During her childhood in Winterfell, the former Lady had often been ill. She had been born there and had spent most of her life there, but she had never gotten used to the temperatures.

Edith was a Targaryen, the daughter of a dragon, and belonged in warmer areas. King's Landing had the perfect climate for a dragon, but the capital was not protected from disease.

No one really knew what had caused the sudden illness of the princess, because she was a healthy young woman. That night was the worst she had had in a long time. Edith had crazy fever dreams and suffered pains all over her body.

Nightmares of her lonely time in Winterfell caught up with her, bad dreams about things that never happened like the death of her family and her own end. Again and again she woke up in the night, until she fell asleep right away from exhaustion and experienced the next dream.

Helaena and the maester stayed with the princess until late at night, taking care of her before they too went to bed. Edith was only aware of this unconsciously and would have liked to scream for her friend to stay, but she could not. Helaena did not come back and she did not know where she had gone.

Shortly before sunrise, someone kept the sick girl company.

He sat down at her bedside and carefully stroked her wet hair out of her face. It was not easy for the young man to see the woman of his heart. It was almost as hard for him as seeing her with his brother. It was his own unbearable nightmare.

"Forgive me." He whispered and took one of her hands and breathed a kiss on the back of her hand, then bent down and placed her hand against his cheek. Aegon closed his eyes and enjoyed her closeness. Probably she would never let him get this close again, as he feared he had really lost her to Aemond now.

Edith opened her eyes slightly and eyed the broken man beside her. "Aegon?" she asked cautiously, thinking she was hallucinating. She was very afraid that Aegon's presence was just another nightmare and something bad was about to happen.

"I'm here." He confirmed to her and looked up at her, then kissed the back of her hand again. "I couldn't bear to know you were lying and suffering just a few doors away." He confessed, and it was indeed the truth.

All night he had lain awake and could think of nothing but Edith. When Helaena came to him in his chambers and told him about Edith's illness, he wanted to see her immediately, but his wife had stopped him. In review, Helaena was right, as Edith really needed rest now, but Aegon had not been able to stand it.

"I am here, my dear." He repeated his words, stroking her cheek with his free hand.

Aegon sat next to her with messed up hair. He looked like he had just gotten out of bed and just ran his hand through his hair for a moment to tame it, only unfortunately it had done nothing.

"That's nice." She said and smiled tiredly at him. The girl was glad that this was not another nightmare. "You're not angry?"

Aegon shook his head. "Not at you." He answered honestly.

"Thank you." Edith sat up a little so she could look at him better.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm tired, but I don't feel as warm as I did earlier." Said Edith and squeezed his hand. The princess was so glad he was here. "It was awful."

"I don't even like to imagine what it must be like for you... and what everything is like for you right now." Sighed Aegon, running a hand through his silver hair.

"I'm glad you're here, my dear." Edith had to smile as Aegon took the wet cloth from the bowl and carefully dabbed her face. She was not sweating so much anymore, but still it was a nice and such a loving gesture from him.

"My last words the night before your wedding... They were all true. I want to be there for you. I still want you, but it's hard for me." Aegon said with his shoulders drooping. He wanted this woman more than anything, but he didn't know how to do it.

Edith leaned forward and rested her forehead against his. His words made her heart beat faster and for a moment she forgot her pain. "I want to be there for you, too. All I wanted was you." She confessed to him the thoughts that had been on her mind for so long.

From the beginning he had enchanted her and had been the first to welcome her here. He fought for her and wanted to marry her. Take her as his second wife so that Edith could stay with him and be happy. But he had lost the fight against his mother by marrying him off to his brother. Aemond had won, as he often did, and that was anything but fair.

In Aegon's eyes, Aemond could never love and treat Edith as well as he could.

"We'll find a way." Smiled Aegon with relief, firmly believing in his words. He would not give in to this fight so quickly. "I will find a way and I am sure... that Helaena will help us."

At the mention of the older princess, memories of the bad night came flooding back.

"What's wrong?" Aegon looked at her with concern and sat up straight.

