The unwanted princess - H.o.D.

The last supper

Once again, Valora was somewhere she didn't want to be, doing things she didn't want to be doing. All because her father had decided that now that he had the whole family reunited, he wanted to throw a feast. Besides, the maesters had cleared her. The babes were fine. Her stomach had just complained because of the gore she had witnessed. But she was fine. And so, heavily pregnant, there she was sitting at the table with the two halves of her family and her rotting father at the middle of it.

"How good it is... to see you all tonight... together." Viserys said - panted, more like.

"Prayer before we begin?" Alicent asked, to which Viserys nodded.

Valora rolled her eyes, tired already of Alicent and her goddamn faith of the seven. She wasn't religious, per say, but her constant need to remind everyone that she was tired Valora out. Still, she respected her step-mother and held hands with Aegon and Helaena as the woman began her prayer.

"May the Mother smile down on this gathering with love." She said. "May the Smith mend the bonds that have been broken for far too long. And to Vaemond Velaryon, may the gods give him rest."

At that, Daemon snickered. No one paid him any mind, however, and before an awkward silence could follow, Viserys took the word once more.

"This is an occasion for celebration, it seems." He said, as everyone in the table turned to him. "My grandsons, Jace and Luke, will marry their cousins, Baela and Rhaena, further strengthening the bond between our houses. A toast to the young Princes and their betrothed."

Everyone lifted their cups to toast. Jace, Luke, Baela and Rhaena all smiled and it made Valora sick to her stomach. How come they got a toast from their grandsire in celebration of their marriage and Valora and Aegon did not even get the grace of their own father's presence at their wedding? Noticing her discomfort, Aegon attempted a joke to light up the mood.

"Well done, Jace." He said, leaning over to his cousin who was sat just beside him. "You'll finally get to lie with a woman."

As Jace rolled his eyes, Valora swatted at her husband's chest. He always did have a rather crass sense of humor.

"Let us toast as well Prince Lucerys, the future Lord of the Tides." Viserys continued praising Rhaenyra's boys, but Aegon paid him no mind.

"You do know how the act is done, I assume?" The young man continued. "At least in principle? Where to put your cock and all that."

"Aegon." Valora sent him a glare when Jace tensed up beside him.

"Let it be, cousin." Baela was quick to reassure, as Jace sighed heavily before turning back to his uncle.

"You can play the jester if you wish, but hold your tongue before my betrothed." He warned, to which Aegon simply pulled a face before turning to Valora in search of her approval.

She shook her head, frowning as if annoyed, but when her eyes fell on Jace's upset frown, she couldn't help but giggle. He had always been rather easy to jest at anyway.

"It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table." Viserys continued his sentimental rant and Valora was forced to look away from Aegon and back at her father then. "The faces most dear to me in all the world yet grown so distant from each other in the years past."

Viserys slowly reached for the golden mask that covered half of his face. Watching in silence, everyone at the table tried not to react. It was hard, though, especially considering Valora hadn't seen her father in quite a while and the last she had seen him, he didn't have the whole on his cheek that allowed her to see most of his rotten teeth. She looked down for a moment, to recollect herself, but once Viserys started talking again, she lifted her eyes to look at king again.

"My own face is no longer a handsome one, if indeed it ever was." He chuckled to himself. "But tonight... I wish you to see me as I am. Not just a king, but your father. Your brother. Your husband. And your grandsire. Who may not, it seems walk for much longer among you. Let us no longer hold ill feelings in our hearts. The crown cannot stand strong if the House of the Dragon remains divided. But set aside your grievances. If not for the sake of the crown then for the sake of this old man who loves you all so dearly."

Viserys panted with the effort of speaking and as much as Valora knew his words not to be true and to only be spoken out of her father's fear of dying, Valora couldn't deny they had touched her.

"I wish to raise my cup to Her Grace, the Queen." Rhaenyra stood up, cup in hand as she toasted to Alicent, who looked about as surprised as everyone else. "I love my father. But I must admit that no one has stood more loyally by his side than his good wife. She has tended to him with unfailing devotion, love, and honor. And for that, she has my gratitude and my apology."

"Your graciousness moves me deeply, Princess." Alicent said once she recovered from her surprise. "We are both mothers and we love our children. We have more in common than we sometimes allow. I raise my cup to you and to your house. You will make a fine queen."

At her words, the two older women exchanged understanding glances and sweet smiles. After that, the dinner went on surprisingly well and, as much as Valora could feel the babes twisting and turning low in her belly, she did manage to eat some and even joke around with Aegon. It wasn't until she felt a rather sharp pain to her lower belly that she hissed, drawing the attention from the both young men sitting beside her.

"Do you feel well, aunt?" Jace was quick to ask.

"I feel fine, nephew." Valora waved a hand around to dismiss the boy's worry while ignoring the glare Aegon was sending their nephew. "Thank you."

Jace opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could, Aegon did instead, jealousy and possessiveness twisting in his gut as soon as he noticed the care which Jace offered his wife.

"Dire consequences of being a wife, I'm afraid." Aegon said, to which Valora sent him a glare. Still, he continued, ignoring his wife and Jace as he leaned closer to Baela instead. "The process of getting there could be good, my lady. I do regret the disappointment you are soon to suffer. But if you ever wish to know how to keep your wife well satisfied, nephew, all you have to do is ask."

Aegon seemingly pushed all of Jace's right buttons because, as soon as the teasing words left his lips, Jace stood up from his seat so abruptly Valora jumped. She nudged Aegon on the ribs when she noticed the smirk on his face, but Aegon seemed to be rather enjoying watching the way Jace struggled to recover from the shame of drawing everyone's attention so suddenly.

"To prince Aegon, prince Aemond and prince Daeron." He offered a toast, raising his cup as an excuse for his odd behavior. "We have not seen each other in years, but I have fond memories of our shared youth. And as men, I hope we may yet be friends and allies. To you and your family's good health, dear uncles."

From the corner of her eyes, Valora noticed the way Aegon shifted uncomfortably. His joke had landed quite badly since everyone seemed to be proud of Jace's attitude. So, instead of causing more of a ruckus, he just raised his own cup.

"To you as well."

And, after that, there was an awkward silence as Jace sat back down and received a proud smile from his mother. Taking a sip from her goblet, Valora hid her snicker and only allowed her giggles to slip past her lips once the musicians started to play. Leaning closer to her, Aegon cut his eyes at her.

"You think it's funny, do you?" He asked, smiling as well when Valora shrugged.

"Considering you've decided to jest at Jace at my expanse, I suppose it is fair I get to enjoy seeing it coming back around to bite you, husband."

Chuckling quietly as he placed a hand behind her on her chair, Aegon shrugged as he brought his own goblet of wine to his mouth with his free hand.

"I suppose so."