Queen Alyssa Targaryen

It was a strange feeling being queen, Alyssa thought. The Greenlanders were more willing to listen to her now than they had been when she was simply a princess, they bowed and curtseyed and took everything she said at face value and batted not an eye lid when she made some deliberately awkward demand of them. It was equal parts pleasant and aggravating, on the one hand she liked not being looked down upon as much as she had been when her husband had just been Prince of Dragonstone, and that because she now wore a crown on her head these fools actually took her seriously. On the other hand, it was aggravating because if she were being honest with herself Alyssa quite enjoyed the struggle of making people think more of her, she had always liked a challenge, and that had been her greatest one and yet she had won it without really having to fight all that hard.

Of course being Queen meant that she had to have ladies in waiting, she had quite clearly told her husband that she did not want nor did she need ladies in waiting, from what she had seen they had all been simpering idiots those ladies that came to court, with not a proper thought in their head. Her husband though, sweet Aegyl had insisted that she have ladies in waiting if only to provide her with some actual female company beyond his mother, for her husband wished to strengthen his hold on the throne and create a new identity for himself that was not completely reliant on his grandfather's legend. It was a strange feeling having ladies waiting on her every whim, people to speak to when Aegyl was busy with the council, or when she simply tired of court. Some of the women such as Genna Lannister did actually give her interesting conversation, whilst others such as Lady Melena Rosby were the actual simpering fools that she had heard so much about growing up.

Alyssa's goodmother though was not one of these simpering fools, Princess Rhaenys otherwise known amongst the nobles and the smallfolk as the Queen Who Never Was, was a very smart and shrewd woman, who knew how the game of thrones, the game that flew right past Alyssa's head was played. Alyssa had learnt a lot from watching her goodmother walk around the court speaking with the various nobles and ladies, charming them with her wit and her words. After one feast, Alyssa had asked her goodmother how she knew the exact words to say to each and every person all the time, and her goodmother had laughed and said softly. "I have lived at court my whole life sweetling. I know what sort of fools these people are, it is merely a case of observing what makes them tick." And so Alyssa had watched and she had learnt a great deal about the lords and their ladies.

She had been sad when her goodmother had decided to retire to Dragonstone, stating that she did not wish to be a burden to her son, nor Alyssa herself, she took a small guard and kept a small household and ran her intrigues from Dragonstone. Alyssa kept in contact with her, occasionally asking her advice on some small matter or the other, and often receiving a detailed and informed response, that had deeply helped her in improving her standing in court, and removing the image of her being a simple savage.

It also seemed as if her husband had learnt a few things from his mother as well. The Darklyns had been causing some amount of trouble demanding a new charter for the town of Duskendale and some form of codified rights for their people, though Lord Denys had not specified what sort of things were to be included in both. Her husband had written to the man and told him that unless he knew the specifics of what was wanted he would do nothing to change the way things were done in Duskendale. Lord Denys had written back demanding an audience with the king, her husband had refused stating that he could ask but not demand, and the war of words had gone backwards and forwards for a few moons, until her husband finally managed to get Darklyn to back down. Her husband had sent Lord Darklyn the head of a man bearing the arms of Duskendale who had tried to break into the royal bank, the criminal's mouth stuffed with Myrish Lace, as a warning for Lord Denys and his Myrish wife. Since then no word of complaint had been heard from Duskendale, it seemed they had gotten the message.

Alyssa had been glad for that, for she had worried for a time that it might have come to blows, and whilst she knew her husband to be a capable warrior, she did not want to have to send him off to war. She had found that she loved her husband, naive though he was in some things, she loved him fiercely, and never wanted him to leave her side from this mortal world before their times came in old age. She loved their children just as fiercely, bold and brash Aemon their eldest, quiet and contemplative Viserys, and his twin loud Baelon, her little girl the jewel of the court Rhaena who was all fire, and their youngest son Lucerys who seemed to be much like Alyssa herself than Aegyl especially in terms of his appearance, their youngest was black of hair and brown of eyes, whilst all their children apart from Aemon had the Targaryen looks, Aemon had black hair with silver streaks going through it and had his father's purple eyes.

Her eldest son had developed a close rapport with the three boys that had been sent to foster in King's Landing, Brandon Stark, Elbert Arryn and Garth Hightower two of the boys were heirs to old and proud houses, and all four of them had gotten up to all kinds of mischief over the years. Causing Alyssa and Aegyl no end of headaches and amusement with their antics and pranks. Her son was deeply happy though and that was what mattered to her, all of her children were, and why not this was a time of peace, the long summer.

As if to celebrate the good times and tidings that the realm was experiencing Hand of the King Tywin Lannister had thrown a tourney at Lannisport the seat of his brother Tygett and invited the king and half the realm to attend. Alyssa suspected that over the week that the tourney was being held the hand of the king meant to bring up an important matter with her husband, regarding their children, and she was weary of it. Tywin was a good man, but he was ambitious and that ambition could be their undoing unless they were very careful.

The tourney involved jousting and a melee, the melee had been won by her husband's uncle Prince Maekar, wielding a mace like his namesake the rogue had come and defeated all those who had stood in his path. Her husband's uncle was by far her favourite male member of House Targaryen, apart from Aegyl of course, Maekar was charming and handsome and he was full of wit and dry humour all that was lacking in Aerys, the other Targaryen male she had actually spoken to. Her husband's cousin had deigned not to attend the tourney perhaps still hurting over some slight or imagined insult, the man had become quite good at such things.

