The Princess and the Queen 5: Laena I
The sun was finally shining in King's Landing
My family have returned.
Above in the skies, two dragons circled the air. Meleys, with her bright scarlet and copper colouring, and Seasmoke, pale grey and slender, both howled and roared as they let out blasts of coloured fire into the clouds. Down below, the outer yard of the Red Keep bustled with noise and commotion. Men-at-arms shouted commands whilst the servants rushed around doing tasks for nobles, as they usually did.
The afternoon sun shone down on Laena, and she felt sweat building throughout her body. She nervously ran her hands through her curly silver hair and looked at her children. Daeron and Baela both eagerly stood there, both of them clutching onto Laena's hand. They both wore blue, as did Laena and half of the people waiting in the yard. She spotted some of her closest allies in court; Ser Lyonel Massey, his sister Lady Elinor, and the new young Lord Bar Emmon. Lady Chelsted was also present, along with Lord Wendwater and his many children. From the Small Council, Jasper Wylde and Grand Maester Orwyle were the only members there, along with Viserys, of course.
Not surprising.
Lyonel Strong did not have the highest opinion of Laena's father and had instead recommended Ser Tyland Lannister, Lord Jason's twin brother, to become the new Master of Ships. As for Lord Strong's son, Larys, Laena did not know what to make of him.
If his father does not like my father, and his brother, Ser Harwin, is the father of Rhaenyra's son, then I would assume the Clubfoot does not hold my house and me in the best regard.
Lyman Beesbury was likely asleep, and Rhaenyra had travelled to Casterly Rock for her late husband's funeral.
I do wonder how the Lannisters shall react to their new young Lord.
It was clear to Laena that upon seeing the child, that little Joffrey was not the son of Jason Lannister. He had the brown hair and eyes of Ser Harwin Strong, Rhaenyra's sword shield. However, what confirmed Laena's suspicions was that Rhaenyra did not take Ser Harwin to Casterly Rock with her and the children. She instead had the company and protection of Ser Lorent Marbrand, who would use the opportunity to visit his family in the Westerlands.
I would have done the same if I were Rhaenyra, too. Joffrey's mere existence is an insult to House Lannister, and it would be driving the dagger in deeper if she had brought Ser Harwin with her too.
As for Viserys' thoughts on the babe, he didn't have any, which was a regular occurrence. Laena tried to point out if Joffrey's appearance was out of the ordinary for a half-Lannister, half-Targaryen, but Viserys did not see anything abnormal.
The fucking fool.
Following that, Laena instead used her efforts to try and convince her husband to reinstate her father into the Small Council, which eventually proved successful.
The role of Master of Ships may be filled in time, but Joffrey's appearance for the rest of the realm is not like to change soon.
It was a difficult task to convince her husband, in truth. She spent hours and days begging him, and she initially thought that her endeavours would come to no avail.
"My father is the most accomplished sailor and naval commander in history, let alone the Seven Kingdoms! No other person would be a better fit for the job," Laena said to Viserys.
"I dismissed your father since he overstepped his boundaries all those years ago. Since then, he has entered into a war without my leave, and he still has not yet come to King's Landing to pay obeisance to me," he replied.
"That is because he felt insulted!"
"Him being insulted is not justification for what he has done in the past. Besides, I am the King, and it is not my fault if someone is insulted by me." Viserys laughed. " For years, I have felt your father's reproachful and envious gaze staring at me from across the Blackwater. Why would I reward him for that?"
"That is exactly why you should reinstate him in his position, Lord Husband! My father is ambitious, I admit it, but what better way than to ensure his loyalty than to place him in a position of great honour and responsibility?" she retorted. "If you do not, I shall not let you live this down, I swear it."
Laena used the same arguments for days and days until she thought she had lost all hope. She half expected her husband to name Ser Tyland Lannister or some Mallister or Grafton, but Viserys eventually relented, and he sent a raven to Driftmark.
My refusal to give in has proven successful yet again.
She then thanked her husband and complimented his wisdom, which brought a smile to his face.
Next, I must convince him about Joffrey and also try and stop that bloody betrothal proposal he so insists on...
Another saving grace of Rhaenyra travelling to the west was that aside from Laena being freed of her presence, no formal decision could be made about the proposal of a marriage between Baela and Baelon.
Of course, my Lord Husband must wait on Rhaenyra's approval before commencing on matters. It is as if she is the Queen, and he bows down to her.
Laena just shook her head and decided to focus on the event happening today.
