The Rise Of A Dragon - Chapter 22: New Normal

Everyone must get used to the new changes that the aftermath of the Duskendale has left on the King.

The Red Keep, 278 AC  

Aerea sighed as she plucked the strings of her lute. 

“Rea! Rea!” Viserys exclaimed, bouncing in his cot and looking up at his sister with a smile on his face. 

Aerea smiled down at him, resisting the urge to pinch his chubby cheeks, she then stood from her seat and began to play for Viserys. 

“O valiant knight, with sword in hand, upon the field of ancient land, here dragons roar and shadows creep, thy heart doth wake, no time for sleep. Chant the praise of courage bold, in tales of yore that bards have told, the dragon’s flame, the steel’s bright gleam, are but the echoes of thy dream. Raise high thy sword, let justice ring, the song of heroes we shall sing.” Aerea softly sang, making Viserys bounce even more. 

“More, more, Rea!” Viserys said as he started to clap his hands. 

Aerea chuckled, “I am glad to know I have such and enthusiastic audience, Vis.” 

“He is not the only one captivated.” Aerea turned around and saw her mother standing in the doorway of the nursery, walking past Ser Jonothor who had been standing next to the door. 

Viserys started bouncing around even more when he caught sight of Rhaella, lifting his arms and demanding to be picked up. Rhaella smiled at her son, lifting Viserys to her chest and holding him tightly. 

“Will I soon be hearing of you holding performances as Rhaegar is fond of doing?” Rhaella asked her daughter once she looked away from Viserys and towards her. 

Aerea scoffed, finding the idea to be a ludicrous one, “I’m not that good, mother. I would rather not be turned into the city’s most amusing jape by even attempting to do as Rhaegar does.” 

While Rhaegar had taken to teaching Aerea once she had settled on learning how to play the lute, her skills were lacking in comparison to him. She was not capable of imitating a pinch of the majesty of what Rhaegar could with his harp. 

The last thing I need is more mockery at my expense. I would never be able to live down the embarrassment of people accusing me of trying to mimic Rhaegar. Aerea thought with a shudder. 

Rhaella gave Aerea a sad smile, knowing what she was thinking, “You should not listen to any such rumors and gossip. Life should not be wasted on such drivel.” 

“I know.” Aerea said softly, giving her mother a wide smile. 

If it was anyone else who was looking at her like this, Rhaella would have believed them, but Rhaella knew her daughter too well to fall for such a mask. 

She hated how Aerea was always questioning her actions, how she carried herself, and even her appearance because of the whispers of court. 

No one would dare speak anything negative about Aerea aloud, not after the examples Aerys has made over years with those with particularly loose tongues, but it did not stop what was said in secret, and outside of the borders of King’s Landing. 

“Aerea-” 

“Your Grace.” Prince Lewyn called out from the other side of the door, “A messenger has been sent by the King. He is requesting Princess Aerea’s presence in the small council chamber immediately.” 

A small sigh escaped Aerea’s lips as she put her lute down on a nearby chair, “I must go, mother.” 

Rhaella watched silently as Jonothor left his post and followed Aerea out of the room. It would only be a few moments before two of the castle’s guards took up Jonothor and Lewyn’s places in keeping watch over mother and son. 

Viserys, unaware of the tension around him, reach up and began patting Rhaella’s face, making the woman smile slightly. 

The castle felt far more dangerous than it ever did before, and with Aerys in his current state, everyone wisely moved through the Keep cautiously. 

The thought of her husband made Rhaella grimace, he had not sought her out since returning from his captivity a few moons ago, but Rhaella was sure that her reprieve would not last long, just as the others had not.

~X~

When Aerea entered the small council chamber she saw what had become a normal scene in the last few moons; her father perched on his seat about a foot away from the chamber’s table, but with the other five Kingsguards surrounding him. 

“Your Grace.” Aerea gave her father a quick bow of her head as Jonother and Lewyn left her sides and moved to join their sworn brothers around the King. 

Since his return, her father had refused to be in the same room as Tywin unless all seven of his Kingsguard knights were present. And of course, this caused whispers to fester about the further deterioration of the King and the Hand’s relationship once it was realized that Aerys was only doing this when Tywin was around and with no one else. 

“Aerea, where were you?” Aerys asked, his voice low and gruff. 

