Growing Strong ᯽~Ser Harwin Strong~᯽

From This Day (Part 1/2)

The fifth and final day of the tourney had arrived.

King Viserys had organized the event for Princess Helaena's second name day, though Princess Rhaenyra had confided in you that Queen Alicent had all but insisted upon it. After all, the elder Princess was given such a celebration for her own second name day. A royal hunt had been deemed fit for Prince Aegon's second name day, but a tourney in which chivalrous knights fought for honor was viewed by the King as more appropriate for his daughter's celebration.

Once more, knights from all across Westeros had gathered in King's Landing to compete in the games. There were not as many attendees as one may have anticipated, but this was largely due in part to the ending of summer. As the fall began and winter loomed, many potential participants were bound to their homes with preparations for the upcoming inclement weather.

Though, by the fifth day, the excitement and buzz about a tourney may have started to twindle, that had not been the case for this one. The participants had given quite the go of putting on a show for the crowd. Though many competed, four different knights had won an event so far. Everyone in attendance was eager to see who, if any of them, would conquer the last event to claim the overall victory. Should a fifth knight win the day's event, duels would ensure to determine the winner. But the mere thought of that also enthralled the minds of the spectators.

Given that the fifth and final event was the melee, you weren't feeling too discouraged about your favored participant's chances for securing the victory.

A chill blew through the air as you sat beside Princess Rhaenyra in the royal family's box, causing you to shiver. You were most fortunate to have one of the better seats for the tourney, due in part to your service to the Princess, and to the connections of your betrothed's father. In the arena around you, many were still moving inwards, claiming whatever sitting and standing space they could find. The crowd shifted, never still for much longer than a moment; everyone was starting to get a bit impatient with every passing minute.

Princess Rhaenyra leant as forward as she dared, and craned her neck over towards the far right side of the arena.

You asked, "Do you see them yet, Your Grace?"

"No, but I doubt it shall be much longer," Princess Rhaenyra replied decisively, though still with a small defeated sigh. She sat straight once more and offered you a pleasant smile. "Besides, this delay presents an opportunity for us to speak."

"What is it you wish to speak about, Your Grace?"

The Princess rolled her eyes. "You're so coy, Lady Y/N. Is there anything else I could possibly be referring to?" she coaxed. Then, in a hushed whisper, she added, "The wedding!"

A giddy smile threatened to shatter your calm composure.

But you were more than aware of those seated around you. Namely, King Viserys, who sat several rows back upon a plush throne, Queen Alicent, who sat in a seat beside him, and Hand of the King, Lord Lyonel Strong, who was seated on the other side of the King. After a quick glance behind you, you recomposed yourself.

Princess Rhaenyra questioned, "Are you looking forward to it?"

It was a difficult question to answer. While you could not wait for the next two days to pass so that you could finally be wed to the man that held your heart, the path you had tread since your betrothal had been officially announced had been strenuous at best.

After your father's passing, you returned to Highgarden once more. A saving grace of yours was that you had not gone alone. As you were officially betrothed, it was completely appropriate that Ser Harwin accompanied you. You were extremely thankful for that; Harwin had selflessly been your support system in your time of need. You wished you would have been able to show him more of your home under less sombering circumstances, but he simply reassured you that once the two of you were wed, the two of you could return to the Reach, or even the Riverlands, whenever the both of you pleased. You adored the idea of that. After your father had been laid to rest in the gardens of Highgarden, you returned to King's Landing once more, where the proper wedding planning began.