“Or it could be a very short winter.”, Relena replied quickly, as they walked down the hall. “If we hold the wedding and winter breaks in, people could get stuck or harmed during their journey… and we are to be married one day, does it truly matter when that day is?” As she spoke, the young woman’s eyes were roaming around, trying her best to avoid his gaze, before she suddenly stopped walking, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Viserys was trying to be kind to her, after all, according to the laws of men and gods he could demand for them to consummate the wedding as soon as the oaths left their mouths, he at least deserved her to be honest with him.
“This… this isn’t about me not wanting to… you know… it is more about what comes after…”, Relena said, pausing every now and then to find a way to put thoughts into words. “I mean that part doesn’t sound too comfortable either, as I understand it there is a lot of unnecessary touching involved but…”, she stopped after a moment, upon realizing that she was about to miss the point she was trying to make. “Once a woman is married, especially when that woman is a queen, people expect an heir to be delivered soon, but usually this queen is not the ruler, if she dies during childbirth the king just takes his next wife, if I die, brining a child into this world, I would put seven kingdoms into the hands of an infant, one that perhaps doesn’t make it through and neither the child nor I make it, Joffrey becomes the next king and I cannot let this happen until I somehow got him to behave like a normal human being. And waiting to consummate our marriage until then will not be an option because if it takes too long for me to produce an heir, people will start believing something is wrong with me and apparently the only thing worse than being a whore is being barren.”, Relena explained, clearly frustrated by the whole situation.
When Viserys pulling her into his arms, the young stag’s body stiffened right away, for no one who wasn’t a member of her family had ever dared to hug her, especially not without asking permission first.
He listened to her concerns for her people and he gave a slight nod. “No, it doesn’t” He replied, as he almost had to whirl himself around when he realized she had stopped walking, wondering just what was wrong. What comes after? So she wasn’t worried about them persay…but, children and the line of succession. “If you are with the wrong man…there’s, reasons for the touch-just-”Viserys groaned not sure how to explain the idea of pleasure and proper comfortable sex to the girl who clearly raised more by a strict septa than her mother.
Relena went on for longer than he expected but he felt it was good to hear her fears and concerns. No one wanted Joffrey on the throne, not until in his opinion he’d stop being ‘mad king’. He noticed her body stiffen, Viserys had an idea he should asked but it was too late for that now. A hand ran up and down her back, soothing her a bit, or at least trying to and kissed her forehead briefly. “People will expect us to be married soon as it’s announced as well. They will expect things of us no matter what we do.” He stated softly, his voice light as he spoke, still rubbing her back. “Our child will sit on it’s throne when we are gone. There is always a chance of death” His family knew that all to well but Viserys hoped that his family history wouldn’t carry over to his own children and wife.
“You and I will rule the Seven Kingdoms with and without children. Joffrey will not touch that throne. Even in the worst case scenario. Should you die, I will rule as King Regent, it may not be a position but I will die before he sits on it and is not a fit ruler. OneAerys II is enough.” He explained, there was a fierce protectiveness in his voice now. Viserys pulled back from the embrace and he gave a content sigh, a hand slipped to cup her cheek, biting his lip subconsciously because he wanted to kiss her. Rid her of all of her fears and keep her safe.
“Have you ever stargazed before?” He asked her as his hand dropped from her cheek, thinking better on his feelings. “It’s just dark enough to see the stars and soon it will be sunrise. It’s beautiful…the stars melting away from the sky and the sun rising in it’s place…”
After walking through the keep for what felt like ages Relena finally spotted silver hair in the distance. With quick steps she approached the man,
an eyebrow rising upon seeing him lying there. “Do you truly believe that the future king should be found like this?”, she questioned after staring at him for a long moment. “
Had my septa seen me like this she would have long scolded me.”
She had actually expected for him to get up and face her, for she was certain that he must have heard her coming, but as it seemed she had to be the only in this conversation. “You know, had you talked to me properly I could have told you that there are plenty of free rooms in the Keep, most of them even have a proper bed.“
Relena had come to find him in an attempt to bring closure to their argument, but that by far did not mean that she would apologies, after all, in her opinion she was still in the right.
"Now would you kindly get up, or at least look at me, because I do not fancy talking to a wall and you are not the only one who would like to get some rest tonight.”