The jousting was to be held over the next few days, and had begun with a joust between Prince Rhaegar, new to knighthood and Ser Arthur Dayne of the Kingsguard. The pair had broken five lances against one another before Rhaegar had unhorsed Ser Arthur, Alyssa's son had let out a groan then, for Aemon idolized the sword of the morning just as much as her Viserys idolized Rhaegar. The next joust Rhaegar had competed in had been against his friend Ser Jon Connington, also new to knighthood, the pair had broken three lances against one another before Ser Jon had been unhorsed. Rhaegar had then moved onto face Tygett Lannister the Lord of Lannisport, and that had been a competition that had had all on the edge of their seats. Eight lances had been broken by both men before Rhaegar eventually unhorsed Tygett, earning a cheer from one part of the crowd and a sigh from the other half.

Of the other competitors, there were some interesting jousts. Ser Gerold Hightower Lord Commander of the Kingsguard broke five lances against Ser Gerion Lannister before unhorsing Lannister. Hightower was later unhorsed by Ser Baelor Hightower the young heir of Oldtown in the semi finals. Ser Brandon Stark also of the Kingsguard pushed past almost all those who came before him before meeting an interesting foe in the final round before the semi finals. Lord Hoster Tully, a war hero from the last Blackfyre war and with two daughters and a son and new to widowhood the man was dressed in black and yet both men broke twelve lances against one another before Ser Brandon managed to get a luck stroke and unhorse Lord Hoster.

The semi finals were to be held on the morrow for now though Alyssa had retired to her and her husband's tent and was awaiting his company. For now though she was content to allow Tysha her handmaiden to unbraid her hair and have some idle conversation with her. "What did you make of the jousting today Tysha?" Alyssa asked.

"It was good my lady," her handmaiden replied. "Prince Rhaegar jousted very well. And he looked very nice in his armour." The girl tittered then.

Alyssa smiled slightly at the girl, all the young girls seemed to be entranced by Rhaegar, if truth be told Alyssa herself was slightly surprised the boy had decided to venture forth from Summerhall for the event, as far as she knew he had never left the place of his birth other than when he had squired for his uncle Prince Aelix. Still, "Perhaps he will crown you Queen of Love and Beauty Tysha." Alyssa said playfully.

Her handmaiden blushed then. "Oh that would be sweet Your Grace. But I do not think he will, no Prince Rhaegar does not seem interested in much of women." And then almost as if she had spoken too much the woman covered her mouth and said. "Forgive me Your Grace, I have spoken out of turn."

"Oh hush now Tysha. No one else is hear you, only me and I won't tell anyone what we discuss here. Now tell me what you mean." Alyssa said soothingly.

The girl blushed once more but then spoke all in a rush. "I've heard some of the men at arms who came with Prince Rhaegar speaking of how his sudden interest in arms just appeared out of nowhere one day and now he is so dedicated to becoming a knight that he hardly does anything else. They are all wondering what caused the change in their prince Your Grace."

Alyssa was silent for a moment considering what the girl had said, she had heard those same rumours as well, Prince Rhaegar had been very bookish as a child something that had earnt him the disdain of his father until one day he had demanded his uncle take him on as a squire and train him in the arts of war, when asked why, he had not replied with anything other than it was his duty. Still the girl did not need to know that aloud she merely said. "Well I am sure Rhaegar had his reasons, any way it is not like he will not pay attention to you my girl. You are rather beautiful after all."

A slight rustling at the entrance to the tent caused the girl to stop and for Alyssa to turn round. She saw her husband standing in the entrance, his hair dishevelled and his eyes hard. "Leave us." He said to Tysha, the girl bowed low and then scurried out of the tent. Aegyl came to stand behind her, his hands playing with her hair.

"Is aught amiss my love?" Alyssa asked.

Her husband was silent for a long time before he finally spoke his hands stilled in her hair. "Tywin approached me about betrothing Aemon to his daughter Cersei." Alyssa was silent, she had been expecting this for a long time, and she was not sure why her husband would look so distressed about it though, if anything she had though he would be keen to agree to the option. Still she waited for her husband to speak and after a long moment he did. "I refused."

Now that did shock her. "Why?" Alyssa asked.

Alyssa turns round then so that she is facing her husband and the look of absolute pain on his face worries her. His voice is laced with sadness when he says. "Because of something Aemon said to us about Cersei."

"What did Aemon say?" Alyssa asked, wondering what their eldest could have said that would sway her husband from the path he had been on.

Aegyl takes her hands in his then and looks right at her when he replies. "He told me that after the jousting ended he was walking around Lannisport with Viserys and Elbert Arryn, Ser Jonothor was with them, and they came across Cersei Lannister and her friends near a well. Not wanting to disturb the girls at their play, the boys moved on but Aemon remained where he was with Ser Jonothor standing guard, Aemon told me that he saw Cersei push one of her friends down that well." Alyssa is shocked.

"Perhaps Aemon saw wrong? He is a child after all." Alyssa says.

"He did not my love. Ser Jonothor confirmed our son's story in front of Tywin and myself." Aegyl said his voice laced with sadness.

"Then you did the right thing in refusing the offer my love. It would do no good to have our son and the future of the kingdoms tied to a girl who kills her own friends. What did the Lannister girl have to say about the whole matter?" Alyssa asks.

"She denied it most fiercely when brought before us. Claiming that Aemon was lying and that the girl she pushed had actually fallen down the well. Still she was ranting and raving by that point, cursing us and our son. Tywin agreed to not go through with the betrothal." Aegyl replies.

"Then that is good is it not? At least Tywin is not blind to the true nature of his daughter now." Alyssa stated.

Her husband was silent but she could feel the sorrow running through him at the thought that his friend's daughter was most likely a mad woman, Alyssa was merely grateful her son had escaped the girl and the hell that would have been his fate.