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This was his favourite part of the day. After all the hustle and bustle was done, when he could simply focus on spending time with his sons, just the three of them together. The servants had filled a great tub with warm water - not steaming hot, since both boys had skin much too sensitive for that. Just the right temperature. After helping Daeron undress and enter the tub, Maekar undressed Aerion and in a smooth motion picked the boy up from the bed and lowered him into the tub as well, next to his brother. Aerion let out a hum of pleasure.
One would be forgiven for thinking, just by looking at their bodies, Daerion was the feeble one of the two; his soft body lacked any muscle definition though he was almost concerningly skinny. his shoulders were rounded and narrow, his skin soft and fair like a babe's. Even now, moons since the accident, Aerion still had significant muscle definition. Yet the muscles were all that remained of Maekar's strong, knightly son, and it was be a matter of time before that had faded as well. It was bittersweet - mostly bitter - for Maekar to think of. He did not want to lose this last evidence of the existence of a capable boy, a boy sharing his father's martial passion. Though it was deeply painful too to be confronted every time he looked at Aerion with what he used to be. Perhaps it would be easier to tend to him once his body suited his soul. A soft little body for a soft little boy.
The splashing of water brought Maekar out of his reverie to see the boys were playing at making waves. Well, Daerion was methodically creating waves in the water; his giggling Aerion did not seem to have any intention behind the shaking of his hands on the water beyond being delighted with his brother's performance. Though Maekar was smitten by the wholesome scene, he took it as a sign to get to work.
Crouched down, Maekar started lathering Aerion in soap, then rubbed him down with a washcloth. Despite being at this point well-practiced in caring for his sons, it took quite a while to be done with the lad. Aerion could after all not be directed to sit still or turn this or that way. Frequently he had to remind Daeron to not become too excited and agitate his brother. Washing Aerion's feet was especially a trial since the boy struggled to maintain balance at the best of times. So, to prevent Aerion from sliding underwater, Maekar had to hold him up with one arm around his chest as the other reached for his kicking feet. As usual, Maekar got thoroughly soaked, but could not be angry with the boy for he had been laughing the entire time, thinking it was papa's funny little game.
Finally done with Aerion, he turned to Daeron. His oldest had been deeply embarassed when this routine was introduced, saying it was ridiculous for a grown man to bathe with his brother and be washed by his father. Maekar reminded him that for a man grown he seemed to struggle immensely with keeping himself clean. Furthermore, as he wanted his sons in bed at the same hour it was simply practical to bathe together too. Yet Daeron refused to comply, forcing Maekar to drag him to his bedchamber, undress and bathe him while he struggled all the while. Thankfully he eventually obeyed his father, and now washing Daeron was as easy as washing his brother was a trial.
When he arrived at the lad's nether region he could feel him tense up and saw from a brief glance that Daeron's face was reddening. As if there was anything about his body that Maekar hadn't seen before.
"Such a good boy," he said softly when finished, and pressed a kiss to his crown. Daeron shuddered.
Maekar focused his attention back on his youngest. He pulled the boy up out of the tub and quickly wrapped him in a thick towel. Aerion would start crying if he wasn't immediately wrapped up, hating feelingthe cold air on his body after a bath.
From the restless splashing in the bath Maekar knew that Daeron was eager to be dried off as well, but Aerion always had to be taken out first for Maekar could not leave him in the bath unattended, he could drown so easily if Maekar had his back turned. He laid the bundle with his boy on the bed and gave him a silver rattle, his favourite toy reserved for these situations.
The rattle had been a gift from the king and queen for the newborn Daeron. Every one of Maekars children had at some point played with it in their crib. Daella was the last one and should have been the last one. Instead, Maekar had retrieved recently it from a forgotten drawer to soothe his secondborn son. Aerion loved it and could entertain himself with it for hours. Focused on the rattle, Aerion was otherwise calm, making Maekars task of diapering the lad that much easier. After affixing the last clothespin Maekar dressed him in his nightshirt. Aerion looked up at his father with big, innocent eyes. He had started gnawing on the rattle and drool trickled down his chin.
Warmth bloomed in Maekar's chest. He looked like an angel. He reached out a hand and caressed his face.
"Papa," Aerion mumbled, and reached out his own arm to his father's face. Maekar bent down so the boy could touch him. The boy clumsily ran his fingers through Maekars beard. Time was suspended as father and son were content.
"I'm cold, papa." and with that, the moment was broken. Quickly Maekar rushed to Daeron, feeling a deep pang of guilt for leaving him in the cooling water. He needed his papa's love and attention just as much as Aerion did. Wordlessly, Maekar started drying the boy off. Daeron had a dreamy, far-off look in his eyes while his father worked. The silence was peaceful, only broken by the sound of the rattle and Aerion's cooing to himself.
After the nightshirt was pulled down over his head, Daeron yawned deeply and rubbed his eyes with his fists. Maekar would have found this behavior adorable in every situation but now, with Daeron's soft blonde hair freshly washed and his cheeks and lips rosy, Maekar felt positively smitten with the boy. He pulled him in for a kiss and tight embrace. Daeron's small body relaxed and melted into his father's muscular arms.
Maekar picked him up and carried him to bed to be tucked in next to his brother. When the blanket was tucked tightly around the boys, Maekar let himself fall into the chair next to the bed. Aerion was dozing already and did not stir when Maekar carefully removed the rattle from his clutched fist. Daeron however was staring up at him expectantly with big, beautiful eyes. Maekar stroked a lock of hair from the boy's face. He knew what the boy wanted. "Do you want papa to tell you a story, sweetling?"
Daeron nodded. "The one with uncle baelor and the peach tree."
Maekar smiled, unsurprised. That one was Daeron's favorite story of Maekar and his brother's childhood antics. "Of course."
He then lulled Daeron gently to sleep with his favourite story. Daeron's eyelids drooped further with every word until he was finally asleep.
Finished, Maekar kissed his boys one final time before quietly exiting the bedchamber.
(Later tonight Maekar would crawl into bed as well. Daeron snuggled up to him on one side and Aerion on the other. Three hearts would beat as one, and it would be impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. A father and his sons experiencing a perfect unity unthinkable to them until just moons ago.)