There are all these other matters to attend to, but first, I shall see my mother and father and brother once again.
"When are they arriving?" Baela whispered impatiently, tired of standing in the heat.
"Soon enough, Baela... just a little longer..." Laena replied, patting her on her head.
Soon enough, they did arrive, and the portcullis creaked open. Two score horses came galloping in, all of which were covered in shining silver armour and draped with aquamarine and blue silks. The riders at the front and the back of the party carried the banner of House Velaryon, a silver seahorse on an aquamarine field. Laena spotted her kin as they rode into the yard. Laenor was there, in aquamarine and silver cloths, riding a white gelding alongside their uncle Vaemond, and his son, Daeron. Two horse-drawn carriages also rolled in. They both had the Velaryon banner flying from it, and the sapphires and emeralds studded around the windows glimmered in the daylight. Silver lined the black steel of the curved roof, and the rider brought the horses pulling it to a stop.
When Laenor saw Laena, he grinned and hopped off his horse, brushing his silver hair away with his fingers. He waved at Daeron and Baela, who both hopped up and down at the sight of their uncle. The carriage doors swung open too, and Lady Alicent, along with her niece Jocelyn came out of one. Laena noticed Daeron's eyes light up at the sight of Jocelyn, and the young Hightower girl smiled when seeing the little prince. Lady Alicent was also accompanied by handmaidens who carried two babies, both around the size of Aemon. One wore blue swaddling clothes, whilst the other wore aquamarine.
Laena smiled at her nephew and niece, but her smile became even wider when her parents climbed out of the other carriage. Her father looked just like she remembered, except his silver beard had grown longer. He wore a black and cyan doublet lined with cloth-of-gold. He also had golden chains studded with blue gemstones hanging from his neck and golden rings on his fingers. Her mother looked the same, too, if not for her hair having more salt than pepper now. She wore a silver dress lined with dark blue with waves stitched on with shiny blue silk and sapphires on her bodice.
Her father sauntered up to Viserys and slowly got to one knee, as did everyone else. Viserys then smiled and told him to rise.
"I swear to serve you faithfully and honourably for the rest of my days," Her father said, smirking as he said it.
"Your Grace!" Laena's mother announced. "Viserys, Cousin, it is good to see you again!"
"Yes, Rhaenys, me as well," Viserys calmly responded, somewhat embarrassed by her calling him cousin. "Please, do make yourselves comfortable. Your quarters have been prepared for your arrival."
"Is there not to be a welcome feast?" Laena's father asked. "I only jape... thank you, Your Grace."
The crowd chuckled and began to disperse as Viserys rolled his eyes and limped back to his chambers in Maegor's Holdfast. Laena, meanwhile, first went up to Laenor, who was nearest to her. They shared a long embrace whilst Daeron ran up to his grandmother and Baela to her grandfather.
"How have you been, Laena?" Laenor asked warmly.
"It could have been better, but now that you are all here, I cannot complain," mused Laena. "How are Vaegon and Valaena? The last time I saw you, you had just gotten married!"
In truth, it had come as a surprise to Laena that her brother had managed to give Lady Alicent a child. They were also even luckier that they were blessed with twins and would likely not need to try again.
The children are also clearly Laenor's, unlike someone else's.
"They are both well. Vaegon is the more playful of the two, and Valaena is more timid. But alas, neither are a struggle. What of Aemon, sister?"
"Seven hells... he is still a nightmare..." Laena sighed. Aemon was wailing and wailing earlier in the morning, and some handmaiden was left to face the fury of the angry prince. "Hopefully, he shall calm down upon growing older."
Laenor smiled and rubbed Laena's shoulder as she went to greet her parents. Laena felt the tears already streaming down her cheeks and onto her dark blue dress as she ran towards them, but she didn't care. She ran into her mother and father's arms as if she was a girl of six again, and it had never felt as good. Her tears came and came and came, but these were tears of joy.
"M-Mother, father... I've missed you both..." Laena spluttered through a flurry of tears as she clutched onto her parents. Her father's rough hands and big arms sheltered all of Laena's body from danger, and her mother's embrace was warm and tender. Laena did not want to let go.
But eventually, she did, releasing herself from the embrace. Her eyes were wet, and her nose was dripping. Her gown was stained in tears, and she gasped for air. Her mother was crying too, but her father had a comforting smile on his face. The people that were still in the yard clapped and whooped with joy.
