Aegon stood beside his table, bent slightly over a parchment. The candlelight reflected in his silver-gold hair. The journey to Winterfell would be long, even by dragonback. He had mapped the stops carefully: Two Crowns inn, the Twins, and finally north to Winterfell. It would be a matter of days in the air, broken by rests to keep Dreamfyre from exhausting herself. His quill tapped absent mindedly against the parchment as he muttered to himself.
The sound of hinges creaking made him glance up. His chamber door opened, and Gael slipped inside.
Aegon straightened, surprise flickering over his face at the late visit. His surprise deepened when he saw her attire. She was dressed unlike her usual self: an elegant gown of dark yellow, slipping from her shoulders like the last light of dusk. A thin gold necklace rested at her collarbone. Her silver-gold hair fell in a shimmering sheet down her back, and in the candlelight her lilac eyes shone all the brighter. She looked every bit the delicate, ethereal princess.
For a heartbeat, neither spoke. Gael's hands fidgeted against the folds of her gown before she managed to whisper, "U-Um… you leave tomorrow. I thought I should… s-see you off."
Aegon tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. She could have waited until morning, yet she hadn't. He kept his tone light. "Of course… I was only checking my travel plan," he said, gesturing to the parchment spread across the table.
"Oh-h," Gael murmured softly as she stepped forward.
Aegon's gaze lingered. The gown, the necklace, not something she had worn at supper earlier. She had dressed for this moment, whatever it was. He unfolded his spirituality, brushing past the walls of his chamber. Outside, just at the bend of the corridor, he felt the presence of a maid waiting. His lips curled faintly.
His eyes returned to Gael as she came closer. In the warm glow of the candles her skin seemed almost translucent, pale as snow, her lashes trembling when she dared look at him. Aegon drew in a slow breath, steadying himself.
He stepped forward. Gael's head lowered, her cheeks flushing pink as she felt his nearness. Her head reached just below his nose, the faint scent of roses clinging to her. He reached for her hands, threading his fingers with hers.
"You look very beautiful…," he said, voice low.
Her blush deepened, her lips parting slightly at the compliment. Aegon let his hands drift slowly up her forearms, his thumbs brushing across her soft skin. "You know," he murmured, "I truly wished I could take you with me. You could have seen the North at my side."
The sadness that flickered in her eyes tugged at him. Her blush faded to something softer, a fragile wistfulness. She lifted her gaze slowly, and their eyes met, violet and lilac locking in silence. For a long moment, neither moved.
Then Aegon leaned down, his face close to hers. He did not kiss her, but instead pressed his forehead gently against her own. It was an intimate, tender gesture that made Gael's breath catch. She stiffened for a heartbeat, then immediately broke into a shy smile, her eyes fluttering closed.
Emboldened by her acceptance, Aegon's hands slid to her slim waist, drawing her nearer until her chest pressed lightly against his. They stood there, foreheads touching, sharing the same air, the silence between them speaking volumes.
But when he shifted as if to whisper in her ear, he sensed her hesitation. A subtle pull back. He paused, and eased away.
"U-Umm…" Gael stammered, eyes wide, voice breaking in her throat.
Aegon smiled gently, squeezing her hands. "It's alright," he murmured. "There's no need to rush."
Relief washed over her face like sunlight breaking through clouds. Her lips parted, but words faltered. Her heart wanted, yet her nerves betrayed her. She clutched his arms tighter, leaning into his warmth as her lashes fluttered.
He tilted her chin upward with a fingertip, and she yielded. He simply held her gaze, his expression soft and full of promise. The tender attention made her blush return, hotter than before, but warming her to the core.
You're too kind, she thought hazily, clinging to him, her mind swimming. The words she had meant to say… something simple, perhaps even foolish… slipped away. When he asked gently, "Did you wish to say anything?" she could only stammer, "I…nothing. J-Just wanted to… see you off."
He nodded warmly. His hand caressed her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin with care. "It's only for a season," he said softly. "I'll return by mid-summer." His eyes held hers as he added, firmer, "Wait for me."
Her breath caught, the words lodging deep within her.
