✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: - :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: - :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧
𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦 & 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 - 𝘖 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯
✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: - :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: - :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

The girl was scared to death, but physically she was fine. She thought she was suffocating, but her airways were clear. Her heart was beating quickly from running so fast, reminding her that she was alive.

"Mother!" Edith knelt beside her mother's bed and immediately took her hand.

Aruna's dark curls stuck to her wet face and her breathing was shallow. The woman didn't feel well at all, but knowing her daughter was here did her some good. "My sweet girl... I don't want you to see this." Her mother said weakly.

In the chambers, besides the two of them, there were also some midwives, Rhaena and Nia, the lady's maid. But that did not interest the two women. Mother and daughter. They had always been close.

They had always been surrounded by many people, but it was always just them in their loneliness and at some point Cassian came along, then it was just the three of them against the rest of the world.

Then Daemon came with the twins and Rhaenyra with her sons and many more. The two women had built up their own family, their own home, which grew and grew. And now? Now the two women were about to lose it all again in their own terrible way.

"I won't leave your side, if that's what you mean." Said Edith in a serious voice and breathed a kiss on her mother's hand. It hurt her so much to see her like this, but she couldn't leave, so she stayed by Aruna's side and held her weak hand.

"Here. This will do you good." Rhaena handed Aruna some water and helped her drink.

"Thank you, Rhaena." Smiled the pregnant woman at her stepdaughter. She was so grateful for her, because she had always been by her side in the last few days, trying to help. Rhaena, and Baela too, had become like daughters to her and Aruna like a second mother to the girls. "My girls...I love you so much."

"We love you too, mother. Very much." Replied Edith with a smile.

Both girls were sitting at the woman's bedside talking quietly to her when the door opened at some point and Rhaenyra and Daemon walked in. Daemon sat down on the free side of the bed while Rhaenyra pulled a chair up to the bed and sat on it. "How are you, sister?"

Surprised, Edith looked at the princess. She knew she and her mother were close, but she had never heard that term of endearment from Rhaenyra's mouth. Aruna seemed to see the look on her daughter's face and immediately sent all the servants out of the room so the family could be alone.

"According to the situation... good." Aruna then answered her with an exhausted smile.

Rhaenyra also seemed to notice her mistake now and immediately lowered her head, only to look at Aruna with a meaningful look. The two seemed to be communicating exclusively with their eyes and that worried Edith a bit. "What's going on?" the girl with brownish hair wanted to know.

"Edith... You know your mother and I are close, so-"

"No." Aruna interrupted the silver-haired one and sat up a bit with Rhaena's help. "I want her to know. That you both know." Aruna looked first at Edith and then at Rhaena. "When we were all in King's Landing for the hearing, we learned something... King Viserys... He told us the truth about my birth." She was breathing heavily as she talked and had to keep pausing. "He is my real father. He and my mother had an affair."

The two girls didn't know how to take the new information and could only look at the three adults with wide eyes.

"Nothing will change for you, but we have to ask you to keep this to yourselves." Asked Rhaenyra with a serious face.

"You knew?" asked Rhaena her father, who just sat silently holding Aruna's hand. "I was there when Viserys told them," he replied.

Rhaenya's words were so easy to believe and yet at the same time so much changed for everyone. Aruna was the daughter of King Viserys, which made Edith his granddaughter. As she became aware of this, I also became aware of something else entirely. "Is that why Viserys made me heiress to Dragonstone? Is that why he withheld the inheritance from you, Rhaenyra?"

Rhaenyra smiled gently at the younger girl. It was true, that's exactly what her own father had done, but she wasn't angry about it. "Yes, but I'm still the heiress to the Iron Throne, and it's okay. I'm glad my father decided that way." She said encouragingly.

"Your father is right. Please don't tell anyone. Promise me." Aruna asked the girls in a serious tone. Rhaena and Edith answered her with a nod. What else could they say? No one should ever find out about this! Edith didn't want to think about what would happen then. "Thank you for telling us, mother."

Aruna wanted to answer her daughter, but the severe pain in her lower abdomen made her pause. She felt like she couldn't breathe because it felt like the baby was going to burst out of her. It felt terrible to be so helpless in front of her family. The woman doubled over in pain, while the faces of those present went pale.

Rhaenyra stood up and quickly pushed her chair away, then with quick steps she went to the bowl with water and pressed it into Edith's hands. The woman placed the bowl on the floor, dipped a cloth into the cold water, and then dabbed it over Aruna's forehead. "Should I get a midwife?" asked Edith anxiously.

Aruna shook her head weakly. She no longer believed in childbirth herself; the contractions had gone on far too long for that. The woman was weak, she was in pain, and she no longer believed in a miracle for herself. "Daemon, my dear... please go to Cassian." She asked the man of her heart.

