•°The Blackening Crown°• Hotd

▪︎▪︎▪︎Chapter 5▪︎▪︎▪︎

Rhaegelle stared across the table playing with the food on her dinner plate. The dinner was silent as most of their meals were, very little conversation flowing between them.

It was Dhaenyria who broke the silence. "We haven't spoken much... since...." her words lingered in the air and Rhaegelle tensed. " A regret of mine. We should be free to speak our minds to one another" her cousin Viserys gestured to each of them around the table. Rhaegelle sat with Rhaenyra opposite Rolrai and Naelyra - who was currently stabbing the meat on her plate with viciousness while her brother politely ate away- while Dhaenyria sat at the head of the table opposite the King.

"You can say whatever you'd like. You are the King.  Viserys smiled gently at his eldest's words. "I loved your mother.... very much" his eyes alternated between Dhaenyria and Rhaenyra.

"As did we all" Rolrai spoke for them all. After that the awkward silence continued some more.

Once again Dhaenyria attempted to break the silence. "Ser Harrold provided a fine field of tourney knights" she stopped hoping to gain Viserys attention. "Oh?" Dhaenyria smiled.

"But in questioning them, I discovered that Ser Criston, was the only man among them with true battle experience."

Rolrai looked over towards his niece. "Well done Princess"

"He'll make a fine knight of the Kingsguard" The King agreed. And even at that small moment it again remained stifling. Rhaegelle felt she could barely move without disturbing the quiet.

Dhaenyria face fell as she thought back to the small council meeting "Today at the small Council -"

"Pay it no mind" the King cut her off.

"I... I thought I might have had some insight but-" Dhaenyria attempted again.

"You're young. You will learn"

And once again Dhaenyria felt like a child. The rest of the table lowered their heads after the interaction was over and there was nothing to watch. Rolrai let out a deep sigh of contempt.

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The four Targaryen princesses stared out across the balcony towards the garden, where young Lady Laena was walking beside the King Viserys.

Once the conversation was over  and they were finished observing, they made their way around the corner passing Princess Rhaenys.

"It bothers you, does it not?" Rhaenys asked gaining their attention. Dhaenyria was first to turn around to the princess. "My father is a King. It is his duty to take a new wife and strengthen his line." Rhaenyra quipped.

"I did not ask for a lesson in politics. I asked whether this bothers you." Rhaenys snapped, tossing one of her black locks over her shoulder.

Rhaegelle observed Rhaenyra as she snapped back at the princess, angry at being challenged by the princess. "Laena is your daughter. Does it bother you?" The corner of her mouth twitched. Naelyra made her way over to join in on the 'conversation' but Rhaegelle stopped her if Rhaenyra had a temper Naelyra was the black dread.

"Of course it does" the princess eyes were sincere and Rhaegelle could see the surprise on Dhaenyria's face. "But I understand the order of things" Rhaenys scanned the garden before her eyes snapped back to the girls. "I'm not sure you do" Dhaenyria's face was impassive and Rhaegelle could see nothing from her.

She stepped forward. "If you mean to elicit some anger from me, you should know that you're failing, Princess"

Rhaenys smirked. "Quite the opposite" Dhaenyria quirked an eyebrow. "Whether its to my daughter or to someone else's, your father will remarry sooner than late. His new wife will produce new heirs, and chances are better than not, that one of those will be male. And when that boy comes of age and your father has passed, the Lprds of the Realm will expect him to be King not you" Naelyra bristled from beside her gritting her teeth. "Because that is the order of things"