Chapter Text
Valarr Targaryen wondered if this day would ever end. At present he was attending to his horse in the royal stables. The black mare was long in the dying, which his lady mother had given him on his 14th name day. Valarr ran his hand over his horse's head, his finger tracing over the white diamond on her snout, the reason he called her Morningstar. The mare whinnied in soft, ragged breaths as the stable master stood behind her, arms crossed, with one of the stable boys.
“Seems the horse has some disease, milord,” said the stableboy, whose name escaped Valarr. His master, Manken, barked at him to go back to his duties.
“Strangles, what we call it, poor girl is in pain. Nothing we can do, except give her the mercy of a quick death, poor thing.” He looked to the prince for a response. Valarr nodded in solemn agreement.
There was a moment of silence, save for the whinnies of the horse. Valarr knew he should be the one to put her down, his fingers tightened around the hilt of his dagger but he could not bring himself to unsheath the blade. He could feel the judgmental eyes of the stable master on him, seeing his inaction. In his head, he could hear his father’s voice. A leader takes action, makes choices. Even when the choice is a hard one. Valarr knew this. He had yet to fight in any wars, but he had never hesitated in the many tourneys he had attended. That was just tourneys, this was different. Second in line for the throne and can’t even kill his own horse for love. His eyes felt hot, but he fought the tears back. He’d be damned if he'd let anyone see him cry. He was saved any further embarrassment by the arrival of one of his father’s servants.
“Prince Valarr, the Hand requests your presence at the council chambers.” He turned to see one of his father's servants standing behind him. Valarr steeled himself and stood up, his mind made up. He said a silent thank you to the Mother for this excuse.
“Tell him I’ll be there shortly,” he took his hand off his dagger and looked at Manken, sighing," see to her needs.” He stroked her muzzle one last time before leaving them to it. Valarr didn’t flinch when he heard the blade go down, he was thankful for that much.
He considered going to his chambers to change out of his sweat. That would require him to go the long distance to Maegor’s Holdfast, and he’d risk running into his wife. Valarr loved Kierra of Tyrosh, he knew that. However, their marriage as of late had been tumultuous at best. Besides, Baelor Targaryen liked things to be punctual. With a sigh, he made his way to the council chambers.
It wasn’t Baelor that greeted him, it was his cousin, Aerion. Aerion Targaryen was seated in the Grand Maester’s seat, his dirty boots on the table. The prince was talking to his fast friend, Ser Degory Gaunt, though Valarr could not make out what they were talking about.
“What are you two doing in the council chambers?” Valarr put an edge in his voice. Aerion was a sore spot for him. His cousin was arrogant, spoiled and vain. Everything he was not, but yet Valarr nursed a small infatuation on him, since they were young boys. His cousin had grown from a gangly kid to a handsome, if ill-tempered man. This also embarrassed him deeply and he had hoped that time would make it fade and dampen, and in some respects it had. He had his lady wife now, and Kierra commanded his heart fully. The man Aerion had become also helped tame the desire, as well as the fact that Aerion would never reciprocate his feelings. The lazy way Aerion looked at him, his jaw slack as he took in the sight of him sent a nervous queasiness in his stomach.
“Cousin, you look like shit,” Aerion smiled at him,” And you look as tight as a septa.” Degory sniggered behind him, the young knight had the sense at least to not sit in one of the council member’s chairs. Valarr hadn’t realized the truth of Aerion’s statement, breathing and relaxing his stance, a hand on his hip.
“I’ve had a very rough morning and this foolishness here isn’t helping. You didn’t answer my question. Why are you two here? Father’s soon to call a meeting.”
Aerion smiled at him, although it felt like it held a mocking undertone,” To pour wine for him and the other old men? A prince who submits and serves.” Aerion smirked and looked to Degory for a reaction, but the knight said nothing. Valarr’s presence had that effect on him. “If you must know, this is one of the only quiet places in this damn castle. We’re talking about plans to go out tonight. Father didn’t want me talking about such matters in front of the girls. You should come with, Valarr. Seems you could use it, eh.”
Valarr scoffed at that,” I am perfectly fine,” he lied and took the Hand’s seat,” just have my duties to attend to, you wouldn’t know about that though would you?” He tilted his head. Aerion studied him, cooly, his lilac eyes still as well water.
“Words like that make me remember that you're the blood of the dragon. Not as often as I’d like.” The statement confused Valarr. Aerion got up, the chair making a loud noise as it scraped the floor. “ Come Ser Degory, the council arrives.” Valarr’s eyes widened and he stood up quickly. Indeed, Baelor Targaryen was looking at the three of them, bemused. Valarr blushed in embarrassment, sitting in his father’s chair when he was not a council member.
“Uncle.” Aerion and Degory made their exits.
Baelor looked at him. “I see you handled…whatever that was.” He smiled warmly at him as he made his way over, taking his seat and laying down his papers.
“Father, I apologize. I was weary and needed rest and-” Baelor cut him off with a simple hand gesture.
“Son, sit. Brynden will not begrudge you the seat, seeing as he’s not here. How did things go with your horse?” Valarr did not think his gruncle Brynden would think the same, but he sat anyway as bid.
“The horse is dead.” Valarr did not want to mention any more details of that ordeal. Baelor seemed nonplussed.
“We’ll find you a new one sure enough. How are your new apartments in Magor’s, how is Kierra?” After her second stillbirth, which occurred a fortnight ago, Baelor had deemed it fit to move Valarr and Kierra out of the tower of the Hand and into Maegor’s Holdfast, to be closer to the Grand Master’s chambers.
