"No."

"What did you just say?", Viserys asked. His tone was light, but it had an unmistakable undercurrent of anger to it.

"I said, no. I will not be marrying Naerys. I don't see why I should." Aegon replied. He was almost as angry as Viserys was and he did not do as much of a good job at hiding it. He held up a hand as Viserys opened his mouth to reply and continued on with his diatribe.

"Do not speak of any duty I have to the family. That is all that you speak of. Duty this, duty that. Well, know this father. I do not care. I do not want anything to do with this so-called duty that I have to my family. I wish to live my life as I see fit."

"Enough." Viserys's voice but low but it was hard and unyielding. He had already made up his mind on the matter and did not look like he would budge from his position.

"You have made the same argument with little variation over the past year. It is high time you left this childishness behind you and proceed with your marriage. You are already older than I was when I married your mother. By your age, I was already married to your mother for six years."

"Yes, but one can hardly hold up your own marriage to mother as an example of what marriage ought to be. After all, she left you, didn't she?" Aegon retorted making Viserys twitch in annoyance.

Aegon stood up from the chair he was sitting on and made to walk away, but Viserys was faster. He reached over the table and grabbed hold of Aegon's arm forced him to sit back down.

"Sit down. Your emotions are out of control. Calm yourself and listen to me. Have some wine," Viserys said.

He got up from his chair and walked around to a smaller table on which a decanter and a few glasses were placed. He waved away a servant who started forward to serve them and poured the drink into two goblets himself, taking one and handing the other to Aegon.

Aegon, who had calmed down by now, took the goblet from his father's hand and took a small sip.

As he was sipping on his wine, he looked around the room. His father's solar had changed little from when he was in it last, a few months ago. It was still full of Targaryen heraldry and he still had that awful tapestry of Aegon the Conqueror upon Balerion hung on the wall behind his desk. What his father even liked in that eye-sore Aegon would never know.

Until a few moons ago, all he had to worry about was how to get away from the Red Keep and meet Falena in secret. Now, he had to contend with his father, who was always hounding him day-in, day-out about marriage to his sister.

As if he would actually marry her. She was the exact opposite of what Aegon wanted. Neither was she beautiful nor was she particularly witty. Naerys did not have the beauty that their mother and grandmother were said to have but she wasn't particularly ugly either. She was just plain. What was he supposed to do with someone like that? And she was not particularly intelligent either, almost always preferring to study her damned books to anything else.

Aegon felt that she was too average for someone like him.

Besides, he loved Falena and he intended to marry her as soon as he was able to. In fact, since his father brought up the issue of marriage anyway, he decided to tell him his own thoughts on the matter.

"Father, there is something I have been meaning to tell you for some time. It has to do with my marriage." Aegon started.

"Oh, you are willing to reconsider your foolishness, then," Viserys asked.

"No. I mean, yes. I mean, well, I do want to get married, but not to Naerys. There is someone else. Someone who I love." Aegon replied.

Viserys's expression changed and Aegon suddenly realized he had made a mistake. He should not have spoken of this matter to his father. Steeling himself, he pressed on.

"It is Falena Stokeworth father. Bernarr Stokeworth's daughter. We love each other, you see. And I wish to marry her," Aegon declared. Immediately Aegon cringed. He could have worded that better. Now he felt like one of those maidens from Elaena's stories.

Viserys glowered at him. "And you boast of being a man. Is this the sort of man you've become? Getting trapped by the feminine wiles of the third daughter of a second son? It is clear you are still a child. Did you sleep with her too?"

Aegon stayed silent. That was all the confirmation his father needed.

"Get out. And do not try to meet her again. I must speak with my brother and see a way to put your mistake to rights." Viserys seemed furious and Aegon was not so much of a fool as to risk his father's wrath in such a state.

Aegon ran away from his father's solar, tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. He had to find his uncle before his father did and explain the situation to him. He was sure his uncle would support him.

Aegon ran all the way to his uncle's chambers. They were within Maegor's holdfast and he had to run all the way from the Tower of the Hand. When he reached the royal apartments he was sweating profusely and panting hard.

Two knights of the Kingsguard stood outside the door leading into the apartments. Aegon marched up to them and demanded to be let in.

"I apologize, my prince, but His grace was adamant that he would not be disturbed. He is deep in his contemplations and he asked for no one to be let in. Not even the Lord Hand or Her Grace, the Queen," one of the knights replied.

Aegon was getting frustrated and was about to demand that they allow him inside once more when he saw the door open behind the knights. A servant poked his head out.

"His Grace bids Prince Aegon come inside," he said.

With a triumphant look on his face, Aegon barged past the knights and entered his royal uncle's apartments. Unlike his father's solar, his uncle's apartments were bare save for a single tapestry showing the Targaryen heraldry on a far wall. The window drapes were drawn shut and despite candles being lit, the room appeared dull and gloomy.

The servant ushered Aegon into an antechamber of sorts where Aegon plopped down on a cushion to wait for his uncle's arrival. His uncle came from inside his personal solar and sat across from Aegon.

"Tell me, nephew. Why have you come to me? Is it a matter which concerns the realm? Or is it something personal perhaps? You should ask my brother for any of your needs. I have charged him to ensure that the children are well cared for," the King said.

"The problem is because of my father, uncle. He wants me to marry Naerys. But I love another. And I wish to marry her," Aegon replied.

"Is that so? I shall consult with my brother, your father, on this matter. You have my word that I will be just in dealing with this issue," the King said.

"But, uncle…" Aegon whined.

"Leave me now. You have my word. Go to the yard and spar with your brother. Warrior's day is upon us and your father wishes for you to take part in the squires' melee. He wishes for you to win it and bring glory to House Targaryen." The King had a wry twist of lips as if he found the whole matter ridiculous. Aegon stood up to go but still dithered unsure of what to say.

The King appeared to become irritated and spoke, "Will you go now or shall I send Sandoq with you too? Perhaps he will be able to aid you with your training in the yard."

It was only then that Aegon noticed the tall form of Sandoq the Shadow, standing still in the shadows. He took a step forward on hearing his name spoken and Aegon's heart leapt to his throat. In spite of the veil over his face, Aegon found Sandoq frightening. Aegon beat a hasty retreat from the royal apartments.

As he was walking away, he turned towards his brother's rooms. Aemon would either be there or in the yard already. He would be preparing for the melee too. Yes, whacking his brother about would help raise Aegon's spirits. He could feel his mood lightening already. Things were going to be fine. He could feel it.

A/N: This is set around 152 AC. A main Point Of Divergence is that Aegon and Falena haven't been discovered by Viserys yet and he is able to continue his 'relationship' with her with interesting consequences. Any feedback is appreciated.