“I was with mother and Viserys in the nursey, Your Grace.” Aerea answered, not breaking eye contact. 

Aerys leaned back in his chair, scratching the arms of his seat his long fingernails, “And you did not leave Ser Jonother’s sight?” 

“Not once.” Aerea said. 

Aerys hummed, and Aerea took that as confirmation that he was no longer interested in hearing the rest and so took her place beside the wine cart. 

Turning away from his daughter, Aerys’ eyes fell upon the men sitting at the table, barely glancing at most of them apart from his eldest son, his Hand, and his cousin. 

Steffon had been a recent addition to the small council, having been summoned by Aerys immediately after the King was brought back to the capital. And while Steffon was not given an official position, much to the relief of the men who occupied the council, he was made into an advisor, the same as Rhaegar. 

The lord was now one of the only people in this world Aerys could rely on now that his eyes had been opened to the truth; Tywin and his own son, had conspired to have him killed by storming Duskendale, so Rhaegar would ascend the Iron Throne and marry Tywin's daughter. 

Everyone desires the power of the King, I just never thought that my own flesh and blood and a man who calls himself my friend would go as far as to plot this dastardly deed. Aerys thought, glaring at both Rhaegar and Tywin. 

Rhaegar ignored his father’s glare, keeping his head forward, staring at the face of Tywin, whose own gaze was on Aerys, looking at the King with a blank expression. 

Aerea leaned against the wall once she had finished filling the councilmen’s cups, watching as her father would interrupt each time one of them would bring up a topic, providing his judgement before all the details could be given. 

It was a change in the King that left most everyone off footed, struggling to toe the line so as not to anger Aerys. 

And I thought it was only his appearance and hygiene that had been impacted. Aerea thought. 

Since Duskendale, her father had refused to wash himself and has not allowed anyone to cut his hair or trim his beard, allowing both to grow long, unkept, tangled, and matted. Aerys was also not allowing anyone to cut his fingernails, which now resembled claws, and his face was starting to become gaunt and his skin paler as he was not eating or drinking as much as he used to. 

“Your Gr-” Gurnar started to address the King, only for a vicious cough to rip through his throat. 

Aerys looked at the coughing man with disgust, “What is it, Gurnar?” 

Gurnar cleared his throat, taking a handkerchief out from within his tunic, using it to dab his sweaty forehead. “Please accept my humble apologizes, Your Grace. I was going to say that there has been news from Duskendale.” 

Aerea flinched, her head snapping towards the Master of Whisperers, a fear gripping her heart, both at what Gurnar had heard and what her father’s reaction would be to it. 

Aerys growled, his eyes flashing dangerously as his anger made itself known, glaring at Gurnar with a fiery anger. “What have you heard? What are those traitors plotting?!” 

Gurnar remained composed in the face of his King’s anger, “I have heard from the person I had placed there, that Lady Darklyn gave birth a few days ago to girl.” 

“Is that all? Why should I care about a Myrish whore, and the waste of seed she created with her traitorous husband?” Aerys asked. 

Gurnar glanced away, “I have been told that Lady Darklyn named her daughter Aerea. After the princess.” 

Everyone in the room turned to look at Aerea, who herself was staring at Gurnar wide eyed, not knowing how to react. 

S-She named her child after me? Aerea wondered if Serala did this out of gratitude or to lessen the hatred that Aerys held towards her and her house by naming the newest lady of House Darklyn after one of the King’s children. 

Aerys dug his nails into the arms of his chair, his knuckles turning white from the effort, “She named her daughter after my own?” 

The idea both infuriated and titillated him, there was anger with knowing that a mutt he viewed as far beneath his daughter now shared her name, but also appeased by the show of deference, seeing it as an act by the Darklyns to beg for forgiveness and to show that they would not make the mistake of crossing him again. 

I named Aerea after myself. It is understandable that they would wish to show proper respect, it is the least those fools could do.  

Aerys looked at Gurnar, his anger having quickly died down, “That is fine.” 

Gurnar nodded his head, glad that the King’s focus was no longer on him as he wiped more sweat from his forehead and let out another quieter cough. 

“If there is nothing else, then this let us end this meeting here.” Aerys said, quickly rising from his seat. 

The Kingsguard moved with their King, forming a half circle around him, prepared to protect him from any threat. 

