A Game of Thrones (Privat)

Rhaenys frowned, and looked between her children. She sat down on the edge of Rhaena’s bed, stroking her hair. She looked out the window; dinner would be ready soon. She looked over at Aelor.
“If she isn’t better when it’s time for dinner, I’ll eat in here with her” she said, still stroking Rhaenas hair. Somehow, it made Rhaena feel much better, having her mother’s caring hand in her hair. The pain was gone for now, and Rhaena looked up at her brother again.
“If I die, you have to promise to honour my name” she said jokingly and her mother gave her an annoyed look.
“Don’t speak like that, Rhaena. Nobody’s going to die” she said and Rhaena met her mother’s eyes, which were a copy of her own.
“It was a joke, mother” she said and turned to the side, still facing the little army of people in her room. She pulled her knees up to her chest, and realized that this position made her feel better. Much better, actually. All she wanted right now, however, was to be left alone. However, she wasn’t going to ask them to leave; they were concerned for her, and it was great to see her brother being loving and nice for once.

"I'll have a giant statue built in your honor, my sweet sister" he jokes, smiling softly as Rhaena, hoping she feels better. "Hair made from gold and a full statue in marble , does that sound good? I think it does" Aelor chuckles and leans against a chair, making it tilt.

"Maybe Uncle will join us for the tourney, it could be fun , if he moves is arse out of Summerhall or Winterfell of once" Aelor muses. The subject of their uncle isn't always a happy one but he is the one who helped keep the peace with the North. It's not as though Aelor dislikes the man , but he's not around enough.

Rhaenys frowns and shakes her head. The brother who caused so much issue in their lives but she can't help but to love him but it is a sore subject to the family.

Rhaena laughed.
"The greatest statue ever seen" she said and smiled when Aelor spoke of their Uncle. Rhaena hadn't seen him in ages, and she sure hoped he would make it to the tournament. She really wanted to show her skills using the sword, since their uncle was a good swordsman.

Another knock on the door. Rhaena looked as it opened, and her handmaid Yana poked his head inside. She looked a bit surprised to find so many people in there, and she quickly curtsied.
“I’m just letting you know that dinner is ready, Your Graces” she said, looking at Rhaena, Rhaenys and Aelor. Rhaenys looked at her daughter.
“Does it still hurt, love?” she asked, and Rhaena tried to stretch out. The second her knees left her chest, a dulling pain started. She nodded, and quickly put up her knees to her chest again.
“It’s okay, mother, go and eat with Aelor and father” she said and her mother looked between her children again, silently deciding what was best. She nodded, and looked at Yana.
“Go and get a plate for the Princess, please” she said, and Yana curtsied again.
“Yes, my Queen” she said and disappeared out the door. Rhaenys put a hand on her son’s back and looked at her daughter.
“I’ll come check on you after dinner, darling” she said and Rhaena nodded, turning to the other side since her right side now hurt a bit after lying on it.

Aelor smiles and crosses his arms. "It would be." a quick answer , of course.
"Inform us if she feels worse during the night." he says, looking at Yana. Another small smile crosses his lips, hoping it will encourage Rhaena to feel better.

"Try and eat some ,if you can." He says , gently pushing a lock of Rhaena's hair out of her face. The worry about his sisters wellbeing is a nagging constant. As he feels his mother's warm hand on his back, the message is clear, they should leave her be, let Rhaena rest the best she can and hopefully get something to eat. Aelor walks out of the room, waiting for Rhaenys to follow him. His hands had been clenched tightly, shown from the red crescent marks on his palms.

Rhaenys walked after his son, catching up to walk besides him. She didn’t say anything, her mind was filled with worry for her daughter. Rhaena had been very sick as a child; there had been episodes when she had been down with fever and all sorts of different sicknesses for weeks, only to be healthy again, and then back down. They had almost lost her twice. Everything seemed to have changed when she was 10, since then she hadn’t been sick as often. Rhaenys was just worried that this would be the beginning of another episode. She looked down at her hands, noticing how she was rubbing them towards each other, creating red marks all over her hands. She flexed her fingers and looked at his son, her loving son who had been so worried for his sister.

Rhaena had her eyes closed, but she wasn’t sleeping. She heard the knock on the door, and how Yana and Shelia came into the room. She heard the sound of a tray getting put down on her nightstand, and how the two girls were whispering to each other. They were gossiping, as usual. Rhaena actually enjoyed listening to them, it was a good way to hear the more fun news around King’s Landing. Rhaena opened her eyes when she heard Yana confirm her theory from the morning; House Baratheon was indeed going to participate in the tournament. She heard the girls leave the room, and Rhaena sat up in bed, and her stomach felt better.

Aelor keeps pace with his mother, taking her hands in his, giving them a gentle squeeze. "She'll be alright, mother, I know she will" he tries to show a reassuring smile, warm and kind, his dark purple eyes seem lighter , the colour is a thing of beauty, blood of Old Valyria.

The girls giggle softly and gossip. "Have you seen him? The younger son, Eric, isn't it? So handsome" whispers Shelia, clasping her hands together, smiling. She continues speaking in a hushed voice "He's rumored to participate in the sword and joust, same as the Prince. Can you imagine if-" the girl stops herself from finishing the thought. Worried that it might be seen as treason.

