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Queen Rhaenys was the first to knock on the door.
She had been looking for her son from every corner of the castle. Aenys was sick again and he wasn't allowed to wander on his own when he was in such a state. This was not an uncommon occurrence. The boy could not be kept in bed when Maegor was around. Rhaenys had brought up this issue multiple times to her brother and sister, but they refused to treat it with any severity. Her son was small for his age -small and frail. Not only was Aenys too old for Maegor's games, but said games also included throwing a morningstar around the throne room.
"Aenys? Maegor?" she called for the children and knocked again.
Aegon knocked too - harder, with his hand in a fist.
"Maegor, open the door", he ordered his younger son.
Silence followed momentarily until something heavy dragged across the floor beyond the door. Rhaenys knocked again, practically pounded the oaken door repeatedly with her hand.
"Maegor, I know Aenys is in there. He's very sick, he needs to be with the maesters", her voice rose higher and the panic began to fester.
Surely Maegor would not harm his half-brother, it couldn't be so. Rhaenys shouldn't have had reason for such despair.
Beyond the door, they heard a voice answer. It was not a child-like voice, but stern and determined. It was Maegor's nature - had always been. He had grown quickly and was as ambitious as his father was. Evenly as fierce as his mother and had the austere mannerism of them both.
"Go away. He's safer with me"
Rhaenys gasped at the denial and continued to pound at the door. "Let my son go!" she nearly shouted now, out of frustration. When she received no answer, she turned to her brother-husband. "Don't just stand there. Go get Visenya!"
"Calm yourself, my dear sister. I am certain Maegor means no harm", Aegon dithered, hands before him to reach out to Rhaenys and ease her distress. She brushed them away.
"Means no harm? He stole his brother from his guarded rooms and now keeps him barricaded in his own rooms!"
"I will get Visenya", Aegon finally agreed and took his leave to fetch their elder sister.
She arrived only a moment later.
"What is the matter?" she inquired from her sister.
"Your son has taken Aenys and refuses to let him go. He has locked and barricaded the door", Rhaenys could barely hold herself together.
Visenya drew in a deep breath of air before knocking on the door. Her attempt was calm, but severe.
"Maegor? Is your brother there?" she inquired.
"Mother?" Maegor sounded much more like a child then.
"My sweet boy, you have to let your brother go. Everyone is terribly worried of him", she negotiated.
"But Aenys is feeling a lot better here. I'll keep him safe"
Rhaenys had no patience. She was overwhelmed with worry as she turned to Aegon.
"Brother, break down the door", she insisted.
Visenya shrugged and stepped aside. Aegon rammed down the door. On the other side, there was a solid wooden drawer pushed in front of the doorway to block the exit. It was a small miracle Maegor had managed to tow it all the way across the room, but such was the adrenaline when protecting a beloved.
Beside the bed, all the pillows and blankets had been pulled down closer to the lit fireplace. Maegor was cradling his elder brother, arms tightly locked around him. Aenys was seemingly asleep, head lulled against Maegor's shoulder. It was the strangest thing. Though older in age, Aenys was slender and on the opposite, Maegor was growing to be bulky and tall.
Aenys made a sleepy groan before he opened his eyes.
Maegor's brows furrowed and he looked at the adults with ire.
"You woke him up", he lamented while petting Aenys' long silver hair.
Rhaenys rushed in and pried her son from Maegor's grasp.
"No, no, don't take him from me!" Maegor shouted.
Visenya followed her sister's example and tried pulling her son away.
"Mother, I don't want him to go!" Maegor complained with his fingers still around Aenys' wrist.
"I'm sorry, but Aenys needs to be treated by the maesters. You can play with him again once he has healed", Visenya convinced him enough to have him let go of Aenys' hand.
The anger on Maegor's face did not settle. Aenys expressed his own dislike of the situation as he stood on his feet by his mother's side.
"I want to stay", he said weakly.
"No, let's get you back to your rooms. We don't want the fever to rise", Rhaenys denied and led him out of the room.
Aegon followed soon after, leaving Maegor and Visenya alone.
Maegor looked up at his mother with hope sparked by Aenys' wish of staying.
"Can I marry him one day?"
Visenya raised a brow as she looked at the delighted expression on her son's face. "I don't think your father would approve"
"Why not? If everyone is so worried about Aenys' safety, he should be with me and with nobody else"
It was simple logic in Maegor's mind.
"I'm afraid not everyone sees it that way, my sweet boy"
"Then I'll just take him again", Maegor pouted.
"I know you will", Visenya sighed.
It was a blessing enough that made Maegor's lips curve into a happy smile.