“A man posing as a noble to get close to you and anyone who would want to pay off to harm you.” He began to tell her as they made their way to the ‘safe room’ “That man thought I would help him.” There was clear disgust in his voice. “Help him in ruining peace.” Viserys was paranoid now, and everyone was now an enemy to him and could hurt Relena. He still held a protective grip on her, soon a few of her queensguard followed behind along with his own guard. “i wish it were as simple as manners.” Viserys had delt with slave masters, surely this would be easier then that. Just squash who was behind these plans and it would end.
“Lord Stark is going to your mother and Varys to see what their spies have heard.” He informed Relena, opening the door to the room and stationed his own guards outside and Relena’s inside by the door and led her to a nearby chair until his own mind led him back to the other guests. “Daenerys” He spoke under his breath, almost a whisper and he was caught between going out there to look for her and staying with Relena.
“She’s fine…She’s the Mother of Dragons. She’s with the Starks…With Lord Stark and the others.” He spoke to himsel, reassuring him that she would be fine, focusing his attention back on Relena. “Rel, do you need anything. Water, wine?” Viserys asked, already pouring himself a glass of wine and began drinking it, trying to calm his nerves. “Those who are planning this coupe will be dealt with accordingly.” He told Relena until his thoughts drifted back to Daenerys. “Something seemed off about the way he talked. Like he was trying to draw me closer as well like-” The threat of death loomed over him and Viserys froze. “Kill me and hurt you or worse…Get rid of any possible contenders to the throne and the queen and have what I can only assume they believe to be the true heir. Joffrey.” He couldn’t tell if it was his paranoia that was getting to him but he looked around the room, relieved that one of the Queensguard found a sword and handed it to him and Viserys made sure to sit near Relena once more as he grabbed the sword.
The news didn’t come as a shock to Relena, she had already expected the worst, what was shocking was the way everyone was acting especially Viserys. She didn’t want to make a scene while they were still in the hall, but as soon as she was ushered into a room, she took some distance to him. “I am not some child, who you or Lord Stark can make decisions for. I while I appreciate the worry, I will handle this on my own.” After all she was the queen and her father would have never let anyone else handle a situation like this, she was a woman, but that did not mean that she would stand by and allow men to decide for her.
“And just for the record, wine sounds like a horiibe idea in a momet like that.”, she warned him.
For a moment she watched the Targaryen ramble, not even half listening to what he said, before turning towards her guards. “Send Ser Barristan Selmy to protect the Queen of Meereen, right now, I will not have her harmed while she presides under my roof, if something happens to her, he will personally answer for that.”, the queen ordered, before turning to the other guard. “Send for the Lord Hand, he is to meet me here right now, furthermore I want the man in chains, on his knees in front of me.”, she commanded. As the man was about to leave the chamber, Relena’s gaze fell upon the silver haired man once more. “And call the Feaster, just in case we need him.”, she added.
Upon hearing him mentioned Joffrey, the young queen narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “You need to calm down. You were a king in Yunkai, were you not? Our lives are always at stake, but we cannot act in such a way, not matter how close to death we come. We are royalty, we are calm and serene.”, the raven hair girl reminded him, the words slowly leaving her lips.
“No matter how hard it is, we must be above these matters.”
Relena’s heart was heavily beating within her chest, but she could not show fear, she was to face the man that tried to kill her and she wouldn’t let him, or anyone else win. She was a daughter of Storm’s End, the Queen of Westeros and she didn’t cower in fear.
Relena had remained so calm when here he was, not remaining calm. He heard her commands, breathing a sigh of relief at the mention of Daenerys. Her words towards him caused him to glare at her. “Yes I was. But..” It was here that he realized that he generally had his dragon and more then a kingsguard around him. “I was. But I also had my dragon closer to me.” He told her swiftly feeling calmed by her words and again noticing her similarities to Daenerys.
“You’re right. I’m a King.” He echoed, setting the goblet down and relaxed his grip on the sword. “I just don’t want anything to happen to Dany…” Viserys sat straighter in the chair and he tried to keep his thoughts at bay. “Or you.” He whispered the last part, his eyes almost unable to look at her, surprising himself at just all what he was feeling right now besides fear and paranoia.
