// Another conversation between Tyrion and Bäahal, this time much light-hearted - riding dragons help a lot-
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Bäahal's first couple of days without Jaime or Jon in the castle had been complicated. While she could manage during the day and would fill her day riding Rhaegal to the sky or talking to her sister Daenerys the nights have been difficult. At night, the princess was alone with her thoughts. At night, she couldn't stop herself from thinking about the knight, longing for him and wishing for a different outcome of their union. She wished that they didn't have to wait for her sister's approval (as in, wait so long for her to approve of them). She wished, that Dany gave her blessings as soon as she learned the truth of their feelings for each other. Waiting had never been the forte of the young woman. Waiting for something she'd dreamed of and desired for such a long time had always left a sour taste in her mouth. Her entire existence, she had wished for freedom. It took the death of the man who tried to help them, then the death of her mother, then the years of endless suffering at the hands of her master and his friends....years of having her body violated, her mind crushed, her hands soaked with the blood of her master's enemies to finally have the opportunity to escape and take it. Waiting for her sister's blessings shouldn't be taking as long as it took for her to be free.
Well...It wasn't exactly the same thing and she understood why her sister would hesitate. Jaime was no ordinary man. He was known as the kingslayer, he was known as the sister-fucker, and he was known as the enemy. Everyone in the seven kingdoms would want to have him dead because of his family and its legacy of murders and wars. Because of his own action as a man who broke his oath, because he was rich, handsome, and skilled in combat. Everyone had a reason to hate him and they would hate him even more if he managed to get married to the princess. Bäahal had earned through hard work and dedication a very positive reputation; She was the royal who spoke and mingled with commoners. She was the voice of compassion, representing her sister's soft side wherever she went. She protected villagers during the siege and despite her fate being largely unknown, she almost reached a state of sainthood among the people. So to have Jaime Lannister taint that image was impossible to accept. Dany couldn't expose her sister to the disappointment of a crowd, for she had already experienced it at Mereen. She couldn't give her to a man whose family hurt her husband. How could she reconcile the two?
The silver princess managed to find some solace in the fact her sister would eventually mellow to the situation and see Jaime through different lenses. Perhaps, for the sake of her sister's happiness and with a little push from Jon, Sansa, and Tyrion, Jaime would be accepted. It was a matter of patience and Bäahal would have to learn how to be more patient. She sighed as she walked towards the hallways of the Red Keep. She knew it by heart now and it wouldn't have been so hard to endure if she was able to leave the castle. She knew it by heart by now and was craving novelty. She wanted to see new faces and hear new people but she knew that for the sake of their mission, she had to remain in the castle. Her little afternoon stroll had her meet with Tyrion who had just left the war room. He waved at her and she bent a little towards him.
"Good morning princess." -He smiled at her-
"Good morning, Lord Tyrion." -She resumed walking-
"I am not a lord anymore, princess. You don't have to call me as such." -Tyrion cocked his head to the side-
"Old habits are hard to shake, so please, take it as a friendly way to call you that is more than just plain Tyrion. "
"I see. Well, for you I can make an exception when we are in private. Could we share your afternoon stroll? " -She nodded and offered her arm for him to grab as they walked. He wrapped his arm around hers and they resumed walking through the hallway- "You seem to be more at peace these days, princess."
"It's because I am. You had a fantastic idea when you suggested I rode a dragon. I have felt more like myself up in the air. I was able to properly mourn for Viserion this time, with his brothers." She gently nudged him. "Besides, I got to talk to you and you've been a very positive influence in my life, Lord Tyrion."
"My pleasure, princess." -He couldn't help but smile. She truly wasn't as mopey as she was since her arrival. She wasn't crying, she wasn't upset, and she wasn't even lamenting about her sister's lack of decision in her situation. "Although, I have to say that both Commander Jon and my older brother had also something to do with your mood. If I may say... I am surprised to see you so bright today."
"Oh? You were expecting me to remain a mess after Jaime and Jon's departure? " -Tyrion nodded and Bäahal blushed and shrugged- "Well...I was for a couple of hours. I had to let Jaime leave and I couldn't even express my feelings for him as I wished to. We couldn't touch the way I wanted us to. We couldn't kiss... we were very limited, but Jaime found a way He found a way to turn this moment into the most romantic moment I've ever seen.... or had."
"Jaime has always been the romantic type. He loved the stories about a knight and his princess. he always loved reading romantic plays, and poems, and even when we talked together, Jaime managed to bring about the most romantic scenarios he could think of. He's lovesick, I can tell. What did he tell you this time?"
"I am the keeper of his heart. I am keeping his love safe with me. He spelled "I love you" in such a romantic way. I nearly fainted." -She chuckled and then put her hand on her chest.- "I gave him a ring. It's a royal ring I asked him to return to me. I ... I asked him to put it on my finger when he's back. "
"Did you propose to him?" -She chuckled and shook her head- "oh... Did you hint at a desire to be proposed then?"
"If he sees it fit. I didn't think this through. I just wanted him to have a trinket from me, a testament to my love for him. I... I wanted to lace my destiny with his, but in a way, I think the gods, old and new, know I have chosen him. I have chosen him." -She repeated and clenched her fingers against the fabric of her dress.
"Here I was thinking my brother was the only romantic soul here. You are quite the romantic yourself, princess! It's good to see you in a better mood."
"It's thanks to you, Lord Tyrion. Have you ever done something romantic for someone?" -She asked curiously, her purple eyes set upon the Hand of her sister who started to think.
"Mmm.... unfortunately, given the relations I had with my siblings and the way the world saw me. I didn't have the opportunity to be as flamboyant as my brother was. Yet, I think the most romantic thing I was able to do, was to love Shae as if she was a queen. I didn't care about her status nor did I care about her previous work; I didn't care because I loved her. She dined with me. She sat at my table. She dressed as she wanted with anything she desired. That was the most romantic thing I ever did for someone." -His face became somber, as he remembered how Shae betrayed him and how that made him feel. Bäahal noticed and she quickly removed her arm from his grip so she could kneel before him and put both of her hands on his shoulders. - "Princess..."
"Lord Tyrion. I am sorry. I am sorry for the hardships you had to fight to this day. I am sorry about the way your father treated you, and the way he encouraged others to treat you. I am sorry people weren't able to see past your height, your face... because it didn't fit their standards. You are... a giant among men, please, look at me." -She said as she cupped both cheeks and gently stroked them. He indulged her request and set his green eyes upon her.- "You are brave. You are wiser than any maester I know of. You are a visionary and along with it, comes the burden of being shunned by others. Along with brilliance, comes the darkness. You are a kind man. You should have been treated better, yet you never were. I know how it is. I have been a slave. I have been used and abused because I was different. I have been..." -She bit back a sob- "Your gesture is the most romantic gesture someone could do because you loved Shae for who she was. Nothing less and nothing more but the truth. You have been true to her and true to this love. It's beautiful. You are." -She smiled before she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug.
"Princess...."
Tyrion didn't know what to say but he found himself fondly smiling at the young woman and gently running his hand through her massive silver hair so he could pet it. She was surprised and always managed to take him back. She surprised him even now because she found a way to comfort him despite the stressful situation she was in; She found the time to be nice to others while she had every reason to be bitter and upset. He was surprised but pleased and that warm embrace truly brought him comfort so he didn't resist it. how could he?
-TBC-
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