｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆
𝖳𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗋 - 𝖡𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗎𝗅 𝖢𝗋𝗂𝗆𝖾
｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ - ☆｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆

"Regret what?" The two almost lovers brought distance to each other again when they heard a third voice. Neither had said anything in the last few seconds. They had only stared at each other and there were so many different feelings in their looks. Even Rhaenyra could see that.

"Can we talk about this somewhere else?" asked Aruna, and was immediately interrupted by Daemon. "There's nothing to talk about." Again they looked at each other. Aruna didn't understand his constant changes of mind anymore. They were exhausting and it made her never know where she was at with him.

"I'd like to know what's going on." Rhaenyra interjected, stepping closer to the two. "We're going to my chambers. Now." She sounded, like a real princess, as she said it and walked off. Of course Aruna followed her, after all that was expected of her as a personal lady. Daemon, on the other hand, waited a moment before following the two girls.

The three remained silent as they walked upstairs. Daemon still had his arms crossed as he sat down on one of the pieces of furniture. Aruna sat down across from him while Rhaenyra remained standing, resting her arms on the armchair.

At least two of the three were visibly uncomfortable. The dark-haired one had known it would all come out anyway, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. Somehow the whole situation was absurd for her, because she had to confess to her friend that she had slept with her uncle.

"I thought you had gone to someone else." Rhaenyra started the conversation.

Nodding in agreement, Aruna said. "I did, and then... then I went to Daemon."

Daemon sat on the sofa and looked out the window. He acted like it wasn't exactly about, and you could sense that he wanted to be anything but here.

"What did he say?"

"Of course he still wants to marry her." Daemon answered for Aruna without looking to the girls. "That seems to bother you quite a bit." Rhaenyra replied, eyeing her stubborn uncle.

Now it was Aruna who felt out of place.

"Of course." She tried to appear confident in front of her friend and in front of the man who owned her heart. She knew Rhaenyra would find out everything now and despise Aruna from now on. Take away her title as her lady again. What if Rhaenyra felt disgusted? After all, it was still Rhaenyra's uncle who had taken her innocence.

"I didn't tell you everything earlier, dearest friend." Confessed the Tyrell, looking into her friend's violet eyes. It was as if she was looking into Daemon's eyes at the same time and it gave her uncomfortable goosebumps. "And I regret that very much."

Daemon laughed sarcastically, shaking his head. "Why are you still buttering her up? Just say it." His behavior was just disrespectful, as it had been so many times before. For a long time, Rhaenyra and Daemon looked at each other, and Aruna looked back and forth between the two. "We did it, Rhaenyra."

Aruna played with the fabric of her glove. Now it was out and she was getting ready for loud shouting. But the room remained silent again for a while. "Aruna?"

"I slept with him. Last night and we were more or less talking about it when you came." Confirmed Aruna, hoping not to have signed her death warrant. She didn't want to lose her friend.

Rhaenyra looked at the two of them, stunned. "How could you do this to me?"

Aruna could understand Rhaenyra's anger, though it was really none of her business. Daemon and Aruna hadn't hurt or harmed anyone. Why was she making herself out to be a victim now?

"You have a husband now and the new commander, don't you? Why are you complaining?" Daemon wanted to know and leaned back as Rhaenyra took a few steps towards him. "You know exactly why, Daemon."

Aruna got the feeling that it was no longer about her, but she remained seated and watched the scene between the two Targaryens with silver hair. She sat so straight on the couch that her back almost hurt. She didn't want to show a moment of weakness now.

Daemon looked past Rhaenyra and searched Aruna's blue eyes. He didn't want to admit it, but his heart had never felt as heavy as it did at that moment. He didn't know himself why he had gone along and the three of them were having this conversation now, because the conversation would not end well and he couldn't lose Aruna again.

"We should end this." It was probably the only way for him to delay everything a little longer. But Aruna of all people, the woman he adored so much, forbade it, raising her voice. "I want to know what is going on here."

Daemon felt like running his hand through his hair and making an annoyed sound, but he refrained and stood up instead. "I'm afraid my dear niece has had too much wine today, which has awakened a jealousy in her." Aruna immediately recognized his excuse and swallowed a sarcastic remark.

