The pain was unbearable. Her stomach tightened uncomfortably and the cramps just wouldn't stop. The blood also continued to run from her nose and only slowly stopped when Aemond laid her on a bench. But Edith didn't notice how her head gently touched the cold leather.

Whether it was the pain or the blood loss, no one knew. Concerned, Aemond looked around the maester's surgery room.

Now that Edith was no longer conscious, Aemond was alone in the room with his worries.

He bent over her and very gently stroked her cheek. Her brownish hair fell messily over her shoulders and some strands hung glued to her face, which he now brushed away.

Even now she looked so vulnerable and in pain, too, that Aemond could almost feel her pain.

His own reproaches came to the fore, right next to his worries. How had he not realized his wife was in different conditions? Edith was expecting his child, and he wondered if that was why she had been in such a different mood these past few days.

Edith's behavior had had other circumstances, but he couldn't have guessed that. To be honest, he didn't want to imagine anything else. His thoughts were circling a lot lately, so much she had captivated him. Aemond really felt a lot for his wife and he didn't want to lose her.

Was he to blame for her situation? Had he met her and risked their happiness together?

After all, Aemond only wanted to protect her and defend her. Of course Aegon was to blame for everything in his eyes, but he also blamed himself. He should have been more careful, he should have left the room at the first provocation from his brother or he should have pulled himself together.

All could have and if notions and yet no notion could make the acute situation better.

It had happened and Edith was hurt. Now every second counted and Aemond cursed every further one as long as his wife was not better.

Only when she was well again, he would take care of the current problems. He would take care of his brother and then he would behead every maester in King's Landing himself if they didn't come into this fucking treatment room in the next few moments.

He had barely finished the thought when several maesters came in, which Daeron and Helaena had summoned. There were far too many to count and too many to treat a single person and yet there were not enough, Aemond feared.

Helaena placed her hand in Aemond's while she put the other on his shoulder to gently pull him away from his unconscious wife. He was so lost in thought that he let it wash over him and sat down on a chair at the other end of the montage.

His sister stopped beside him and held his hand while now his little brother and mother also entered the room.

Alicent's face was anxious as she saw the poor girl lying on the lawn and the many maesters gathered around her. Edith would hate this if she were awake and could see the situation for herself.

~~~

Weeks passed, during which the mood in the Red Keep became worse and worse.

The situation between the four siblings also became progressively worse, which was due to the worshipful evening in the dining room. Aegon had emerged from that hall as the villain, while Aemond had become the hero - yet both had been to blame for Edith's dire condition.

Since that day, Edith had hardly left her bed. The curtains in her chamber were often drawn to keep the sunlight out, and most of the time she slept.

The young woman recovered with time. Her bruised arm had healed by now and her blue-stained nose had also recovered and was as perfect as before.

Her husband Aemond neglected his duties and went only to the most necessary things. Most of the time he spent with his wife and sat by her bed. Sometimes he also lay beside her and held her hand. But he did that mostly at night or when she was asleep.

Edith was grateful for his understanding and was thankful for his presence. Aemond really tried hard and took good care of his wife. He let her have her space in the shared chamber when she needed it. He let her completely retreat and she decided who could join her.

For the most part, she was tired of the Red Keep. She didn't want to see any of the residents here anymore and just wanted to go home, but that was impossible. So she stayed here in the familiar space and could at least avoid Aegon.

But it was different with the queen, who visited Edith almost every day. In the beginning they had kept silent and Alicent had sat with a book at the window until Edith had joined her.

The two women shared more than they had previously realized, and so a bond formed between them. It was far from friendship, but at least it was no longer enmity either.

Alicent loved Edith like her own daughter and she tried to help her as much as she could. She understood her pain, her homesickness and also her love. The princess did not need to say anything, but Alicent knew about her forbidden feelings towards Aegon. She was the last one who would not understand. A forbidden love was as attractive as it was cruel, and yet it happened again and again.

The queen herself had been having an affair for years, from which her youngest son had come. It was forbidden and it would cost her head if anyone found out or spoke about it the wrong way.

She could not blame Edith or Aegon and yet she was against this love and she communicated that openly and honestly to Edith.

With wide eyes Edith had looked at Alicent and nodded. Then she had told her the truth about the evening in the dining room after Aegon had ended things. Alicent's anger was justified and yet she tried not to let it show. Aegon was still her son, unfortunately, and yet he was a stupid fool.

Once the two women had talked about forbidden love and they had banished it forever. Edith had made it clear to the queen that the relationship was over and she would never forgive Aegon. She hated him and yet he still held a place in her heart and would probably do so forever.

Daeron also kept her company. He often brought paper and pens and sometimes paint.

Edith was happy every time he came and brought some color into her life. She had found joy in painting and was grateful for his time and efforts.

Everyone's time was limited, but Edith was less and less alone as the weeks went by. Someone was always with her.

She was most happy when Helaena came to visit her.

They kept silent about the sensitive subject and about the once tense situation. Often the two women did nothing but be together. They often sat on the couch embroidering new pillowcases or lay in the big bed staring at the ceiling, imagining looking up at the night sky.

Helaena's belly was now hard to miss and her clothes clung perfectly to her round belly.

Children were often a topic between the princesses and Helaena told her many things about her experiences. After all, this was her second pregnancy and her third child.

They never talked about the father of the unborn child. Edith had banished his name alone from her life and everyone respected that. Even Aemond avoided his brother and when he couldn't, the conversations ended in loud arguments.

