The King's Feast 21: Rhaenyra V
Rhaenyra was to finally marry.
It had been a long time coming, and she had been trying to avoid it for some time. But eventually, her duties caught up to her and her father forced her to, lest she were to be disinherited.
I should have used the marriage tour to find a match of my own choosing, now I am stuck with Jason fucking Lannister.
Looking back, maybe going on the second round of the tour would have been a decent idea. It would have allowed Rhaenyra to delay her marriage just a little bit further, and it wouldn't have led to the events that culminated in her no longer having a choice in her husband.
Harwin Strong was to be on the second round.
As of late, Rhaenyra had taken to admiring Ser Harwin Breakbones. She had not yet mustered the courage to approach the hulking knight, so she had just settled for watched him from afar as he commanded the Gold Cloaks in his deep, booming voice.
What would be the point of even talking to the man, I would not even be able to marry him.
Rhaenyra rolled her eyes and closed the book she was reading and got up from under the shade of the heart tree. The book she was reading was about the journeys of the legendary Princess Nymeria.
This was the book that I ripped the page off of to Alicent. We always used to sit here in the godswood. It's a shame she won't be here to attend my wedding.
Rhaenyra had said that she would only marry if her father would dismiss Otto Hightower as his Hand, due to him reporting what she had done with her uncle in that brothel. Otto as well as his children left King's Landing for Oldtown a few days later, and Alicent did not even come and say goodbye to Rhaenyra, nor offer her congratulations in marrying, which was especially surprising considering she had encouraged Rhaenyra to marry for so long.
Mayhaps she is upset that her father was dismissed, and I did not end up marrying her brother.
Rhaenyra had also demanded that Corlys Velaryon would be dismissed as Master of Ships, due to his constant pressuring of her father to make her half-brother heir.
My stepmother shall continue to push for her son's claim over mine, though, trying to finish what her father had started.
Laena Velaryon was always a fiery girl, and though marriage and childbirth had lessened her fire, she was still hot headed and passionate.
It is a shame her son has a rival claim to mine, we could have been good friends if not for that.
The two of them talked often in the years following Laena's marriage. She always wanted to know what riding a dragon was like, and how a dragon followed its rider's orders, considering that she had not yet gotten a mount of her own. But ever since Daeron was born, they did not mingle as much as they did before, with their only exchanges being basic pleasantries. They held no ill will towards each other, that was to be sure, but their relationship had certainly cooled.
Of course, Laena had become a whole deal more occupied following the birth of Daeron, and later Baela. Daeron was not much of a hassle for a babe, but Baela was constantly heard shouting the Red Keep down. Rhaenyra didn't really talk to her half siblings much either, since Baela was still not yet capable of talking, and whilst Daeron could hold a conversation well for a three year old, him and Rhaenyra did not have much in common.
That is because he is only three. But I still doubt we will have much in common when he grows older. The young lad seems like he will be interested in books more than anything, that and the fact that he is my rival to the throne.
Rhaenyra walked out of the godswood and towards Maegor's Holdfast, to wash and change her clothing. She had just gone riding on Syrax earlier in the morning, and stunk of dragon, and her father said her dragon riding clothing was not suitable for today's event.
I am to meet my betrothed today.
The Lannister host had arrived at King's Landing this morning and were waiting outside the city. They arrived a few weeks before the wedding, so Rhaenyra could be accustomed to her husband and his family. Rhaenyra was still to remain in King's Landing, as Lord Jason was to join the Small Council, replacing Corlys Velaryon as the Master of Ships, and it would be good to know her future husband more before her marriage. And for that reason, she needed to be looking, and smelling her best.
The Realm's Delight.
That is what people called her, likely to curry up favour with her so they might win her hand in marriage. But after Rhaenyra rejected all of the proposals, the nickname eventually became a term used to mock her behind her back.
Later, Rhaenyra changed into an elegant dress made with Qartheen silk and Myrish lace on the sleeves. The dress was the black of House Targaryen and had fire red rubies studded into its bodice. On the skirt of the dress, gold and red dragons were woven into the silk, whilst Rhaenyra wore a golden necklace that had three sparkling rubies set into it. On her ears were dangling golden earrings that were shaped into a three headed dragon, and her hair was tied into a bun with a red hairnet adorned with black gemstones covering it.
I must show Lord Jason that he is to marry a dragon.
