(Aerion's POV)
I walked up to Mother, "Did you call for me?" I asked as she turned to see me with a smile, "I am sorry for taking long, I had to make sure the others returned safely."
As I reached her, Mother reached for my shirt and began to adjust it, a warm smile on her face. I had approached her in the middle of the hallway where mine and Rhaenyra's chambers were. I had been told that she was calling for me and that it had been urgent. I was wondering what it was and considering everyone else's demeanor, it was not something terrible nor was it an emergency.
"My beautiful boy." She said with an unusual glimmer in her eyes, "Look how much you have grown."
I raised an eyebrow, "Is something the matter?"
She shook her head, "Come with me." She grabbed my hand and pulled me along as she began to walk, "There is something you need to hear from your wife."
"Did something happen?" I asked, "Is she alright?"
"She is fine." Mother said as we reached Rhaenyra's door, "Come."
She opened the door and we both walked in.
I saw that Rhaenyra was sitting next to the open window, looking outside and staring off into the night sky. I could hear Vermithor and Syrax rumbling in the distance, the two dragons were settling in for the night.
Her beautiful white hair flowed in the breeze that came in through the window, her side-profile seemed ethereal in this angle that I was looking at her.
It was as if she was from another world; the beauty she had.
"Princess." Mother said as she let go of my hand and stepped to the side, "Aerion is here."
Rhaenyra looked over, "Oh." She said softly, "A-Aerion...."
I looked at Mother and then at Rhaenyra, "Mother tells me you have something to tell me." I said, "Is everything okay? I wonder if something happened."
Rhaenyra nodded, "E-Everything is fine." She said as she stood up and slowly walked over, "There is something you should know, however."
"I see...." I said, "And what may that be?"
She reached me and grabbed my hands gently, giving me a sweet smile, "I....." She started, "Well, the thing is....."
I blinked, "Yes.....?"
Rhaenyra looked down, struggling to say the words I believe she wanted to say, "T-This is quite difficult, oh my...."
"It is okay..." Mother said encouragingly, "Go ahead, Princess, it is fine."
She then looked up and gave me a smile, a tear forming in her eye, "Aerion." She said softly, "I am bearing your child."
I blinked again, "Oh."
She nodded and chuckled, "Yes...." She said, "I....I am with child....your child...."
I really did not know how to respond to that.
How was I supposed to react?
I should feel joy, right?
I simply stared at Rhaenyra's face, her beautiful face. Everything seemed to go slow when I looked at her joyous smile, her sweet and warm smile. My gaze then fixated on her tear which was slowly falling down her cheek.
I reached for it and gently wiped it away, "Why do you cry?" I asked, "This is wonderful news."
"Aerion..." She said as she grabbed my hand, "These are tears of joy....I am happy...do you not understand?"
"Hm...." I said as I patted her cheek, "I see....."
"Hug her." I heard Mother whisper
"Right...." I said as I wrapped my arms around Rhaenyra and pulled her closely, "This is good, Rhaenyra. I am happy for you."
Rhaenyra chuckled again and hugged me back, "Thank you...." She said, "I will do my best, Aerion.....I promise...."
**************
"You should hold her hands more often." Mother said to me as we were outside the castle, "Show affection."
"Affection?" I asked as I was inspecting the bow in my hand
"Yes, Aerion." She said, "She is your wife."
"Hm..." I said as I focused on the bow
"I understand that you are your own person, you have always been a serious and blunt boy." Mother said, "Hells, the entire Realm knows that. They have always seen as Daemon's son as devoid of joy and light. And returning from the War never helped, Aerion."
"I do not care what they think." I said simply
"Yet, you should still show affection to the one woman that you will spend the rest of your life with." She said as she leaned her bow on the ground, "Is it that difficult?"
"I...." I started, "I do not know."
"My son...." She said, "You are no longer a boy. You are young, yes...but you are to be a Father. I understand that the fighting, the battles, they affected you....gods, they did affect you so much.....but she is your wife, my love.....you have to support her through thick and thin....."
"I will." I said
"Then start slowly." She said, "Holding hands is a good start. You can do that, I believe in you."
"If you say so." I said as I tested the bowstring's integrity, "I will do my best."
"Good." She said as she walked up to me and nudged my waist, "Here she comes."
"Hm?" I said as I lowered the bow and turned to see Rhaenyra walking up to us, "Oh. Hello, Rhaenyra."
"I was wondering where you were." Rhaenyra reached me, "I should not be surprised that being in your home, you would love spending time outside....you are testing your archery skills?"
"Just the integrity of the bow's string." I said simply, "My skills are adequate. I should learn archery atop Dragonback, it is something that my imagination never seems to let go of."
"Oh?" Rhaenyra said, "Why would you need to shoot arrows when your dragon can breathe flames?"
"I should get some action as well." I said, "Vermithor cannot do everything, can he?"
Rhaenyra chuckled, "Oh, is that so?" She said softly as she leaned closer to me, "Hm...."
"What is it?" I asked
"I was just curious...seeing my husband do something like this...." She said with a smile
I looked at her, "Is that so?"
She nodded, "Do you not want me to?"
"It is not that." I said, "I am just surpri-"
Mother cleared her throat, cutting me off from what I was going to say.
"Erm...." I said as I looked down, "What do you wish to do today, Rhaenyra?"
"What do you mean?" She said
"We are married, you told me you are bearing my child." I said, "I wish to spend time with you."
"Hm..." She smiled, "Curious.....you are not usually like this."
"I am now." I said simply
"A nice walk would do nice." Rhaenyra said, "Do you not think so?"
I looked up, "The day seems decent for a walk." I said, "We cannot go too far, the terrain can get a bit bad the further we go away from the castle.....I approve, we should go for a walk."
"Hehe...." She chuckled, "Of course you do."
I handed the bow to Mother who quickly took it from my hand.
"Come." I said as I offered my hand to Rhaenyra, "Let us go for a walk."
Rhaenyra raised an eyebrow, "Oh?" She said as she took my hand, "You want to hold hands?"
"Is that a problem?" I asked
"No." She blushed, "I am surprised."
"Get used to it." I bluntly said, "I will hold my wife's hands whenever she desires me to do so."
"It is my duty."