Relena informed him, annoyance dripping from her eyes word.
Viserys slowly got up to meet with her as she chastised him. “Well it’s a good thing your not a septa.” He replied. “Right…” Viserys found himself giving the smallest of chuckles at his own rash impulsiveness had caused such a rift between them and he crossed his own arms over his chest. “I’m sorry.” He admitted his wrong doing’s even quicker than he thought he would. “I should have thought better of my actions.”
Viserys frowned as he glanced away from Relena. “You were my first thought. When I was restless and trying to get back to sleep as Dany-” He shook his head as he stepped closer to her. “You were right. My actions could have ruined what you have been keeping so well together.” Viserys shrugged as he looked at her, a hand reached out to her, a form of a treaty. “Please accept my apologies. I invaded your privacy, angered you needlessly…” His hand wavered. it felt too stiff and formal a thing for them, especially now that they were to be married soon.
“I damn well know that I am right!”, Relena screamed. The young queen could not recall when she had last been this mad, if she had ever been this mad before. He had acted improper and instead of agreeing with her right away and leaving he dared to scream at her? She was a lady, she was his queen and had invaded her privacy, the only privacy she had!
A pale hand reached for her hair brush, throwing it against the door frame as Viserys left. She wasn’t in the wrong, that much Relena was sure of. She had not invited him here, she had not wanted him here, and he had the audacity to get mad. The young woman let herself fall upon the bed, arms crossed in front of her chest, eyes staring at a candle’s flame.
After a long moment Relena let out a sigh and got up again, to call for her ladies in waiting. Once she was dressed, the raven haired girl left her chambers and began wandering through the castle in an attempt to find Viserys. They were to be married and if they didn’t even manage a fight like that, this would certainly not become a happy life for either of them.
Therefore, she tried to swallow her anger as good as she could, while she kept looking around for the Targaryen.
He’d managed to find some peace and quiet in a small place outside of most eyes and used his arms as a pillow about to fall into deeper sleep as he nestled in to the temporary sleeping place. No one would surely disturb him here, apart from his hair color he could have been hidden completely. His mind kept reminding him of her words as he left and he gave a deep heavy sigh. She had been right. He’d come in her chambers unannounced and impulsive in his actions had caused her rightful emotions.
But now with sleep so easily in hand he felt he would be better tomorrow in mind and thinking, telling himself to go to Relena in the morning if she’d see him even and apologize. He curled up even tighter into himself as he tried to shove the thought of his words to her and grumbled to himself as he tried to lull himself back into a deep sleep. But life just wanted him to not sleep it seemed as he tried to remain quiet at the sound of another in the same room. His violet eyes seeking out who it was while trying not to move around too much and give away his hiding place. Relena? Why was she here?
Surely to finish the fight they had. He’d always imagined her the type to need time before apologizing but that could have been himself projecting what he knew of Daenerys and their fights onto Relena and he prayed she didn’t see him, trying to make himself look smaller, but it only made sound and he glared at the sound as it occurred.
“Look, I love my dog as much as you love your dragon and I too would disagree with anyone who would want to take my pet away from me, but the difference is, when a dog gets hungry, I don’t have to worry about him eating people.”, Relena pointed out. She could imagine that this must be hard for him, for if anyone tried to tell her that she had to keep her hound on an island far away, she would get more than just a bit mad. “A dragon is just too dangerous, there is recorded history of them killing humans without being told to do so and there is a city full of people right outside the gates.”, she reminded him. “And do not believe that I haven’t noticed that you didn’t reply when I asked you to finish your sentence.”
The queen’s had turned towards Viserys, upon Tywin interrupting him, her eyes trying to apologize for her grandfather’s action. “Well, first I would like to thank you for your congratulations, dear grandfather.”, the young stag said, rather sharply, her eyes falling upon her kin. “And as far as I recall, the only person with the power to give and take land is the queen and I also recall that you are, in fact, not the queen, which leads me to believe that the issue of Dragonstone is my issue and my issue alone until I decide to burden the council with the matter.”, Relena said slowly, emphasising every word. “And before we talk about the matter of my… of our marriage, there are other things to take care of, for example, now that peace will be ensured, there is the matter of the houses that stood against the crown.” While she spoke, Relena’s eyes fell upon the silver haired man next to her.
