Work Text:
Rhaenyra POV
She let Marya put her hair in a single thick loose braid as she stared at herself in the ornate mirror. This mirror was a gift from her Uncle Daemon for her tenth name day. It was a big rounded mirror polished to perfection that she can see herself perfectly. The frame was made of pure gold that depicts her own dragon, Syrax , carved into it with its wings gracefully curled and scales meticulously depicted, embellish the entire perimeter of the mirror. It is attached in a dressing table made from white Weirwood with a lot of drawers and inlaid with precious stones. The handles of each drawers were made of yellow diamonds the sized of her fist.
She remembers her mother protested the extravagance but her uncle only laughed at her and said that as a Targaryen Princess she is owned all the luxury and indulgence the Seven Kingdom has to offer. And it was always her uncle who showered her with opulence and extravagance. Even the golden horse hair brush on her dresser was her uncle’s gift. She remembers trying to count all the individual small yellow diamonds adorning every scales when she was younger.
She heard a knock on her sitting rooms and just a few heartbeats later the child who works for the King’s kitchen came in fidgeting, holding a tray of cheese, two glasses of milk and hard breads. She put the tray on the small table on the side of her room then turned to her.
“Princess, Lady Alicent just entered the King’s Solar.” She whispered, her eyes looking at the floor. “She usually stays for two hours, three at most.”
She smiled at her and gave her a gold dragon that the child clutched to her chest. “Thank you, Milly.”
“You’re welcome, Princess.” She said, smiling. She curtsied clumsily then left the room.
She stood up and let Marya tighten the wide collar of her flowy peach nightgown. This is her favorite nightgown made from Naathi silk. The outer robe is made of heavy white Myrish silk with high collars embroidered with silver threads, the wide sleeves are made of layers of sheer fabric with myrish lace. Marya closed the three buttons at the top to preserve her modesty and asked if she wants to change her silk slippers. She agreed to use a thicker but also plainer flat shoes the color of peach.
She left her room with Ser Criston at her back. Marya and Myrna followed behind them, Myrna holding the tray of foods. Marya and Myra are sister and her main care givers since she was a child. They are daughters of the fifth wife of the Lord of Littlesister. Women who have no prospect whom the Late Queen took in her service when they were just two and twelve and ten name days, respectively.
She greeted the maids and guards assigned on Maegor’s holdfast who are closing the windows of the empty rooms that they air out during the day.
She saw Ser Willis Fell and Ser Rickard Thorne looked at her in surprise as she nears them. She put her finger on her mouth and motioned for them to open the door. Ser Rickard looks ready to protest but she glared at him like how she sees her uncle daemon glares at anyone who dare question him. She saw him swallow the n opened the door towards the King’s Solar after knocking sharply three times.
She immediately came inside not even waiting for the door to be fully opened, she can hear Marya and Myrna following her.
“Father, I cannot sleep, I wanted to share some food and milk with—” she stopped in the middle of the room as she saw Alicent in her mother’s dress stood up in panic, the too wide collar showing the tops of her chest, one of the sleeves fell down her shoulder and she struggled to pull it up while hugging the book of the seven to her chest.
“Alicent, what are you doing here?” she asked coldly.
“I-I’m just… I’m reading the holy book to His Grace.” She whispered.
“Alone? Without any chaperone.”
“Daughter, this is all just a misunderstandin—”
“I just burned my mother and brother yesterday and you’re ready to accept this whore to your bed?”
“Rhaenyra! Mind your words!” The King shouted. “This is not what it looks like at all!”
“The truth does not matter, father, only perception.” She said to his astonishment. “Lady Alicent is my Lady-in-waiting, I’m sorry I was not able to educate her properly on courtly etiquette and proper decorum worthy of a Faithful woman like her. I will rectify that now.” She motioned for her maids to bring Alicent out which they did. Both women took her each of her arms tightly and pulled her out of the rooms.
The King was about to protest but she stepped closer to him. “I Know mother and I were such disappointments for you as King but I didn’t know you would disrespect us so.”
“Rhaenyra, please, you are my only child, my pride and joy—”
“But you choose to comfort my friend instead of going to me. While I was bawling my eyes out in my rooms, you are here entertaining a maiden you scarcely know! I’m sure Ser Otto was over the moon when Alicent reported to him how relieve you are by her presence! I’m sure he’s already planning her coronation as Queen and his grandson’s coronation as the next King of the Seven Kingdoms.”