When Rhaenyra was all dressed, she made her way to the outer yard, where she met her father as well as the rest of the people that would ride out with them to meet the Lannisters. Her father was there, waiting beside the royal carriage they would ride in, wearing matching cloths as Rhaenyra, the black and red of their house. The new Hand, Lyonel Strong, was mounted atop a brown palfrey, next to Jasper Wylde, the new Master of Laws, and the High Septon, with his large seven pointed crown still on his head. The Grand Maester and Lyman Beesbury both opted to travel in a carriage, and Ser Harrold Westerling and Ser Arryk Cargyll were both mounted on white chargers that were wearing milky white horse armor to match with their riders. The Queen as well as her two children were not present, and neither was Ser Criston Cole, who had become her new protector.
It is a shame that he did not consider my offer to fly away to Dorne.
The night that her father ordered her to marry, in a fit of madness, she pleaded Ser Criston to elope with her. Ser Criston promptly refused, saying that he had soiled his cloak and would not soil it any more by deserting.
I even offered for him to be my paramour.
Ser Criston then grew angry, and declared that he was no whore, and stormed off back to the White Tower. The next she had heard of him, he curtly congratulated her on her marriage, and declared that he had pledged his sword to Laena Velaryon.
It is true, I guess, I would no longer need a Kingsguard sworn to protect me now that I am to marry Lord Jason.
"You are late, Rhaenyra." Her father said, disapprovingly.
"My apologies, father, this dress took ever so long to wear. I was to don my riding wear, but you insisted that I look the part of a princess." Rhaenyra retorted.
Her father simply rolled his eyes, and climbed into the royal carriage, and Rhaenyra followed him in.
"Open the gate!" shouted Harwin Strong, in his commanding voice.
The portcullis was raised, and the horses began to move, pulling the royal carriage with them. Their litter passed over the lowered drawbridge and out of the Red Keep, into King's Landing. The carriage rattled and the horses sighed as they descended Aegon's High Hill and made their way across the twisty roads. They continued for a while, passing by staring onlookers, and manses big and small and medium. After a small while, they made a sharp turn into the Street of the Sister and headed up Rhaenys' Hill towards the Dragonpit.
Rhaenyra did not want to meet the Lannisters outside of the city, but her father insisted that they would, declaring that they have had a long journey to the capital, and deserve a warm welcome.
You are the King father; people should be coming to you, not the opposite!
Rhaenyra said she would only attend if she could arrive riding on Syrax, but her father swiftly put down that notion. After a long back and forth, they agreed that Syrax could be present, flying above the meeting parties, to remind the Lannisters of the power of House Targaryen. The Hand, Lyonel Strong, agreed with her suggestion, so her father relented.
The Dragonpit was an imposing structure, it's huge grey domed top the crown on the head of the Hill of Rhaenys. Along its side lay large stone pillars, and the entrance was a huge bronze and iron door. It was so wide, twenty of the royal carriages could fit through, and so tall that even Balerion could enter it, although the tunnels within were not large enough to withhold the Black Dread at his biggest. The horses came to a stop just outside the gates, and Rhaenyra and her father exited their carriage and walked up to the massive door, accompanied by Ser Harrold and Ser Arryk on either side of them.
Two Valyrian dragonkeepers of the seven-and-seventy in their order of came out to greet the royal escort, kneeling before Rhaenyra's father. The Order of Dragonkeepers were originally made with some of the Valyrian smallfolk that came with the Targaryens to Dragonstone. Later, they became a holy order, and were blessed by the High Septon himself during the reign of King Jaehaerys, though it was an open secret that those in order preferred the gods of Old Valyria. One of the dragonkeepers that came to meet them was a younger man, and the other was older woman, but both had shaved heads and burns across their bodies and red and black robes.
"Dārilaros." The older one said. "Syrax iksis kesīr."
Princess. Syrax is here.
The large doors swung open with a loud creak, and out came Syrax, a large yellow dragon with dark green eyes. It had a plump body, and a heavy metal chain locked around its neck. Five more dragonkeepers followed the she-dragon with their staves, guiding the she-dragon where to go.
"Dohaeris, Syrax." Shouted another dragonkeeper.
Serve, Syrax.
