Dragon Born (House of The Dragon)

CHAPTER VI:

            The next morning came too quickly for Lavender's liking.
            Today was the dreaded day. Her wedding day.
            And Aegon's coronation.
            The Queen had demanded that both events happen on the same day. The day after Viserys' death. Lavender found it quite distasteful. She had announced it the moment Lavender and the men had returned. As if it were something that could lighten their spirits. Lavender had no idea whom she was to wed— apparently it was a 'joyous surprise'. Lavender hated surprises.
            How the Queen had managed to organise both events, including a gown for Lavender, in such a short time left her wondering how long she had been planning this. The idea dimmed Lavender's spirits further.
            Now, Lavender lay on the floor by the window, splayed out on her back. She didn't want to move. Her hands were covered in a soothing salve, in an attempt to seal her new wounds. She had been reprimanded by both Calista and Alicent for her behaviour. At the same time. Nightmare material. Lavender had decided not to listen and instead think about her impending doom and what was to come once she was married to Aemond. Being yelled at by Alicent was a close second on her nightmare scale, though.
            She could hear Calista fussing around the room, trying to ready her gear. For her wedding. In front of thousands of people. To Aemond.
            The last thing she wanted was to see Aemond, let alone marry the prick. She wasn't exactly happy with him and his newfound hate for her. The words he had given her on the way back to the castle. The vile, cruel things he said after her outburst— everyone here wishes you'd climb the Sept and jump, Ostara. There was no coming back from that. She didn't want it to come back from that.
            She liked it here, by the window. She could hear the ocean. When she closed her eyes, she could almost convince herself she was home. Lavender took in two deep breaths, letting them out through her nose. Once calm, she sat back up once more. Calista had laid a white gown out on her bed. Satin white shoes were on the chaise. She was going to look stupid. She pushed herself up off the floor and to her feet, wiping her hands on the rag hanging from the table beside her. Her hands weren't as gruesome, now. Sharing a look with Calista, she headed toward the bed, each step causing her heart to beat louder against her chest.
            "I will prepare your room for you, while you're out," Calista reassured, taking up the gown in her hands. "Everything will be here for you." She managed to keep her voice steady, but her eyes were brimming with tears.
            She meant when the inevitable making of a child was to happen after the wedding. Lavender sighed, sitting on the chaise. She felt defeated. She was defeated. Calista began to cry, the gown scrunching in her hands.
            Lavender got to her feet quickly, taking the woman in her arms. "No. No, no, no, Calista, what's this?" She hugged her friend tightly to her chest. "All will be ok, please don't cry. These things take time, remember?" She pressed her face into the girl's hair, soaking in what could be their last moment together.
            "They'll send me away, give you another handmaiden. I won't be here with you," Calista sobbed into Lavender's chest.
            Lavender shook her head, pulling Calista away, holding her at arm's length. "Calista, look at me." She waited for the woman to do so before continuing, voice soft, "You and I will never be apart, do you hear me? Never." She gently wiped tears from her face. "I will not allow that to happen."
            Calista nodded, wiping at her eyes, hands shaking.
            Lavender took the gown from her, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "All will be well, I promise. We just need a plan." Because her plan was falling apart, just like the rest of her world. Crumbling around her, too quickly for her to put the pieces back together.
            Calista's hands shook as she held the dress toward Lavender. "We do. We shall."
            Lavender pulled the dress she was wearing over her head and tossed it onto her bed. "You worry about getting my bed all uncomfortable and cold so he doesn't wish to lie in it."
            Her words caused a smile to Calista's lips, the girl moving to help her into her gown. "Anything for you, Lavender."
            If this was how Calista was taking it, perhaps Lavender was underreacting. For a change.
            Once her shoes were tied, and her hair- now stripped of colour- lay perfectly,
in curls and an extravagantly braided crown, Calista left the room, to seek out the Queen. Lavender stood in front of her bedroom window, looking out over the city. The Dragonpit was in view. Her favourite place in the city. The same place where she would soon be wed. Trapped and far from home.
