(Third Person POV)
[Runestone, A Couple of Weeks Later...]
"Oh, to think the Princess herself would come all this way to Runestone!" Genna Royce said as she walked over to Rhaenyra who sat next to Rhea, "I am so surprised....."
Rhea smiled, "Easy, Genna." She said, "Rhaenyra is possibly tired from the flight, I reckon."
They were in Rhaenyra's chambers that was prepared in Runestone; Aerion had written to Rhea and told her that they would fly over and spend around a week there. While Rhea was excited about this, she knew that Aerion would spend the majority of the time going around the Vale, hunting and fighting the Mountain Tribes.
They arrived the night prior and Rhea had come in and to check on Rhaenyra, who was barely waking up. She sat in a chair as a servant was combing her hair while Genna, one of Aerion's second cousins, had come inside with a jug of wine.
Rhaenyra smiled, "I am fine." She said, "I could not handle the excitement of finally leaving King's Landing and going somewhere that is not Dragonstone. And to meet Aerion's kin, I....am glad I have been received so well."
Genna smiled, "You are Aerion's wife!" She said, "You are our Family as well. And My Lady, to think that Aerion would grow up so big! I cannot believe it, he's so massive! What did they feed him in the Stepstones????"
Rhea smiled, "I do not know. He is something else, that boy." She said, "He surely has grown considerably. It is like he is another person, my son."
"I do admit." Rhaenyra said, "I never expected him to grow so much. My Father mentioned how he resembled Maegor."
"The Cruel?" Genna said with surprise
"Yes, only in appearance." Rhaenyra said, "They say he was so massive as well, very tall and strong. In fact, while most Targaryen Men are of average height and size, there have been cases where there are very tall and strong. The Princess Rhaenys's father, Aemon, was very tall at Aerion's age as well."
"King Baelon mentioned that." Rhea said, "You were but a girl, Genna, but when he visited Runestone after Aerion was born. He mentioned how he hopes that he would grow up like his elder brother did, strong and tall, very gallant."
"Oh..." Genna said, "In a way, he must have, right?"
"In a way." Rhaenyra smiled briefly before clearing her throat, "It feels wrong, speaking of Aerion....how he was as a child..."
"How so?" Rhea asked
"I am his wife..." She said, "And I am much older than him..."
"Do not let that bring you down, Princess." Rhea told her, "It is okay."
Genna nodded, "It could be awkward now, but eventually, it will feel natural." She said, "Say, how do you feel about him?"
Rhaenyra looked at her with surprise, "Eh?"
"Genna...." Rhea said, "You need not ask such questions."
"I am just curious, hehe." Genna smiled
"Well...." Rhaenyra said, "I do care for Aerion. I was constantly worried every day when he was gone.....I have always cared for him, he is my blood....but....I do not know...."
"It is understandable." Rhea patted her shoulder, "You do not know how to feel. But as long as you stay faithful and continue to be an honorable wife, everything will work out for you. Aerion is young, yes, but he will learn to appreciate you. If he has not already, that is."
Rhaenyra nodded, "I see..." She said, "Well...."
She stumbled in her chair slightly, something that alarmed both Rhea and Genna.
"Princess??" Genna said as she ran over and held her shoulder gently, "Are you well?"
Rhaenyra nodded, "Yes." She said, "Just....nauseous."
Rhea frowned, "Are you certain?" She asked
"When I woke up, I felt the same." She said with a chuckle, "Must be something I ate....or the fatigue of the flight."
Genna and Rhea looked at each other with frowns on their faces. Rhea then patted Rhaenyra's forehead with the back of her hand for a couple of seconds.
"Her body is warm." She said softly, "Princess, have you bled yet?"
"N-No...." Rhaenyra said, "W-Why?"
"Does your chest ache?" Genna asked, "Your breasts?"
"T-They do...." Rhaenyra said with a worried look, "Is something the matter?"
Genna gasped softly, "M-My Lady...." She said as she looked at Rhea, "You do not think that...."
Rhea looked at Rhaenyra with a bit of surprise, "By the gods, Princess...." She said, a bit of disbelief in her voice, "I...."
"What?" Rhaenyra said, "What is the matter? I am worried now..."
"Rhaenyra." Rhea said,
"You are with child."
*******************
[Outside of Runestone]
Vermithor laid atop a hill, sleeping as at the base of said hill, Aerion and other Royce Knights sat around a campfire.
"I certainly missed this." Willam said as he was drinking wine from a leather canteen, "Going out, hunting.....scouting out the towns to see if there's no trouble. Fun times, eh Aerion?"
Aerion was staring at the flames, "You could say that."
Gerold sighed as he stoked the flames, "You have no idea how badly Aerion wanted this instead of sitting around in the Red Keep." He said, "You are out here, my boy, we can be ourselves."
Aerion nodded, "Right...."
"Are you still sour about Daemon?" Willam asked, "I hate to admit it, Aerion, but everyone knew it was going to happen."
Aerion gave him a stern look, "It still does not mean it is right."
"I do not argue with you on that." Willam said, "But Daemon Targaryen had always been distant from our Lady."
"I admit, I have no love for the Prince." Gerold said, "But if there is one thing that I could respect him for....it's the way he treats his son."
Aerion looked at Gerold, "I know the kind of man my Father is." He said, "I am not a fool. But for him to take another woman in his bed, not once.....but many times over the course of my lifespan.....it is not something I can agree with."
"You are right." Gerold told him, "It goes against everything we have taught you."
"After you leave, what will it be, Aerion?" Willam asked, "Will you put a child in the Princess?"
"It is to be expected." Aerion said, "The line must continue, I will do my duty."
"Ah." Willam chuckled, "Duty. Of course."
"I am a Knight." Aerion said as he looked down, "I will do my duty."
"Yes, we heard you the first time." Willam chuckled once more, "But hey, know that no matter what happens, we are behind you."
"The best thing The Rogue Prince has done for House Royce is give us Lord Aerion Targaryen." Gerold said with a smile, "To us, you are Lady Rhea's son."
Aerion nodded, "I know." He said, "I am curious, however...."
"Curious of what?" Willam asked
"What the future will entail." Aerion said, "Will there be a peaceful period where I live my life alongside Rhaenyra? Or will there be chaos due to the dissenting voices of the distance? There are those who had wanted her, the focus of potential scandals."
"If something arises from them.....we will handle it." Gerold said seriously, "The Princess is your Wife....she is our Family now. We will not stand by and allow insults be thrown at her, you can count on that."
"I know." Aerion said seriously,
"But we shall wait and see."