FATED : Lucerys Velaryon

Meeting of the Queen

Once again, the Princess Rhaenyra was the main source of noise in the Keep.

"A boy, Princess," "Praise the Mother!"

A baby's cry was heard over the bustle of midwives and maidens in the birthing chambers. Swaddled inside a white sheet was the 4th child and 3rd son of Princess Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon, a fair boy with a tuft of dark hair, so unlike both of his parents but so similar to that of his three elder siblings.

"Healthy?" the eager mother asked.

"Kicking like a goat, Princess," the maester replied. Rhaenyra softly chuckled and reached out for her newest babe. In awe she stared at the newest addition of her little family. She could not wait to introduce this small being to her other children, she could picture the smile on Jacaerys' face at being the oldest all over again and the twinkling fascination that would sparkle in the eyes of little Lucerys and Laecerys. They always found wonder in the simplest and smallest of things.

All of a sudden the door burst open and there stood a rather sheepish maid, which Rhaenyra knew belonged to that of the Queen Alicent.

"Princess," the young girl meekly greeted as she quickly bowed, "the Queen has requested that the child be brought to her... immediately."

Rhaenyra was speechless. After all her and Alicent had went through in their younger years. She knew they were at odd ends but never would she have thought Alicent, her old friend, would request something like this.

She had four children herself, surely she should know the aching pain that is to linger for another few days?  Rhaenyra thought - but deep down she knew why the Queen was being difficult, and she would not be bent so easily.

"I'll take him myself," she determinedly answered as she shakily stood from her bed space, pulling herself up by the bed posts with as much strength as she could muster whilst also holding her new child.

"You should remain abed, Princess - "Yes, I should! Help me dress."

Groaning through the pain, the previous midwives helped the Princess. As if sensing his mothers distress, the young child began to cry, unhappy with the tension in the room he had come into. As she was preparing to struggle her steps to the Queens chambers, Laenor burst through the door.

"A boy. I've just heard," he happily announced, oblivious to the worries in the room. Looking up at the silence he received in return he quickly noticed Rhaenyra walking around the room, blood dripping from her legs and staining her dress. "Where are you going?"

"She wants to see him." "Now? I'm coming with you."

"I should hope so," she quickly snips back, happy for the support she could use on the way up as much as she would refuse to admit aloud.  Laenor quickly walks towards her with his arms out and requests to hold the babe for her but she is quick to refuse. If Alicent is asking for her child so soon for the reasons she believes, she will not be going down without a fight.

"No, she'll get no such satisfaction from me."

Having known his cousin for too long Laenor quickly backed down but forced her to take his arm at the very least. Walking through the halls they kept at small chatter, him trying to cheer her up but Rhaenyra was focused on one thing and one thing only - getting her child in and out as quick as possible from the judgement he is soon to receive inside the Queens chambers.

Upon arriving, the guards stationed at the doors quickly introduced the pair. Staring at the outer parts of the city, Queen Alicent quickly turns around but her face quickly falls with shock.

"Rhaenyra! You should be resting after your labours."

"I have no doubt that you would prefer that, Your Grace," she quickly snips back, being ever so aware at the fake scheme. 

"Talya, fetch a cushion for the Princess." "There's no need - "Nonsense! We'll finish this later."

Talya quickly flees the room after doing what was requested of her and the King quickly takes her place. Bustling in with energy that could not help even attempt to break the suffocation of tension in the room as the two women stared at one another. Though he was never one to correctly read a room.

"What happy news this morning! Where's my grandson? There, there he is. Oh. A fine Prince, sturdy. Will make for a fearsome knight. Yes, you will. Does the babe have a name yet?"

"Joffrey! He'll be called Joffrey."

Rhaenyra had never whipped her head so fast towards Laenor before. The words of them having not discussed so yet on the tip of her tongue, and he had claimed the right of naming her youngest child all to himself. Joffrey, she thought, Gods.

"That's an unusual name for a Velaryon," the Queen had to quickly add in as she stared pointedly at Rhaenyra. Subtly, she rolled her eyes - how the King could be so oblivious shocked her deeply.

To save himself quickly from the burning stare of his cousin Laenor cleared his throat, "If you don't mind, Your Grace, your daughter has exerted herself heroically and should rest."

The King quickly agreed and pushed the babe back to his daughter before Alicent quickly stepped in and swooped him into her arms herself.

"Do keep trying, Ser Laenor. Soon or late, you may get one who looks like you."