It took a while but once everything was set in place, the man was bound in chains and brought to the Queen and Viserys stared at the man, waiting for him to make a wrong move, his sword hand on the hilt of the sword and he managed to pull himself together like he would back in Yunkai and as he would by Relena’s side. He wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of standing, but rather what he was doing, kneeling. Lord Eddard had brought the man to Relena. “You kneel before her Grace, Relena of House Baratheon and Lannsiter.
First of her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm, charged with treason and attempted murder” Viserys stated trying to remind himself he was a King and he felt like he was back there, back in charge. Kingly once more.
Viserys waved away a member of the court, having finished his small talk with other court members he could hear the intentions and his voice. He held out a bag of coin to him and he dismissed the man who kept trying to push the bag onto him. “Listen you snake. I don’t want your gold. I’m content here and what I have. I won’t jeopardize anything for your sorry coin” He was seething with anger now, and he stormed off to talk with someone who wouldn’t make him want to murder someone in sight of all these people.
The man however was not going to stop his interaction with Viserys and he smacked the man’s coin purse out of his hands and reeled back, anger flashing in his face. “You will do well to shut your treason mouth if you want to keep your head.” The man started to laugh, thinking Viserys to be joking.
“I will-” He thought better of his burning threat given his father’s reputation post mortum. “My dragon could use a new chew toy. You seem to be the right size.” As soon as he spoke his threat, Lord Stark placed a hand on his shoulder and made a face. Both men exchanged words and glanced at Relena. He nodded, and went towards the Relena while Eddard took the man aside, a guard taking him discreetly away.
Viserys approached Relena, acting calmly as he strode fourth. “Queen Relena, I believe there is a matter to attend to with the small council. If you would.” Viserys whispered in her ear, a hand on her back, as he ushered her towards where Eddard had told him to take her. “This way. Please.”
For a moment Relena tried to overhead the noise, not wanting to interrupt the conversation she was partaking in, or rather trying to partake in, but at some point she couldn’t help herself and turned her attention towards the men. The Baratheon Queen was about to excuse herself and approach them, to find out what was going on, when Lord Stark had already reached them. Her emerald eyes were slightly narrowed, as she watched them.
At first Relena had just thought that it was just another lord or perhaps a knight that felt the need to insult her gust, but she was quite certain that if this would have been the truth Lord Stark would have been more than able to handle the situation on his own, without calling upon her. Therefore, the queen’s eyes darkened, when the Targaryen informed her that there was a matter she had to take care of. “Of course.”, Relena replied, forcing a smile upon her lips as she turned towards the ladies that were watching them. “If you excuse me, matters of state never seem to sleep.”, was as said, before turning back towards Viserys, her smile immediately fading. “What just happened?”, the young stag questioned quietly.
“I would like to think that this was just about yet another man that forgot his manners, but I somehow have the feeling that that is not the truth.”
“A man posing as a noble to get close to you and anyone who would want to pay off to harm you.” He began to tell her as they made their way to the ‘safe room’ “That man thought I would help him.” There was clear disgust in his voice. “Help him in ruining peace.” Viserys was paranoid now, and everyone was now an enemy to him and could hurt Relena. He still held a protective grip on her, soon a few of her queensguard followed behind along with his own guard. “i wish it were as simple as manners.” Viserys had delt with slave masters, surely this would be easier then that. Just squash who was behind these plans and it would end.
“Lord Stark is going to your mother and Varys to see what their spies have heard.” He informed Relena, opening the door to the room and stationed his own guards outside and Relena’s inside by the door and led her to a nearby chair until his own mind led him back to the other guests. “Daenerys” He spoke under his breath, almost a whisper and he was caught between going out there to look for her and staying with Relena.
“She’s fine…She’s the Mother of Dragons. She’s with the Starks…With Lord Stark and the others.” He spoke to himsel, reassuring him that she would be fine, focusing his attention back on Relena. “Rel, do you need anything. Water, wine?” Viserys asked, already pouring himself a glass of wine and began drinking it, trying to calm his nerves. “Those who are planning this coupe will be dealt with accordingly.” He told Relena until his thoughts drifted back to Daenerys. “Something seemed off about the way he talked. Like he was trying to draw me closer as well like-” The threat of death loomed over him and Viserys froze. “Kill me and hurt you or worse…Get rid of any possible contenders to the throne and the queen and have what I can only assume they believe to be the true heir. Joffrey.” He couldn’t tell if it was his paranoia that was getting to him but he looked around the room, relieved that one of the Queensguard found a sword and handed it to him and Viserys made sure to sit near Relena once more as he grabbed the sword.
