The two lovers did not notice anything about the third person in the dragon pit.

After the disappointment of the empty dragon egg, Edith was deeply sad and lay in Aegon's arms for a moment before they put out the fire, cleaned up everything and left the dragon pit.

Edith again pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and deep into her face and Aegon did the same, only that he wanted to hide his silver hair. The young woman wanted to hide from the whole world and give herself up to her grief.

"Wait!" Aegon grabbed her hand and pulled her into the closest alley, putting his free hand over her mouth so she wouldn't say anything out loud. At the sudden and quick movement, her hood fell back a bit, revealing a view of what was happening around her.

The young woman looked down the street from which the two had just come, and her eyes widened when she saw who was now walking that way, squeezing Aegon's hand now from her mouth. "What-"

"Ssh," Aegon interrupted her quickly, pointing at the two dark-clad figures. Anyone would have recognized the king's two youngest sons by their clothing alone, or perhaps by Aemond's silver hair and Daeron's reddish-brown hair.

But Edith recognized her husband by his threatening gait and strong back. She did not see his face, but that was perhaps her good luck.

No one wanted to imagine what would happen if Aemond found his wife and brother hiding from him in an alley. A dark alley, where usually only whores were with their customers or where criminals hid from the city guards.

Instead, the two were spotted by the youngest brother, whose eyes widened at the sight.

Aegon gestured wildly with his arms, for Daeron to immediately turn around and move on before Aemond became aware of the three. He was still talking to two unknown people and did not notice his brother's inattention.

The two unknown ones were so cloaked in their capes and hoods that it was not even possible to tell if they were two women or two men.

And with that Edith's interest was aroused. She would like to know who they were and maybe she would know what her husband and his brother were doing in town. For days they had been in the city more than in the Red Keep. Edith didn't even know if they had slept at all during that time.

Somewhere the young woman had also hoped that Aemond now had more time for his wife, but perhaps that was just a hope for a normal life and a stable relationship. Her thoughts were even more confused than usual and she didn't know for whom her heart was actually beating right now.

Aemond was her husband and it was her duty to love him, but Aegon was her affair and everything with him was so exciting and new.

Thankfully, Daeron turned around with a questioning look on his face as another person joined the four of them.

At the sight of Otto Hightower, Edith staggered backward a few steps and pulled Aegon further into the dark alley. "What are we going to do?" she whispered so softly that Aegon barely understood her.

It was only a short moment in which Daeron saw the two, and yet they felt great fear that he would betray Edith and Aegon. Though he had no reason to do so, Edith did not know Daeron well enough and did not know if she could trust him.

Actually, the young woman could not really trust anyone here. Not even Aegon with whom she was currently hiding.

"We're waiting." He answered her the only obvious thing. They didn't have much choice in this situation.

The alley was a dead end, so the two had to wait a few moments until the five of them moved on, then they waited some more, and then carefully left the alley. Almost in a hurry, Aegon and Edith hung back to the Red Keep through the streets of the capital.

All his efforts to cheer her up and calm her down did not work. Edith blamed herself and drove herself crazy over what had happened.

What if Daeron betrayed the two now? Then it wouldn't be long and her head would be hanging on a spike outside the city walls. Probably Aegon's head would be hanging next to her. Eldest prince and indirect heir or not... Rhaenyra was the better heir to the throne anyway, even Aemond would be a better king than Aegon, even Helaena would be a better choice.

Since her arrival here in King's Landing, not a day passed without events or bad happenings. Edith could not rest for a second and was overtaken by the events faster and faster.

It was only a matter of time before she would collapse.

"Who were the two people with your brothers and Lord Hand?" the young woman asked as quietly as she could as they walked through the empty hallways of the king's home. She could not contain her curiosity now.

Aegon shook his head. He too had been thinking about the two unknowns all the way, but had come to no conclusion. "I really have no idea... I'll investigate." He replied.

He had no idea who the two were, but he also wasn't as included in what was going on around and in the city as his brothers were. Which was perhaps because it had never interested him until now.

"Me too." To add emphasis to her answer, she nodded confidently and leaned against her and Aemond's door to the shared chamber. It still felt strange that everything that was his was now all hers.

"Don't do that." Aegon stroked her cheek, but the touch lasted only a few seconds. "I have people who will find out for me. If you do any research, you'd give away our trip and draw attention to yourself." He explained to her with a nervous sigh. "I don't want anything to happen to you again."

"You can't stop that-"

"I can and I will." Interrupted the eldest prince to the younger and new princess.

Now it was Edith who sighed nervously and had to think long and hard about an answer. But fortunately she didn't have to answer, because someone joined them in that cold corridor.

"Here you are." Ser Colin joined the two lovers and immediately noticed his disrespectful greeting. "My prince, my princess." Deeply he bowed and then inclined his head. Colin knew he didn't have to greet Edith so politely, but with her was Aegon and there he had to behave and show respect to anyone with royal blood.

"Ser Colin." She greeted him with a smile, standing up straight and sensible as she had been leaning against the door the whole time. "I see you're feeling better. Are you feeling better too?"

As agreed last night, she played the game as promised. They had lied for each other, and Edith would do much more to protect her sworn guard. Colin was her friend, as well as she had become a good friend to him.

Slightly, Colin lowered his gaze before answering her. "Much better already, princess. I thank you for your understanding yesterday afternoon. I hope you were able to work through your shock a bit with Prince Aegon? I heard about the bad fire..."

The fire. It had been out of her mind for a moment and yet she couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Yes, thank you... Prince Aegon was a great help." She replied, glancing briefly at the silver-haired man. The latter was leaning against the wall, almost bored, and seemed quite uninterested in the conversation between the knight and the princess. "But I would like to rest a little now. I hope you understand, Aegon?"

