Burn Together ❖ Daemon Targaryen

Chapter 2

The arrival of the tourney to celebrate Queen Aemma's labours was a much needed distraction from the threat of looming war in the Stepstones. When Rhaenyra and Rhaellanne were small they used to love the festivities and joy it would bring to court, however, as the pair grew older the tourneys were becoming more of a competition between the knights competing to impress the princesses, and they were required to smile and clap their way through all of it.

And they knew, as well as the rest of King's Landing, that Aemma's labours had never been easy as out of six pregnancies in the last twelve years, they were the only babes to have survived, and what scared Rhaellanne was that this time felt just as dreadful and doomed as the rest.

She would much rather be by her mother's side, as would Rhaenyra, but Viserys demanded their attendance as a show of unity and happiness. And both girls suspected he was also hoping they might take a fancy towards one of the knights competing so that he could marry them off and be rid of the demands for their hands.

What had also worsened the mood around the court was that Daemon had recently taken his new position as Commander of the City Watch a bit far and put on a public display of show by maiming, killing, and harming any criminals he and his gold cloaks had found.

But despite all this, the tourney was going ahead

Rhaellanne had chosen to wear a wide neck long black dress with a corset covering her torso underneath a layer of thin black mesh. The sleeves were short and the mesh over her top half had bits of intricate gold embroidery which turned into long gold vines going down the skirt. She clipped the necklace from Daemon around her neck and then did the top half of her long hair up into a bun, into which she placed a comb with rubies formed in flower shapes.

Then when she and her sister were ready, they were escorted to the tourney field by Ser Harrold and Ser Roderick.

The moment the pair emerged in the royal box, the crowds rang with cheers and whistles, and both girls, as rehearsed, waved and smiled in gratitude for it was no secret that they were regarded as the most beautiful girls in Westeros and any man would die for one of their hands in marriage

"Be welcome!" called the King, silencing the crowds "I know many of you have traveled long leagues to be at these games. But I promise, you will not be disappointed. When I look at the fine knights in these lists, I see a group without equal in our histories. And this great day has been made more auspicious by the news... that I am happy to share: Queen Aemma has begun her labours!" At this, the cheering rose once more but this time Rhaellanne and Rhaenyra did not hide their unhappiness "May the luck of the Seven shine upon all combatants!"

The tourneys were always good fun, and Rhaellanne always wondered just how mad these knights had to be to willingly put themselves up against the best so publicly. The only thing that seemed different about this tournament was the presence of a knew house sigil which neither princess recognised, and the knight bearing it seemed to be smashing his competition easily.

"A mystery knight?" asked Rhaenyra

"No, a Cole, of the Storm lands." replied Alicent

"I've never heard of House Cole." said Rhaellanne

Up to the royal box came the knight who was about go against Criston Cole, Boremund Baratheon, a distant cousin of theirs. "Princess Rhaenys Targaryen!" he called "I would humbly ask for the favour of 'The Queen Who Never Was.'"

Rhaenys Targaryen was their Great Aunt, wife to Lord Corlys, and was the biggest challenger to their father's claim to the throne when Good King Jaehaerys was dying. She was loved by everyone, particularly the twins, who looked up to her as a sort of legend.