Later, after Daeron and Baela talked about everything they had done in the past two years to their grandparents, they wanted to take Jocelyn to the Dragonpit. The poor girl was terrified at the prospect, so the three of them just settled for running around the Red Keep. Meanwhile, Laena's parents were introduced to little Aemon, who was just angry as usual, and Laena played with Vaegon and Valaena for a while. After that, whilst Lady Alicent minded her children, the handmaidens were tasked with calming Aemon, and Daeron, Baela, and Jocelyn played; Laena had an afternoon feast with her brother and parents.
Her father poured them all cups of Dornish Red and sat at the table.
"How have you truly been, dear?" Her mother asked, concerned.
"It was a damned nightmare... I was all alone for so long... I hated every second of it..." Laena replied, taking a drink of the wine.
"You should have told us, Laena," her father responded, putting his calloused hand on her arm.
"I-I... yes... I should have..." sighed Laena. Even she did not truly know why she did not tell her parents how she actually felt through those hellish years. "But I didn't..."
Maybe it's because they would do something rash... or was it just because I did not have the motivation to do so... but it was such a simple thing to do... gods... why didn't I... it seems so simple now...
"We could have come on dragonback, mother and I..." Laenor suggested. "If you needed our aid... we would have been there, sister."
"I don't... I thought that it would ruin any chance of Daeron being named Viserys' heir... doing such a thing..." replied Laena.
"It wouldn't mean that we would land our dragons on Maegor's Holdfast, and force His Grace to change the line of succession... we would have been there for you, at least..." her mother said, concern in her pale lilac eyes.
"Yes... but I didn't... I do not wish to speak of it anymore... those days are past..." snapped Laena.
"It is not as if the King has even changed his decision, even following that name day celebration where you wore that dress... your uncle Vaemond was full of glee speaking of you when he returned. And you have done well to gain allies at court since. Bar Emmon, Massey, Wendwater, Chelsted, even some Reachmen and Riverlanders." Her father proudly said.
"They call us Blues now," laughed Laenor. "Does that mean we are not allowed to wear red anymore?"
"I would not be caught dead wearing red." Laena scoffed.
"A shame then for mother... it seems you must dye Meleys now..." Laenor laughed, which brought a chuckle to everyone.
Laena smiled and helped herself to a spoonful of mutton and neeps. The meat was rare and smoky, just as Laena liked.
"Yet even following this, my Lord Husband refuses to name Daeron heir."
"Is there nought you can do about this still? There must be other avenues for us to pursue." Her father said.
Laena leaned back and thought hard. Suddenly, the idea came to her.
"Yes, in fact..." pondered Laena. "They may very well be..."
Her father looked at her inquisitively. "What did you have in mind?"
"I presume none of you have heard the rumours in court," Laena said.
Everyone shook their heads.
"Rhaenyra's son is a bastard," Laena announced bluntly.
"A bastard?" Laenor gasped, almost choking on his wine.
"You can't be certain to know that." Her mother replied.
"I can be. Young Joffrey looks nothing like either Rhaenyra or Jason Lannister... but he bears a striking resemblance to Ser Harwin Strong, her personal guard."
"The Hand's son, no?" Laenor asked.
Laena nodded and took another sip of wine. "The child's appearance is not the whole of it, either. Jason Lannister's death was untimely too. Any sane person would be asking questions."
"Wasn't the manner of death not relating to Rhaenyra, though?" her mother asked.
"He was stabbed by his whore." Laena said, unable to hold in her laughter. Her father cracked a smile whilst her mother looked down, and Laenor grimaced. She quickly stopped laughing and cleared her throat. "But the timing of it was suspicious."
Seven forgive me, but there cannot be worse ways of dying. Good riddance, Lord Jason.
Laena quickly took another sip of wine to stop herself from laughing again. "I have brought up the matter once with Viserys, but I have not yet forced the issue. But it could be the path that leads to Daeron being named heir."
"Passing off bastards in the line of succession certainly is cause for disinheritance." Her mother added. "Even Viserys would not ignore the issue."
Would he?
"If we are lucky, then the Lannisters may do our task for us... I doubt they would appreciate a bastard inheriting the Rock."
"Shouldn't you have brought the matter to His Grace before, whilst Rhaenyra was still present in the city? Now that she is miles away and unable to defend her position, it may seem opportunistic," said Laenor.
"What we have been trying to do has always been opportunistic," scoffed her mother.
"Laenor is correct," her father said. "We should still raise the issue now, but you should have done so the moment the lad was born."
"I would have, but I had more pressing concerns," Laena sharply said. "I spent most of the bloody time trying to bring you back to the Small Council, which proved successful."