Daemon's face was all pale as he held his wife's weak wet hand. The woman for whom he would do anything, for whom he had already done so much. The gods must really hate him if they took away the love of his life. Aruna Would die, just as her once close friend, and Daemon's second wife, had died.

"I will not leave you, my lady." After all these years, he still called her that, and not a day had gone by when he hadn't loved her less than he did now. His heart seemed to burst with pain, as he could not bear to see Aruna like that. "Someone must be with Cassian..." Aruna said again. She really didn't want him to see her like this and slowly Daemon seemed to understand this as well. Nevertheless, he shook his head and then looked at his youngest daughter pleadingly.

Rhaena kissed Aruna's cheek and then slowly detached herself from her step-mother, with slow steps she left the room to take care of Cassian. Nia, her maid and friend, had always been devoted to her. They had been through so much together in Winterfell and even now Aruna was grateful for every day Nia was by her side. The two friends smiled at each other for a long time before Nia also got up and left the room to go to Rhaena and Cassian.

Cassian was still so small, yet already so big. He didn't really understand what was happening. All he knew was that his mother had gone to bed on his eighth name day because she wasn't feeling well and so far she hadn't gotten back up.

"You need to breathe, sister. Breathe in and out." Rhaenyra helped Aruna sit down in a more comfortable position in which she could also breathe better. "Now keep trying to push."

"I can't...I can't anymore, Nyra..." Aruna's voice was pleading and tearful. She had no more strength, nor did she want to. Still, her weak body contradicted her and she tried to push on.

Rhaenyra, Edith and Daemon stayed by Aruna's side and held her hands. They talked to her and helped her as much as they could until it finally happened.

No one had expected it yet, but they all sighed with relief when they heard the cry of a baby. Rhaenyra wrapped the child in a blanket, dabbed it a little clean and then placed it on Aruna's chest.

Edith stroked her wet cheeks and had to blink several times to see again. She could hardly believe it and yet her mother was holding her sibling in her arms. Both were alive.

For all of them it was a very emotional moment, but no one could forget the hell the woman had gone through the last days and so Rhaenyra left the room and got every midwife, healer and similar to inspect the mother and the child and tell them that everything was fine.

