“Well, if that happens you could always do what you great-uncle, when he spurned my great-great-aunt in order to marry some peasant, give up your titles and become a common man, free to marry whom ever you chose.”, Relena pointed out with a rather smug glance at the prince. “After all, what is a keep and land and a title compared to the woman one loves.”, she added, a little smirk upon her lips, as her eyes rolled back slightly.
“I hope you do not mind me asking, but what has made you interested in inquiring in the first place? After all, the fancies of ladies, usually just interest to other ladies that who whisper and gossip.”, the raven haired girl pointed out, her eyes glancing around, looking at the few groups of women that were standing in some corners whispering into each other’s ears.
“Yes, they are promised to each other, my father was quite delighted to finally be able to join our houses…”, the lady mumbled, her voice growing more and more quiet as she realized that the topic of House Stark and House Baratheon join at last wasn’t something that should be discussed with a Targaryen. “I am certain your sister will be quite the lucky woman if Lord Tyrell agrees to the match, so far I have never heard anyone speak a single bad word about his eldest son, he is ought to be quite charming and intelligent.” A match Relena herself wouldn’t have said ‘no’ to. Highgarden was supposedly beautiful, truly the golden rose of the region and the Reach was the most fertile land in the Seven Kingdoms, making any house that had its seat there quite rich, especially the Tyrells. “Prince Trystane?Isn’t he a bit young? Wouldn’t Prince Quentyn be a better match?”, she wondered out loud, the hint of a frown on her forehead as her head tilted slightly. If she recalled correctly, Trystane was closer in age to Myrcella than Daenerys.
“Kin of mine belongs to House Frey.”, the young doe informed him, one of her eyebrows rising slightly while a disapproving gaze lingered upon the silver haired man.
“Oh then we should.”, the Lady Baratheon agreed, a pale hand reaching for the fabric of her skirt. “I have promised Harrold Hardyng a dance and I wouldn’t want him to believe that I am not a woman of my word.”, Relena explained, as she turned around in order to return to the party. “And we know there is at least one lady who wishes to dance with you.”
“I could do that” He mused lightly, not putting real thought into the idea as it wasn’t something he was looking into doing. “A woman is more wealth than a lan-wait, actually…having land means crops and crops means money so…” He shrugged “I get what you mean though. What made me inquire? Interest. I’m intrigued by Ladies and their ways, they’re an enigma to me.” Viserys replied, he’d often been curious at how the other sex thought and felt about things, and his brother mused it was due to how they didn’t have as long experience with their mother as he had and was lacking in a real insight to female rulers in general. So Rhaegar had made sure Viserys attended every event he could so he could become more acquainted to the fairer sex.
“I’m sure he was, as Lord Stark would be, no doubt it will be a good match.” A laugh emmintated from the Targaryen as she spoke of Loras. “Well, I’ve heard rumors about the Knight of Flowers…He may wed a wife, but-” He leaned in closer to whisper so it wouldn’t be overheard. “He may not love a wife as she should deserve, his attention will be elsewhere…” Viserys informed the Lady, hoping she would catch his meaning before a flush rose to his cheeks as he realized he had mistakenly said the wrong name and heavy sighed. “Yes, of course. Right. Quentyn is whom I meant to say…With so many Lords and Ladies here and trying to keep everyone straight with who they are where from…”
“Is your Aunt happy? Truly happy? From what i’ve heard it’s she who does most of the lordship of their marriage and her husband rolls over.” He asked, catching her look, not really feeling bad for his words. He didn’t know many that liked House Frey to begin with, though they might like their Frey relatives, he couldn’t think of one, even a Frey who liked their Lord of the house, Walder. “My apolgies if I offended you, Lady Relena.” His Violet eyes watched as she began to move back to the main room and walked with her there, his head tilted to one side as she spoke.
“Of course and Harrold is a fine man from a good House. Prehaps you’ll be courted by him.” At the words of ladies and himself, Viserys found himself staring at Relena with a quizzical look on his face. “I’m sure you are quite right, but whom do you think would want to?” He asked, glancing back at the main room trying to figure out who she had in mind. “Do you mean those who truly want to enjoy my company or those that are being forced to by their fathers?”
