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MAERA SAT BETWEEN JACAERYS AND AEGON AT THE DINNER. The dining table was overloaded with a feast of food. Everyone gathered around sat in silence.
At the head of the table sat Lucerys. He was awkwardly looking around at everyone else, and switched some glances with his sister, Maera. At the opposite end of the table was Aemond. The tension was clearly there.
On one length of the table, nearest Aemond, sat Otto Hightower, staring straight ahead at the musicians in the corner of the room who played on their wooden instruments. Next to him was Alicent. She sat straight and upright and made it apparent that she was looking everywhere but at Maera.
Next to her sat an empty space, and then Rhaenyra Targaryen, who was looking at her children, then at Alicent again. Next to Rhaenyra was Daemon, who had already filled his cup with wine and drained it.
Opposite Daemon, and closest to Lucerys was Rhaena, the girl Luke was proposed to marry. Next to Rhaena was the second Velaryon daughter, Baela, who sat next to her betrothed Jacaerys. Jacaerys sat next to Maera, who was then sat next to Aegon, and Aegon next to his wife, Helaena.
Maera was starting to miss her best friend, Lady Aurora of House Baratheon, Borros Baratheon's daughter, Lord of Storms End. The two girls have been friends since Maera was 10.
Chairs scraped against the floor as King Viserys entered the room. Everyone stood and watched as he was lifted on a throne. He could not walk or stand by himself anymore, it seemed.
Everyone became seated as the Kingsguard lowered the Kings throne between Rhaenyra and Alicent, and the silence overtook the room once more.
King Viserys looked around the room, and tried smiling, but it came out as more of a wince, "How good it is..." He croaked out, "To see you all tonight... Together." He looked over to his wife, Alicent, and then to his daughter, Rhaenyra. His breathing hard and heavy.
Alicent leaned over to him, "Prayer before we begin?" Maera smiled slightly.
"Yes." He whispered back.
Everyone joined their hands together and lowered their heads as Alicent began to pray. Everyone except for Daemon and Maera, both exchanged a smile and chuckled silently.
"May the Mother smile down on this gathering with love. May the Smith mend the bonds that have been broken for far too long. And to Vaemond Velaryon, may the gods give him rest."
Maera scoffed quietly, Daemon rolled his eyes at Alicent's words. Everyone leaned back as Alicent stopped speaking, and looked around the room awkwardly at each other. Maera raised her cup, "To Uncle Vaemond."
