Woes of a Cupbearer
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𝕬𝖘𝖕𝖍𝖔𝖉𝖊𝖑
CHAPTER 4, WOES OF A CUPBEARER
𝕳alf a year had passed since the death of their queen mother. The bond between sisters had grown stronger since. Rhaenyra had been a steady aide in helping Alaenna return to her true nature. She had begun eating again, it had always been small fruits, but Rhaenyra thought it was much better than swallowing the air inside her room. She brought Alaenna with her when she could, despite the Hand protests.
Since Rhaenyra's coronation, Otto Hightower seemed insufferable in ways they hadn't thought possible. Alicent also seemed to have disappeared from Rhaenyra's side as of late. While it was a little funny to hear her sister endlessly complain about minor things, she thought it strange that Alicent wasn't hovering around Rhaenyra as much.
Since his exile and unlawful occupation of Dragonstone, Alaenna had been wearing the necklace gifted to her by Daemon. Her sister did much of the same. Daemon nowadays had become the root of what Lord Corlys thought to be a lack of strength in the Targaryen house. Leanor had all but told her as much.
The accumulation of problems in the Stepstones and Dragonstone had led them to today. Alaenna and Rhaenyra stood atop a balcony overlooking the courtyard. Lack of voice in the Council grew grating at times for Rhaenyra, that much she honestly knew. Granted, her sister was young, but she still had great ideas. If they wouldn't listen to her, letting her have a choice in things like the Kingsguard was the bare minimum they should provide.
"Ser Desmond Caron, a fine knight, Princess," Ser Harrold introduced the dark-haired knight as the Targaryen girls stood on a wooden step. "Step forward, Ser Desmond." Footsteps echoed both from the front and behind. It appeared Otto Hightower meant to oversee even this.
"Son of Ser Royce Caron, Ser Desmond has proved strong and steady in both the tourney lists and without. While traveling through the Kingswood on his way to King's Landing, Ser Desmond recently brought a would-be poacher to justice." With a loud silence, awkward air filled Alaenna as they stared down Ser Desmond.
"You might thank him for his leal service, Princess." Otto loomed from Rhaenyra's side. Something about him always felt a little off-putting for Alaenna.
"Thank you for your loyal service to The Crown, ser," Rhaenyra gifted Ser Desmond with a polite tone as he walked back toward his bannerman.
"Ser Rymun Mallister. Son of Lord Lymond Mallister of Seagard. Winner of the melee at Cider Hall. He was the last mounted of three-and-twenty knights. Ser Rymun was knighted at eight-and-ten."
"Do any of these knights have combat experience? Beyond capturing poachers," Rhaenyra whispered toward Ser Harrold. While capturing poachers was admirable, this was a royal family. Attackers were less likely to be run-of-the-mill criminals. It was wise to consider someone more applicable to actual fighting, though this seemed to displease Otto.
"Ser Criston Cole. Son of the steward of the Lord of Blackhaven." Ser Criston walked forward, no bannermen behind him, not even a sigil on his armor. He had gotten where he was with steadfast perseverance. Compared to the other applicants, he had seemed the most sincere in his want to be there.
"Be welcome, Ser Criston. You did quite admirably in the tourney some time ago."
"I am most honored you saw princess," Ser Cole gave Alaenna a cheeky smile before turning toward Rhaenyra.
"You saw combat in the Stormlands."
"Dornish marches, Princess," he gently corrected. "I fought for a year as a foot soldier against the Dornish incursions. Ser Arlan Dondarrion knighted me after we razed two of the watchtowers along the Boneway."
"I choose Ser Criston Cole," Rhaenyra had heard all she needed. Beyond his dashing look, he was capable and would defend their family well. She hopped off the step, holding her hand out for her sister as they made their way to leave.
"Let's not be too hasty, Princess," Otto intercepted the two. "There's no doubt Ser Criston is a fine warrior, but houses such as Crakehall and Mallister are important allies of The Crown. Seagard, for instance, is the realm's prime defense against reavers from the Iron Islands."
Political gain is what Otto Hightower strove for; Alaenna had always thought as much. From scorning the ill second-born daughter, to constantly changing the powers Daemon, a prince, had and finally attempting to pick a knight for political relations instead of skill. Had he not been King Jahaerys' Hand, she doubted he would've been more than a fly on the wall to her family.
"Lord Hand, has Cole not proven himself? I believe he bested my uncle, who bested Ser Gwayne," Alaenna quickly stated from beside her sister. Earning a disgruntled, if not positively miffed, look from the Hightower.
"As my sister said, those men are mere tourney knights. My father should be defended by a man who's known real combat. Should he not?"
"Of course, Princesses," Otto begrudgingly accepted.
"Well, let us plan Ser Criston's investiture then."
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That night Alaenna was called to dine with her father. She hadn't seen him much in the past months; she had gone out of her way to avoid him. Whether it was reluctant or purposeful, he abandoned seeking her out.
She was less surprised by this sudden invitation when she saw Rhaenyra sitting beside her open seat. While her father and Rhaenyra hadn't spoken much since the funeral, they still spoke when required.
"Ah, Alaenna, there you. I feared you mightn't show," Viserys held out a hand towards her seat as one of the maids pulled it out before allowing her to sit and left the room.