“True.”, Relena agreed, her head nodding slightly. “But one might also argue that, especially in times of peace, members of the royal family have more of a choice than anyone else, at least the male members, for what lord would refuse his daughter’s hand if the king asks for a match?”, the young doe pointed out, her head tilting slightly as she looked at Viserys.
The dark haired woman just shrugged, upon hearing the man’s first question, but when the second one reached her ears, there was a little smirk upon her pink lips while one of her eyebrows rose. Slightly the young woman leaned forward, almost as if she was about to tell him a secret, before saying. “Isn’t that the kind of topic females usually only discuss with other females?”, with a lowered voice, before straightening up again. “But if it truly interests you that much, no, there is no one who has caught my fancy.”
“Only a fool would refuse…But say I found myself in love with a commoner, the King could tell me no. A king has more power than a Prince.” He countered before he watched Relena lean in as well and he waited with anticipation for her reply and his facial features dropped when she spoke and he frowned. “I mean…Oh, well than” He spoke as she added that no one had caught her attention and his mouth moved more to one side as his brow furrowed. No one? Surely there must have been one or even two that had to be attractive to her.
Viserys too straightened up and crossed his arms over his chest and gave a small nod as a lady and a knight had rushed by trying to find a quiet place to be alone and he shook his head at the two people. Least they were having fun for the night. The Prince was enjoying his time with the Lady Baratheon and glad she had seemed to be more inclined to spending more time around him rather than the first time they’d met at the tourney.
“I heard your brother is to marry Lady Sansa. It should be a good match. I’m sure it’ll be only time before you and your other siblings are offered matches. I know Rhaegar’s spoken about offering Lord Tyrell a match between Willas Tyrell and my sister Daenerys or Prince Trystane of Dorne. Course Waldar Frey keeps trying to push any of his children to marry myself or Dany, but Rhaegar won’t have it and frankly neither would we.” He mentioned off hand before his eyes caught the Princess of Dorne, Allyria catch his before she flirted with two Lords, not a care in the world. “Shall we go back to the party? They’re going to be dancing soon.”
For a moment Relena’s eyebrows pulled upwards as she gazed to the side. Even if a courtship when badly, it often didn’t mean much, at least not for a woman, if she was told by her father that she was ought to marry someone, even if that someone had proven to be a fool, what was she ought to do?
“To some…”, the dark haired woman mumbled, her gaze roaming through the room, when Viserys talked about hard work being involved in a courtship.. “And some enjoy it.”, she added after a brief moment. After all there had to be at least a few men who enjoyed writing letters and poems, otherwise why would there be so many? Also, it was one of the few appropriate ways for a lord and a lady to spend time together. “I don’t think so. Courtship had tradition and charm, flirting on the other hand… I simply believe that there had to be a reason why a proper courtship is the preferred conduct between men and women in our circles.”
“You forget that as royalty we often don’t get much choice in who we marry. It’s already arranged. Father would have wanted myself and Daenerys to marry but my brother….I should be married by now and yet I haven’t heard a word of anything. Perhaps I should try courtship. Seek it out myself.” Viserys voiced his thoughts, now truly thinking on the idea of courting and doing so seriously instead of flirting when it seemed to lead to nothing.
“What is with you and being right all the time?” He asked, chuckling softly as he shook his head, his silver curls following the movement. “You’ve been here a while, is there anyone you’d consider courting? Surely there must be a Lord or knight that’s caught your fancy” He asked as he pushed his back away from the column to near her as if she was going to tell him a deep dark secret.
“Then how have you thought about courtship so far?”, Relena questioned, emerald eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at the silver haired man, wondering what had been going on in his head so far when someone mentioned the act of courtship. “I am certain there are.” After all courtship was one of the few joys women had in this world and sadly what came after was rarely as pleasant, perhaps that was one of the reason why most women insisted upon being swept of their feet, even if they themselves had no say in who would get their hand in the end.
“Ah, well…” Viserys started, gathering his thoughts together under the scrutinizing eye of the dark haired Baratheon. “From everything I’ve known it’s just you talk, write a letter and hope everything goes well. You hope that it’ll be a good match and it’s more unnerving than being arranged to marry someone. You don’t want to ruin the courtship, not if she’d be a good match.”
