Work Text:
Jaehaera turned again in her little cot. Maelor was crying and Jaehaerys was turning and protesting, a nightmare having disturbed his sleep yet again. The maids and wetnurses fused over them and Jaehaera was unable to sleep, again.
In nights like this mother usually managed to settle her twin quite fast, and if she didn't manage then Kepa would take pity on her and take her away until she fell asleep. Truly this was one of her favourite kind of nights. Kepa would take her into his arms and walk the empty halls or take her to the Godswood to rest beneath the red tree, telling stories of dragons and street rats alike. Jaehaera could always sleep then.
But today mother and father had barely made an appearance, no lunch, no dinner, and no afternoon play. Mother had said there were important visitors coming and they had to attend them, but it was no fair. She wanted the visitors to go home and stop bothering her parents. It was sleep time now and they were still here, Jaehaera and Jaehaerys hadn't even gotten their nigh time story!
Mother had instructed them to stay in the room, just in case. But Jaehaera was done of staying in the room all day! It was boring!
So, she took her plushie of Morghul, grandmother had made for her, and squeezed through the door to the empty hall.
Diana had said their parents would be at a feast with the rest of the family, and once they were of age they would be allowed to attend. But she didn't want to attend, she wanted Kepa to pick her up and tell her stories in the Godswoods until she fell asleep under the stars.
Her little feet didn't make a sound against the stone floor, and she made sure to hide when the white cloaks started to go her way. They would take her back to her crying brothers and she would have to remain awake all night, and then she would be too tired to play in the morning.
The dining hall door was flanked by two white cloaks, servants getting in and out constantly. Through the doors she could hear the music and peek at warm orange light.
She took her chance, running full speed, Morghul II clutched tight, and squeezed in after a servant. She stopped in her tracks on the entrance, there was a very big table with a lot of people. Thankfully she spotted Keppa's short white hair easily, just in front of her. What a relief.
"Kepa!" She yelled, voice wet with tears.
Aegon, who just seconds ago was whispering to Jacaerys if he knew where to put his cock with a smirk, was out of his seat in an instant. Crossing the room and picking the girl up gently.
"Skoros iksis ziry, Tala?" He asked her softly. (What is it, daughter?).
"Maelor se Jae kessa daor ivestragī nyke ēdrugon." she said, putting her most effective sad eyes. (Maelor and Jae won't let me sleep.) Truth is the twins had become increasingly good at High Valyrian in a short time, enjoying their secret language that not even grandmother could understand.
Helaena had gotten up as well approaching the pair. "I can settle her if you want." She suggested, caressing the girls head.
"Noo, Kepa!" Jaehaera protested. She was stubborn and wanted her stories bellow the heart tree. Turning away from her mother and hiding at the other side of her father's neck.
It was then when the mischievous girl spied the roasted fruit over Aegon's shoulder, and her tune changed quickly.
"Ohh I want!" She said, arm stretched, opening and closing her hand.
"Ao iprattan gō, riñītsos. " Her father chastised, not falling this time for the puppy eyes. (You already ate, young girl.) "Please do excuse me." Aegon said switching to common to address the rest of his family. Not too sad about having a good excuse to leave the uncomfortable situation.
"Kostilus!" She tried again, putting her cutest pout yet. (Please!)
To everyone's surprise it was the King that spoke. "Oh, do indulge her Aegon. She is amongst family, let her stay."
"You are lucky his grace has such a warm heart. Do thank him." Aegon told the girl, as they sat. It had been years since Aegon had addressed the man as father in any capacity to his face, and he wasn't going to start now.
And so, she did, resting over her father's legs and with a big smile on her face she almost yelled "Thank you, your grace!"
The moment Aegon sat with the girl was like the flip of a coin, as the whole behaviour of the greens completely changed. Helaena took preventive custody of the plushie, promising to take care of it while Jaehaera ate. Alicent waved and smiled softly to the girl, acts she had never done for her own children. Even Otto softened and smiled proudly.
Jacaerys was flabbergasted, he wished to ask, "Who are you and what have you done with Aegon?" but restrained himself. He wasn't really sure how one went from lewd comments and a hurtful attitude to cooing and cutting tiny pieces of fruit to give to a child. Still he would not protest at the improvement.
Jaehaera on her part was a bit overwhelmed, she ate the delicious treats moving her legs in delight, but didn’t dare look to the strangers too much. She had managed three roasted plums by the time the King left. Her mother and the stranger that had sat next to her father were dancing, and a blonde man next to the woman grandma had called Rhaenyra on a toast was looking intently at her. Father had told her the one she was currently eating would be the last plum he gave her, and she was irritated. She could feel Kepa was annoyed as well by the looks exchanged between him and her uncle. The feast didn't look like it would be ending soon even if it was supposed to be sleep time. So Jaehaera decided to bring attention to it, perhaps these people had just forgotten the time.
"When are you leaving? It's sleepy time now, don't you have a house?" She asked the man.
