Marriage III
Hedwig watched Edmyn curiously as he approached. They had decided to go to the Storm's End wedding of Edmyn's cousin, Lisette Tully, and the Lord Baratheon's youngest son, Borys Baratheon.
The bad thing had been that the carriage had been damaged during the winter. So they said that it was best for Kermit to ride a horse to the wedding because he would have more mobility and speed. Then Haelyx had started laughing, drawing everyone's attention.
- Have you forgotten that I have a dragon? I can reach Storm's End in less than a day. And I can take Edmyn
Lord Grover looked at Haelyx.
-I've never heard that dragons take more than one rider.
-Edmyn would not be a rider. He would be a companion. And it is normal for a dragon rider to carry a partner on the flight. – Haelyx did not say that it was normal for a man to have his wife with him.
---------------------------------------
Haelyx looked at the dress that she would wear to the wedding. Well, the five she would take on the trip. They were blue and red. Tully colors. The colors of the house she had married. The dress for the wedding was beautiful with a blue bodice and skirt, red sleeves and a red overskirt, it also had a blue cape on the back and some bows and ruffles in the fabric.
Then she had a simpler, fitted red dress. A blue one of a similar style. And a more elegant red dress with blue details. And a blue dress with red lace to be seen with the Ladies of each house.
All of that was packed into a bundle to be taken to Storm's End safely. Wrapped in leather so the weather wouldn't affect them. Mortimer was making sure to secure the saddle on an obedient Hedwig who was eager to stretch her wings for a long flight.
- Are you afraid, my King? – Haelyx whispered in Edmyn's ear when she saw him watching Hedwig
-No, my Queen. I'm nervous because it will be the first time we see the full extent of our kingdom. From Avalon
- Have you chosen that name? – Haelyx was tense. That was the name by which the magical English referred to their country in ancient times.
- It just seemed right. You do not like?
-No my King, I love it. Avalon, the kingdom that rose from the ashes of an empire. Avalon, the kingdom reborn. – Haelyx placed a kiss on Edmyn's lips and hugged him to drench him with her aroma. - Come on, my King. We have some relatives to visit and a wedding to suffer
-------------------------------
Edmyn laughed into the wind as Hedwig flew up in a playful and mischievous manner. Haelyx laughed too and stole a kiss from her husband's lips.
-Now I understand why the Targaryens are so obsessed with dragons. This is incredible. – Edmyn whispered in Haelyx's ear.
-Up here you only feel freedom. -- Haelyx smiled. -We approach Dragonstone
Then Haelyx noticed several dragons in the fields. She frowned and narrowed her gaze. A very nasty curse came out of her mouth. Apparently her father was having a day of dragon instruction with his new family.
- That's the Red Queen! And the Blood Wivern! – Edmyn exclaimed in Haelyx's ear.
-And Syrax, Arrax, Moondancer and Vermax. I think that little dragon is Tyraxes. A real family reunion. Apparently my idea of passing, saluting and leaving will not be possible, my King.
Haelyx surveyed the island as Hedwig made a graceful turn around and the dragons looked at the beautiful pure white dragon. At the dock were seven, no, ten ships flying the Velaryon flag. A real family visit.
A dragon took flight and Haelyx couldn't help but smile as she saw Arrax approaching. A beautiful silver dragon with a red crest. Much more obedient than the last time she had seen him.
- Haelyx!
- Lucerys! – The boy was taller than the last time she saw him almost three years ago. And more handsome, very similar to his father, that man had always been very attractive. - We've come to visit! To meet Aegon and say hello to the family as we head to a wedding!
- Are you going to stay several days?!
- A couple of nights! Then we'll head to the wedding!
- Brilliant! – Lucerys shouted and Arrax showed enthusiasm with a livelier flight.
Haelyx saw that a landing site had been cleared and gently guided Hedwig into the cleared space. Haelyx knew that she must not feel good about having the biggest dragon. But she felt great to have the biggest dragon alive. Perhaps, when they return, they will stop by the Red Keep to measure their dragon against Vhagar.