“Kierra is strong, gods bless her. She’s recovered from it, thanks to Grandmaester Gedmund.” He gave a pause before continuing,” she’s made mention of sailing to Tyrosh. Her mother has written to her talking about these fertility draughts. She seems insistent on going, I’m not.”
Baelor considered the information, "Decisions like these are difficult to be sure.” He gave him a look, not unkind.” She can use our ships if that is her decision. Perhaps there is something in Tyrosh that can help her. You do need heirs son.” Valarr looked at his feet.
“Sometimes I wonder if there is something wrong with me, keeping us from having kids,” he swallowed, fighting back the rising tide of emotion inside him. “Kierra is as perfect as a wife can be. Beautiful, kind, warm, and willful. It must be me, but she blames herself.” Baelor got up, went to him and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“Valarr, you’re too hard on yourself. We will get through this together.” His hand squeezed his shoulder. “Go, to your lady wife. Take it easy, stress will not be productive for either of you.” Valarr looked at his father.
“What about the council meeting?” Valarr stood up slowly and faced his father.
“I wanted you here to pay attention to the proceedings, not attend our cups. Little princess Rhae begged me so sweetly for that honor. She will take care of us.” His father smiled at him, a smile the prince found reassuring. He returned the smile.
He was thoroughly tired by the time he reached their room in Maegor’s Holdfast. He was loosening the silks of his fine blue velvet doublet as he shut the door behind him. The room was furnished with Myrish carpets and elaborate tapestries, but Kierra as of late had taken to filling the room with flowers. She’d buy them from the markets, red ones and blue ones, golden yellow ones, and pink ones. Pink was her favorite color and pink flowers absolutely adorned their common room. Their fragrance would often threaten to overpower Valarr’s senses, but he had a unique weakness when it came to telling her “no.”
“Kierra, my sweet lady,” he called out. He found her in their bedchamber, reading a book in bed. He took off his doublet and let it fall to the ground as he crawled up beside her. She regarded him kindly, putting a finger in between the pages to keep her spot. “What are you reading?” He rested his head on her warm brown shoulder.
“Oh, a rather romantic tale. I’m sure you’d be bored if I read it to you.” She sounded tired, and her pink hair seemed listless and dull, unbrushed.” The heat has drained me of my energy, so I must retreat to the comfort of a good book instead of going out. I feel almost…frenzied, being in this room.”
Valarr kissed her head, then her cheek. He knew how she felt. “Did the Grandmaester visit? Surely you are close to being able to leave this room.” She set the book down.
“I’m expecting him later. And Tansy has kept me company enough.” Tansy was her favorite handmaiden, a talkative girl shy of sixteen. Kierra ran her fingers through his hair, teasing the blonde streak and scratching his scalp. The action helped give him comfort. He felt so at ease around his wife. “Valarr, tell me about your day, how was the horse?”
He told her all of it. The horse, and how the stablehands looked at him, his father, and Aerion. She gave him a knowing smile. “Aerion, wonder what his notion of fun is.” She continued to scratch his head.
“Knowing him, kicking a peasant or yelling at a bar wench.” Kierra knew everything about him, even the things he was ashamed about. She had that effect on him. She found his affection for Aerion amusing. You Targaryens have such queer customs. That had been her response when she had learned about that.
She said with a smile. “Maybe you should go.”
That surprised him,” No, I should stay here, with you. Besides, I’m tired.” He didn’t know why she was encouraging this.
“You said he was going tonight? Take a bath and rest before then.” She placed her hand on his bare chest, resting on his stomach. “And besides, you could be a measuring presence on whatever establishment he decides to visit. Keep the king’s peace, my prince.” She teased him, but he knew she didn’t mean it unkindly. Her last point was not something he had considered. “He hasn’t been out of the castle since the moon’s turn. I heard Maekar had him under lock and key since his last outing.” Aerion’s last outing had resulted in a bar fire that had almost spread to Flea Bottom.
“All the more reason to go,” she said with another smile and a kiss to his forehead.” You’ve earned some fun, surely.” This struck him queer. Valarr pulled back a bit.
“You want something, don’t you?” The subtle blush told him his suspicions were right,” Out with it.”
She sat up, disentangling her arms from his chest.” I received another letter from my mother. I think I’m going to go for a visit.” Valarr rubbed his forehead in frustration. He let out a groan and laid back down, covering his face with his hands.
“Kierra, you don’t have to go all the way to Tyrosh to drink some back alley witch’s potion. The Grandmaester can fix this for us.”
Kierra looked down at him, affronted,” Don’t insult my home like that. Besides, I would be visiting my family. And Tyrosh is just a short voyage from Dorne, you act like I’m sailing to Asshai!”
“I have duties here, we can’t just leave for months, you must know that. Let this matter wait until after the King’s tourney”
She crossed her arms. “I’m not asking you to come, I know you can’t come but I don’t want to wait.” She sighed before laying back down. “Please, can we talk about this later. I feel weak again.”
Valarr was about to ask if that was true or if she didn’t want to talk again until he was in a good mood again. “All right.” He let a pause linger before saying,” I’m sorry, if I came across unkind. I’m tired too.”
“Then let us be tired together,” she said with a smile. They kissed long and hard. They never could let tension linger long between them. “Still, you should go out tonight and leave me to my books.”
Valarr let out a small chuckle.
“I’ll give it some thought. But for now, let us rest.”
And so they did.