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Syrena had never flown Raegar with a speed that nearly had her blown off by the wind.
Raegar was one of the fastest dragons in the realm, perhaps only coming second to Moondancer. But Syrena was never brave enough to fly her to her limits.
Yet when a raven from Ashford arrived with the contents of a trial of seven being demanded by Aerion, of all people, Syrena knew something stupid would happen. Or something stupid enough that will involve both her husbands.
Because of course, her beloved Maekar will surely fight in favor of his son. And Baelor? Gods, his honor and his ability to just stay the fuck out of a situation that never required him to involve himself will surely fight in favor for what is right.
For justice.
And Syrena adored him for it, just as much as she adored how Maekar would fight to death for those who dare to harm his son, even if said son had caused more troubles as the days went by.
It was ridiculous, bordering on maddening because how could a simple celebration of a girl’s nameday turn into a blood trial of seven where fourteen men will put their lives on the line and call it justice? And it was only something that Aerion would think of if he was at disadvantage for a trial of combat.
So the moment she was informed that a trial of seven will be happening on what should be a celebration of a girl’s nameday, Syrena demanded for her dragon to be saddled and immediately left Summerhall with a promise to Daella, and Rhae that she will soon be back with their fathers in tow.
Thankfully, Summerhall wasn’t as far as King’s Landing and the raven arrived before the trial took place.
And Syrena arrived just in time before the trial of seven starts, the large wings of her dragon engulfing half of the arena as the smallfolks that were watching the whole farce scattered at the sight of a dragon up close.
“Dragon!”
Syrena had landed Raegar on a safe space, far enough that Raegar will not be bothered by the smallfolk but near enough that she can see the faces of those who were about to partake in the trial.
“It’s the princess!”
“Your grace!”
Syrena mounted off her dragon, landing on her feet. She relished the look of surprise on her husbands’ face, and mostly the terrified look that crossed their faces. Because yes, Syrena was not just pissed. She was in rage.
And she was right with her thoughts that Maekar, and Baelor will be on opposite sides.
She walked towards them, her eyes filled with the fire that was coursing through her blood, and licking at her veins. She saw the kingsguard was on Aerion’s side as well, which can only mean that Maekar had threatened them for it, which also means that it was probably a decision made on desperation because no one was a fool enough to lose their life over this.
It was Baelor that snapped first out of the shock of seeing her, he mounted off his horse, his armor clanking in protest. “Syrena..”
Up close, Syrena can see that the armor he was wearing was Valarr’s. She knows because of the way the armor sat wrongly on him, too tight on the shoulders, too loose on the stomach, and too stiff on his legs. The helm, which was on Baelor’s hand, will surely be too tight for his head.
She also knows this because she knew Baelor did not bring an armor with him, promising that he will only be here to celebrate and mingle with the smallfolk, “it is a good time to socialize, my love. Do not fret, i shall take Maekar with me.”
And took Maekar with him, he did.
Syrena allowed them both to leave while she stayed in Summerhall with the girls in hopes that her husbands are both grown men, surely they can manage to behave without her presence. It is only a tourney for a girl’s nameday after all.
Turns out that Syrena was wrong, on so many levels. That despite the age of her husbands, some of their decisions are considered to be poor without her insight.
“You.” Syrena snapped her eyes toward Baelor, then to Maekar who had also mounted off his horse and stood next to his brother. “What is this farce?”
“It’s not a farce/It’s a trial.” Both of them spoke at the same time, and upon realizing that they did, they casted each other a glare from the side of their eyes, which will look uncharacteristic for those who never knew them past their image of a perfect prince.
Unlike Syrena, who had witnessed them bicker over the smallest things.
“A trial?” Syrena forced out a laugh that scraped through her throat, “i let the two of you be alone together for three days.” She looked at them, “three days, and you..”
Syrena gestured around them, “you do this? I thought you will only be here to celebrate Lady Ashford’s nameday?”
Her husbands, for all their stupidity, managed to keep themselves silent at that, refusing to even meet each other’s eyes.