At the sound of her voice going higher then he was ever used to hearing, he couldn’t help but grin. “It may have been manipulative of me…” Viserys closed the distance between them, still lingering just away enough so she didn’t feel cornered. “But, she was a ruse. To gauge your reaction.” It was cruel means to go about courting but it gave him some sense of stability, that he knew what he was doing and didn’t feel like he was child learning how to do something and failing repeatedly. “Should I not make you any promises than? Is that what you desire?” He asked, leaning towards her. More down then into, but he halted his movements as he realized what he was feeling towards her was starting to kindle into affection.
“I don’t care to see any man try to court you, even attempting.” He told her, his voice growing lower, his eyes focused on hers before he reminded himself he wasn’t in charge. He was courting her, the Queen. So, he leaned back, and as his thought drifted to his sister and how happy she had seen interacting with Jon Snow, he rubbed the back of his head. “Lord Eddard informed me of some more…basic courting techniques..I know you hate flowers, and you probably have enough books to satisfy you. But…I had this made.” He went to his bedside drawer and pulled out a ring that was in the shape of a stag, it’s antlers branching out. The Stag and ring base was black with golden antlers. He held it out in his hand, nerves piled up in his stomach as he waited for her to take it.
“You should probably go ahead first, back to your guests. I don’t want anyone to start any rumors if we should appear at the same time.”
Relena could not help but laugh, upon hearing Viserys’s explanation, it just a quick laugh, and her hand soon covered her mouth, but a few giggles managed to escape her lips. “I will give you that, you are a really good liar and most men would have probably not come up with an idea like that but then again you had more time to think than most.”, she said, hardly believing a single word he said. “Please, do as both a favour and don’t treat me like a fool, I know that I am just a means to an end to you, as I am to any other man, at least give me the courtesy of acknowledging that I am smart enough to realize that.” Ever since she had become queen, Relena had to realize that she wasn’t just a girl any more, when people looked at her they saw the crown, when people touched her, they touched the throne and when people craved her they craved power. She had long accepted the fact that no one wanted her, all they wanted was her claim.
The young queen had tensed up, when she saw him approaching her, therefore there was a slight relive in the way she carried herself, when Viserys leaned back. The discomfort she felt had nothing to do with him, at least not directly, she wasn’t used to male attention and the moment men became willing to pay her any attention she had to start always expecting the worst. Relena’s eyes followed the Targaryen with raised eyebrows and a stretched neck, for she was curious to see what he was doing, once she saw it, there was a smile upon her lips for the briefest of moments. “I thank you, I truly do, for it is beautiful, but I fear a ring could… would give the wrong signal to the court. I hope you understand.”, the young stag explained, to excused herself, turning towards the door. She glanced back once more, before vanishing to rejoin the court.
Viserys gave a slight laugh as she laughed, realizing she didn’t believe him but let it play out. “You’re right. I’m a fool not to believe you would see behind the lie” He commented.
He himself smiled when he saw her smile. It was the briefest of smiles but he couldn’t help but think she would take the ring. She would wouldn’t she? The smile and her words…His face fell as she went on to speak, and the nerves that had started to subside turned into a churning of disappointment. Viserys clamped his hand over the ring, feeling foolish now, for not realizing earlier what a ring of all things could have meant. If only Lord Eddard had-No. Viserys told himself. He couldn’t blame Lord Eddard. It was himself who had decided on a ring.
He looked back at the ring, unsure of what to do with it. Part of him wanted to throw it and another part of him wanted to just give it to her no matter what anyone would think, but he put the ring on his nightstand and gave a deep sigh shaking his head at his own actions. Once Relena had left, he waited, exiting his room once he had given Relena ample time to get back to the court. As he passed a hallway he paused, gathering himself before he was seen by the public again. Making sure to make small talk with the Lords and small council, answering and asking questions and talking about the current state and affairs of Westeros.
