Chapter 2 – the wedding
The sun rose at the Narrow Sea and lit King's Landing in its full glory. At the break of dawn, the city woke up, bakers opened their shops, sailors raised the anchors to set sail early in the day. Both highborn and lowborn were excited to see what the day would bring. The wedding ceremony would begin at noon and it proved to be quite a spectacle. House Targaryen wanted to declare to the world that they bore house Tyrell no ill will.
In Elaena's room, her handmaidens giggled as they prepared her, excited about the festivities, the ball and the tournament. Elaena giggled with them. She told them what she knew about the food and the dances, and entertained them with rumors about the lords who would be present. Most of them she heard from Jaelyx. Concentrating on these things, she could finally take her mind off the life that was about to begin for her after tonight.
Lady Aelora sat with them, a bit further, by the window. Elaena was happy to see all the melancholy gone from her face. She supervised the whole procedure with a smile on her lips and occasionally started laughing along with the girls.
One of the them kept herself at a distance from the other girls, sewing pearls to her wedding dress while the other girls were chatting. She wasn't truly her handmaiden. But Alyssa Baratheon had no other place to go. Her father was believed to be a key figure in the assassination attempt and was executed. Alyssa was one of the prices they had to pay for their infidelity. A hostage, she had no place in King's Landing. So at first, she stayed in her room or walked around the shores of King's Landing under strict Targaryen surveillance, until it was suggested to Elaena she could take the younger girl into her custody. She was glad she had. She was far more skilled in tailoring than any of the other girls, and her condition triggered sympathy from Elaena.
After a few minutes, all she and the girls could talk about was Lyonel. The rumors about him were juicy and plentiful. He had lost his eye in a fight with a sellsword who wanted to take away his favorite whore from him, a girl said to have heard from a soldier in the Tyrell guard, and the sellsword had won. Elaena preferred the stories that told of his arrogance, though they did not seem to fit the image of the boy she had met three days ago. Lady Aelora was no longer amused and turned to the window. She had tried to smooth the relationship between Lyonel and her daughter, but over the last days her daughter's demeanor towards him had only become colder. To Elaena's surprise, her mother was not the only one they had upset with their gossips. In one swift motion Alyssa rose and turned to the other girls. Her face was so serious the other girls instinctively kept quiet. 'Does any of you know Lyonel Tyrell?' she asked.
'We hardly know him,' Elaena admitted, 'Do you?'
She nodded. 'The houses Baratheon and Tyrell have always been close.'
Yes, Elaena thought, close enough to organize a rebellion together, her family had believed when they imprisoned both lords. She decided to speak to Alyssa alone, for she knew Alyssa did not like to speak in front of many people.
'Thanks for your help, girls. You can go and prepare yourselves for the feast.' The girls bowed and left. Apart from her and Alyssa, her mother was the only who would be there to hear them talk, but she would keep herself in the background, as she had done so far.
'He's not a bad person,' Alyssa told her, still a bit hesitating, 'He cares for people, though he may appear formal. You could as well have ended up with someone cruel or someone who'd treat you as an object. Those people exist and more than you'd think.' Elaena got the feeling she was talking about the Targaryens. She had courage to speak like this in front of her. Elaena didn't like it.
'Instead of someone cruel I've got someone cold and distant. That's hardly anything better.'
'That's not true,' Alyssa firmly replied,' Politeness and courtesies are hardly unwanted qualities in a husband.' Behind her princess Aelora smiled in approval.
'He'll need more than politeness if he wants to earn someone's respect. I don't respect him, I don't like him, I'll never love him. You cannot love someone who willingly takes away your freedom. No matter how kind or courteous he is.'
'I understand,' Alyssa said, and Elaena guessed what she was thinking about. She shouldn't confide her at all, she considered. House Baratheon was proven hostile to her family.
Heavy footsteps were heard on the stairs and her father, prince Gaemon, swung the door open. 'Good morning, my sweet Elaena, my caring Aelora, lady Baratheon.' He made a bow to each of them and his bow to lady Alyssa was most grotesque of all.
'You shouldn't be here, Gaemon,' Aelora tried to reason with him, which all knew would be fruitless, 'You're supposed to attend the groom. At the breakfast of his wedding the groom is to be greeted by his new father-in-law. It's the way weddings work.'