When Syrena grew too impatient, she clapped her hands at them. “Well, answer me!”
“If you read the letter that i sent you, you should know that it was because Aerion was hurt, and Aegon had been kidnapped.” Maekar said, refusing to look like a chastised child wearing his armor in front of every Lord and ladies that was present and were watching them. “By that hedge knight.” Then he glared at Baelor again, “and look at him. Siding with him, against me!”
Baelor’s eye twitched, a telltale sign that he was already annoyed by everything that had happened that lead to this moment. “Did your letter also include the fact that it was Aerion that started all of this?”
Maekar turned to him so suddenly that it startled the horse behind them, “you…” He gritted his teeth, the veins on his neck showing due to how badly he was holding himself back from shouting at him.
Before Baelor could even respond, Syrena had clouted them both in the ear. Ignoring the gasps that had come from the people watching them. If her husbands wanted to act like children, then she would treat them as such.
“Let go of me, woman!” Maekar hissed though he did not make a move to stop her hand forcefully from clouting his ear.
Baelor on the other hand looked just as chastised as his brother did, his body leaning sideways to ease the sting of her grip, yet did not make a sound aside from the occasional groans when she pulled too hard.
Ignoring the protests from them both, she turned her glare towards Aerion, who had puffed out his chest, attempting to look unbothered by the intensity of his mother’s glare, but the way his shoulders gone stiff was enough for Syrena to know that he was not as unbothered as he showed himself to be.
“We will talk later, you and i.” She said before dragging her husbands by the ear. She turned towards Ser Donnel this time who immediately perked up at her attention, “escort us to my husband’s pavilion. I don’t care which one you take us to, i need the closest one.”
“Yes, your grace.” The kingsguard obeyed swiftly, knowing better than to question her, he mounted off his horse as he escorted them away from the arena and toward House Targaryen’s pavilion.
The moment they are in the safe haven of their tent, Syrena shoves them inside, their bodies colliding with each other as she finally releases their ears.
She pulled the tent flap, looking back over her shoulder to speak to Ser Donnel. “You will return to the arena, tell them that no trial will be happening today. You will have Aerion apologize to Lord Ashford, and his daughter for causing trouble. If he protests, tell him he will do it himself or i will make him do it. Ensure Raegar does not wander too far.” Then without waiting for his response, she entered the pavilion, the tent flap shutting closed behind her.
“What was that?!” Maekar growled, his cheeks flushed from the embarrassment of being dragged by the ear like a child in front of everyone. He has his palm pressed against his right ear, soothing the sting.
Baelor, who was smart enough to stay silent when she was this mad, only rubbed at his ear, his ears ringing from the way she had dragged him.
“What was what?” Syrena asked, “you want to act like a child? Then i shall treat you like one.”
“A child?” Maekar sputtered the words out, his jaw clenching at the thought. “You just dragged me by the ear, in front of every lord in that fucking arena. Do not think—.”
Syrena took a step closer to them, the movement so sudden that both of them took a step back in surprise. “Do not think what, Maekar?”
Maekar’s lips pressed into a thin line, the way her voice lowered made his anger falter. “I-it was embarrassing, just that.” He whispered, looking away. For a person who never shut up, and let someone else have the last word, Maekar knew when to shut up when it comes to his wife.
His bark, and bite always turning into silence whenever his wife was mad.
Syrena had given him a look that was enough to douse the fire that always licked at his veins, “now you’re embarrassed? Did you not feel the same when you ruined a girl’s nameday by turning her celebration into a massacre?”
“It was not a massacre, Syrena.” Maekad said, “it was a trial—.”
“Gods, enough with the trial of seven!” Syrena exclaimed in frustration.
Both brothers grimaced at that.
“Do you even know how ridiculous that sounds? You had fourteen men risk their lives and call it justice? You two are grown men, princes of the realm, you should know better than to indulge with this farce.” Syrena said before turning to Baelor, “and you. You are the heir to the iron throne, and you allowed this to happen?”
