𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐧 ; act two

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     THE AIR HAD BEEN DIFFERENT SINCE NYMERIA TOOK THE HEAD OF SER VAEMOND VELARYON, as she expected, though, what she did not expect was the curious, and almost admiring, stares from Prince Aemond Targaryen. She had expected the proud smirk from Prince Daemon, the concern on her husband's face, and the worry on Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Lucerys' faces, but Prince Aemond had a curveball that Nymeria had yet to predict.

  Cupbearers and hand-maidens rushed around the dining table, refilling cups, setting out food and plates, until the King Viserys made his eventual appearance. Everyone stood from their chairs, four knights carrying King Viserys in on a chair, the King looking worse for wear.

  As the King was placed between Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra, the rest of the divided family took their respective seats. On the black side of the divided table, Princess Rhaenyra sat directly beside the King, beside her Prince Daemon, at the bottom of the table sat Prince Lucerys and Lady Rhaena, on the opposite side of Prince Daemon sat his eldest daughter, Lady Baela, Princess Nymeria sat beside her, and finally Prince Jacaerys sat beside his wife. Ser Vorian stayed dutiful near the doorway. On the Green side of the table, Queen Alicent sat on the left side of the King, beside her sat her father, Hand of the King, Otto Hightower, at the head of the table sat Prince Aemond, across from Prince Lucerys, across from Lord Otto sat Princess Helaena, and beside her sat her husband, Prince Aegon, who sat beside Prince Jacaerys.

  "How good it is. . ." The King pushed out his words with great effort, "To see you all tonight. . ." The old man huffed out short breaths, taking his time to glance around the table, his gaze lingering on his eldest daughter, before his body slumped toward his second wife.

  "Prayer before we begin?" The Hightower Queen asked gently, her words aimed at the King, her first husband.

  "Yes."

  Queen Alicent bowed her head, clasping her hands together, the Black side of the table shared a confused look before some reluctantly bowed their heads slightly, yet still keeping their eyes on the opposite side.

  "May the Mother smile down on this gathering with love. May the Smith mend the bonds that have been broken for far too long. And to Vaemond Velaryon, may the Gods give him rest." From across the table, Prince Daemon shot Princess Nymeria an amused look, the girl only responding with a slight frown. Queen Alicent raised her head, shooting a quick glance toward the Princess before straightening her back and focusing on her old husband.

  "This is an occasion for celebration, it seems." King Viserys spoke once more, "My grandson, Jace, has a wife and daughter, and his brother, Luke, shall marry his cousin, Rhaena, further strengthening the bond between our houses. A toast to the young Princes. . . and their marriages."

  The Black side of the family eagerly reached for their cups, gentle smiles on their faces, and the green side almost hesitantly grabbed theirs, unsure of their support.

  "Hear, hear!"

  "Well done, Jace, you've finally laid with a woman." Prince Aegon whispered, leaning closer to his nephew.

  Jacaerys swallowed thickly, setting his goblet down with an irritated expression. Nymeria and Baela turned at the same time, their faces holding equal disgust at the words.

  "Let us toast Prince Lucerys. . ." King Viserys started once again, his head turned toward Luke, a goblet resting in his hand, "The future Lord of The Tides."

  "Hear, hear." Prince Daemon spoke up again, a proud expression on his face at his son-by-law.

  "You'll be great." Lady Rhaena said softly, smiling over at Lucerys.

  Jacaerys smiled at his little brother, grabbing onto Nymeria's hand under the table, the married couple beyond proud of their brother. Lady Baela raised her goblet to the Prince, smiling sweetly at both her sister and her betrothed.

  "You do remember how the act is done, I assume?" Prince Aegon whispered to Prince Jacaerys once more, turning his body toward Prince Jacaerys, "At least in principle? Where to put your cock and all that."

  Jacaerys sighed, swallowing down the gulp of his drink, setting the goblet on the table, jaw clenched, staring at the middle of the table blankly.

  Nymeria's head titled, brows furrowed in confusion, "Let it be, Prince Aegon." Her tone warped into a motherly tone, like the one she would use to scold Lucera, as she spoke to the Prince.

  "You can play the jester if you wish, but hold your tongue before my wife." Jacaerys whispered harshly, turning to face his uncle.

  Prince Aegon made an unserious face, nodding slightly before leaning back into his chair, fingers resting on his goblet.

