CHAPTER ONE . . .
     KING'S LANDING, 105 AC

The balcony outside Morrigan's garden is in full bloom.

It had been one of her indulgences when she had first come here and found the apartments she had been given clad with a balcony for sitting outside and having guests with. She had made sure to select the plants with care when she had come to King's Landing. She missed the garden in Storm's End, and a few of the flowers, the blush shades of foxglove and the lilac wisteria, were the same but some she'd asked for because they didn't grow in the climate at Durran's Point.

Morrigan adored her balcony, if only for the reminder of the place she'd found peace in, away from everyone at Storm's End.

Despite the space to entertain them, she only had few guests. Alicent was by far her most recent, coming by whenever she was free from her duties. Her family, when they were here, would sleep near her apartments, but in the two years since she'd left Storm's End to be a companion to Princess Rhaenyra, there had been no occasion to visit until now that her grandfather, like many others, had been invited for the turney.

He and his men had taken up residence in the surrounding rooms of her own, though she hasn't seen much of him outside of their shared meals since he arrived.

Not that she minds much.

She doesn't mind the moments of peace and quiet she can get. It's never quite  silent in the city, and even in the Keep the sounds from below are audible.

The noise is nothing like Storm's End, even with the entire castle being restricted into one drum tower, and in the beginning, it had driven her nearly mad.

"My Lady?" A voice behind her sounds and Morrigan inclines her head a little to the side in response.

When it's clear Ser Rodrik is waiting for a vocal reaction she adds, "Yes?"

"The Lady Alicent is here."

Morrigan blinks, tearing her eyes away from the strings of wisteria gently rustling in the warm breeze and turns to Rodrik. "Alicent?" She asks, surprised and her eyebrows draw up when she finds her friend stepping inside and around her guard.

Alicent smiles at her, a warm greeting as Morrigan rises to her feet from where she’d been sitting. "I was wondering if you wanted to walk together to the Princess's apartments."

There's a glint in her eyes that makes Morrigan stand up a little straighter. Alicent often comes by her rooms when she is on the way to Rhaenyra, picking her up before they're expected for their duties as her companions since Morrigan's rooms are much closer to Maegor's Holdfast than the Tower of the Hand.

It's part of her betrothal, Morrigan thinks.

She's well aware only few people have as luxurious apartments, or ones as close to those of the royal family as her. It's an honor she's been given to as the future good sister to the King, even though these apartments are only temporary.

Once she's married, she'll move into Maegor's Holdfast with the rest of the royal family.

Of course, she's not even sure if she'll be staying there all that long either. As soon as she's wed, she's expecting that her duties as companion to Rhaenyra will cease and she'll take over her social duties as wife to the Prince. Though, what that entails, she's not entirely sure.

Prince Daemon Targaryen is seldom at court and in the two years she's been here, she's had a proper conversation with the man she's to marry not even once.

Which is just as fine with her.

She'd just like to know what is expected of her, and not the images her mind makes up, fuelled by the near mythical whispers about the Prince that she's heard all over the Keep. Or the quiet reports Alicent has given her about what she manages to hear from her father's study.

Otto Hightower hates her betrothed as much as some people revert him and somewhere between the conversations Alicent and her have been able to overhear, Rhaenyra's recountings and their shared memories, Morrigan has out together an image of Daemon she supposes is sufficient enough, but she doesn't like the way he escapes her grasp.

It's like trying to catch water with her bare hands and Morrigan doesn't like it one bit.

"Of course," she says as she reaches Alicent, taking her hand before she links her arm with her's. She sends a glance over at Ser Rodrik, who is watching them closely. Normally, the knight is at her side at all times when she ventures outside the Keep, as is part of his oath to protect her, but whenever they're joining Rhaenyra or remain within the confines of the castle, Ser Rodrik will often let her go on her own these days.

"I have a meeting with your grandfather's head of guard soon," the knight says, giving her a look she can't quite read as he opens the door for them.

He's nervous, she knows, to let her out of his sight with all the guests and strangers coming to the castle, and teeming in the city but it seems that especially this morning, he's more reluctant than ever to leave her. Normally, he doesn't inform her of his whereabouts - it should be the other way around.

Something about the entire thing makes her uneasy, just as the unmentioned evening two days ago, when the King had invited her grandfather to dine with him.

Her grandfather hasn't told her yet why exactly, the King had extended the invitation but the queasy feeling in her stomach at the thought reminds her that she can make a good guess as to the nature of the talk.

Morrigan isn't a girl anymore, after all. She's of age now.

As is her betrothed.

Morrigan tries her best not to frown at the thought as Alicent pulls her along, nearly buzzing with excitement.

They're barely out of Ser Rodrik's earshot when Alicent whispers, "Have you heard yet?"

"Heard what?" Morrigan asks immediately, torn between apprehension at whatever happened and intrigue at Alicent's excitement.

"Prince Daemon is back in the city," Alicent replies. "I overheard my father and a messenger talk about it early in the morning. Apparently he and the City Watch went out into the city and doled out the King's justice last night."

Morrigan's steps nearly falter for just a moment.

Prince Daemon is back.

She stares at Alicent, head swimming a little. "Are you certain?"

Alicent nods, her eyes widening a little. "It must have been some spectacle. Father was beside himself with frustration. He called a council meeting first thing today."

"Do you think he's going to stay?" Morrigan asks quietly, glancing at a flock of ladies as they make their way past them.

"I'm not sure," Alicent says, in thought for a moment. "He must be here for the King's tourney, don't you think?"

Perhaps, but Morrigan isn't so sure. There were many feasts the Prince had missed in favor of staying away from court, to stay in the city or travel or do whatever he did when he was away.

There was the matter of the celebration held for the King's unborn son, but then there had been other pregnancies of Queen Aemma and he had not made a point of letting them dictate his coming and going. Perhaps, this pregnancy was the one he'd heard of and had been able to plan his return to court for the celebration before the news of the loss of it came, but Morrigan isn't entirely convinced that's the case.

From what she can tell, Daemon had seldom let anything but his own emotions be the cause for his visits. And certainly no turney.

If the child had already been born and proven to be a son, things would be different, but as it stands, Morrigan doesn't think it's for the tourney, not entirely anyways.

Of course, there could be another reason entirely Prince Daemon had been called back to court now.

Morrigan tries not to think too much on the other reason.

She had been eight when she had been betrothed to Prince Daemon. It had been Good Queen Alysanne herself who had suggested the match, during the first and only visit she'd made to the Red Keep during King Jaehaerys's reign. For nine years now, she's known she'll marry him sooner than later, but even after all this time the idea doesn't sit quite right with her.

It's not the match itself that's bothers her - after all, marrying a Targaryen Prince is a fate only few Ladies outside House Targaryen have ever had and it makes Morrigan's position one of the most coveted in the entire Kingdom, even amongst the royal family. As it stands, Prince Daemon is the Heir Apparent to the Iron Throne and she to be his consort. It's the man that she finds issue with.

Prince Daemon is far too elusive and erratic for her to look with comfort to their union.

All she knows of the man supports the idea of a reckless warrior with little thought to anything but his own entertainment and whims. It is not a choice she would have made for a husband or King.

But then, Morrigan has never had the choice.

AUTHORS NOTE . . .

first update in over a year oof.... anyway welcome to danse macabre! it will be a treat for the daemor and alimor girlies (less so for rhaemor i'm afraid with the way it's looking atm). i hope you enjoyed this short introductory chapter!

please consider leaving a comment or two, as it really makes my day to see them and interact with you guys 💗✨️