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The sight of her obviously rather drunk younger brother stumbling towards the hallways leading away from the name day festivities draws her attention from crowd. Rhaenyra could swear she had just seen the young prince talking with her boys and then his mother, seemingly enjoying the party for their father’s name day.
Concern building within her, she slipped out of the hall after him. She rounded the corner just in time to lurch forward and jerk him back by his collar just before he banged his head against the wall, the momentum sending him toppling onto her as they both hit the ground.
Aegon groaned as he slid off her, limbs sprawling across the freezing stone. He head lolled to take her in, angelic features creasing in obvious confusion at the sight of his elder sister.
Rhaenyra scrambled to sit up, hovering over the boy as she scanned him for any sign of injury. Her hands settled onto Aegons cheeks, turning his head to the side carefully as his eyes fluttered open and shut.
The boy was dazed but fine, Rhaenyra decided as she rocked back. A night of rest and he would be alright. Sporting a vicious pain in his head from the drink, but he would be ok. She just had to get him back to his chambers.
Judging by the way he barely reacted when she slipped his arm around her shoulders and hauled him up, there was no chance of Aegon being able to get himself back to his chambers without help. He swayed as they got to their feet, blinking rapidly as he finally seemed to register that he was not alone.
“Nyra!” Aegons eyes widened as he saw who was supporting him. She smiled at the nickname, fond memories springing forward of a blond haired blur of a toddler bolting through the doors of her rooms and shouting it at the top of his lungs. As she nudged him forward, he seemed to gain more awareness of where they were headed and he didn’t resist her guidance as they walked through the halls.
However, by the time they reached the stairway to his chambers, Aegon had flagged. Rhaenyra internally thanked the fact that dragon riding required her to have significant strength, scooping her younger brother up into her arms as it became clear that he would not be able to navigate the stairs.
Aegon gave no protest to being carried, his head lolling to one side as Rhaenyra silently cursed both her decision to leave her sworn shield in the hall to watch over her own boys and Aegon decision to live at the top of a tower. Huffing, she breathed a sigh of relief when they crested the top of the stairs, the guards standing at Aegons door hurrying to stand at attention as their Crown Princess approached.
A raised eyebrow spurred one of them to open the door for her and Rhaenyra swept past them, Aegon still in her arms. To their credit, one of the guards had tried to take the boy from her but Rhaenyra had refused. Some part of her had cried out at the thought of releasing her precious cargo to anyone and Rhaenyra could admit that it was nice to hold her little brother once again.
He was not quite the same babe she had once bounced on her knee and taught to say her name, but he was precious to her all the same.
Aegon whined when she went to put him down, hands clutching at her dress in an attempt to keep her close. Rhaenyra hushed him softly, settling herself beside him on the bed. Aegon wriggled as she pulled the sheets over him and Rhaenyra bit her lip to hold back a fond laugh as he became tangled in them, one leg poking over the side of the bed and his arm twisted under him in a way that could not be comfortable. It did not seem to matter to Aegon though, who stilled once he had managed to manoeuvre his head to use her lap as a pillow.
“Nyra!” He whined, words muffled from where his face was buried against her thigh. “Nyra, I’m tired.”
“I know, Egg.” She chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to his cheek. “Why don’t you try and get some rest? I’ll stay with you if you like.”
“Yes, please stay Nyra.” He mumbled, the wine and exhaustion slurring his words. “I’ll be no threat, I promise. I’ll be good.”
Rhaenyras heart dropped and her hand stilled where it had been stroking through Aegon’s hair. It was only when he nuzzled his head into her hand that she started again, though her mind was still racing in panic as she stared wide eyed down at her little brother.
“What do you mean by that Egg?” She asked carefully, trying to keep her voice as soft as possible. “What threat could you be?”
Logically, Rhaenyra knew what he must mean. He was the Kings firstborn son but Aegon was not his heir and Rhaenyra was not blind nor deaf to the whispers that abounded the court. Or of the implications of Alicent’s cold demeanour and tight smiles when the topic arose.
But she had to hear him say it. Had to hear the words from her brother.
“The throne.” Aegon rasped, twisting to stare at her with those wide eyes. “I’m a- a threat to it. To you, that’s… that’s what everyone says.”
“Aegon.” Rhaenyra whispered, dread twisting in her chest as the boy finally confirmed her fears.
“I’m- I’m a threat and a challenge and it doesn’t matter if I don’t want it.” Aegon rambled, becoming more and more distressed as he rambled on. “My wants don’t matter, my choices don’t, my life doesn’t matter!”
Rhaenyra stared, speechless in horror as Aegon lurched up, his hands grabbing at her desperately until Rhaenyra was forced to take them into her own. Aegon didn’t even seem to notice, swaying as he begged her.
“Just kill me.” He begged, trembling before her. “Kill me and be done with it! You can make me an example! Show the court what you do to challenges! Then you wont have to- to kill Aemond and Daeron as well because everyone will be too scared.”
He was crying now, hiccuping sobs tearing themselves from his body as Rhaenyra watched, frozen and helpless in the face of his words.
“My life for the throne!” He sobbed, thrashing against Rhaenyra as she pulled him towards her, tucking him under her chin as she rocked back and forth. “My life for my brother’s lives. Thats a fair trade right? You get my head and your throne and my brothers get to keep theirs! They get to live!”
“No.” Rhaenyra said firmly, shifting so that she could pull the crying boy fully into her lap. “No it is very much not a fair trade.”
Aegon’s sobs worsened at her words, his shoulders shaking as he tucked his head into the crook of her neck. Rhaenyra hushed him, rubbing circles on his back in an attempt to calm him.
“The Iron Throne is not worth your life, Aegon.” She whispered once he had calmed some, his sobs petering out. “It is not worth your life or our brothers lives.”
“But- “ He sniffed, voice wet as he pulled away slightly to look her in the eye. “I’m a challenge. Simply by living and breathing, I challenge your claim to the throne.”
This boy. This lovely, sweet and hurting boy. Her darling little brother.
“There is no challenge unless you desire it so.” She whispered, reaching up to frame Aegons face in her hands. “No threat in the world can stand against my claim if you and I and our other siblings are united against it.”
“They won’t care.” He said bitterly. “Grandsire and M- the lords of the realm. They don’t care what I want. It doesn’t matter if I say no.”
Rhaenyra closed her eyes, holding back her own tears as she leaned over the boy. Putting herself between him and the world who would hurt them so.
“It does, Aegon.” She said fiercely, imbuing her words with as much certainty as she could. “Your wants, your desires? They matter so much. Your life matters. If not to you then it at the very least matters to me.”
“I don’t want it.” He gasped, burying his head into her chest once again. “I don’t want the throne but I don’t want my family to die.”
“They won’t.” Rhaenyra promised, tucking her chin atop his head. “I will take the throne and I will protect our family Aegon. You have my word.”