"It's my duty, my God-given birthright and my crown."
- Mary, Queen of Scots
In which Valyria Targaryen returns to the Red Keep and becomes a key player in the game for the Iron Throne.
....or....
In which there isn't a person in the Se...
THE FAMILY DINNER FROM HELL ✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
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131 AC, King's Landing
Tensions between the Blacks and Greens only continued to grow after Vaemond Velaryon's death by the hand of Daemon. In the silent war fought between the Princess of Dragonstone and the Queen, Rhaenyra emerged victorious from this battle; her sons' legitimacy, while constantly questioned, had yet to be officially disputed by the King and therefore everyone lived to entertain the lie for yet another day.
None could clearly recall the last time the entire royal family dined together. Even the years before Rhaenyra relocated to Dragonstone, the different factions of the family dined separately to avoid any unnecessary interaction with each other. It was bad enough before when only the adults were at odds and now when even the children had reasons to fight each other a dinner surely couldn't end in any other way than a disaster.
By the time Valyria arrived alongside her family, Alicent and Rhaenyra alongside their children were already there. With the sun long gone the Queen's Ballroom was illuminated by candlelights which might have created a cosy and warm environment had it not been for the coldness that emanated from the Queen and Princess who sat on one side each of the chair Viserys would sit on once he arrived.
"Good evening," Valyria said, keeping her tone light. No one needed her to acknowledge the tension. Aegon – who stood by one end of the long table chatting with his younger brother – turned to greet them. Aemond did the same, not wishing to stand there alone.
Allowing the children – that soon couldn't be considered children any longer – to socialise with each other, Valyria took the seat across from Viserys's intended place after Daemon pulled out the chair for her. Then he sat down to her right, sending a contemptuous scowl towards the Hand of the King seated to the right of the Queen.
Twenty years ago, if anyone told Daemon Targaryen that he'd attend a family supper where Otto Hightower also could be found amongst the invited, he'd likely have killed the man to prevent such a thing from ever happening.
Around them, the servants worked discreetly to put food on the table while the orchestra in the corner waited for the King to arrive so that they could start playing. With a clear view of both Alicent and Rhaenyra, Valyria witnessed how the two grown women didn't even acknowledge each other's presence. A stone wall might as well be built between them.
It truly caused Valyria to worry for the day Viserys left this world. He was the only one with the ability to keep the silent war from blooming into a real war fought to the death. Now Alicent held the upper hand with her position as Queen and when Rhaenyra eventually took over the crown she could get revenge for everything and knowing the Hightowers they would never go down without a fight.