"I thank you for that then, daughter," her father quickly responded. "What of Daeron and Jocelyn's betrothal? Have you formalised that yet?"
"Again, father, I have not been able to... but that must wait."
"And why is that?" her mother asked whilst breaking a loaf of hot brown bread with her hands.
"My Lord Husband wants to betroth Baela to Baelon, and insists on the issue. Who would know whether he even would accept the proposal, and he may only do so if I agree to Baela and Baelon being betrothed?"
"Wouldn't Baela and Baelon marrying solve our issue, though? Velaryon blood would be the throne, then?" Laenor asked.
"I would not let my daughter be a hostage to Rhaenyra," said Laena.
"Velaryon blood would be on the throne, but that would not eradicate Daeron's claim," sighed her father. "Otto Hightower proposed a marriage between Daeron and Jocelyn on the stipulation that Jocelyn becomes Queen Consort. If we were to marry Baela to Baelon, what is stopping Ser Otto from pitting brother and sister against each other? Daeron and Baela would be on opposing factions, my own grandchildren."
"Would he do that, though?" asked Laenor nervously.
"I do not doubt it. Yes, your wife is a courteous woman, Laenor, and we are tied to the Hightowers by blood, but that does not mean I trust them any more than I did before. If you do not remember, Ser Otto was the one who suggested naming Rhaenyra heir over Prince Daemon in the first place, and was her staunchest supporter prior to her wedding to the Lannisters - a decision that has led to all of this. He is an ambitious man, and we would do well to keep Oldtown strongly on our side. A marriage between Daeron and Jocelyn ensures this."
"Baela is not marrying Rhaenyra's son in any case, no matter what the situation is." Laena snapped.
"Then what do you propose?" her father asked.
"We have some respite in that a hypothetical betrothal shall only happen when Rhaenyra returns from Casterly Rock, so we do have some time to muster up a solution, since Viserys wouldn't formally approve of it without Rhaenyra's explicit consent. Luckily, he only brought the proposal to her a day before she left, so she could not make a decision there and then. Unluckily, she did seem partial to the suggestion."
"Why wouldn't she be?" Her father asked.
"She feels the storm closing in on her, so she extends a bloody olive branch as a supposed sign of courtesy. She knows that we would essentially be conceding defeat to her if we were to accept," scoffed Laena. "That is why she was so in favour of it. Seven hells, she even offered as many eggs for Aemon's cradle as he needs."
Rhaenyra had been much too friendly to Laena in the time following her son's birth, which only served to increase Laena's anger towards her.
Now you take the fucking moral high ground and make yourself seem the reasonable one.
"A betrothal to another would solve the issue," Laenor said as he took a small bite of the roasted frog on his plate before spitting it back out. "Seven hells, how do Reachmen eat this shit?"
Her father smiled at the idea. "It would also ensure the backing of another house; we can use it to gain a powerful ally."
"We could betroth Baela to Vaegon," Laenor said.
"It would be an easy solution, but it would not gain us an ally," sighed her mother. "And would lose us two prospective alliances."
"I had sent a raven to Braavos about a betrothal between Baela and the Sealord's youngest son, after Viserys brought his proposal to me," Laena calmly mentioned as her father's eyes went up in surprise.
"What did the Sealord reply to that?" he asked excitedly.
"He rejected it," Laena replied dejectedly.
"Not to anyone's surprise. Braavos likely wants no involvement with the Seven Kingdoms aside from some loans following Prince Daemon's actions." Her mother replied.
"What other houses have a son of age with Baela, then?" Laenor asked.
Her father leaned back and counted on his fingers whilst squinting his eyes.
"The Baratheons only have daughters as of now, as do the Redwynes, Tarlys, Royces. Lady Jeyne Arryn is not even wed yet, and the new Lord Tyrell has just married. Who else? Dalton Greyjoy is un-"
"Greyjoy?" Laena scoffed, before releasing a bout of wine onto her plate.
"Maybe not a Greyjoy, then," laughed her father. "Cregan Stark, son of Lord Rickon, is only four or so years old and would bring the north to our side. If not him, then Torrhen Manderly's son could be an option, and Elmo Tully's son too. There are other less notable houses that have a young heir too."
"All of those prospects are better than Baelon, I must say," replied Laena, relieved that there was a solution.
"Then we send ravens to the Starks, Manderlys, and Tullys. Even those tree-fuckers would not pass off a chance of a royal marriage."