Viserys struggled to find the right words at first, taking pauses to find them before he started to find himself agreeing with Relena’s previous words. “Courtship is quite a lot of hardwork…but I guess in the end, that means that the marriage will be better.” He shrugged before he looked back at where they had come from “With flirting you get a clearer glimpse of a person and what their intentions are. Surely flirting and courtship could go hand in hand.” Viserys suggested, leaning up against one of the hallways columns.
“That is how courtship is ought to happen, is it not?”, Relena replied, black eyebrows rising slightly as she replied to Viserys. “And the amount of effort one puts into the courtship allows you to know how much they actually care, which in my opinion is far better than a few blunt words.”
His face changed from one of questioning and slight judgement to one that was blank and he stared at her dumbfounded. “I never thought about it that way before.” He’d never found a problem with flirting and thought little of courtship. “Thank you, you’ve given me a new perspective. Maybe I’ll give courtship a try sometime, I can only assume there are many other ladies who share your sentiment”
“I suppose” Viserys offered as he glanced up at the ceiling for a moment to think on her words before returning his gaze to the woman before him. “It may be a tad too forward but I’d rather not be kept in the dark about affections. Wouldn’t you? Or would you prefer more tact and a letter sent to you in flowerly words?”
Upon laying eyes on the king, one of the young lady’s hand reached for the silk, of which her skirt was made, and curtsied politely. She had been told horrid things about the royal family, but he was her king nonetheless and no woman, high-born or not, could allow herself to disrespect him. “It’s and honour, your grace.”, Relena mumbled quietly, her gaze lingering upon the ground, it wasn’t until the head of House Targaryen had left, that the girl’s head lifted again.
For the briefest of moment’s the dark haired woman looked at the prince with a slightly raised eyebrow. “My father is not attending, my Lord.”, she informed him, her voice rather disinterested in the matter. “He had to tend to affairs in the Storm Lands.”, she then added, hoping this lie might take away from how rude it was of her Lord father to spurn a royal invitation.
So, Robert wasn’t here. Curious, but from what Viserys had heard it made sense that the Baratheon wouldn’t come when Targaryens still sat on the throne. “I see. Well, your mother is attending than?” He asked, looking around to try to see if he could spot the Lannister turned Baratheon but to no avail. “Come, seeing as you are without company, allow me to offer you a seat with my family. Wouldn’t want you to sit near any unsavory people.”
Viserys spoke as he watched how a few of the Lords were already leering at the Baratheon girl. “Or I could find you better company if you do not wish to sit with the Royal family” Viserys knew if someone had seen her and reported to Robert it might not bode well for her.
Curiously the raven haired lady looked around, never before had she attended a tourney and never before had she been in the capitol. Her father wasn’t too fond it, or rather the people you could find here, for his distaste for the ruling family was more than just well-known.
Rhaegar held a tourney to celebrate his son, Jon’s name day and was presently surprised at the turnout of Lords and Ladies. The King shepard his younger brother onward, and spotted the daughter of Cersei Lannister and Robert Baratheon and an idea sparked as he heard Viserys grumble about not being able to participate in the tourney itself and Rhaegar shook his head and sighed “You may be old enough to do so but you hardly lack the skills to take on Ser Loras or either of the Clegenes. Maybe you could go against one of the houses older lords…Like Waldar Frey. You could best him.” Rhaegar snorted as he joked, and Viserys laughed, finally relenting on the idea.
“Now, go and enjoy yourself. Entertain a lady or something. Just don’t get in trouble.” He told Viserys as he made eye contact with Relena and dipped his head. “Lady Relena? Might I introduce my brother, Viserys.” Viserys bowed slightly as he greeted the Lady and before he knew it he was left alone with her, Rhaegar having quietly excused himself when the crowd cheered loudly for the winner of a joust.
“I’m surprised your father is here this year at the tourney. He generally avoids such invitations.” Viserys started, trying his best to make polite conversation. “Is he in the tourney itself?” It would be a wonder to see the man who was proclaimed to be a grand fighter and see him best against the likes of Ser Jaime and Ser Selmey. “I wish I could be down there right now…”
There was a deep frown upon the raven haired woman’s forehead as she listened to the man’s words. “Maybe not, but you certainly have enough of an ego to fill an entire kingdom.”, Relena pointed out glancing at the knight from atop her horse. “And the person you claim to have saved me from is my own mother, that is hardly worth a song, especially since I could have left the keep on my own just as well.”
