KING'S LANDING, 131 AC

How could one be so cursed to witness this? How could one be so stupid to think this was a feast? How could one be so naive to think everyone was enjoying this? This wasn't a day of happiness, this was a day of fear and disgust, if one were to ask the bride and the groom.

Two figures standing next to each other, bound by only one thing, the ribbon that tied their hands together. Whereas Aegon stared at their hands, his face forming an appalled grimace, Viserra's gaze had wandered onto the opposite direction at the floor, keeping her eyes from the curse as far as possible.

This was not supposed to happen. They were not meant for each other, they had been forced to tie the knot because their families could not get along. And they would never get along, not even after this wedding. It felt as though this marriage would only worsen things, not improve them. But while Aegon accepted the ceremony and was filled with disdain, Viserra wanted to avoid it at all costs.

"In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one, for eternity."

A chuckle that echoed through the whole sept was heard, and it was that of no other than Daemon, who had stood by Rhaenyra's side, amused by this whole play. Those who truly knew, knew that this was an act - how everyone smiled at the pair and didn't burst out in laughter. Some kept their laughs in because they pitied the Serene Princess, others were worried about what would happen if they disrupted such an important ceremony.

But Daemon, the King's brother, could allow himself to interrupt the formalities.

He earned himself a few looks, especially that of Queen Alicent and the Septon, but King Viserys, for example, was so weak he could barely stand, let alone hear the chuckle of his brother.

"Look upon one another and say the words," the Septon's voice broke the silence later than planned due to Daemon's intrusion. Aegon tilted his head to Viserra, fighting the urge to let out an annoyed sigh as he impatiently waited for her to look back at him to be done with this. The only prosperous thing for him was the wine that would be served during the feast that day.

However, Viserra didn't grant him this favor, for she did not immediately raise her eyes at Aegon, too focused on the small ridges of the ground. The Sept had been merely 100 years old, but you could already see the effects of time on the floor stones, which, once, must have been completely even. Now they were bumpy and a little slippery as she had noticed when walking towards the altar a few moments ago.

Of course, this deliberateness didn't go unnoticed. Aegon tapped with his foot as he side-eyed the Septon who nodded faintly and cleared his throat in order to gain the princess' attention. This made Viserra instantly look up at the Septon, her eyes widening in slight surprise, if not even fear. A head tilt from the Septon in Aegon's direction made her understand it was time for them to exchange the vows, because, unsurprisingly, Viserra hadn't noticed the Septon's previous words either.

It was a strange feeling - to look upon the cold face of a man when his hand was so warm, and to look upon the warm face of a woman when her hand was so cold. There was such a contrast between the two of them. A silver-haired prince who wished for nothing more than not to be identified with the name Targaryen, and a brunette princess who wished for nothing more than to be recognised as a Targaryen, and not as other names she was called behind her back.

"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger. I am hers, and she is mine, from this day, until the end of my days."

"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger. I am his and he is mine, from this day, until the end of my days."

The prince's voice had been more audible than that of the Serene Princess, but only because Viserra's voice had cracked multiple times, fighting the urge to shed the tears that had formed in her eyes. Aegon had spat out the words, unconsciously hoping it would get him away from this place rather quickly.

He was not looking forward to this at all. Why would he? Aegon generally disliked the idea of marriage, being forced to be with one woman, but to be wed to his niece, his bastard niece who was not just too kind, but also so childish and innocent? Who would want to be married to a child?

Viserra gulped in uncertainty after noticing that Aegon's eyes instantly wandered away from her to some point on the wall behind her when tehy had finished speaking the vows, and she couldn't really blame him. He probably wanted this even less than she did. With all the rumours the Serene Princess had heard, she wasn't surprised about him being so absent and indifferent. He disliked her brothers, he disliked her, he disliked anything that was linked to the House Targaryen. So it was obvious he would look at the day with scorn.

Nothing more than silence followed. Turning her head around to the people to see if anyone had even paid attention, Viserra instantly glanced at Jaecaerys. His hands were balled into fists, his brows furrowed as if he wanted to beat Aegon together here and then. When the most precious thing was taken from you it was like a dagger to your heart because you feared you would never see it again, at least not in its original condition.

Jacaerys cared a lot about Viserra. She was his twin, his other half and he knew things about her that others did not. It was not easy to hand her over to Aegon since he assumed that his uncle would not care about her particularities.

Aegon had only accepted the arrangement because he already had his own ideas of this marriage. He would do his duty for one day when they were wed and then he would  leave Viserra on her own in the Red Keep whose inhabitants didn't have much sympathy left for either of Princess Rhaenyra's children. Being married would not still his desires and this pact would not stop Aegon from pursuing them.

Rhaenyra was standing next to Jacaerys, a weak smile on her lips as she watched her only daughter be given away to this honorless man in pity. All those years she had tried to call off this betrothal, but her father had always believed it would change house Targaryen to the better and create a bond between the Queen Alicent and Rhaenyra.

Viserra found herself surprised at the amount of people that had actually paid attention to the ceremony. Other than Jacaerys and Rhaenyra, she also noticed her, now, sister by law, Helaena who stood next to her husband Kermit with a hand on her belly. After two years of marriage, Helaena had finally come to be with child, which had made her husband very happy. Presumably that was the reason why the two of them looked so worriless and rather joyful, for their own luck shaded over the misfortune of Viserra and Aegon.

Baela, Rhaena and Lucerys had kept themselves in the background, their grief visible in their eyes as Rhaena, too, looked away to trick her mind into thinking this was not reality. Lucerys' eyes, similar to those of Viserra, were glassy and trying to keep the tears from falling down his cheeks. His sister was supposed to be under someone's protection who could not even protect himself. Aegon Targaryen would rather die than do something for the good of his family, the boy thought.

The one-eyed prince, Aemond Targaryen, remained passive as well, observing everything from a corner, a smirk appearing on his face every now and then. Was it malicious joy? Ever since the incident in Driftmark, Aemond had grown cold to the Strong boys, even Viserra, the girl that had cherished him the most during the time they were "dragonless", as Aegon had liked to address them. It was ironic to him that his older brother was now forced to marry the princess he had always made fun of when it had been Aemond who cared for Viserra in his own sick way.

And then, of course, Daemon Targaryen, Alicent and Otto Hightower, first of whom was too amused by this ridiculous wedding, whereas the other two simply stared at the bride and groom. They wanted to get rid of the bastard girl because the future King had to be married to a good partner that would strengthen his claim. A Baratheon lady might have been the better choice. But King Viserys had been stubborn and too obsessed with stoating green and black together.