Velaryon: A Game of Thrones Fan Fiction

Courtship Woes - Visaerya

[A/N: Changed the song because it has come to my attention while going through all my chapters again that I used the same song twice in a row!]

     They gave the order that no one is permitted to leave King's Landing, not until Sansa Stark was found. Then again, she was never found. Some few days after the initial event, it was lifted after knowing full well that she was out of the city. Thinking of returning to court during her stay, she heard the nobles whispering to one another - and it wasn't about her. Lady Sansa escaped, they said. Her necklace was found out in a rowboat in Blackwater Bay. It had traces of poison. The very same poison used to kill the King. And indeed, during one such court session the day after the King's viewing, the Hand, Tywin Lannister himself, confirmed that Sansa had a hand in the killing. It also meant Tyrion was just as guilty as his wife considering she must have told him. Ah, how Visaerya missed the gossip at court.

     Growing bored of it on the fifth day of her stay, she retired to her chambers. Wanting nothing more than to rest on the bed she used to call hers and wear her shadowcat fur trimmed robe, she was met with opposition. Her son was in her chambers, waiting, pacing, twiddling his fingers nervously when she entered. He's returned almost to his normal self. Though, it is only because of his little courtship with the Lady Celtigar. She must be a decade younger than him. Why can't Daemon see that such a relationship between a younger woman and an older man just does not work? The woman will see the man as an old fool, just like how she saw Trysten.

     "Mother!" Dae exclaims happily when she enters. Visaerya looks at him, cold. He's disobeyed her at every turn since Rhaena's disappearance. What could he ever say to make up for that? Nothing could be worse than your own child not listening to you. "I have some news."

     Visaerya holds up her hand to quiet him. Once he is, his smile wiped off his face, she brings her hand back down and holds both in front of her again. She brushes by him. "If it is about that smiling little child from Claw Isle, I will have none of it. She is not right for you, do you hear me? Just," She gestures wildly before turning to her window. "give me time. I will find the right match for you. I promise."

     "No. I will not participate in some matching game where I will marry someone I've never even heard of or seen." Dae raises his voice. Tears sting Visaerya's eyes. She doesn't want to hear anymore but he won't leave. He won't. He just goes on. "I want Caecy. I want no one else. I've forgotten the pain that Rain put me through-"

     "And I have not. I never will. I will never forget what that little bitch did to you. She was selfish to run away. She didn't stop for a moment to think about who she was hurting." Now fully crying, Visaerya breathes in sharply. She turns to Dae and goes to him, taking his hands tightly. "I can't stand the thought of someone else doing that to my baby boy, I can't." She touches his face lovingly. "Please, Dae."

     Daemon's face does hold some pity for her. His eyes are sad and his lips pressed in to a thin line. The face he makes when he's in deep thought. He reaches up to take his mother's hand. "I know, mother. But I feel I have grown enough to make my own decisions." Visaerya's eyes are red and have drained the last of her tears. She blinks quickly, feeling the irritable wetness against her eyelids. "I know in my heart that what I do now is right. I can be the leader my father wanted me to be. I can choose to marry for love, like he always told me to do." He lets go of her hands. "He told me once when I was little to follow my heart. That marrying the one I loved would make my life filled with happiness. I believed wrongly that that woman was Rhaena. Now, I see it to be Caecy." Again he begs her, "Please. Just consider it for now."

     "If I refuse to give you my blessing, what then? Will you disobey me and run off with her regardless? How, then, does my word matter?" Visaerya begins to grow impatient knowing already how her son will work. Dae just stares at her silently, confirming her suspicions.

     "Just..." Dae struggles now, trying to find the right way to ask his next request. "Please. For me, at least attend supper with Caecy and her brother. His name is Vaerenthar. I've only just briefly met him, but he has been a joy to know in such a short time."

     Supper. Visaerya scoffs. Sitting around a gilded table, eating fancy foods and making small chatter about matters that hardly matter. The lavish feast Visaerya could do with, but not the company. She is too filled with hatred over this woman who's stolen Dae's heart. She turns from him to go to her window, to contemplate quietly in her mind. There must be something wrong with the girl - something that she can use against her. Surely then Dae will listen... Suddenly, a flash of reality washes over her. All that has ever mattered to her is her son's happiness. Everything she's done was for him. And now, all he asks is one thing. After a long internal struggle, of weighing both options and going back and forth, she turns to Dae.

     He has waited patiently, his arms crossed tightly. He looks at her with hope in his eyes, his mouth slightly curling up in to a smile. The smile melts her icy heart. She sighs deeply. "I will attend supper. Only after, will I give you my blessing." Dae hurries up to her, looking like a child who was just given his heart's desire. He hugs her tightly and cries out repeatedly.

     "Thank you, mother. Thank you, thank you!"

     "Alright, Dae. Calm yourself." Visaerya smooths her dress after he pulls away. "Leave me now. I must get ready, as do you." Daemon excitedly obliges immediately, scurrying out the door and closing it behind him. Seated at her mirrored dresser, she looks herself over as she brushes her hair. Her son's happiness means the world to her, yet there must be some way to rid herself of Lady Caecy. Something has to surface. It has to. No woman can ever be so innocent and perfect as Dae claims her to be. Wiping the wetness of her tears from under her eyes, she begins to powder her face softly in preparation for the night of questions to come.