Gael hardly remembered leaving his chamber. Butterflies filled her belly, her steps quick as though her body sought to outrun her own racing heart. His words still rang in her head: Wait for me.
She reached the corner of the corridor and found the maid waiting, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Well, princess?" the girl asked eagerly. "Did it work?"
Gael flushed scarlet, her hands clutching at the folds of her gown. She nodded shyly, voice barely above a whisper. "It was… so romantic. He asked me to wait for him."
The maid's eyes lit with delight, but Gael, too flustered, turned at once and darted toward her chambers. Her gown trailed after her as she hurried down the passage.
The maid watched the young princess dart down the corridor with her cheeks still aflame. A smile tugged at the maid's lips. For a moment she stood still, but then, recalling her true errand, she turned down another corridor.
Her steps echoed in the quiet hall until she reached a tall oaken door. She drew a breath, and knocked twice.
Knock, knock.
"Come in," came the Queen's voice from within.
The maid pushed the door open and dipped into a low bow. Inside, Queen Alysanne sat with Lady Jocelyn, both women turning expectant eyes toward her.
"Well?" the Queen asked, her tone gentle but edged with curiosity.
The maid straightened, a small blush colouring her cheeks as she smiled. "Princess Gael was convinced to go and wish Prince Aegon, as you requested, my Queen."
"And?" Alysanne pressed softly.
The maid lowered her eyes for a moment, then let a shy smile spread. "They shared a very… tender moment. I believe the prince's affections are secured."
Alysanne and Jocelyn exchanged a glance. Jocelyn's lips curved quickly, though a flicker of sadness passed through her eyes before her smile concealed it. Alysanne's, by contrast, was steady, as though this was precisely what she had expected.
"It seems we need not worry over Gael's marriage any longer," Jocelyn said lightly, folding her hands in her lap. "It is as you decided, my Queen."
Alysanne nodded her head, her smile warm, but then, it faltered. She remembered her other unmarried grandson. She frowned then sighed, "Only Daemon's pairing remains unsettled."
At that, Jocelyn gave a wry smile. "That will be no simple task."
The Queen's answering laugh was quiet, tinged with weariness.
Jocelyn rose, smoothing her gown. "We should rest for now. Aegon leaves early on the morrow, and we must be awake if we are to see him off."
"Ah, you are right," Alysanne agreed, rising more slowly.
The maid bowed once more before slipping from the chamber. Jocelyn followed soon after.
Left alone, Alysanne lingered by the window, gazing out into the night. The moonlight fell pale against her silver hair, and her smile dimmed.
"Forgive me, Jocelyn," she murmured to the empty chamber, "but Gael will be the better match than Laena ever could."
Next Day, Morning
A huge blue dragon cut across the sky.
"Lower, Dreamfyre," Aegon called over the rush of wind. The dragon obeyed, tilting downward, her wings beating in heavy strokes as she dropped to a more comfortable height.
On her back, Aegon sat firmly strapped into the saddle, his cloak whipping about him. The cold spring air stung his cheeks, even though he was already used to it. He leaned slightly, gazing down from time to time. The world stretched endlessly beneath him, patches of green and brown, silver ribbons of rivers, the sprawl of farms and villages. It was easy to lose one's directions in the sky. For that reason, he had chosen a simple route: fly to King's Landing first, then follow the Kingsroad all the way north to his destination.
It was still early morning when he left. His grandmother and Lady Jocelyn had come to see him off. Alysanne mentioned, with a faintly mischievous smile, that Gael was still asleep, hinting she had stayed up too late for certain reasons. Aegon blushed like a boy caught out, though inside he smiled at the Queen's not-so-subtle attempt. Jocelyn, watching, hid her own amusement behind a graceful smile. Aegon played his part well, feigning ignorance of their perfect little plan. With a promise to send ravens often, he mounted Dreamfyre, and soon he was in the sky.
As he crossed the skies above the capital, Aegon thought briefly of his brothers. A small smile tugged at his lips. He could pay them a visit, perhaps, but then he shook his head. It was still very early, and Viserys and Daemon were likely still curled in their beds, enjoying their beauty sleep.
