The Time Curse (Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon Fanfic)

Chapter 7: Weddings are cursed in Westeros

Aegon felt like something was lodged in his throat as he listened to his father. This was the most they'd ever spoken but it felt more painful than the years of silence. Because Aegon knew what Viserys was getting at. 

He knew the king was warning him that while their love was true, it could not last. His heart burned with a pain-filled rage at the thought of Morgana being taken from him. 

He used to think the idea of loving someone was ludicrous, but after only a few days of knowing its flavors, a taste of love was not enough. 

"I could marry her. She could stay here. Please, Father, call off the wedding! I promise I will be better. I will stop drinking and frequenting the whore houses. I'll put effort into my training, I'll be the perfect prince. Just give me Morgana." Aegon was practically begging. 

A sad smile graced the king's face as he remembered saying something similar on his own wedding day. But he knew, that even if granted permission, Morgana would disappear to her next great love story before they could ever marry. The markings on her body were already a dark grey. The king suspected that she'd be gone before sunset, but he refused to be the one to tell Aegon any of this. 

If Aegon was one day going to be king, as he suspected due to Morgana's connection with him, then Viserys knew Morgana would be back. After all every Targaryen king met her at least twice when there was a break in succession: Aegon I had, Maegor had, Jahaerys had, and Viserys had. 

She was always there when they needed her most, picking up exactly where they left off and then gone before they could solidify their bond forever. 

The curse of the Dragon witch was a cruel one indeed. 

"Marry Helaena. Morgana will return when you need her most but not a moment sooner. Tis' the sweet curse we love to endure." Viserys stood, ignoring Aegon's desperate look. "I will send Morgana in soon." 

The maids returned soon after the king left, continuing the process of readying Aegon. 

The prince felt like they were tying a noose rather than fastening a cloak. He felt as if he was being readied for execution rather than a wedding. He had never heard of a happy groom and yet they still call weddings celebrations. 

For a moment, he allowed himself to pretend that it was not his mad sister he was being bound to. He imagined black hair and hauntingly grey eyes walking towards him on the dais. He imagined proclaiming his love in front of all those greedy noble lords who would leer at him in envy because she was his and he was hers. 

For a moment he allowed himself to feel the unrestrained joy of his fantasy. He imagined how eager he would be if the illusion were true. Another knock at the door broke his daydream and all the maids left once more as she entered. 

She was a vision as usual. 

Wearing one of his mother's old dresses, she still looked like the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She smiled, that small demure smile that looked so perfect on her usually emotionless doll-like features. 

"Hello." Her quiet voice still filled the room, changing the air in the depressing space. He felt what his father was talking about, that radiant burning in his soul. That dragon fire was brought back to life by the Speaker's voice. 

She spoke to dragons and dragon souls with similar ease. Aegon understood what Viserys meant by longing for her pretty words, he hadn't realized how deep the void was until she spoke and it was filled once more. 

'No, it is not easy to love Morgana Slytherin, but it is impossible not to.'

The words echoed through his mind like the rolling thunder, taunting him. He didn't understand the look of vague understanding in his father's eyes and he prayed he never would.