“A lot would have changed had that been the case.” He replied. “Not sure I’d want to flirt with her if such things were the case. But, we shall never know.” Viserys looked back at Relana, seeing her face as the aftermath of the vomit became hard to look away from. “Personal guest or not…” he started to say as a servant came to help him. Okay, maybe being a personal guest was nice. Viserys was ushered off as the scene was cleaned up.
Viserys found himself in his guest room, the servant helped him and once he was rid of his ruined clothing he slipped on new bottoms, unsure of what kind of tunic to where since his Targayren colored one was done for. He decided on a black tunic with gold colorings, it wasn’t one he’d want to wear in such an event as this one, but it would have to do as the tunics he had here was given as a gift. Just as he was about to put it on, he heard a knock, assuming it was the servant asking for him, he spoke without looking as he got the Tunic from the wardrobe. “Come in” He slowly turned around, slipping the undershirt on, then putting the tunic on, his eyes met who had come in the room and Viserys’s face flushed, going from pink to red very quickly.
“Why didn’t you tell me…Relena!” Viserys exclaimed, making sure he was properly dressed. “You needen’t come check up on me.” The silver haired Targayen couldn’t believe she had left the guests and the party to…No. He was just seeing things…Wishful thinking, prehaps? “Relena.” Viserys began, walking towards her, stopping just a few feet away from her. “Were you…jealous, earlier? I know we are courting, and it’s been going on almost two months, but, it’s not as if we are already set to be married. I hope you understand that if we do wed, I won’t be like your father or my brother. I’d be faithful to you.”
For a moment Relena remained with her guests, before excusing herself. Viserys had stepped in front of her so that she didn’t have to humiliate herself, paying him a short visit was the least she could do. Since she had waited for him to tell her that she could enter, she had actually expected him to be fully dressed, but she quickly felt the need to lower her gaze and her cheeks turned soft pink. “I just wanted to make certain that you have everything you need.”, she explained, her eyes still refusing to look directly at him.
“Jealous?”, the raven haired girl repeated with a high-pitched voice as her head suddenly shot up. “Of… of course I wasn’t jealous, like you said, we are just courting, not more.”, she pointed out clearly a bit flustered.
“I should probably return to my guests.”, she mumbled. The young queen turned around to leave, her hand had already reached for the door, when she suddenly turned back. “But if we are to marry, I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t make the same promises that every man makes, the same promises that every man breaks.” After all, even the honourable Ned Stark couldn’t keep himself to just one woman, if he had failed so miserably, how high were the odds for any other man? “We are courting for only two months and you already could not yet keep your eyes off of other women, you didn’t even have the decency to deny it, how do you imagine that will work when we are married?”
At the sound of her voice going higher then he was ever used to hearing, he couldn’t help but grin. “It may have been manipulative of me…” Viserys closed the distance between them, still lingering just away enough so she didn’t feel cornered. “But, she was a ruse. To gauge your reaction.” It was cruel means to go about courting but it gave him some sense of stability, that he knew what he was doing and didn’t feel like he was child learning how to do something and failing repeatedly. “Should I not make you any promises than? Is that what you desire?” He asked, leaning towards her. More down then into, but he halted his movements as he realized what he was feeling towards her was starting to kindle into affection.
“I don’t care to see any man try to court you, even attempting.” He told her, his voice growing lower, his eyes focused on hers before he reminded himself he wasn’t in charge. He was courting her, the Queen. So, he leaned back, and as his thought drifted to his sister and how happy she had seen interacting with Jon Snow, he rubbed the back of his head. “Lord Eddard informed me of some more…basic courting techniques..I know you hate flowers, and you probably have enough books to satisfy you. But…I had this made.” He went to his bedside drawer and pulled out a ring that was in the shape of a stag, it’s antlers branching out. The Stag and ring base was black with golden antlers. He held it out in his hand, nerves piled up in his stomach as he waited for her to take it.
“You should probably go ahead first, back to your guests. I don’t want anyone to start any rumors if we should appear at the same time.”