'They'll manage fine without me. I wanted to have a last glimpse at my daughter before she's off to be wed.' He kissed her. 'You look stunning,' he said.
He took a few steps back and looked at her. 'I want to see my girl in her wedding dress. Alyssa, put it on please.'
'She's not a handmaiden, father,' Elaena carefully protested.
'No, but she'll know how to put a dress on, I dare to assume. She may look a bit slight, but I bet she's just as strong as a true Baratheon should be. Some houses are known for their brains, some for their muscles. Putting on a dress won't be that difficult a task for her.'
Alyssa lifted the dress very carefully, pulled it over Elaena's head and fastening the laces at Elaena's back. The dress wasn't finished yet. The rays of pearls were still incomplete. They'd have to work on that later.
Gaemon looked at Elaena. He seemed pleased. He asked her to turn around and she did, and with much elegance she presented the dress to him. Then Gaemon turned to Alyssa: 'Well done, Alyssa. Though not a true handmaiden I thought you put it on very ably.'
'Gaemon, you should leave,' Aelora pronounced her worry, 'The Tyrells will see it as an insult.'
'I bet they know what to expect from us by now, and what not. Now, Elaena, let's take the dress off before it gets crinkled. I won't tire you any further, Alyssa, I'll help her this time.'
'You have our leave to retreat, Alyssa,' lady Aelora spoke, for which both Elaena and Alyssa seemed grateful. Alyssa immediately seized the opportunity to escape Gaemon Targaryen and left.
Her father bent over her and whispered, 'Show these Tyrells what a Targaryen's capable of. Subdue this boy and rob him of his power and dignity, till house Tyrell is but a puppet in our hands. Let him know your heart isn't always as pretty as your face.'
She kept herself strong, as her father liked it, not giving in to her doubts. Instead she asked on a sharp tone, 'And what about my marriage, father? What are my chances of happiness after my husband despises me for having humiliated him?'
'Marriage isn't as binding as it seems. You sit next to him at banquets, wear his favor in tournaments, get him a few children. Other than that, you won't even need to see him if you don't want to. You can lead your own life without him. You can even take in paramours. It doesn't matter what he thinks of you. Grab hold of a situation and turn it to your advantage, that's the only way of obtaining what you desire.'
Gaemon stayed with her the entire afternoon, despite her mother's protest. Even as the Maiden's March began, when the bride, accompanied by a troop of women, walked to Great Sept of Baelor, her father stationed himself behind his daughter.
'Only women are to escort the bride to the Sept,' her mother said in indignation.
'Crown princes make their own rules,' he simply replied and the procession set off. With her mother on her left hand and her father on her right hand, she crossed King's Landing. She noticed her legs were quivering. It won't be that bad, she tried to convince herself. Perhaps she'll come to like the boy, or at least learn to live with him. Her mother would like that. Or she could try to use the boy to her advantage, as her father wanted to. She wasn't sure if she was capable of doing so.
Her quivering legs finally brought her to the steps of the Great Sept and soon she reached the top. She now had full view over the inside, where the guests were crowded to behold the wedding ceremony. Elaena didn't recognize nine out of ten faces. Lyonel stood at the altar of the maiden, with the High Septon behind him. Her father hooked his arm into hers. 'You look nervous,' he said, 'Let's say we run for that altar and be out of here soon?' She smiled. With majestic steps father and daughter treaded through the sept. Jaelyx gave her soft nod of the head. The wound on his cheek was still clearly visible. She hoped it wouldn't become a scar. Edmyn Tully's broad smile gave her more courage. He was a knight now, she remembered.
The ceremony itself was over soon. The Septon said a few prayers, she and Lyonel only spoke when they were asked to. At the High Septon's instructions, Lyonel kissed her and Elaena let him. A dutiful kiss it was; the kind your mother would give you. Even on the way from the sept to the gardens she felt no need to talk to him and neither did he. They walked next to each other, but both were distracted by the multitude of acrobats, musicians and fireworks. Elaena caught herself being excited. She got carried by the merry crowd and forgot the person by her side. Even as they sat down together at the banquet, Elaena was still accepting congratulations from friends, not speaking a word to her new husband. Only when lady Tyrell proposed a toast, the guests kept quiet. She raised her glass, welcomed Elaena to her family and wished their marriage the best of luck. All guests drunk to that.