            Lavender felt her own tears brewing but she willed them away, holding her stomach instinctively, as if willing it to settle. A small strand of white hair fell before her eyes. She didn't bother to fix it. She found it getting harder and harder to breathe with each thought that swirled within her mind. Time, that's all she needed. Time to create a new plan. The doors to her chambers opened, but she didn't turn.
            "Lavender?" Alicent called from behind her.
            Lavender stayed facing the window, eyes fixated on the marketplace, watching the people bustling around the stalls. She couldn't face Alicent. She would say something she would regret.
            Alicent soon stood beside her, eyes searching Lavender's. She watched Lavender hesitantly, before gently placing a hand on her arm. "You look beautiful."
            "Why didn't you tell me?" Lavender asked suddenly.
            Alicent sighed. "Your loyalties to Princess Rheanyra would have... Complicated matters. You knew you were to wed, too, dearest— your mother gave her approval. Does it really matter?"
            Lavender turned to her, lip curled. "Yes, actually, it does," she spat. "Your husband died a mere day ago— the King of the Seven Kingdom— and you go against all his wishes to see your mentally lacking, drunk whore of a son placed on the throne?" She pushed the Queen's hand off her arm. "Spare me your false pretences, Alicent. I know exactly who you are."
            Alicent stared, eyes wide, mouth hung open. She tried to speak, but couldn't form the words.
            Lavender looked back out over the city, picking at the stone beneath her window. "I will marry your son, as my cousin wished, but you will not have House Valeryon, nor I for that matter, on your side." She allowed herself to laugh, the sound bitter. "Your conniving behaviour reminds me of your father. You have truly stooped to a new low."
            Alicent stood there for a moment. Lavender turned back to the market, feeling her chest tightening once more. Alicent tried to reach for Lavender again but the woman moved away, closer to the window.
            "You've betrayed me, Alicent, a wound that will never heal. I am embarrassed to have ever considered you family." Lavender's voice was cold.
            Alicent stepped away from her. The room fell quiet. After a time, she spoke, voice indifferent. "Your carriage is outside. We need to be leaving."
            Lavender responded with the slightest shake of her head. She could feel her anger building, growing inside her chest. There was no room for it beside the anxiety, fear and dread. After a moment, she turned, watched Alicent leave and Calista enter. She hugged her friend, tightly, before allowing herself to be escorted from her chambers and out to her carriage.
            No one greeted her on her way. The halls were empty, despite the time of day. She preferred it this way. No one to see the fear in her eyes.
            A guard helped up into a carriage that was not at all empty. Helaena sat on the left side, fiddling with her skirts. She looked up as Lavender entered, with a pleasant smile. Lavender sat. She did not smile.
            "Good morning, Lady Lavender," Helaena greeted cheerfully, "though, I suppose that won't be your title for much longer."
             Lavender prayed to the Gods that their carriage would crash. Preferably off a steep cliff and into jagged rocks. Anything but hear Helaena's happy little dribble.
            "You look beautiful," Helaena continued, "though, he will most likely ruin your dress."
            Lavender turned her head to the Princess, slowly. She tried to plead with her eyes for her to shut up.
            Helaena ignored her look, smiling. "You will be ok, it's not all the time he ruins dresses. Just don't wear your favourites in the eve. Oh, and it is usually best to be on your stomach if you put some herbs in your pillow. It helps to take your mind off him. You can pretend you're in a field or a bakery."
            The carriage began to move and Lavender let her head fall back against the wall. She didn't have the heart to tell her sister-to-be to shut up. Helaena continued to talk and Lavender continued to ignore her. Her hands were sore. Her headache was back. She wanted to punch something.
           They arrived at the Pit quicker than Lavender wished. She took in a deep breath, nodding her head, trying to find some comfort in herself.
            Helaena reached over, patting her arm gently. "You will be ok, sister. I see much fire in you."
            Lavender looked at her with a quizzical look, shaking her head in disbelief. "Gee, Helaena, thanks for that."