Baelor stayed silent for a moment, his mind turning as he thought of ways to explain his decisions without the risk of angering their wife more than she already is. But for all his claims of being composed, he would rather deal with the rants about trade arguments, and grain tariffs than deal with his angry wife.
He knew no argument of his will sound right to her.
So he settled on what he thought was right for a prince, and he said it with the calmness befitting of a crown prince. “I cannot refuse when it is a matter of honor, my love.”
For a moment, there was silence. And both brothers thought that answer was enough to placate their angry wife.
And then Syrena’ closed her eyes before taking a deep breath, and both brothers knew it was not the answer she was looking for. They stiffened, bracing themselves for her response.
When she opened her eyes, she looked at them as if they said the most stupid thing she’s ever heard in her whole life. “Are you stupid?” She asked, voice raising a bit. “A matter of honor? Is it also a matter of honor that you two partake in this farce and bash each other’s skull?”
Maekar had the gall to look surprised, before that scowl of his crossed his face. “You are mad about that? You should be mad at Baelor, not me.” His voice was filled with so much irk as if he was the one that should be offended by this whole thing. “You know what? I am glad that you are here, no matter the circumstances. This..” He gestured at Baelor, "I expected betrayal from other men, but him?”
He laughed as he circled his brother before stopping next to him again, “look at him. Armored with all of his righteousness. If you’re going to nag on someone, it should be him.”
Baelor looked at him from the side of his eyes, “me?” He scoffed, “when it was your son that started all of this. We would not be here if Aerion knew how to behave like a prince, but clearly, he got his temper from you.”
“Me?!” Maekar raised his brows, turning to him with a sharp movement as he pointed at him with the tip of his finger, “what the fuck are you trying to say then?!”
Baelor turned to look at him as well, facing him with the endless composure of his that always managed to rile Maekar up. “I am trying to say that Aerion should know better than to break a girl’s finger over a play, he should know better than to behave. We let him be for one night, one night and look at the trouble that he brought us. It’s because you coddle him too much, brother.”
“Oh, you want to talk about coddling sons now, are you?”
“What are you pointing at?”
“Then let us talk about the way you coddle Val–.”
“Enough!” Syrena yelled.
They immediately went silent at that, casting each other a dirty look before turning to face her again. “It was him.” They pointed at each other.
“It was both of you,” Syrena corrected.
And Syrena had stopped enough squabbles from their children. It was easier to stop Daeron from egging Aegon than it is to stop Maekar, and Baelor from tearing at each other’s throats. One would think that as princes of the realm, they had managed to grow out of their petty squabbles.
Syrena knew better. She spent enough time as their sister watching them squabble over the smallest things, and more so on bigger things. And she spent enough time as their wife to watch them fight over her attention next.
“You two are grown men,” Syrena chastised them. “And yet you act more childish than our children!”
“If you read the letter—.”
“I read it, Maekar.” Syrena told him, “i also remember reading if i may quote our son Aerion was gravely injured, almost losing a tooth. A hedge knight dared to lay a hand on him, and spill royal blood. Not only that, he also kidnapped Aegon.”
“Aegon is alright,” Baelor said. “In fact, he was more than alright. The only thing that was wounded was Aerion’s pride.”
Maekar sneered at him in response, “of course you will say that. Always an honorable man, defender of the poor. Oh so great Prince Baelor Targaryen.” He mocked, “traitor.”
Baelor scoffed, choosing to not engage.
But Maekar, always refusing to be ignored, speaks up again. “What? Nothing more to say? You surely said more last night in defense of your poor hedge knight.”
Baelor was a man of patience, the paragon of calmness. Years of spending his days at court, dealing with complaints from every lord in Westeros taught him to be patient and calm at all times.
But there was only so much of that patience that Maekar has just a way of cutting through it, “is that it? Are you that jealous, valonqar? Afraid that a man i only met will take your place by my side?”
“Fucking piece of–.”
“Gods, shut the fuck up!” Syrena yelled, separating them both with her hands on their chest.
