(Third Person POV)
The following morning, Rhaenyra was sitting on a chair in her chambers, some maids were combing her hair as others were cleaning the bed. Another maid brought the Princess a plate of food and a cup of water, setting it on the table in front of her.
There was something that was clearly different about Rhaenyra, something that the maids, who were quite close and loyal to her, noticed. And that was that Rhaenyra seemed to be glowing, a brighter look on her face as her cheeks blushed at the mere thought of what had happened the night prior.
Elinda, one of her most trusted handmaidens, smiled at the Princess, "How was your night, Princess?" She asked, "You looked exquisite in your dress.....to think you are finally married... "
Rhaenyra could not help but smile slightly, "I...." She said, "I am married....at long last....."
"I heard there was a bit of a scene outside the chambers...." Elinda said softly
"Aerion handled it." Rhaenyra said simply, "H-He....tried his best to make me comfortable..."
"He is so young...yet....so mature..." Elinda said, "Forgive me for speaking out of line, Princess."
"It is fine." Rhaenyra said softly as she looked at the plate of food, "Aerion....he is....I do not know..."
The doors opened and Ser Harold walked in, "Princess." He said as he stood to the side, "The Lady Rhea Royce."
Rhaenyra looked up and nodded, "Let her in, Ser Harold." She said
Rhea walked in, a slight smile on her face, "Good Morrow, Princess." She said before stopping a few feet away from the table, "Oh.....look at you...you are glowing....You are very beautiful, this glow compliments your hair very well...."
Rhaenyra smiled as she gestured at her maids to stop combing her hair, "Thank you." She said, "To what may I owe the pleasure, Lady Rhea?"
Rhea cleared her throat as she looked around, "Is it safe to speak?" She asked
As she said that, the maids quickly hurried away, walking past Ser Harold and walking out of the door. Lady Rhea then looked at Ser Harold who was gestured by Rhaenyra to step outside. The Lord-Commander of the Kingsguard nodded without saying a word and walked out, closing the doors behind him.
"Is there something you wish to ask?" Rhaenyra asked with a frown
Rhea walked up to her and placed her hand on her shoulders gently, "Look at you...." She said with a smile, "You are my daughter now, Princess. You are married to my boy.....I am so happy that is the case....and I am eternally grateful to you....for keeping your promise to me...to Aerion..."
Rhaenyra nodded, "R-Right...."
"I came to apologize for my husband's actions." Rhea said softly, "He has no place to act that way. I am so sorry for the situation you found yourself in and I am glad that Aerion did the right thing and placed his foot down. He is fortunate, however, that the King prefers him....that he thinks of him as his own son as well...."
Rhaenyra looked down, "It was..." She said softly, "Intrusive to say the least. To know that they were outside the room, wanting to hear us consummate the marriage...."
"Which brings me to my next question.....and forgive the way I will word this..." Rhea said, "How was he? Aerion?"
Rhaenyra looked at her with surprise, "M-My Lady?"
Rhea sighed, "My girl....I worry for you, that is all." She said, "I was concerned.....Aerion has just come back from a War...there is so much...so much trauma he is suppressing deep in his mind. One would say that....he would unleash it on a whim..."
"W-Why would he do that?" Rhaenyra said
Rhea looked down, "Daemon had done that before." She said, "Years ago....when he visited Aerion in Runestone. He wanted to bed me and I accepted it....the gods knew that I was....well, even an honorable lady like myself has her necessities....but that night, he was too rough...Daemon was.."
"Lady Rhea, did he...?" Rhaenyra asked with concern
"No, he did not strike me." Rhea said, "He was just so....rough....so aggressive...I felt the stress he had....I believe it was due to another fierce argument he had with the King."
"I am sorry about that." Rhaenyra grabbed her hand gently
"I care about you, Rhaenyra." Rhea said with a soft smile, "I spent over a year with you, keeping you company, making sure you did not feel sorrow and despair, locked up in Dragonstone. You were to marry my son and now you did...."
"Thank you." Rhaenyra said, "You are one of the few people that have shown genuine concern for me....and do not worry, Lady Rhea....Aerion was....he was gentle...he was kind....but....he was....."
Rhaenyra blushed, looking down and not wanting to continue.
"Oh." Rhea said with surprise, "Oh....alright.....I understand..."
"The experience made me forget the intrusion." Rhaenyra said softly
"Hm." Rhea patted her shoulder, "I am glad. And well....may I ask you a very personal question?"
"Yes." Rhaenyra nodded
"Do you reckon I would be a grandmother?" Rhea asked with a raised eyebrow
"W-We will wait and see...." Rhaenyra nodded, "After all....he well....you know."
Rhea nodded, "That is all I need to know." She said, "Thank you, Rhaenyra. For this."
"Of course." Rhaenyra said, "Your son....he cares for me...and I care for him....I am happy that it had ended up this way."
"I will take my leave then." Rhea said as she backed away, "I believe my son is in the training yard, striking some straw dummies. I will go and correct him, tell him that his wife is waiting for him."
"I would like that." Rhaenyra said softly
Rhea turned around and walked over to the door, opening and leaving the room.
Rhaenyra then saw Ser Harold walk in with his hand resting on the handle of his blade, "May I speak my mind, Princess?"
"Yes, you may." Rhaenyra said with a nod
"I have watched you grow up from a girl....to a woman." Ser Harold said, a slight smile on his face, "I have seen many men look at you with desires in their eyes...after all, you are the Realm's Delight, Rhaenyra Targaryen. Everyone knows of the beauty that His Grace's daughter possesses.."
Rhaenyra smiled and looked down, "Oh...."
"But no man...." Harold said, "No man can compared to him."
She looked up at him, "Huh?" She said, "What do you mean?"
"I am a Knight, Princess. I have been a Kingsguard for many years.... I know a fighter when I see one." Harold said, "And that boy, Aerion....he is a fighter...a true warrior. That look in his eyes....War does that to a man."
"You see it too?" Rhaenyra asked, "That look in his eyes."
"Aye." Ser Harold said, "When he returned and approached His Grace, I admit that I felt a bit perturbed. I thought to myself 'How can a boy this young have that look in his eye?' and I did not understand...I could not comprehend the things he had been through when Prince Daemon himself told me."
"I hear the stories, Ser Harold...." Rhaenyra said, "It is not something someone his age should have been through."
"Lord Aerion will tell himself that he is no different than others. That he is more fortunate than other young men his age that do not get to live that long." Ser Harold said, "And he is only half-right; he is more fortunate than others....but he is different than them....he is not your ordinary fighter...your ordinary Knight...dare I say, your ordinary Dragonrider, if they should be considered as such. He is different...."
"I know." Rhaenyra said with a frown, "Gods....I know...."
"But...." Ser Harold said with a slight smile, "When he sat by your side after the ceremony, I noticed that his gaze had softened. And when he stood in front of you, defending your honor and dignity out in that hall....I knew....."
"You are in good hands."