"I believe you, and I believe in Helaena." She said quickly, leaning back into the pillows. "But we should try it alone first... I don't want Helaena-"

"Helaena won't say anything to anyone." Aegon quickly interrupted her. It had taken years for the two of them to understand each other and accept their marriage, neither would allow that to happen now that they had spoken up and wanted to work on their relationship.

"I know." Edith smiled at him in satisfaction.

Her heart was beating fast with excitement. It was a forbidden thing the two were planning that no one could know about and after a long time Edith had hope again. Finally she could be with Aegon and for a moment she remembered her current situation, her marriage and life with Aemond.

"Have you spoken to each other?" the prince asked curiously.

Edith nodded. "Yes, but not much... suddenly I didn't feel well." Answered the girl, reminding both of them of the situation. Their beautiful dream vision of a future together suddenly faded at the memory.

Edith was feeling better, but she was still not very well. Surprisingly, she was not ashamed to show herself like this in front of him. Someone must have taken off her dress, because she was wearing only a nightgown, which she hid under the covers.

"I just don't understand why. You looked healthy in the library." Reflected Aegon, looking thoughtfully at the wall.

Edith sighed and looked at the ceiling. "I think I didn't tolerate the tea. Helaena said that the body can react, but I didn't expect my body to react that much... and that fast." She said as if it was something trivial.

Aegon, on the other hand, became attentive at her narration and looked at her curiously. "What kind of tea did Helaena give you?" he asked seriously. His silver wavy hair fell in his face as he turned to her.

Edith put her hand on his covered chest. Aegon was wearing an old tunic and dark cotton pants. His clothes looked thrown together, but still the prince looked decidedly handsome.

"Moon Tea?" she replied, looking at him questioningly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

His expression looked shocked, but he quickly tried to calm down. "Why did you drink that?" he asked a counter question.

"Because I wanted to? There's nothing wrong with that at all..."

Edith was right. There was nothing wrong with it. She had decided to do it on her own, and Aegon respected her decision. To be honest, he was also relieved that she had drunk that tea.

"It isn't. It's all good." Only with difficulty he could stifle his grin and of course Edith saw it. Out of reflex, she slapped him lightly against the shoulder. "Stop grinning!" she demanded with a laugh.

"I'm not grinning." Aegon raised his hands laughing and tried to look innocent, but it didn't work. The silver-haired one laughed and the girl with brownish hair had to laugh too.

"I'm sorry, but I'm relieved." He said and put his hand on her cheek to pull her to him and kiss her.

Edith literally melted in his arms and leaned against him longingly when she was finally able to return his kiss. For far too long she hadn't felt his lips on hers and it felt like her heart was finally healing.

"Relieved?" asked Edith curiously.

"I don't want you to have his children." Replied Aegon with a serious look. Edith shook her head slightly and smirked. "I don't want to have his children either." Admitted the girl quietly.

"But I don't want you to drink that tea again either. It's not good for you." The prince continued to hold her face with his hands and looked at her pleadingly.

Edith's heart beat faster and she would so much like to promise him, but she couldn't. If the tea prevented pregnancy, then surely she would drink it again.

"There are other ways." He added.

"What ways?" asked Edith curiously, taking his hands in hers and squeezing them tightly.

"You know what ways." Aegon tilted his head slightly and grinned at the girl. "Be creative."

Aegon's words had definitely piqued her interest.

"Tell me about it." She asked him and looked at him curiously, sitting up straighter.

Now it was Aegon who looked a little embarrassed. "You really don't know?" he asked, stunned.

"How could you? Aegon... you were the first to touch me... and Aemond-"

"No more details please!" he quickly interrupted her, his face contorting. He didn't like to imagine his brother touching and kissing her so he tried to take his mind off it and thought in another direction. "But if you want, I'll be happy to show you a couple of things." He breathed seductively against her lips.

"Oh I'm asking for it." Burst out longingly from Edith. Just the idea made her knees weak.

