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Alicent Hightower/Rhaenyra TargaryenAlicent Hightower/Viserys I TargaryenCriston Cole/Alicent HightowerTalia al Ghul & Original Male Character(s)Harwin Strong/Rhaenyra TargaryenCaraxes | Daemon Targaryen's Dragon/Syrax | Rhaenyra Targaryen's DragonAegon II Targaryen & Aemond "One-Eye" Targaryen & Helaena Targaryen & Rhaenyra TargaryenAemond "One-Eye" Targaryen & Vhagar | Visenya Targaryen's DragonAemond "One-Eye" Targaryen/Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Alicent Hightower & Otto HightowerAlicent Hightower/Gwayne HightowerAlicent Hightower/Original Male Character(s)Daemon Targaryen & Rhaenyra TargaryenDaemon Targaryen/Rhaenyra Targaryen
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Published:2023-08-17Updated:2026-04-23Words:128,657Chapters:58/?Comments:1,133Kudos:2,951Bookmarks:722Hits:156,952
The Green Queen
renie_rabbitch
Chapter 6: The Tourney for Love and Heir
Notes:
While editing I feel conflicted that most of my chapters have only at least thousand words while the chapter five have more than 4k (according to my Wattpad wordcount) So I cut it into two and y'know.🫠🫠🫠
Chapter Text
~***~
Viserys
"You spend more time in that bath than I do on the iron throne. "
Viserys entered the chamber where his beloved pregnant wife and queen Aemma is taking her bath.
From the oak tub Aemma looked back to greet her husband. Viserys sits next to the bath and dips his hands in. He then frowned.
"It's tepid."
"It's as warm as the maesters will allow." Answered Aemma.
Viserys scoffs. "Don't they know dragons prefer heat?"
"Hmm. After this miserable pregnancy, I wouldn't be surprised I hatched an actual dragon." Aemma jests.
"Then he will be loved and cherished." Viserys said, lovingly. He gently kissed his wife's hand. Aemma smiled a little at the show of her husband's affection.
"Rhaenyra has already declared she is to have a sister."
"Really?" Viserys asked. Curious what brought for his daughter to declare such a thing.
"She even named her." Aemma let's an amused tone bleed at her words.
"Dare I ask?"
"Visenya. She already chose a dragon's egg for the cradle that she said reminded her of Vhagar."
Viserys shook his head, exasperated at his own daughter. "Gods be good. This family already has its Visenya."
Both of them shared a fond smile over this matter.
"Has there any been word from your dear brother?" Aemma suddenly asked.
"Not since I named him Master of Laws. I even intend to replace him for Lord Lyonel Strong. " Viserys let out a sigh. "I'm sure he will re emerge for the tourney. He could never stay away from the lists." He assured.
"The tourney to celebrate the firstborn son that we presently do not have. You do understand nothing will cause the babe to grow a cock if it does not already possess one?" Aemma's words do cut Viserys' heart. But he does not only wish a son as a father, but also as a king.He can't give up until he presents the seven kingdoms with an heir to serve for the Iron Throne. It's his duty for his house and for the realm.
"This child is a boy, Aemma." He declared with full certainty. He knows since he dreamt of his heir to continue his bloodline and to produce descendants to complete the pact of the song. The Song of Ice and Fire.
His wife scoffs at his confidence.
"I'm certain of it. I've never been more certain of anything. The dream. It was clearer than a memory. Our son was born wearing Aegon's iron crown. When I heard the sound of thundering hooves splintering shields and ringing swords. I placed our son upon the Iron Throne as the bells of the Grand Sept tolled and all the dragons roared as one. " Viserys'eyes were distant as if recalling a precious memory.
"Born wearing a crown?" Aemma sardonically laughed."Gods spare me. Birth is unpleasant as it is. "
Viserys said nothing but kisses her hand again.
Aemma let out a deep sigh." This will be the last time,Viserys. I have lost one babe in the cradle,had two stillbirths, and two pregnancies ended well before their term. That's five in twice as many years. I know it's my duty to provide you an heir,and I'm sorry if I failed you in that. I am." Aemma paused. Her lips quivering,likely imagining worst scenarios in her upcoming labor.
She held her husband's hand tightly this time.
"But I have mourned all dead children I can."