"We haven't spoken much since," Rhaenyra made attempts at conversation. Alaenna had little interest in what her father had to say. She picked at her food, occasionally drinking some of the wine.
The long span of the table much gaps in speech seem harder to overcome. It was easy to see neither party quite knew what to say. "A regret of mine. We should be free to speak our minds to one another, each of us" Viserys drew a long pointed look at his youngest.
"You can say whatever you'd like. You are the king," Alaenna appreciated her sister's attempt at levity, but there was nothing much to be spoken between her and her father.
"I loved your mother very much." The sad tone of the king reminded her of her sadness. No one in that room had fully moved past what had happened a few months ago.
"As did we." Rhaenyra brought Alaenna's fiddling hand up to the corner of the table in a gentle hold. There wasn't much for them to talk about. He couldn't ask them how training or their education had been going. Girls weren't allowed to learn much besides history and etiquette. Tutorage under maestars was left to the boys.
Time seemed to move slowly as the successor and predecessor attempted to find words for each other. "Ser Harrold provided a fine field of tourney knights."
"Oh?" an attempt to sound interested on Viserys behalf.
'But in questioning them, I discovered that Ser Criston was the only man among them with true battle experience,' Hearing Rhaenyra is so proud of a decision she made lightened her heart. It was similar to hearing of one's special interest.
"He'll make a fine knight of the Kingsguard." Another pause filled the room.
"Today at Small Council-- "
"- Pay it no mind," Viserys quickly dismissed her.
"I thought I might have had some insight."
"- You're young. You will learn." Watching her sister slink into herself felt like a proverbial slap. He called them to talk, to reconnect with his children. It was in poor taste and a poor attempt. Having had enough, Alaenna stood from her seat.
"I'll retire for the night. The hour grows late," She made a brief nod toward Viserys. "Father," She turned towards "Rhaenyra," placing a peck against her cheek. The door closed loudly behind her, leaving the two of them silently under candlelight. Alaenna didn't hate her father, but she couldn't help but feel like he failed them somehow.
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When Morning came, she was awoken by Laena sprinting into her room and apologizing profusely. Alaenna scrambled beneath her sheets, trying to figure out what was happening. In the short time she had gotten out of bed, Laena disappeared around some corner.
She looked out her bedroom door, noticing a couple of guards, some lords, and ladies strolling through in conversation. Finding Laena would have to wait until she was at least dressed.
Running around in her nightgown seemed like an unwise course of action. While she waited, her eyes flitted towards her vanity that held her beautiful valyrian steel necklace.
Alaenna stopped wearing it when she slept; it was uncomfortable and much too large to be seen as remotely normal. She tiptoes on her cold floors towards it, sitting down on her stool, her hands caressing the metal. She'd have to prepare for the day now that she had awoken by a distressed yet familiar visitor. She would get to the bottom of this.
Adorned in a light blue dress, Alaenna scoured every corner to find where Laenna could be. She had passed through the Godswood, The courtyard, and even the expanses of Laena's favorite place in the garden overlooking the waters. She could not wander for much longer. Looking for Laena had meant she ignored the several lords and ladies that greeted her in the halls, to which ladies would start more rumors.
She knew of the rumors surrounding her, of course. It was impossible not to. Personal maids would always tell her what they'd heard, good or bad. While her reputation as the Keep's ghost had gone down, her acute rumors of insanity had risen. She no longer greeted every lord she passed nor made small talk with power-grabbing ladies. These days with her mother gone and rumors abundant, she had been attracting the worst of the worst.
If they did think she was insane, they thought she was easy enough to control. Fathers sent younger ladies to make friends with her, a ploy she supposed to get into the king's graces much as Alicent had. Though she never knew the fullest extent of that. Living in the palace brought right and wrong to her doorstep. It was much harder to ignore all the bad without her mother to shield her from it.
With the hour growing dark, she journeyed to find Rhaenyra instead. Laena was alluding to the best of her capabilities for some reason. Rhaenyra would be much easier to find, given she had a guard with her most of the time. Upon turning the corner, she'd bumped into Alicent Hightower.
"Apologies, princess," Alicent curtsied before her habit of picking at her nail beds had begun. While she didn't accompany Alicent recently, her childhood habits have transferred into her adult life. Rhaenyra was always a troublemaker as a child, earning her and subsequently Alicent into tough spots with the Septas.
"It's no problem, Alicent. I simply wasn't watching where I was going," what had made her so nervous, Alaenna thought? On any regular day, Alicent would greet her and be off to follow Rhaenyra's coattails. Alicent, recently, had been different, according to Rhaenyra at least. "Have you seen Rhaenyra?"
"No, princess. I must be on my way; the hour grows late." Alicent curtsied before heading off. Alaenna noted that she hadn't been going toward her quarters but paid it no mind. Perhaps it'd be simpler to wait in Rhaenyra's quarters until she arrived. It had been hard searching for so long, and a much-needed break was required
Upon entering Rhaenyra's room, Alaenna took one look and planted herself firmly on the long chaise on the furthest wall. Rhaenyra being out and about meant she'd have time to relax before her sister settled in her room. It was best to make herself comfortable.