~~~

It was only the second time Edith had left her chambers and the Red Keep in weeks when something surprising happened.

The two princesses were in the garden and had their arms raked into each other. Walking was already hard with Helaena's round belly and yet there was a satisfied smile on her lips. Helaena was finally reunited with her Edith and for nothing she would risk it. Not even for her husband.

With them were four guards, including Edith's most loyal friend Ser Colin. He had not left her chamber door for a second unless she sent him away to Ser Harwin for example.

Ser Harwin was recovering well, as was Edith. Both looked healthier again and saw each other more often in the dungeon. Together with Colin, they were already making plans for an escape, but the perfect plan where everyone survived was just impossible to find.

Edith wanted to escape with Helaena and her children, and her own circumstance did not make it easy for her yet either. How would they manage to escape? Ser Colin was the only one with strength, as Harwin had not yet regained his full strength. Edith was good at defense, but she was no match for a fight against the city watch. And then there was Helaena with her twins and the unborn child under her heart.

It was an impossible task, but Edith was eager to find a solution.

The two women were sitting now in the green grass with their backs against a large tree. It had been their place when Edith came here and it had been the place where Helaena had first taken Edith's hand and kissed her.

But this was a long time ago and another topic of which the two did not speak.

Edith had closed her eyes and enjoyed the warm rays of the sun on her skin. Her new clothes were much nicer and more comfortable than her old ones. Her eyes had shone when she was allowed to put on the finished dresses for the first time.

The dresses were in different colors, mostly they were light shades and two were even red and black. None of the dresses were green.

The light blue dress flattered her figure immensely and even now sitting down it fit her body perfectly. Edith felt comfortable in the new dresses and they gave her new confidence.

Since her isolation in her chambers, she felt so much better. She had recovered and gained new strength and she felt more and more sympathy towards the other family members. Edith hoped to win the others over to her side.

Aegon was now no longer one of her problems. She didn't know where he was or how he was doing, and at the same time she couldn't care less.

"Had you already read my book, Edda?" asked Helaena curiously. Her belly made her sit less elegantly against the tree than Edith, and yet she sparkled with charm. On her lap were various flowers that the guards had plowed for her. With her talented hands she tied the flowers together at the stems and made a wreath out of them.

Edith nodded tentatively. "I started it a few days ago and could hardly put it down." She reported to her friend. It was a book about two sisters who had lost each other and were now seeking their way together again - it was exceedingly fitting.

"I loved it very much." Smiled the silver-haired girl dreamily, looking at her flowers.

"And I'm sure I'll love it too." Replied the younger princess. Edith automatically had to smile too and stroked her own little belly.

Fortunately, the accident a few weeks ago had only injured her arm. However, she still remembered the pain in her belly when she fell. Sometimes she imagined she could still feel them or woke up from a bad dream in which she imagined the pain again.

Her pregnancy was steady and nothing had happened to her child. In the meantime she could enjoy her circumstances and enjoyed every day with her little belly and could hardly wait to hold her miracle in her arms.

A child did not make the situation any better, but this child was Edith's greatest happiness.

Aemond was reluctant to leave her side and wanted to protect her above all else, that something like this would never happen again. His wife had already had to suffer too much here. But he could not always be with her as he was today. When he couldn't, Helaena or Alicent was with her and he had the guards around her doubled.

The two women were then deep in conversation after Helaena put the flower crown on Ediths head, giggling. "A queen so powerful and full of bloom..." she murmured. Her voice sounded far too serious, while her features were gentle and her eyes dreamy.

Edith smiled at her words, but decided not to say anything. Helaena often talked about things that were not a concept and were in the near future or were wishful thinking or warnings. Most of the time the silver-haired princess did not remember the words she had said a few seconds ago.

Then it happened.

Helaena jerked in shock and grabbed her aching stomach.

Her friend's eyes looked at her, startled. Edith, regardless, threw the book of poems into the grass from which she had just read. "Helaena, what's wrong?" she asked worriedly and protectively put her arms around her friend, who was breathing heavily.

But despite the brief pain, Helaena was still smiling and leaning relaxed against the tree.

"Helaena! Talk to me..." That the princess did not answer worried her even more. She quickly beckoned Ser Colin and the other guards, who came immediately and looked at the two worriedly.

"Edith..." laughed Helaena, and Edith now quite doubted her sanity. "That was just a contraction... a good sign."

"A contraction? That strong?" the young woman with brownish hair asked softly.

"You can't imagine how much stronger they can get." Helaena answered her.

Edith had seen her own mother Aruna in labor, but she had forgotten how much the woman had suffered. To be honest, she hadn't thought about it, but she was frightened at the realization of feeling that pain herself.

The pain of her fall had been bad enough... what would labor feel like?

