(Aerion's POV)
"A Joust!" Uncle said joyfully, "Do be prepared, Aerion. I expect you to participate?"
"Jousting?" I said as I stood there in front of him and Father next to the Painted Table
He nodded, "Yes." He said, "I sent word to Otto, he requires to have the preparations ready for the Tourney at once! When the Lords of the Realm gather, we will celebrate my first grandchild."
"Our First grandchild." Father corrected
"Ah, yes." Uncle chuckled, "If you say so."
Father sighed and rolled his eyes, "I suppose I can have a little fun in the Tourney." He said as he crossed his arms, "Nothing beats dismounting some arrogant prick of a Knight. Would you not say the same, Aerion?"
I shrugged, "I do not like Jousts."
"He does not like them, he says." Uncle smiled, "Well, try to have fun."
"Jousts are foolish." I said, "You sit atop a horse and gallop at each other in a straight line, holding a stupid lance in front of you in hopes you can hit the other and dismount him. It is boring, it is stupid."
"He really does not like them." Father said with a slight smirk, "Learn to live a little, Aerion. Not everyone would want to step into a corral and scrap it out with you using blunt swords."
Uncle took a sip of the wine from his cup, "Look." He started, "Jousts are tradition, you know that. You should participate. That way, most can officially recognize you as a proper Knight."
"I was anointed by you, Your Grace." I said seriously, "They can recognize me as a proper Knight."
"It was....I was just saying..." He said, "Aerion, you should relax."
I nodded, "I understand." I said, "But a Joust?"
"Hehe...." He said, "Alright, enough of this. How is my girl? I trust you were keeping her company? She seemed a bit out of place."
I tilted my head, "What do you mean?"
"There is a possibility that for a brief period after a woman gives birth, she will experience a bit of sadness and will not act like herself."
"I do not think we should worry about that." I said, "But I will keep her company."
Father sighed and began to walk away, "I am going for a flight." He said, "I will return in a few hours."
"Oh, careful, I do not want to hear about some ships being burned." Uncle said with a frown, "The last time you went for a flight, you ended up angering the Sealord of Braavos."
"How was I supposed to know that those pirates were allied with him?" Father said as he stopped and looked at us, "They should stop being cunts, that is what they should do."
"Hm..." I said as he walked out of the way
"Aerion." Uncle said, "Tell me....."
"Your Grace?" I said as I looked at him
"How are you feeling?" He asked as he leaned against the table, "Is it joy? Is it.....disappointment?"
"Why do you ask?" I asked him
"I cannot get a read out of you." He said as he took another sip, "That is all."
"I am.....adequate." I said
"Did you sleep well?" He asked me
"I slept more than well." I said as I looked down
"Hm, I am sure you did." He said, insinuating something
"Can I speak my mind?" I asked
"Go ahead." He said
"Was....betrothing me to Rhaenyra...." I started as I looked at him, "Was it more than just pleasing my Father?"
"What do you mean?" He asked me with a frown
"I know the way the people look at Rhaenyra." I said, "Some look at her with love and respect, but others look at her with contempt. I know for a fact that despite them being in their place, they do not accept the fact that a woman is the Heir.....that they would rather have your son, Aegon."
"Rhaenyra is the Heir. When I die, she will sit the Throne." He said seriously
"I know." I said, "And I accept that."
"Then, what are you saying?" He asked me
"Rhaenyra will need someone to show her unwavering support when that time comes." I said, "And I hope it does not come so soon, but it will be here at some point. She told me she wants it to be me."
"Will you do that?" He asked, "Will you support her unwaveringly?"
"I will." I said, "I will be the pillar that she needs to be supported....I will be the shield to protect her from danger....I will be the blade that will cut down her enemies."
He walked up to me and patted me on the shoulder, "That is all that matters." He said, "Whether or not I betrothed you with that intention, it does not matter. What matters is that when the time comes, you will be there for her. And I know....I am sure that she will be there for you no matter what."
"Hm...." I said
"Also, I am aware that there is a bit of an...issue...." He said
"Issue?" I asked
"Rhaenyra's past.....interests." He said
"Oh." I said, "I am not concerned with that."
"You should not be." He said, "The thing is.....she has moved on. She is with you. I do not want you to think otherwise and become.....vicious like your father...."
"I gave him a warning." I said seriously, "But I will not bother to even think of that matter."
"Hm, that is good." He said, "She gave you a daughter, you should focus more on that."
"I will." I said as I looked ahead, "I just need...I need to adjust....It is all....hm."
"You will get past the doubts.." He told me, "Remember...you are not in Bloodstone anymore. You are home."
***************
"Do you wish to hold her?" Rhaenyra asked me
I looked at her, "Hm?"
She was holding Visenya in her arms as the girl was moving her arms about, looking up at her mother with curious and innocent eyes.
"Do you want to hold your daughter?" She asked, "You have not held her in a long time."
"Oh." I said, "Is it wise? I mean, would it not mess with her belly? She was just breastfed."
"She will be fine." She said with a chuckle as she scooted over and handed her to me, "The wetnurses told me that as long as they burped it out, she should be fine."
"Hm....." I said as I took her in my arms, "Is that so?"
"Yes." She said as she patted her cheek, "Look at her, so precious."
I looked at Visenya, she was looking at me with her wide eyes, "Yes....."
Despite her being so small, I felt that she had a hefty weight to her. Maybe it was because I was focusing on how fragile she was and how I did not want to drop her so easily, making me nervous that I would. And all of that added to her "Weight".
She was my daughter.
My girl.
She was mine.
"And there will be a Tourney held in her honor soon." Rhaenyra said, "Will you win it? For us?"
I looked at her, "Do you want me to?"
She nodded, giving me a warm smile, "Of course I do." She said, "I want you to win it."
"Hm." I said, "Quite the childish desire, Rhaenyra. But so be it. For you....."
"I will win it."