Now everything had to happen quickly so that both could survive.

~~~

And fortunately everything turned out fine. Aruna was fine under the circumstances and now slept exhausted in the arms of her husband. The birth and the last sleepless nights had demanded everything from her.

He, too, was glad that everything had gone well and did not leave his beloved's side. Daemon, like everyone else, had been very afraid for her and still could not believe it. In one arm he held his wife, while his newborn and first son lay on his chest and slept as well.

He had a healthy son. He was a little bigger and heavier than other newborns and it was a miracle that mother and child had survived everything so well without major injuries.

Edith sat next to her parents on the edge of the bed and stroked her little brother's back. Carefully and only very lightly she touched him, so that she would not hurt him. When Cassian was born she had been little herself and only barely could she remember it. Despite the agony she had seen, this moment felt magical.

"Everything I've done and will do to get here... It was worth it." Whispered Edith to her father, her eyes focused only on the baby. It had been a little over two hours since the birth and things had quieted down. She had left the room only briefly to freshen up and put on new and clean clothes.

Daemon smiled at his firstborn. "My beautiful fighter." He began just as quietly, but with pride. "We will find a way, you will find a way. I know that, because you are far too much like me." Smirked he.

Edith had to smile as well. She was glad he wasn't mad anymore. "Thank you." She breathed and kissed Daemon's cheek. "I will do my best to help you. I'm ready."

It was certainly just the feelings of happiness speaking from her, but she felt invigorated for whatever might come. Seeing her family well made her happy and she wanted to make her words come true. She was ready and would do anything.

The baby moved restlessly on Daemon's chest and they both had to stifle their laughter. "May I? Then you can sleep." Suggested the girl.

"That would be very considerate. I'd hate to wake her up." Daemon said, pointing at Aruna, who was fast asleep. Her head was on his shoulder and her arms were wrapped tightly around his. Any of his movements would wake her up instantly, but the woman now desperately needed rest and recuperation after the long days.

"Little Viserys and I are going to have quite a bit of fun together." She smiled. Carefully she then took the boy in her arms, smiled again at her parents and then slowly left the chambers.

Next was a common room, which was often used by the whole family. There had always been something going on here and it had been Edith's favorite room. She had laughed so much here, spent so much time with her family, or run around the room with the boys and her sisters. But now the room was completely empty.

Edith sat down in one of the comfortable armchairs and looked at her little brother. He was a really handsome baby and even now you could see the strong Targaryen genes in him. Gently she stroked the little head, on which you could already guess the silver hair, and somehow Edith became jealous.

She had no reason to get jealous, but she didn't think it was fair. Each of Daemon's children had inherited his violet eyes and silver hair. Every child, except Edith. Based on her appearance, they knew she was his daughter, but then many features made them very different.

The girl was the perfect blend of her parents, but she was not satisfied. Her hair was much lighter than her mother's, but much darker than her father's, and her eyes were not blue like Tyrell eyes, nor violet like Targaryen eyes. Again, just a mixture of both, but not really a whole.

Edith remembered her mother's revelation. Aruna was also a Targaryen by birth, the daughter of King Viserys, and she looked nothing like him. Aruna had inherited all her features from her mother. She almost laughed. Genes and inheriting were maddening in themselves.

"I see all is well." Aemond said, drawing attention to himself as he entered the room. "And it makes our journey quite unnecessary."

Edith looked startled at the young man and her gaze immediately turned angry at the sight of him. "Your trip here was quite unnecessary." She replied annoyed and averted her eyes from him.

Aemond smirked and sat down in the armchair next to her. He too had changed his clothes and only too gladly would Edith have asked what he had been doing for the last few hours, but she didn't want to give him this satisfaction and her interest.

"Hmm." He answered her and leaned back.

Edith focused again on her little brother in her arms, who seemed to be asleep again. He was really beautiful and it was a magical feeling to watch him sleep. Never again did she want to let go of him. The moment would have been perfect if Aemond wasn't here.

"I'm not in the mood to argue." The girl then said softly. Her gaze still fixed on baby Viserys.

"I didn't say anything more, did I?" Aemond turned his head and eyed Edith and the baby in her arms. The whole situation was very bizarre to him and seemed so unreal. He and Edith were sitting here in front of the fire of a warm fireplace while she held a baby in her arms. Really sure why he had sat down with her, he was not sure either.

"But you are here, disturbing the harmony in this room." She explained her point. His presence still made her very uncomfortable.

"What harmony?" he asked sarcastically, grinning challengingly at her. Edith could only roll her eyes. " I knew you wouldn't know what that is." She muttered cheekily, but of course he understood her words and had to laugh.

The child squirmed a bit in her arms and seemed to sleep restlessly. Edith put Viserys on her chest and then stroked his back. He immediately seemed to like this position better than being in her arms.

Curiously, the young man watched the girl with the child. She seemed so secure with him and to know exactly what she was doing. Aemond himself had never held a baby in his arms, not even his niece or nephew.

"Do you want children someday?" asked Edith then suddenly. The words left her lips before she could really think about it. Curious, she sought his gaze and then looked into his violet eyes.

For a short moment he didn't quite know what to say. The question surprised him, especially under the current circumstances. "It is my duty to father heirs one day. Capable heirs." Aemond would have liked to sigh aloud, but he refrained. It was obvious that he was talking about Aegon's children with his statement. "But considering that you may bear them one day, my answer is no."

Maybe having to give birth to his children felt like a bad nightmare. But that didn't give him the right to be so mean to her, because his words were hurtful. Actually, his words always were. Edith already felt insulted by him when he was just sitting next to her and breathed.

"He was a simple question. No need to be so mean." Hurt, she looked at him, hoping he would at least feel a little guilty. "But don't worry about it. I will never carry your children," she said angrily and at the same time she made a promise to herself.

Aemond understood her hint, of course, but he showed her no remorse and lapsed into an awkward silence with her.

"Where is Daeron?" she wanted to know after a while. Edith hated silence and always found it most uncomfortable.

"I don't know. He's certainly roaming around here somewhere." He answered her curtly, shrugging his shoulders, not caring where his brother was.

It briefly occurred to Edith whether Daeron himself might be spying for his family, as well as she was doing in King's Landing.

Viserys began to move again in Edith's arms and seemed to wake up, then he began to whimper softly until he began to cry and scream. Reassuringly she cradled the little one in her arms and got up from her chair. His waking up came in handy after all, because it gave her an excuse to finally leave the room.

"I will send a servant to your chambers with some food for each of you. Tomorrow morning they will take you to the dining hall, we always dine together." She informed him as she was already heading for the door.

"You always dine together?" he inquired in wonder, though her words were clear and understandable.

"Always. We are a family here." She reminded him, hoping at the same time to tease him a bit with it. Aemond had it coming.

Without another word, she left the room and a midwife was already coming to meet her. Apparently Visery's cries had already been heard in the hallway. Thankfully, she handed her brother to the nurse and then watched the two of them until they disappeared around the corner. Only then did she herself walk back down the hall to her own old chambers.

It felt so surreal to be back here. Dragonstone was her home and she had missed it sorely.

The whole day, the journey and the birth had been very exhausting and so she let herself be helped to undress and then sent her maid to the kitchen to bring food to the visitors.

Tired, she fell into bed without eating dinner herself, and immediately fell into a dreamless sleep.

***

what an emotional chapter...
I couldn't let Aruna die,
I just love her way too much♡

This chapter is dedicated to: sxfttargaryen & Angel_Called_Angel

Have a great day everyone!:)♡