the sun and the moon

five

The young Princess Daenys had spent most of her restless night anticipating the day that would soon arrive. She had paced and paced back and forth in her bedchambers. One would swear if you looked hard enough, you would be able to see the path she wore down on her floors. The girl had many thoughts and many questions that stirred up her mind and made her uneasy. Daenys thought of the petitions for Driftmark that will be made, Vaemond Velaryon and the scheme he surely crafted. She thought of her little Lucerys who was to be married. She thought of all these things before recalling the intimate moment that she shared with Jacaerys Velaryon only hours before. New questions only arose; why is he not to marry Baela, what plans does Princess Rhaenyra have for her eldest son? Daenys thought and thought until she exhausted her mind and eventually climbed into her bed.

The Princess was already awake when there was a light knock at her door. Daenys quickly called them in, wanting to be ready for the day that lay ahead. A girl with short, choppy dark hair walked in with a warm smile and shut the door behind her. Norla has been Daenys' lady in waiting since her childhood. Despite the two being only a handful of years apart in age, they never grew very close. Daenys never talked to the older girl outside of pleasantries, mostly due to the fact that her mother, The Queen, had been the one who picked Norla. Daenys loved her mother but she was not blind to her ways. She knew whatever secrets spilled in her own bedchambers would not be secret for very long. And so she held Norla and most others at an arm's length.

"Good morning Princess. Which dress shall you be wearing today?"

Daenys gracefully swung her legs off her bed to walk over to her wardrobe. An uncomfortable amount of her dresses were a deep green, courtesy of her mother and her grandfather, The Hand. The young princess previously picked what she planned to wear the night before. Daenys delicately grabbed at the dress she had chosen. A deep red gown with silver accents throughout it.

"This one." She announced. Her mother would more than likely be furious with her for one reason or another. This dress, unlike the others her mother would have chosen, did not have a high neckline. Daenys found those styles to be suffocating and unattractive. And of course the choice in color was sure to give the queen a headache.

Norla's face held an expression of discontent but she knew better than to speak anything of it. She gave the younger girl a stiff nod instead, "I shall get it ready for you then Princess." Daenys gave her a satisfied smile, before leaving to bathe herself.

Once cleaned and dressed, the girl sat for her hair to be braided. Norla, who usually had a gentle touch when brushing and plaiting hair, was noticeably less so after their short conversation. Daenys did not give her any satisfaction, biting her tongue and swallowing down the unladylike words she wished to call her lady in waiting. Norla had done two braids on either side of her head that connected in the back, a style Daenys often wore and favored. Standing up and brushing off her dress, the young princess thanked her lady in waiting, concealing her bitterness and ignoring the throbbing of her scalp, and bid her a good day before leaving her chambers and heading to her sister's.

Rolling her shoulders back and standing up straight, Daenys knocked lightly on the door, unsure of her actions but feeling it was too late to retreat. She picked at her fingers unconsciously as she heard shuffling footsteps come closer from the other side of the large wooden door. The girl took a half step back as the door creaked open and she was met with a set of violet eyes and platinum hair almost identical to her own.

The occupant of the room smiled at Daenys comfortingly. "Good morning little Daenys. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Good morning sister. I was wondering if you would like to break our fast together this morning?" The young princess shifted her weight from foot to foot as she awaited her eldest sister's response.

Princess Rhaenyra opened the door wider as an invitation for the young girl to join her. Daenys noticed the food that was already set on the table. There were no others present. Only the nursemaid watching over the two infants, Aegon and Viserys.

"The boys awoke early and set off to the training yard. Come, sit." Rhaenyra spoke as she made her way to the table. Daenys sat opposite her eldest sister. At first, the only sounds heard were the babbling from the babies, the soft spoken words from their nursemaid and the clanging of utensils.

"Your dress is beautiful Daenys." The older princess spoke. The younger girl's eyes sparkled at the compliment. She smiled up at her sister. "Thank you. I take inspiration from your own dresses. You truly have magnificent taste." Princess Rhaenyra smiled at the young girl again, the fondness clear in her expression as she thanked her.

Daenys popped a berry into her mouth before speaking again, "Jace told me you plan to have Rhaena betrothed to Luke. What exciting news. When do you plan on announcing it?"

The older princess' eyebrows raised. "I plan on discussing the betrothal with Princess Rhaenys first. If she accepts, it shall be announced during our family dinner on the morrow." Rhaenyra paused before adding, "Jacaerys really is horrible at keeping things from you."

Daenys let out a laugh. "Was I not meant to know?" She asked. The woman shook her head slightly, "Not quite yet but I see no issue in you knowing a day or so early."

The young princess looked down to her plate, trying to gather her courage. "Jacaerys also told me you are not planning to marry him to Baela, why?" She finally questioned. Rhaenyra stood and walked around the table to sit beside the girl. Her hand that sat on her swollen belly lifted to hold Daenys' hand

"My sweet sister," She spoke with a gentle tone. "It would be quite unfair to Baela seeing as my son is utterly infatuated with you as much as I believe you are with him." Daenys' face grew hot. She felt caught, as if the whole situation was a scandalous affair. Rhaenyra gave her hand a squeeze before she spoke again. "I was hoping to discuss the matter of betrothing the two of you with your mother."

Daenys almost frantically searched the woman's eyes for any sign of jest at her words. Her breath caught in her throat and she swore her heart stopped for a moment. A smile broke out on her face without her permission. The young princess fought to remain calm, or at least appear so. Daenys took only a short moment to get a hold of her racing thoughts.

"Truly?"

Rhaenyra nodded in the affirmative, her charming smile never once leaving. The young girl's eyes fell closed for a moment, as if she were imagining what her life with Jacaerys would look like. As soon as her eyes snapped open, her face fell into an expression of anxiousness.

"If my mother does not accept? What then?" Daenys couldn't stop the worry that seeped into her words. Her hands came together to pull at the skin around her nails.

"If The Queen does not accept then I shall ask The King."