Summary - Heavily pregnant and tormented with late-night cravings and hormonal swings, the queen finds comfort in her husband Aegon, whose unwavering love and support provide a comforting anchor as they navigate the trials of impending parenthood.
Pairing - Aegon Targaryen x reader
Warnings - None
Word count - 2174
Sleep eluded me, partly from the gnawing hunger in my stomach and partly from the babe pressing against my internal organs. The room was dark and quiet, save for the soft sounds of Aegon's steady breathing beside me. I turned restlessly, my mind unable to settle.
"Aegon," I whispered, shaking him gently. He groaned, deeply asleep, his body heavy with exhaustion. "Aegon," I repeated a bit louder, but he only turned over, clutching his pillow tighter.
Frustration and desperation mingled as I shouted, "Aegon!" and slapped him awake, my hand making contact with his shoulder.
He jerked upright with a start, his hand instinctively clutching his racing heart. The abruptness of his awakening caused a flash of panic to cloud his eyes, and he looked around the room in confusion.
"What is it?" he asked urgently, his voice trembling slightly as he scanned my face and body, searching for any sign of distress. "Is it the babe? Are you in pain? Should I call for the maester?"
A deep sigh escaped me as a pang of guilt tightened in my chest for having woken him. I gently pushed his hands away from my face.
"Yes, no, and no," I replied, my voice strained from the mix of emotions and physical discomfort. As he blinked the sleep from his eyes, his concern gradually shifted to confusion.
"Well, what is it?" he asked again, his voice a mix of worry and curiosity.
"I want grapes," I said, the words sounding almost absurd in the quiet of the night. He blinked at me as though I had suggested the most nonsensical thing.
"That's all?" he asked, his disbelief evident. I nodded, fiddling with my hands nervously. The request felt so trivial and petty now that it was out in the open, but it was all I could think about.
"You could have rung for a servant," he said, trying to make sense of why I had roused him from his sleep for such a minor need.
"I do not wish to bother a servant," I said softly, my voice barely more than a whisper. His soft laugh, tender and affectionate, was a small comfort amid my hormonal upheaval.
"So, you bother your husband, the king?" he said playfully, his eyes twinkling with amusement. His words, meant in jest, made my eyes well up with tears, my emotions heightened by the hormones coursing through my body.
Tears spilt down my cheeks uncontrollably, and Aegon's eyes widened in alarm. He rushed to pull me into an embrace, his arms enveloping me with a protective warmth.
"What's the matter?" he cooed, his voice soothing as he gently stroked my back but the touch that was meant to comfort only seemed to intensify my sense of being misunderstood.
I pushed him back, confusion and hurt flickering across his face.
"You think I'm a bother?" I hiccupped, the tears flowing freely now, mingling with the frustration and helplessness I felt.
"No, my love, that is not what I meant," he said, taking my hands in his, his touch warm and reassuring. "I just... I want to make you happy."
"So now I'm a liar?" I asked, pulling my hands away to wipe my face with the back of my hand. The sense of being misunderstood only deepened my vulnerability, and I felt overwhelmed by the surge of emotions.
I could see him struggling to maintain his composure, dealing with his heavily pregnant wife in the middle of the night. He took a deep breath, his patience unwavering.
"You know what," he began slowly, getting up from the bed. "The queen gets what the queen wants." He headed towards the large doors of our chambers with determined steps.
"Aegon," I called out, my voice wavering with a mix of fatigue and affection. He paused, turning back to me with a look of gentle inquiry, his expression softening.
"I want cake," I said, stroking my large belly as the babe gave a little kick as if to emphasize the request. The shift in craving was as sudden as it was intense.
"I thought you wanted grapes?" he asked, his brows furrowing in genuine confusion.
"The babe wants cake now," I said, a small, sheepish smile forming on my lips despite the tears still on my cheeks.
His face broke into a smile, a mix of amusement and affection, as he gave a small nod before exiting our chambers.
I settled back against the pillows, trying to find a comfortable position as I waited. The minutes seemed to stretch endlessly, and my mind wandered, thinking about the journey we had been on together.
The late-night cravings, the mood swings, the anticipation of welcoming our child into the world, Aegon had been there for every moment, unwavering in his support and love.
Eventually, the door creaked open again, and Aegon returned, carefully balancing a small tray. He approached the bed with a tender smile, setting the tray down. On it was a generous slice of rich chocolate cake, a fork, and a goblet of milk.
"Here it is, my love," he said, his voice gentle and soothing, his eyes full of warmth and affection.
My eyes sparkled with delight as I sat up, my discomfort momentarily forgotten. "You brought cake," I said, my voice filled with gratitude and excitement.
"Of course," he replied, sitting down beside me. He picked up the fork and held it up, a playful glint in his eyes. "Shall I feed you, Your Grace?"
I laughed, feeling a rush of warmth at his demeanour. "Yes, you shall," I declared, opening my mouth in anticipation.
Aegon carefully cut a small piece of the cake and brought it to my lips. I took a bite, savouring the rich, velvety texture and the sweet burst of chocolate.
"Mmm, it's perfect," I murmured, my eyes closing in bliss.
He watched me with a look of pure adoration, his fingers lightly brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. "I'm glad," he said softly, cutting another piece and feeding it to me.
I began to relax, but a sudden memory surfaced, bringing a frown to my face. "You know," I began, breaking the comfortable silence, "today at court, Lady Hesper was rather blunt with her comments."
Aegon's eyebrows furrowed in curiosity. "What did she say?"