Viserys held her hand as tight as well.
~***~
The Old King, Jaehaerys I Targaryen, died in his bed in 103 AC. Viserys inherited a secure throne, a full treasury, and a legacy of goodwill from his grandfather. House Targaryen was at its most powerful during Viserys's time, having the most members and dragons since the Doom of Valyria. Viserys was known as the Young King when he ascended the Iron Throne, and due to his amiable nature the smallfolk were optimistic about his reign.
In 104 AC, the tourney for King Viserys I's accession was held in Maidenpool.
Holding a splendid court with his cousin and wife, Queen Aemma Arryn, the Young King was determined to maintain the peace and goodwill of his grandfather, Jaehaerys the Wise.
~***~
Criston Cole
Criston feels excited for the tournament. He will be participating as one of the few knights who wishes to gain the court's attention. A step towards his dream being a member of the Kingsguard.
As the participants wait for the speech of the king and next Lord Mooton to finish, he was called by a soft voice which rang akin to soft chimes of bells in his ear.
"Criston."
He turns around and sees the love of his heart, Alicent Hightower. He noticed the stares of awe towards her beauty. He scratched the back of his neck and suddenly feels self conscious about his appearance. He could not afford to buy a new armor so he must have looked horrid compared to other knights. Not to mention, he heard that Prince Daemon Targaryen will be participating this tourney. Yet still, deep in his heart, he is overjoyed. Since with so many knights around them, she still chose to approach him instead. They walked far from the crowd first before asking.
He smiled. " Alicent. What's a lady like you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the spectators' seat beside the princess?" He asks.
Alicent smiled back. " I was hoping you wear my favor for this tourney."
She gives him a handkerchief with embroidery depicting his house's coat of arms with added green vines that surround it. It was beautiful. A clear sign of her favor for him.
He tied it at the handle of his joust. "I will make sure to win the tourney. For you. " He gazed onto her eyes sincerely, as if it's a vow with his life on the line.
Alicent only smiled. Then something unexpected happened. She tip toed and kissed Criston on the cheek. His whole body froze and eyes widened.
"To give you luck. No matter what I hope you will not be injured greatly."
She then curtsied and went back to the crowd.
He remained frozen on his spot for a long time until he heard the cheers from the spectators. The tourney is starting.
With renewed vigor and a grin near tearing his mouth he entered the tourney.
~***~
Rhaenyra
The young princess is excited. Today in this tourney her uncle will be participating and Daemon asked for her favor to be worn by him.
She gave him the handkerchief she made with Alicent embroidered that of a black dragon with red eyes. She spent many nights with her friend in embroidering the image.
Her uncle laughed wholeheartedly at her efforts and told her that it will surely give him luck to win this tourney.
She tries to find her uncle at the introduction of the participating knights. Alicent left a little while ago but she seems not to mind her absence. When she finally returned she asked her friend where she've been.
"I gave my favor to one of the knights."
Ah. Of course. Any noble lady gives their favor to their chosen knights and hopes that they will be crowned as queen of love and beauty.
No matter. Rhaenyra knows her uncle would win this tourney. Then he will crown her as the queen of love and beauty and many young ladies would envy her. She already hold the title of being 'The Realm's Delight'.
Rhaenyra ascends some stairs to a balcony. Rhaenyra finds her seat as Viserys stands in the midst of other nobles, addressing the crowd.
"Be welcome! I know many of you have travelled long leagues to be at these games. But as your king,I promise, you will not be disappointed."
The crowd is quiet and eagerly listening to their king's speech.
"When I look at the fine knights in these lists, I see a group without equal in our histories. And this great day has been made more auspicious by the news that I am happy to share. Queen Aemma has begun her labors!"
The crowd cheers. Rhaenyra felt nervouse and excited at the same time. Her dear mother's labor has already started before the start of tournament.
"May the luck of Seven shine upon all combatants!"
The tourney started with a joust. The first match is between Ser Arryk Cargyll and Criston Cole. The match concluded when Cole immediately unhorsed Ser Arryk.
Next is between Ser Erryk and Ser Criston which ends with the latter being the winner.
At that moment , Lord Boremund Baratheon approaches the balcony on horseback. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"Princess Rhaenys Targaryen! I would humbly ask for the favor of 'The Queen Who Never Was'."