“You sound like your uncle!” The king snapped. “Has he been whispering venom in your ears?”
“I’m sure he whispers venoms in my ear the same way your Hand whisper honeyed poison on yours, Your Grace. His pet Maester had already killed my mother on your order, it will not be long until you exile my uncle again on just the accounts of Otto Hightower, like you always do. And then he will convince you to sell me to the highest bidder. Perhaps it is better, you clearly value him more than the family you already have.” She said then curtsied deeply. “Forgive me, Your Grace, it’s time I discipline my lady for her lack of propriety.”
She turned and walked out of the room, Alicent is still standing between her maids, shaking. She took the fabric of her wide collar and pulled. Alicent cried and stumbled but she continued to pull her. She can see the maids and guards peeking at her from every corner of the corridor.
“Princess, please, I beg you!”
“Hush, Alicent, the Septon will have to purify you, don’t worry I’ll help you not become a whore.” She said. A lot of Couriers and Lords and Ladies were still outside Maegor’s holdfast and they were very curious why she’s dragging the Hand’s daughter towards the sept. They were admitted by the novice who quickly woke up the Septon.
She let go of Alicent who crashed down at her feet, still crying. The wide collars she was sporting had widened further, and you could almost see the tops of her breast.
“Princess, I was at expecting you at such a late hour.” He said, he’s only wearing a thin cotton sleeping gown with a flaying over robe.
“Forgive me for Septon Martyn, I wouldn’t have disturbed you if it was not urgent.” She said softly but her voice echoes across the high ceiling of the building, she can hear the crowd gathering at the opening of the Sept and the Septas looking at her from the side.
“Lady Alicent is my one and only companion, I don’t know what happened but I found her in the King’s bedchamber. Alone with him. I think this is not the first time she had been with him unaccompanied.” She can hear the gasp from the crowd behind her and how the Septas clutched their Seven Pointed Star pendants. “She is my dearest friend and it shames me to think that she may have been doing… this kind of things with the King or any other men.”
“Princess, please! That is not the case!” Alicent protested.
“I asked you, Septon, to please let her see the error or her ways. Bring her back to the correct path the Mother would like her to take.” She begged, making her eyes water.
The Septon shook his head in dismay, Alicent is one of his favorites. The most pious of the residents in the Red Keep, always praying three times a day everyday.
“Thank you, Princess, for caring enough to bring this… loose woman to the Sept. I will make sure we will correct her ways.” He said determinedly then motioned for the Septas to take Alicent away.
“Gratitude, Septon Martyn.” She said then whispered. “The Hand is a powerful man and has the King’s ear, he will want to talk to you tomorrow.”
The Septon grimaced. “The Faith is a sacred institution, Princess, we were tasked to guide everyone to the light of the Seven. I cannot have every maiden climb atop a man’s bed before marriage, it will bring the ruin of the Seven Kingdoms!”
She smiled secretly. “I’m sure nothing untowards happened, Septon Martyn. My father did promise me she only keeping him company.”
The Septon snorted. “It is still unseemly specially from a seemingly pious woman who hails from Old Town, the Center of the Faith itself! I will be sure to guide her back to the Mother’s embrace.”
She smiled gratefully at him and promise him that she will talk to her father mention how upstanding he is. The Septon even blushed and puffed his chest for her praises. She went out of the Sept and made sure that it is appropriately guarded by the Dragon Guards. She hurried back to Maegor’s Holdfast not minding the whispers from the Couriers.
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The following morning, the Hand raised such a ruckus about his daughter being confined in the Sept that he all but forgot the ‘Heir for a day’ toast her uncle had callously said in one of the taverns. She had already confronted uncle Daemon of that and he cannot remember anything with how drunk he is. But he swore to her that if he did say that it was not out of malice but bitterness with how his cousin, Queen Aemma, was treated.
“I do not know why your daughter’s looseness is a business of the Small Council.” Her uncle interrupted the Lord Hand. “Isn’t the Faith one of House Hightowers dogs? Just whistle and I’m sure the Septon will jump at your command.”
