Part Two - The Princess Paramount's Wedding (1)
At first it was just like any other day.
Once again, Rhaenyra was busy with her paperwork now that the storm season is done and sea trades begin again. Martyn was away in Pearl Cove to talk to Daemion Velaryon about their pearl farming and potentials of expanding the business. Rhaella was at one of Moonstones orphanages with half of Rhaenyra’s ladies to conduct a wellness check on the children.
Vaegon and Olyvar are also away, most likely the latter was screaming again at the elder Targaryen for legitimizing him and naming his heir or Vaegon managed to cut off the loud tirade by introducing a new subject for Olyvar to study. (The poor dragon keeper, now prince, was resolute in not studying anything pertaining to politics but Rhaenyra just knew that the young man would be bullied into it sooner or later.)
Harwin meanwhile was in Felstrong, visiting Taryn Snow for some secret errand. Judging from his sisters whispering, Harwin was trying to see if it's possible for the weirwood to grow tall enough before their wedding for them to be married under its shades. The betting pool is currently divided and Rhaenyra had heard that a lot of money was at stake for this particular matter.
(They really do need a new hobby at this point. All this gambling cannot be healthy.)
Layla, who was Rhaenyra’s companion and secretary for the day as Prunella had left to visit Driftmark with her husband and his paramour to announce her pregnancy, came into the room with a troubled expression.
Hearing the door closed, the princess looked away from the letter she was currently with a pinched look on her face, a sadly familiar expression she would have everytime she is being harassed by persistent Lys merchants that want to open brothels in Stepstones and recruit her people into working as whores.
“What?” She said sharply, rubbing her forehead.
“A letter for King’s Landing, Nyra” Layla passed the unopened letter she was holding to her before collecting the report on the land survey in Serpentholm Rhaenyra was reading earlier to be filed away.
Rhaenyra hummed absent-mindedly as she opened the letter before stopping, reading the letter twice over. “What in God's name?! Layla, ask for an emergency council meeting, quickly!”
Rhaenyra was baffled.
“What does my father mean he wants to partake in the wedding feasts and tourneys? We have no plans to host a month-long celebration, that is outside our budget. And this,” she jabbed at a paragraph in the letter, “Alicent is looking forward to helping you prepare for your wedding dress in hopes of being there as your stepmother and Queen. Why would I want advice from her?! I already had my dresses made!” Two such dresses were, in fact, made for the wedding, one a stunning piece made with Matarys laces inspired by traditional Valyrian wedding custom for the Old Gods wedding ceremony, while the other was a beautiful northern inspired dress with wide culottes for the Valyrian wedding ceremony, both to be paired with her mother’s wedding veil.
The topic of the emergency council meeting of course was the impending visit from the Crown to Stepstones, where Viserys had apparently decided that he (and his entire court) would come to attend the festivities for the princess’s wedding.
One that was not planned at all.
Vaegon rubbed his forehead. “How does he expect us to host a tourney here on the island? We barely have any horses to spare!” Land transport on Stepstones Isle relies on pony- and donkey-led carts while horses, imported from Vale, are preserved for the ceremonial cavalry officers in Dragon Watch and the messengers stationed at the end of the islands to ensure fast message deliveries. Even Rhaenyra herself does not keep a personal horse, preferring to ride Syrax or taking one of the pony carts.
“And feasts! If the ones he hosted in Red Keep are to be used as an example, Stepstones would be bankrupt after the wedding!” Vaegon ranted.
Vaelaena flipped the sheaf of paper worriedly. “We also need to figure out where to house the Royal Court since the Guest Tower will be full of your own guests.”
She was referring to the Arryns (Jeyne finally found a distant cousin to marry, one with the same inclination as her and comes with his own handsome manservant. She was going to start the insemination treatment during the festivities), the Royces (Rhea said she will NOT be housed in the same island as Daemon), the Masseys (Elyse Massey will be formally stepping down from her position as Lady Chatelaine of Dragon Keep, passing it to Lady Morna Strong and returning for good to Stonedance), the Strongs, the Velaryons, as well as trading partners House Manderly, House Mallister, House Mooton, House Bar Emmon and House Crabb, all hoping to find a position in Rhaenyra’s household for their children.
“We might have to vacate some of the guests since the Royal Court would not be pleased to live in the tents during the visit.” She grumbled.
“Auntie Rhaella, what activities do we have in plan for the wedding celebrations?” Rhaenyra asked as her aunt had taken over the preparations for the wedding, telling her sweet great grandniece not to worry about it.
“Well, we did arrange free food and drinks during the wedding week for the people, each island will be hosting their own market days and fairs, Pearl Cove, Dustspear and Grey Gallow would be hosting regattas while Golden Haven, Guardian and Scarwood will do an archery competition.” Rhaella perused the notes Rowena gave her.
