,   more   than   you   might   know,"   Cregan   said,   his   tone   gentle   but   firm.   "The   promise   I   made   to   Rhaenyra   did   not   end   with   his   death.   I   swore   to   protect   her   children,   and   that   promise   remains   unbroken.   It   is   my   vow   to   you   now,   young   Aegon—to   see   you   safe,   to   guard   you   with   all   I   have,   just   as   I   did   with   him."