chained and bound||daemon targaryen

part two: five

FAMILY IS FAMILY

daemon had informed his wife, after they had made it back to their chambers and made love due to the attraction daemon had felt towards his wife in the throne room, that a family dinner was to take place that evening.

he insisted she wear blue. for being a man, he chose almost all of saphrona's outfits. he bought her the finest silks and gowns, daemon loved to make her look good and he loved to spoil her just as much as he did the children.

the dress was a deep blue, with a square neckline lined in pearls. it's sleeves were long, and it was soft to the touch. it was gorgeous. she braided her hair, slipping it into a low bun.

dayana wore a blue glittery dress with a halter neck, but a fur cape over the top. she looked beautiful in her mother's eyes, although she looked nothing like her mother.

the four of them: daemon, deacon, dayana, and saphrona made their way to the private dining hall near the royal apartment side of the keep.

when they entered, places were already set. the queen on one side of viserys and rhaenyra on the other. next to rhaenyra was aenor.

daemon and saphrona sat directly across from rhaenyra and aenor, leaving the children to file in where they may. when viserys was carried in, everyone stood.

he was seated, and he looked around the table beaming at the children. jace and baela sat on the other side of rhaenyra, while aegon and helena on the other side of alicent along with aemond. next to saphrona, was luke and rhaena which was no surprise, luke loved his auntie. on the other side of daemon was deacon and dayana.

viserys smiled. "it is so lovely to have us all here together." he quickly ran out of words, so alicent offered a prayer and he agreed. after the prayer had finished, viserys spoke again. "tonight is cause for celebration it seems. my grandsons, jace and luke will marry their cousins baela and rhaena, further strengthening the bond between our houses. a toast to the young princes!"

everyone toasted as the young princes grinned at their counterparts. saphrona couldn't help but be happy for them both. viserys then offered a toast to luke, saphrona knew he was feeling down so she squeezed his hand and offered him a smile. rhaena grinned at him, "you will do great!"

viserys struggled to stand, but he did. "it both gladdens my heart but fills me with sorrow to view everyone around this table. we are all family, yet we have grown so distant from each other. as years pass, my own face is no longer a handsome one, if it ever was. but tonight, i wish you to see me as i am. not just a king, but your father, your brother, your husband, and your grandsire. who will not walk for much longer among you. let us no longer hold ill will in our hearts. the crown cannot stand strong if the house of the dragon remains divided. set aside your grievances if not for the sake of the crown, for the sake of this old man who loves you all so dearly."

the table remained quiet, saphrona was at a loss for words. viserys had always been a well spoken man, but even now it was evident he had tears in his eye as he spoke. she had never knew if he even recognized the animosity inside his own house, but now she knew he was no fool.

rhaenyra then stood to say some words of her own. "i wish to raise my cup to her grace the queen. i love my father, but i must admit that no one has stood more loyally by his side than his good wife. she had tended to him with unfailing devotion, love and honor. and for that she has my gratitude and my apology."

a wonderfully said peace offering if saphrona did say so herself, although she was getting quite tired of the speeches. she was ready to eat.

the queen looked at rhaenyra solemnly. "your graciousness moves me deeply princess. we are both mothers and we love our children. we have more in common than we sometimes allow. i raise my cup  to you, and to your house. you will make a fine queen." she announced. this shocked rhaenyra, and everyone else at the table.

saphrona then began to dig in, daemon jokingly holding her back which made the whole table giggle a tad. everyone knew saphrona was a woman with a large appetite, she had been since her days in the red keep as a child.

jace then offered a toast as did helena, which did make saphrona chuckle. as music began, jace offered helena to dance. everyone began to get along.

aegon looked to saphrona, "lady saph, can i call you lady saph?" he questioned rather awkwardly.

saphrona laughed at the boy, shaking her head making her earrings jingle. "my prince you can just call me saph if you would like." she answered.

aegon seemed astounded that she answered, but continued. "well saph, may i ask where kassian is? i have not seen him in quite sometime and i know we spent some time together in our youth. i was looking forward to seeing him tonight."

aemond looked down the table at the woman. "i agree, i thought we might get to see kassian baratheon. i have heard tales of his strength, i wished to spar with him." he grinned devilishly.

rhaena entered her two cents as well. "well i've heard tales of his handsomeness. almost every girl in the realm is dying to be betrothed to kassian." she giggled.

saphrona laughed at them all. "kassian is in the stormlands with his own grandsire, preparing to take the seat at storm's end within the next few years." she answered.

aemond nodded, smiling down at the older woman once more. "he will be a great lord indeed. especially with a mother like you to show him how to be a proper leader." he complimented her.

saphrona laughed, "oh prince aemond you flatter me. i only picked up where ser aenor left off." she smiled brightly. she knew when people thought her attractive, and the two young princes finding her attractive was very funny to her.

jace noticed this and also thought it was quite funny. "auntie saph! how are my moves?" he asked, dancing around with helena. the boy had not an ounce of rhythm in his body.

she looked down the table to see dayana and rhaena in a heated conversation about something as aenor teased luke and deacon. daemon and rhaenyra were also talking. she loved this. this was what family was.

viserys began to groan, and alicent called the guards. she beckoned everyone to sit back down, and enjoy their meal, although the king was going to bed.

as soon as viserys left, everything had went to shit. "a final tribute: to the health of my nephews. jace, luke, and joffrey. all handsome, wise, and hm...strong. let us drain our cups to these three strong boys." aemond grinned.

jace stood, "i dare you to say that again." he walked towards aemond with anger. it was these times that saphrona wished kassian was here, to take care of his cousins.

aemond sneered over at jace. "what? it was only a compliment." and he was promptly punched in the face by the prince jacerys.

aegon stood, slamming lucerys into the table. as deacon rose, daemon held him down. this was no fight for him.

the two princes were hauled out by the kings guard, while saphrona and daemon followed aemond out the door. it was time to return home.

alicent called after her, so saphrona turned back to meet her and rhaenyra. "saphrona, rhaenyra do not go so soon. you both have only just arrived!" she pleaded. saphrona could see how being in a castle like this with no other common woman could be quite lonely.

rhaenyra compromised. "let me see the children home, then i shall return on dragon back." she nodded.

saphrona agreed, "once i get the children home i can return with daemon on caraxes." she nodded.

alicent grinned, "the king and i would very much like that."