Part of him wanted to just stop dancing, he swore he could feel the hatred for him as they danced. He knew he had messed up so he figured he would dance with her in silence and as they danced he heard a few men speaking on how they wanted to dance with her and why the filthy Targayren was taking up her time. His hand on her hip gripped slightly tighter and his eyes narrowed as he could see the countless number of men that wanted her just because she was a queen. But…Isn’t that why he too was doing this? Because she was Queen and the way to get his status of King back. No matter if it was a King consort.
He felt his stiff shoulders relaxed as he took in her scent, feeling her hand in his. It was an odd feeling and he wasn’t quite sure what he was feeling but it calmed it and he slowly began to distance himself from her as they danced, twirling her and then twirling him back, his breathing hitched when he saw her dress twirl, the hair around her face gently falling back into place, her stern gaze on him.
Viserys slowly let her hand go as the music died down, almost unaware that he had practically stopped dancing a few beats before the music died, staring at Relena. “I believe others would want to dance with you…” Viserys stated, clearing his throat. Shaking himself from his thoughts and watched a few men stumbling foreword, scared to ask her to dance. “I should check on Daenerys.” He explained, about to leave in his sister’s general direction until he saw her having a pleasant talk with Jon Snow. “Or not” he mumbled under his breath, his back turned to Relena and froze as he saw Cersei’s eyes staring him down, suddenly feeling like death was upon him.
Relena’s mood only darkened during the dance, not because of anything Viserys did, but rather because it seemed like the high lords of Westeros weren’t aware of the fact that females indeed possessed ears. She didn’t get much attention, especially not from men before she became queen, back then she was rarely seen outside her chambers and while she wasn’t unattractive, compared to the renowned beauty of her mother, and the beauty her sister would clearly grow up to be someday, she wasn’t the most desirable option, especially since the thing she was most renown for was the fact that she was quite the sickly child, barely making it to adulthood, but all these worries seemed to be washed away once the crown was put upon her head, st that moment she became the most eligible woman in all of the Seven Kingdoms.
For marring her would make any man king and Relena was aware of the fact that most of them expected her to hand over power to her husband the moment they were married, oh how foolish men could be.
“Well.”, the queen said, straightening out the fabric of her dress. “It will be quite hard to dance if no man is brave enough to ask me.”, she said, glancing at the lords that were staring at her and who just a moment ago seemed braver than any Lannister lion, of whom none dared to make a single step into her direction and if Relena was honest, she didn’t mind.
“You have to forgive her.”, the young stag said, after a moment of silence, at first she had not noticed her mother’s glares, but when the Tagaryen froze in his movement she followed his eyes to find the lioness. “She is my mother, no person will ever be good enough for any of her children.”, Relena said, turning her head back towards the silver haired men. “Also your family spurned her so…” , she added, stepping next to Viserys again.
Viserys tried not to look back at the Lannister woman, feeling like if he did or didn’t he would be pounced upon for challenging or for becoming prey. He felt better when he realized Relena was near him, if he dared to look he might see her right next to him and his hand brushed against hers. “Right.” Viserys spoke, finally managing to get his gaze back to Relena, looking at her and gave a small sigh, relieved as Cersei soon left, gone off to go stare someone else down hopefully. “Not my fault my father chose a Dornish woman then her for his eldest son’s wife” He grumbled, starting to wish another Targayren male was around to share some of this blame he was getting for his family and their deeds he could have never have done anything to change.
“I find it sad that a Beggar King can dance with the Queen, while Noble men of Great Houses find themselves incapacitated in doing the same” Viserys tried to shake himself out of what fear Cersei had gotten him in and glanced at a few of the Lords that had dared to get close to her. Challenging them to move and ask Relena for a dance. One a bit drunk then most would prefer to be. Viserys watched him with a careful eye and he staggered towards Relena trying to ask for a dance. Viserys started to snort at the comment, managing to stop it half way through as he could see the man about to retch in front of and possibly on the Queen, so Viserys stepped forward in front of Relena, not only protecting her from what harm the drunk could do but from the vomit to stain her dress. “I spoke too soon it seems” The silver haired male was horrified as the stench reached his nose and he himself fought back a gag at the sight.