“As for the wedding, we will be hosting two balls, one to celebrate your birthday and the other as part of your wedding reception as well as 3 separate feasts and a garden party for your guests. I also believe Olyvar and Elinda along with the dragon keepers are arranging a dragon performance, something about flying sparks.” She tapped her finger against her chin, the group had been secretive about the surprise.
“The king might not find it not enough, especially if Lord Hand whispered insults in his ears.” Morna tapped her fingers restlessly against the table. Maybe the cavalry officers in Dragonwatch wouldn’t mind a tourney to display their horse riding skills and perhaps a melee match as well? If we work quickly, we can prepare the ground and set up for the tourney.”
Rhaenyra quickly scribbled a letter and turned to Elinda. “Give this to Lord Commander Largent and ask for his opinions and suggestions.” The girl nodded before running to the balcony, whistling for Terrax. “And someone write a letter to uncle Daemon,” (he, his twins and Mysaria was away to visit his friend, Prince Reggio of Pentos and looking for a wedding gift for Rhaenyra) “and ask them to return home so we can strategize how to greet the Royal Court.”
“Are you alright?” Rhaenyra looked up from her papers to see Harwin was the only one left in the meeting room. “Do you need me to do anything?” She groaned as he gently rubbed her shoulder, easing the tension in them.
“Support me when the Royal Family is here.” She turned to hug him around the waist, burying her face against his chest. “And don’t get cold feet on our wedding day.”
Harwin chuckled as he patted her head. “I’ll get the children to help me kidnap you when your father is being too much. I’ll even,” he said brightly, “bribe some of the pages to pelt dragon dung at the Lord Hand if that would make you laugh.”
Rhaenyra pulled her head back and laughed loudly. “Please don’t, you’ll get them into trouble.”
Harwin just grinned back mischievously before ducking down to kiss her.
Harwin instinctively ducked as a loud explosion can be heard from the temporary compound on Scarwood Olyvar and his team of helpers had commandeered for their experiment. A crowd of children, standing by the edge of the fenced area, cheered when they saw the knight, knowing he had sweetmeat for them.
After giving them his offering for the day, he entered the compound just to see Kriss looking up from the papers he was calculating (Harwin remembered that Rhaenyra once mentioned that Kriss was a savant in mathematics hence why Master Vaegon have been trying to get the young boy to be one of his apprentices) and yelled out, Dusk, who was curled around the workstation he was working on, adding to the loud noise with his roars. “Intruder, intruder alert! We have a spy in our midst!”
Olyvar pulled away from the barrel he was examining and quickly dragged Harwin away. “Quick break time everyone!” He said cheerfully as he maneuvered the knight around, making sure he couldn’t see what they were working on.
“So, why are you here instead of following my cousin around like a puppy?” Olyvar grinned at him.
“Did you hear about the news?”
“That the King and the Royal Court are coming to Stepstones for your wedding?” He scoffed. “My ears are still ringing from uncle Vaegon’s rants.”
“Are you sure it’s not from whatever explosives you’re making?” Harwin grinned as Olyvar pulled a face at him. “I worried for Rhaenyra. I’m afraid that the King’s visit is just giving her more stress. And all of us know how they're gonna react to both of us.” He gestured at the two of them.
“Ah yes, the lowly Knight brazen enough to marry a princess and a bastard dragon-keeper turn prince.” Both of them pulled a face at that. “Well, I’m going to avoid them during the visit like the way I did when Hightower came to visit last time.”
“No such luck.” Harwin reminded him rather gleefully. “You forget you’re now a member of House Targaryen, you have your own duties especially while the Royal Court is visiting. If Rhaenyra has to suffer, you have to suffer as well.”
Olyvar groaned loudly and miserably, rubbing his charred eyebrows. “Nooooo.” He whined. “This is why I don’t want to be a prince!”
“And where is Rhaenyra?” Rhaella looked around the docks as the ship bearing their first guests was approaching.
“Here auntie!” Everyone ducked from the wind turbulence caused by Syrax swooping low over them, Rhaenyra tumbling out of the saddle the moment the dragon landed, Harwin quickly following her. The two clearly had gone for an impromptu romantic flight.
Rhaella clicked her tongue in disapproval as her niece’s ladies quickly surrounded her and helped her change into a simple yet elegant Yiti-ish robe and wide skirt as Morna and Layla helpfully brushed their brother’s hair and cloak. Honestly, there is a time and place for romance, but they have guests coming!
Rhaenyra smiled cheekily when she finally joined her aunt, patting down her blue and purple hanfu, the pearl bandeau gleamed in her hair as the guests disembarked.
“Welcome to Stepstones, cousin Jeyne, aunt Rhea and cousin Aelyx!”