Hey guys, sorry for the wait, school has been killing me, hopefully it won't happen again but, no promises. Now with apologies out of the way on with the story.

111 AC

Rhaenyra Targaryen was absolutely livid. First, her uncle had been banished from court, her father wouldn't tell her why. Second, her horrid stepmother was trying to convince her father to give the throne to her brother. Finally, her best friend had yet to show himself, despite the tourney beginning in less than 2 hours. So, to put it simply she was not having a good day.

"Are you looking for me your highness?" A voice said from behind her. She turned and Merek with a grin on his face. When she first met Merek he was small, skinny boy with a shaggy mess of black hair. The only thing that had really changed was that he was taller. Though, from what he told her all the work around the village probably gave him some muscle.

"What took you so long?" Rhaenrya asked after giving him a hug.

"The streets are crowded because of the tourney." Merek explained. "A man can barely take a step without stepping on someone else's toes."

Oh yes, the tourney. Rhaenyra thought bitterly. To celebrate the 7th anniversary of her father marrying Alicent Hightower. Frankly, she didn't see what there was to celebrate. "Is Asa here too?"

"Yes, He is paying his respects to the king and queen." Merek answered. "What do you want to do before the tournament begins?"

"Well, remember how you would tell me you would like more coin in your pocket."

"Yes." Merek said hesitantly.

"Well, I think you should participate in the tourney." Rhaenyra said. "Archery and jousting specifically." The look on Merek's face almost made her burst out laughing.

"Rhaenyra, may I remind you that firstly only nobles and knights can compete in the tourney." Merek said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Secondly, I have neither a horse nor armor to compete in the joust and finally, even if I did compete I would have no chance of actually winning against trained knights."

"You said that you have always wanted to compete." Rhaenyra pointed out. "Now you can."

"I meant in the squires tourney or when I'm older." Merek argued. "Not when I'm three-and-ten years against knights twice my age." Rhaenyra frowned, she knew it would be difficult to get her friend to agree to enter the tourney, but she didn't think he would be this stubborn.

"You know, Ser Criston Cole will be participating in the joust." Merek was listening now. Rhaenyra smirked, Merek and Ser Criston began to hate each other from the moment they met. "Imagine how humiliating it would be if a member of the Kingsguard was unhorsed by a no name knight."

"Still not a knight." Merek argued weekly, but Rhaenyra knew she had him. Finally, he sighed. "What's your plan.

[Line Break]

The tourney began like it always did with her father making a big speech about peace and unity, the same things he says at the beginning of every tourney. Rhaenyra sat at her father's right side, while Alicent sat at the king's left. Rhaenyra was wearing a beautiful black dress while her stepmother wore a hideous green one. Joining Rhaenyra to her father's right was Asa, and Corlys Velaryon.On her fathers's left joining Alicent was Otto Hightower, her half-brothers, Aegon and Aemond, along with her half-sister Helaena.

The archery portion of the tourney was first. Rhaenyra spotted Merek in line with the other archers, waiting for the signal to begin. "Is that, Merek down there?" Viserys asked turning to Asa.

"Yes, he told me earlier that he would be participating."

"Ten dragons says the peasant gets knocked out in the first round." Rhaenyra heard Aemond whisper to Aegon, causing him to laugh.

"Fifty dragons says he wins the whole thing." Rhaenyra said glaring at her half brothers. Before anymore could be said among the Targaryen siblings their father stood to address the crowd.

"Archers ready!" King Viserys called out, raising his hand as Merek and the other archers nocked their arrows into their bowstrings. "Loose!" The king brought his arm down in a firing motion. The rules were that whoever made the best shots would continue to the next round. Merek and nine other archers hit a bullseye securing them a place in the next round. This continued for two more rounds until Merek and a Bravossi man with a forked beard were the only ones left.

As the final competitors drew their arrows Rhaenyra could see that the Braavosi man was nervous, sweat was dripping off his brow like he had just gotten out of a summer storm. Merek in contrast was extremely calm, his face was sure and his eyes were clear and focused.

"Ready!" King Viserys announced. "Loose!" Both archers fired, the Braavosi's arrow missed the target and buried itself in the stand behind the target. Merek's aim proved true and the arrow found its mark in the center of the target.

The crowd roared with applause, Rhaenyra couldn't keep the smile off her face as she watched her friend take a bow for the crowd. "I'll be expecting my fifty dragons by tomorrow." Rhaenyra said, sending her half-siblings a smirk. Now for the real fun to start.

