Chapter Text
Duncan had lied to Egg. Immediately after arriving at Ashford Meadow, he surrendered Egg-Aegon to the Princes. Egg felt betrayed, but because of this, Duncan became his sworn sword and will be able to squire for him without escaping his father, Maekar.
It is more of a relief, really, for both elder Princes to have a giant to protect the young princeling. Egg is still wroth by it and didn't talk to Duncan for a day. He's a Targaryen; madness runs in their blood, or, for his little body, it is pettiness.
He knows that his older brother is evil, Aerion Brightflame. Aerion has a penchant for bullying servants, and Duncan needs to be taught a lesson on not making a prince like him disappointed. Egg, with all his wits and courage, knocked on Aerion's chamber.
“Out with it, Aegon!” Aerion shouted.
Egg flinched, but he needed to carry out his plan to make Duncan suffer a little. He believes that Duncan can survive Aerion anyway, so it's okay, it's for the good of the realm. Lessons can be taught to hedge knights.
Egg entered and looked at Aerion, who was preening his armor for the joust later that day.
“Brother, I have to tell you something.”
Aerion looks at him, "What?”
“I have safely returned with the help of a hedge knight, and uncle made him my sworn sword.” Egg looks at him while pretending to be brave.
Aerion stared at him intensely as he got pricked by a needle. He's always been anti-peasant. A hedge knight? Being a Targaryen sworn sword is laughable at best. “Oh, why are you telling me this?” Aerion asked as he went back to polishing his armor.
“He is a good man, Aerion; I don't want you hurting him.”
This time, Egg is now regretting ever telling his brother about Duncan. A fire has been lit up in Aerion's eyes that the whole Ashford Meadow will turn to ashes once Aerion gets a hold of that hedge knight, that walking mockery of his house.
Aerion stood up and walked to Egg, resting his right hand on top of Egg's shiny bald head. “Don't worry, little wretch, I'll see to it that he learns how to serve the dragons.”
Egg quickly bolted away from Aerion out to the door and into the hallway. Now he's done it; may Duncan survive the trial of Aerion.
Unbeknownst to him, Aerion was bored; he didn't like the outskirts and jousting against weak men. He simply needs a distraction, something that would make his Father boil with anger. Because what else is he supposed to do than to be pretty and feisty.
Egg meets up with Duncan in the yard. Duncan was already done for the day. He was tired of all the people at the castle fussing about his height, so his eyes sparkled when he saw Egg approaching him. His only human friend aside from the horses.
Egg saw Duncan and his sparkling blue eyes. He felt heartbroken for making this good friend a target for his menace of a brother. Egg trudged through the yard slowly, and Duncan noticed it.
“Hey, lad? Is something the matter?” He asks while resting his hands on the child's shoulders.
“Ser, I've done you great sorrow.” Egg's head still downcast. His eyes were welling up with tears.
Duncan held his face up gently, cupping his head. “Tell me, and I'll try to figure it out.”
Egg, with his fingers twiddling his small belt, let out a sigh.
“He, my brother Aerion, is not a good person, and he...” This time, Egg cried, and in between hiccups, Duncan tried to wipe up his tears. “I think he will bully you, Ser.”
“Oh, is that all?” Duncan is now sheepishly smiling at him. “It's going to be okay, lad, I can handle myself, I'm a Tall guy after all.”
Egg hugged him and whispered, “I hope you don't die...”
Duncan did not press on asking what it means. But by the seven, he is afraid. His thoughts swarmed with, hopefully not dying.
From the upper floor overlooking the yard, Aerion saw the whole ordeal. Egg did not tell him that his hedge knight is a handsome, tall man. Even if the oaf is wearing rags, it did not undermined his manly features. His hands were resting on the balustrade. He imagines the oaf in better clothes, armor, and a wedding garb. Love at first sight has damaged his brain, it seems.
Fuck it, he wants him for himself, and Aegon, that wretched little brother of his, stands in his way. A dragon ought never lose. Prince Aerion Brightflame will make that giant his.