Syrax shook her large head and released smoke from its nostrils before lowering her head, then two dragonkeepers carefully unlocked the metal chain and placed it on the cobbled ground. Syrax let out a soft roar and clambered slowly to Rhaenyra, looking directly at her.
"Sōvegon, Syrax. Umbagon isse se jēdrar, ēva nyke udrāzma ao." Rhaenyra said, gently to her dragon.
Fly, Syrax. Remain in the skies until I command you to.
Syrax grunted and looked at Rhaenyra, before pointing her head at the sky and releasing a blast of yellow flames. Then she flapped her yellow wings and took flight.
"Sȳz, ao dohaeragon nyke sȳrī, Syrax." Rhaenyra shouted at Syrax, who was now in the air and circling the Dragonpit.
Good, you serve me well, Syrax.
In truth, Rhaenyra had no doubt that Syrax would disobey her commands, since Syrax's egg was placed in Rhaenyra's cradle when she was just a babe and hatched when Rhaenyra was three. Rhaenyra had ridden her first when she only seven, and the two of them had an unbreakable bond since.
We are connected, me and Syrax, she would never disobey me.
Syrax was one of the few things Rhaenyra loved. Though the she-dragon was not as big as Vhagar, nor as beautiful as Meleys,n or as ferocious as Caraxes, Syrax was still Rhaenyra's favourite dragon, and she would always be her favourite dragon.
Rhaenyra and the rest of the group returned to the carriage, and they set off again, this time for a much shorter journey, heading through the Dragon Gate and outside the city walls, where the Lannister host were waiting, in the tents and pavilions that were set up to accommodate their arrival.
The carriage bumped as they went back down the hill, as Syrax screeched above, and they heard the command of a Gold Cloak to open the city gates. Rhaenyra looked out of the curtain and saw more onlookers gawking at them riding past, then she saw the inner walls of the city, with men all atop the battlements. After they passed the Dragon Gate, there were large red tents placed everywhere, all with the Targaryen sigil handing on its sides and flying on a post on its rooves. All over the ground, however, she saw other sigils, drawn onto shields, and stitched into banners. She spotted the blue and silver seven pointed star of the Tarbecks, the boar on a field of brown of Crakehall, and the six white seashells of House Westerling, the house of Ser Harrold. But the sigil she saw most of all, was a golden lion standing proudly on a field of bright crimson. It was the arms of House Lannister.
The carriage came to a stop again, and Rhaenyra and her father climbed out of it and onto the dried ground below. The Kingsguard members, Lyonel Strong, Jasper Wylde, and the High Septon and all the others dismounted, as did Lyman Beesbury and the Grand Maester and whoever else preferred to travel with a carriage. The Grand Maester when exiting was aided by Maester Orwyle, one of Mellos' assistants.
Kneeling in front of the King just ahead of them were the Westerlanders, Lords from Houses Farman, Reyne, and Marbrand were all there. At the front of the kneeling crowd were the Lannisters, with their signature golden blond hair and emerald-green eyes. Lady Ceira Lannister wore a red and gold dress, and a bright red hat to cover her greying hair, while Ser Tommen, her youngest son, wore gold and red plate armor, and had a scowl on his face. Meanwhile, in front of the two of them, were Ser Tommen's older brothers, Ser Tyland, and his twin, Rhaenyra's betrothed, Lord Jason.
Ser Tyland preferred a more modest outfit, whatever modest meant for a Lannister, wearing a red and burgundy doublet that had a golden lion embroidered onto it. His hair was neatly combed, and his golden beard was cut short. Lord Jason stayed true to his house's reputation, however, and was wearing a fine cloth-of-gold doublet, studded with rubies that matched Rhaenyra's dress, and a red and gold cloak that draped behind him onto the grass. On his neck hung two golden chains, and another golden chain of links connected his cloak to his doublet. He still had the piercing green eyes that Rhaenyra remembered, and his long golden hair was let loose onto his shoulders but unlike his brother, his cheeks were clean shaven.
He looks more like a king than my father does, in truth.
"You may rise." Her father said, and all the Westermen stood up, patting at their expensive breeches, to remove the mud and dust on them. "I pray you all are well after such a long journey. We have arranged for a small welcome greeting for you, before you make yourselves at home in the city later today."
"Your Grace, we would have preferred to have a welcome feast in the Red Keep." Ser Tommen said.