Once the rest of the small council left, Aerea sat down in Tywin’s now empty chair. Rhaegar raised an eyebrow as he looked at his sister. “You must have left quite the impression on Lady Serala for her to name her child after you.” 

Aerea frowned when her brother said this, Rhaegar had let her have it when she returned from Duskendale with their father, it was one of the few times she had ever seen Rhaegar lose control over his emotions. 

And it only made Aerea feel even guiltier about how Rhaegar and their mother found out about her sneaking into the Dun Fort with Barristan to rescue Aerys. 

“Well, you also have a noble child named after you too, brother. Perhaps you have made a similar impression on the Freys.” Aerea said in a sweet tone. 

In 271 AC, Walder Frey’s third son, Aenys, had decided to name his at the time newly born second son, Rhaegar, after the Crown Prince. While it was not a widespread or exceptionally popular practice, it was fairly common for Westerosi citizens to give their children Valyrian names to pay homage to the royal family ever since the days after The Conquest. 

When Rhaegar had first learned that a descendant of the Lord of the Crossing shared his name, Aerea had laughed at the flash of disgust that appeared on Rhaegar’s face. 

Even now, Rhaegar’s expression twisted slightly at the mention of this, “Do not try and use that to distract me, Aerea.” 

“You know what I did.” Aerea said, “I did not expect this myself, why would she wish to name her daughter after me of all people?” 

“To show her gratitude for your interference in fate that awaited her and the rest of them, and this gratitude also has the benefit of showing our father that they will remain loyal to him and not do as Denys had done.” Rhaegar said confidently. 

“That is what I was thinking.” Aerea muttered, “At least the gesture seemed to work on father, I would hate to what he would have done if he had taken offense.” 

“Most likely what he had done to her husband.” 

Aerea frowned at the matter if fact way her brother said this, knowing that Rhaegar was right and hating that. 

“Do you... do you think father will, do you think father will go back to normal?” Aerea quietly asked the question that had been eating at her for a while. 

Rhaegar took a moment to answer, “I do not know.” 

The answer did not satisfy the princess, and Aerea knew by now that her brother only said this as a way of sparing her feelings. 

For years, Aerea had accepted that Aerys was a complicated man, there were some parts of him that were the same as before and had just been amplified, but now, Aerys had become someone that she could no longer entirely recognize.

~X~

A Fortnight Later  

Cersei folded her hands over her lap, sitting back as composed as she could be as the carriage was pulled through the Gates of the Gods. 

Her quietness had unnerved Melara and Jeyne, who kept glancing at her worriedly, which Cersei pointedly ignored. 

When she received word from her father requesting that she move to court, Cersei knew that Tywin was not doing this because he wanted her closer, but to try and convince the King to reconsider a match between herself and Prince Rhaegar. 

If this had been before the tournament at Lannisport, Cersei would have been ecstatic, both at being able to be in the capital for longer than a short time and because it would allow her to be in the presence of the Crown Prince. But now, all Cersei felt was lingering shame and anger from the embarrassment she was forced to publicly endure at the hands of Aerys and Rhaegar. 

I should not care; the King is an arrogant fool for thinking that I am not good enough for his son, and Rhaegar is no gallant knight, but a rude and callous scoundrel too blind to see what he was missing. Cersei thought, having felt this way for the past two years. 

When the carriage finally passed through the gates of the Red Keep, Cersei climbed out with her head held high, carrying herself like a true Lannister would. 

She was not surprised to see her father and his household waiting in the yard for her and her party, but she had not been expecting to see the Queen and the princess standing beside Tywin. 

"Greetings, Your Grace, Princess Aerea.” Cersei said as she curtsied to the royals, the rest of her party doing the same. 

“It is good to see you again, Lady Cersei.” Rhaella said softly, “I trust your journey here was a safe one?” 

“It was, Your Grace.” 

“Cersei.” Aerea said, smiling brightly as she took Cersei's hand and kissed the back of it, “I’m happy to see you again.” 

Cersei could feel flashes of heat across her cheeks and within her stomach, “I as well.” 

Tywin took a step forward when Aerea returned to her mother’s side, looking down at Cersei with a tempered expression placing a hand on her shoulder. “It is good to see you again, Cersei.” 

