Wood Waltz

'A healer mixes herbs to aid the sick. A farmer plants crops and tends to the fields. As for the world seekers, they shut up and follow me.'

-'The Early Musings of Prince Rhaenar' by Brien Flowers

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"There you are."

Who should come join the fun was none other than...

"Brien!" Rhaenyra called, "Come join us!"

"Princess," Brien said, turning to Alicent, "Lady Alicent."

"What's good?" Rhaenar asked.

"Nothing to report," Brien said, taking a seat on the bench Alicent sat on.

"Have you chanced upon the latest shipment?"

Brien nodded. "That's why I'm here. Thought we might try it."

Rhaenar raised a brow, "Now you trust the old snake all of a sudden?"

"You said he was one of us now, and I'm tired of worrying," Brien said, "Besides, even if I don't agree with the methods, he said it's been thoroughly tested."

"I should hope so! We aren't blind tasting, are we?"

"Worry not," Brien said with a smirk, "Some of the troops have tried it already. It's received rave reviews."

Rhaenar sighed in relief, "Thank the gods."

By this point, Rhaenyra felt so cut off and out of the conversation that her blood reached a boiling point. "What are you two talking about?"

"Apologies, Princess. We didn't mean to be rude," Brien looked to Rhaenar for the glance of approval.

Rhaenar hummed, "You might get in trouble if we tell you."

"Then we can both share the blame," Rhaenyra said defiantly.

"Alicent," Rhaenar said, "Leave now or forever hold your peace."

"She won't tell anyone," Rhaenyra protested.

Was it the wine or Rhaenyra's trust in her? Alicent raised a regal chin, "If it pleases, I'd like to stay."

Rhaenar smiled, "Nothing would please me more than your agency, my lady. Very well."

It was at that point when Rhaenar stood and motioned a 'gimme' to Brien. To which the man rummaged through his maester robes, through the assortment of pockets, and produced a long thin vial.

Rhaenyra got up to see what her brother was doing, "What's that?"

Rhaenar poured fresh wine into the pot and got it brewing. 

"In this vial is a concoction from off-shore," he said. He swirled the wine into a tornado and then uncorked the vial. As he poured it in, Rhaenyra witnessed its thick, almost blood-like texture, or even cream.

Its color was a boysenberry blue, and as it mixed into the swirl, the wine itself turned into a sort of deep, intense purple-red. She imagined Rhaenar took inspiration from the north side of his camp and added sweeteners.

"Its effects, well..." Rhaenar went on, "We're about to find out."

Alicent didn't like where that was going. House Hightower were always a pious bunch, given their close proximity with the Faith's HQ. She would prefer to steer her friends away from any witch's brews if she could help it.

"Forgive my concern, but is this potion permissible?"

"Nothing that maesters couldn't recreate with ingredients at hand," Rhaenar said, "Think of this as in the same category as milk of the poppy or essence of nightshade."

Alicent phew'd, "That's a relief."

"Can I have some?" Rhaenyra asked.

"Nope. This is for the big boys. You must do the very important job of a trip sitter. Do you know what that is?"

"I get the feeling you're about to tell me."

"A trip sitter is someone who keeps their wits to ensure those without their wits don't go off the deep end. It's a great responsibility. Not sure you can handle it."

"Boring!" Rhaenyra said, "I'm having some too, or I'll really tell Mother."

Rhaenar was ready to call that bluff in a heartbeat. "Such a petulant child you are. I wonder how you'll fare when that card is no longer available?"

She shoved her cup on his chest and said, "Thankfully, it is available."

All Rhaenar could do was chuckle and shake his head. "Fine. We're only having one cup anyway."

"Guess that means we're in your care," Brien said.

Alicent felt strangely empowered by the responsibility, "I'll do my best."

"Bah!" Rhaenar said, flicking a dismissive wrist, "Don't worry, Alicent. This isn't our first joust."

And so Rhaenar filled three cups, and together he, Rhaenyra, and Brien, clunked with a 'cheers!' and returned to their seats.

"Huh," Rhaenar said after the first taste, "Whatever is in there, the wine masks it surprisingly well."

Brien was making noises with his tongue, "A bit thick, don't you think?"

"Reminds me of that goat's milk stuff the clansmen drank," Rhaenar said.

Brien almost gagged, "Please… I don't want to remember."

Rhaenar laughed, "Didn't you swear you'd never drink again after that?"

"I did..."

"A week later, you're squirting out both ends in the Eyrie, haha!"

Rhaenyra licked the wine mustache from her lip, "I like it."

"I bet you do," Rhaenar said, "How long until this stuff kicks in?"

"Shouldn't be long," Brien said.

"I know!" Rhaenyra said eagerly, "Brien will tell us a story. He's got plenty of those."

