Chapter 11: Feast

A knock came upon his door as he finished getting ready. "Come in!"

The door creaked open to reveal Ser Arthur. "My Prince, it is time. The feast shall begin shortly."

"Of course." Jae checked his doublet one last time and left the room, Ser Arthur on his heels.

The feast was to be held in the Throne Room, always an unpleasant affair. The dimensions made it too narrow and far too long. Aegon the Dragon hadn't been a builder, that was plain, though Jae could think of few other negative things to say about his ancestor. 

He hurried down one corridor after another. It wouldn't do for him to be the last one to arrive. He smiled in relief to find the entire Royal family arrayed before the entrance to the Throne room with the exception of Aegon. A King couldn't be seen pacing around, waiting for his little brother.

"Jaehaerys, don't you look dashing," Rhaenys exclaimed, drawing the eyes of Dany, Oberyn, and Elia. In her yellow dress with a diamond necklace around her neck, Rhaenys shone like the sun Daeron wouldn't shut up about in his Conquest of Dorne.

"You look beautiful Rhaenys," he said as he approached them.

"Why, thank you. Now if only Aegon would come in the next couple of hours and people would get to see me."

"I'm here, I'm here," Aegon said as he came around the corner.

"Ah, finally," Rhaenys said. "Now, then. Aegon, you'll escort Daenerys. I'm with Jaehaerys and Uncle Oberyn will escort mama."

"If I may ask, where's Princess Arianne?" Jae asked, confused by her absence.

"I'm afraid Arianne's taken ill, she asked to be excused for tonight's feast," Rhaenys explained. "Now, pair up. We're late as it is."

They took their places, Aegon and Daenerys in front, Jaehaerys and Rhaenys behind them, and Elia and Oberyn coming up last.

"All set?" Rhaenys looked them up and down one final time and nodded to the herald.

The giant oak doors opened to reveal the Throne Room beyond. The steward had gone to great lengths to decorate it for the arrival of the King. Targaryen banners hung from the pillars that ran the length of the room on both sides. There were four rows of tables, split by a corridor that lead straight to the Iron Throne, or the dais before it.

The herald announced them and all in the hall rose to their feet as they walked by. Jaehaerys kept his eyes in front, only observing the nobles present from the corner of his eye. They had their eyes on Aegon whose searching gaze examined everything around him with a pleasant smile on his face.

When they reached the end of the hall, they moved to the right and around the dais. Jaehaerys sat to the right of the King, Daenerys next to him, while Queen Elia, Prince Oberyn and Rhaenys sat to his left.

All that's left of the Targaryen dynasty – the four of us and a madman I hope to never see again.

The rest of the nobles present sat down with the King.

Servants approached and poured them all a cup of wine. Aegon rose to his feet, holding his cup high. "Let this day mark a new chapter in the history of Westeros, the day when all our fortunes took a turn for the better and a new Westeros was born. One of peace and prosperity, where the loyal are raised up and the treacherous cast down. To Westeros!"

"To Westeros!" the entire hall chorused with various levels of enthusiasm.

What an interesting opening statement. Jae spotted Lord Darry below the dais. That one looked happy by what he'd heard. A sure sign Aegon sent the wrong message. Darry still dreamt of Tully heads on spikes for the three brothers he lost in the Rebellion.

To talk about treachery in your first speech to the nobles. Jaehaerys discarded such thoughts, he'd have plenty of time to think it through later, and took a sip of the wine.

"What did you think of my speech, Rhaenys?" Aegon asked.

Jaehaerys couldn't catch his expression, what with Aegon looking the other way, but Rhaenys did not look too pleased.

"Inspired, brother."

"Why, thank you." He sipped his wine, oozing smugness. Jaehaerys took care to note what it implied about their relationship.

"And you, dearest brother, what did you think?"

"I concur with the Princess' assessment."

"I'm pleased to hear it," he said, focusing his full attention on Jae now. "You must tell me the story of how you came to save my Uncle's life. I've heard such riveting rumors."

"Exaggerations, no doubt. I'm afraid Prince Oberyn and Ser Jaime did most of the fighting."

"Oh, come now, you must not be so humble. It might make people doubt if you did anything at all!" He laughed and all those within earshot laughed with him. The Martells could only muster weak smiles, their eyes locked on Aegon.

"I assure you, nephew, Prince Jaehaerys did plenty," Oberyn spoke up from the edge of the table.

Aegon inclined his head in acknowledgment of his Uncle's words, yet looked amused of all things. Baffling.

"Regardless, I do hope you know how grateful we all are for your actions, Jaehaerys." He raised his cup and shouted, "To Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, the Ice Dragon!"

Aegon played a game, though Jae did not know which kind. He couldn't even be sure if he was part of it. The Throne Room rang as the nobles present echoed Aegon's toast and shouted, "The Ice Dragon!" It surprised him how loudly they shouted, too. He would have expected they'd do it only for the sake of appearances. But then, Jae caught the flash of bitterness that passed over Aegon's face.

"Are you looking forward to the Tourney, Your Grace?" Daenerys turned the page for them.

"I am." Aegon sipped his wine. He was on pace to empty a barrel by night's end. "It should be held by the end of the week. Do we have any updates on when the rest of our guests shall be arriving?" he asked no one in particular.

"The Lannisters, Arryns, and Baratheons should be here early tomorrow. The Tullys and the Starks the day after that," Rhaenys replied.

"The Starks are coming?" Aegon asked. "That's—" he burped, "brave."

That turned a lot of heads, but not Jae's. He kept himself busy watching the people below the dais and the looks on their faces. They all understood what it meant. Darry was gleeful. The rest of the Lords of the Crownlands looked much the same.

He caught Lady Olenna staring at him, but Jae quickly moved back to his half-sister. Rhaenys looked to be on the verge of shouting but Queen Elia kept her back, quickly whispering something in her ear. What a united front we have presented.

The rest of the feast proceeded in much the same fashion. They all sat at the edge of their seats, all of them wondering what the King would say next. Aegon skirted the edge on numerous occasions but there seemed to be no direction to his slights. Rebels or loyalists alike, Aegon did not discriminate in who he almost pissed off. Even Lord Darry's grin faded somewhat by the end of it.

He was drunk, that's all, he was drunk, Jae kept telling himself as he trekked back to his chambers. There could be no other explanation. Aegon could afford to mock the former rebels if only he made sure to keep the fucking loyalists happy. It wouldn't be perfect, but he wouldn't get overthrown before his coronation. But this…  

"I don't think I've ever attended a more exhausting feast in my life," Daenerys murmured as she walked beside him. Dany had been holding his hand the entire evening, squeezing it every time Aegon came close to offending another Lord. Needless to say, her hand got quite the exercise and Jae still couldn't feel the fingers on his right hand.

Jae nodded, just as tired. "Try to keep an eye out, Dany. We have to figure out what he's thinking."

Daenerys nodded, bleary-eyed. "Anything for you, Jae," she said.

"Thanks, Dany." He gave her a goodnight kiss on the cheek and moved on to his own chambers.

Tired and somewhat inebriated, he stumbled into his bed fully clothed and fell asleep, opting to postpone his worries for a night.