✶|𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺|✶ 𝘈𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘐𝘐 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘦𝘯

✶𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 41✶

――✴✯✴――

A Cup Shared

――✴✯✴――

✯Serena's Pov ✯

Year 133 A.C

Westeros

Red Keep, King's Landing

The feast celebrating the ceremony was a lively, boisterous affair, for everyone except the bride and groom. Serena sat alone at the high table, her new husband nowhere to be seen. 

Aegon had left shortly after the formalities to discuss urgent matters, leaving her in a sea of unfamiliar faces and polite courtesies she had no heart for.

After the long line of lords and ladies offering their congratulations had finally dwindled, the food was served, and the hall quickly filled with the clatter of knives against plates and the hum of animated conversation. 

Wine flowed freely, and after the feast, music began, couples spilling onto the dance floor in a swirl of color and laughter.

Serena let out a tired sigh, her fingers absently toying with the edge of her goblet. She hadn't spoken to her family properly since morning, nor to anyone she genuinely cared for. 

She could feel their gazes from across the hall, her mother and sister seated at the long side table, deep in conversation with Princess Mira and Prince Darian. She had no desire to interrupt only to endure more of their thinly veiled lamentations about her choices.

Standing quietly behind her were Elyara, Rowena, and Patricia. The red-haired girl stepped a little closer, lowering her voice.

"Would you like me to fetch your mother or sister to keep you company, Your Grace?" She asked gently.

Serena swallowed hard at the sound of the title. It still felt foreign, a thing she hadn't earned, and didn't particularly want. She gave a small shake of her head.

"No need, Patricia. But thank you for asking."

The girl nodded, retreating a respectful step. Serena's eyes flicked toward her family again but quickly dropped. Better to save herself the weight of those conversations.

With a weary sigh, she turned her gaze to the dancers twirling across the floor, their laughter ringing out as though none of the troubles in the realm existed. 

Restless, she rose to her feet, catching the attention of a few of her ladies.

"Where are you going, my lady?" Elyara asked, confused.

"I'm going to walk through the crowd." Serena replied, her tone dry. "At least it'll give me something to do besides sit here pretending I'm enjoying myself."

Patricia let out a quiet, stifled laugh, earning a sharp nudge from Rowena.

Serena slipped down from the dais, moving gracefully through the guests, exchanging the expected nods and greetings as she passed.

 And then a familiar face in the crowd. One that wasn't a stranger or an obligation. The moment their eyes met, the young woman dipped into a light curtsey.