  The King leaned forward slightly, pushing himself off of his chair with the help of his cane and Queen Alicent, the family watching cautiously as the old man panted, mustering his strength to stand before his family. "It both gladdens my heart and fills me with sorrow to see these faces around the table. The faces most dear to me in all the world. . . yet grown so distant from each other. . . in the years past."

  An awkward silence fell upon the room, everyone glancing down at the table with both guilt and shame at the words. The King then reached toward the buckle of his golden mask, gently removing it from his face, before looking up toward the table. His face was decaying on the left side, a hollow shell of what it used to be.

  Nymeria flinched slightly, swallowing deeply, squeezing Jacaerys' hand from under the table. The sight alone was horrific, unsightly.

  "My own face. . ." King Viserys spoke, his head turned toward his eldest daughter, "Is no longer a handsome one. . ." He turned, facing the entire table now, "If indeed it ever was. But tonight. . . I wish you to see me. . . as I am. Not just a King but your father. Your brother. Your husband and your grandsire. Who may not, it seems. . . walk for much longer among you." The gold mask slammed against the dinner table, the man pausing as shaky breaths flowed through him, "Let us no longer hold ill feelings in our hearts. The crown cannot stand strong if the House of the Dragon remains divided. But set aside your grievances if not for the sake of the crown. . . then for this old man who loves you all so dearly."

  The room hung in a heavy silence, nobody dared utter a word as the King slowly fell back into his chair, the Queen gently helping him.

  Princess Rhaenyra abruptly stood from her seat, holding her cup in the air, "I wish to raise my cup to Her Grace, the Queen." The childhood friends looked toward each other, "I love my father. But I must admit that no one has stood. . . more loyally by his side than his good wife. She has tended to him with. . . unfailing devotion, love, and honor. And for that, she has my gratitude. . . and my apology." The Princess then took her seat once again, staring at the table blankly.

  Queen Alicent swallowed deeply, "Your graciousness moves me deeply Princess." Princess Rhaenyra turned her head toward the Queen, Prince Daemon leaning forward to stare at the auburn-haired Queen, "We are both mothers. . . and we love our children. We have more in common than we sometimes allow." The Queen stood from her seat, "I raise my cup to you and your house." Queen Alicent hesitated, inhaling deeply, "You will make a fine Queen."

  Princess Rhaenyra bowed her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips, the Queen taking her seat once more. Everyone grabbed their goblets, raising them slightly before taking a sip of the wine inside. Prince Aegon swallowed the rest of his wine down, his grandsire eyeing him carefully, the rest of the table gently sat their goblets down.

  Prince Aegon stood from his chair, a throaty cough coming from him, he moved between Princess Nymeria and Lady Baela, reaching for the pitcher of wine. "I, uhm, I regret the disappointment you have suffered." He spoke quietly, head tipped down toward Nymeria, greedily filling up his wine goblet. "But if you ever wish to know what it is to be well satisfied, all you have to do is ask."

  Jacaerys stood, slamming his fists against the table, the table going quiet as they watched the two relatives closely. Prince Aegon leisurely walked back to his chair, his brother, Prince Aemond, stood swiftly. The uncle and nephew watched each other closely.

  Jacaerys offered a tight-lipped smile, grabbing his goblet, playfully punching his uncle in the shoulder, swallowing before raising his goblet with a teasing smile, "To Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond. We have not seen each other in years, but I have fond shared memories of our shared youth. And as men, I hope we may yet be friends and allies. To you and your family's good health, dear uncles." Jacaerys smiled once again, tipping his goblet before taking a small sip, the rest of the table hesitantly following.

  "To you as well."

  "Beware the beast beneath the boards."

  "Well done, my boy."

  "I would like to toast Nymeria and Rhaena." Princess Helaena stood from her chair, holding her goblet up. Nymeria turned toward the Princess with an encouraging smile as did Rhaena. "Rhaena will be married soon, and Nymeria is married." Her smile dropped slightly, "It isn't so bad. Mostly he just ignores you. . . except sometimes when he's drunk."

  Nymeria kept her smile, even as the air grew heavy with tension, "Thank you, Princess."

  "Let us have some music."

  Nymeria stood from her chair, patting Jacaerys on the shoulder with a gentle smile before making her way toward Princess Helaena, "Would you like to dance, Princess?"

