( one day, she’ll ask him how he can give his belief out so wholly. she knows she asks for it, asks for a commitment that is lifelong that still remains somewhat separate from what was asked by their kings — let us not walk this alone — and wonders if she actually has a right to it. to much extent, she would not begrudge him if his loyalties remained more to his people than hers. and in some ways, that was expected — after all, they signified a union of two sides, and therefore must represent them, must consider the both in what decisions may be needed.
and she knows — she knows as she pours her sentiment out and he receives it without any reservation she can see, that she should likely show more restraint.
but there is another side of that coin — the one that sees a more hopeful future, somewhat made easier by his views (no matter how humble he may be in regards to it). one that might mean a steadfast rule. and therefore, a steadfast peace and safety to the realm — new connections that may lead to something greater than she can imagine. but, just as easily — all of that can crumble should not enough caution be taken.
she was not without her flaws and being a worthy heir had not always been at the forefront of consideration, she would admit. she’d spurned tradition, tossed her head at what’s always been, and, in parallel to it, enjoyed the freedoms of being princess that allowed her to behave the way she had until viserys reminded her that would not always be the case. so of course, there was doubt.
and yet, here is someone who’s destiny was bound to hers without real choice, and yet who shares his knowledge and history freely, and who looks at her like he believes in her potential. he, who’s seen so much, and it feels a little surreal. like perhaps, with someone such as him by her side — guiding her, where needed, she may not be lead towards the darker nature targaryen rule.
he reaches out for her hand and she grasps at his, fingers briefly intertwining as she rises. eyes soften, last vestiges of her initial anger ebbing away. a small tug, an ask of him to follow.
and perhaps the next revelations, too, will serve to strengthen what is between them, shedding light to more unknowns. even if at the heart of it, she will ask him to carry a burden.
she moves to a corner of the room, hand passing along the stone wall, engraved and decorated with carved arches and motifs within. ) Firstly —
( she pushes at the central panel, depicting a weaving dragon. it swings open at the pressure, revealing beyond it a tunnel, stone steps winding into the dark; it’s then that she looks back to him, and her expression is one of small thrill — secrecy shared. ) — there is a series of secret passages, built at the time of Maegor’s rule. ( the cruel built them, of course, to make a quick escape, should the tyranny of his rule catch up. as it were, it’s builders were slain to keep such secrecy and to some degree, it was unsurprising that even such a thing was steeped in some blood. rhaenyra’s use of them had not been as malicious, and she’d explored them a little more since the first time she was introduced to them. ) I believe their existence remains to be of limited knowledge. They lead out of the keep, as discreet means of escape, but — they’re interconnected with other chambers.
( she uses the moment to step through, to the other side. when they venture forth, she’ll take a moment to point out where each branch that she knows of leads to — taking care to note the one that will take them to the outer walls of the keep, and down into the city proper.
but — as she ducks out of another arch, it is a different location that they approach — a great chamber and at its heart there stands a great line of candles, old wax dried and forming around the stone, as the flames flicker. balerion’s skull hangs suspended, a great shadow. a reminder to what they were: a symbol of their conquest — and their legacy.
she approaches, slowly. he may have been here before, though the chamber isn’t often frequented. the skull dwarfs them both. ) The Targaryens held the Iron Throne since Aegon’s conquests, nearly a century ago now — ( in some way, she knows its redundant history that she’s repeating. that he’s undoubtedly aware of their history, and of the relative youth of their power in westeros. ) Our blood had survived the fall of Old Valyria, and with that we are said to be closer to gods than men.
It’s not true, of course. ( dragon blood had been a result of blood magic, most records lost to the great fires during the Doom.) Our dragons made us kings. We’re no different from anyone else without them. ( in this, her father's words ring the most true. )
( there’s hesitation, one that seems to belie buying time of her own, an introduction to the true point she wishes to make. she turns to study him. ) What have you heard, of what drove Aegon to conquer Westeros, and unite it into the Seven Kingdoms?
no subject
and she knows — she knows as she pours her sentiment out and he receives it without any reservation she can see, that she should likely show more restraint.
but there is another side of that coin — the one that sees a more hopeful future, somewhat made easier by his views (no matter how humble he may be in regards to it). one that might mean a steadfast rule. and therefore, a steadfast peace and safety to the realm — new connections that may lead to something greater than she can imagine. but, just as easily — all of that can crumble should not enough caution be taken.
she was not without her flaws and being a worthy heir had not always been at the forefront of consideration, she would admit. she’d spurned tradition, tossed her head at what’s always been, and, in parallel to it, enjoyed the freedoms of being princess that allowed her to behave the way she had until viserys reminded her that would not always be the case. so of course, there was doubt.
and yet, here is someone who’s destiny was bound to hers without real choice, and yet who shares his knowledge and history freely, and who looks at her like he believes in her potential. he, who’s seen so much, and it feels a little surreal. like perhaps, with someone such as him by her side — guiding her, where needed, she may not be lead towards the darker nature targaryen rule.
he reaches out for her hand and she grasps at his, fingers briefly intertwining as she rises. eyes soften, last vestiges of her initial anger ebbing away. a small tug, an ask of him to follow.
and perhaps the next revelations, too, will serve to strengthen what is between them, shedding light to more unknowns. even if at the heart of it, she will ask him to carry a burden.
she moves to a corner of the room, hand passing along the stone wall, engraved and decorated with carved arches and motifs within. ) Firstly —
( she pushes at the central panel, depicting a weaving dragon. it swings open at the pressure, revealing beyond it a tunnel, stone steps winding into the dark; it’s then that she looks back to him, and her expression is one of small thrill — secrecy shared. ) — there is a series of secret passages, built at the time of Maegor’s rule. ( the cruel built them, of course, to make a quick escape, should the tyranny of his rule catch up. as it were, it’s builders were slain to keep such secrecy and to some degree, it was unsurprising that even such a thing was steeped in some blood. rhaenyra’s use of them had not been as malicious, and she’d explored them a little more since the first time she was introduced to them. ) I believe their existence remains to be of limited knowledge. They lead out of the keep, as discreet means of escape, but — they’re interconnected with other chambers.
( she uses the moment to step through, to the other side. when they venture forth, she’ll take a moment to point out where each branch that she knows of leads to — taking care to note the one that will take them to the outer walls of the keep, and down into the city proper.
but — as she ducks out of another arch, it is a different location that they approach — a great chamber and at its heart there stands a great line of candles, old wax dried and forming around the stone, as the flames flicker. balerion’s skull hangs suspended, a great shadow. a reminder to what they were: a symbol of their conquest — and their legacy.
she approaches, slowly. he may have been here before, though the chamber isn’t often frequented. the skull dwarfs them both. ) The Targaryens held the Iron Throne since Aegon’s conquests, nearly a century ago now — ( in some way, she knows its redundant history that she’s repeating. that he’s undoubtedly aware of their history, and of the relative youth of their power in westeros. ) Our blood had survived the fall of Old Valyria, and with that we are said to be closer to gods than men.
It’s not true, of course. ( dragon blood had been a result of blood magic, most records lost to the great fires during the Doom.) Our dragons made us kings. We’re no different from anyone else without them. ( in this, her father's words ring the most true. )
( there’s hesitation, one that seems to belie buying time of her own, an introduction to the true point she wishes to make. she turns to study him. ) What have you heard, of what drove Aegon to conquer Westeros, and unite it into the Seven Kingdoms?