Burn Together ❖ Daemon Targaryen

Chapter 8

" ... Prince Daemon returned to Court for the first time in four years, face bearing lines and eyes tired after years at war. He wore a crown now, named King of the Narrow Sea and his brother the King embraced him with pride. It was witnessed by everyone at Court that Prince Daemon was not there for his brother, but his niece Princess Rhaellanne. The two reunited with joy, a fact not missed by her father King Viserys. Rhaellanne and Daemon were closer than normal, often seeking each other out in every room and sharing whispers in Valyrian that made the Princess blush. Rhaellanne was of age now to be wed, but it was widely rumoured that the reason she was not yet, was because her heart lay with Daemon and now that he had returned from war she was keen to wed him ... "

Viserys had been true to his word about compromising with his daughters on who they would each marry, and their relationship with him was definitely being mended. And in his path to marry them off, he had sent them off on a marriage tour of Westeros to meet able bodied men and knights and Lords who would petition themself for the hand of one of the princess

After a few months of this, neither princess had shown any interest in the men they had been shown, and were growing tired of the endless charades

Currently they were at Greenstone listening to another group of men try and parade themselves and their accomplishments in order to try and woo them.

Lord Dondarrion was standing before them at the moment, a man older than their father and who looked as if he was knocking on death's door. 

"The wall at Blackhaven are unscalable vassalstone. And the castle is surrounded by a deep, dry moat. It is well fortified against any future Dornish incursions. And though my seat may be lesser in size, it is situated most pleasingly." he grinned. His voice had gone hoarse, clearly old age was affecting him, and he went to pour himself a glass of water and Rhaellanne rolled her eyes and turned to Ser Roderick beside her

"Save me," she hissed

He stifled a laugh and Rhaellanne turned back to the man before them, who was speaking again. "The view across the Marches is inspiring, so said Queen Alysanne herself when she honoured my father and I-"

"And tell me, Lord Dondarrion," interrupted Rhaenyra "Did you think our great-grandmother as beautiful as they say?"

The men of the room chuckled and Lord Dondarrion looked slightly alarmed. "This was half a century ago, Princess." 

"Yes, it was." said Rhaenyra coldly

Lord Dondarrion clearly took the hidden message and nodded before moving aside to where the rest of the rejected suitors were waiting. "That was unseemly, Princess" whispered Ser Criston.

Ser Criston Cole, Rhaenyra's protector, had become friends with the Princess as of late. He was still devoted to the King above all, but he had enjoyed this tour with the young girls and had become close to both of them.

"The man is older than our father. It's unseemly for him to put himself forward as a contender for either of our hands." hissed Rhaenyra

"Next!" called Ser Harrold

The next contender stepped forward, and in stark contrast to the man before, he looked around 10 and seemed like a small puppy. "And now a child" sighed Rhaellanne.

"The Blackwoods are an ancient house with a formidable army" The boy started "In the Riverlands, they once ruled as kings. The blood of the First Men still flows in their veins"