Rhaena, with the assistance of her Septa, finally arrived at Androw's room, where the garrison men had discovered Alyn's lifeless body. The moment she stepped inside, the strong, almost nauseating scent of blood hit her. The room was in chaos—furniture overturned, bloodstains splattered across the floor, and signs of a fierce struggle everywhere.
Maester Culiper, who had been summoned to assess the situation, looked up as Rhaena entered. The old Maester's expression was one of solemn concern. "Princess," he said, bowing his head slightly. "The situation is unexpected. There are bloodstains from two individuals. One is undoubtedly Alyn's, but the other... we assume it is Lord Consort's." He gestured towards the ground where a bloodied knife lay embedded in the floorboards. "This knife might have been used to stab the other person, while a sword was used to stab Alyn."
Maester Culiper's voice was heavy with sadness. "Based on the bloodstains, the knife penetrated deeply. It's difficult to fathom how Lord Consort managed to survive such a wound." He shook his head in disbelief.
Rhaena's heart sank. Her resolve faltered as she moved closer to the Maester, trying to maintain her composure. "Androw... he left with his wounds untreated?" Her voice wavered, barely containing her rising panic.
The Maester nodded solemnly. "It appears so. The blood loss was significant. It is a wonder he was able to leave at all."
Rhaena's strength seemed to drain away. She turned and leaned heavily against the doorframe, feeling her head spin. Her world had shifted dramatically in a single day. The man she had just started to recognize as her own had left her, possibly on the brink of death. The weight of her situation pressed down on her, making her feel as though she were a cursed widow, lost in her own sorrow.
As she gathered her resolve, the distant roar of dragons reached her ears. Her expression hardened with determination. Ignoring the supportive offers from her friends, she stubbornly made her way down the tower stairs. Each step was a struggle against the physical pain.
Seeing her struggle, Lianna, her cousin, could no longer watch in silence. With a firm but gentle grip, she guided Rhaena through the corridors and into the courtyard where Jahaerays and Alysanne had just arrived. The siblings approached with expressions of deep concern.
But what happened next was beyond their expectations. Rhaena, her face remain cold, motioned for everyone to leave, making it clear she only wanted to speak with Jahaerays and Alysanne.
As the crowd dispersed, Queen Alysanne approached her sister with genuine concern. She reached out, but Rhaena held up her hand, stopping her midway. Instead, Rhaena moved directly to Jahaerays, her face twisted with emotion. Without warning, she delivered a strong slap to the young king's face. Jahaerays looked at his sister in stunned disbelief, his face flushed from the blow.
Rhaena's voice was low and harsh, her eyes bloodshot. "I gave you my throne," she said, "and now you want what's left of me?"
Alysanne, confused and alarmed, stepped forward. "Sister?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty and concern.
Rhaena continued to glare at Jahaerays, her voice filled with anguish. "Bring my husband back, alive."
Alysanne's eyes widened in shock. "Androw? What happened to him, sister?"
Rhaena's response was terse and cold. "Ask your husband."
She turned to leave, but paused, her voice carrying a bitter edge. "Alysanne, your husband is no less of Maegar.".
Rhaena, with a final, bitter glance at her sister and Jahaerays, turned and walked with difficulty towards her chamber. As she made her way down the corridor, Aerea approached, her small hand reaching out to support her mother.
Aerea, though still confused about the situation, could sense the tension. She looked up at Rhaena with innocent eyes, her voice trembling with concern. "Mother, where is Androw?"
Rhaena's heart ached at her daughter's question. She could barely manage to respond, her voice barely audible, a mere whisper of resignation and sorrow. "I don't know."
[
Hello, everyone. Volume 1 has ended. The next volume will pick up with Androw four months after the "Year of the Stranger." He will be missing during this period before making his reappearance. The next volume will start soon. The reason for dividing the story into volumes is to avoid the fiction going off track. Take care. And based on the poll, Androw will remain in Westeros for now.
link: patreon.com/AmouxCreationX
]