“Hāedar..” Baelor sighed.
“No.” Syrena said, shoving them apart. “You.” She pointed at Maekar then towards the empty chair on the other corner of the pavilion, “sit there.”
Maekar scoffed, rolling his eyes as he slumped down on the chair, tossing his helm on the other side of the pavilion.
“And you.” She turned to Baelor, “do not think that i have no grievance with you too.”
“What did i do wrong, Syrena?” Baelor asked.
“What did you do wrong?” Syrena narrowed her eyes at him, “look at you. You told me you did not bring your armor because this will only be a nameday celebration for Lady Ashford, that it will be nothing but a good chance to reconnect with the smallfolk. And now look at you, Baelor. Wearing our son’s armor.”
Baelor looked at the armor he was wearing, then looked up at her again. “The circumstances changed, my love. You of all people know that the smallfolk does not have the best opinion on us. If i let a prince of the realm slaughter a man for defending an innocent girl, what will that make us?”
Maekar scoffed from the other corner of the room.
“Maekar said that the girl insulted our house.” Syrena reasoned.
“You will let an innocent man die over an insult?” Baelor asked.
“There’s nothing innocent about that hedge knight of yours, my traitorous brother.” Maekar commented.
That earned him a warning look from both Syrena, and Baelor.
And Maekar only gave them a pointed look before rolling his eyes once more.
“The hedge knight spilled Aerion’s blood. He should know better than to hit a royal blood, Baelor.” Syrena said.
“Aerion broke a girl’s finger, Syrena.” Baelor countered.
Syrena raised a brow, turning to look at Maekar over her shoulder. “The letter did not say that.” She said.
Maekar had the gall to look clueless, “a lot of things happened that night.”
It was Baelor’s turn to scoff this time, which earned Maekar’s glare once more. “Got something to say?”
“We are not yet done, you and i.” Syrena narrowed her eyes at Maekar before turning to look at Baelor again.
She looked at the way the armor hugged his figure. And she had watched enough tourneys to know what can happen if a man wears an armor that was too tight or too loose on them.
Nothing good ever comes out of it.
“You are wearing Valarr’s armor,” she pointed out.
Baelor sighed, “it is the only armor available, i’m afraid. And the trial was happening too fast, there is no time for me to consider picking another when our son’s armor is available.”
Syrena laughed. For all of her husband’s good ideas. This was his worst. “Did you also fail to consider what will happen if someone bashes the back of your skull with their weapon? Or that you could’ve landed badly, and that armor will only slow you down than help you? Or the fact that wearing an armor that is ill fitted is just as worse as wearing nothing?”
Baelor said nothing, knowing that she was correct. And any answer that he will come up on will only anger her more. He allowed the silence to linger for a moment before clearing his throat, “i am aware.” He admitted after careful consideration, “but the kingsguard will not harm me.”
“I would harm him,” Maekar said honestly. “Perhaps a hit or two in his face for his betrayal.”
“Maekar..” The both of them exhaled, giving him an exasperated look.
Maekar for his part tried his best to look innocent as he found a grape to eat, “what?” He asked with a mouthful of grapes. “He should be thankful that is all he would get.” He sneered, “lesser men had lost their heads for it.”
Baelor scoffed, “you want me to lose my head?”
Maekar gasped dramatically before shaking his head, “now that is just treason, brother. To assume that i want you to lose your head? Is that really what you think of me?” Then he laughed, “right. Perhaps now that you have your hedge knight, you have no need for me anymore. Do not worry, i shall take my leave now and never show my face again.”
“Gods, why are you like this? It always circles back to Duncan to you.” Baelor exclaimed.
“It’s Duncan now, is it? I see you two are referring to each other in your first name now, what’s next?” Maekar huffed.
Syrena looked up, wishing the Gods of old and new for patience. One would think that Maekar was the youngest here. But it is fair, is it not? Maekar had been considered the youngest for years before Syrena had come.