"There is to be a welcome feast later this evening, Ser Tommen, do not fret. We only wanted to give you a warm welcome you to the city." Lyonel Strong responded bluntly, whilst Rhaenyra's father simply gave him a warm smile.
"Understood, Your Grace." Lord Jason said, with his signature smirk on his face.
As the crowd dispersed into their own groups, heading back to their own tents in conversation with another, Lord Jason approached Rhaenyra.
"Princess? Might we walk?" asked Lord Jason, whilst taking two glasses of wine from a serving lady.
"Absolutely." Rhaenyra replied, smiling in the friendliest manner she could manage.
Absolutely, but I wish not to.
Lord Jason handed her a glass of the wine. Rhaenyra took a small sip of it, and then another one after that. It was extremely sweet, but also pleasant on the tongue.
"Do you like the wine, Princess? It is a Casterly Rock special, made from grapes grown freshly in the Westerlands and sweetened with honey native to Lannisport. It is much better than all of that bitter piss that they drink in Dorne."
He could not wait one minute before bragging about his house's wealth.
"Oh, it is truly a fine wine." Rhaenyra said, suddenly finding the sweetness too cloying.
"As is as all things from Casterly Rock," laughed Lord Jason. "Though we shall be living... here, or at Dragonstone, as befits the heir to the throne, I must take you to visit the Rock one day."
"Oh, I cannot wait to visit the Rock." Rhaenyra lied.
"Have you thought of names for our babe yet, Princess? I was thinking mayhaps… Joffrey for a boy, for that was the name of many Kings of the Rock, or Tyshara for a girl, for that was my grandmother's name."
His ambition knows no bounds.
"I think you are mistaken, Lord Jason. I am the heir to the Iron Throne, and thus my future children are to have Targaryen names." Rhaenyra smiled gently at him.
"When has a child ever inherited its mother's family names, Princess?" scoffed Lord Jason.
Since now.
"Do you not want this marriage, Lord Jason?"
"Of course I want this marriage, Princess, but my children-"
"The child shall be my child and shall take a name from my family. Or would you rather me not perform my duties to you as a wife, so you would not have any children at all?"
Lord Jason stopped in his tracks and turned to glower at Rhaenyra.
"That shall not happen. You are to be my wife, and you are to perform your duties." Lord Jason replied.
"Is that so, Lord Jason?" Rhaenyra asked, as suddenly Syrax dove down from the skies and landed right in front of Rhaenyra and Lord Jason, letting off a roar as she arrived, which scared all the nearby horses off.
Lord Jason quickly backed away in fear.
"Princess, this-" he gasped, with fear in his bright green eyes.
"It is fine, truly. She is a friendly girl." Rhaenyra laughed. "Have you never seen a dragon before, Lord Jason?"
"What is this madness?" Lord Jason demanded, wiping sweat off his forehead.
"Come, pet Syrax."
"No! You threaten me with this-"
"She does not bite, come closer, you shall be fine, go." Rhaenyra urged.
"If you... fine..."
Lord Jason took a breath and stepped closer to Syrax, his arms shaking.
He will pet the dragon; he would never wish to look like a coward in front of everyone.
Syrax grunted at Lord Jason, whilst he carefully moved his hand nearer to Syrax's snout. When he touched it, he quickly moved back in pain.
"Gods! It's... hot!" he yelped.
"Not too hot, you get used to it, carry on."
It is not hot for someone that has the blood of the dragon in their veins.
Lord Jason glared at Rhaenyra and moved his hand back to Syrax. This time, when he touched Syrax, he kept his hand there, and Syrax lowered her neck and purred at him.
"She likes, you, Lord Jason, look."
I did not expect that.
"Yes, she does." Smiled Lord Jason, his confident demeanour suddenly returning to him in an instant. He continued to stroke Syrax's face and neck, until the she-dragon got tired of it, and she gave a small grunt and took flight again.
Lord Jason released a breath and looked Rhaenyra right in her eyes.
"You are to perform your duties as a wife, Rhaenyra."
Rhaenyra stared back at him.
"Syrax likes you, that is true, but do not forget, she is still a dragon. And though she does not like to hunt, she still likes to eat, especially what I feed her. It is best you do not forget that."
Lord Jason leaned close, his voice dropping to a whisper
"And it is best to not forget your reputation, Princess. I am no fool, I know that your father is unhappy with all of rejections to marriage proposals earlier this year. Break this betrothal now and… suddenly it would be Prince Daeron we shall all be bending our knees to in some years' time."
