NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: Duskendale III
(Rhaegon's POV)
"Princess...what are you doing here?" I stammered as I took a step back
I watched as Myrcella closed the door behind her, standing barefoot in my bedchamber, wearing nothing but a pink and silk nightgown. She held her hands behind me as she stood there.
She smiled, "Hello, cousin....." She said softly, "I missed you."
I slowly set my blade down on the table as I looked at her, "I...." I said as I looked around frantically, "You should return to your bedchamber, if someone were to find ou-"
"It's okay." She cut me off as she walked towards me, "Nobody saw me. Ser Meryn went to get a night drink."
She reached me and looked down at my blade and slowly reached for it, gently touching my hand as I was still holding onto it.
"Princess?" I said as I looked at her
What the hell was she doing? Was she okay? What has gotten in her head? The Princess of all people sneaking into my chambers in the middle of the night, fucking hells, she could get me killed for this!
She looked at me, her beautiful eyes filled with the same light I saw earlier. It's as if she looked forward to seeing me.
"Ser Rhaegon Baratheon.....touring the Realm and looking for suitors...." She said softly, "I never thought the day would come..."
Her soft words had a hint of sadness and.....a bit of envy. How did I catch that? I don't know, but I could tell something was off about this whole thing.
I could still feel her gentle fingers running up my forearm as she inched closer to me.
I let go of my blade completely as I took another step backward, hitting the wall as I looked at her. This wasn't like that night in King's Landing, there was something more...adult about this night visit. She was wearing her day dress when she went to my chambers back then, nobody would suspect anything. But right now, she was wearing her nightwear, someone would definitely think something about this.
No. I don't want this.
"Princess..." I said softly, "What are you doing...?"
"Rhaegon...." She said, "I don't want you to marry....."
I frowned, "W-What?"
"W-Why can't you just marry me?" She asked as a tear ran down her cheek, "Do you not like me?"
"Princess.....what?" I said, "We're cousins.....what do you mean? Y-You're the Princess, I....I....that's..."
She placed her hand on my chest and I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was the thought of her mother walking in on this and what she would do.
No Dragon would save me from a Mother's wrath.
"I want you...." She said softly
What is she saying? Me? Why would she possibly want me? I'm her cousin, her Father's Nephew. I am just another knight while she is the Princess. I am.....
I am of dragon's blood.....and so is she.....
"Princess....." I said as I gently grabbed her hand and moved it away, "You're going to get me in trouble with your Mother.....and your Father...Go back to your chambers, please."
"Escort me, then." She said
"What of Ser Mer-" I started
"I don't like him." She cut me off, "I hear whispers about him...."
I frowned, "What?" I said
"He.....likes..." She said before gulping, "He likes little girls."
"The fu....." I started before stopping myself, "What?"
She nodded, "I want to sleep here, with you." She said
"No." I said as I gently grabbed her by the shoulders, "I'm sorry, you cannot. Please, let me take you to your chambers....before we both regret this."
She gently grabbed my hand and moved it so that I unwillingly lowered the sleeve of her gown, revealing her bare shoulders.
"But..." She said with a smile, "I like your warmth...."
"No, Princess...." I said as I shook my head, "You....I-"
I saw something I forgot about. On the Princess's shoulder, there was a birthmark the shape of a dragon's flame. It was a faint pink color, almost as it was naturally engraved on her. I remember once when children, I saw a glimpse of it when we played in a river and she changed her clothes. I saw it before turning around time.
It was a birthmark that my Uncle, The King, shared with all his daughters. Proof that she is his blood; even his first two children had these birthmarks. Not many, however, know about this. Because who in their right mind would think of seeing the Princess's body?
"What is it?" She said as she wrapped her arms around my neck, "Do you wish to kiss, Ser?"
"What has gotten into you, Princess?" I said as I tried to gently push her away
"No." She said as she tightened her embrace, "Don't let me go...I am scared...."
"What?" I said as I stopped the effort, "What....what are you scared of?"
"I have dreams, Rhaegon...." She said softly as she pulled me down to her, "I have dreams of the cold.....the dark.....the cold darkness enveloping me...I want your warmth.....I need it....."
Something in me just told me to gently wrap my arms around her as she dug her face into my chest, the warmth of her body slowly combining with mine.
"Dreams...?" I said softly
"Yes...." She said, "I will be swallowed by the Night...I can feel it.....I need you....you will protect me...the wings of the black dragon....and the one who rides him....the Fury of Death will plunge into the White King.....I.....please don't let them take me...."
I looked at her, her eyes staring off into the distance as if she were in a trance, saying these strange things.
"Myrcella...." I said as I moved a strand of hair off her cheek, "What do you mean? What does any of that mean?"
I can understand the whole black dragon part. It reminded me of what my mother told me. She had a dream that when Morghul's egg hatched and his fiery wings extended and he took flight, the glory of our Family will follow. Does Myrcella mean that Morghul and I can protect her from the cold? The Night? Mother said the same thing.....something about...
The Long Night.
The Long Night.....cold....dark.....cold...
Snow.....The North....
None of it makes sense....but....it makes sense at the same time. My Uncle told me to go North to find answers. Mother told me the same thing.....The Three Eyes.....
It gave me headache, why was I suddenly entrusted with all this bullshit? Why was Myrcella having these dreams.
I felt her slightly trembling. She was speaking the truth. This wasn't a trick, a performance. I know Myrcella, she would never do this as a jest.
I gently pulled away as I lifted her chin up, "Princess..." I said softly, "What would you have me do?"
She blinked, her beautiful eyes looking at me, "I..." She said shakily, "I just want you to hold me...I want to feel Morghul's warmth.....Hold me, cousin...Hold me while we ride in the sky, above this place.....in the middle of the night, the cool breeze hitting my face, making my hair flow in the air....You promised me...."
Does she want to ride Morghul? Now? I can do that. I can sneak her out the castle and go to the hill where he slumbers. It won't be a terrible thing, just a quick couple of laps in the sky. It's not like I'm kidnapping her or anything.
I nodded, "Okay." I said, "Okay, Princess. Come, then."
"Let's go and wake Morghul up."