“It is good to see you too, father.” Cersei said, trying to school her expression as well as her father was. 

“I have already had space cleared for you in the Tower of the Hand. But I will not be able to take you there myself as I have a council meeting to attend. The maids will take you in my stead.” Tywin said to his daughter. 

Cersei did not have time to say anything else as she watched her father walk away and enter the Keep. 

It was moments like this, where Cersei wished that her father was not emotionally distant as he was, and did not keep up this appearance in public when it came to her and her brothers. 

“It is good to see you again, Lady Jeyne, Lady Melara.” Aerea greeted the two girls just as she did Cersei. 

“T-thank you, princess.” Jeyne said nervously. 

She was surprised that Aerea remembered her and Melara’s names, let alone acknowledged them as they did not interact with each other much during the tournament, and most people saw the two of them as just Cersei’s little shadows that followed her wherever she went, choosing to ignore them. 

“I was so focused on the tournament, that I did not put much thought into anything else, but I look forward to knowing you both better. Any friends of Cersei’s should be friends of mine.” 

Neither girl knew how to respond to the princess’ earnestness, still not used to seeing someone open and genuinely kind or interested in them. 

Seeing the way her companions were now staring at Aerea, Cersei could barely keep a scowl from appearing on her face as a bitterness swelled within her. 

“You do not have to rely on the servants to take you to the Tower, I can-my mother and I can take you if you wish.” Aerea said, smiling at Cersei, oblivious to what the other girl had just been feeling. 

“Aerea, darling, are you forgetting that you are your father’s cupbearer?” Rhaella asked, smiling at Aerea with amusement. 

Aerea froze, realizing that if she did not leave now, she would be late to the meeting, “I-I didn’t forget.” 

“So, you were expecting the Lannister party to wait in hall outside the small council chamber until you finished?” Rhaella asked, teasing her daughter. 

“Mother.” Aerea groaned, glancing at Cersei and blushing slightly as she saw the other girl trying not to laugh at her expense. 

Aerea said her goodbyes to Rhaella and Cersei before quickly running inside, hoping that she would be able to get to the council chamber before her father would feel the need to send for her. 

“That girl.” Rhaella muttered, turning to address Cersei, “Shall we head to the tower?” 

“I would not wish to be an inconvenience, Your Grace.” Cersei quickly said. 

Rhaella smiled at her softly while shaking her head, “It is truly no issue for the daughter of a dear friend of mine.” 

“Thank you, Your Grace.” 

“I must admit, I am surprised that Joanna allowed you to make the journey here without one of her uncles at the very least escorting you and your companions.” Rhaella said as she led the group into the Keep. 

“With all the men we brought with us, my mother did not feel it necessary.” Cersei replied, “Especially as they would have had to immediately return to Casterly Rock if they had.” 

The nobles that were halls taking time to stare at the group, whispering furiously with each other once they passed by them. 

Cersei stood taller, she was a lioness, the only daughter of Tywin and Joanna Lannister, she was made to be the center of attention, so of course it would make sense that everyone here would be taken aback by the sight of her. 

When they reached the Tower of the Hand, and the servants had begun to move everything inside the apartment, one of the Queen’s ladies had stepped forward, quietly reminding Rhaella of an appointment that she would soon need to get to. 

“I must go, but I would ask that you all to come to a luncheon I am holding later in the week.” Rhaella said, “Most of the court will be there in attendance.” 

The three girls were quick to accept the invitation, excited by the thought, imagining how much different a luncheon held in King’s Landing would be than one held in Casterly Rock.

~X~

A Week Later  

Aerea watched from a short distance away as Rhaegar played his harp, entrancing everyone who was listening. 

The song is beautiful, but I’ll never understand how it can be so good that it makes people cry. Aerea thought, watching as multiple people were shedding tears, their eyes locked on her brother. 

When he finished, thunderous applause rang out for Rhaegar across the garden, and he was all but swarmed by the bolder members of his adoring public. 

Jon had quickly sprung into action, keeping anyone from getting too close to his prince, facing them with a nasty glare. Nearby, Richard and Myles laughed while Arthur, who was standing behind Rhaegar shook his head, visibly embarrassed by what Jon was doing. 

“Is this common?” Aerea turned around and saw Cersei approaching her. 