Aegon had to grin at her reaction and promised her firmly as soon as she was well again. He would have loved to take her right away, but in her condition it was not a good idea and so with a heavy heart he had to wait a little longer.

"I can't speak for all men, but I think many men like it... when they come all over the woman. On the beautiful breasts or on the round butt." Aegon had almost the same dreamy look as his sister as he looked down at Edith, running two fingers from her neck to between her breasts. "Or here." Aegon's fingers moved up again and he stroked her full lips with his thumb. "I'd kill to feel your lips around my cock."

Edith's cheeks turned red at the idea. These were all new thoughts to her, but she wasn't averse to them. She was even willing to surrender to Aegon and fulfill his desires.

The girl opened her mouth and took his thumb in her mouth. It was more a reflex than intended, but when she saw his longing look she sucked his thumb for a short moment.

Aegon let out a loud sound, which Edith had never heard from him before. Looking at her with her big eyes, she began to smile.

"Don't do that again, unless you really want me." Aegon cleared his throat before speaking. His heart was beating fast in his chest and just that little gesture from her almost made him lose his mind. Only too gladly would he have pushed her down on the bed and made love to her in secret for the last few hours of the night.

"But I really want you." She promised him and squeezed his hand again.

Aegon shook his head slightly. "Not now." He opined. It was hard for him to say that and it cost him all his nerves. "You are unwell." The prince reminded her.

Edith had successfully repressed it until just now. It was as if his presence alone was her medicine. She needed him and he needed her, they realized again now.

"You're right." The girl then admitted and leaned back again. Aegon, on the other hand, stood up and covered Edith properly again. "I should go so you can rest." He then said, looking out of the window. The first rays of the sun could already be seen on the horizon and it was only a matter of time before the maester would check on Edith again.

The princess did not want to let him go, but she knew she had to and so she nodded slightly. "Thank you, my dear." Smiled she.

"I'll check on you again later." Aegon breathed a kiss on her forehead and then on her lips. "Sleep well, my love." The two exchanged one last smile with each other until he left the room.

She had really missed him and needed him, his presence had really done her good.

Her heart was big and warm for the eldest prince and she believed she had lost her heart to him, but at the same time there was his sister, who confused Edith more and more, and his brother... Edith's husband.

She had repressed Aemond. Disappointed, she sighed, since Aemond himself had not come again. The Targaryen had been here when he was informed, but he had quickly left the room.

Helaena had been with her, holding her hands or dabbing her forehead until the maester had sent her to bed, and Aegon had come when everyone was in bed so no one would know.

This secretive way made it exciting and forbidden and it made Edith's heart race. It was really forbidden and maybe that's what made it so special for the two of them.

Aegon left just in time, for it wasn't long before the maester entered the room. He stepped up to the bed and placed his candle and a cup on the nightstand. Edith kept her eyes closed the whole time and pretended to be asleep. The man seemed to believe her and carefully put his hand on her forehead to feel her temperature, then he took his candle again and left the room. He left the cup.

The girl sat up as the doors closed again and took the cup in her hands. Carefully she smelled the drink and instantly frowned. It smelled really bad and Edith quickly put the cup back on the nightstand.

She would certainly not drink this beverage. She had already drunk enough and done enough to her body. She did not want to drink more, which she had never seen before.

Edith had always managed without any potions or medicines from healers and maesters and she had her mother to thank for that. Aruna was also skeptical of such applications and always watched what she and her children took. Her mother had been through a lot, Edith did not know many things, so it was no wonder that the woman was cautious.

Tired, the young woman fell asleep once again and finally fell into a dreamless sleep.

This was interrupted only when another princess came frantically into the room and loudly closed the doors. Startled, Edith sat up and clutched her heart. "Damn, Hel!" she cursed, trying to calm her heartbeat again, but the expression on Helaena's face would not allow it.

Helaena's long silver hair fell open over her shoulders and she wore only her pale nightgown, which reached to her knees. "I think I made a big mistake, Edda." Hushed the older and sat down on the bed with her friend.

"What happened?" Edith sat upright and put the bedspread over Helaena's legs, as the princess shivered beside her.