"What an excellent idea, sister."

Brien was suddenly embarrassed, "Talk about being put on the spot. Would you like it happy or sad?"

"Sad, neutral, I don't care. Just make it a surprise," Rhaenar said.

Brien thought for a moment. "Given our company, I wonder if you have heard the tale of the Dancing Queen?"

Rhaenyra buckled up for the ride, "The Dancing Queen?"

"I must confess I've never heard of it," Alicent said.

Brien looked to the prince, "Rhaenar?"

Rhaenar took a sip and shrugged.

"Perfect. This is a tale set in the Age of Heroes some 6000 years ago. Before the coming of the Andals.

"As you know, when the First Men came to Westeros, a bloody war between them and the Children of the Forest took place. 

"This conflict ended with the signing of The Pact. The open fields were given to the First Men. In exchange, the forests were for the Children.

"And so it went. The Children began their long-winded fade into obscurity. Legendary figures rose and made their mark on history.

"For a time, Men thrived, and Westeros finally started the process of healing from the Long Night.

"Which brings us to our Dancing Queen. No one really knows who she was or where she came from, but her beauty was undeniable.

"One day in a village, sources vary exactly where, A young boy and his sister were out in the forest, foraging, when the boy caught glimpse of something magical between the trees.

"She was gold of skin and fair of hair moving gracefully through the wood. Like a fairy from another world.

"The boy was mesmerized the moment he saw her. He saw how she skipped around with those thin legs and bare feet. Those angel-like arms held high as she twirled around.That happy smile.

"How a leafy dress barely covered her petite frame, yet made from plants so green that she shone like a crystal. And on her head was a crown of woven vines.

"The boy was in love! So off he went; his little legs moved on their own, and he disappeared into the forest

.

"His sister returned in distraught, 'Father, Mother, he's gone. He saw something in the wood, and he's gone!'

"This happened again the next day and the next day. Each time, more boys went missing.

"If oral traditions are true, then this anomaly happened all over the the southern continent. Boys went missing everywhere! 

"Try as men tried to catch even a glimpse of her, The Dancing Queen remained elusive, and for a while, there was fear. 

"It was only when a boy emerged, his name lost to time, who was born without the yearning for flesh.

"It's thanks to him that we have our description. It's said that after he told everyone what he saw, he wandered into a cave, never to be seen again.

"Then, almost as if overnight and it never happened, it stopped. Boys stopped disappearing."

Rhaenar scoffed, "How anti-climactic."

Brien gazed into the flames grimly, "It would have been, were it not for the coming of the Andals. We dismissed the tale as myth as we do with most we managed to record from the oral traditions. Yet a thousand years after the coming of the Andals, well past the days The Dancing Queen, she once again appeared."

Rhaenyra almost spat her drink, "She what? The same one, a thousand years later?!"

Brien nodded, "Indeed. She returned to her dancing, and again boys went missing in droves. 

"Only this time, we had undeniable evidence of her existence. Historians agree on the validity of the written records, and they showed how for a decade, the Dancing Queen would show up in this place and that at random. Only to disappear and reemerge many, many leagues away. Like magic. 

"Then she went and disappeared again, and we have never had sightings of her since.

"So is the tale of The Dancing Queen. It's no wonder you never heard of it. The Citadel decided to keep it a secret. 

"… If knowledge of a supernatural being that might still be alive came to light, the fear and public outcry would be catastrophic. Or so the reasoning goes."

"Then she could still be out there!" Rhaenyra said with sudden wonder and excitement.

"I wouldn't count on it," Brien said, "As much as my heart longs for another mystery."

"Who was this woman?" Alicent asked.

"That debate stopped being relevant millennium ago. Some speculate that she was a witch, and when she returned, it was merely an offspring of her bloodline that took up the mantle. 

"Others say it was a Child of the Forest unhappy with how the First Men were honoring The Pact.

"As for me, I believe she was a half-breed of the Children and the First Men. That she stole little boys so that by the time they were grown, they were loyal drones she would mate and discard until one of their seeds blessed her with child 

"Complete speculation on my part, but it makes sense. Easier to mate with Men than find a male Child of the Forest. Though I have no doubt she would have tried that first."

"That's one hell of a theory, Brien," Rhaenar raised his cup, "I don't buy it. A hell of a theory though. To the Dancing Queen."

"To the Dancing Queen!" the rest of them concurred, wine cups held high.

Then Rhaenar said, "Think we could get our hands on those records? Perhaps we could find something."

"It's been years since I poured through them. I don't recall the charts by memory. But if we ever visit Oldtown again, we could access the forbidden sections of the Citadel."

Rhaenar smiled, "Good. I look forward to it!"