Breakbones and the Dragonrider

Chapter 30

Rhaenyra looked down at Jace, who slept peacefully after he had been fed. The memory of Harwin kissing Jace's head before he left that morning replayed in her mind, over and over. She knew that melees were mock battles, but there had already been two deaths during the jousts that week. Could it be so unheard of that the same could happen during the melee? Unable to linger too long, Rhaenyra turned to her handmaiden, who stood ready to lace her dress for her.

The rest of the morning passed in a daze for her. She and Laenor headed to the arena together, but it wasn't until she heard the din of voices coming from the fighting arena that Rhaenyra was shaken from her dreamlike state. Most of the attendees had filed into their seats, and now all they waited for was for the royal viewing balcony to fill with nobles and the royal family.

Rhaenyra and Laenor sat together, and within a half an hour, most of the balcony had filled. As Rhaenyra picked at her nails, Laenor took her hand in his, and held it to keep her distracted. She looked up at him, and he gave her an empathetic look.

"He will be fine," he said under his breath.

Rhaenyra sighed, and gave Laenor a serious look. "And what of Qarl? Are you not worried about him?"

Laenor smirked and ran his thumb over Rhaenyra's hand. "Maybe if he's pitted against Harwin..."

Rhaenyra looked at Laenor to reassure him that Harwin would never truly hurt Qarl, but Laenor chuckled and kissed the back of Rhaenyra's hand. As Rhaenyra was ready to chastise Laenor, Daemon's voice behind them pulled their attention away.

"I see the marital bliss still hasn't worn off almost a year in," Daemon said, settling himself and Laena in beside Rhaenyra and Laenor.

"Am I to believe there is a timeline on your love for me, dear husband?" Laena challenged, and to Rhaenyra's surprise, a genuine smile spread across Daemon's face. He kissed her then, murmuring something only she could hear. The tenderness between them surprised her. Daemon always was going to serve his own interests, but he must have had some kind of love for Laena. Rhaenyra hoped she was right... Laena didn't deserve to be used the way she had been.

Finally, when Viserys and Alicent came to the balcony, everyone stood, and the grand melee began. The normal pomp and circumstance began, announcing the names of those who would fight in the melee, and their houses. Sixteen in total, including Harwin. When Harwin came out from the tunnel at the far end of the arena, Rhaenyra noted the rise in applause compared to other fighters. His reputation had been earned, it seemed.

As Harwin approached the balcony, standing beside the other knights who had been announced, Rhaenyra made eye contact with him. He looked so much different in his House Strong armor than he did in the armor of the Goldcloaks. Rhaenyra might have dwelled on how handsome he looked, if not for how fearful she was for him. He gave the most imperceptible of nods to her, reassuring her.

Others were announced, including Criston Cole. Rhaenyra's insides turned to ice as she watched him approach in his Kingsguard armor, his white cape now gone. He looked up at her through his helmet with a look of pure disdain. It struck her again just how much of a stark change he had undergone since she chose him as her Kingsguard. She thought if that was the kind of man he was, perhaps he was the perfect fit for Alicent. For her to have chosen as her own sworn sword a man who hated Rhaenyra so much was not lost on her.

One by one, knights asked for favors from the noble and royal ladies on the balcony, and one by one they descended the steps to the arena below to tie their favors around the arm of the knight.

When it was Qarl's turn to ask for a lady's favors, he smiled up at Laenor, and quickly moved his eyes to Laena.

"Lady Laena," he said. "It would do me great honor if I could wear your colors today," he said. Laena smiled, and walked down the steps of the balcony to the arena below. She removed her silver and sea green sash she had tied at her wrist. Laena tied it to Qarl's arm, and placed a kiss on his cheek before climbing back up the steps. As Laena sat, Rhaenyra noted the way Laena held her hand on her belly... Just as Rhaenyra had done when she first found out she was with child.