Aerea grinned, “More or less, although this is less chaotic than usual. No one has cried themselves into a vomiting fit yet.” 

Cersei’s nose scrunched in disgust, “Than I thank the Gods for not allowing me to be there to witness that.”

Aerea’s grin grew wider, “I don’t know, it’s almost impressive how often my brother is able to get people to do that, he has turned it into an art. And since you are staying for a long while, my lady, I’m sure you’ll see it the same way I have.” 

Cersei rolled her eyes at the princess’s teasing, looking back to where Rhaegar was sitting, meeting his gaze for a brief moment. Rhaegar was expressionless, looking at Cersei as if she was part of the scenery instead of a person before glancing at his sister. He looked at her one final time, before turning away, resuming his conversation with Jon. 

“If you wish to speak to Rhaegar, I don’t mind.” Aerea said, causing Cersei to flinch as she remembered that Aerea was sitting next to her. 

Aerea had noticed the interaction between the other girl and her elder brother and had assumed that Cersei was still pinning over Rhaegar, while Rhaegar was trying to avoid outright acknowledging her. 

She felt bad for Cersei as the other girl now knew how Rhaegar felt about her, but she could also understand her brother’s feelings. 

While I am glad, she is here, I think everyone can see why Tywin would bring Cersei to court now of all times. Aerea thought. 

Tywin was obvious in his desire for Cersei to be Rhaegar’s wife, undeterred by the humiliating rejection that Aerys had given him when he first asked for Rhaegar’s hand. And now with his and Aerys’ relationship having deteriorated to this point, Tywin was trying to have Cersei nearby, a constant presence that Aerys would find hard to ignore. 

It’s as if she is a prized mare in heat that Tywin is showing off for the realm’s most wanted stallion. And hoping that Rhaegar and my father can be enticed. Anger filled Aerea, not for the first time being disgusted by the lengths people would go for power. 

Cersei stuck her nose up in Rhaegar’s direction, “Why would I? I am perfectly content with the company I already have.” 

“Really?” Aerea asked, not believing her. 

Cersei could not stop herself from glaring at Aerea, “Yes, really. I have no desire to be a burden that Prince Rhaegar does his hardest to avoid.” 

“I have spoken to Rhaegar, about that night.” Aerea said softly, looking at the ground, “I think he understood, but you can never be sure with him. I think my reprimand went in one ear and out of the other.” 

“You did not have to do that.” Cersei said quietly, partially embarrassed at the thought. 

“Of course, I did, he is going to be King one day, he can’t just ignore things because of his own apathy and because it makes him uncomfortable. He should have just been honest instead of purposely avoiding and ignoring you, and he certainly should not have just sat there after everything our father said. You did not deserve that, and I would tell him that a hundred times.” 

Cersei blushed, a small smile forming on her face, and she bashfully lowered her head all because of Aerea’s earnestness. “T-thank you.” 

Aerea thought that Cersei looked even more beautiful than she did before, watching as red colored her cheeks, resisting the strange urge to brush her fingers against them. “You don’t have to thank me; it was the right thing to do.” 

“Well.” Cersei cleared her throat, regaining her confidence as she crossed her arms, “You and Prince Rhaegar will not have to worry about any of that, as I have left such childish emotions behind me.” 

“Really?” 

“You were right; anyone who becomes your brother’s wife will be in for a rude awakening, so I should count myself lucky to be rejected by both your father and brother. I will inevitably find someone who is worthy of me, although it may take a while, given how far above I stand amongst most.” 

“You are a Lannister of Casterly Rock, so I suppose that’s true.” Aerea chuckled, and she did not know why, but hearing Cersei say that she no longer held any romantic feelings for Rhaegar, made her feel lighter.  

I doubt Tywin knows how his daughter feels about all of this.  

“So where are Lady Jeyne and Lady Melara?” Aerea eventually asked. 

“Melara is catching up with a cousin of hers that has lived here at court for the last few years, and Jeyne was stuffing a cake into her face last I saw her.” Cersei said boredly. 

“What is it like to have ladies in waiting?” Aerea asked, curious about the practice. 

She only had what she had seen of her mother and her ladies as an example, and she wanted to know if it was common for ladies to be so kind and helpful to your face, while speaking of you behind your back to others, selling your secrets if you did not guard them closely enough. 

