Part Two - The Princess Paramount's Wedding (5)
After Olyvar scurrying off, (Rhaenyra warned him not to skip the welcoming banquet tonight and then made sure Layla knows to come drag him from wherever nook he’s going to hide in) and Harwin left to see his father, Rhaenyra turned to her papers, hoping to finish up some of her work before the banquet.
Morna, who is in charge of the banquet as her duties as the new Lady Chatelaine, and Vaelaena, who was her companion of the day, were working alongside her for the afternoon, reading through the completed paperwork to make sure nothing was amissed.
“So it’s a no for House Mooton and House Crabb?” Rhaenyra asked as she read through the report prepared by Layla. They were currently discussing the possibility of having new ladies in waiting for Rhaenyra now that she had lost Rosamund Velaryon, Yanli Beesbury and Prunella Velaryon.
“Jeyne Mooton are to be married soon while the Crabbs have no girls of age to join the household as your new companions.” Vaelaena pointed out. “Lord Mooton’s youngest son, Lionel can be a page for Daeron now he’s knighted and we can offer one of the Crabb sons to page for Ser Aemon.”
“Aren’t the Lan twins going to start their training soon under our Shadow Scarlets?” Morna pointed out.
“Sihan and Sijing? Pretty sure the boys won’t mind some competition. And I'm pretty sure we can train them to accept girls training alongside them.” Morna grinned.
“Lady Wen Hana offers her niece, Junhee, to be one of your companions, so that’s one of the spots filled. From what we observed so far, Bethany Mallister and Megara Bar Emmon would be delightful choices as well.” Vaelaena pushed the report she read to Rhaenyra.
“Not Sionell Bar Emmon?” Rhaenyra named Lord Bar Emmon’s only daughter.
“She’s too enamoured with the Queen and was observed to be too rude to the servants. Her younger cousin, Megara would be a better choice, meek and a bit too shy but we could work with that.”
“How about House Manderly? Are they hoping for a son to squire here or perhaps a daughter to join my household?” Rhaenyra asked as she signed off another paper.
“Lord Theomore Manderly offers his youngest twins, Theodred and Theona, to be your wards.”
“Wards?” Rhaenyra froze. “Whatever for?”
“Officially they said they were hoping the children might serve one day in your households but he also mentioned that the young Lord Cregan and Lady Sara would be happy to have northern companions of their own.”
“So he’s hoping to form connections with the future Lord Stark.” Rhaenyra tapped her fingers restlessly. “Has he asked to meet them?”
“No, Lord Martyn talked to him and he agreed it is not time yet for them to meet, especially with the Royal entourage. He did however request a meeting with you after the wedding festivities.”
“Well, then we need to figure out where to place them then.” Rhaenyra rubbed her head, ignoring the fact she was rubbing ink into her hair. “Well, what’s next on the list?”
“Rhaenyra.” Rowena then entered the room, looking very flustered. “Her Majesty the Queen asked you to attend to her immediately.”
Rhaenyra groaned.
Alicent couldn’t help the sneer in her face as she stared at the ink stains in the princess’s hair. “Rhaenyra. I was hoping to show you the wedding dress your father had chosen for you for your wedding.”
“I don’t need a wedding dress, Your Majesty.” The brat said politely. “We have finished preparing my wedding trousseau days ago.”
Alicent’s laugh was fake even in her ears. “Surely you’re not rejecting your King’s gift?” She gestured for her own ladies to set forward, carrying a thick velvet white dress with high collar and dragging train. With the dress, a heavy headdress was also prepared, akin to ones currently worn in the Royal Court.
Princess’s polite smile turned into a frown. “I cannot wear that. I would simply boil in that dress.”
“Nonsense, it is a perfect dress for your wedding in the sept.” Alicent grinned, she had enjoyed designing the dress, taking inspiration from the septas and maidens under the Light of Seven.
“But we are not getting married in the sept, Your Majesty.” The brat said infuriatingly.
“Why not?! It would be blasphemous for a daughter of the Ruling House to be married away from the Light of the Seven!” Alicent was horrified to hear this. Oh, if the pious populous heard of this sacrilege, they would have a riot at hand!
“I nor Harwin pray to the Seven. We will be married under the protection of the Old Gods at dawn and the Fourteen Flame at Midday, in respect of our religions.”
“That is blasphemous!!” Alicent repeats again.
“Again, not in Stepstones. The island recognized the marriages under respective religions and we do not need to adhere to the Seven to make the marriages to be considered valid unless the marrying couple prays to the New Gods.” The princess’s smile was polite. “I should leave to prepare for the welcoming banquet tonight. I thank His Majesty for his kind gift but I would have to decline it.”
