(Rhaegon's POV)
[Summerhall, A Week Later]
"Well, we are back." Nymeria said as we walked through the main hall's door, "Good, I missed this place."
"I'm sure you did." I said as I looked around and saw that the floors were extra shiny, "Hm...."
Tyene and Obara walked around, "Seems they finally fixed the walls and pillars." Obara said, "They've been working a lot. Ever since the Battle."
"It's been rough, huh?" Tyene said, "Cleaning up after such a fierce time."
I nodded as I stood in the middle of the halls, "Yea...." I said, "It sure was...."
I turned to see Myrcella walk through the door, looking around the Hall, "I..." She said softly, "I have not been here for a long time.....it's looks....different."
"Maybe it's because Rhaegon remodeled it after he moved in." Nymeria chuckled
Myrcella walked up to me and hugged my arm, "Is that so?" She asked with a smile
I nodded, "Yea, I suppose so." I said as I looked at the throne in the end of the room, "Hm....."
I noticed everything was cleaner than I was used to. It was odd. I know the servants work hard to keep it clean, but I don't think it was this much.
"Well..." Tyene said, "I am exhausted....I'm going to take a nap. Princess, let me know if you wish to read later."
"Of course!" Myrcella said excitedly
Tyene walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek, standing on her tiptoes, "Don't forget your deal~" She said before walking away
"Hm." I grumbled
"Hey, not in front of his wife." Obara scowled as I watched Tyene walk away
Myrcella chuckled, "It's okay. It's just us here."
"I'm surprised you took this entire deal well, Princess." Nymeria asked, "I thought there would be some tension."
"I don't mind." Myrcella said, "As long as Rhaegon and I are together."
"Oh, you will." Obara smiled, "Worry not. We'll leave you two alone for now. Let's go, Nymeria."
Nymeria looked at me without saying anything as Obara grabbed her hand and pulled her away. I sensed something from that look, something that I didn't want to address right away.
"Uhm...." Myrcella said softly as Obara and Nymeria walked out of the room, "They don't have to always leave us alone, Rhaegon."
I looked at the floors again, "Mm....."
"We can coexist right?" Myrcella said
I looked at the throne, My Throne. It was shiny. It had been cleaned and polished well.
"That throne is clean.....too clean.." I said softly
"Rhaegon?" Myrcella said
I looked over to see a nearby servant walking in, holding some buckets in her hands, "Hey." I called over, "Who worked on this room?"
The servant stopped and placed the buckets down, bowing, "M-My Prince, Princess..." She said, "Welcome back...."
I nodded, "Yes."
"T-This room? It was Rhea, My Prince..." she said with a frown, "Is it not to your liking?"
I waved her away, "I'll speak to her directly." I said
She bowed slightly and walked away after picking the buckets up.
"What's wrong?" Myrcella sked
"Nothing." I said as I grabbed her by the hand, "Come. Let's go."
"Who's Rhea?" She asked, "A maid?"
"Yea...." I said as I walked, pulling her alongside
********
"M-My Prince..." Rhea said as she stood up from the table, bowing slightly, "Princess..! Y-You're back?"
I looked in the room she was in; it was one of the servant rooms, a small one.
"What's this?" I asked as I pointed around
"M-My Prince?" She asked
"This room? Why're you here?" I asked her
"I-It's mine, My Prince." She said softly
I looked at her, "Yours? Why?"
"I am but a servant...." She said
I blinked, "What did we speak about, Rhea?" I asked
"Rhaegon, why are you being mean to her?" Myrcella asked with a frown, "Be nice to her. She's having her meal. I am so sorry, Rhea....He wanted to compliment you on how clean the floors were on how well polished his throne was."
Rhea bowed slightly, "Of course, it is my Prince's seat...." She said, "He must always have a clean-"
"I sit atop a dragon's saddle almost every single day, sometimes it has nothing but grime and mud." I said, "I....You know what.....well done, Rhea. But that is not my point. You're not supposed to be here, in this room."
"Rhaegon!" Myrcella said with a gasp
I looked at her, "You don't know?" I asked, "I thought my Mother would tell you."
"My Prince..." Rhea said softly, "Princess Shaena told me I was in charge of the chores in Summerhall. I am but a humble ser-"
"No." I cut her off as I walked up to her, "You are not, okay? I don't care about any of that. Storm's End? Sure, if he wants to treat you that way. Here? No. You are not a servant, you are my blood."
"Blood?" Myrcella asked, "Wait..."
I patted Rhea's shoulder and looked at Myrcella, "She's my sister, Myrcella." I said
Myrcella gasped, "W-What?"
"My Prince...." Rhea said softly
"I told you, you don't have to call me that when we're alone." I told her, "Rhaegon is just fine. Or Ser. Everyone keeps forgetting to call me that."
Myrcella walked up to her, "S-she's...?" She looked at me
"Father's." I said with a nod
"Oh." Myrcella said as she grabbed her hands, "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Rhaegon's wife."
"I-I know, Princess..." Rhea said softly
Myrcella gave her a sweet smile, "Oh this is amazing.." She said, "We're one big family here. Let's make sure not to stress Rhaegon out too much, haha."
"He has so much on his shoulders...."
*********
I sighed as I sat under the tree, "Man...." I said softly as I leaned against the trunk, "Ain't this something.....so it has come to this already?"
I heard the loud thudding of Morghul slowly walking towards me, letting out a deep rumble.
I looked over at him, his golden eyes looking at me as he snorted, "Can you believe the day has come, Old Friend?" I said in High-Valyrian, "I am married...I have a wife. Soon, I will have a child. I will hold that child while I ride you. When he or she is born, eh?"
He stopped right before the tree and leaned his snout towards me, letting out a loud vocalization, and blinking his eyes as he looked at me.
"Morghul." I continued, "Do you feel it? There is a Storm coming. We must be ready. It comes. He comes."
Morghul set himself down and rumbled, looking back up to the sky and blinked. It's almost as he understood what I meant. There was something big coming. Whatever peace and happiness I was experiencing now, it was merely the calm before the storm.
I knew it; there was a War coming. I can feel that this is much bigger than I can ever hope to comprehend.
I never understood why it must be me. Why is all the responsibility coming onto me? I'm just the son of a Princess, the second child of a King. I am a Baratheon who happens to be a dragonrider. Why must all of a sudden should I bear the weight of the Realm on my shoulders.
Well.....that is a stupid question.
It's because I am a Knight.
I have wanted nothing but Freedom all my life. To fly atop Morghul and admire the Realm from above. But I am a Knight and my duty is the Realm.
But now it's more than Duty.
I have people I care about. People I have to fight for.
My Family.
I have a Brother now.
I have a Sister now.
I have a Wife now.
I have my women.
Whatever turmoil approaches, I not only fight to keep the Realm safe, I do it to keep my loved ones safe. That is what I should fight for.
But why do I have this deep feeling in my stomach? What is it about that thing that scares me?
Zaldrizes Jaes.
Who is he?
What is he?
Why would he come and do what he intends to do?
The Pretender. What is his deal?
It doesn't matter.
I looked up at the sky, "Come and try it you bastards." I said seriously,
"I dare you."