The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 13

If I’m honest, the wedding was probably not what most people had imagined. After the ceremony was done, everyone readied themselves for the wedding feast that always followed. Gifts were presented to my mother and father from just about every family in the country, as well as King Viserys and Queen Alicent themselves.

Each wedding usually ends in the bedding ceremony. A strange tradition where the bride is lifted up by the men and the groom by the women, who remove their clothes and carry them to the bedroom, usually, resulting in them shouting ribald suggestions through the door. The sheets are inspected for blood the next morning, mainly to see if the bride has lost her maidenhead.

Of course, that’s not exactly what happened at my mother and father’s bedding . . .

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With the ceremony concluded, everyone had moved into the courtyard for the feast that had been prepared. Once the pigeon pie had been served and cut by Daevar, plates piled high with everything from fish to roasted joints of meat were passed around, though the newlyweds themselves were decidedly ambivalent about the whole affair. 

The two of them had been seated at the high table of course, at the place of honour. On either side of them were the two most important people in Westeros; Viserys and Rhaenyra, with their spouses next to them. The rest of the Small Council was seated further along, while the lords themselves were on the tables below.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Daevar asked, leaning over to the side towards Helaena.

“Mm.” Helaena nodded, before taking a nervous sip of her wine. “I’m trying to.”

Daevar returned the gesture. He couldn’t blame Helaena for any of this; this marriage had been sprung on them from almost nowhere and they’d had not much contact in the last year or so, outside of Aegon and Nesaena’s wedding, that was. “I… missed you, cousin.” He said.

Helaena was silent for a moment, leaving Daevar ill at ease. Then, he heard Helaena softly reply, “I missed you, as well.”

Daevar stood up, raising his goblet. “I would like to thank His Grace King Viserys and Her Grace Queen Alicent for organising this wonderful day.” He said, adding a smile he hoped didn;t look too fake. “And to Princess Rhaenyra for joining us on this auspicious day. And my father of course.” He said, adding the last almost as an afterthought before he sat down. Rhaenyra smiled and rose from her own seat.

“Thank you, son.” She said, though no one noticed Daevar’s hands ball into fists at that. I have one mother, and you are not her, he thought, though he stopped himself from saying anything before she resumed. “I believe I speak for everyone here when I say that we wish you and the new Lady Royce all the happiness in the world.” She made a small signal with her hands, and two men walked forward with small wooden crates. “I would like to present my gifts to both of you.” She said as the men opened the boxes to reveal what was in them.

In one box was a beautifully made dress, no doubt sewn by experienced hands and likely done with the finest silks in the world. It was made in the Targaryen colours of course; black with red trim, though the skirts at the bottom had a dragon embroidered in red. It seemed to be a fairly modest dress as well, not unlike what Rhaenyra herself would wear on a daily basis. The gift for Daevar was equally splendid; a black cotehardie with a red dragon stitched across the chest, and made in what was likely the best velvet that could be found.

Alicent was immediately set on edge by the gifts. Clearly, it was an attempt by Rhaenyra to have Helaena wear the garb of her followers. Judging by the smirk that Daemon was sending their way, she was right too.