“That’s because that can wait…It’s something to think and speak of later. After this.” He replied. “Fine. Least he will have his brothers to keep him company” He shrugged, knowing Daenerys would have to go through this idea just as he had.
He watched her deal with Tywin and gave a small smile at Relena until her eyes were on him and he cleared his throat. “Yes, well, House Martell only joined with my house for need of revenge. They will fall back in line with the crown if given some sort of compensation for the death of Elia Martell and her children. Prehaps, Princess Myrcella to Trystane Martell?” He suggested before going on to the next house.
“House Tyrell…has been known to be a rebellious house, going from the house they claim gave them their lordship to the usur- King Robert then to my house’s cause. I would wish to say they too will do as the Martells but I cannot. They are a strong and numerous house, quick to make ties to others i’m sure of it.” He sighed, unsure of what to do about them. They had many children to offer for alliances and there were many that remained unmarried, like Lord Renly who sat on the council.
Now he looked to Relena and even Lord Stark, unsure of how to approach the subject of the Tyrells. “Lady Olenna seems set on her children being ambitious and high in power.”
“Good! Then they will hear that I am displeased that you are here!”, Relena hissed through her teeth. This was more than just bad, she was a woman, and their morals were questioned so easily and just one wrong move could ruin them in the eyes of the world. “Great! Now I have to issues at hand, a fiancé that does not know how to behave proper and guards that are unable to do their job!”, as she spoke the young woman threw her hands up in the air. “You do realize that any other man who would have dared to do such a thing would be in the black cells by now and be dragged through the streets by sun rise?”
Relena’s eyes narrowed, looking at him. “Do you believe this to be funny? There is a reason why the protocol is in place.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, glaring at him with furious eyes. “If anyone finds out what happened tonight, I will be branded a harlot and you truly believe I care what they will think about my judgement?”
Like a pouty child, Relena reached for one of the candles to light another one, when she saw Viserys blowing out a candle again. “I am not Daenerys!”, the queen reminded him, her teeth tightly bitten together as the words escaped her lips. “She is a widow, there is no maidenhood to preserve and even if she wasn’t, I don’t care what she does, I have a reputation to uphold! A
atch your language, I am already mad enough.”
At this point he wanted to storm out of the room. Slam her door and never look back, pound on his sister’s door and yell at her. That seemed better than what was happening right now. “Fine” He growled, suddenly awake. “Yes, you’re right. You are not Daenerys.” He wasn’t sure if his words were meant to be relieved at that or not. Many things went through his head as things he wanted to say and things he held back.
Viserys clenched his fist as he begun pacing the chambers. “Are you?” he asked her, turning on his heel to face her. “I couldn’t tell” He told her, his words came out sarcastic and he scoffed. “I’ll just leave then.” The words would have come out louder had he not said them through his teeth, trying to keep the noise contained in the chamber.
“So your damned precious maidenhood remains safe.” Scoffing at the whole idea of the maidenhead and how it seemed ingrained in women to keep it under lock and key and how society seemed to think of it. He had made sure Daenery’s had been ‘pure’ but only because it was what would get them what he…they wanted. Home, the throne.
Viserys went to the door and began to open it, not caring what the guards thought as he stormed out of the room, going back to his own chamber, halting only long enough on the way there to go through the keep, pacing around places and he really wanted sleep but he was irritable. Irritable from the lack of sleep and now for the sleep he was not getting. His body wanted sleep and his mind was just plagued by too many thoughts and he huffed as his back hit a pillar, now wishing he had Rhaellion. Least he could sleep near his dragon.
“When and if?”, Relena repeated, sharply turning her head towards the man. “They already have committed treason.”, the queen pointed out. Of course, she could understand why he wasn’t as eager to punish them, if she had been in his position she wouldn’t have been delighted about him trying to punish her alliances as well, but she would certainly not relent on this point.
Relena let out a soft sigh, before saying: “I will summon my uncles and talk to him, Stannis isn’t one to give in easily but… perhaps I can persuade him, he has never been too fond of Dragonstone and all lands I have to give are on the main land and I don’t think it would be the best of ideas to keep your dragon this close to people always.” The raven haired queen had been thinking about how to talk about his pet for quite some time now and this was probably the best of moment. She could imagine that this giant lizard was quite dear to him, but it was a danger one that could not be kept so close to cities.
