XI
A/n~ If you guys could leave comments as you read just to give me your opinions it would be a massive help, I love reading your comments :).
Maekar's peace in the shade was interrupted by the shouts of Ser Criston chasing Rhaenyra out of the royal tent. Maekar stood, watching Rhaenyra mount a horse and ride out of camp.
"No! Let me!" Maekar shouted at Ser Criston, who nodded and handed the reins of the horse to the crown prince.
"Hyah, hyah, hyah!" Maekar shouted as he rode the horse hard through the Kingswood. "Rhaenyra!" He shouted when he was a few yards behind her.
"No!" She yelled back, and Maekar could hear the emotion in her voice. Maekar got the horse side by side with Rhaenyra's and quickly grabbed its reins, pulling both horses to a halt. "Whoa, whoa, now!" Maekar calmed both horses as the Targaryen siblings panted. "What happened back there?"
"Our father..." Rhaenyra panted. "Is trying to sell me off to Jason Lannister. He already has his alliance with the Lannisters."
"Do you want me to kill him?" Maekar asked seriously, before both siblings cracked a small smile. "We should return to camp, sister."
"It's a beautiful day," Rhaenyra countered, dismounting her horse. "We should take in the Kingswood," Maekar agreed with a sigh.
Maekar and Rhaenya strolled through the Kingswood in silence, the sounds of nature filling their ears. Rhaenyra's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Maekar, her voice trembling. "Maekar, I have to confess something," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. "It was me. I spread the rumors about Baelon being a bastard."
Maekar's eyes widened in disbelief, a mixture of anger and hurt crossing his face. "You... you did what?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of shock and betrayal.
Rhaenyra's shoulders slumped, and she brought her trembling hands to her face. "I thought... I thought it would ruin your marriage," she admitted, her voice choked with remorse. "Like family before us, Maekar, I am in love with you, my brother. But I knew how deep your love for Alicent was."
Maekar's anger flared, and he clenched his fists tightly, struggling to contain his emotions. "Rhaenyra, how could you?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of anger and disappointment. "You know how much Alicent and our children mean to me. How could you deliberately try to hurt them?"
Tears streamed down Rhaenyra's face as she reached out to touch Maekar's arm, her voice filled with desperation. "Maekar, I am so sorry," she sobbed, her voice filled with genuine remorse. "I never meant to cause you pain. I was blinded by my love for you, and now I see the damage I've done."
Maekar's anger softened slightly as he looked into Rhaenyra's tear-filled eyes. "This... this betrayal is deep, Rhaenyra," he said, his voice heavy with sadness. "You have jeopardised my family, my trust."
Rhaenyra's voice quivered as she pleaded with her brother, her words filled with desperation. "Maekar, please... give me a chance to make amends," she implored, her voice filled with determination. "I will do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness, to repair the damage I've caused. I love our family, and I will prove that I can be trusted again."
Maekar ignored Rhaenyra, storming off deeper into the Kingswood. Rhaenyra's heart pounded in her chest as she followed her brother through the dense and shadowed paths of the Kingswood. The ancient trees loomed overhead, their branches whispering secrets in the wind. The tension between them was palpable, like a storm gathering on the horizon.
Finally, Maekar stopped in a small clearing, his back turned towards her. Rhaenyra took a deep breath, her voice trembling with fear and regret. "Maekar, please listen to me. I need to explain."
Maekar turned around slowly, his eyes blazing with fury. "Explain? What explanation could possibly justify the lies you spread about my son?"
Rhaenyra's voice wavered as she began to speak, her words laced with desperation. "I... I was consumed by jealousy, Maekar. I am in love with you, and I couldn't bear to see you happy with Alicent. I thought if I could tarnish Baelon's legitimacy, I could have your marriage annulled and father would wed me to you."
Maekar's face contorted with rage, his voice echoing through the silence of the Kingswood. "You selfish, treacherous woman! You would stoop so low as to endanger my family's honor for your own desires?"
Rhaenyra fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "I know I have committed a grave betrayal, Maekar. I am filled with remorse and regret. But I had to confess, to beg for your forgiveness."
Maekar's anger simmered beneath his cold stare as he towered over her, his voice cutting like a sword. "Forgiveness? Do you truly believe that I can forgive such a heinous act? You have shattered the trust between us, tarnished my family's name. I cannot simply overlook this."