Hedwig landed softly, though Edmyn staggered after her and Haelyx proceeded to untie herself from the saddle. She then turned and untied Edmyn with quick gestures. Lucerys had already landed and was running toward them as they climbed down from the dragon, a few guardians untying Hedwig's bundles.
Lucerys's arms encircled Haelyx nearly making her fall to the ground as Edmyn held her from behind. The boy reached higher now, but his head was now against Haelyx's small breasts. She smiled and hugged the boy back.
-I've missed you
-Me too. I've missed you. – Haelyx turned and looked at Edmyn. - Do you know my husband, Edmyn Tully, Heir to Riverrun?
---------------------------------
Daemon watched as Rhaenyra placed Aegon in Haelyx's arms. It was the fifth time he had seen the girl in her life. What's more, Rhaena and Baela had asked who it was, which earned him an angry look from Corlys and Rhaenys who explained who is the girls who was the rider of the great white dragon.
The girl was beautiful, precious in a strange and haunting way. The prettiest woman Daemon had ever seen, more beautiful than the Realm's Delight, Rhaenyra, had been at the same age. She was almost as if she were too perfect to be real, as if the most skilled of sculptors had carved a perfect being and it had come to life.
She smiled at Aegon with a motherly sweetness. She turned to look at her husband and began to talk to the man to get him ready, that she wanted at least twenty children. The twenty-three-year-old man smiled and patted the shoulder of the girl who was his wife.
Haelyx had married at the age that Rhaena and Baela were now. And he couldn't imagine handing them over to either of them at such a young age.
Young Tully was handsome, from the blushes and giggles of the maids, Baela and Rhaena. He was tall, muscular and with good features. His red hair was lighter than Caraxes' scales and his eyes were a light blue color reminiscent of the sea on a calm day.
Daemon squeezed the arms of his chair as he remembered the incident. After Laena's death, his brother and Rhaenyra had taken him to the beach and told him the true reason Aegon had been sent to Old Town and why Haelyx had been married off so quickly. And then he had traded his daughter's honor for protecting Rhaenyra's son from the Queen's wrath. Lucerys was fine and the idiot returned from exile before his time and no one spoke of the great offense that the girl had suffered.
Two assaulted children whose offenders were pardoned in the name of peace between the sides of the family. Haelyx and Aemond
-We will prepare rooms for you to spend the night. -- Rhaenyra said with a smile.
-We will share a room. – Edmyn Tully announced and Daemon wanted to take Dark Sister and kill him. Haelyx was too young to be bedridden. Too young
Years ago he had sent one of his spies to Riverrun. And a few months ago he had received a message that Edmyn Tully was already sharing a bedroom with his daughter. Rhaenyra had also been shocked by this with memories of Aemma, the woman whose footsteps Haelyx seemed to be following. Married at eleven, bedridden at thirteen, in labor when her body was still too small to bear it. Giving birth to one stillborn child after another because her body could not bear the burden of childbirth and pregnancy at such a young age.
Hell, even brothels didn't let girls work until they were fifteen.
Moon tea began to be given to Haelyx on a regular basis and her moon blood was controlled by Edmyn's stepmother. As far as Daemon knew
-Of course…. Hedwig is quite a bit bigger than I remembered.
-She is a Meraxes hatchling, an egg from her last clutch, a clutch she had with the Black Terror himself. It's normal for her to be big. Haelyx smiled at Aegon before gently returning him to Rhaenyra's arms. – Honestly, I don't think anyone expected that egg to hatch. But it opened. The Gods were generous with me.
--------------------------------------
Haelyx knew that dinner wasn't usually this uncomfortable on Dragonstone and she could tell by the looks the children were giving each other. Edmyn was whispering in Haelyx's ear and she chuckled softly at what he had said.
A soft smile was present on Corlys and Rhaenys as they looked at the young married couple. They had been at the wedding, watching the young bride who seemed so terrified of her husband that she hadn't jumped merely at her politeness. Now they could see the same girl laughing and clearly feeling comfortable with her husband.
