The Joker and The Queen // Daemon Targaryen // Harwin Strong

33. White cloaks

''Viserys has taken to bed while his ship is readied.'' Rhaenys said as she approached her husband.

'Perhaps I... overextended myself? Pushed him too close to the edge?'' Corlys countered thinking of their talk

'My cousin chose to sail into this tempest, husband. It was undignified of the King to drag himself here and beg for Laenor's hand.'' Rhaenys retorted happily.

''Where is Laenor?'

''He and Rhaenyra are walking the coast.''

''Good. Do they seem... familiar? They grew up together.'' Corlys questioned

''Familiarity is not at issue.'' Rhaenys reminded him.

''Oh, I'm sure Laenor was already taken with her. She's grown quite comely these last few years.'' Corlys offered.

''You know his true nature.''

''He's still young. He will outgrow it. There is no pleasure in the world like... bedding a woman.'' Corlys told her happily.

''We are placing our son in danger.'' Rhaenys reminded him.

''The lords of the realm bent the knee to Rhaenyra and swore obeisance to her.'' Corlys reminded her confidently.

''That was before there was a true-born prince named Aegon Targaryen. Rhaenyra's succession will be challenged.''

''Knives will come out for her, her husband, and for their heirs. Our house controls the realm's navy and half its dragons. Anyone fool enough to challenge Rhaenyra's claim will be crushed.'' Corlys told her with the utmost confidence.

''To what end, Corlys? Wealth? Power? Pride? Justice.''

''By all rights, you should be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. You were robbed of the crown by-' Corlys began.

'I never wore the crown because the realm would not have it so.'' Rhaenys reminded him bitterly.

''And I would remedy that... small-minded error by any means necessary-'

''I myself have put the business behind me, Corlys.''

+

''I've always feared the day you'd have to marry a woman. And now it comes. Your betrothed gives you leave of her own free will to continue partaking of. Was I the duck or the goose?'' Joffrey questioned smugly as he kissed at Laenors chest.

''I've come to meet my fate and you make a jape of it?'' Laenor countered pushing him away.

''Look, Rhaenyra will be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and you will be her king consort.'' Joffrey reminded him. ''Think of the tournament, the feast, the battles at sea. Will you wear your crown today, Your Grace?'' Laenor chuckled

''You're a fool.''

''You will need a sworn protector.'' Joffrey reminded him flipping him onto his back.

''Mm-hm.'' Laenor agreed happily.

''Well, this is better than we could've hoped for. She has a paramour of her own.''

''I wonder who it is.''

+

''Did sleep flee you as well this morning?'' Rhaenyra offered as they had set sail for home. Vaera couldn't sleep, her mind racing with the uncertainty of the future, her kiss, his body everything with Harwin... oh that man. She glanced back at Rhaenyra and Criston from the bow of the ship they didnt see her in the starlight night.

''I needed to see you, Princess.'' Criston remarked approaching her slowly, he saw Vaera and Harwin kissing on the beach.

''I confess I had a similar desire.'' Rhaenyra admitted she didnt know of cristons feelings for Vaera. All she knew was that he fucked her and now was coming to her again.

Vaera couldnt help but think of Daemon though as she gaze shifted back to the seas. His wife was dead... hunting accident her father had told her. Maybe Daemon would come back. Come home.

She thought it was okay to love them both, since her time for love was coming to an end once she was married to Tyon Lannister.

''You have confided in me now and then over the years of our acquaintance. I feel, forgive me, that I, I know you... a bit.'' Criston remarked.

''You know more than a bit.'' Rhaenyra agreed softly as she smiled back at him.

''I've heard you say so many times how you loathe the lot of your position, that you are to be married off at your father's whim with no thought given to the yearning of your own heart, and... now the day comes. Ser Laenor might be a good and, and decent man, but you, you did not choose him. He was chosen for you.'' Criston remarked.

''If there were another path... one that led to freedom... would you tread it?'' Criston offered and Rhaenyra stared back at him. 'Rhaenyra, before I came here, I was a knight in the Storm lands. I have deep knowledge of the port at Sun spear where I've seen the ships of Essos setting sail with their hulls full of oranges and cinnamon and I've always wished to see where they went.''

''Are you asking for leave?'' Rhaenyra questioned confused. "Because you are not my guard. You should be asking Vaera."

''I'm asking you to come with me... away from all of this." Criston countered.

"What?"

Vaera stared back at them confused. Rhaenyra noticed her gaze just as Vaera noticed Harwin coming up from below deck he moved silently to her.

"Lovers spat?" He whispered resting his elbows on the ships edge his thigh brushed against Vaeras. Criston was ashamed of himself. He thought marrying Rhaenyra would clear his Conscience and remove the burden and stain he put upon himself by not going after the women he truly wanted. So this was his next best option and after seeing Harwin and vaera together...

''From the burdens and indignities of your inheritance. Let us leave it all behind and see the world together... where we'll be nameless, and free... free to go where we like, to love as we like. In Essos... you could marry me. A marriage for love, not for the crown.'' Criston reasoned.

''I am the crown, Ser Criston. Or I will be. I may chafe at my duties, but do you think I would choose infamy in exchange for a bushel of oranges or a ship to Asshai? It is my duty to marry a nobleman from a great house and Ser Laenor will make a fine husband. But my, um... my marriage... does not have to be the end. Ser Criston, Laenor and I have an understanding. I've granted him leave to pursue his own interests... and in turn, he's granted me the same.'' Rhaenyra offered hopefully.

''So you want me to be your whοre?'' Criston spat.

''I want us to continue as we began, but you can be my sworne sword instead of vaeras, my white knight.' Rhaenyra corrected

''I took an oath. As a, as a knight of, of your Kings guard. An oath of chastity. I've broken it.'' Criston said in desperation.

''I won't tell anyone..." Rhaenyra assured

''I-I've, I've soiled my, my, wh... my white cloak. And it's the only thing I have to my fսcking name!" Criston reminded her.

''I, I thought if we were married, I might be able to restore it" criston admitted.

"The Iron Throne looms larger than me, larger than anyone in my family. Aegon the Conqueror united the Seven Kingdoms and put them on a path... Ser Criston.''

Vaera knew that criston had slept with Rhaenyra but hearing him declare his... love? He wanted to run away with her. Vaera thought they were friends and now he wanted to steal Nyra away to the other side of the narrow sea... she leaned into Harwin.

"Almost home little love." He whispered kissing her head and wrapping his arms around her.

+

With a labored breath Viserys stepped out of the carriage only to collapse to the ground.

''Fetch the Maester!'' Harrold shouted.

''Get back.'' Lyonel demanded.

''Get Mellos! Get back!'' Harrold demanded.

'Prepare the crucible. We'll need leeches.'' Mellos remarked. Alicent watched as her husband fell to the ground, hoping for death.

"Father!" Vaera shouted dropping next to him. "What's going on?"