"I haven't had one glass today." Rhaenyra's voice was quite calm and her gaze was fixed on the floor. Her face was all pale. Aruna feared her friend was about to keel over. "You've been honest with me, then I want to be too."

Tensely, Aruna looked at her friend and Daemon curiously crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"We've grown closer, too. Already a long time ago and again." Admitted the young woman with violet eyes. Daemon escaped an undefined loud, shaking his head. He couldn't believe what Rhaenyra just gave in front of Aruna.

"We?" asked Aruna again, not understanding her friend's words.

"Daemon and I." Rhaenyra hadn't even finished saying the words before Aruna felt dizzy and looked at her two friends with wide eyes in shock. "You're kidding... right?" Neither of them said a word, and Daemon avoided eye contact with Aruna, while Rhaenyra looked at her, literally suffering.

"You can't-" began Aruna, but her voice broke. Horrified, she got up from the sofa. What Rhaenyra had just confessed to her caused her to feel disgusted. She felt a thousand emotions at once, but most of all disgust. She had never believed she could think about Rhaenyra like that.

"He's your uncle and she's your niece! You are family. One blood." Stunned and quite pale in the face, she shook her head.

"Aruna please. Calm down." Rhaenyra asked her and slowly walked towards her friend. "It's over."

"That's no excuse! You did it anyway..." As Rhaenyra walked towards her, Aruna walked around the couch and stood behind it protectively. She wanted to be anything but close to her friend now.

"I know." Replied Daemon now, while holding his niece by the shoulder so she wouldn't go any further. "That's why I couldn't tell you."

"Were you going to branch me out forever?" wanted Aruna to know in horror. Her injured hands clawed at the fabric of her dress. Tears gathered in her eyes as they had in Rhaenyra's. Daemon was calmer than the two girls, but that didn't mean that the situation left him cold.

That he didn't say anything at that moment said it all for her, and she furiously swallowed the tears. "You guys are disgusting." She didn't care if she was being disrespectful to the prince or the princess. The behavior of the two Targaryens was equally dishonorable, yet the Tyrell knew the stories and knew that many Targaryens had married their siblings or cousins.

But Aruna had believed, had hoped, that Daemon thought nothing of this tradition.

Without saying another word or waiting, Aruna left the room with quick steps, taking refuge.

Aimlessly she walked through the long and winding corridors and stairs of the Red Keep. Neither Rhaenyra nor Daemon went after their friend, which she was very relieved about. Only last night she had noticed how cold it actually was in the hallways despite the warm temperatures outside.

In the end, her path led back to the courtyard, for subconsciously she had gone to her brother. When she stepped outside and looked around for him, he was already coming toward her.

"What's wrong?" Adrik immediately recognized that something was wrong with his sister. Gently, he took her arm and led her to the side. Adrik was wearing the classic knight's garb of the Guard. Since he wore it, he looked so different.

Aruna could imagine the effect she must have had on him when she saw his worried look. She was still shocked by the news and honestly she didn't know how to deal with it. "I had a fight with Rhaenyra and Daemon."

Adrik tilted his head slightly as he eyed his sister. "What did they ask of you?" It didn't surprise her that her brother assumed the worst. "Talk to me." He asked as she remained silent.

"They did things with each other that I dare not speak, Adrik." She revealed, hoping he understood her words. "Targaryen traditions."

Slowly, the young man nodded, and the same disgust could be seen on his face as on Aruna's.