            Helaena was beaming as she was escorted from the carriage.
            Lavender tried not to cry, taking the arm of the guard within the carriage door. He led her into the Pit, through a back door. The room had been converted so a large stage was situated at the end. There were no signs of the disrepair Lavender had witnessed the day prior. At least she had one less thing to worry about. On the stage stood Helaena, Aemond and the Queen. She was moved and situated between Aemond and Helaena, slightly behind them. To show her position in the family, no doubt. She felt nothing. The pain she had felt was gone. She could hear the blood pounding in her head. This was it.
           If only she could summon a dragon with her mind. To get one to climb before her and burn the entire building down, to kill her and take her away from the misery waiting for her. She could die happily knowing she killed Cole through dragon fire. For now, at least she could be happy with the mark she had left on him; the man's nose and eye coloured a lovely, dark purple. At least, if she felt any sort of distress, she could look across the stage and gaze upon her handiwork.
           Masses of people were being herded into the Pit. Lavender caught some confused stares. There were more people in this space than Lavender had ever seen. They barely fit, jousting one another for shoulder space. Then, snivelling little bitch Otto stepped toward them, chest puffed like a prized cock.
            "People of King's Landing," Otto began, voice resonating across the Pit, the idiot standing before the people proudly. "Today is the saddest of days."
            A hush fell over the crowd. Lavender wished to bang her head against a wall.
           "Our beloved King, Viserys the Peaceful, is dead." Otto's voice was calm, without a hint of sadness. "But it is also the most joyous of days, for as his spirit left us, he whispered his final wish. That his first born son, Aegon, should succeed him."
            The crowd was quiet before applause eventually enveloped the Pit. Lavender shook her head. Sheep.
            "Today will also be the day that the Lady Ostara of House Valeryon joins House Targyaren in marriage," Otto continued, once the applause had died. "A wish that King Viserys made public before his passing."
            Lavender closed her eyes, trying to calm herself, to control her breathing. She had never felt pressure from a crowd, but this was different. This was her doom. Horns began to play, causing Lavender to open her eyes. She noticed guards, now among the crowd, forming a path between the people. The guards drew their weapons, raising them ceremoniously, protecting the path they had made with their bodies.
            And then, out walked Aegon.
            He walked below the swords, slowly, pointedly, making his way up to the stage. He had been cleaned up. He would have looked good if it weren't for the look in his deep-set eyes. He seemed paler than usual. Lavender closed her eyes once more, letting out a shaky breath. Soon, it would all be over. She just needed to tough it out.
             "It is your great good fortune and privilege, to be here to witness this: a new day for our city. A new day for our realm!" Otto's voice boomed through the Pit, his head held high.
            As Aegon proceeded up onto the stage, he focused his attention on his mother, who was staring down at him with an expression Lavender couldn't quite read. She kissed him on the forehead, the same way she had kissed Lavender the day before. Lavender closed her eyes once more, refusing to watch anymore. She could hear everything. Hear the Septon bless Aegon. The people in the crowd whispering. Her heart, beating profusely in her chest.
            Soon, it was her turn. Soon, she would face the crowd. And Aemond.
            Cole's voice caused her to open her eyes.
           "The crown of the Conqueror passed down for generations." He held a dark crown above Aegon's head, looking out at the crowd, before slowly bringing it down onto Aegon's white hair.
            Aegon the Conqueror's crown. How quaint. A symbol Aegon  the second had done nothing to earn.
            She glanced over at Aemond, who was watching Aegon intensely. He had a look in his eyes that Lavender had never enjoyed. He was enjoying every moment of this. It made Lavender angry — he had claimed she was sick in the head, but seeing him here now was proof he was no different. The pain and extortion of his brother was fun to him.
            "Just like his namesake, Aegon the second will follow in the Conqueror's footsteps," Cole continued, glancing at Alicent, before speaking once more, "and he shall take a second wife."
           Lavender's heart stopped. Her breathing ceased. Her eyes burned.