“You are not going anywhere, Maekar.” She said, stopping him from rising. “You will sit here, and you will stop acting like a child or i swear..”
But Maekar’s temper was rising again, yet he did not move from where he was sitting. He placed the bowl of grapes back to the small table next to his chair before crossing his arms, “why am i here, Syrena? I merely defended our son.” He reasoned, “would you rather i stand on the sidelines and watch as that giant oaf trample him to the ground? Or would you rather i let that man walk free after hurting Aerion?”
Syrena turned completely to look at him, “Aerion was not harmed.” She pointed out. “He was fine when i saw him, or was that not our son, Maekar?”
“That is not the point!” Maekar exclaimed, “the point is a royal blood was spilled. If we let that bastard go, people will think that we are allowing such atrocities to go unpunished, what will they do next? That hedge knight should lose at least one of his limbs, and he kicked Aerion too. I will settle on his arm, and leg.”
“That knight defended the girl that your son maimed,” Baelor spoke behind her.
“Oh shut your mouth.” Maekar cursed at him. “I have no need for words from traitors like you.”
That was the thing about Maekar, he never forgets his grievances. And Baelor siding with a man he had never met before to fight against his own family was something that Maekar will never forget in one night. No, he will remember it and will not forget to remind Baelor about it every time they argue.
“If there is someone that you should nag at, it’s him.” Maekar finished.
“You are both in the wrong here,” Syrena stated.
Maekar scowled harder, “both of us? And what did i do wrong, Syrena, other than defend our son?”
“You should’ve stopped him from demanding a trial in the first place!” Syrena argued.
Maekar rolled his eyes, “it was that hedge knight of his.” He pointed at Baelor, “that demanded a trial of combat first!”
“He is not my hedge knight,” Baelor said.
“I did not ask you.” Maekar sneered.
Syrena chose to ignore it, knowing that they will not stop at this rate. Maekar will throw every insult he knows at their brother for his betrayal, and Baelor will continue keeping his calm until he grows tired of being insulted and will say words back.
It was a cycle.
And Syrena was always caught in the middle of it. Not that she was complaining, she knew they were all bark and no bite when it comes to each other. Or perhaps they will bite, but not to maim.
“One of you will tell me the whole story,” Syrena said. “The whole story, not some one-sided version of what happened that led to this. And make no mistake, i will talk to every single person in this place if i have to.”
It was Baelor that told her everything. Starting from the very beginning where they arrived at Ashford and their sons Daeron, and Aegon was not yet there when they should’ve been there first before them. It turned out that Daeron had chosen to empty the stock of wines in a tavern near Ashford, which forced Aegon to stay with him as he couldn’t leave without his brother.
Syrena heard every word until it came to the events that lead to the trial. Where Aerion had watched a play, saw a dragon puppet getting killed and made a fit about it. The girl almost losing a finger for it, and fled as soon as the night ended.
And Maekar also explained his side, which did not differ from what he wrote in his letter.
“Aegon is bald..” It was the first thing that Syrena said, her voice flat as she looked at them both. “Gods.. All of this over a play.”
“Yes,” Baelor agreed. “Now you see why i cannot just stand aside and watch that hedge knight be killed? I would not have stepped forward if Maekar did not bribe Fossoway to fight for him.”
“So now it’s my fault?” Maekar asked, “if you punished that hedge knight correctly, we would not be here. But you just have to be the perfect prince, don't you?”
Syrena was silent for a moment, giving them the time to throw insults at one another as she thought of the right way to go forward in this situation.
Their father certainly did not expect a simple celebration to lead to this. Her brothers are in due for another earful once they go back to King’s Landing.
“Enough with the squabbling!” Syrena scolded them both, crossing her arms as she gave them a look that was filled with nothing but disappointment, anger, and relief all at once. “No trial will happen today, and it will not happen anytime soon. When we return to Lord Ashford’s home, the first thing you two will do is apologize.”
Maekar furrowed his brows, his face twisting in confusion. “Apologize for what? I did nothing wrong.”