-

Aelor happily sits down at the table in the private room the family has for meals. The first few dishes are wonderful little tarts, bread , soup and some thin slices of meat , to get the appetite going. A glance towards his mother's direction makes him frown, she still seems very worried, how can she not be? Aegon likewise, what thoughts are running through the Kings head, Aelor wonders

Rhaenys ate in silence. She felt her husband’s glances towards her, and every now and then she met his eyes. She knew he was thinking the same thing he was. Aegon cleared his throat.
“It’s a good thing you’re quick on your feet, son” he said, with a look at Aelor. He had heard the story from one of the handmaids.
“Not only to get your sister to the Maester, but it will also become useful in the tournament, I hope” he said, as an attempt to change the subject to keep him from worrying about his daughter.

---

Dear Diary.
It seems as if the rumours were true. Baratheon are participating in the tournament. I finally got to hear his name; Eric. He is the oldest of three, and I can’t wait to see him in action. Is it wrong of me to hope that he will win the whole thing? I know I’m supposed to cheer for my brother, but it would really be great to see Eric win. What if it changes the wall between our families? It might actually turn into something good. And it gets me a dance with him, something innocent but yet so exciting.

Rhaena sat in her bed, writing in her notebook. She put the pen down on her nightstand, and tucked the book carefully under her mattress again. Her stomach was feeling much better, and she was happy she hadn’t gotten a fever. She had had too many of those, she had lost count. She leaned back in her bed, taking a bite of the food Yana had brought her.

Aelor nods , acknowledging his fathers words but as he is in the middle of a bite and currently has a mouth full of food, answering is provning to be rather difficult. After swallowing quickly (and somewhat painfully from not chewing it properly) he replies. "Thank you, father. I pray that I will be quick enough to win. " he did pray for that, to the Warrior each night , hoping it would help. The tournament means a great deal to the family, loosing the competion would not be good, especially after the conversation he and Aegon had earlier today.

The champion will have the honor of dancing with the Princess, King Aegon's pride and joy. It is an honor that mayhaps should not fall to her brother but his Kingly father has commanded it and so Aelor must strive towards that goal.

--

The food consists of a variety of sweet and savory tarts, freshy baked bread, a quail , a finely spiced Donish vegetable mash, sweet Arbor wine and some small cakes , among other things. A fine meal, fit for a Royal famlly and Lords. Similar dishes would be served during the tournament, Queen Rhaenys has been organizing it for months, preparing and making sure I can't do anymore than everything is in order

Rhaenys was quite happy with the food, she had been thinking about what food to serve for a long time. This was definitely going to keep the Lords and Ladies happy. Rhaenys kept eating the food, barely listening to the conversation between her son and husband. As she finished her last bits of food, she stood up, the chair scarping towards the stone floor.
“It’s late, I’ll go and check on Rhaena” she said, moving towards her son. She kissed his cheek, and walked up to her husband and kissed his forehead. As she did, she felt how Aegon discreetly squeezed her hand as to tell her not to worry. Sure, her husband had a harsh surface, but he was a truly loving person and Rhaenys loved him dearly. She turned around, and her heels clicked towards the stone as she exited the dining room.

---

Rhaena was barely awake when the handmaidens took off her dress and put the blanket over her to let her sleep in peace. As they exited the room, she heard her mother’s steps in the distance. She was drifting off to sleep when she heard someone move around the room. She opened her eyes and she felt her mother climb into the bed next to her, lying down behind her.
“Sorry, love, I didn’t mean to wake you up” she whispered. Rhaenys put on hand in Rhaena’s hair, and the other on her stomach, as if she tried to protect it from experience pain. This felt very familiar to Rhaena; this was the position her mother always created every time Rhaena had been sick. It made her feel safe. Rhaenys even started to rock them both slowly back and forth, while humming the old lullaby, just like old times. Rhaena felt how her eyes drooped shut, and she drifted off to sleep in her mother’s safe arms.

Aelor looks up at his mother , cup of wine raised to his lips, he smiles at her. "I'm sure she's alright, she's strong." he takes a sip of his wine, leaning back in the chair. His mother has been raised to be a Queen but the winter had taken it's toll of the people and the realm but she's always been kind a loving. Aelor can still remember and miss the comforts of her arms around him during the cold nights when even the Royal Family with all their magic and dragons barely made it through.

For most of his life Aelor had lived with snow and frost covering the realm , the North had taken the brunt of it. During these recent years the weather had changed , spring was here, it was wonderful. The first time Aelor had seen the green grass and flowers that were not from some dusty old book, he had smiled so wide that his jaw hurt for the whole day. They were raised in the Winter , the long night, some say it made the children harder, Aelor has never been certain if he shared those thoughts. A moment of contemplation later and he opens his mouth to speak. "Father. I-" Aelor stops speaking and sighs, he doesn't wish to upset his father with asking of his sister, what he should do , if she'll be well enough in time for the tournament.

--

The lullaby Rhaenys sings is one from her own childhood, she knows it by heart. Her voice has always been slightly darker than her mother's but that only seemed to enhance the melody, the sweet sound of a harp was all that was missing, unfortunately that is one skill that neither of Rhaegar's children are proficent at, or at least not that the level the old King had.