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“I made something for you.” Helaena said as he entered her rooms
That surprised him : it wasn’t his nameday, it wasn’t their wedding anniversary. He’d know. Their mother would have berated him until he would find something for his sister-wife.
“Really? Why?”
He rarely got gifts, unless it was a special day. He usually was an afterthought, he was used to it, though the sting still hurt. She looked at him, her face always unreadable but her eyes were shouting at him. He could hear them :
Why would I need a special occasion to offer you something?
Really, Aegon?
Why do I bother?
I would be better off with another husband.
I should have married Jace.
“I never embroidered something for you.” The queen replied
“I never asked, to be honest.”
“But you like them.”
“I do. I really do. You have talent.”
Her smile warmed his heart : he didn’t love her the way she deserved to be loved and a part of him felt guilty about it. Helaena was gentle, kind, didn’t bother anyone and was, in all honesty, pretty. She was a good mother, patient, assertive when she needed to be. Any man would have been delighted to have such a bride. As for him, she was his sister. She was the mother of their children, a blessing so big a thousand lifetimes wouldn’t be enough to properly thank her. The new king sat by her side.
“So, what’s this big surprise you have for me?”
Helaena gave him a beautiful green doublet. The embroidery was perfect. Aegon had no other words to describe it : it simply was magnificent. On the torso, near the closing line, two dragons made of golden threads, reminding him of his beloved Sunfyre, facing each other like a mirror, a faultless replicate of each other. The pattern formed some kind of heart and would sit on his own when he’d put it on.
“This is beautiful…” He whispered
“The dragons are the twins.” She revealed
“They are?!”
His wife smiled.
“Yes. That way, they are always with you.”
His two joys, his pride, cuddling him at all times. He bit his lips, trying to fight off the tears he felt coming into his eyes.
“Hel. This is amazing. I love it.”
“You do?”
“You have no idea of much… This is the second best gift you made me.”
The young woman didn’t need to ask what was the first.
“I have to try it on.” He said
“Right now?” She asked, puzzled
“I can go behind your screen but it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”
He quickly changed, hidden from her view, before returning, beaming.
“How do I look, then?”
“You look good. The pattern is right on your heart too. I was afraid I would not place it right.”
Her perfectionism was always surprising to him but he guessed it came with having a passion.
“You know what? I am going to wear this for my first petition hearing. And at the council.”
Helaena’s eyes lit up.
“I can make one for Jaehaerys. You’d match.”
“Oh Gods, yes! Maybe do it on one of Jaehaera’s dresses too. I want to match with both my children, not only one! Jaehaera isn’t my heir but I love her just as much as I love Jaehaerys.”
She knew he did. He loved them both equally, from the bottom of his heart.
In that, he already was a better parent than Viserys had ever been for them.
The End