The young stag forced a smile upon her lips as they entered the chamber of the small council. “My lords, Ser Barristan, grandfather.”, she greeted them, after Viserys had announced that they had news to share, as she made her way towards her seat at the head of the table. “I am delighted to see that you are working so eagerly.” For a moment Relena’s eyes roamed through the room, trying to read the men’s faces. “Of course it will be quite some time till the wedding, after all there is a lot that needs to be taken care of.”
When the Queen mentioned his dragon, he knew it would be along the lines of your dragon is dangerous. Keep it away. Viserys frowned at her words, he couldn’t say he was suprised or that he didn’t understand why she spoke about Rhaellion that way. Had he been in her place he wouldn’t want a large massive beast that could easily take down a city or town with just one wrong move. “Dogs can be a danger to people and yet we let them near people.” He pointed out “Yes, I know, dogs are smaller and easier to deal with when they do attack, but my point remains the same. All animals are dangerous and all animals can be tamed and trained.”
With Relena seated, Viserys awkwardly stood where he had when he had announced the news, the men around her seemed to him a mix of surprise and he knew on mainly Tywin’s face anger. “Yes, there-” Viserys found himself interrupted by Tywin and he held back a scowl, hearing the man speak about things that Relena had brought up.”Lands, tittles and the like. You won’t be getting Dragonstone back if that’s what you are hoping for” Tywin told Viserys, pointldy looking at him. “I’m quite aware of that, Lord Tywin.” Viserys told him before he took a chair and placed it right next to Relena, hoping to signal to Tywin and the others that this union was serious. “Which is why I won’t be asking for it unless Lord Stannis wishes to leave it.” His eyes looked to Relena, waiting for her to speak more on the subject.
“I do not care what your sister is doing!”, Relena declared, clearly displeased by what he had done. With an annoyed sigh, her legs slid out of the bed, before she stood up, reaching for the candle that burning next to her bed. “We are not married yet, in case you have forgotten.”, she reminded him, footsteps echoing through the chamber, as she was lighting more and more candles to lighten the room. “And it more than just improper for an unwed lady to be alone in her chamber with a man, especially during the night!”
The young stag was more than just displeased by his audacity. She was a high-born lady, raised properly, and she would certainly not have her honour questioned by allowing rumours about a lack of virtue speared through the Red Keep. “How did you even get past my guards?”, as she spoke, Relena was still walking up and down in the chamber. She had at least to members of her Queen’s Guard in front of her chamber door, to make certain that no one managed to get into the room while she was asleep, and they have nothing better to do than to allow a man to just walk into her chamber in the middle of the night, what kind of fools were protecting her?
“You have to leave! Right now!”, the queen insisted. “Before anyone gets the wrong! How did you even come up with the idea of coming to my chamber uninvited and even worse unannounced. I though you were familiar with royal protocol.”, she kept scolding him.
Now there was no peace and quiet. Talking. So much talking and light. Viserys groaned like a child not wanting to rise for the day. He waited till she was done speaking, still laying on the bed. “If you keep raising your voice people will hear.” He mumbled, wiping his eyes as they watered from lack of sleep. “I don’t know” He admitted as the question of the guards came into play. “I really haven’t a clue.” He could still hear her walking around the room and like the child he was began blowing out the candles nearest him.
“I am familiar with it.” He grumbled as he shook his head, one leg slipped off the bed and he shot a glare at her. “Fine. I’ll be unbearable and irritable and there will be whispers of another mad king and people questioning your judgement the next morning.” He attempted to manipulate the situation, knowing it very easily could not work on her.
“But so is Daenerys and she’s being very loud about her situation.” Viserys just wanted sleep and he was beginning to whine now. “Just call down and stop pacing.” He snapped as he blew out another candle and rose to meet her, blocking her path from the other side of the room, a hand reaching out to hold her shoulder. “For someone who wants me to leave you are doing a shit job.” He commented as his hand dropped and rubbed the back of his head.
He had been surprised the guards had let him though, but in his state he could care less if they had tried to stop him. The young Targaryen had tried to be stealthy about sneaking into the same bed as Relena but his weight had betrayed him as his whole body just fell into the bed, his face had hit a soft pillow, his breathing obstructed by the pillow.
