“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.
Relena was well versed on the matters of the heart, why should she? Until the moment she was pushed onto the throne she had been of little interest to anyone and after that no man could approach and court her the way he would court any other lady, but she knew politics, and she knew that even if this courtship had not been successful she would have had no choice but accept the proposal, after all one dragon would always beat a hundred armies, therefore she should be happy that apparently it was a success. With a little smile upon her lips she held out her hand. “But I hope you are aware that there are a lot of things that still have to be negotiated before we come out with this to the public, until that is done, just our council should know about this.”
Viserys slowly and gingerly took her hand in his and slipped the ring on, holding his breath for what seemed like an eternity. He couldn’t believe this was happening, he never thought he’d marry the daughter of his enemy, nor hold love in his heart for her. Once he thought it to be just political and now it had turned to more for him. “Of course, many things are to be settled and agreed upon.” He echoed as he stood up, knees weak still as he gazed at her. It seemed more real now, seeing the ring on her hand.
“Just our council. Shall we tell them now?” He asked her, tilting his head to one side just a bit. His mind was going off in so many directions. How long would they wait to tell the public? How long until he could call her his wife? The wedding! Viserys reminded himself that it would all come with time and to relax, and so he took a deep breath and relaxed. “I-uh, I just want to say that you-you make me happy, Relena.” He was truly at a loss for words.
“Please tell me you are joking.”, the queen said, as she crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking at the silver haired man with a disapproving look. “After all we are two grown adult, we should be able to find things out on our own.”, Relena pointed out, for it would be quite humiliating if they had to constantly ask Lord Stark what they were supposed to do now, especially considering that she was his queen and not just some foolish lady, but perhaps all this would have been much simpler if she had been just a girl and Viserys had been just a boy.
He gave a bashful look as she looked at him. “Okay…you’re right.” She was right of course, she was a Queen and they both couldn’t continue to run and ask other adults on how to run their lives or a country. Why would they be in charge and not the person giving advice?
Viserys had an idea suddenly, motioning her to wait while he retrieved something from his room and came back, item in hand and got down on one knee to present it to her. The same ring from before, and cleared his throat, his nerves that had been building as he went to get the ring subsided as he looked up at her and he spoke with confidence, a true smile spread across his face, one of the few real happy smiles he had had since being in his exile. “Will you, Relena Baratheon take this ring? Be my wife and I your husband?” He asked as he had no other idea of what to do besides asking Eddard.
“Well…”, she mumbled once more, her gaze roaming through the room. “What do we do now?”, she wondered out loud, uncertain eyes trying to find his. This was clearly a strange situation, for neither of them had any experience with these matters, they had come so far to confess that much.
Viserys stayed silent, unsure of what to make of the situation either. “I don’t know” He admitted as he took a small step away from the wall, finally feeling like he didn’t need the wall’s support anymore as his body had stopped shaking. “We could consult Lord Stark?” His mind immediately thinking of them as children having to go ask their father what to do next after they had completed a task asked of them.
For the briefest of moments the composure, to which Relena always held onto so carefully, slipped from her face, revealing true surprise. The young queen took a deep breath, trying to regain her serenity before speaking. “Well…”, she mumbled, her gaze lowering for a moment “… then I believe this courtship can be considered successful…”
He was expecting her to lose it, to say something along the lines of how she couldn’t believe him. But no. Instead she mumbled and kept her compose only letting bits and pieces of her full emotion through, which, Visery’s hadn’t noticed. He himself was too shocked and stunned by his own confession.
“Yes- was all he managed to get out, like he was out of breath now and he leaned his back against the stone wall. Relieved he had spoken aloud how he felt for her. He glanced up at the ceiling before looking back at her and then at his feet. “-It can.”
Goldnwulf 