“You do not have ladies?” Cersei asked, knowing that all high-ranking noble women were expected to have lower ranked woman around them as their companions. 

She realized that besides those few times she had seen Aerea talking to Elia, Ashara, and Allyria, she had never once seen or heard of Aerea spending time with other girls their age. 

Are all her friends boys? Cersei thought, knowing that Aerea’s name was usually spoken of with Rhaegar and his friends, the Baratheon and Stark brothers, her cousin and her twin. 

Aerea chuckled, her eyes narrowing slightly, “With my controversial reputation, no one would dare send their daughters, sisters, and cousins to be one of my ladies in waiting. And I doubt those girls would want to be near me even if they were forced to be by my side.” 

“They are fools then.” Cersei said without hesitation, “And you are better off not being surrounded by such useless, vapid, and uninspired creatures.” 

Aerea’s eyes widened, and a shocked laugh escaped her lips, shocked but also not surprised by Cersei’s candor. 

Cersei smirked, moving to stand closer to Aerea, their shoulders brushing against each other, “I would say that having ladies in waiting is not all that different from having friends that are expected to do everything you say.” 

Before Aerea could say anything else, she heard the voice of Gerold Hightower loudly speaking over the noise of the luncheon, drawing everyone's attention to the entrance of the garden as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard announced the King’s presence. 

The garden grew silent as Aerys and the two knights behind him swept through the crowd, no one willing to speak and draw attention to themselves. 

Aerys reached the table at the center where his wife and her ladies sat, and when he reached Rhaella, Aerys immediately grabbed her hand, pulling her up, causing Rhaella to stumble. 

“Oh, no.” Aerea muttered under her breath, dreading unsure of what her father was going to do. 

Aerys looked over the crowd, immediately seeing Tywin in the far back, the man having just joined the luncheon, knowing that he had only come when he received word about the King coming here swiftly. Aerys looked back at the crowd and smiled when he found who he was looking for, “Steffon! Cousin, if you would please!” 

Steffon looked confused, but acquiesced, moving through the crowd and standing on Aerys’ other side, saying nothing as Aerys wrapped an arm around his shoulder. 

“Everyone, for years now, I and the Queen have been searching for the prefect woman to be my son, Crown Prince Rhaegar’s wife.” Aerys stated, “We have found no such woman here in Westeros, and our son has been forced to remain unwed and without an heir of his own so our search shall continue elsewhere. That is why I am tasking my cousin with traveling to Volantis, to find a bride for Rhaegar, one of proud Valyrian blood.” 

A few seconds passed before the nobles throughout the garden began to clap, all with differing amounts of enthusiasm. 

Many of the unmatched girls and women could only stand there as their dreams of marrying their dashing prince had just been shattered, while also feeling insulted that the King did not think any of them were good enough for his son and was deciding to pick a foreigner for Rhaegar’s bride. 

The heir to Griffin's Roost meanwhile felt as if the ground had crumbled beneath his feet, and his world no longer made sense. Jon had always known that Rhaegar would have to get married, that a woman would one day come between them to take Rhaegar away from his side, but he had allowed himself to selfishly hope that this would not be the case. 

Why am I even upset? Rhaegar does not even see me... he would never want me, and I can never have him so why am I so upset? Jon thought, clenching his fists and biting down on his tongue hard enough to feel the sting and taste blood. 

Rhaegar, despite being the one who this proclamation was about, showed no outward emotion, although inwardly he was resigned and slightly annoyed that this had all been made into a spectacle. 

And when he started to think about the ramifications of having a foreign wife, he started to become more annoyed, hoping that least whoever this woman would end up being would at least be from a family of high enough standing and wealth to offset the stigma that would surround their marriage and their children due to not being a Westerosi. 

Rhaella smiled brightly, acting as if she was happy about the decision that her husband had made without consulting her, wanting to rip her hand out of his and storm away. In her mind there were plenty of highborn women that would make a suitable bride for their son, and yet Aerys did not even attempt to search through them like he had just told everyone.  

And a part of her blamed herself that she could not satiate Aerys’ obsession by not having a daughter that Rhaegar could have married. It was as if Aerys was announcing to everyone that she was a failure, so much of one that Aerys was willing to go through all this trouble. 

Aerea looked at Cersei from the corner of her eye, noting that some people around them were whispering as they too looked at the Lannister girl. 