"None of the Lords are fools, however. They all know what a betrothal to Baela means... we would be pushing these houses into picking a side," her mother warned.
"That is what I hope to do, at least," Laena replied.
After they finished their feast, Laena and her father sent out ravens to Winterfell, White Harbour, Riverrun, as well as Volantis, requesting whether the Triarchy of elephants and tigers would be willing to take a side in the succession of the Iron Throne. They made sure not to let Viserys know of what they had done, so Laena told Grand Maester Orwyle that it was a private matter. Luckily, the friendly Grand Maester was unassuming and didn't question her intentions.
Later, Laena went to her husband's chambers to try and convince him about the bastardry.
"Come!" Viserys called, his shouts coming from further within his quarters.
Laena went in and walked to the room consisting of the stone Valyrian city. It had become so big it was now taking up the space of an entire room. Laena remembered when she first married him, and the city was merely the size of a table.
The man loves that stone city more than he does his own children... if he could sit by that all day instead of doing a bad job of ruling the Seven Kingdoms, he would.
"Viserys," Laena curtly said.
"Laena, come," he said, beckoning her into the room.
Where? There is hardly space for another chair.
Viserys sighed upon noticing the scowl on Laena's face. "What have you come to speak to me of at this hour?" he asked.
"I tried to raise the matter with you before, but you did not seem to understand what I spoke of, so I shall do it again."
"What matter?" he laughed.
Sometimes I feel I am speaking to a bloody halfwit... even Mushroom would understand what I mean.
"Joffrey," she bluntly said.
"Yes... Joffrey is a fine lad, and-"
"No!" she interrupted. "The boy had brown hair and brown eyes, yet his mother has silver hair and purple eyes whilst his father, may the Seven rest his soul, had golden hair and green eyes. How did his parents produce a child with such... plain features? Do you not think something is amiss here?"
He thought for a moment before sighing and realising what Laena had said.
The fool; it took him long enough.
"You think that Lord Jason did not sire Joffrey, is that what this is about..." he replied. "His appearance is not such a big ordeal... wasn't Lord Jason's grandmother a Westerling? Mayhaps that is where Joffrey got his looks from... you do stress too much sometimes..."
"No, Viserys. I do not stress too much. Can you not see it?" Laena demanded. "It is an insult to House Targaryen, House Lannister, you, the throne, and the entire realm. Are you so-"
"It is no insult," he responded. "If it was such an insult, surely Lord Jason would have mentioned something on his deathbed. But no, he affirmed Joffrey as his son."
"He was dying, that could be attributed to delirium... or milk of the poppy... he was surely not in a sane state that night. Do you not also think it coincidental that the same night he so tragically passed, the boy was born?"
He scoffed. "Oh, surely you cannot mean to accuse my daughter of such a thing. The Gold Cloaks agreed that it was his paramour who was the culprit... never trust the Dornish, that's what I say... and one Gold Cloak has also not been accounted for since then; Rhaenyra was not at fault for this. Let the matter go, Laena. I beg this of you."
Laena could not believe what she was hearing. Her mouth hung open in shock and in sheer surprise at the idiocy her husband had just said.
"Very well then," she sighed. "She was not responsible, but what of Joffrey? You cannot ignore-"
"The consequences of such an accusation would be dire. Please, do not speak of this again, and leave me be." Viserys said, turning away from her and towards the Valyrian city.
Again, the fucking Valyrian city.
"Viserys!" cried Laena, her blood starting to boil. "Do not turn away from me, please! Is... this more important to you than your own wife's concerns? Did you not listen to a single word that I said?"
For some reason, Laena felt that she knew the answers to those questions.
"I have listened, and now I am stating that your concerns are unfounded," he calmly said.
"But-" she begged, but to no avail.
"But what? I have heard your pestering and nattering for the past two years. First, for you to join the Small Council, which I did. Then, it was to reinstate your father, which I also did. Next, that you do not want your daughter to marry Baelon. And now this? I have heard enough of your complaints for too long, and I wish for some peace now. Will you not spare your Lord Husband that, at least? Please?"
"Yes. Your Grace," sighed Laena as she rolled her eyes.
He then turned back again to his Valyrian city and brushed away some dust from a model dragon as if there were no problems in the world. Laena scoffed and stormed off, slamming his door as she went.
As she marched back to her chambers, she thought of how good it would be to just use a hammer and smash the city into pieces until it was dust and rubble. The idea brought a smile to her face.
One day, Viserys, when you are dead, I shall destroy every bloody inch of that city you love so much; I swear it.