green queen, black ace | daemon, rhaenyra and vaegon

xx. the heir's scandal

THE NEXT MORNING, Ceryse could not entirely convince herself that the occurrences of previous night had not been a dream; some figment of her desperate, hopeless imagination.

She broke her fast alone, skilfully avoiding the King's invitation to eat together, citing she still felt unwell from the night before.

The King seemed more than happy to leave her alone after that, no doubt hopeful that she had finally become with child again. That's what the invitation would have been to nag her about, after all.

Of course, Ceryse knew for certain that had not occurred.

She took the time to stroll up the beautiful, sandy beaches of Driftmark, Vessamir trotting happily at her side.

If anyone were to find out about what had happened between Ceryse and Vaegon, it would be a risk to the safety and reputation of not only herself but also her daughters, who would be dubbed the daughters of a whore.

And yet, Ceryse had tasted the tempting fruit of freedom, and she did not know if she could deny its sweet taste forever. Certainly not to remain in a gilded, tasteless cage.

She was a mother, yes, and she wanted her daughters safe and happy above all. But Ceryse was a woman too - with hopes and dreams and desires.

She closed her eyes, focusing on the feeling of the wind on her face. Sometimes, Ceryse wished she could evaporate and join it, flying free for all eternity.

Footsteps came towards her, and she recognised them before the voice announced itself.

Ceryse supposed here was as safe as anywhere to talk, given the strong winds would disguise any words.

"Prince Vaegon," she greeted coolly, not yet turning to face the man.

Had he come to deny her? Tell her it was a moment of weakness, that everything was a mistake never to be repeated? Would he take her moment of freedom, of pleasure, away just as quickly as he had given it?

"Ceryse," he returned, almost as coolly. "There's something we need to talk about. What you had been asking of yesterday, what I was upset about-,"

The Queen turned to face him, glad the conversation had taken a different turn. Glad he was not fleeing from her already.

"-Lady Elys gave me a box that you had left behind to take on Grey Ghost to Driftmark," he continued, eyes harder than she had ever seen them. "They contained poison. Tansy tea."

Ceryse's face fell. She took a step back.

Oh Gods.

Elys, too, had noticed that Ceryse had left behind the moon tea that prevented her womb from quickening with the King's child. And she had given them to Vaegon, who had left after the royal barge, no doubt hoping he would not open the box.

But he had.

Ceryse's fists curled at her sides. "Will you tell him? Was yesterday a cruel goodbye to the Queen your brother will surely exile?"

Vaegon took several steps forward, he eyes softening into something like concern, but the Queen took just as many back.

"Of course not," the Prince bit out. "How could you think that? But how could you continue? It is poison, Ceryse. Taking it regularly could kill you."

The youngest Hightower closed her eyes. She knew that. Of course she knew that. "Perhaps I would rather die," she said at last, "than continue to be the King's broodmare. I would rather die of moon tea than on the birthing bed, giving him what he'd no doubt butcher me for. That he butchered the last Queen for."