#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]

Aegon perches on a chair next to her brother's bed, one he assumes their mother has occupied many a night previously when she didn't return to their chambers to sleep. He takes Jace in and notices all of the cuts and bruises in various stages of healing, as well as the dark circles under his eyes and the haunted expression he bears. One that emulates their mother's these days. "She visits me every night", he says quietly and looks down to his hands. "When she thinks I'm asleep. She sits with me for hours sometimes and I don't think she ever sleeps herself anymore. During the days the council takes up all of her time now since father has left. While he was still here, he took some of her duties and she had more time away from her meetings. He went to hunt Aemond, Elinda said. To bring justice to Luke. I hope he won't die too."

Most nights, he pretends to be asleep when their mother enters, because he doesn't want to talk. He just wants to know she is right there next to him, feel her hand in his hair and doze off to the feel of something that is familiar, so he can pretend they are still at home on Dragonstone and nothing bad ever happened. "Lessons?" His brows furrow into a frown. "Yes, with our cousin. She doesn't speak, though, so it's dull. It was more fun with Viserys", he points out and leans back in his chair. "But Joffrey is coming home soon. Mother wants him here with us, so it won't be boring anymore, I hope." Even though he has always been closer to Viserys, Joff is the second closest in age to him, so they have spent all their lives playing and studying together. "Are you hungry? I could send someone to bring you food. Or would you prefer to rest? I can come back later", he offers after a moment of silence, looking back up at his oldest brother.

He hasn't seen mother in days. Of course, she is busy, but their mother had been to see him every evening, and that angers him. Jace had not nearly died for his brothers for his mother to ignore the one remaining in their company. At least, as far as he knew. Joffrey was still in the Vale, he hoped. It was the safest place for him, and he regretted trying to send the youngest two to Pentos, knowing what it had led to. They would have been safer in the Vale. Regrets are not all that weighs down on him, but they are heavy. While he finds it difficult to move much, he does slide over a bit, patting the space on the bed next to him. "You can sit with me, if you want." Though he knows that his brother is likely to be found soon enough, and that either his mother or Elinda will take him away, he is pleased to see him. Better than the maester, or his mother bristling with concern. "Of course I will recover. I have already started to." He assumes, based on what he feels, and what he has heard from when his mother and Gerardys speak. "Have you been taken back to lessons? There might be a lot happening, but you cannot stop learning, you know." Ever the overbearing brother, the one that would ensure his siblings, at least, attended their lessons on time. While it might have fallen to the side now, with the war, he would hope against that. Should something happen to him, and to Joffrey, the inheritence would fall on Aegon's shoulders. It was a burdensome weight, one he did not wish to settle on any of them. "Elinda might not punish you, but mother will once she hears you have slipped away. I will talk to her about making sure she visits you more often. I will be okay, I promise you."

[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]

meta + aegon iii’s relationship with daemon

Aegon idolizes and adores his father. He has grown up being proud to be his father's first true born son, yet has never felt like he is 'enough'. When it comes to character, he unfortunately takes after his brother Lucerys. He is a quiet, thoughtful boy, who prefers to sit and read books instead of wielding a sword, which has made him feel insufficient as a son to a father like Daemon. He feels like Jace is much more suited to be Daemon's than himself, but he tries his best to please his father and be the son he deserves. Even though he would not naturally choose to be a fighter, he is skilled with a sword for his age and exceedingly smart when it comes to his studies. He always made sure to be good at High Valyrian, because he know his father values it and he loves to spend time with him. When he is praised by Daemon, it makes Aegon happier than praise from anyone else, because he feels it is harder to earn his father's approval. To him, Daemon is the epitome of a Targaryen man and even though he doesn't think he is enough like him, he always strifes to be. Nonetheless, Aegon is unfortunately closer to his mother, because he thrives more in the gentle and loving environment that his mother offers. He is prone to insecurity and self doubt, so he needs her reassurance more often than not. His father is his idol, however, and he hopes that one day he can become a man his father can be proud of.

[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]

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]

@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]

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]

"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]

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]

The last weeks have been strange. He is used to having his brothers and sister around at all time and his parents always close by. Now his mother is constantly occupied and he has not seen his father in months, at least not properly. Perhaps once or twice in passing, but that's it. He misses Viserys, who was always closest in age to him and his shadow, but also Joffrey. Not to mention Luke, who was the gentlest and kindest of his brothers, always willing to play with the little ones and entertain them. His absence is a heavy one and everyone feels it. Looking at Jace now, he finds his brother much changed from who he used to be. He has hardened, the light from his eyes seems to have gone out. There is a constant tightness in his jaw that he knows from father and a maturity that equally fits him and seems too soon for him. The boy shrugs and wanders closer. "So. She is not allowed to punish me and no one else will. I have not seen mother in days." Even though Elinda will perhaps worry, she will also understand why he wanted to see his brother. "Are you going to recover?"

It's hard to remember that they were all just children, and that Aegon still is. Jace might have been forced to grow up far too quickly by the time the war began, but his little brothers should not have to endure that. Joffrey too, in the Vale, was already growing too quickly from what he had heard. He had nearly died in the battle, and the guilt over returning without their youngest brother weighed heavy on his heart, far more painful than the injuries that were still healing. He sighs, shaking his head, sitting up just a bit in the bed. "Of course I want to see you." He loves his siblings, always has, would have given his life (and nearly had) to protect them. "I feel a little better." Not a total lie - he's still feeling the effects of milk of the poppy, which has mostly caused him to relax against the injuries, still heated and angry. "I know you must have escaped the guise of Elinda to get here. She is going to be upset about you sneaking away, you know."