Aegon did not understand.

He wanted to stay with her, put his arms around her and protect her. Still, he had to learn what his limits were, especially to accept her limits.

And so he just nodded slightly and breathed a kiss on her forehead, not caring if Ser Colin saw the two of them or not. The knight was Princess Edith's sworn guard and so he had to keep her secrets.

"Of course." He lied and took a few steps away from her, eyeing the knight sharply. Aegon didn't want to leave, but he wanted Edith here with him even less. "Sleep well. I'll see you tomorrow." Without waiting for a reply, the young man turned and left the hallway.

He now had a lot to do and figure out. Aegon would do whatever it took to make sure Edith was safe and could finally live the life she wanted.

Edith and Colin then went to their chambers when he was out of sight.

"Was there very much trouble?" she asked nervously.

"Nothing I couldn't handle. Ser Adrik wasn't very enthusiastic." Colin stopped at the door and respectfully turned his head to the side, though Edith was only taking off her coat at that moment.

The dirt and grime of the dragon's pit could be seen on her green dress, but she didn't care, as she had no intention of leaving her chambers again today - yet it was only afternoon.

"Do you want me to talk to him? Ser Adrik is still my uncle." She suggested, running a hand through her brownish hair. Edith sat down in her chair and looked through the mirror at her tired face, then began brushing her hair.

"Thanks, but no thanks." He quickly replied and sat down next to her on a vacant chair. It was unusual for a knight and a sworn guard, but Edith didn't mind and she felt much more comfortable when he acted normal to her counterpart. "I think it would just make it worse. Now I just have extra rounds on night duty with the city guard at the gate."

"But that's not fair, you've been ill... well, at least according to our tale." Edith gave a laugh and looked at him through the mirror.

"Don't worry about that, princess." He concluded, smiling gently at her.

The young woman put her brush back on the table as she finished combing her hair. "Can I ask you something, Colin?"

"Anything."

"Do you know what Lord Hand is doing in town today with Prince Aemond and Prince Daeron? I saw the three of them with two unfamiliar figures..." Edith turned in the chair to face him so she could get a better look at him.

"I am not familiar with the deeds and duties of the Hand of the King, forgive me." He answered her honestly. Colin would have liked to tell her, but he really didn't know. He was only her bodyguard and had to help out in the city guard because of the punishment, accordingly he was not entrusted with such important information.

"I will try to ask around." He promised her. "When are we going to see Ser Harwin?"

Edith smiled at him at his promise, knowing he would try anything just to get information for her.

"I would like it if you would visit him alone today? I wasn't lying when I said to Aegon that I wanted to rest." She said and sighed slightly. The events of last night and the empty dragon egg were still in her bones and she hadn't found much sleep during the night either - thanks to Aemond.

"I'd be happy to do that." Answered Colin and got up from his chair, then put it back down reasonably. "Do you think he'll be happy if I bring him some cake as well, along with the bread and water?" he asked, almost sheepishly.

Ser Harwin Strong was a great name and even that he had been imprisoned for so many years and was considered dead, there were knights who still admired him. Ser Colin, for example. Colin had grown up with the stories about Ser Breakbones and for him he was a great role model. Still is.

Edith had to laugh. "I think he'd be very pleased if you brought him some cake." She smirked and relaxed against the back of her chair.

Colin stood next to the door of the room like an excited child, his hands stuck in the pockets of his uniform. "Great, thanks!" the young man commented.

"Have fun you two! But please don't forget the time and take care of yourself." She still called after him, but she wasn't sure if he even heard her anymore, as quickly as he had been out of the room.

The friendship between Colin and Harwin was truly special, and Edith looked forward to seeing how their relationship would change when the three were finally free.

When Ser Colin left, the uncomfortable silence that Edith so loathed came back in return.

She had wished for the silence and peace, but now that it was finally here, she felt lonely.

The young woman sat in front of the mirror for a while longer, looking at her beautiful face. Her long hair fell like gentle waves over her shoulders onto her green dress. She looked so much like her mother it was almost scary.

Her heart broke a second time that day at the thought of her mother.

She missed her so much and longed for a tight hug from her. A hug would make everything right and heal all her wounds, at least that's what she told herself.

A few encouraging words from her father would also give her new strength.

Classes with her sisters would calm her down and combat training with Jace and Luke would finally make her laugh again when she defeated them.

Her little brother Cassian would soon begin his sword training as well. Edith had always wished and imagined that she would teach him everything, but that would not be the case.

Likewise, she would miss the first steps of her new baby brother Viserys and probably the twins' weddings to Rhaenyra's children.

Life could have been so beautiful and simple and she never thought that her own family would prevent that.

Family. War. Love. Hate. Enmity. Marriage.

All things that stood against a peaceful life at the moment and at the same time she couldn't imagine any other life than the one she was living right now.

Her marriage wasn't perfect and her life certainly wasn't and yet there was so much worth fighting for. Edith had found love in Aegon and a wonderful friendship in Helaena.

She loved spending time with the twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, because it was like spending time with her siblings... at the same time she sometimes imagined that they were her children. Edith loved children and desperately wanted to have some, but now was not the right time.

They were all about to go to war for the throne and that meant fighting with their own family. It was a big game - a game of life and death.

It was only a matter of time before everything would come to an end.

The young woman sighed loudly as she got up from her chair and took off her dirty green dress. "Until we go down." She muttered to herself and looked at herself in the mirror again. Now she was dressed only in an undergarment.

Gently she ran her fingertips over her face, over her soft chin and elegant collarbones.

Edith really looked like her mother and yet there was so much of her father inside her and she was no longer afraid to show it.

***

I appreciate your comments and thoughts! :)

Have a wonderful day/night everyone♡