Ruin Me

Chapter Twenty Three

Daenyra sat at the long rectangular dinner table between her sister and her husband. Luke and Rhaena were seated at the head of the table and to the left of Daemon, whilst Vaelon was seated across from him. Aemond sat at the other end, opposite Luke, whilst his siblings took up seats on his right, Jace next to Aegon and Baela next to her betrothed. Otto and Alicent sat on Aemond's left, but the focus was on the gap. The large gap between Rhaenyra and Alicent seemed to grow bigger and deeper as they made polite chat with one another. The King's absence was duly noted as Rhaenyra and Alicent sipped at their wines and the table before them was set with food. Candles illuminated the would-be dark room as the doors opened and Alicent was first to shoot to her feet.

The King was seated in an ornate chair as he was carried in by his guards and the rest of his family rose to their feet. The King was placed between his wife and heir as they took their seats once more.

Daenyra's hand covered Daemon's atop the table, and he gave his wife an appreciative glance before the King spoke.

"How good it is...to see you all tonight...together," he said, his head turned to gaze upon his daughters and his brother.

"Prayer before we begin?" Alicent asked, drawing his attention back to her.

"Yes."

Alicent clasped her hands together on the table as she closed her eyes and bowed her head. "May the Mother smile down on this gathering with love. May the Smith mend the bonds that have been broken for far too long. And to Vaemond Velaryon, may the gods give him rest."

While Daenyra agreed with the first part of the prayer, her eyes opened to meet that of her husband as they shared a disbelieving look with one another. They couldn't give two fucks about Vaemond Velaryon, as far as they were concerned, the old bastard could rot in one of the Seven Hells.

"This is an occasion for celebration, it seems," Viserys said. "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."

"Hear, hear," Daemon cheered as he lifted up his glass to his daughters.

"Well done, Jace. You'll finally get to lie with a woman," Aegon whispered to his nephew who set his goblet down heavily as Baela glared at him.

"Let us toast as well, Prince Lucerys, the future Lord of the Tides," Viserys declared.

"Hear, hear," Vaelon hailed.

"You'll be great," Rhaena promised her future husband.

"You do know how the act is done, I assume? At least in principle. Where to put your cock and all that," Aegon continued as he tried to bait his cousin.

Vaelon sat up straighter in his chair as he heard Aegon's taunting words. His eyes were as red as the fire that burned at the wick on the candles before them. He had always hated the taunting remarks and bullying words that his uncle often levied at them. Jace had told him much of it and Aegon had tried to scare Vaelon as well with a story that travelled all the way from the Iron Islands – The Deaths of the Three Brothers – how his father and two brothers had perished in the same night and how he would undoubtedly follow in their footsteps. And now, it would seem, that Aegon had not grown out of it.

Vaelon's anger was building to a boiling point until he felt something touch his boot under the table. His eyes lifted up to see Daemon staring at him intently as he held Daenyra's hand whilst she was engrossed in conversation with her twin. Daemon gave a long blink and a shallow nod of his head, a wordless message for him to calm down, that it was ok.

He watched Vaelon take a deep breath to calm himself as Baela pleaded to Aegon, "Let it be, cousin."

Jace turned to Aegon, who seemed to not have outgrown his tyrant bullying ways since their youth. "You can play the jester if you wish, but hold your tongue before my betrothed."