Cersei’s lips twitched as she stared straight ahead, struggling not to react because she knew that would just make the attention that was on her worse. “I don’t care about your brother getting married soon.” 

“I didn’t say you did.” Aerea said, glancing around again, “You shouldn’t listen to what any of them are saying.” 

“I’m not.” Cersei said as she turned to look at the princess, a sharp smile forming on her lips, “Why would I care about such useless, vapid, and uninspired creatures?” 

Aerea did not respond to Cersei’s question, instead turning to look at her father, who was busy ignoring the bolder members of court who were trying to speak to him as he smiled brightly and viciously, staring at the Hand. 

It was clear that her father was reveling in this moment, lording over Tywin that any attempt to try and change his mind about Cersei was over and done with. 

Has father been planing this since Cersei arrived and has kept it secret until now? Or did this idea just come to him?  

And it felt strange to Aerea that Aerys would specifically choose Volantis of all the places in Essos to look for a wife for Rhaegar, given how far the Free city was from Westeros and the now cold relation Westeros now had with Volantis after siding with Myr and Tyrosh when the three cities became involved in a trade war a few years ago. 

It made her once again question just what was going through her father’s mind, and just how this decision could go wrong.

~X~

Hours Later  

Steffon stood on the balcony of his bedroom, his arms resting on the railing as he swirled the still full glass of wine in his hand, staring at it as if he was waiting for the wine to give him the answer he sought. 

“Lord Steffon, Lord Tywin is here and has requested an audience.” One of Steffon's household knights spoke from the other side of the door, breaking Steffon out of his thoughts. 

“Let the Hand in, Ser.” Steffon said as he stepped back inside. 

After a few moments, the door opened, and Tywin entered the room, his expression stormy, “Steffon.” 

Steffon sighed, “Tywin-” 

“Did you know?” Tywin crossed the room quickly, standing just a foot away from the other man, unable to hide his anger anymore. “Did you know about what Aerys was going to do?” 

“No, I did not know, Aerys did not come to me about this. I was just as surprised as everyone else, as you were.” Steffon said, clenching his glass of wine. 

Tywin’s eyes narrowed, “Do you expect me to believe that?” 

“Believe me or don’t, Tywin, it's the truth. And even so, I do not understand why you are coming to me with this anger. My cousin had already made it clear that he was not going to choose Cersei to be Rhaegar’s wife, you must have known that this would be an eventuality.” 

Tywin scoffed, “Steffon, we both know that despite how you like to carry yourself before the realm that you are no fool, so do not pretend to not understand what is being asked of you by Aerys, why he even brought you to King’s Landing to serve as an advisor in the first place.” 

He could already hear the rumors, hear people speculating that Aerys had entrusted this task to Steffon instead of him because Aerys intended to replace him and make Steffon his new Hand of the King, upon completing this mission. 

Steffon could not deny that there was a small part of him that enjoyed the thought of being Hand of the King, and if he had been given the position a few years ago, he would have happily accepted it, even if it meant hurting an old friend. 

But now, after seeing the state that Aerys had fallen into these past few moons, Steffon was no longer entranced by the idea. And he wondered if the love Aerys had for him would be enough to protect him or would he find himself being treated just as Tywin currently was if he became Aerys’ Hand. 

“I have no interest in stealing your position, Tywin.” Steffon said coolly, his face expressionless. 

“And will you say no if the King asks you to? Or will you happily take it while I am forced out from the council?” Tywin now stood directly in front of Steffon, leaving little room between them. 

“If you have any concerns, you should bring them to the King, because I cannot help you.” Steffon turned away. 

Tywin stared at Steffon, a tense silence filling the room as the other man refused to even look at him, which only served to infuriate Tywin more. 

“Is that so?” Tywin gritted his teeth, “Than I suppose you are right, I should bring my grievances to your cousin, the King.” 

Tywin stormed out of the chamber, leaving Steffon to stare at his retreat wearily, knowing that this would not be the last that he would hear of this. 

Why did I even leave Storm’s End? Steffon thought, rubbing the side of his brow, a deep and tired sigh escaping his lips once the door closed.

He lifted his drink to his mouth and quickly drank all of it, only to walk over to the table that the wine jug was sitting on and refill his glass.