“For ruining his daughter’s day!” Syrena hissed, “Gods. You two should know better, what will you do if the same thing happens to Daella? Or Rhae?” She looked at Baelor, “or Vaerys? If someone ruined our daughter’s nameday?”
They went silent after that. Whatever argument or reason that was brewing in their tongue was thrown out of the window the moment she mentioned their daughters.
After a moment of silence, it was Baelor who spoke first. “I will apologize.”
Syrena nodded her head, still not satisfied as she looked back at Maekar.
Maekar gritted his teeth, refusing to back down. But if the same thing was done to his daughter’s nameday? If someone dared to ruin his children’s celebration, he would gut them alive. “Fine.” He grunted, though it was clear by how constipated he looks that it took a lot for him to say that word.
Yet Maekar could never deny his wife. Especially when she was also using their daughter as a part of her argument.
Their answer was enough to satisfy Syrena. She nodded her head, her face softening a bit as she looked at Baelor, then back at Maekar. “I am glad that i arrived even before the trial started, no matter how stupid you two are, i never want to see you hurt.” She said.
Baelor softened as well, the crease on his forehead fading as he slowly approached her from behind. Still careful despite the way the tension left Syrena’ body. When he was close enough, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, careful of the way he held her so the hardness of his armor would not dig on her back.
“Forgive us, hāedar.” He whispered, sounding so remorseful that it was hard for Syrena to even shove him back even if that was exactly what he deserved. “I only did what i think was right for our family. The smallfolk hate us enough, even some of the lords that had gathered here don't have the best opinion of us but they do well to hide it.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that you could’ve chosen another path for this,” Syrena replied. “There is always another way, Baelor. Not everything has to result to violence.”
Baelor nuzzled the back of her ear before whispering, “tell that to Aerion.”
“He is another thing,” Syrena told him. She will have words with him, she was sure of that. They will never leave Ashford without her giving Aerion a piece of her mind. The boy had gone rogue for a long time.
Maekar watched them for a moment with that same scowl on his face. Yet there was no bitterness in his eyes, only annoyance at the mere fact that it was Baelor who managed to hold her first.
As much as being in the same room as his brother makes his temper flare, he would never pass the opportunity to hold their wife. Even if he has to be near to his traitorous brother in doing so.
Maekar pushed himself off the chair, approaching them from the front before he stopped in front of them both. “Hāedar..” He murmured, leaning down on the other side of her neck, nuzzling his face against her skin. “I am glad that you’re here. Your presence makes this shit hole bearable.. You should’ve come with us in the first place.”
Syrena hummed, allowing them to continue their antics. She knew it was their way of placating her, apologies had never been enough for them. They always have words, then actions to prove it. “And leave our daughters alone in Summerhall?” She asked, “they have been asking when you two will be home. If the letter did not reach me in time, did you two ever stop for a second to think what would their reaction be if they see even one scratch on your bodies?”
When they didn’t answer, Syrena knew their answer would not please her. She scoffed, “you two will not be leaving my sight after this.” She declared, “and i will gladly watch the moment where father will tear at the two of you for messing up something so simple.”
Baelor winced, “please do not remind us.”
“This is all Baelor’s fault,” Maekar scoffed, though his voice was mostly muffled by her neck. “If he just came here by himself, none of this would’ve happened. I could be spending this day with you on our bed. Instead, i was forced to deal with this. All because he couldn’t go here alone. What a fucking baby.”
Baelor takes a deep breath, his grip on Syrena’s waist tightening a bit as Maekar tears at the last bit of his patience.
“Do not let him goad you,” Syrena said, “enough with this.”
“You’re right. Let us head back to Lord Ashford’s keep, leave the fuck out of this wretched arena and spend the rest of the day on each other’s arms instead. The bed here may not be as soft as the ones in Summerhall but it will do.” Maekar grinned, “i have missed you.”
Maekar pressed his lips on her neck, leaving a lingering kiss near her collarbone before moving up to her jawline, pressing open-mouthed kisses against her skin. Baelor, taking the hint did the same thing to the other side of her neck, his kisses more soft and lingered more on one spot before moving to another.
