Burn Together ❖ Daemon Targaryen

Chapter 14

" ... The betrothal between Princess Rhaellanne and Lord Genald Baratheon was short-lived, lasting less than one moon. Queen Alicent threw a tourney to celebrate the impending union between the families, and a drunken Lord Genald announced that he would be taking part, and then swore that he would fuck the Princess later. Before he could make good on that curse, Genald Baratheon took to his horse to face against an unknown knight. His opponent brought his lance down into Genald's neck and the Lord fell off his horse, tumbling to the ground and laying there motionless. Maesters rushed to his side, and the guests waited with baited breath to learn of the Lord's condition ... "

The King's health had deteriorated once more after he attended the dance for Laena and Bennard's engagement celebration, and clearly the stress of planning, attending, speaking, and dancing was taking its toll on him, so he had returned to his room for a few days to rest.

However, this had given Alicent exactly what she needed. Time away from the King's objections, and a chance to formalise the agreed marriage between Rhaellanne and Genald Baratheon. The former of whom had not been seen in the court for days, meanwhile Cannibal was often spied being flown around with Dremfyre, Silverwing, and Grey Ghost across the bays of King's Landing.

Ser Roderick was growing worried for her. She no longer smiled or laughed, and now that she had taken to having her dinners brought up to her room, he had noticed them being returned barely half eaten.

Rhaellanne had once been a spritely young girl who had enough energy to tire a grown man out and could literally ramble for an hour without pausing to take a breath. Now she hardly spoke. She hardly moved anymore. It was like she was frozen.

As her best friend, the knight was worried about her. He had sworn an oath to protect the King, but his loyalty lay with the Princess.

"Princess" he said as he knocked one morning.

"Come" she replied tiredly and he pushed open the door to find that she was inside sitting in her bay window, still in a nightgown and staring out across the vast fields surrounding the Keep. Whenever she was in her room, she stayed like that for hours. Silent, unmoving and depressed. She looked like a ghost in here.

"The Queen has asked me to inform you to be ready in an hour" he said nervously.

"For what?" asked Rhaellanne.

Ser Roderick said nervously "There is to be a tourney... to, um, celebrate"

"Is that what they're saying?" she sighed "Yes let us celebrate the forced marriage of the dragon ruler to that moron"

"She had given you these to wear" continued Ser Roderick, placing down a folded dress on her table.

Rhaellanne got up from her bay window and crossed the room to examine it closer. This dress was quite possibly the most hideous thing she had ever seen. It was emerald green, long sleeved, and had silver flowers embroidered into the fabric.

And Rhaellanne knew the hidden meaning behind this dress. The green was for House Hightower, and Alicent clearly intended to reign Rhaellanne in under her control. However, she had always underestimated the bravery and gut of the Targaryen, and Rhaellanne would never let her win.

"Tell the Queen I will be ready then" she said, a smirk itching to appear.

Ser Roderick nodded and left the room so that she could change. He was worried for her. He had heard of the rumours of the cruelty of Genald Baratheon through the Baratheon guards who stayed at court, and the night of the dance he had seen the way he spoke to Rhaellanne. Rhaellanne was one of his closest friends, and he would do anything to protect her from any harm which might threaten her.