Aruna's heart ached and her stomach kept contracting in spasms. She loved Daemon and she loved Rhaenyra. She also knew that Daemon and Rhaenyra loved each other, but she had never thought it was that kind of love.

~~~

A few days later, another old friend kept her company. Aruna had had enough of the Targaryens and had avoided anyone with silver hair. She hadn't sought conversation with anyone, but none of them had spoken her out either.

It had been a strange few days, for not a day had passed since her arrival in King's Landing that she had not spoken to Rhaenyra.

Alicent had watched the behavior of the two friends closely over the past few weeks. She would be lying if she said that she was not jealous of this special bond between the two. Besides, she had felt left out. As children, there had always been only the three of them. Now, somehow, there was no one. No bond. No friendship.

The queen had enjoyed the little moments with Aruna over the past few weeks and hoped to find a new connection with her. Alicent might seem cold and unloving, but in reality, despite all the people, she felt all alone and needed a close friend and confidant very much in her life.

The two young women sat in the private quarters of the royal couple and drank tea. By now, almost the second pot was empty and there was hardly a second of silence.

They talked about the past and the childhood adventures they had had together. They talked about the present and how different everything was now and they dreamed of a good future.

Aruna didn't tell Alicent about her past relationship with Daemon or what she had learned a few days ago.

She still hadn't digested the information and she was sure that she would never get over it. Family or not. It had still been the man she loved and her closest friend who did unspeakable things with each other.

"I heard about Ser Brandon's departure. How are you doing with it?" asked Alicent, changing the subject.

Brandon had left two days ago, because Aruna could not give him a new answer and he was tired of continuing to wait. He knew her heart was not his and he was needed more in Winterfell than here in King's Landing.

Too ashamed to say goodbye to him, she had not gone to the gates. Even King Viserys had seen off his guest the heir to Winterfell. All but the woman he most wanted to see. Brandon had wanted so much to travel home with Aruna.

"I thought it would be easier, to be honest." Aruna placed her empty cup on the table and briefly glanced at the door, knowing behind it stood her brother, keeping watch. "I'm ashamed I didn't have the decency to say goodbye."

"Sounds to me like you don't want it all to be over? A goodbye is always an ending." Commented Alicent. Her beautiful face showed an encouraging smile. "Or a new chapter."

"More like an ending. What are the chances I'll see him again?" Aruna didn't want to sound bitter, but with Brandon she had lost another person to whom she had been very close. She had enjoyed the time with him very much and the intellectual conversations anyway. But most of all she had loved his stories about the North and his family.

"You could go after him?" suggested the older of the two.

"Are you serious?" Perplexed, Aruna eyed the queen and sat up straighter, nervously shifting back and forth. "I don't know if I can leave my brother and King's Landing..."

"I understand." Alicent looked at Aruna for a long time, but not angrily. Her features were quite soft as she considered how she could help her friend. "But it doesn't have to be forever, does it?"

"I don't think Princess Rhaenyra will let me go, after all I am her personal lady." Retorted Aruna, immediately looking for more reasons not to travel. She was anything but brave, and the fear that Brandon would reject her and Aruna would make her way back to King's Landing in shame was too great. The shame around a rejection was unimaginable.

Alicent's mouth formed into a smile and she had to chuckle, then she became quite serious again. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but there is no such title." Aruna didn't know why, but she immediately believed the queen and the realization broke her heart.

She had really thought that was an important title and that she was important to Rhaenyra. But the worst part was that no one had told her the truth. "Really?"

Alicent nodded and looked apologetically at her friend. Aruna felt really screwed.

Even if she didn't want to, the thought of following Brandon was starting to feel better and better. "what if he doesn't want me anymore?" Aruna's words made Alicent laugh. "Please. He loves you and if you travel after him, he'll never let you go."

Slowly, the Tyrell girl nodded and smiled. "What much do I have to lose now?"

Nodding in agreement now, Alicent also called out for Ser Adrik. Immediately Aruna's brother came into the room and bowed his head. "You called, your Grace."

Seeking help, Aruna looked to Alicent, for she knew Adrik would never let her go. With a small gesture with her hand, Alicent let Aruna know that she would rule it.

"What do you think of Ser Brandon Stark, Ser Adrik?" wanted Alicent to know. She sat upright in her chair and looked at the knight with her head held high. Even here in the private chambers, she looked like a true queen. Aruna was envious of her appearance and confident manner.

"It is extremely talented and an honorable man. I enjoyed our practice duels together very much, your Grace." Replied Adrik with a questioning expression on his face. He didn't really understand the Queen's question, but was polite as always and answered honestly.

"Do you think he would be a good husband for your sister?" The siblings' eyes met at Alicent's new question. "What is the meaning of this, Aruna? I thought he had left."

