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GOT : Chapter 144
🕑 Added 2024-10-09 09:20:00 +0000 UTCThen the banners announced the presence of the important guests. There, arriving side by side, hand in hand, were Aegon and Daenerys Targaryen. Both clad in black-and-red, both with silver-gold hair, and both being absolutely gorgeous.
Damn Targaryens.
...
Aegon Targaryen looked magnificent with his short hair, purple eyes and toned body, while Daenerys Targaryen looked like a goddess amongst men, her hair flowing freely towards her neck, her eyes shining like two amethysts on a golden crown.
Jennelyn had never seen a more beautiful woman.
Immediately, the entire group knelt in front of them, until Aegon's voice beckoned them to rise.
When Jennelyn stood up, the two of them were no longer alone. Quentyn and Nymeria stood to their right, while Ned Dayne and Daeron Vaith stood further back.
At the sight of the two Targaryens, Prince Oberyn almost collapsed, he took a step forward, and did not even bother with the usual polite phrases which would have welcomed a ruler into their house.
Instead, he looked him up and down with a judgemental air, and finally let out,"Seven Hells, you have her nose, her lips, her ears…it's really you."
"I have returned to my mother's land, Prince Oberyn. Or should I say…uncle?"
Both fell into each other's arms, hugging fiercely for a few moments.
Then, as the atmosphere relaxed, Prince Oberyn bowed and kissed the Queen's hand.
"Welcome to Sunspear, Your Grace. I hope your return to Westeros is as greatly rejoicing as it was hoped."
The Queen thanked him and exchanged a few pleasantries. Meanwhile, a relieved Gulian Qorgyle shook Quentyn's hand as they hugged as well.
"You took your damn time…" Gulian Qorgyle let out, "I couldn't wait till you finally let me go."
"It was complicated," Quentyn sighed, "and the war is unfortunately not over."
Then, Quentyn made his way towards Gerris, and another hug followed.
"Look how little Julian's grown!" Quentyn exclaimed with a wide smile, before seeing Elinor's state. "And another on the way? Lady Dayne, you shouldn't have come here in your state!"
"It's not everyday that one can see a Targaryen in the flesh," Elinor let out, not noticing the two monarchs right behind him.
"But we would have never missed the opportunity to have met one of our dear cousin's friends!" Aegon let out, kissing her hand, "And our cousin is indeed quite right, you should have some rest instead of talking with us, standing up, in your situation. No, this cannot do, right, dear?"
Daenerys Targaryen's attention was focused elsewhere, however. Her face was captivated with the little boy in Gerris' arms, who played with Daenerys' finger as she extended it to him.
The Queen of the Seven Kingdoms cast a sad smile and asked,"What is his name?"
"Julian, Your Grace," Gerris answered. "My wife and I are expecting another. Elinor, sorry, Lady Dayne thinks it will be a girl and we had thought of naming her…"
"After you, Your Grace." Elinor Dayne smiled widely.
Queen Daenerys was caught off-guard by this, and had a brief moment of astonishment before collecting herself.
"I would be honored, my lady."
"And if it's a boy?" the king asked mischievously.
Elinor and Gerris blushed and looked to his right, to an oblivious Quentyn.
When he finally understood what was going on, he couldn't help but shake his head.
"No, not me. No, no, no, Gerris, you honor me too much."
"But you are the one responsible for me and Elinor…and them. It would be fitting, I think."
Quentyn blushed deeply while Nym cracked a grin beside him, amused to find him in such a position.
"I must agree with my husband, Lady Dayne," Daenerys took both her hands, "in your state, you must rest. I will immediately send for someone to help you to somewhere more comfortable."
A few orders were all it took, and soon a horde of servants quickly appeared to help Elinor Dayne to a more comfortable place.
The mood quickly dropped once they had reached Prince Trystane.
Although King Aegon stayed dignified, exchanging a few words with Prince Trystane, then kissing Myrcella's hand and wishing her well, Queen Daenerys' gaze was piercing through the poor girl of barely ten namedays.
Myrcella's gaze stayed dignified for a few moments, but it was clear that she was on the verge of breaking into tears. Quentyn quickly came to her rescue, placing himself next to Queen Daenerys and urging her towards Sansa Stark, while himself staying put, whispering a quick few words into Myrcella's ear which made her faintly smile again.
While Quentyn and Trystane talked for a few moments, the attention shifted to Sansa Stark.
Contrarily to Myrcella, clearly on the verge of breaking, the Northern girl stood proud and firm, not letting any emotion show, although she clearly did bow her head and formulate the usual courtesies.
Just as he did before, Aegon smiled and kissed her hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sansa. We have been told a great deal about you and it is a pleasure to finally meet the girl who stood tall against Joffrey the ill-born and Cersei the mad without flinching."
"Your Grace is too kind," Sansa Stark replied simply.
"Do not worry, Prince Quentyn told us everything about your trials, and I promise that we are not here to extend them more than they have already," Aegon said, looking at the burnt side of her face without trying to look away, "you have been through a lot of tragedy and the loss of your father will not remain unpunished, I promise you."
Queen Daenerys grit her teeth and added herself into the conversation.
"Your house may be a traitorous one, but we have decided to be generous to those who bend the knee," she smiled at her, "and if your cousin is bound to us by blood, he will understand that it is futile to resist against us, and as my husband said, we will have no use for you."
The Queen's words were harsh, but the Stark girl didn't even flinch.
