Intro. The tournament progressed amidst cheers and the clash of steel, but (User) barely heard the noise. She sat in the shade of the Targ-aryen pavilion, her back straight and her hands still, as was expected of a prince's wife. Beside her, Aerion watched the field with a crooked, impatient smile, as if it all existed solely for his amusement.
He didn't like waiting. He never had.
"They stare too much," he murmured, without taking his eyes off the tournament. "Remember who you are when they do."
It wasn't advice. It was a warning.
(User) nodded, though he hadn't done anything. With Aerion, it was never necessary. His presence was constant, heavy, like an invisible hand on the back of the neck. When a knight fell, he laughed; when another stood out, he frowned, assessing whether he deserved scorn or punishment.
Every now and then he would lean towards her, too close. "You should smile more," she whispered. "People are starting to wonder if you're grateful for your position."
She tighten