The Lion Knight and Dragon Princess

26 - Playing the Game Now

Jaime and I were escorted by Waters to a larger stone building that was concealed within the heavy forest tree line basically out of sight, especially if someone flew over on dragonback. Entering the large main room there was a stone table in the center that reminded me of the one back at Dragonstone. There were some burning flames underneath lighting up the entire stone table. "Quite a formal table for a simple discussion, Lord Waters. I'm used to having battle discussions mostly."

"Please don't call me a Lord. Aurane is perfectly acceptable to call me. How did you come to have battle experience, Lord Jaime?"

"I was formerly a member of Aerys II Targaryen's kingsguard until Robert Baratheon removed me of my vows so I could marry. Speaking of swords, my lady wife is rather good with one herself."

The two men shifted their gaze over to me while I simply ran my fingers over the rocky stone table just lost in my own thoughts. "Your Grace." A guard outside called for my attention but I didn't respond.

"Vaella." Jaime called my name touching my shoulder where I raised my head up.

"Sorry, I was just thinking. What do you wish to tell me, Ser?"

A Lannister knight bowed his head standing between the two other men. "The other Lords are ready to give you counsel and for the meeting to begin."

"Thank you for informing me, Ser. Now please keep an eye on my children. If any harm comes to them then we shall speak later." I sent him a slight glare before he bowed, exiting the room with the other Valyria houses came through the large double doors and rounded the table.

Jayse Quherys lifted his eyes up at mine. "You told us we had things to discuss. Does that mean you'd like to lead us into war to get the throne rightfully back to your former house?"

"No. When I came across the Summer Sea that was never my intention."

Garrel of House Macklyn raised a brow in my direction. "Why isn't that your intention? You are a Targaryen. We all followed the dragon rulers."

"I don't want the throne, my lords. One of the main reasons I don't want it is because in my experience everyone who goes after it turns the fight for it into a war." I clasped my hands together in front of my chest feeling extremely nervous.m

Jaime glanced in my direction, keeping one hand resting on his Velaryon steel sword. "Your Grace, if you could sit back on the Iron Throne without using dragons would you become the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms?" Tymber Barlaeries tilted his head to the side, respecting what I was saying to them.

Nodding my head to the lord I answered his question as true to myself as I could. "Yes, my lord. One day I might make my own claim for the throne. But right now I want to be a mother to my children first and foremost."

"Then our next business is giving you a title worthy of your name. Do any of you lot have any ideas?" Kavvin Valtigar questioned his fellow lords and that was the first time I truly wished I was more like Tyrion when it comes to judging people's character.

"Let's play a game. Do you enjoy games, princess?" Tyrion asked me sitting down a pitcher of wine he had just paid for to the tavern owner.

Laying my head on my arms that were laying on the round table we were sitting at. The wedding of Cersei Lannister and Robert Baraethon was soon to take place in the coming days and I wasn't feeling myself anymore. "I'm not in the mood for games tonight."

"Oh, come on. What shall a little wine hurt you. It could improve your mood in my opinion." The dwarf asked, pouring me, his brother and himself a cup of wine and sliding them to each of us.

Jaime picked up his cup while taking a drink. "What do you suggest we do while drinking hmm?"

"Here's how my game works. I make a statement about your past, I'm right you drink and if I'm wrong you drink. And no lying I'll know if you're lying."

Playing with some strands of my hair I responded to him. "I'm intrigued and terrified by this game."

"You shared your first kiss with my brother." Tyrion began the game.

Hitting my hands on the table I wanted to throw my cup at his head, taking a drink from my cup. "You told him!"

"You once attempted to dress Viserys in a dress when he annoyed you growing up." Jaime focuses his gaze on me.

Tyrion was taking a drink and he almost spit it in my face. "Are you serious? - go again brother." I took a drink answering his question feeling my face slightly going red.

"Why is he going again?" I raised my hands in the air knowing he would keep making me drink rather than pick on his brother.

Tyrion leaned forward on the table. "Cuz it's my game."

"You have rode a horse like a cowboy and not a side saddle." Jaime spoke.

Shaking my head no he hit his hand on the table taking a drink since he was wrong. "My turn, Tyrion. You were married before I met you."

"Drink," Jaime poked him in the chest with his index finger.

Tyrion took a long drink, finishing the entire thing inside his cup and having to pour more into it. "Fine, fine. I'll get you back for that later."

"Oh yeah and how would you do that, Lannister?" I challenge him by sitting my cup down laying my hands down on the table.

He smirks back at me. "I know how to play the game, princess."

"The game?" I wasn't exactly following him.

His brother saw the confusion on my face. "Playing the game means him tricking others until you get what you want."

"You need to know as many people as you can. You'll never know which person can be valuable to you." I really wished he would be there with me when I had to make those tough decisions. But he wouldn't be so I'd have to do my best to be like Tyrion and know everyone.

Getting drawn out of my thoughts my husband was the one who had spoken up. "Queen Vaella Lannister, first of her name, formerly of House Targaryen, Lady of Casterly Rock, adventurer of the Summer Sea and Sothoryos, lady of The Dragon Island." Whipping my head around I felt my shoulders. I heard Jaime deliver a new declaration of my name to the men in the room.

Playing with the fabric of my gown I closely watched my lover take something out of a crate that one of the Lannister men had brought inside at his request. "Jaime, what are you doing?"

"You can't truly be a Queen without a crown upon your head." He smirked proudly down at me, holding the crown that had been formed from Joffrey's sword above my head.

I giggled not imagining him to bring it all the way from the Rock and across the sea with us. "Jaime.."

"My Queen." He whispered, setting the crown upon my silver hair, lowering himself down on one knee causing the other Lords to do the same where all I could picture was my brother Rhaegar thinking I was always meant to be Queen.

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