"Yes, Your Grace," Sansa bowed her head, "I am grateful for the mercy you give me, and I am sure that House Targaryen will know how to prove itself merciful, like it has done in the past."
Queen Daenerys seemed satisfied, but Aegon looked wide-eyed at the Northerner. What did he pick up on that Daenerys did not? That I did not?
The King instead shook his head and replied softly, "My aunt meant no insult, Lady Sansa, only that we will welcome the North back into the fold graciously, and we hope that your cousin will mend the bridges that both our families have broken over the past years." He took her hand with his and kissed it again. "I promise you that our intentions are not to wage war, but build peace. It is with this objective that we come here, not so much as conquerors, but as uniters of the realm. It has been a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, and I hope to see more of your beautiful figure in the upcoming days."
With that, Aegon switched to greeting Jennelyn, and she barely had time to register the half-shocked, half-relieved face of Sansa Stark.
Once the presentations were over, the two monarchs were then led to a visit of the New Keep and its brand new amenities by Ser Manfrey, Prince Oberyn, and Ser Gulian, only too happy to show off the achievements of his past year's work.
Meanwhile, Quentyn and Nym had made their way to her side.
"King Aegon is quite the man," Jennelyn voiced aloud.
"He knows how to make himself sympathetic to his enemies, which is something Daenerys lacks," Quentyn replied. "I do not dare to imagine what would have happened if I had come back with only Daenerys."
"Not to mention they are not so much fond of each other as they see the necessity of working together." Nym sighed. "But there are still some years ahead of them! And hopefully the Dragon Queen may be brought to reason. After all, if Septa Lemore taught her religion, she can teach her history."
"And you, Jen, how have you been faring?" Quentyn asked.
"Wonderfully!" she exclaimed. "Oh, the work has been the most pleasant, and it has been an absolute joy working on the Royal Wedding!"
"Perhaps not the only wedding you'll be working on," Nym teased.
"So, you've finally chosen? Come on, Quent, can I be the first to know?" Jennelyn rubbed her hands in excitement. "Who is it? Myria Jordayne? Oh, she was always your type, I know that. Or Valena Toland? You might need a dragon of your own."
Suddenly Jennelyn had a realization and gripped him by the shoulder.
"Is it my sister Delilah? Oh gods, please don't make me and Jeyne call you good-brother, Jeyne would tease me endlessly…"
"Calm down, Jen, nothing is set yet…" Quentyn chuckled.
"But we're planning on a wedding right after the war, whatever happens." Nym nodded. "It's for the best, and we don't intend to delay it."
"So you are looking at ideal candidates…" Jennelyn looked at Nym now, "…and I'm guessing you wish to…interrogate them?"
"I'm not going to let my Quentyn marry the first girl he finds pretty." Nym nudged Quentyn sideways with a small grin. "I think that I have my say in it."
"Don't be too picky, Nym," Jen shot back.
"Oh, why is that? For if Quentyn enjoys his wife, we'll have more time to spend together," Nymeria teased her with a smile.
"You haven't changed." Jennelyn shook her head. "In the meantime, I've managed this wedding well enough. All of Dorne will be here to pledge allegiance to the new rulers, including my father, Anders Yronwood, Trebor Jordayne and Nymella Toland. I believe some lords did have to stay to ensure the transfer of troops to Yronwood, but I think Ynys Allyrion is in charge, especially since her duties have doubled with the death of Lady Delonne…"
Quentyn and Nym looked at each other.
"What?" Jennelyn asked.
"Ser Ryon died in Volantis. This means Ynys Allyrion is the new Lady of Godsgrace, until her son comes of age."
"Well, that won't be a fun thing to reveal to her. Glad I won't be doing that." Jennelyn shook her head. "Poor girl, maybe her mother will go to Godsgrace instead of returning straight to Yronwood."
"You've done a lot already, no need to be the bearer of bad news." Quentyn shook his head.
"Oh, don't worry, I enjoyed the work I've been doing, and I can't wait to show father and my sisters the work I've helped build!" Jennelyn declared proudly.
"Who will come?" Nym asked.
"Father and mother, of course," Jennelyn counted. "Then Jeyne and Delilah, and Fiora too. Maybe little Quentyn if he has had a chance to recover from the cold he caught a moon ago, but he was so excited I doubt mother would let him stay in Skyreach."
"Oh." Nymeria smiled. "Then I'll need to talk to you."
"Well, you can talk to me now!"
"Uh, away from prying eyes." She nudged Quentyn. "It's about your nameday present and I still don't have ideas."
Jennelyn laughed.
"I have a few that could work, perhaps we can discuss for a moment before I guide you to the new additions we made in the New Keep and Sunspear as a whole?" Jennelyn asked.
"That would be perfect!" Nymeria nodded eagerly. "Love, why don't you find something to do for an hour or so?"
Quentyn sighed.
"I'll go find Trystane. Poor Myrcella got quite a fright and I intend to show her that I will not let harm come to her."
Jennelyn and Nym both nodded at the same time, that would indeed be needed, especially since the poor girl was crying into Prince Trystane's lap on the pool, while Princess Sansa looked on from a small distance, without a word.
With Quentyn moving away, Nym brought her into the shade of the Sandship, where she finally put a hand over Jennelyn's shoulder.
"So, you need ideas?" Jennelyn asked.
"Actually, I already have one, but I need your help," she confessed.
"Oh, do tell."
"Well, not just your help, I'll also need your two sisters." Nymeria smiled widely.
Jennelyn raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and crossed her arms.
"What do you need from me?"