'Another toast,' prince Gaemon exclaimed and stood up. All nervosity, princess Aelora looked down. Lyonel sunk deeper in his chair, wary of what the crown prince might say. 'I want to make a toast to Lyonel of house Tyrell. A fine little lad and a true friend to house Targaryen. May he enjoy Elaena, and may all the Tyrells see how easily house Targaryen can put aside a feud.' He smiled generously at Lyonel, and added a small grin for Elaena.
'Thank you,' Lyonel spoke politely, unsure if he was being mocked. In the course of the toasts he regularly looked around him, only to let his eyes cross with the disdainful looks of the Targaryens, who were everywhere around him. Elaena enjoyed his uneasiness. Sometimes he glanced worriedly at his family. With a sign of the head his mother urged him to talk to his new bride, but Elaena stubbornly looked away.
Upon noting his uneasy behavior, his new father-in-law addressed him: 'Why so worried, son? Nothing will happen to you. You shouldn't be afraid of her. No one here to harm you. And if anyone had that intention, you are still protected by my brave brother ser Raemus. No attacker would stand a chance to him.'
Ser Raemus would very likely be the one to attack him, Elaena thought, amused. Ser Raemus, veiled in the white cloak of the Kingsguard, stood guard behind her husband as a large creeping shadow, lurking over him as a predator, contempt clearly visible in his eyes. Lyonel was clearly aware of his presence, but dared not look behind him. A clear threat constructed by her father, Elaena thought. Ser Raemus had played his role in the arrest and captivity of lord Tyrell.
Some men wondered how a man so infamous for his cruelty could have earned a white cloak. In fact, it was his cruelty itself who earned it to him. He was at Gaemon's side when he was assaulted in the streets of King's Landing. The two Kingsguard who were with him, resisted no more than a pie would, when they were sliced to pieces. Ser Raemus single handedly butchered the assailants in the cruelest ways imaginable. Even when it was clear the prince was no longer in danger, he pursued his slaughter for all men to see. They said he forced the last man alive to swallow his own heart. Gaemon then took the white cloak of one of his fallen Kingsguard, draped it around his brother's shoulders and said 'It looks better on you than it did on them.' He was feared and respected even among his sworn brothers, as he was by all.
Suddenly, she wondered if he had been present at the execution of lord Baratheon. In that case, how would Alyssa feel when she crossed him in a hallway? She looked around her but failed to spot the girl. She could imagine her sitting lonely at a table, with no one to talk to. She turned to Lyonel and asked: 'How well do you know Alyssa Baratheon?'
He looked surprised; She hadn't spoken to him personally over the entire span of the wedding. 'I knew her well. We visited her and her family at Storm's End many times. Is she here? I haven't seen her for a year now.'
'She lives in the Red Keep, with me. As a friend.'
'And as a hostage,' he added, 'Would you mind if I went to look for her? I'll come back to you soon.'
Elaena said she did not mind. Through the crowd she saw Lyonel talking to Alyssa. Alyssa was smiling. If Lyonel could simply marry Alyssa instead of her, it would be better for the three of them. Lyonel and Alyssa could bring joy to each other's lives. Alyssa would escape from a life she hated. Instead, Elaena was being dragged away from a life she loved. Lyonel and Elaena's paring would not bring joy, only misery. For both of them.
'This marriage is a mistake,' the voice of ser Raemus said, articulating her thoughts. He was leaning towards her. 'The dragon should not mingle with lesser beings. Why would we waste the blood of the dragon on this lot? The Tyrells should never have been forgiven.' He looked in her eyes with a self-satisfied expression dancing on his face. 'Remember, child, when these Tyrells turn against you, call on me. I'd be more than happy to liberate you and the world from these people. One touch from my talon and you'll never have to worry about them again.' He put his left hand on the table, exposing his gauntlet, shaped like a dragon's talon. They said he could kill with it as easily as he could with a sword.
Elaena bore her uncle Raemus no affection, but at that moment she could kiss him. If he could save her from the clutches of the Tyrells, she would forgive him everything he reputedly had done. 'Thank you for your promise. I might make you stick to that.'