Rhaenyra's voice quivered as she pleaded, her words filled with desperation. "Please, Maekar. I am your sister, your blood. I never meant for things to go this far. I am prepared to accept any punishment you deem fit. Just please, find it in your heart to forgive me."
Maekar's expression remained cold and unforgiving, his voice dripping with disdain. "Forgiveness is not something that can be granted so easily, Rhaenyra. The damage you have caused runs deep. I cannot simply sweep it under the rug."
Rhaenyra's heart sank as she realised the depth of her brother's anger. She knew that her actions had irreparably damaged their relationship, perhaps beyond repair. With tears streaming down her face, she whispered, "I understand, Maekar. If my punishment is to lose your love and trust forever, then I will bear that burden."
Maekar turned away from her, his voice filled with bitterness. "You will have ample time to reflect on the consequences of your actions.
Despite Maekar's anger he had stayed with Rhaenyra in the Kingswood until night quickly came upon them. Rhaenyra sat across the crackling fire, her eyes fixed on the dancing flames. The tension between her and Maekar was thick, like a heavy fog that refused to lift. The silence between them was deafening, broken only by the occasional snap and crackle of the fire.
Maekar, his face stoic and unreadable, busied himself with the task of preparing their dinner. He had managed to catch two rabbits during their journey through the Kingswood, a skill honed from years of survival in the wilderness. The scent of roasting meat filled the air, mingling with the scent of damp earth and pine.
Rhaenyra watched as Maekar deftly skinned and gutted the rabbits, his hands moving with practiced precision. She couldn't help but notice the strength and determination in his every movement, a reminder of the brother she had once known - a brother who had protected and cared for her in the years after his return from his self-inflicted exile.
As the aroma of cooked rabbit filled the campsite, Maekar finally broke the silence. His voice was gruff, his words laced with a mixture of anger and concern. "Do not mistake this act of providing a food for forgiveness, Rhaenyra. We may share blood, but trust is not so easily mended."
Rhaenyra nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I understand, Maekar. I don't expect forgiveness, not after what I've done. But I am grateful for your gesture. It shows that deep down, you still care."
Maekar's gaze flickered towards her, his eyes softening momentarily before returning to their cold, distant expression. "Caring does not equate to forgiveness. Remember that."
They ate their meal in silence, the crackling fire casting flickering shadows upon their faces.
After their makeshift dinner, Maekar meticulously cleaned their cooking utensils. Rhaenyra watched him, her heart heavy with regret. She knew that rebuilding their relationship would require time, patience, and above all, a genuine display of remorse and change.
As the night grew darker, Maekar arranged their bedrolls near the fire, ensuring they would stay warm throughout the night. Rhaenyra watched him, her voice filled with a mix of gratitude and longing. "Thank you, Maekar, for everything."
Maekar grunted in response, his face unreadable in the firelight. He settled down on his bedroll, his back turned towards her.
Rhaenyra curled up on her own bedroll, her thoughts swirling with remorse and determination. As the crackling fire cast its warm glow upon them, she closed her eyes, hoping that one day, the embers of their bond would reignite, and forgiveness would find its way into their hearts.
—————
The first rays of morning light pierced through the dense foliage of the Kingswood, casting a soft glow upon the campsite. Maekar stirred from his slumber, his eyes adjusting to the gentle brightness. As he blinked away the remnants of sleep, he noticed something that made his heart ache.
Rhaenyra had moved her bedroll during the night, positioning it closer to his own. She lay there, her head nestled against his arm, her body curled up and hugging him as if seeking warmth and comfort. Maekar's breath caught in his throat, his heart torn between conflicting emotions.
He carefully extricated his arm from Rhaenyra's grasp, not wanting to disturb her peaceful sleep. As he sat up, his gaze lingered on her face, softened by the morning light.
With a gentle touch, Maekar brushed a strand of hair away from Rhaenyra's face, his fingertips tracing the delicate curve of her cheek.
As if in response to his touch, Rhaenyra stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Confusion flickered across her face before she registered their proximity. A blush crept up her cheeks as she realised she had sought comfort in her brother's embrace. She quickly sat up, her voice filled with apology and uncertainty. "Maekar, I... I didn't mean to..."