-At the yard’s entrance-
Daeron, with his sullen face, a wine sack on his hand, a huge stick on the other used as a cane, finally arrived at Ashford. He dreamt that if he did not arrive at Ashford, he would likely perish by his father's wrath. He was stumbling his way in when Egg and Duncan saw him. Egg already told Duncan that his brother, Daeron, is the drunk guy at the inn. Duncan immediately hurried to prop Daeron up. He held him by his waist and walked towards the castle.
“Egg, my prince, call for your father.”
Egg hurried away, and Duncan laid Daeron in one of the chairs outside the solar. The guards now motioned them to enter. Daeron, without his energy to even get up, prompted Duncan to carry him like a princess.
Aerion, who now sits beside Maekar and Egg on his other side, saw how the handsome giant was able to carry Daeron as if he were made of feathers. It made him giddy and furious. He should've been there instead of his drunken disappointment of a brother. He gritted his teeth. Thinking of ways to flay his brother.
Daeron, being lifted, felt like he was a babe once more. Experiencing the calm, he had before he got plagued by dragon dreams. He held more tightly to Duncan. His new knight in shining armor. Is he in love? His dreams will reveal it later on.
Maekar cleared his throat. “Daeron!”
Daeron immediately turned his head towards the sitting princes. Shyly holding on to Duncan's tunic. “Father, good morning to you.”
Baelor, just now entering the solar, perplexed with the scene in front of him, stopped in his tracks.
Daeron turned his head towards Baelor, “Uncle. Good morning to you, too!”
Aerion stood up; he couldn't take it anymore. He walked towards his flirty brother and yanked him out of Duncan's arms. Daeron fell to the floor. Everyone in the solar gaped in shock and went still.
Aerion faced the princes; “I'll handle the knight's reward for carrying my brother into safety.” He took Duncan's arm and went outside the solar.
Daeron lay on the floor, feeling the cold stones. Easily clocked that his younger brother also likes the knight. He sat up and asked his father to let him sleep. Maekar was confused by the request. The first time in ages that Daeron wants to finally sleep again.
Daeron told him that Duncan's touch eased his mind into unknown calmness. Maekar asks Egg to let Duncan embrace Daeron to help him sleep. Egg protested a little for now, for he has to share his friend, but he is happy that their family found a way to make Daeron sleep without the help of wine. Still, he is uneasy with Aerion dragging away Duncan. He makes a wish to the seven, let my friend live.
-In the hallways-
Aerion's hand was still gripping Duncan's arm. “I'll have you know I do not appreciate you touching others.”
“M’lord?” Gears are turning in Duncan's head, not understanding why.
Now looking up at Duncan with his fluttering eyelashes. “Am I not your prince?”
“Yes, you are my prince, but I am Egg-Aegon's sworn sword.”
“You are his sworn sword, but you are to be mine.” Aerion huffed.
Yours? A prince of the realm? Duncan's thoughts slipped on his face that Aerion is now so angry that he slapped Duncan's cheek.
“M'lord?” Duncan, surprised by the slap, now cups his hurt face.
“I will find a way to get you away from Egg, but for now, leave me be and remember not to touch anyone, especially Daeron.”
“Yes, m'lord. I will try.” He whispered while his hand was still on his cheek.
Aerion is now huffing in anger. “Don't try you, oaf!”
With his brain finally stopped churning, he suddenly lifted Aerion, carrying him as he had carried Daeron earlier. Aerion's breath hitched, his eyes with blown-out pupils stared at Duncan.
“Then I will carry you, My Prince, to your quarters.” Aerion just nodded and told him where to go.
Upon arriving at his door. He was put down softly. Duncan went away; Aerion entered his chambers and crashed out on his bed. Fuck he was caught off guard. He's so happy and is now punching his pillows. After a while, he calmed down, drank some water, and lay down staring at his bed's canopy. He still needs to punish Daeron for touching what's his and think of a wonderful reward for his knight.
While Duncan was on the way back to Egg felt the hairs on his back stand up. This may be a sign of my impending death, he thought to himself.
He only carried Aerion earlier because he thought Aerion was also tired of walking. Or he wants to feel like a child. A lot of children only played with him to carry them. To him, the princelings were a bunch of kids.