The noboes surrounding them gave varying expressions. Rhaenys Targaryen, Rhaenyra's father's cousin, approaches and drops a wreath on Boremund's lance.
"Good fortune to you, cousin." Princess Rhaenys said evenly.
"I would gladly take it if I thought I needed it."said Lord Boremund.
In Rhaenyra's mind eye, she saw Otto Hightower leaned and whispered in her father's ear. Then she saw her fatehr waves her hand.
"Tounges will not change the succession. Let them wag." Her father said.
She then saw Princess Rhaenys sit down and exchange glances with her husband Lord Corlys. She turned her attention back at the stadium where she saw a lady on the sidelines.
She then leaned to Alicent's ear and whispered.
"Lord Stokeworth's daughter is promised to that young Tarly squire."she gossiped to her friend's ear. Alicent raised her eyebrow.
"Lord Massey's son?"
"Mm-hm. They're to be married as soon as he wins his knighthood."
"Best get on with it then. I even heard that Lady Elinor is hiding a swollen belly beneath her dress."
They watched as Criston unhorsed Lord Boremund from his mount.
Both girls clapped as support for their friend.
"Prince Daemon of House Targaryen,brother of King Viserys Targaryen, will now choose his first opponent!"
Now its her uncle's turn to joust.
"For his first challenge, Prince Daemon chooses Ser Gwayne Hightower of Oldtown,youngest son of the Hand of the King."
Rhaenyra saw Otto shakes his head. Lord Corlys seemed mildly amused.
Rhaenyra then grabs Alicent's hand. Lord Lyman hands an attendant some money.
"Five dragons on Prince Daemon."
Daemon glances at the crowd one last time to make eye contact with Otto before charging forward. Daemon is hit and loses his lance but isn't dismounted. Otto looks pleased. Both riders get new lances and charge again. At the last minute, Daemon swings his lance in front of the hooves of Gwayne's horse, sending both tumbling over. Gwayne is injured but gets up, with varying reactions from the crowd and nobles. Daemon rides in front of the balcony. Rhaenyra and Alicent approach.
Rhaenyra smiled. "Nicely done uncle."
Daemon let out a smirk. "Thank you, Princess. Now, I'm fairly certain I can win these games, Lady Alicent. Having your favor would assure it."
Just then Cole cut in.
"Forgive me my Prince. But Lady Alicent already has given me her favor." He then proceed to wave the lance with Alicent's embroidered handkerchief.
Alicent grabs a wreath and drops it on Criston's lance.
"Forgive me, Prince but Ser Criston is right. My favor has been already given."
Daemon let out a displeased expression. He particularly glared at Cole heatedly as if to burn him alive on the very spot he's standing.
"Mayhaps my wreath could bring you luck instead uncle?" Rhaenyra intervened. It would always be a disaster whenever her uncle's pride hurt.
Daemon then smiled.
"With pleasure, your highness."
Rhaenyra saw her father stand up and left quite in a hurry.
~***~
Rhaenys
The tourney continues. The Queen Who Never Was sat at her seat languidly.
A knight was dismounted and the crowd The tourney continues. The Queen Who Never Was sat at her seat languidly.
A knight was dismounted and the crowd cheers. He pulls his opponent off horse and begins to attack him. Rhaenys even heard one onlooker prompted the knight to kill him.
"And the day grows ugly." She sighed.
The knights continue fighting.
"I wonder if this is how we should celebrate the birth of our future king."
Corlys, her husband said.
"Hm. "
"With such wanton violence."
"It's been seventy years since King Maegor's end." Rhaenys said to her husband.
Someone then intervened and tackles the attacking knight out of the way.
Rhaenys scoffs. "These knights are as green as a summer grass. None have known the real war. Their lords sent them to the tourney field with fists full of steel and balls full of seed, and yet we expect them to act with honor and grace."
In her peripheral she saw her daughter and son, Laena and Laenor,watch the fight and with Laena grabbing her brother's arm.
"It's a marvel that war didn't break out at first blood."
She then saw the attacking knight slams his axe down, killing the other knight. The onlookers variably gasps or cheer, including Princess Rhaenyra, she noticed. A squire then vomits on the side as the dead knight is taken away.'Weak fools ' she sneered at the thought. Even the princess didn't react much.