She seemed to care. It was odd, for him to hear her speak in a such a way. He swore she hated him, friendly and cordial when she had to be, to make the courtship work. He stared at her, dumbfounded by what to do or say next as his eyes settled on her. Hearing the court musicians start up once more he took her by the hand, leading her to where others had been dancing, bowing and kissed her hand. “I wish to stay here. If you can forgive my wondering eyes, may I have this dance?” He asked her, sincerity in his voice as he spoke. “I did not mean to offend you, My Queen. My eyes may have wondered but my thoughts never strayed.” He told her.
Relena was about to angrily turn around and leave him standing there when she felt him take her hand and she was certain, had they not been surrounded by the courtiers, she would have just pulled her hand back and done what she had originally intended, but alas they were in public and the Queen of Westeros could not act like any other insulted lady would. Therefore, she bit her teeth tightly together, curtsied and silently began to dance. But if he believed that such flowery phrases could simply wash away the young stag’s anger, he truly had no idea what kind of woman was standing in front of him.
Part of him wanted to just stop dancing, he swore he could feel the hatred for him as they danced. He knew he had messed up so he figured he would dance with her in silence and as they danced he heard a few men speaking on how they wanted to dance with her and why the filthy Targayren was taking up her time. His hand on her hip gripped slightly tighter and his eyes narrowed as he could see the countless number of men that wanted her just because she was a queen. But…Isn’t that why he too was doing this? Because she was Queen and the way to get his status of King back. No matter if it was a King consort.
He felt his stiff shoulders relaxed as he took in her scent, feeling her hand in his. It was an odd feeling and he wasn’t quite sure what he was feeling but it calmed it and he slowly began to distance himself from her as they danced, twirling her and then twirling him back, his breathing hitched when he saw her dress twirl, the hair around her face gently falling back into place, her stern gaze on him.
Viserys slowly let her hand go as the music died down, almost unaware that he had practically stopped dancing a few beats before the music died, staring at Relena. “I believe others would want to dance with you…” Viserys stated, clearing his throat. Shaking himself from his thoughts and watched a few men stumbling foreword, scared to ask her to dance. “I should check on Daenerys.” He explained, about to leave in his sister’s general direction until he saw her having a pleasant talk with Jon Snow. “Or not” he mumbled under his breath, his back turned to Relena and froze as he saw Cersei’s eyes staring him down, suddenly feeling like death was upon him.
“Everything that happens at my court is my business!”, Relena insisted. She had spent years seeing her mother live in misery, idly having to sit by, watching her husband flirt and sleep with as many women as it pleased him and Relena would most certainly not share in her mother’s misery. If this courtship was to work, something that became more and more doubtful, she would not allow Viserys to do as Robert did. If it was treason for the wife of a king to have other men, then it certainly also had to work the other way around when a queen was ruling. “But if you wish to not make your… amorous activities my
business, feel free to return to Yunka.”
She seemed to care. It was odd, for him to hear her speak in a such a way. He swore she hated him, friendly and cordial when she had to be, to make the courtship work. He stared at her, dumbfounded by what to do or say next as his eyes settled on her. Hearing the court musicians start up once more he took her by the hand, leading her to where others had been dancing, bowing and kissed her hand. “I wish to stay here. If you can forgive my wondering eyes, may I have this dance?” He asked her, sincerity in his voice as he spoke. “I did not mean to offend you, My Queen. My eyes may have wondered but my thoughts never strayed.” He told her.
“The gods probably do care. The result if this working out or not
will have an effect on their people.” Viserys commented. “See this is
where we differ. You are the Queen. You can do mostly as you
please…The Hand is there to act as ruler when you are not there. As he
did with your father.” Viserys reminded her. “Granted for your safety
in general it would be good to let people know where you are going…”
He added quickly before he headed off towards the pavilion, knowing
exactly where she was talking about and had to remind himself to be
mindful of how fast he was walking and that while he had memory of this
place and some things may be better then hers.
“I suppose you
are right. But I feel like there wouldn’t be as much weight and
pressure. In an arranged marriage, it’s not a guarantee, granted, but
it’s more set in stone than a standard courting.” He paused as he leaned
back against one of the stone pillars and looked at her, a small smile
on his face. “It would indeed. I was told I would be king one day…I
got selfish and grew closer to madness in mind due to the stress and my
exiled status. But then I survived an experience that should have killed
me…Death doesn’t change many men but for some it does.” Viserys
shrugged, not implying Joffrey should have a similar experience to what
he had but a wake up call seemed in order.