At Relena’s reaction Viserys barley moved his face so his words could be heard. “My sister has taken a lover and is not being quiet at all. Not to mention your Uncle also near my chambers…” All he had wanted was peace and quiet and he couldn’t even have that in the late hours of the night.
He turned his head to face her as he readjusted his body so he was in more comfortable position and could converse easier. His silver locks were in disarray and he huffed. “This isn’t our marriage bed, you needen’t worry. I just want sleep.” He explained as he tried to stifle a yawn, barley noticing how she had pulled the covers over her more and his lack of covers. It wouldn’t be the first time he slept with nothing but his clothes.
Viserys’s eyes were getting heavier as he laid in the bed that was far from noises he’d rather not here and he could care less if he were shoved off to the floor. But he tried to stay awake in case Relena spoke again.
“The Tyrells have stood against my family twice now out of pure ambition, there is more than enough reason to think that they will support anyone who offers to higher their position in life and I will not let to go unpunished.”, Relena insisted. At least the Martells had stood against her out of grieve and a craving for revenge, not just because they felt like it. “And our?”, she questioned, her eyebrows narrowing as she tilted hr head slightly. “Well anyway, I already thought you might say that, which could lead to a bit of an issue…”, she mumbled. “After the rebellion my father gave Dragonstone to my uncle, who has committed no crime, I cannot just forfeit his lands to the crown.”
Relena put a weak smile upon her lips, as her pale hand reached for the skirt of her dress, before walking towards the Small Council Chamber. “How well do you think they will take it?”, the queen asked after a short moment, her eyes turning towards Viserys.
“I am certain Lord Stark will be delighted, but I am not as sure about my grandfather.”
“When and if that time comes, they will be punished accordingly.” Viserys assured the young Queen and avoided her question on the words he’d left hanging. His face fell, his disappointment while clear, was unknown to why he’d feel it. He knew of her Uncle’s seat there and she was right as no crimes had been committed it would be harder to gain justification for the removal other then he just wanted it back. “Of course…” He said with a sigh, before following Relena towards the council room.
“Not well.” He replied “Your grandfather will surely wish to strangle me and than Lord Stark for advising such a thing. But he along with others will have to realize that I am not my father. There is no Mad King.” He walked past the doors and violet eyes looked onward at the small council as they appeared before his eyes once the guards opened the doors. Tywin had already settled into a glare at the sight of him, but the others seemed more receptive.
“Good evening My Lords. Sorry to interrupt, but we have some news that we’d like to share with you” He began, unsure of where this strange air of confidence was coming from. He thought Tywin would be enough to make him feel like a child and uncertain but not now. He wouldn’t allow being thought of as such. Tywin’s eyes shifted from the Targayren to his niece and that’s when VIserys expected the worst. “Relena has accepted my marriage proposal.”
“Many things indeed.”, Relena said, her gaze falling upon the ring on her finger for a brief moment. “Like the family name, your lands and titles and first and foremost, what to do with the houses that sided with you and your claim, ow that our houses are to be united.”, she said, her eyes lifting to find his. The Tyrells and the Martells have stood against her family twice now, and she wouldn’t let it come to a third time.
“The sooner they know the better, unless of course you want to tell your sister first?”, the queen questioned. “I would never demand that you wait to tell her… and then she could tell Tyrion, and he can tell my mother, she is used to hearing bad news from him.”, she added mumbling, for she was certain that her mother would not be delighted to hear the new. For a moment Relena’s teeth sunk into her lower lip, before saying: “And I just want to say that… I am sorry that I am not good at expressing emotions.”
Viserys hadn’t thought of all that she had been thinking of and he rattled his brain for answers. “They will surely fall in line at the union, will they not? I know there are some to fall out of grace but…” Viserys sighed. “If they are to rebel then they rebel against the crown. Treason. Dragonstone has been our ancestral home and part of the Targayren tittles. I’d like to keep it as such, if not only for myself and our- but also, also for Daenerys.” Viserys had no idea of what the family name or whatever else would come of their marriage.
The idea of Cersei finding out through third of fourth hand was scarier thought then her finding out with everyone else and he shook his head. “Believe me, i want to tell her, but it’s best if we just inform the small council and none else.” His eyes darted around the room, almost paranoid that Cersei was lurking around a corner. “It’s fine.” He told her giving a simple shrug and gestured his head to where the small council were surely to be.
Goldnwulf 