  Princess Helaena turned toward Princess Nymeria, brows furrowed in confusion until a smile slowly crossed her face, gently placing her own hand into Nymeria's, almost cautiously, the duo making their way to the floor. Prince Aegon blinked, slowly turning around to stare at the duo retreating, then the blond turned to face his younger brother, unspoken words filtering between the two.

  "Do you enjoy dancing?" The Stark woman's words were gentle, a soft whisper toward Princess Helaena, her brown eyes focused on the Princess wholly.

  "On occasion." The Princess replied softly, "Though, I don't get to as of late. . ." Her words were a quiet whisper as if she were afraid someone, or something, would hear her, though her smile was soft and comforting in contrast to her eerie words and whispers.

  "Prince Aegon does not dance with you?"

  Princess Helaena said nothing to deny the words nor anything to prove them, she simply smiled softly, moving to jump to the gentle tune of the song, Nymeria following her movements shortly after. Prince Jacaerys then stood from his chair, greeting his wife with a kiss on the crown of her head and offering a gentle smile toward his kind-hearted aunt.

  King Viserys watched his family with a pleased smile because in his heart he believed that the House of the Dragon would now stand as a united front, that they could finally be a family, forgetting their past mishaps and mistakes, and moving forward as one.

  But, alas, unity was a fleeting dream that the dying King held.

  Helaena, Nymeria, and Jacaerys slowed their movements as the King was lifted away by his Kings guard, beside him, entering the room, walked two men holding a roasted pig to be served to the royal family, the roasted animal placed on the table, in front of Prince Aemond.

  Prince Aemond suddenly stood from his chair, fist slamming against the wooden table, grabbing his goblet from beside him, "Final tribute."

  Nymeria paused her dancing, raising a confused brow at the suddenness of Prince Aemond's speech, beside her Prince Jacaerys and Princess Helaena paused as well.

  "To the health of my nephews." His eye remained on Prince Lucerys, almost as if the Prince Aemond wished to intimidate the younger boy with simply his stare, "Jace. . . Luke. . . and Joffrey. Each of them handsome, wise. . . strong."

  "Aemond."

  "Come! Let us drain our cups to these three. . . Strong boys."

  "I dare you to say that again!"

  Nymeria's head snapped toward Jacaerys, a part of her knowing nothing she could say would stop the anger filling Jacaerys veins, a deep sigh fell from the woman's nose, moving to gently push Helaena away from the chaos that was certain to occur.

  "Why? 'Twas only a compliment." Prince Aemond and Prince Jacaerys moved toward each other, "Do you not think yourself strong?"

  Lucerys stood from his chair instantly, Jacaerys swinging his fist into the side of Prince Aemond's face, Prince Aegon grabbed onto Lucerys, slamming his face down onto the table.

  "Jace!"

  "That is enough!"

  Baela stood from her own chair, grabbing onto the back of Prince Aegon's top, shoving him off of Lucerys instantly, the young Prince scrambling toward his mother, and Rhaena rushed toward her elder sister. Prince Aemond shoved Jacaerys toward the floor, a smirk on the Uncle's face.

  Jacaerys rushed to his feet, aiming to throw another hit toward his taunting Uncle, only to be stopped by Nymeria, who smiled softly, placing a hand on his chest.

  The Stark woman smiled kindly as she turned toward Prince Aemond, "I think we can all see just how open-eyed you are toward your nephew's strength, My Prince, but I think a fight between kin is rather. . . unsightly. ." Her smile dropped slightly, eyes narrowing at Prince Aemond.

  Prince Daemon stepped between the two, nodding approvingly at Nymeria, the woman bowing her head before turning toward Jacaerys and Lucerys.

  "Go to your quarters. All of you go, now!" Princess Rhaenyra commanded.

  "Come on," Nymeria offered a tight-lipped smile toward Jacaerys, gently taking his hand in her own, Lucerys followed behind the couple closely, Baela and Rhaena scurrying out of the feasting room shortly behind them. 

  A shadow followed Nymeria Stark as she walked slowly toward her shared chambers with Jacaerys, the shadow laughed and taunted her, repeating the same words slowly and eerily — you have unleashed their doom.

─── NOTE ;

yall i am SOOOO sorry for not updating
so frequently i promiseee i'm trying LMFAO

also episode six of hotd s2. . . IFREAKINGKNEWIT