“I heard talk of a
tourney being held for your Name Day, I’d like to attend it by your
side, if you’d allow it. I haven’t seen one in too long and I know it
may be different than Daenery’s pits in Mereen, but hopefully she too
finds joy in it as I know I’ve done in the past.” Viserys stated, his
eyes down cast to the ground for a moment as he wondered if he was still
doing a shit job at courting a woman. “I’ve oddly been enjoying your
company, Queen Relena. You remind me much of my sister and you both are
not just any women. You don’t roll over and look pretty.”
His eyes flickered back to her and he cleared his throat. “Not to say
you are not pretty. You are quite beautiful. But there is more to you
than just looks and status. You have a love of reading, that’s been
quite clear.” He was starting to fumble his words, unsure of where to go
next with his words as he tried to imagine A. what she’d like to here,
B. What he truly thought of her as he’d gotten to know her and C. What
the Hand and advisors would want him to say. It was an odd mixture and
he gave a heavy sigh.
Viserys growled at the mention of his father. “I know what he did, Relena. You need not go into more of what he did. I know he killed people with no justice given. They may be. Maegor the Cruel ruled and then Jaehareys I ruled. Called
Conciliator, the Wise one, the longest ruling monarchs on the throne.” His voice started out angered and frustrated but calmed towards the end. “I would not be my father. There are lessons to be learned in a monarchs rule. You’ve learned from your own father’s mistakes have you not? I’ve learned from mine.”
“I will not lie to you. I am here to reclaim my throne. What I was promised since birth and named as it’s king during the rebellion. I wouldn’t know what to do with the gold as i’ve spent long enough without even a lesser houses gold. The glory…perhaps. The castle was my home, should have been Daenerys’s as well.”
Viserys paused listing to her speak once more about earning her trust and about his sister. It was true, they had proved such. But he felt he had proved himself just as much when he ruled Yunkai. He’d gotten rid of the slavery and for a short time brought peace to the people, attempting to reform the city to be better than the slave masters before they left for Westeros, leaving his trusted advisors in charge. “I ruled Yunkai. I was King there and the people were happy with my rule. The slavers gone and the slaves freed. I made way for stability and reformation to start over. Build a better world then the one our parent’s and grandparents left it. That’s what I want.”
He stated giving his own words of his time across the sea. Hearing her speak about not having a place she loved in the keep made him frown. “I see.” He thought of what they could do and he wondered if he could recall any of his favorite places in the keep, finding he couldn’t think of any. “We could go to-” He almost suggested the Godswood but remembered she didn’t want to be in the gardens. “We could just go inside? No particular place, perhaps just wonder around? Maybe visit the Sept?” He suggested.
“And then you just left them behind!”, Relena declared reproachful. “You gave the people Yunkai a taste of a better world and then you left them, because you wanted something better for yourself! Do you not think that a good king, a king that wants what is best for his people, would have remained there and kept ruling to make sure that his people remain free?”, the Baratheon queen questioned, her eyebrows narrowed as she stared at the man.
“Well.”, she said, after calming down a bit. “You have been honest with me, now allow me the same courtesy. Do not, for a single moment believe that you will ever rule the Seven Kingdoms.”, she said, slow and clearly. “Even if this…”, Relena said, waving around in the space between the two of them. “… somehow works out, against all odds, you would be king in name only, a king consort not more, for Westeros has one true ruler that sits the iron throne and that is me.” Not for a moment did Relena’s eyes leave Visery’s when she spoke. Her family had suffered and fought, people had died to remove the Targaryens from the throne and a union with one would more than just displease her people, but if she were to give the crown to one of them they would have a rebellion within days. Furthermore, her pride forbid her from giving up her position. The raven haired girl had never craved the throne, but now that it was hers she had grown into her duty and the crown was hers to bear.
“Visit the Sept?”, the young stag asked sceptical. She had spent many years reading the Seven Pointed Star, for it was the only book her Septa approved of and Relena was almost certain that she knew it better than the High Septon himself and while it was her duty as a queen and a believer to visit the Septa for prayers, she certainly did not visit it for a pleasant time. “Have you ever courted a lady before?”, the girl suddenly asked, looking at him with a tilted head and eyebrows that were pinched together. She was certainly no expert in matters of the heart, but even she was aware that the Sept was probably not the best place to court someone, surrounded by ancient graves and apparently right in the sight of the gods.
