Violent Delights (House of the Dragon- Aemond fanfic, Ewan Mitchell fanfic)

Chapter 9

The music from a quintet of violins drifted from the grand hall out into the corridors. From within the sound of Ser Harrold's booming voice announcing the great houses as they entered reached Viserra's ears. She walked through the darker halls with her family as they made their way to the well lit main event. She had sent Marilda and Salt ahead to slink into the crowd and see what whispers they could pick up. A wicked grin fought for control of her face, which she held back. An event of this grandeur would certainly entertain the juiciest of rumors, and she needed to be sure anything said of House Velaryon she was made aware of. And naturally, it did not hurt to learn the secrets of others at the same time.

Her father joined his brother and son who were already there along with Joffrey. The golden haired young man walked over toward them, gave Laenor a wink as he passed under a shadow and turned his attention to Viserra who was the next closest. He bowed to her before kissing her knuckles, she gave him a small nod in reply. In truth she detested the formality that was required in this circumstance. Joffrey was one of their own, he should not need bow to any of them.

"You look so lovely I am a tad upset about my preferences." Joffrey whispered to her as they gathered in the corridor beyond the final bend to the great hall.

"Are you saying my beauty is so great I may be capable of the impossible?" she whispered back.

Joffrey hummed, "No. But you do come very, very close."

She laughed at their banter and for a brief moment a flash of their future filled her mind. Her and Joffrey. Walking these same halls. Man and wife. Him in his white cloak, sworn to protect her brother the King Consort. The two of them whispering back and forth about the lords and ladies of court. It was a beautiful mental image.

As their party rounded the bend and approached the tall open doors the buzzing of roughly a hundred voices reached their ears. Across the hall the Princess Rhaenyra was conversing with Lord Gerard.

"If there is anything the crown might do to aid House Royce or to-" she was cut off as a drumming filled the air and the Velaryon family entered the hall.

"Lord Corlys! Of House Velaryon, Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark. And his lady wife Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, and their son and heir Ser Laenor Velaryon, the future King Consort!"

Elegantly the family descended the steps and strode across the hall. Rhaenyra lifted her chin high and powerfully as she watched the display. At the front was Lord Corlys and his wife Rhaenys. In the row behind them, seen between his parents was Laenor, flanked by his twin sister and Uncle Vaemond. Behind them Daeron stood behind his father next to Aemar, then Viserra then Joffrey all in the third row.

Corlys and his wife were dressed with similar fabrics, a tight intricate design in gold against a deep black fabric. As they grew closer you see it was a very dark shade of green, like dried seaweed. The twins were also in the similar fabric. Laena's dress wrapped off the sides of her shoulders leaving her collarbones and slender neck exposed. Her curls were partially pulled back so her face was easily seen, her beauty not dulled by the emotionless expression on her face. Viserra's look was unlike the others as she was dressed in a dark teal fabric. It hung off one shoulder and slung around her body. Her breast would have been exposed if it were not for a shimmering gold bodice underneath. A slit in the skirt allowed more of the gold fabric to push through with each step she took. It was not like regular gold fabric, it looked metallic, like liquid gold had been poured over her skin. The flowing teal fabric was ruched at the middle to hug her waist and stomach, showing off the hourglass figure she had acquired with puberty, displaying that she was now most certainly a woman. Her arms were bare and her white blonde hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, the hair pin straight as it flowed like a white ribbon down between her shoulder blades. Beside her Aemar wore a darker teal tunic that covered from his neck down to his wrists. It had no pattern much like Viserra's but the bottom was shorter then the overcoat Laenor was dressed in. It ended at the boy's waist where a sword belt could be seen, though he carried no weapon in it. Yet.