Flying north along the Kingsroad, he soon spotted carts and carriages crawling along the road like ants. It was early morning, so probably merchants or travel carriages. Aegon could not resist. He leaned forward slightly, and Dreamfyre dipped lower, her shadow sweeping over one of the larger groups. Horses screamed and reared, and men shouted, waving at the sky. A woman shrieked as her bonnet flew off, carried away by the sudden gust. Aegon chuckled, craning his head to check behind him. No one had been hurt, though the chaos below was loud enough. Satisfied, he patted Dreamfyre's scales with a grin. "That's enough," he muttered, and urged her onward.
His first true stop lay far ahead: the famed Two Crowns Inn. It was the longest leg of his journey. The inn sat at the great crossroads, where the Kingsroad met the River Road to the west and the High Road to the Vale. Its name honored his grandparents, King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne, who had once rested there together on their progress through the realm. The Kingsroad itself, stretching beneath him now, was also his grandfather's work. It stood as a monument to foresight and unity.
Aegon felt a quiet pride stir in his chest as his grandparents had thought not just of their own reign, but of generations to come.
The wind grew warmer as the morning lengthened. By his reckoning, he had been flying three hours straight. His muscles ached faintly, and Dreamfyre's wingbeats had slowed a fraction.
It was time to rest.
He bent low and sent the thought to Dreamfyre. The dragon, tired herself, angled downward at once. Her claws struck the earth with heavy thuds as she landed in a wide clearing near the Kingsroad. Aegon remained seated as Dreamfyre lowered herself with a rumbling sigh, settling her massive body comfortably onto the grass.
He reached into a small bag strapped to the saddle and pulled out a strip of dried jerky. Chewing steadily, he glanced down at his companion. "Hungry?" he asked. A soft, dismissive huff of smoke left her nostrils. She had been fed well that morning, twice in fact, before they had taken to the skies.
Content, Aegon leaned back, finishing his jerky before uncorking a water skin. He drank deeply, the cool liquid easing the dryness of his throat. The high sun burned overhead, though a gentle breeze threaded through the clearing, carrying the smell of thawing earth and damp grass.
His mind ticked over the journey ahead. By his calculations, it would take three days to reach the Two Crowns Inn, if he maintained around eight hours of flight each day. That meant two nights spent in the wild, camping beneath the stars. He had packed carefully: dried food, water, a cloak thick enough for cold nights. After the inn, he would have the comfort of a bed again, but for now, he welcomed the solitude.
It was not that there were no inns along the way, there were, but something about camping alone… held quiet an appeal.
He wiped his hands clean, checked his surroundings once more with his spirituality, and found nothing amiss. The land around them was quiet, the road in the distance carrying on. No danger lurked.
With that assurance, Aegon let his shoulders relax. He closed his eyes, but rather than sleep, his focus turned inward. The familiar web of his class tree unfolded in his mind, each branch representing a class:
[Class : Gluttonous Child ( Tier 1)]
[Class : Nimble Rascal (Tier 1)]
[Class : Heir of Old Valyria (Tier 2)]
[Class : Knight's Squire (Tier 1)]
[Class: Dragon Rider (Tier 2)]
[Class: Occult Scholar (Tier 2)]
[Class: Mental Adept (Tier 2)]
[ Class: Rune Initiate (Tier 2) ]
[ Class: Wizard Apprentice (Tier 3) ]
[ Class: Observer (Tier 2) ]
[ Class: Ironblood Knight (Tier 2) ] - Failed Creation / Grayed Out
[ Class: Manipulator (Tier 2) ]
He studied the tree for a moment, comparing himself now to the boy who had first woken in this world.
The difference was vast.
A faint smile curved his lips. Relief washed through him, not the careless relief of escape, but the steady kind that came with progress made and trials endured.
He opened his eyes to the bright sky above, the vast sweep of blue stretching endlessly. His voice firm as he whispered to himself, "The journey has only just begun, hasn't it?"
Dreamfyre rumbled drowsily in reply, and Aegon smiled, leaning back against the saddle, enjoying the quiet freedom.