The glow of love was clear between these two and Rhaenys decided that she would have to write a letter to her cousin about what she had seen.
- Have you started trying to have children yet? - Rhaenyra's question came unexpectedly surprising the table. Daemon looked bitter and downright murderous after that question.
-No mother. – Rhaenyra had told Haelyx to call her that since she was the daughter of her husband and the twins called her mother. --- I'm still a maiden
-I had assumed otherwise, since you are sleeping in the same room. – Rhaenyra felt a relief in her soul knowing that Haelyx had not yet been deflowered by her husband and she was still a maiden.
-The winter was harsh in the lands of the rivers. We had to share a bed so as not to die of cold and then… It became very difficult to sleep while we were apart
- Corlys is the same. – They all looked at Rhaenys who had turned to look at her husband. – He always has trouble sleeping when we are not together
- It's hard. One gets used to sleeping with the other's breath next to him. It's like listening to the waves. I don't think I could ever sleep well and soundly without Rhaenys breathing by my side.
Haelyx decided that Rhaenys and Corlys were her relationship goal for the future.
-----------------------------
Storm's End was a damp, cold place. Though they had arrived at what seemed to be the only time of the year where there weren't constant storms. The best time for a wedding
Lisette Tully was a downright bland lady whose most notable feature was her beautiful thick deep red hair. Apart from that everything else about her was forgettable, both her face and her body and her personality. She wasn't interesting and she wasn't smart in any remarkable way either. She was good at embroidering. And she had always pursed her lips in disgust at Haelyx.
Haelyx knew it was because Lisette hoped to marry Edmyn and be mistress of Riverrun. Lisette's father had groomed her for it and they had had talks with Elmo about making Lisette the next Lady Tully.
But then the King had sent a raven saying that he liked Edmyn and that he wanted him to marry Haelyx. And obviously marriage to royalty was preferable to marrying a cousin who wouldn't really add anything to the family.
Negotiations had broken down at that very moment and the Tullys celebrated that Edmyn had won the King's favor enough to get a Princess as his wife, even Lisette's father celebrated. Everyone except Lisette, who was suddenly in need of finding a new husband and would eventually marry Borys Baratheon.
Borys was not handsome like Edmyn. He was short, but thin and it was obvious that he was not a man suited to swords and fighting.
No, Borys was not handsome. But he was something better, he was smart and interesting. An authentic silver tongue that dazzled everyone. He was the helper of Borros, his older brother who was illiterate. Borys was charming and many ladies who would normally notice handsome gentlemen were delighted with him, commenting on how lucky Lisette was to marry such a wonderful man.
Lisette began to show herself very smug about those comments and began to pay more attention to Boris. The man was delighted by that.
Of course there was a friendly joust in which Edmyn participated and won. The crown of the Queen of Love and Beauty stood proudly on Haelyx's head all day. The red roses matched her dress and made a delicious contrast to her white curls.
The men went hunting and the women gathered in the solar to drink tea and give advice to the bride-to-be and the soon-to-be-married maidens.
For Haelyx that was strange, because, apart from three other girls, she was the youngest of all the women present but she was in the group of married women.
-I think the best thing is to spend at least a few minutes together and alone each day. – Haelyx said when it was her turn. – Even if you don't talk. I usually embroider, he usually checks the Riverrun documents, they are small moments, but for me they are precious.
--------------------
The wedding was more fun than Haelyx and Edmyn's. Maybe because at their wedding everyone was a little tense because it was a royal ceremony. This wedding was more dedicated to friends and family than allies and formal invitations.
The dance was fun and Haelyx allowed herself a glass of wine before the bedding ceremony arrived.
A part of her was grateful to be spared that part of the ceremony when she saw a man clearly fondle Lisette's breasts as they ripped off her clothes and carried her to the bedroom closely followed by her new husband being stripped naked by the women.