“I believe that tittle goes to Ser Bronn, Your Grace. Surely his ego is bigger than mine.” He refrained from making any improper comments though he did think of them and shook his head trying to rid the smirk that started to show before he mounted his own horse and made sure to ride beside her.
“Aye, this is true. It doesn’t warrant a song and I don’t think of myself as the kind of person to be written about in songs but you need protection, Your Grace. I don’t trust your mothers guards to protect you or any sellswords you could pay off, they couldn’t protect Tommen.” He couldn’t have either. He’d been blocked off in his attempt to try to go to the King and get him as he had heard and felt the explosion of wildfire from the Sept.
“You should be ruling. It should be you on that throne, not your mother. She has no right to it when Robert Baratheon’s ‘last’ heir died and his trueborn daughter and thus true heir is alive. An I mean to keep you alive even if it means at the cost of my own life.”
“To be quite frank, if it had been your sister who came to Westeros to claim the throne, I think I would have been in less pain than I have been the past six hours.”, the raven haired woman pointed out. She had been aware for years that childbirth wasn’t an easy task but that it was such an agony she could haver never imagined. For a brief moment Relena glanced to the side, when Viserys mentioned that she was the one who had a family in which twins weren’t too unusual. “Well…”, she said after a moment, her eyebrows slightly raised. “Without you I wouldn’t be married and without marriage I wouldn’t have spent the past few hours in agony.”
“Yes, but this isn’t about a birth announcement, that will have to wait until I am able to leave confinement.”, Relena explained, reaching for the quill. “My septa was dismissed from court when I became queen and is now educating the daughter’s of Lord Estermont, but I want her back in the Red Keep now that there is another princess and how could my dear kin refuse my wish, especially considering that I am their queen…”, the raven haired woman pointed out, while she tried to set up in her bed, the queen’s teeth were tightly bitten together, as she moved and there were frowns upon her forehead. “No, don’t get him just yet.”, she urged her husband, her hand reaching out in a weak attempt to stop Viserys. “Just because he saw his own wife like this, does not mean that he has to see me.”
“Fair enough. But think of the joys of raising our children together. Seeing them grow and learn…” He was giddy at the idea and than soon the giddiness turned to fear. What if something similar happened to his children as it had his and his siblings lives? What if he went just as mad in the end? “Only the best Septa for our children. They can’t say no to your request.” Viserys said as he turned his back on his wife, looking at her from the vanity, feeling her hand reaching out to him and he turned back towards her, his hand grasping hers ever so lightly. “You’re still radiant even in this aftermath,”
He then squeezed her hand, a serious look in his eyes as his long legs shifted and he attempted to climb into the bed with her, more so sitting than laying down beside Relena. “Doe-” Viserys started, his eyes finding hers as his words struggled to get out. “If I…If I end up going mad like my father. If I have any inkling of unkept rage or anything. I want you to lock me away. Or if I don’t slip as slowly as my father did, Gods fordbid…I don’t want our children living with what Rhaegar and I had to. Our mother skirting us around our father and my father…I want you, as Queen, as the mother of the Heirs to this Kingdom put it’s people first. I don’t want you to have to go through that but-” Viserys shook his head as he tried to get such thoughts away from his mind
. “-But if it must come down to that…Then I trust you will give the order.” There was a tremble in his voice and his eyes danced from Relena to the door as if expecting someone to come in and he got up from the bed, pressing a clean cloth on her forehead in a attempt to keep his mind of such horrible thoughts and focus on the present. Wiping away any sweat and such away from her face, giving her a shaky smile before he went to her vanity and got her brush and other things he knew she put on to make herself look prettier. “I can send a maid in or whatever you wish…” He told her as he gently took the brush in one hand and stroked her hair with it like he had for Daenerys all those years ago. “Sorry” He muttered as he realized what he was doing and placed the brush down.
Goldnwulf 