[Line Break]

The melee ended like Rhaenyra expected, with Ser Criston Cole winning the melee, but it was the joust that she was truly excited for. When the joust began three contestants almost instantly became the crowd's favorites Ser Criston Cole, Ser Harwin Strong or as many called him Breakbones, and a mystery knight with a picture of the red dawn painted on his shield that many people had begun calling the Knight of Dawn.

These three knights moved swiftly through the list quickly dispatching their opponents. The Knight of Dawn just finished unhorsing a riverman meaning that whoever one the next match between Ser Criston and Breakbones would face him in the finals. Rhaenyra had no particular love for either, but she would prefer it to be Ser Criston that won this match, she did have a promise to keep after all.

In the first exchange both knights landed a point on the other, in the next charge Ser Criston broke his lance on Ser Harwin's armor. Finally, Ser Criston knocked Breakbones off his horse winning the match. Ser Criston would face the Knight of Dawn in the final list.

An hour later the two knights faced each other. Ser Criston on his white courser in white armor his Kingsguard cloak blowing in the wind, and the Knight of Dawn on a black destrier that he won in a previous list in simple armor with a helmet and visor shaped in a V. At the sounding of the horn the knights charged. The Knight of Dawn scored the first blow, catching Ser Criston on his shoulder. In the second exchange Ser Criston broke his lance on the Knight of Dawn, bringing him ahead in points. When the knights wheeled their horses around Rhaenyra could see the Knight of Dawn holding his wounded shoulder. A squire ran to the knight and spoke to him the mystery knight simply shook his head and pointed at a stack of lances asking for another. Rhaenyra didn't know how but she knew this would be the final exchange and for a brief second her gaze met that of the mystery knight.

As the finalist charged the Knight of Dawn dropped his shield, Rhaenyra and the crowd gaped. What are you doing? Rhaenyra thought, worried. Seconds before the two knights met, the mystery knight turned his body dodging Ser Criston's lance and thrusting out his own knocking Ser Criston off his horse.

The crowd cheered as the Knight of Dawn raised his lance in victory. The crowd hushed as a squire placed a wreath on the knight's lanced and they watched to see who he would crown as his Queen of Love and Beauty. The mystery knight trotted his horse up to the king's stand and offered Rhaenyra the crown. The crowd roared with approval this time their cheers were joined by the roar of a dragon. Rhaenyra looked up to see a great red dragon flying over the city and smiled, her uncle had returned to King's Landing.

Rhaenyra made her way to the farthest tent from the others, making sure to keep out of sight. She entered the tent just as the Knight of Dawn finished changing from his armor into his real clothes. "So how was the tourney?" She asked with a smile on her face.

Merek turned smiling. "Admittedly it went better than I thought it would." He said flinching as he tested his arm. "Though, not without it's minor problems."

"Are you okay?" Rhaenyra asked concerned.

"It's fine." Merek waves off. "So how does it feel to be Queen of Love and Beauty?"

Rhaenyra shrugged. "I imagine being Queen of the Seven Kingdoms will feel better."

"So I have to know, why did you want me to participate in the joust so badly?" Merek asked.

"To be honest to get under the Alicent's skin." Rhaenyra said. "Some knights that support her idea that Aegon should be heir instead of me were participating and I wanted someone on my side to knock them out." Merek, thankfully, took that answer with a nod. If Rhaenyra was honest with herself that wasn't the only reason.

Ser Criston could easily knock out most of the others, but then he would have crowned her Queen of Love and Beauty and as handsome as he was she didn't want that. She wanted Merek to be the one to crown her, but Rhaenyra was a good liar even when lying to herself.

The tourney celebrating the seventh anniversary of King Viserys and Queen Alicent's marriage not only brought about the rise of the Blacks and the Greens it also had the appearance of the mysterious Knight of Dawn, scholars argue the identity of the mystery knight. Some maesters say the knight was prince Aemond wanting to defeat Ser Criston Cole, but Mushroom, Princess Rhaenyra's fool argues that it was Merek of Dragonstone who was the mystery knight, scholars still argue to this day.~ Archmaester Gyldayn.

And that ends second chapter of The War of Blood and Fire. Hope the tourney was entertaining for you. Next chapter should be out soon. Until then like, favorite, and review.