Aegon snorted and the man seemed taken aback.
"It seems the young lady doesn't want us here." The man said looking at Rhaenyra with a mischievous smile.
"I don't. Go to your own home now or go bother another mummy and daddy." Jaehaera challenged crossing her arms.
Alicent looked away trying really hard not to laugh out loud.
"Well, this is our home too, so we may stay forever." Daemon countered with a wolfish grin.
Jaehaera gasped and turned to face her father. "Forever!?" She exclaimed.
"Rhaenyra is my older sister, and used to live here as well, so she and the others have a set of rooms they can stay in." Aegon tried to explain hoping Daemon’s attitude didn’t cause a tantrum on the already irritated girl.
"I guess she can stay, but not him. He is ugly and annoying, he can go to his other house." The girl stated brows knitted.
Only Aegon could admonish her. "Jaehaera!" He warned her.
The other greens could only cover their mouths with their hands and look the other way pleading to the gods the laugh didn't escape them. Never had been Daemon Targaryen insulted before and unable to take any action against the offending party.
"Well, you are ugly as well." The man replied bitter. Rhaenyra berated his antics with his look of disapproval.
"Then your eyes are broken. Probably from looking at your ugly face in the mirror." She retorted, and Daemon had been bested once again by a toddler.
"Jaehaera that is enough. Do apologize." her father chastised again, biting his lip not to burst laughing at Daemon's face, keenly aware Dark Sister was still strapped to his hip.
"I’m sorry you are so ugly." She said with a fake smile. Truth is Jaehaera was used to this kind of fighting thanks to hers and Jaehaerys many rows, one always wanting the toy the other had.
Baela broke first, as a small laugh finally escaped her at the look on her father’s face.
"Konir sagon daor skoros nyke nūmāzma." (That is not what I meant.) The girl dropped the satisfied smile at hearing her father switch to High Valyrian, a clear indicator she was getting very much in trouble.
"I'm sorry." She grumbled. "Can we go to the Godswood now?"
"Oh, was that the plan? Don't think so, not after you misbehaved." Aegon had half a mind to send her to sit with her grandmother when he noticed the roasted pig coming and decided to change a bit the plan. "Go sit with your uncle Aemy and don't bother your great uncle Daemon again." Lucerys snorted at the nickname while Aemond glared menacingly at him. Helaena had started calling him that so the children wouldn't be afraid of the eyepatch, and it had stuck. Although Aemond only allowed it in the presence of Aegon’s children, the gut punch he had received when teasing his younger brother with it, a clear testament to that.
Jaehaera threw Aegon an ineffective last sad look before making a point of doing the saddest walk she could muster to Aemond’s side.
When the pig was placed in front of Aemond, causing Lucerys to smirk, the child in his lap rooted him to the spot. His good eye twitched but he showed no reaction besides that. Aegon patted himself in the back, crisis averted.
The rest of the dinner passed without incident, the pig was served and eaten in peace. Otto sneaking another roasted plum under the table to the young girl while Aemond pretended not to see. Before deserts Aegon decided the girl had enough for today, if her jawns were any indication, and excused himself. He stopped door ajar before fully departing, thinking things over before speaking.
“By the way Rhaenyra, just so you know, I’ve stolen your flying harness and I’m not giving it back. Night!”
She couldn’t be mad. Deep down where anxiety coiled, Rhaenyra hoped that was the last time her brother took something from hers.
“Fatherhood seems to have settled him, Alicent.” Rhaenyra looked at her old friend, keenly aware of the kind of teen Aegon had been.
“If only that were so. No, now he just has someone else to get into mischief with.” Alicent sighed, not entirely unhappy with the change her son had undergone, yet ruing the way Jaehaera had so keenly taken after him.
Aegon took his daughter briefly to the weir wood tree, only a few minutes of rocking her and softly talking before she was fast asleep. He enjoyed the night a bit longer, the cold air of fall making him relax. The stars shone bright over the fortress and the stench from the city did not reach them, it was peaceful. He didn’t know how many more of these moments would they have left. By the looks on Viserys probably not many.
Thankfully he didn't encounter anyone on his way back. It was just Helaena in the nursery, looking at how the other two boys slept peacefully. Aegon nudged her slightly to make way and deposit the little girl back into bed, giving her brow a kiss good night. Action followed by Helaena who made sure she was properly tucked in.
"That one is a troublemaker." Aegon said once outside.
"I do wonder who she might have gotten it from." Helaena laughed.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." He joked back.
"Both of you are fond of sneaking out at night it seems. Could you go to the kitchens and ask them to save some plums for tomorrow? Once Jaehaerys finds out he will throw a fit if there are none left." Helaena asked too tired to do it herself after all the dancing.
"Sure thing dearest wife, have a good night and don’t put the centipede on the bed, he stings."
"He doesn't sting, they bite! " She yelled after his retreating figure, as if that would make him change his mind.