Dark Sister

-The White Cloak-

-The White Cloak-

284 AC
Kings Landing

The ride back to the Red Keep didn't take long, though Valyria rode by herself this time as Jaime had to guard not only the king but his sister as well. Once they arrived the festivities continued throughout the day.

Valyria stood next to Jaime as all the Lords and Ladies gave their congratulations to the couple along with gifts. "Do you still have Dark Sister, Jaime?" Valyria questioned her friend "Yes, I do and you needn't worry I've taken good care of it." "Well, that's good because I wouldn't know how to punish you if you lost MY sword." She said mockingly, they both burst into laughter.

Eventually, Valyria caught Cersei's gaze on her and decided to congratulate the monarchs even if she didn't like Robert very much, and he didn't like her. " Well it looks like your sister is begging to be in my presence," Valyria said sarcastically and strolled over to the head table. "Your grace, your grace," Valyria said with a bow. " I would like to congratulate you on your marriage, may it be long and prosperous." The 15-year-old former princess said with a slight hint of disdain in her voice. Cersei smiled at her friend's words while Robert glared at the Targaryen girl.

Valyria walked quickly back over to Jaime wanting to avoid the king's wrath. About an hour later the king stood up, Cersei went to stand with him but Robert forced her back down. He then walked over to Jon Arryn and began discussing some matter that made the king grow red with anger but whatever the Lord of the Vale said next quelled the Baratheons' rage. Then both king and Hand walked to the center of the high table's platform, Robert bellowed out " Valyria Targaryen, step forward."

At those words, both Jaime and Valyria froze, wide-eyed she turned around and walked towards the King hesitantly. The guests had quieted in anticipation of what would occur between dragon and stag. As Valyria reached the steps to the platform, Robert spoke again. " Kneel." With fear overwhelming her, she did as he commanded. The room grew silent as the king was given a sword with a stag on its pommel and glistened in the candlelight.

Valyria's thoughts raced a mile a minute at the sight of the stag king with a sword in hand, would he kill her? Or maim her? Or something worse?, all her thoughts settled as Robert spoke " In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave" Saying she was shocked was an understatement. She was being knighted? By the same man who killed her brother, and lost his love to him no less. Valyria felt the flat side of the sword rest on her right shoulder then moving to her left as Robert continued. "In the name of the Father, I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother, I charge you to defend the innocent, arise Valyria Targaryen, a knight of the Seven Kingdoms."

At those words, Valyria stood, though she was easily dwarfed by the stag king and most other people. Applause thundered through the hall. She was a knight!
As a child, she would watch from far away, and dream of being a knight. Rhaegar has promised her that when he became King he would knight Valyria himself, so when he died her chances of knighthood died with him, yet here she was being applauded after just becoming the first woman to be a knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

She smiled so brightly tears shone in her eyes, she looked at Jaime who looked just as happy maybe more so at the achievement of his friend, she then looked to Cersei who wore a happy smile upon her face. Valyria then turned to the king, who held a disgruntled look on his features, and lastly, she turned to look at Jon Arryn who was clapping at the Targaryen girl as well.

Lord Arryn then held up his arms to silence the crowd again. Once the ruckus was gone he spoke to Valyria " Kneel again, child." He said, with a tone of warmth in his voice. Valyria obeyed knowing that she owed her title to the Hand of the King rather than Robert. " The king would also name you to his Kingsguard. Would you accept?"

Upon hearing those words, Valyria's joy faltered. 'The Kingsguard? Why would he want me there? I know I can fight but . . . Oh. Kingsguard members were forbidden from holding lands, marriage, and fathering (or in this case mothering) children.'

That was when Valyria realized that the knighthood was only a means to an end and that the King was benefiting the most out of this arrangement. Valyria would give up her rights to the throne, exactly like how Jaime had given up his position as heir to Casterly Rock. And she wouldn't be able to further the Targaryen line because she would swear off marriage and children.

However, Valyria knew that she didn't have much of a choice in the matter. She could refuse and quite possibly end up dead, or she could accept and spend her days guarding a King that she hated, but she would stay in Kings Landing, her home, she would also be near Jaime and Cersei, her new family.

With her choice made she spoke softly "I would accept" Jon Arryn smiled sadly as he realized Valyria found the catch. But he talked on despite that "Do you swear to defend the King from any harm, to obey the King's commands, to keep the King's secrets, to counsel him when requested, and to keep silent when not, to defend his name and honor, to hold no lands, take no husband, and mother no children, to bear no arms against the royal family, do you, Ser Valyria Targaryen, swear it by the old gods and the new?"

Valyria swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She wanted to turn into a dragon or even a bird and fly far away from here but alas as she thought before what choice did she have? So she started. "I, Ser Valyria Targaryen, swear it by the old gods and the new."
With her life sworn away, she stood at the motion of Lord Arryn's hand. A roar louder than the first erupted from the crowd at the appointment of the new Kingsguard knight. She smiled again though not as brightly as before. She immediately turned to face Jaime who looked at her with an apologetic expression, he knew the pain she felt.

While everybody in the hall thought Valyria looked happy, Jaime knew better. He knew that behind her smile she felt betrayed. She didn't become the youngest and the first woman named to the Kingsguard because of her skill with a sword. No. She was chosen because of her house because Robert Baratheon needed her out of the way to take that blasted iron chair, but neither Jaime, his father nor Jon Arryn would let him kill her.

After the cheers died down, Jaime approached his friend and led her away from the prying eyes of all in attendance, once away he turned to face Valyria who he noticed was now shaking. "Sen, are you alright?" He asked softly, she nodded " I'm not sure how I feel about this, I mean I've dreamed of becoming a knight since I was five and Rhaegar promised me he would knight me himself when he died my hopes did too. But as happy as I am. I realize that King Robert needed me out of the way to secure his claim to the throne." She added her voice wavering slightly at the end. "I know, I felt similarly when your father named me to the Kingsguard simply to spite my father," Valyria remembered how upset Jaime was as they rode back to Kings Landing from Harrenhal.

However, both lion and dragon were drawn out of their thoughts by one of the drunken lords who shouted "It's time for the bedding ceremony." And with that everyone started towards the King and new Queen. Jaime quickly left to attend to his sister and scare off any unwanted attention.