“Daenerys left her people in Meereen as well. Yell at her as well.” He said grumpily. almost under his breath. “The masters ships and leaders were burned. We took what remained of their fleet and left them in power no longer.” Viserys explained.
He was taken a back by her words and he resisted the urge to fight back, clearly biting his tongue. King consort? He’d take the place a woman would if there was a king?! He knew he had to keep his cool. He would be seen as a child again and not what he should be. A king. He decided to not say anything on that matter and just nodded.
“Yes….” He drug out the words, now unsure of what he said had been the wrong thing to say. He looked down at the ground and then back at Relena as she questioned. “No.” He told her simply. “I’ve never had the opportunity to do so.” Viserys made a face as he spoke, realizing how he was going about this was all wrong. “What do you like?” He asked, his head tilting a bit as he studied her. Obviously it wasn’t him that much was clear. “I assume you wouldn’t like flowers. they’re only beautiful if they are growing, not dead and cut.” He shrugged as he pondered what she could like.
“You could show me your favorite books? Maybe we could read one together” He recalled how excited she had started to sound at the mention of reading and then he shook his head after he spoke, putting a hand in his face, running it through his hair, visibly frustrated. “War is easier then courting…” He found himself chuckling, nervously now, his eyebrows raised. “From what i’ve gathered you’ve never courted either…Or am I wrong?” He asked, gesturing his head towards the Keep. “We could head in, away from the sun and fauna.” He tried to stay away from ordering her, he knew from her earlier words that it was going to be best not to act like he was used to acting. He had to be on his best behavior.
As she yanked her arm back and yelled at him, Viserys stood his ground. “I think you could.” He answered after a long moment of silence, watching her turn around. Viserys was waiting for her to leave, but when it seemed like she wasn’t he thought back on what she had said before the guard encounter. “I haven’t read that book nor many…I never had the luxury of reading much after my exile. I lost joy in it.” He admitted, his voice low and he shook his head, his silver hair hung in his eyes for a second before he pushed it back. “It may very well be a backwards way to look at things, but you are right. The ruler may rule but he does not rule without the people.”
Viserys stayed put where he was, knowing she was saying and doing all of this because it was his right as her guest, and he was still trying to shake the feeling of anger and frustration from earlier. Viserys felt the sun on him, the breeze coming by again and he walked closer to Relena, unsure about what to say now and he rubbed the back of his head.
“I knew in the back of my head, that coming back here, I would receive the same words I heard my whole life. That not everyone would welcome me back after what my father did and who he was.” He started “But, I had hoped more would be welcoming to my rule once more…Not this” He vaguely gestured to the guard and his companions. “I’ve been called the Begger King, mocked and degraded not only by my own people but by the people in Bravvos and the Dothraki-” Viserys began talking steps closer to Relena. “I had to sell the last piece of home and my family to survive. To help feed my sister and I. My mother’s crown. A symbol of royalty, pride…” His eyes watched birds as they flew around the gardens, trying to keep himself composed.
“Relena. I don’t trust you. I want to. I want to put our father’s feud behind us. My father’s actions and your father’s rebellion. Had I been older and Rhaegar not in his own battle, I’m sure we would have seen our father for the Mad King that he was and gotten rid of him. But what-if’s won’t change. What can change is…us.” He dared to look at her now, his body turned to face her. “I’m Viserys Targaryen, third of my name, named King after my father and brother’s death. An you, named Queen after your father’s death. I see how this country has prospered and grown in my father’s absence and I don’t wish to see that gone.” In truth he wanted his life back. What he thought made him, who he was. A throne and a crown. “Show me your favorite places, I care not where. Too much has changed in the keep…” It no longer felt like home. No dragon skulls adorning the great hall. It was colder and yet inviting and warm. “I’d like to see it for what it is now; Being of your family.” He gave a weak smile, after all his feelings had come fourth and he needed a distraction before he fell apart in front of The Usrper’s daughter.
Goldnwulf 