She bowed and walked away, ignoring the seething Queen behind her.
Sinking into the hot rose-scented bathwater, Rhaenyra tipped her head back and let Rowena wash her hair. “Is everything ready for tonight’s banquet?”
Layla, who was preparing the dress the princess would be wearing that night, answered as she fiddled with the lace on the skirt. “Yes. Everything is in place and the ladies from the Vergardis Tea House will be playing the entertainment for tonight. Lady Shisui is excited to play her new music for the King.”
“I look forward to dancing to the new tunes then. And how about security?” Nyra tipped her head back so Rowena could sluice off the soap in her hair.
“We have our men keeping an eye on the Royal Court and its staff. As you suspected, they did try to infiltrate the management but we have marked all of them. The Queen did try to intervene in the banquet but Morna managed to stop her orders.”
“Good. Do you think I have time for a good soak before I need to get ready?” Rhaenyra asked plaintively, already tired with the Royal visit.
Layla and Rowena exchanged sympathetic smiles before pulling the princess out of her bath. “Sorry Nyra, but you need to get ready now.”
Rhaenyra whined loudly as the ladies began to prepare her.
Viserys looked in awe at the beautiful great hall, Alicent looked bored as the both of them made their way through the hall and up the main table where Prince Vaegon and Princess Rhaella were waiting for them.
Before the King could comment, Alicent quickly said snidely, “And where is the Princess and her betrothed? Surely they would not leave the King and Queen waiting like commoners? And as Hand of the King, my father should be sitting here.”
Vaegon sneered. “This table is only for members of the Royal Family and last I checked, Ser Otto is a Hightower. As for Rhaenyra and Harwin, they are currently their way down, you are simply early.”
“Enough, let’s not quibble tonight.” Viserys said jovially. “It’s a momentous moment for House Targaryen, we should celebrate it!”
Vaegon sneered before turning away, whispering furiously to Rhaella, who stared balefully at the Queen.
“Prince Daemon Targaryen, Princess Rhea Royce-Targaryen, Lady Mysaria Targaryen, Prince Aelyx Royce-Targaryen, Lady Alysse and Lady Baela Targaryen.” The herald by the door suddenly proclaimed loudly.
Daemon smiled sardonically, while Rhea looked so done with her life, Mysaria being in the middle of the couple is the only reason they weren’t fighting, their children smiling and waving at everyone, who giggled as they waved back. Reaching the main table, Daemon pulled the chair for Mysaria, ignoring Rhea, who simply rolled her eyes and pulled her own chair.
“Prince Olyvar Targaryen.” Olyvar, decked in finery he clearly wasn’t used to, ducked into the great hall, smiling awkwardly as he sat beside Prince Vaegon, ignoring Alicent’s hungry looks.
“Princess Paramount Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen of Stepstones and her betrothed Lord Harwin Strong of Harrenhal.”
Everyone looked in awe as Rhaenyra and Harwin entered the hall, the princess was wearing a beautiful dress in Strong red, green and blue colors while Harwin was wearing Targaryen’s colors; the couple laughing as they wandered down, their eyes were only on one another.
Rhaenyra playfully patted her younger cousin's heads as she walked past them before standing before her father and stepmother. “Your Majesties.” Her curtsy was immaculate just as Harwin’s bow before turning to the hall. “Let the feast begin!”
Alicent sipped on her drink, her face devoid of any emotion as she watched the brat and her very dull (and yet very handsome) betrothed giggling as they exchanged bites from their plates.
It was nauseating.
Everyone at the table was ignoring her yet again; her stupid husband was too busy gorging on the foreign cuisine, the rest of the accursed family were too busy gabbing at each other to even talk to her. Even her children, whom she brought to the feast, were too busy talking to their cousins to pay attention to their poor mother.
This would not do at all.
Finishing her drink, she gestured imperiously at the lacklustre servant before turning to her stepdaughter (ignoring her father’s clear warning glare from the table below).
“You are wearing the colours of House Strong, Princess. How kind of you to show such piety to your future House.” She smiled maliciously. “You would be such a credit to your future House, my dear.”
Rhaenyra froze mid-sip and stared at Alicent in surprise.
“I am simply honouring the House my betrothed is from. Like you, Your Majesty, aren’t you wearing green to honor your birth family even though you are married into the House of Targaryen? Though,” Rhaenyra frowned quizzically, “I thought House Hightower colors were white and grey.”
Daemon’s loud guffaw cut through the loud chatters in the hall as Alicent blushed furiously.