The Black Rose | Jacaerys Velaryon

A Flower For You

The Queen of Westeros had a familiar style. Her chambers were simple, with gold and green accents throughout the many rooms, it was something which comforted Alerie as she stood in front of the King and Queen, it felt like home for a single, fleeting moment. Alicent Hightower - The Queen - was in a dark green dress with a golden belt around the centre, accentuating her waist, her hair had been curled and pulled back from her face, gently cascading down her back, it reminded Alerie of the styles she'd seen in Oldtown on a visit just a few months back. Her eyes were a warm brown, almost mirroring the spindles of hair which burned red in the streams of sunlight.

Alerie thought she was beautiful.

The King, however, did not look as Alerie expected, he was sat on a green sofa in simple dark robes, with thinning white hair and a freckled face. He looked kind though, she supposed that was a good sign.

"My King, My Queen," Alerie curtsies to the royals, and catches a glance at her own outfit. She had not been given time to change before meeting the family, and felt rather embarrassed by how underdressed she was, her travelling cape was still on, with a light blue dress under it. As she rises, Alerie sees the King's youngest children standing in the corner, and Alicent is now leaning down to her height, looking into the child's eyes.

"You do look so much like your mother,"

"I -" That is not what she expected her to say at their first meeting. It was informal...natural, a sharp contrast to Alerie's anxious breaths. "Thank you, my Queen...not many say I do,"

"Well, those have never spent as much time with her as I did," Alerie smiles at that, her teeth shinning through, Alicent stands up straight again, gently touching the young girl's shoulder and leading her to the corner of her drawing room "Come, you must meet Viserys and I's children,"

Alerie curtsies once again and looks up at the three children. Aegon was tall with long curls and did not bother to glance at the girl more than once, his eyes lingering on the door.

"My Prince," she greets

"Hm," he doesn't grace her with an answer, his hands tightly grasped behind his back.

"Aegon," Alicent almost seethes out "Is that how we treat guests: family?"

"Apologies for my brother," Prince Aemond steps forward, a shorter boy with straight hair, he  grasps Alerie's hand in his own and presses a gentle kiss to the back of it "My lady,"

Alerie is unable to respond, unsure of the formalities she owes the people around her. She had been taught all the proper titles and mannerisms, but now, standing in front of three silver-haired royals, she lost all decorum.

"Do not overwhelm the poor girl," His mother chides "Alerie, this is my daughter, Helaenna," Alerie looked up at the tall girl, she was wearing a simple pink dress, a braid circled along the temple of her head, the rest of her hair cascading down her front, her freckles shining in the afternoon sunlight. Helaenna nods, though not out of disrespect, more of nervousness, Alerie decides to speak up.

"Uh...My mother mentioned how you favour many creatures in the gardens. I myself find comfort out there. Perhaps we could walk together one afternoon?" a smile graces the princess's face

"I would like that," Alerie does not see the fond smile on Alicent's face as she turns to look at her husband, who nods in approval.

"Of course, our youngest son Daeron is serving as cupbearer for my uncle in Oldtown, but I hear you two have met, yes?"

"Oh!" Alerie perks up at that "Yes, Prince Daeron stopped at Highgarden for a few days on his travels, he was very kind Your Grace,"

Alerie had been put in charge of welcoming the prince into her home and had formed a quick friendship with the young man, him only being a year her elder. She'd visited him in Oldtown once or twice now, and although she once thought all Targaryen Prince's looked like him, when she saw him next to his Uncle Gwayne, she realised he resembled him greatly. The only difference was his light hair and blue eyes, which twinkled violet while in the gardens with Alerie.