He is not wrong; I must do my duty if I am to remain heir.
"Did you forget what I just said to you, Lord Jason?" Rhaenyra replied, as Syrax flew just overhead, scaring all the horses again.
Rhaenyra paused for a moment.
"But yes, you are correct in that, so... we shall only do our duty up until I am with child, and after that, if you ever wish to enter my bedchamber… you must ask Syrax first. I shall do my duties, you shall get your half lion, half dragon children, is that not a judicious proposal? Do we have an agreement, Lord Jason?"
"Yes, yes we do, Princess." Lord Jason curtly responded, with a scowl on his face.
They walked back to the main crowd at the Dragon Gate in silence, and when they arrived, they quickly parted ways.
She noticed Harwin Strong looking at her from afar, and their eyes met each other's.
Gods, what should I do?
Rhaenyra gave a quick smile, and looked away shyly, before going over to the tents for some wine.
Gods, why are you nervous around that man?
Later that evening, there was a feast to be held in the throne room, once all of the Westerlanders had settled in King's Landing, to celebrate the betrothal of Rhaenyra and Lord Jason.
Rhaenyra chose to wear the same clothes she had worn earlier, but she had no doubt that her betrothed would change into something even more extravagant than earlier.
He will certainly change his clothes now that is smells of dragon!
The celebration was to be a small feast, with a modest selection of courses and not too many guests, only those coming from the Westerlands, and those who were regularly present in the Red Keep. Laena Velaryon also would attend, and she came dressed in a beautiful red and black dress with Myrish lace sleeves. After the feast, music was to be played, and then a small dance to finish off the night.
At least less people shall dance with me now that I am betrothed.
Rhaenyra was correct, when the feast was over, most of the people that danced with her were people that were already married, and other members of the Lannister household.
There are so many Lannisters, I can scarcely remember all of their names.
Lord Jason, who was in a shiny cloth-of-gold and cloth-of-silver doublet adorned with green gemstones, and four golden chains on his neck, sat on the raised dais, making japes to her father and Ser Tyland as everyone danced on the floor below. When Rhaenyra had finished her dance with Lord Caswell, he called to her.
"Princess..." he drunkenly laughed. "I know it is ill fortune to dance with your betrothed before you marry, so why not dance with my brother instead, he looks just like me, only uglier!"
Ser Tyland smiled at his brother's jape and politely came up to Rhaenyra and gave her his hand, and they danced for a while, offering Rhaenyra kind compliments, and making small japes as they twirled around. Ser Tyland was not as loud as his brother, nor as haughty, and when their dance was over, it was Ser Tommen who joined her. He did not speak as much as his brothers did but was pleasant enough during their dance.
After her short dance with Ser Tommen, it was Harwin Strong who joined her. When his muscular hands held hers, she felt the same feeling in her stomach that she felt all those years earlier, back at her father's wedding.
Gods, Rhaenyra, keep your composure.
"You dance well, Princess." Harwin said, warmly.
"You do too, Ser Harwin." Rhaenyra smiled. "But you flatter me, Ser. It has been... a long day, and I am so terribly... tired from all of this. I would rather go back to... my bedchambers if I could..."
Fuck, I should not have said that.
Ser Harwin's brown eyes widened. "If that is your wish, Princess, then I shall escort you there." He whispered.
He… agreed? He agreed!
Rhaenyra took a deep breath as her heart pounded heavily in her chest.
"Then come with me, Ser Harwin" Rhaenyra giggled.
Rhaenyra took her leave of the feast, saying goodbye to her father, and Lord Jason, who both drunkenly wished her a good night at the same time before looking at each other and laughing at what happened.
As Rhaenyra and Harwin exited the throne room, she passed by Ser Criston who was posted at the door, who did not even acknowledge her as she left.
On the way to Rhaenyra's bedchambers, Rhaenyra felt a weird feeling in her body, and her heart felt like it was going to escape from her chest.
This was the same feeling I felt when I returned from the city that night.
As they reached her bedchambers, Rhaenyra quickly entered, dragging Harwin in by his hands. He quickly looked around before entering, and then closing the door after him so no one would see them.
When the door was closed, Harwin, still in his black armor and golden cloak, grabbed Rhaenyra and kissed her.