The White Dragon

THE TOURNEY

THE WHITE DRAGON CHAPTER 3 : THE TOURNEY

A FANFICTION OF HBO'S HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

TOURNEY GROUNDS : AERYS

The loud cheers and cries of joy make Aerys more aware that the day he had been dreading finally came. The day that unnecessary bloodshed would occur simply for the birth of a child. Lords, knights, and squires from all over the realm gathered in Dragons Maw to participate.

Alyssa, Alicent, Daenerys Lord Corlys, Princess Rhaenys, King Viserys, and Otto Hightower sat in the royal box with Aerys. Princess Rhaenyra finally arrives, clad in a crimson gown contrast to the pale blue of Alicent's, and sits down beside her friend. 

Viserys clears his throat and rises from his seat to address the swelling and restless assembly. "Be welcome! I know many of you have traveled long distances to be at these games. But I promise, you will not be disappointed. When I look at the fine knights in these lists, I see a group without equals in our histories, and this great day has been made more auspicious by the news... that I am happy to share: Queen Aemma has begun her labors!"

Aerys notes that Rhaenyra lets out a sigh as she claps, plastering on a false smile, obviously wanting people to not see that she was worried about her mother's state. The first joust was between a boy from house Tarly and a mystery knight wearing dented and scratched armor.

Both jousters rushed forward on the second pass, but the Tarly knight was flung off his horse and crashed on the soft earth with a loud thud. Stunned and confused, neighboring spectators assist in escorting the fallen opponent away as the crowd yells in delight. The knight rides up to the royal box and bows respectfully.

Alicent turns to Aerys and smiles "Do you recall when you wanted to join the tourney a few years ago?" Aerys shakes his head and sighs "I recall wanting to join simply so that I could say that I won your favor."

Alicent smiles sweetly and bends over and removes a ribbon from the green wreath and ties it securely to Aerys' wrist "Then you shall always have my favor, my love." Aerys chuckles at her  softly before Rhaenyra asks, "A mystery knight, do you think?"

"No," Alicent shook her head, "a Cole from the Stormlands."

Rhaenyra shakes her head slightly "I've never heard of House Cole." Aerys runs his tongue over his teeth, hating that his moment with Alicent was interrupted, simply answers his eyes peeled on the next bout between the mystery knight and a Tully "They're a minor noble house from the Dornish Marches in service to House Dondarrion of Blackhaven. Stewards, I believe."

"Like the Tyrells were for House Gardener." Alyssa says with a smile making Aerys nod with pride while Rhaenyra simply rolls her eyes. Aerys knows why. He had never gotten along with Rhaenyra, despite Viserys trying his hardest and wanting the pair to marry, but Aerys despised the notion of hiding behind someone else's titles which Rhaenyra has done constantly through her young life.

Alyssa leans over towards Alicent and quietly states "Do you see that man, in the blue Tully scale armor facing the mystery knight." Alicent turns her head and nods. Alyssa smiles, showing her pure white smile and continues "I hear that he went to a brothel last night, and couldn't get his cock up. Many now jape and call him by his new title" She then turns to make sure no one listens in and turns back to Alicent "The flopping fish of Riverrun."

Lady Genevieve chuckles loudly at this and Alicent has a shocked smile on her face "How did such a name spread so quickly." Alyssa giggles and answers "Well Lord Lyonel's son, Ser Harwin Strong told me and I'm the one that spread it." Alicent laughs at the statement, before turning her attention back onto the field.