But Helaena was not cold. She was shivering because she had realized something. "I had a dream." Helaena reached for Edith's hands and squeezed them tightly. At the latest, the girl with brownish hair realized that something was wrong. "Tell me about it." Asked Edith in a soft voice.

"I couldn't stop thinking about what happened yesterday. Moon Tea can attack the body, but not the way it had done to you." Helaena avoided eye contact and stared at their hands in fear.

"And what do you mean by that?" She would have to be lying if Edith had not already had the same thought. She hadn't known about this helping tea before yesterday, but the tea was supposed to help, not destroy the body. At least that's how it had felt.

"I think someone prepared something else." Helaena voiced the common guess, her voice sounding clearer and more reasonable than ever.

Edith lowered her head and stared at the joined hands as well. It was a frightening and cruel realization that brought tears to Edith's eyes. "The tea was for you." Shurted the younger princess, startled, and put her hand in front of her mouth to suppress another shuffle. "You asked for it. Someone made it for you."

"It's okay..."

"It's not okay, Helaena! Someone tried to hurt you! How can you stay so calm?" Edith wanted to know in horror.

"Because I'm more afraid about you than about me!" replied Helaena gruffly, raising her head to look at Edith. "Because I gave you the tea and put your life in danger, and I'll never be able to forgive myself for that." She sighed in frustration.

Amazed, Edith looked at her. She had never heard Helaena speak so anxiously about anyone. Edith had always hoped she would mean just a little to Helaena, but now she realized how much she must mean to the older woman. The silver-haired woman looked exhausted and distressed. She held her hands tightly in hers and shook her head helplessly.

"Shh." Firmly Edith put her arms around her friend's delicate body and hugged her protectively. Surprisingly, Helaena also wrapped her arms tightly around Edith's body.

Silently, the two young women held each other in their arms, lost in their own thoughts.

Someone had deliberately tried to attack Helaena, taking advantage of her situation. The person had no way of knowing that the tea was supposed to be for the other princess. Neither of them knew who it could have been or the reason why.

Helaena had never harmed anyone. She was the warmest and most innocent person in all of Westeros. Why would anyone want to harm her? Edith didn't understand, though.

"We need to tell someone, Hel...we need to talk to your mother. You need more protection. You-"

"No." Helaena interrupted Edith.

"What?"

"We're not telling anyone. You can't tell anyone, especially Aemond or Aegon!" the Targaryen said firmly. "Promise me."

"Helaena, don't you understand? You need help! I don't want to imagine what else could happen... I don't want you to get hurt." Edith sighed helplessly and ran her hands over her wet face. She hadn't even noticed that she had started to cry.

There were tears in Helaena's eyes too, but the older one looked more determined and confident than ever. "I don't want that either. We have to be careful before we claim anything. We should find out more ourselves and observe." She explained to her.

She was unfortunately right about that, but Edith refused to believe it and shook her head.

"It's too dangerous, Hel."

"I know, Edda." Replied the silver-haired one. "But please let us try. If the person finds out that we know about his possible plan, then something will definitely happen, and very quickly. I don't want that to happen."

"I don't want that either." Edith nodded in agreement. She was not comfortable with this, but the two young women had no choice.

They had to find out more first and protect themselves. Neither liked to imagine what would happen if they didn't.

"Promise me you won't say anything to anyone." Helaena tried again, looking at her friend pleadingly.

Edith nodded again and put her hands to Helaena's cheeks. "I promise you and I promise to protect you. No matter what will happen, I will be there and fight for you, my princess." She promised her with tears in her eyes.

Gratefully, Helaena put her arms around the other girl again. "I will always be by your side, my princess." She replied, while burying her hands in Edith's brownish hair in search of a rock to cling to.

Neither of them would survive this game for the throne and life if they were alone. They needed each other and they would do anything to stay together.

Even if that might mean their death.

***

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!:)

Who do you think wants to harm Edith or Helaena?

And what do you think about Aegon and Edith?

Have a nice day a nice night♡
Until the next chapter!