The guards helped the princess up and supported her as they escorted her back into the Red Keep. Edith quickly followed them and stayed close to Helaena.

The good news had spread quickly, and the maids and maidservants were already preparing the princess's chamber for the birth. Cloths were laid out and a sheet was stretched over the bed. Bowls of warm water were carried into the room and a maid helped Helaena out of her wet dress, because on the way here her water had broken.

For hours and hours the princess lay in labor, crying out in pain. Edith could hardly watch her good friend suffer.

Edith had not been in Helaena's chambers for a long time. The last time she was here was when she was poisoned, and now it was Helaena who lay exhausted in the bed. Back then it was scary, now it was positive events.

Queen Alicent quickly visited her daughter and, together with Edith, stayed by her bedside and cared for her birthing daughter until she too became a mother again.

Helaena and Aegon's third child was a boy. Another heir to the throne and a beautiful child.

While the maesters tended to Helaena, a wet nurse placed the child in Edith's arms. Carefully she held him in her arms, cleaned him up, and then cuddled him until she could hand the boy over to Helaena.

Alicent looked proud of her daughter and grandson, and yet there were emotions of sadness and regret in her eyes, which Edith could not interpret.

The three women stayed together for a long time, dreamily looking at the newborn prince, until it was time to let the new mother rest. The queen and Princess Edith left the chamber together when the prince and father of the child were sent for.

Alicent wanted to retreat and make sure Edith arrived safely in her chambers so she could rest as well. While Edith wanted to stay out of Aegon's way. Again.

It was already the middle of the night when Edith arrived in her chamber and wished the queen a pleasant night and thanked her for her company.

"There you are finally." Greeted Aemond as she closed the door behind her.

Aemond was lying in the bed they shared and seemed to have been waiting for her. He lay there topless and holding a book in his hands, but now put it away and sat up as his wife entered. "How was it?" he asked. "I heard you witnessed the birth?"

Edith leaned against the wooden door, exhausted. It had been a long and eventful day. She had only been with Helaena, helping where she could, and yet she was so tired.

"Yes, it all went wonderfully." Smiled Edith and walked toward the bed, then leaned against a bedpost. "The family has been blessed with another prince."

Her husband got up from the bed and undid the buttons of her dress and helped her take it off. Gratefully, she let him help her and then put on her nightgown.

"We should pray that the new prince takes after his mother." Escaped Aemond almost grimly. The resentment towards his brother was still very strong.

"Aemond..." she sighed, shaking her head slightly.

"Forgive me." He said quickly as he realized his mistake. He respected her decision not to want to talk about Aegon anymore, and it really didn't want to. Aemond thought she blamed his brother for the accident, which is why she despised him so much, but deep inside he knew the truth, which he repressed.

He had never brought it up to her because he didn't want to know what had really happened between them.

He took her hand, which had been injured not long ago, and breathed a gentle kiss on the inside of her hand.

"Were you waiting for me?" she asked instead curiously with a slight smile. When he let go of her hand, she ran a hand through her brownish hair and combed it quickly before settling into bed.

"I've been waiting for the two of you." He corrected his wife, joining her on the bed. Carefully, he placed a hand on her small belly.

Aemond was changed since he knew about the child under her heart. He treated her with even more respect, and the two of them had never once argued or insulted each other since. A new record.

Edith placed her hands on Aemond's and smiled gently at him. The last few weeks had helped not only her, but their marriage. They had gotten to know each other in a different way and with each passing day she could like him more and more. She wondered if maybe someday she could love him completely.

Seeing how he treated her and talked about the unborn child, however, made her heart beat faster even now and she couldn't wait to see her child in his arms.

"His name will be Maelor." She then told him.

Edith loved the old Valyrian names and wanted to give her unborn child such a name. She loved her own name, but it was not Valyrian and gave no hint of her true blood. She knew her mother was not allowed to give her a typical Targaryen name then, and yet she could not be angry with her.

"From whom the name?" Questioningly, Aemond looked at his wife, continuing to stroke the small bulge.

"Helaena's child, your nephew." She answered him with a laugh.

"Mmm." Aemond breathed a kiss on her belly and then lay down beside her.

"What?" Now it was Edith who looked at him questioningly. "Did you wanted that name for our child?"

"No." Answered Aemond immediately, covering them both and putting an arm around her. "I think Maegor would fit much better." He smirked.

"And I don't think it's a good idea to name our child Maegor. It sounds like a bad sign." She told him about her concerns. She definitely didn't want to name her son after Maegor the Cruel.

"You're probably right." He then agreed with her.

His arms were tight around her and his head on her shoulder. And only when she looked down at him and stroked his cheek did she see that he wasn't wearing his eye patch. Immediately her smile widened. Aemond was beginning to trust her and was no longer ashamed to show himself vulnerable.

"Do you have any ideas for a girl's name?" he asked, kissing her palm again.

"Oh I have lots of ideas..." she smirked and leaned her forehead against his. "Would you like to hear them?"

"I'd like nothing more, my dear."

***

Edith and her baby survived
the accident!
I just couldn't let her lose it...

I hope you enjoyed the new chapter♡

See you in the next chapter :)

Have a good time!!