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The black and green faction were gathered by the king inside the throne room, alongside lords and ladies. Rhaenyra strolled in with her sons, and her husband Daemon. Their charisma screaming authority and regality. They stood by the right side of the throne room, bowing subtly to King Viserys.
Next to enter were the green faction, the ever pious queen, Alicent Hightower adorned in green with the seven pointed star necklace on her throat. Her children walked at the back, they placed themselves in the left side, rivaling the blacks.
By the throne, sat with all of the authority of what's left in him, King Viserys with Otto Hightower in his left. They did not know what was to be announced or what was to happen, it was a sudden call. A raven arrived at dragonstone from the king himself, noting their supposed arrival the next week.
"I suppose all of you are confused with this sudden urgency of talk", the king begun. Otto's lips thinned, as Daemon smirked at him, eyes filled with disdain. The courtiers shifted uneasily, some in interest others in calculation.
"For the past years, my family has drifted far from each other. There were mishaps that aren't discussed in talk but rather in fleeting glances of malice." the king continued, Alicent inhaled heavily her hands clasped infront of her. On the other side, Rhaenyra stood composed. Jacaerys standing beside his mother, already tall for his age. While lucerys eyes wide, his face youthful.
Aegon, stood slightly afar from his mother — still in his drunken stupor, Aemond was the complete opposite of his brother. While aegon was sloppy, aemond was stoic. His one eye void of any emotions. And sweet Helaena, her eyes were dreamy the pinkish color of her gown made her stand out from her brothers.
"So I've come to decide the matter at hand, a betrothal between my eldest grandson jace and my daughter helaena." At that otto stilled, his calm maneuvering shattered.
Alicent gasped.
Not in a way like maidens do at tourneys, it was horrendous. Her face was filled with terror, Otto turned to look at his daughters cueing her to speak with the king. "Your grace this is quite sudden, it has not reached my ears until now" her voice trembled, betraying the stillness of her body.
Rhaenyra's eyebrow rose in appraisal. She did not expect this, not from her father. Yes years ago when helaena and jace were mere children she had proposed a betrothal but was declined by Alicent. This union would strengthen not only her's but jace's claim to the throne.
Jacaerys was raised right, despite the whispers at court. Rhaenyra taught him to be respectful, especially with women. You ought to respect a woman when one has birthed you out of the womb. Jace remembered the seriousness of his mother's voice. When the words of his betrothal to his aunt helaena left the king's mouth, his eyes involuntarily went to helaena.
She looked oblivious of what had been said, but she only nodded her head slowly as if to sink in the preposition. Her eyes never found jace's.
"It is an honor your grace" Rhaenyra smiled at her father, in turn Viserys beamed at her like she was the sun itself. Alicent opened her mouth as if to argue but she closed it again. It was done, the announcement was done, not just with family but with the whole court. There was no way she could talk him out of it. She was wife in name and in the eyes of court, but she could not relent anything at all. It was as if Viserys birthed Helaena himself to decide whatever he deemed right.
Alicent seethed in rage trying to compuse herself, she was now breathing heavily her hands balled in fists. The black's reaction were nothing alike hers.
Daemon smugly chuckled as he gazed on the queen well he preferably calls her the green bitch. She was a leech, alike her father fucking Hightower. Daemon then looked at Otto, whose brows slightly arose. And Daemon Targaryen being Daemon Targaryen he barked in laughter, a slight to the greens.
The room stilled, "thi ikso vēttir aeragon trēsy, unlike your choice of hand — cuckold cunt" Daemon intended the use of High Valyrian, a yet another slight to the Hightowers who could not understand a phrase of it.
Silence overcame the courtiers. Some gasped, eyes widening, and those religious once did the sign of the seven. Viserys let out a breath, "It is a judicious move of course, Helaena and Jace shall decide when the wedding would take place as they are at the ripe of marrying age." his ailing hand gestured to both jace and helaena, he then waved his hand ending the commotion.
Lords and Ladies strutted out of the throne room, whispering in hushed voices. Their eyes calculating, as if to weigh which faction they would side to. Black or Green?
After the announcement of his betrothal, Jacaerys had mixed feelings. He always thought that he'd marry Baela, as there were talk of them being paired. But oh how wrong he was. "Jace, come here" he snapped out of his thoughts as his mothers commanding voice rang inside the vast chambers at maegor's holdfast.
"The matter at hand your grandsire had announced elevated our succession. With you being married to helaena, and soon when the gods gift you children, your claim would have a small chance of being challenged." rhaenyra's voice was resolute, calm. She reached for his son's hands grasping them both.
Jacaerys registered the words carefully, "You will treat her with utmost respect, handle her with care — helaena as you know is special, or rather gifted, you try to understand her, not unravel everything she has known but be there for her, love does not come after the wedding yes, but in time both of you shall grow to love each other." his mother's smile was tight lipped, but the sincere glimmer in her eyes explained it all.
"i will uphold my vows, and i shall cherish what is bounded to me" his words seemed hollow, to say the least. But one thing he was sure of, that he would treat her deserving of the woman she is — kindly, being understanding, and he will care for her no matter what.
"I know jace, you are no longer my baby boy, my first born, you are now a man grown despite the age, for a boy or sixteen summers you already speak like a king" rhaenyra cupped her child's face, a proud smile appearing on her face.
Jacaerys was not one to break rules, nor vows. Surprised yes, but he will care for her as like how he did already. But change was the biggest thing, caring for an aunt was expected but now that aunt was to be his wife.