The Weddings

Rhaella smiled, though there was no particular warmth in her tone, despite her belief that this woman was her bastard sister. "Like you, I thought it would be a pity for you to get all dressed up for no good cause. I have another bridegroom for you, the son of a noble house, and loyal to the crown."

Rhaella watched Vira thoughtfully as she tried to assess her sincerity. "There is no need for that," she said. "You were promised a marriage and you shall have one. Ser Axell shall be granted the manse in the city that was to be Rhaegar's. Though perhaps you would like to visit Raventree Hall after the wedding. I am sure Lord Blackwood would enjoy meeting his son's bride."

Maekar nodded, and ignored the question. "Who was it? Rhaegar and his mother were snuck from the castle before they attacked you, I imagine."

"Daenerys" Janos said in greeting. 
"For once I have no idea" He said. 

Elsey glanced at Visenya, and gave a small nod in greeting. Her wounded neck made it painful to move it much more than that.

"Visenya, you look beautiful," she said sincerely. "Yes, it seems that time waits for no-one. Lissa helped me to get down here."

Visenya could tell from the slight slowness to Elsey's voice that she was quite subdued from milk of the poppy, but even through that stony flatness, she could hear her sister's sadness, and her eyes, though glassy, belied a sense of defeat. In her simple white silk gown, her face pale and emotionless, despite the make-up, she looked like a ghost of herself.

When the Queen entered, Elsey barely noticed, though looked to Lissa to help her stand up when she was told that it was almost time to go out. She looked to Visenya, and foced a small, sad smile;

"I am glad you are here, sister. I could not bear to go through this without you."

Elsey closed her eyes as Visenya pressed her forehead to hers. Her sister's words made the lump in her throat rise again, through the oppressive numbness of the drugs, but she fought it back down. She was about to be seen by many people, and she could not let them see how she truly felt. She whispered back to Visenya, so quietly that she could only be heard because of the proximity of their faces. Her voice shook as she audibly controlled her tone, holding back a torrent of things she wished to say; 


"I... don't know, Visenya. I am... very... far away right now. Please... don't forget about me... when you go away. I fear that... he will be more cruel... when there is no-one left here... to care about me."

She took Visenya's hand gently, and Visenya could feel that it was trembling.

A servant came to tell the ladies that it was time to walk up the aisle with the king. Their soon to be husbands waited at the far end with the queen, since the court had no Valyrian priests to officiate. Rhaella stood with the men, by the altar of Zyraxes, as the king led the three brides up the aisle, to a musical accompaniment. The king delivered the ladies then, taking his seat, handed matters over to his queen.

Rhaella indicated that the three women should stand next to the men they were to marry. Once that had been done, she continued with the ceremony, her voice confident and firm in the hall.

"I, Rhaella of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men and Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, come before the gods to bring three men and three women to you in order that they may be joined in holy wedlock. My husband, King Maegor, Second of his name, gives his blessing to the unions. I beseech great Balerion to extend his protection to Lord Maekar Dracaryn, to Ser Axell Blackwood and to Ser Trajan Waters. I beseech great Meraxes to watch over Lady Visenya Targaryen, Lady Elseyris Targaryen and Mistress Vira of Lower Crinkley. I ask Zyraxes to bless each couple with love for one another and I ask Tyraxes to bless them with many fine children. All this I ask. Now, as all present stand in witness, I ask that the vows be made. The vows shall proceed with the men addressing their bride directly. The bride shall then respond as custom decrees. You each know the words."

She took a step back and nodded to Ser Axell.

Axell took Vira's hands in his and turned to her, looking her in the eyes as he spoke. "Vira of Lower Crinkely, I would be your husband. I swear by Vandaras that I will provide to you. By Zyraxes, I will love you. By Vhagar, I will defend you. All this, I, Axell Blackwood, do promise, and I ask that you would be my wife."

In the meantime, Trajan said the vows to Elseyris as well.

Visenya said her vows, squeezing Maekar's hand in her own happily. As they looked eachother in the eyes and said the words, she could not see Elseyris or Vira, or Axell or Trajan. She was marrying a man that she loved. He had flaws, to be sure, but he was a good man, she thought, and she loved him. She could not help the smile spreading across her face, only dimly aware that she was the only one who was so thrilled to be wed.

With a heavy heart, Elsey closed her eyes and allowed Trajan to kiss her, though she only gave a small, perfunctory peck. The sooner this charade was over, the better.

Elsey was grateful to have the ceremony over, as she almost fell into Lissa's arms as the handmaid rushed to her side. She was guided over to a nearby bench and sat down, with Lissa then hurrying off to fetch Elseyris some food and drink. She did not feel like eating, but Lissa insisted she needed red meat, and once she began to force herself to have some of the food, she realized that she was actually ravenous. She forced herself to slow down, not wanting to lose decorum. That was something she had never previously cared about, it occurred to her. Lissa was, eventually, satisfied that Elsey had eaten enough, and sat beside her, stroking her hair reassuringly, as Elsey began to drink cup after cup of Arbor Gold, pushing her further down into numbness as she watched everyone else.

"Would you want to be fully conscious for... that?" Elsey asked sardonically. "Surely I just have to do what he wants, not say anything and hope that my wounds do not reopen or become more numerous?"

She set her cup aside, realizing she had begun speaking her mind again;

"But, of course, you are right. What others see does matter. It won't do for me to be seen so despondent. Dear Lissa, always looking after me. Thank you. I shall leave it alone for a while."