I sighed, a touch of annoyance seeping into my voice. "She commented on how 'large' I've become. It was rather... off-putting."
Aegon's expression shifted to one of gentle indignation. "Large? She should be more mindful of her words. You're growing our child, the future heir, she should be grateful to witness it."
"I know," I said, a hint of defensiveness in my voice. "But it was just... strange, It felt as though she was critiquing my body rather than celebrating this moment."
Aegon's eyes softened with understanding, his concern evident in the gentle lines of his face. He leaned closer, his gaze unwavering.
"The problem can easily be taken care of," he said, his tone suggesting he was hinting at the power and influence he held.
I shook my head quickly. "We are not doing anything rash just because a lady at court made an offhand comment about my size. I refuse to let her words dictate our actions."
Aegon raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but respecting my stance. "If that is what you want," he said with a hint of playful resignation, continuing to feed me the cake with a tender smile.
Between bites, I gazed at him, my heart swelling with love. "You're too good to me," I said, reaching out to touch his hand.
He shook his head, his expression earnest. "No, you are my world. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
Tears pricked my eyes again, but this time they were tears of happiness. "I love you, Aegon," I whispered, leaning in to kiss him softly.
He returned the kiss with equal tenderness, his lips lingering on mine. "And I love you," he whispered back, his voice filled with unwavering devotion.
As our lips parted, he gently wiped at the tears on my cheeks, a small, affectionate smile on his face. "Please stop crying, though," he murmured, his thumb brushing away the wetness.
"I can't help it," I said, sniffing and leaning back slightly to stretch out, my body aching from the weight of the babe.
Aegon looked at me with concern, then placed the tray carefully onto the floor before lying next to me. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.
"Are you tired?" he asked, his voice soft and soothing.
"Yes," I admitted, closing my eyes momentarily, trying to will myself into a state of relaxation.
"Sleep, my love," he whispered, placing a gentle kiss on my brow, his lips warm and reassuring.
"I cannot," I pointed out, opening my eyes once more. The frustration and discomfort were too overwhelming to ignore.
"Why is that?" he asked, his hand rubbing my stomach gently in slow, soothing circles.
"Every time I close my eyes, I feel ill. I am sore, and I can no longer sleep on my stomach," I said, looking down at him as he hummed softly, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
He continued to rub my belly, his touch comforting. "I know it's difficult," he said, his voice a balm to my frayed nerves. "But we'll find a way to make you comfortable."
I sighed, appreciating his effort but feeling the weight of my discomfort. "I just want to feel normal again," I confessed, my voice tinged with a mixture of longing and exhaustion.
Aegon's eyes softened with understanding. "I know, my love. It won't be much longer now," he reassured me, his fingers tracing soothing patterns on my skin. The gentle circles he drew seemed to ease the tension in my muscles, offering a small respite from the relentless discomfort.
He shifted slightly, propping himself up on one elbow to look at me more closely, his eyes filled with concern and determination.
"What if I play with your hair?" he suggested, his voice tender and full of love.
My eyes lit up at the prospect, and I nodded eagerly. A smile of satisfaction spread across his face, pleased to find something that might bring me comfort.
He opened his legs, beckoning me towards him. With a grateful sigh, I shifted to lay my head in his lap, my body finally finding a semblance of relaxation. I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of his presence envelop me.
Aegon began running his fingers through my hair, his touch feather-light and soothing.
He played with the strands, gently untangling and stroking them with a rhythmic motion that felt almost hypnotic. Each pass of his fingers seemed to draw away a little more of the stress and unease that had been plaguing me.
"Does this help?" he asked softly, his voice barely more than a whisper.
"Mmm, yes," I murmured, a contented sigh escaping my lips. The sensation of his fingers in my hair was incredibly calming, and for the first time in what felt like ages, I felt a sense of peace begin to settle over me.
Aegon continued his gentle ministrations, occasionally pressing a soft kiss to my forehead or murmuring sweet nothings. His touch was patient and tender, full of the love and devotion that had always defined our relationship.
"Do you remember the first time I played with your hair?" he asked a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
I smiled, my eyes still closed, savouring the calm his touch brought me. "Yes," I murmured, my voice soft and drowsy. "It was during that long journey to Oldtown. We had been travelling for hours, we were both so exhausted and you offered to help me relax."
He chuckled softly. "You fell asleep almost instantly. I remember thinking how beautiful you looked.
"Well, your touch has always had a magical effect on me," I replied, reaching up to gently squeeze his hand.
A glint sparked in my eyes as a thought crossed my mind. "Then again," I continued, "your touch might be part of the reason we're in this situation to begin with."
Aegon clicked his tongue in playful reprimand. "No, my love, I think that might be my cock," he said with a smirk.
I gasped in mock indignation, slapping his leg lightly. "Aegon!" I scolded, a laugh bubbling up despite myself.
He shrugged, unrepentant, his smile widening. "What? You enjoy it."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Maybe I do," I admitted, my voice softening with affection. "But you're still shameless."
He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "And you love me for it."
"I do," I said, my heart swelling with warmth. "Even when you're being insufferable."
Aegon laughed, a sound full of genuine joy. "Well, someone has to keep things interesting around here."
We lapsed into a comfortable silence, the only sounds in the room being the soft rustle of the sheets and the occasional creak of the castle settling around us. Aegon's fingers continued their soothing dance through my hair, and I could feel the heaviness of sleep beginning to tug at my consciousness.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice drowsy. "For everything."
"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you," he replied softly, his voice full of sincerity.
A/n - Inspired by my friends pregnancy scare, cause ofc when that happens you write something like this <3