Edmyn and Haelyx stayed behind but joined the screaming crowd.
-------------------------
Edmyn looked at the remains of Valyria from Hedwig's back along with Haelyx. The house elves were doing a fantastic job gathering all the treasures and magically rebuilding the great buildings. But it was not enough.
Even though Haelyx had managed to increase the number of house elves to almost three hundred it was obvious that they couldn't build an entire country by themselves and their children. They needed habitants. They needed warriors, the most fearsome they could find.
-My queen. We need soldiers, house elves can't fight. And yet I wouldn't ask him. – Currently they were walking through one of the fields that were already beginning to be plowed and ready to produce food. Wheat was tall, just like corn. Potatoes and other vegetables grew in other areas
-I know. But I don't know where to get them and that they are reliable
- How would you like to buy Unsullied? - Edmyn had thought it through. They were the best option
-You know what I think of slaves, my King.
-We only have to release them after they take an oath with your magic that they will be loyal to us and protect the country
-That is a good idea, my King. – Haelyx was not Harry Potter, she sometimes tended to forget about the thousands of advantages that magic could offer to ensure people's loyalty. – We can also use that to have spies on every noble house in the seven kingdoms. But we don't just need soldiers. We also need peasants, artisans, blacksmiths, builders, scholars,...
Haelyx and Edmyn looked at each other.
-I have the feeling that we are going to empty the markets and shops of the free cities of slaves.
------------------------------
Astapor's slavemaster, Eurelius, looked at the two hooded figures before him. They had veils covering their faces. It was not unusual to have clients who preferred to hide their identities, the strange thing was that they had reached him
- "May I know who I'm talking to?"
- "Our name will soon be known" – Said the woman in a fluent and perfect High Valyrian. Without a hint of an accent in the woman's voice, as if she were one of the Astaporians he saw on a daily basis. That was disturbing because he didn't know her. – “I see no reason to introduce ourselves now. But if you want a name you can call us Peverell, it's our last name."
- “I had never heard of the Peverell family. But I suppose you need slaves badly."
-- "That's right." --- Eurelius raised his eyebrows, the man's command of High Valyrian lacking at best. – “How many Unsullied are available for sale?”
Eurelius straightened up and looked at the couple.
- “The Unsullied are expensive”
- "The price is not a problem" - The woman was the one who spoke. –“We want to know what Unsullied are available for sale throughout the city. Not just those of Master Eurelius. Plus other slaves are available.”
-“If you could make a list of which slaves are available and what they are versed in, that would be nice. As my wife has said, money is not an issue.”
Eurelius looked at the two in front of him.
- "Of course we will give a small compensation for the trouble of making that list." – The woman extended her hand in front of her and a stone hit the wooden surface. Eurelius looked at her for a few seconds and had to contain his excitement.
That was a beautiful diamond the size of the nail on the woman's index finger. That stone alone was enough to pay for a hundred Unsullied. And if that was only a small compensation….
- "It will take me at least 3 days to count all the slaves for sale in the city"
- “Very well, we will return in 3 days at the same time. We hope that this city has enough slaves to satisfy us” – The man got up and the woman followed him. She was significantly shorter than he but they both had the same air of authority.
Due to the fuss they caused, Eurelius did not learn until after the sale that they had also gone to Meereen and Yunkai with the same proposition for the city's grandmasters.
Three days later fifty thousand slaves were purchased from the three cities. A total of twenty thousand Unsullied and thirty thousand slaves of all kinds. They headed for the grassy desert and disappeared without a trace. That day, fifty thousand slaves had their chains broken and were freed by the kings of Avalon. They were given freedom, they were given houses and they were given food.
And they swore their allegiance without knowing that their oath was full of magic. They swore their allegiance and that of their descendants to the royal family of Avalon and above all to the heir and ruler.
A week later the Master of Whispers of the Court of the Red Keep spoke to the Little Council about the Peverells and why they would want fifty thousand slaves. The Hand got worried and they decided to wait and see, try to find out who the Peverells are.