Maekar silenced her with a gentle tone, his eyes softening. "No need for apologies, Rhaenyra."
Rhaenyra nodded, her eyes shining with a mixture of gratitude and hope. "Thank you, Maekar. For understanding."
As Maekar rolled the bedrolls back up and strapped them to his horse, the rustling of the bushes caught his attention, sending a chill down his spine. The eerie silence in the air made his heart race, as if something ominous was about to happen. Maekar's hands trembled as he desperately searched for his sword, only to realise with a sinking feeling that he had left it behind at the capital. Panic surged through him, knowing he was defenseless against whatever lurked in the shadows.
"Maekar?" Rhaenyra whispered. Her brother shushed her, edging closer to the bushes. Suddenly, a deafening growl pierced the stillness, causing Maekar to curse under his breath. His eyes widened when a massive boar burst out of the bushes, its eyes filled with rage and hunger. Without a moment to react, the ferocious creature pounced on the Prince, knocking him off his feet. The impact of the fall sent a searing pain through his body as his head collided with a sharp rock.
As Maekar lay dazed on the ground, his vision blurred with black spots, his senses heightened to the sounds of Rhaenyra's desperate pleads for help. The primal fear coursing through his veins propelled him forward, his fingers desperately scrabbling towards his only hope - a small dagger concealed in his boot. Each agonising second felt like an eternity as he fought against the darkness clouding his vision, determined to save Rhaenyra from the clutches of the relentless boar.
With every ounce of strength left in him, Maekar's trembling hand finally closed around the hilt of the dagger. Gritting his teeth, he mustered all his willpower to push through the pain and crawl towards Rhaenyra, who fought valiantly to keep the boar at bay. The air was heavy with the stench of fear and sweat as the Princess desperately fended off the snapping jaws of the beast, her cries for help echoing in the wilderness.
Maekar's heart pounded in his chest, his adrenaline-fueled determination blocking out the throbbing ache in his head. He knew that time was running out, that every passing moment brought them closer to the brink of disaster. With a final burst of strength, he lunged forward, the glint of the dagger catching the sunlight as he aimed for the boar's vulnerable spot.
The world seemed to hold its breath as Maekar's blade found its mark, piercing the boar's flesh with a resounding thud. The creature let out a blood-curdling squeal of pain, momentarily releasing Rhaenyra from its clutches. Gasping for breath, Maekar pushed himself up, his vision slowly clearing as he watched the boar retreat, defeated and wounded.
Maekar hit the floor, staring up at the sky as he breathed heavily, the dagger from falling from his hand. Rhaenyra, who was covered in the boars blood, crawled to her brother, desperately shaking him. She checked his head for any signs of injury and helped him to a seated position. Maekar's head throbbed, but he was relieved to see that Rhaenyra was unharmed.
Maekar had a medium sized cut on his forehead, just above the scar he received from the Khal's arakh all those years ago. Nothing a Maester couldn't fix.
"Are you alright, brother?" Rhaenyra asked, her voice filled with worry.
Maekar nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face. "I'll be fine," he replied, his voice slightly hoarse.
Rhaenyra embraced him tightly, her relief evident in her embrace. "I couldn't let anything happen to you, Maekar. We're in this together."
"Let's head back to camp," Maekar squeezed her, the anger he held yesterday replaced with disappointment. Rhaenyra nodded. Both siblings mounted their horses and headed the way they came yesterday.
As they rode into camp, both Targaryen siblings could feel the eyes of the realm on them. They were quite the sight, Rhaenyra covered in blood and Maekar with blood dripping down his face.
"Where were you?!" Viserys asked, anger evident in his voice. "I have had men search all night for you!"
"We're fine, father," Maekar soothed his anger, smirking at his sister. "Rhaenyra killed a boar," he lied, getting a smile of appreciation from his sister. But Viserys and the realm didn't share his smile, for they looked at the Royal Family solemnly. "What is it?" He asked, noting their sadness. He found Alicent stood by Ser Otto and Lord Hobert at the flaps of the royal tent, both men holding Maekar's sons as Ser Criston stood a few feet away.
"Your sister, Visenya, has had the babe, and both she and the babe have died."
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