Ruin Me

Chapter Two

Daenyra couldn't stop rolling her eyes as she tried to keep her spine straight in her backless chair. The coppery dress that adorned her body was more than ornate as an accented collar covered the back of her neck and came around to her neckline. Her hair mostly hung free, save for the braided crown across her head. Her gifted necklace sat comfortably between her collarbones as her father began his speech, her anxious fingers running over every ridge of the steel jewellery.

She couldn't have been more bored. She wanted to get to the part where the men knocked each other senseless, and hopefully, bloodied the tourney field.

"Be welcome! I know many of you have travelled long leagues to be at these games. But I promise, you will not be disappointed. When I look at the fine knights in these lists, I see a group without equal in our histories. And this great day has been made more auspicious...." Viserys trailed off as Rhaenyra snuck into her seat. She had ducked low so as to not block the king, but he still gave her a judgemental look as she took her seat between Alicent Hightower and her twin sister. She was adorned in a dress of red with a collar much like her sister's. "..by the news that I am happy to share. Queen Aemma has begun her labours!"

The crowd broke into cheers as all the highborns broke into polite applause.

"May the luck of the Seven shine upon all combatants!" the King decreed as the tourney finally began.

Daenyra was finally entertained and at the edge of her seat as she watched them plough into each other, their wooden lances shattering and their bodies coming crashing down from their steeds.

"A mystery knight?" Rhaenyra asked as one of the men bowed his head as he presented himself to them.

"No," Daenyra answered. She'd long since memorised the tourney lists and each crest. "That is Ser Criston Cole of the Stormlands."

"I've never heard of House Cole," Rhaenyra replied boredly.

"Princess Rhaenys Targaryen!" bellowed the next night, Lord Boremund Baratheon. "I would humbly ask for the favour of 'The Queen Who Never Was.'"

The older Targaryen woman stood as the crowd hooted and cheered and she approached the gallery edge with her favour. "Good fortune to you, cousin!" she wished as she slid the wreath onto his lance.

"I would gladly take it, if I thought I needed it," he boasted as the Princess gave a tight smile before taking her seat again next to her husband.

A gold coin was slipped into the hand of Daenyra's guard as he would subtly place a bet for the young woman that the Baratheon Lord would get his fat ass handed to him.

"Lord Stokewell's daughter is promised to that young Tarly squire," Rhaenyra spoke to Alicent, who was dressed in white as she sat next to the princesses.

"Lord Massey's son?" Alicent gasped.

Rhaenyra hummed. "They are to be married as soon as he wins his knighthood."

"Best get on with it," Alicent remarked. "I heard that Lady Elinor is hiding a swollen belly beneath her dress," she gossiped as the two men charged.

"YES!" Daenyra cheered as Baratheon was unseated from his horse and was knocked down. Her father was also clapping jovially as he grinned at his daughter who was shameless in her enjoyment of these games.

"Do metal-covered men striking each other off their steeds really entertain you that much, sister?" Rhaenyra questioned with a smile.

Daenyra's clapping died down as she chuckled. "You speak of it as if it is something trivial that could only entertain the simple-minded."