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{My World}
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AERON AND RHAENYRA HAD NOT SEEN each other in a day. Which usually never happens when they know that they can see each other. Aeron was too busy with the council meetings and his family preparing to depart from the Red Keep.
During the night, before leaving, Aeron sat on the cold beach. Listening to the waves splash against the sand. He breathing was steady as he wrapped his legs against his chest.
Just up the cliff behind him, the funeral of the queen and the prince had taken place. The ashes were still there but not burning.
As Aeron stared at the ocean, his mind went back to the council meeting. The King had made a drastic decision that would change everything. He made Rhaenyra his heir. Aeron had suspicion that something like this would happen but he didn't think it would happen so soon.
Aeron groaned to himself. He loved Rhaenyra, but her being the heir to the throne challenged him. If he were to be involved with Rhaenyra he would eventually have to reveal Atlantis. It couldn't hide forever and he knew that.
The pressure suffocating him. It was either Love or his duty as future King of an unknown kingdom.
Soft steps were heard behind him. When he turned around, his green-ocean eyes met light violet eyes. He smiled at Rhaenyra as she sat down next to him. She held her blanket tightly.
"I can't sleep," She said as she placed her head on his shoulder. "What's on your mind?" Aeron said as he wrapped his arm over her shoulder.
Rhaenyra stayed silent for a moment. "The throne," She sighed. "I'm sure you heard."
Aeron swallowed hard. This was his moment to tell her the truth. To tell her about his world.
He slowly got up and stretched out his hand to pick her up. They moved closer to the water. "Come, I want to show you something," He said as he let go of Rhaenyra's hand and entered the water. "Aeron, I don't feel like swimming, it's cold," She said, still on the shore.
Then, Aeron's arms glowed blue. Showing his Atlantean markings, he moved the water, making a pathway for the silver haired girl. Rhaenyra smiled as walked towards him. She caressed his cheek and kissed him.
"Show me," She whispered. Aeron grabbed both of her hands and moved her deeper into the water. They kissed again.
Rhaenyra's hands caressed the white tips of his hair, up to his brown roots. They slowly sank into the water, still kissing. She looked into Aeron's eyes and they were glowing green. He looked beautiful.
When she looked away, she noticed that she was underwater but she could breath. Aeron noticed her shock and tried to calm her from panicking. He brought her down more into the depths. Aeron soon brought her to a bloom of jellyfish. Their vibrant colors illuminating Rhaenyra's eyes.
He toured her every where. Through the reefs, underwater springs and sleeping whales. Rhaenyra found them a bit intimidating but Aeron made sure that she knew they were harmless.
As they swam and twirled around, they met with the beast of the sea.
Vaeron.
Rhaenyra's eyes widened. Vaeron's scales glowed in the dark water. He bellowed softly as sound waves reached Aeron and Aeron sent it back. Both of them communicating to head to Atlantis.
Aeron and Rhaenyra mounted Vaeron and dived into a cave. Thinking that this couldn't surprise her anymore, she saw a city below her.
The lights gleamed before her eyes. Flashes of blue, white and green filled the water around her. They never entered a cave but a secret tunnel where the city was at full view.
Rhaenyra was able to see the advance buildings and transportations. Her mouth hanged opened as Aeron smiled at her.
Vaeron dived down towards the city. Gliding through water, they passed by underwater ships, and Great sharks and sea horses with Atlantean riders.
Rhaenyra had never seen such a view before.
She able to hear the chants of the people.
"Dragon of the Seas!"
Not long after the joy ride, Aeron and Rhaenyra went up to the surface. Rhaenyra then slightly gasped for air.
"What was that place? How I could breath underwater?," Rhaenyra had many questions for the Atlantean boy and he was all in to answer them.
•••
Aeron and Rhaenyra stayed all night at the beach talking about Aeron's royal family and his powers. Then it was time to pop the bubble.
"Nyra, we can't be together," He said bluntly. Rhaenyra laughed nervously. "What do you mean?"
Aeron looked away. This was a lot harder than he thought it would be. Telling the girl you grew up and had come to love, that you can't be with her.
"I'm to be future King of Atlantis and you, future Queen of Westros, we can't be together in marriage," Aeron said. "If I marry you, then it's putting Atlantis at risk to reveal itself to the surface world."
"What does marrying me have to do with risking Atlantis?" Rhaenyra asked.
Aeron sighed. "People will start to question where I am, I can't stay up here forever, I have a duty."
All Rhaenyra could do was look down at the sand.
"Maybe we can settle somethings out," The girl said with hope in her voice. She was never a type to care for marriage but when it came to Aeron as a suitor, she would marry him any day.
"There is nothing to settle, Nyra, it took me a long time to let the truth settle on me," Aeron said bitterly. "I will be leaving and I think it's best for us to part ways starting now."
"No, Aeron, it can't end like this," Rhaenyra's voice cracked.
"I can't lose you too," She said, tears forming in her eyes.
All of this hurt Aeron to the core. So he swallowed his tears and began to push Rhaenyra away with his words.
"I don't even know why I showed you Atlantis, only the one I married was allowed to see," Aeron said as he got up. He wanted to get away from Rhaenyra before he bursted in front of her.
Before he hurt himself and her too.
"Where are you going! You can't just leave me in the dust like this!," Rhaenyra said, going after him. She grabbed his arm and turned him to face her.
"You can't leave now, I need you, please," She whispered in valyrian along with sobs.
Seeing Rhaenyra so vulnerable made Aeron heart clench. His chest tightening as he heard her beg for him to stay. He closed his eyes, not baring to see her. He hated seeing her cry.
"I can't." He said as he pulled away from Rhaenyra's grasp.
Rhaenyra's mouth hanged opened, tears slowly falling down her face. She could believe that she was about to be left alone. She stopped crying but tears still kept falling.
Aeron slowly walked away from her.
She pressed her lips together and her eyebrows crossed. Frustration slowly consuming her.
"Fine! Go away! Leave! It's not like I need you, you are just like everyone else!," Rhaenyra's anger and sadness screamed.
Aeron continued walking away from her. This time, she didn't follow.
"Please don't go." Rhaenyra whispered to herself, hoarsely.
As soon as Rhaenyra was out of sight, tears streamed down Aeron's face. He hit his fist against his forehead. Trying to make himself stop crying but it didn't help. He inhaled slowly as he exhaled.
His breathing becoming shaky.
This was for the better. Even though, both of them had to suffer through it. Both of them had to face reality.
Rhaenyra needed someone who would always be there for her at all times. Aeron thought that he wasn't the one to give her that.
But of course...
Fate works in mysterious ways.