“Prince Daemon, is right.” Lord Corlys agreed immediately cutting off whatever the Hand was supposed to say. “We have not interred the Queen’s ashes in Dragonstone yet, no one will begrudge the King of entertaining women who obviously crave his attention but it should not be a topic that the Small Council need to concern themselves with.”
She can see how relieve his father was and how red the Hand become, redder than he already was. Her uncle Daemon raised his eyebrows at her in question. She just smiled at him conspiratorially and proceeded to pour the wine for the Councilmen.
“What I want to know is why Rhaenyra only have one Lady-in-waiting? I remember mother saying that her sisters, at one point, have twelve Ladies. She’s been isolated for so long and now her only Lady is like… this. She needs to be surrounded by upstanding Ladies from Great and Noble Houses.” Uncle Daemon said to her astonishment.
The King went red again but agreed that she needed more companions.
“But the cost, Your Grace…” Lord Beesbury said.
“If the Crown can’t afford it, I can pay for the upkeep of Rhaenyra’s ladies—” Daemon said but was interrupted.
“No!” The King disagreed vehemently banging his fist on the table. “She is my only daughter, the Crown will can take care of her household!”
It was decided that Lady Amanda Arryn, Queen Aemma’s step-sister and her Chief Lady-in-waiting, will be helping her write letters to invite Ladies in the capital. Ladies-in-waiting do not get paid but the Crown will pay for their dresses, foods and other needs while they are in the Princess’ service and five thousand gold dragons will be added on their dowry. The Princess will be making matches for her Ladies as well with their father’s permission.
She cannot believe her uncle is single-handedly solving her problem of being isolated at court. In the even that he’s banish again by her father she will have considerable support to call on.
The meeting lasted until the midday meal, the King had dismissed them without any significant issue being resolved. Uncle Daemon was waiting for her outside as she left her father behind with only the Hand. She’s sure he will guilt trip her father to command the Septon release Alicent.
“Would you care to join me for my midday meal, Uncle?” she asked as she put her hand on his offered arms.
“Sure.” He said. “I must warn you, the Hand is already whispering words on your father’s ears of how spoilt and vicious you are.”
“He hasn’t seen how vicious I can be.” She said. “After I’m through with Alicent, he will know.”
She can see him looking at her in curiosity but she just smiled at him. They continued walking until they reached the Sept, she guided him inside and bid Ser Criston to remain outside not minding his protests. Septon Martyn talked to them about the gods for a solid thirty minutes before they were allowed into one of the guest rooms by one of the Septa. The severe woman opened the simple wooden door and led them inside.
Alicent stood up shakily from being curled in a ball on the floor, her red hair was unbound, her mother’s dress was replaced by a simple grey rough spun dress.
“Princess, please…” she whispered hoarsely.
She looked around the rooms which is as big as her privy room, there was a slit on top allowing sunlight to filter in, there was only a bucket and unbound straws as a bed.
“She already forgot how to greet royalty?” she asked the Septa who angrily turned on Alicent and hit her with her stick. The Hightower whore cried and fell down only to be hit again.
She sighed as her former friend stood up shakily and curtsied. “My Prince, Princess…”
She smiled in approval nodding at the Septa who put her chin up. “Have you learned your lesson, Alicent? No matter how the Septons and the Septas tried to correct it ill be futile if you do not take their teachings to heart.”
“Yes! Yes, my Princess. I’ve learned my lessons!” she cried looking pitifully at her.
She turned back to the Septa. “The King’s senior maids told me that this is not the first time Lady Alicent had… served a King. She was only eight name days old when she became King Jaehaerys’ sole companion when he took to his sick bed. They were concerned that even then she may have—”
“No!” Alicent shouted and kneeled in front of her, holding her hands tightly. “Princess, I was a child then, I promise you—”
“You’re still a child now, aren’t you?” Uncle Daemon said and held her hands tightly that Alicent immediately let go of hers with a shout of pain. The Prince pushed her away making her stumble and fall on the cold floor. “But that did not stop you from climbing a man’s bed while he was grieving. Septa, I suggest to pray for her better, her sins are deeply ingrained.”
The Septa was really red in anger while looking at Alicent in disgust. “You don’t need to worry, my Prince, my Princess, after I’m done with her she will be as pure as the Maiden herself.”
