green queen, black ace | daemon, rhaenyra and vaegon

x. a feast for dragons, part i

JUST THREE WEEKS after the birth of Princesses Alyssa and Viserra, a grand feast to celebrate their birth had been arranged.

Still weighed down heavily by exhaustion, Ceryse pushed herself out of bed to get ready for the evening.

She had decided on a black dress for this evening, a high-neck with either side of the silk that wrapped around her neck cut so it was off the shoulder, leading to long sleeves that draped nearly to the ground. In the place of a belt across her waist, there was instead finely embroided golden dragons following one after the other, the detail positively awe-inspiring.

Upon her head, she allowed them to place a crown of iron and onyx stone, leaving the remainder her dark, curling brown hair to fall down her back to the small of her back.

She looked in the mirror and felt beautiful, despite the foreigness of her body now. Her stomach was still soft and rounded from the birth, her breasts having noticeably grown and hair more difficult to tame than it had been before the birth of her daughters.

Two maids brought in the princesses, laying them down on Ceryse's silk sheets when she gestured for them to do so. The Queen was to enter holding one, while her main Lady-In-Waiting, Lady Laena Velaryon, was to be several paces behind her with the other.

It would be the first time the court would see the twins, and Ceryse could not help but be unnerved by it. She hardly wanted the vultures reaching out their hands towards her daughters, but she did not have the power to say otherwise.

Ceryse smiled when Laena entered her chambers, dressed resplendently in Velaryon blue.

"I told father you named Alyssa after Queen Alyssa Velaryon to honour your friendship with me," Laena declared, sprawling herself out across Ceryse's bed with a mischievous grin. "He was touched."

Queen Ceryse let out a snort that had one of her older maids sending her a chiding look. "I'm glad he values my consideration."

Laena rolled over onto her side, swinging her seahorse necklace over little Alyssa's face, giggling as the babe's mismatched eyes followed it attentively.

A knock sounded on the door, and Ser Steffon Darklyn admitted Lady Elys Farman to enter.

"It's time to head to the hall," her friend spoke, Elys' countenance having warmed significantly in the last week. "Do you need any assistance?"

"Laena and I are sorted, but thank you. Enjoy the feast, you and Loren can have the night to yourselves," Ceryse responded, shooting the older golden-haired girl a warm smile.

Elys nodded and smiled, before swiftly retreating. No doubt she was off to ready herself and join her family later at the feast.

Carefully, Laena turned around so she could cradle Princess Viserra in her arms, prompting Ceryse to bed down and take hold of her fair-haired eldest instead.

It might be good for Viserra to go with Laena. Perhaps that would remind the court that before her little daughter there had been another dark-haired she-dragon: Princess Rhaenys.

Taking one last glance in her full-length mirror, her reflection staring her back - that of a beautiful young Queen with a babe swaddled in crimson and gold in her arms - Ceryse finally left her chambers.

The royals were to arrive first and take their places upon the high table, so that the nobles might greet them upon entry.

"She's so sweet," Laena cooed, readjusting her hold on Viserra as she walked to Ceryse's right. "I mean, I don't want one of my own, but I can appreciate a cute baby. Though, father would change that soon enough if not for mother."