She casted a curious glance at Rhaenyra's side. She saw the princess's friend, Lady Alicent Hightower, holding the Rhaenyra's hand,watching the fight with a face of impassivity. As if the fight itself bore her and does not incite anything within her.
'Huh..'
~***~
Rhaenyra
As a dead knigt dragged away, the master of revels spoke.
"Ser Criston Cole will now tilt against Prince Daemon Targaryen!"
The fight was quite heated. Each of equal strength. Everytime Ser Criston attacks her uncle deflects, the same with her uncle's attacks. It continued on until one moment she blinked and her uncle is already unhorsed.
There's a still silence before the crowd erupted into cheers and yells. criston went down from his horse and lend a hand to Daemon. With his pride wounded-anger and humiliation evident on his face he stood up and whispered something on Criston's ear.
Rhaenyra wants to run towards her uncle, but is not permitted to do so. She's the princess and it will further hurt her uncle's pride if she gave him her pity.
The the last match for jousting is between Ser Lymond Mallister and Criston. Although Cole put up a good fight it was evident that he's tired from his previous match, which made things easier for Ser Mallister. The match ended with the former as the winner yet Ser Lymond pats Criston's shoulder as a sign of his acknowledgement of his talents.
The next is the melee. Ser Criston won many rounds until the last match t was again between him and her uncle. This time her uncle unsheathed Dark Sister, the Valyrian steel sword he was very proud of owning. Ser Criston chose his morningstar. The fight again was intense and heated. The watchers watched breathlessly at every sound of the clashing between the Dark Sister and Cole's morningstar.
As the fight goes on Daemon released continuous attacks that left Ser Criston to defend. The attacks have heavy blows on them and managed to even injure the right cheek and unarmed parts of Coles body.
Her uncle is mad.
Very mad.
~***~
Criston
He feels tired.
With the morning sun high up in the sky and the unending blows from an angry and humiliated rouge prince Criston feels his arms are like stones attached to his body.
But of course he cannot give up. Cole looked at one of the seats where a certain someone is watching. Of course that was a mistake.
The rouge prince took this chance and slammed the pommel of Dark Sister onto his nose which cause him to fall backward. The prince then tried to Slash his shoulder but he managed to deflect it on time.
He looked at the soiled handkerchief given to him. The embroidered green vines peeking out.
Whatever happened next was unexpected.
As the prince continue his onslaught Cole puts all his strength and will on this one deflection and swung his morningstar diagonally.
A loud clang then the cacophony of sounds stilled. He waited for his eyes to clear from the rays of the sun shining down on him. He then looked around and understand what just happened.
The prince was holding nothing. He then saw the Dark Sister outside of the match circle.
Loud roars and cheers made him nearly deaf.
He was then presented a victor's laurel. He knows what to do with it.
He went to the seats where she was seated. He went up the stairs and stood in front of her. He the put the flowers on her head, crowning her with a wreath of flowers and dedicating his victory to her.
Making Alicent Hightower the queen of love and beauty.
~***~
Viserys
Viserys doesn't know how long he was hugging his dead wife's corpse. Aemma's scream of pain and pleas still kept ringing on his ears. He said to Aemma that everything will be alright. He promised his wife that both her and the babe will be alright.
Promises are always meant to be broken.
In the end, Viserys chose to have his son cut out of his wife's belly, since Aemma has no longer the strength to proceed with the normal delivery of the child.
Viserys thinks he can't forget as long as he lives, how he stood and watched the servants hold his wife down for the maester to make a cut on her belly.
In the end he chose the child over his wife.
'No Viserys... I'm scared please no.. No! No! Viserys no! I beg you please don't do this! Viserys!AHHHHHHHH!!!'
His wife's wails will be forever haunt him both in life and dreams.
"Congratulations your grace, you have a son." Mellos said to Viserys.
"It's a boy?"
"A new heir, your grace."
Viserys remained silent for a moment.
He does not know what to feel. Happiness that he already has an heir, or sorrow because in exchange his wife is laying on his arms, bleeding and a cooling corpse.
Mellos cleared his throat and spoke gently." Had you and the Queen chosen a name?"
"Baelon."
On the other chamber, Mellos expression was that of sorrow.
The babe's breathing has ceased.
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