Syrena knew them well enough to know that this was nothing but a distraction. Even with her body reacting instinctively to their affection, arching up against her touch, she was still pissed about the whole thing that happened.
And she didn’t say that she had already forgiven them.
Syrena closed her eyes, savoring the kisses that she had missed since their departure before finding the courage to shove them back, dislodging their hold on her.
They let out a soft sound of protest as they were forced to step back, looking at her with nothing but confusion in their eyes.
“Sorry to say this, my beloved husbands. But the only thing that will accompany you until we reach King’s Landing are your hands.” She said, voice sounding so sweet as if she wasn’t planning on torturing them.
Maekar looked at her as if she had slapped him in the face, and Baelor looked just as pained as him. “Beloved..” Baelor pleaded.
“I thought you forgave us already?” Maekar questioned.
Syrena huffed as she stepped aside when they tried to reach for her again, “did i? I never said that i forgave you already.”
“You let us kiss you,” Maekar reasoned, which only received nothing but a pointed look from her. He winced, “woman, you don’t plan on keeping this up until we reach King’s Landing, do you?”
Baelor reacted before she could even respond, a soft gasp leaving his lips. “That is cruel, Syrena.”
Syrena did not look bothered at all, “you two should’ve thought of that before agreeing to this farce.” She hummed, moving closer only to pat their cheeks with her fingers. “Now if you will excuse me, i will be having words with Aerion now.”
Before she could even make a move past them, Baelor was already tugging her back. She gasped softly when she suddenly found herself in between two armored bodies, their heat radiating off their armor and seeping through her riding cloak.
Syrena looked at them, eyes narrowed. “What do you think you two are doing?”
“We..” Maekar cast a glance over her shoulder, meeting his brother’s eyes. Though he still thought of him as a traitor, both of them can agree on one thing.
Her.
“We’re only holding you, Syrena.” Maekar continued, his voice taking a lower pitch as he leaned forward, his lips pressing to her cheek, then down to the corner of her lips. “Are we not allowed to hold our wife?”
“We missed you, hāedar.” Baelor whispered from behind her, his nose nuzzling against the crook of her neck. The sensation of his beard rubbing through her skin made her shudder, and he knew it. “Will you be so cruel to deny us this? It’s been days..”
Syrena snorted at their audacity. After what they did, they were truly expecting her to welcome them with open arms? She would be hitting them with a lance if she could.
But Syrena was not that cruel, and she really hates it whenever one of them comes back to her hurt. It was truly a good thing that Raegar was a fast flyer, what could’ve happened if she was another minute later? Maekar was furious, she could feel that.
And the truce between her brothers only exists now because she was here. Maekar could’ve swung his mace in anger, and Baelor, no matter how much he claimed that the Kingsguard would never harm him, Maekar could.
And he wasn’t even wearing fitted armor to take the impact.
Syrena had been a witness to how hard Maekar can swing his mace. They could’ve seriously maimed one another. Or worse, one of them could’ve died. All because of honor? She knew damn well there were other ways to settle this dispute without resulting to violence.
Syrena would make sure they know it, and she will make sure Aerion knows of it. She’ll have to send that boy away. Perhaps a year or two in their mother’s homeland will do him good, have their mother’s family instill some sense into him.
Yes, she could do that. Not like Maekar would stop her with it, she could be sending Aerion to The Wall, but she will send him to Dorne instead.
When she felt a hand wandering down her backside, Syrena sighed. “Naughty dragons,” she tutted before finally breaking free from their hold.
Before they could even grab her again, Syrena was already ducking out of their touch and running towards the tent flap. “Behave, both of you.” She huffed before walking out of the pavilion, ignoring their groans of protest for her to come back.
“Syrena, wait–.”
“You idiot, this is your fault! Why the fuck would you release her?”
“My fault? You’re the one in front, why did you let her get past you?”
“Fuck you!”