CELTIGAR - House of The Dragon

Throne Room

The prince lifted her chin with his finger and planted a soft, light kiss on her lips. The thrill of doing it out in the open sent shiver down his spine as he felt her body do the same.

"Let us hope this day does not get any more eventful, then, my lady," the prince concluded.

As he spoke, Lady Rhea felt an anxious lump form in her stomach and she hoped he was right but couldn't help but feel this day would throw much more her way.

Cunningly, she wrapped her arms around her prince and kissed him seductively, bearing no thought, no care to whom might see them.

On an adjacent balcony, Prince Daemon, the King's brother grinned as he witness the young prince and lady in their embrace before he turned to leave for the Throne Room.

"We had better stop or I swear I will get on my knees right now and slip my head under your dress," the prince murmured close to her ear.

Rhea simpered.

"I might find that quite enjoyable, my prince," she teased him in a low, seductive voice.

A flash of desire appeared on the prince's face and his lady laughed clearly, her head tilting back at the sight. They inched away from one another and walked around the courtyard for a little while. Aemond was glad his lady was his for another day, and he swore to himself that, even though he had not killed the Dornish prince, he would kill the next man who had the audacity to court her, to trick her into marrying someone other than him.

Soon, they were rushed inside the throne room by a King's Guard and they were made to stand by the Queen's side, along with Prince Aegon and his sister-wife right next to the steps leading to the throne. The room was filled with bystanders listening to Vaemond Velaryon, the Sea Snake's younger brother, claiming that, since his brother had fallen ill and would soon die, he should be made Lord of Driftmark, not princess Rhaenyra's son Lucerys, whose birthright it was. The Hand was sitting on the Throne, presiding the hearing and it seemed he was adamant on having the younger Velaryon brother state what he had in the back of his mind.

Standing opposite Rhea and the Greens were Rhaenyra, her husband and two of her sons, the eldest Jacaerys and the middle son Lucerys. They all stood silent as the princess was being slandered. Rhea exchanged a sorry look with the princess and turned her eyes on her sister's husband, Daemon, whose hand was white-knuckling his sword.

As Vaemond Velaryon continued his speech, the doors to the throne room opened and the King made his way through the Room. Half his face was covered with a golden mask, and his hand was clutching his walking stick. He looked small and yet walked with such fire inside him the whole room fell silent.

"King Viserys Targaryen, first of His name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm," announced a guard's voice loudly.

The King had not left his chambers for months, almost even a year now, and to see him walking to the throne was a truly solemn moment. Rhaenyra was fighting back tears as she turned to her father.

Rhea's eyes overflowed as tears streamed down her cheeks, her hand reaching for Aemond's who was standing by her side. He squeezed her hand and kept it in his, following his father with his eye.

The King, once he had reached the throne, dismissed the Hand and resumed the hearing.

Helaena was standing next to her mother and her husband. It was rare to see her without her children these days, but something had urged her to leave them with the nurses today.

Vaemond Velaryon interrupted Princess Rhaenyra's speech vehemently and placed himself in the middle of the throne room, for all to see.

"Her children are bastards," he began shouting, "and she-"

"Say it," Prince Daemon walked closer to him, his hand still firmly on his sword.

Vaemond turned to Rhaenyra, looking in her eyes.

"And she is a whore," he spat.

Suddenly, the King rose from his throne, fire in his eye as he ordered his guards to seize him.

"I will have your tongue for this," the King enunciated, raising his own dagger towards the man.

Swiftly, Prince Daemon unsheathed his sword and cut Vaemond Velaryon's head clean off, a loud collective gasp from the attendance resonating as the man's head thudded on the ground. Helaena averted her eyes from the scene, her mother shielding her with her own arms. Aegon and Aemond shifted and both readied themselves in case any uprising occurred. Both princes unsheathed their own swords. Rhea's eyes were fixed on the man's beheaded body, watching as his blood pooled on the floor. She felt her stomach turn and finally averted her eyes, closing them, Helaena's hand reaching for hers.

The King ordered everyone to settled down and the younger Velaryon brother's body was dragged out of the room leaving trails of blood behind it.

"I will not tolerate such speech," the King spoke loudly. "Anyone who dares to question Princess Rhaenyra's virtue and the legitimacy of her sons will have their tongue removed. Lucerys Velaryon is heir to Driftmark, that is the end of it," he commanded.