'I don't mind if you do. Anything for our family.' Having said that, he went back to his static pose as a guard.
Now she was released of her husband, she stood up to join the dance floor. She made eye contact with Edmyn and he invited her to come to him. Elaena felt an upcoming sense of excitement. A guy as funny and genuinely kind could surely help her lose her nervousness. She eagerly strode in the direction of her friend, but was intercepted by a firm hand. Lyonel stood next to her again. 'Shall we dance?' he asked and Elaena grudgingly agreed.
Lyonel danced well. All his moves were swift and elegant and Elaena had trouble catching up. 'You dance very well, my lady,' he said. She answered his flattery with silence. His hand held her close to him with a firm grip. He was stronger than she thought and more decisive not to let her go. As she was spinning around in the hated boy's arms, she saw the faces of the people around her. Edmyn Tully had taken in on lady Alyssa and both seemed to be entertained by each other's company. Lady Aelora stared at her, absent minded. Her father was making jokes to a member of his household guard. Ser Raemus stood against the wall, immobile and in vigilance. She could solely take comfort from Jay's pitying eyes. More than ever, she felt like a prisoner, contained in Lyonel's arms.
The worst part was yet to come. The pair was led to their bed chamber accompanied by a choir of cheers. The door was closed and the two of them were alone at last with no one to talk to or look at but the other. Carefully he undressed her with pretended affection and asked her to lie down on the bed. He then put his same strong arms around her and kissed her. In her imagination she saw ser Raemus come in and drag her husband from the bed. But no, he could not save her now. No one could.
xxxx
Author's Notes
I hope you enjoyed by second chapter! Leave a review to tell me what you liked and didn't like in the story so far. (And by the way, the Maiden's March is my invention. It's not a real tradition.)
Character Credits
Here's an overview of all the characters in my story so far. My name in brackets means I've created them for the convenience of the story, but you can still take them over if you want. Not all characters have featured yet, and some haven't played a big role so far, but be patient. They'll come to their own right.
House Targaryen
king Aerion Targaryen, 55, dying – (ColdWindsRising)
prince Gaemon Targaryen, 39, eldest son of king Aerion – ColdWindsRising
princess Aelora Targaryen, 37, wife and sister of Gaemon – ColdWindsRising
princess Elaena Targaryen, 17, eldest child of Gaemon and Aelora – ColdWindsRising
prince Jaelyx Targaryen, 15, second child of Gaemon and Aelora – RageMachine1227
prince Rhaegel Targaryen, 13, son of Gaemon's brother – (ColdWindsRising)
princess Naerys Targaryen, 27, sister of Gaemon – anyhoot
ser Raemus Targaryen, 23, brother of Gaemon, member of the Kingsguard – Rougeification
House Tyrell
Lyonel Tyrell, 19, heir to Highgarden – AlmightyMuslim
lady Victaria Tyrell, 38, mother of Lyonel, born to house Dustin – AlmightyMuslim
House Baratheon
Alyssa Baratheon, 16, hostage to house Targaryen, sister of current lord Baratheon – amagicalunicorn
House Tully
ser Edmyn Tully, 19, ward of house Targaryen, younger brother of lord Tully – RageMachine1227
House Greyjoy
lord Corvo Greyjoy, 20, last surviving Greyjoy – Rougeification
Casting Calls
I've decided to work with the houses I've received so far. Please submit family members for these houses or people working for them (especially house Tyrell- We'll see more of them soon). Temporarily, I will not focus on houses Stark, Arryn, Lannister and Martell. House Baratheon openly hates the Targaryens (and have limited power-they're controlled by the crown), house Greyjoy is hostile and house Tyrell is still wary of them. House Tully on the other hand is friendly to the Targaryens.
I have one problem and that is that I have a large power vacuum. Gaemon isn't much of a ruler, and neither are the other members of his house so far. I need someone who can rule, make the important decisions and protect the Targaryen legacy. You can still submit Elaena's youngest brother (who's about 12) or Aerion's soon-to-be widow (who's probably another Targaryen).
And if you send in more than one character, I always prefer if they do not have a strong relationship with each other.
Anyway, you can submit any sort of character you want. If you want to ask about something first, you can always PM me. Enjoy yourselves!