“We thank you, Septa.” She smiled softly and left. They have not even taken five steps away when Alicent’s cries echoed in the Sept.
“I wonder what Marya told the Kitchens to prepare. I’m in the mood for lemon cake.” She said happily.
“You’re always in the mood for lemon cakes.” Daemon chuckled. They took their noon day meal in the gardens talking about the Ladies she wanted to invite in the capital. He advised her to prioritize the Great Houses and if they do not have Ladies her age they can send, to look into the second most powerful family in the area.
“You know Otto will be able to convinced your father to marry the whore, right?” Daemon said after eating a whole roast chicken.
“I know. Otto is planning to have you disinherited and install me as Heir so I will be easier to replace when Alicent gives birth to a son.”
She saw how her Uncle’s face contorted in fury that he threw his goblet of wine away. It fell uselessly on the grass.
She can see Ser Criston tensing and putting his hand on his sword. HE shook his head at him and took an empty goblet and filled it with Dornish wine and put it in front of her uncle.
“There is no use fighting it Uncle, the King will never put you before Otto.”
Daemon sneered at her. “I’m his brother!”
“A brother he cannot control and who does not bow at his every words. He killed my mother, the love of his life, for a son. Why do you think he will not sacrifice you for the throne?” she said bitterly. “In a few years time, it will be me he will sell to the highest bidder to strengthen his position.”
Uncle Dameon closed his eyes, his fist in a tight ball. “He’s my brother.” He whispered.
“The brother who refused to give you an annulment no matter how many times you begged. The brother who sent you away time and again, who listens to the lickspittle of the capital more than he did you.” She said. “He’s a King, he will always put the throne first. He already did.”
“What do you want me to do?” Daemon asked.
“I don’t want his marriage with Alicent to bear fruit. You and I are enough for the Throne. He does not need more. He can have his whore but nothing else.” She said.
“You have to make sure the servants are loyal to you. I can procure something to render him infertile in Essos but we need loyal men to administer it.”
“I don’t want him to be infertile. Everyone knows how strong the seed is. Who is to say that Alicent will not have the same difficulty as Queen Aemma had on the birthing bed? Alicent wanted to replace her as Queen, she can have her fate too.”
Her uncle smiled deviously and raised his goblet to her. “I can agree with that.”
he sky was already setting when her uncle left her in the gardens, he will go to Essos to find a solution to their problem. He told her that Essos are more advanced than Westeros by leaps and bounds.
"Princess, if I may say something..." Ser Criston said from behind her.
She stopped walking and looked back at him. "What is it, Ser Criston?"
"Princess, if I may... I'm not comfortable with you spending a long time with Prince Daemon alone. I would suggest—”
“Ser Criston, Prince Daemon had been my protector and champion even before you ever thought of entering the Red Keep.” She interrupted, angry at the disrespect.
“I know, Princess, but Rhaenyra, you must understand… Prince Daemon is corrupt! A blot in the sacred institution of knighthood! If only you see the way he look at you—”
“Is also the way you look at me, Ser.” She said coldly. “You do not need to look at someone else who lusts for their charge, you only need to look in the mirror.”
He looked like he was punched in the stomach, she can hear his stuttered breathing while his mouth opens and closes as if wanting to say something.
“You are a Kingsguard, Ser Criston, someone I elevated to the highest rank of Knighthood. Your duty is to protect me, you do not know the intricacies of the game of thrones, you only see a fraction of what’s going on. I put you in the red keep to guard me, you do not think, you do not speak, you only need to defend and shield me. But I think even that is hard for you. Go back to your Lord Commander, I am relieving you of your service to me. Ser Harold will assign me with a new Sworn Shield.”
“Rhaenyra, please…”
“You overstep, Ser, I am Your Highness to you. I do not need someone in my employ who cannot even follow a simple instruction.” She said. She saw Ser Harwin at the end of the corridor, alert. He must have heard their conversation.
The Kingsguard hung his head, bowed then left. She sighed in relief, her heart hammering in her chest. She does not someone fickle on her side. She would rather cut them off now.
“Ser Harwin, do you mind, escorting me to my apartments.” She called. The older man immediately posted himself behind her. She will have to ask her Uncle Daemon to sort out the security of her Household. Right now, he’s the only one she can trust.