"Indeed he has, but I regret not going with him." Aruna told her brother. She didn't know herself if she was really speaking the truth. She had lost touch with her true self when she stepped off the ship and onto the ground of the capital.

Aruna knew she would be acting selfishly if she married Brandon now. But everyone in Westeros was selfish, so she was allowed to be.

"Brother, I would like to go after him and marry him." Impatiently, she got up from her chair and walked over to her brother, who was standing in the middle of the room. Alicent remained seated calmly, watching the siblings ready to step in and help Aruna if necessary.

"What." Adrik looked at her stunned and immediately shook his head. "Out of the question. You will not travel after him, Aruna!"

Even though she had expected this answer, it saddened her. She knew herself that it would either be a very good or a very bad decision on her part.

"I would send a carriage and some of my men with her to make sure she arrives safely in the north." Interjected the dark-haired queen. "Aruna has been through a lot in the last few weeks and I think distance from this place and some of the people here would do her good."

"Sorry, your Grace. But she's my little sister and I can't let her go. Not this far away." Replied Adrik, and despite the formal salutation, there was no trace of formality in his words. He questioned Alicent's statement and was against her decision. Under other circumstances it would cost him his head, but Alicent seemed anything but offended by his words. "I do not permit this."

"We'll still see each other, brother! We visit each other and see each other regularly at celebrations, and we could write letters every day-"

"Do you actually know how far Winterfell is from here? What if something happens to you, I won't be there within a few hours with my horse. It would take me weeks!" interrupted Adrik. Aruna understood his worries and she wanted nothing more than to be with him, but at that moment she was like a child who had set her mind on something.

"Adrik please." She looked into his blue eyes, the same eyes as her own, and looked at him pleadingly. As she did so, she took his hands in hers and squeezed them lightly. They both wore gloves, only his were made of cold leather and hers of a beautiful lace fabric.

"I will not let anything happen to her. I promise." Neither had noticed that Alicent had stood up and joined them. "I would send her maid with her, and I will have spies there, Ser Adrik. Lady Aruna is very important to me as well."

At the queen's words, Adrik Tyrell softened, though he still disagreed. Very slowly and barely noticeably, he then nodded and gave his consent to his sister.

Happily, Aruna embraced him and hugged him tightly. "If it's not an inconvenience, I would leave tonight. Maybe I can still catch up with him?"

Her suggestion had also been a reckless decision, as she barely had time to say goodbye properly. Even though there weren't many people she liked here.

Adrik helped her pack her box and Aruna said goodbye to the few people she had grown fond of here. First she had been with Laenor and his sister Laena. She had even said goodbye to Ser Harwin and King Viserys.

And suddenly time passed quickly and she was standing at the gate of the Red Keep. To her right was a carriage with the few things she wanted to take with her, since she could only wear a few of her clothes in the north anyway.

To her left stood her brother and Queen Alicent, and then her heart grew much heavier. She politely said goodbye to her new old friend, but then had hugged her tightly anyway, against royal etiquette. It was all because of her.

"We will meet again soon, dear friend." Alicent kissed Aruna's cheek and squeezed her hands, then leaned in to her friend. "I want you to meet all my children. After all, you are their favorite aunt." Alicent's words made Aruna smile, and her smile grew even wider as Alicent unobtrusively stroked her belly. Aruna loved her children. She had often read to them or played with them. "It would be my honor. I can't wait."

She hugged her brother very long and very tight. She missed him already, how could she bear this pain so far away from him?

"Please write me when you arrive safely." He asked his little sister, stroking her dark hair. He found it very hard to let her go. They had rarely been apart in their lives and when they were, it was only for a few weeks. The two siblings knew that they would not see each other for a long time.

Aruna brushed a tear from her cheek and nodded. "I will. And you must write and keep me informed of everything, big brother."

They hugged one last time for a very long time, but then she had to break away from her brother with a heavy heart. "I love you."

"I love you, little sister. Travel safely." He asked her, looking after her plaintively as she walked to the carriage. "I'm only a letter away."

"I know. Me too." She replied with a smile and tears in her eyes. Then she quickly got on, hoping it would be easier that way, but it wasn't.

Aruna's maid was already sitting in the carriage and smiled at her encouragingly. She was glad to have her with her and to have at least one familiar face in the north. Aruna will be forever grateful to her and hoped to be able to return the favor to the girl someday.

She suppressed tears and quickly stroked her cheeks before sticking her head out the carriage window and waving goodbye to Adrik and Alicent.

She took one last look at the old walls and it didn't take her long to spot two people with silver hair at one of the windows.

They had been the only people she had not said goodbye to.

***

ohhh what did Aruna have to experience....

what do you think about her rash decision?

<33