Planning and Provocation

Posted on Tue Aug 17th, 2021 @ 3:27am by Lady Shireen Velaryon & Queen Joanna Velaryon
Edited on on Mon Aug 30th, 2021 @ 3:01pm

Mission: The Iron Price
Location: Seasmoke Hold
Timeline: Mid-Morning, 4th Day of the 12th Moon,404 AC

With the immense stress of the Great Council and the announcement of Aethan’s victory now behind them, Shireen turned her thoughts towards the marriage of her grandson the King and Lady Joanna Hightower. The circumstances of the arrangement were precarious given the status of Joanna as ruling lady of House Hightower. Now came the intensive planning. Who would be named as the new Lord or Lady of the Hightower now that Joanna was set to be Queen of the Six Kingdoms? When would the Royal pair begin trying to conceive and heir? And more important still, was settling arrangement for the wedding and the ensuing feast.

Lady Shireen knew that Joanna would want to be heavily involved in the arrangement so she invited her to Seasmoke Hold for tea to begin the conversation. The table set, Shireen sat and awaited Joanna's arrival.

Joanna was shown inside, inclining her head to Lady Shireen. "My lady," she said cordially.

Shireen stood from her seat, and met the younger woman. She reached out and grasped Joanna at the shoulders, pulling her in to kiss her cheek. "You needn't do that any longer. You'll be Queen soon enough." She smiled warmly. "Please sit." She indicated the seat opposite the one she'd risen from.

"Soon enough," Joanna said with a small smile as she took a seat, crossing her legs gracefully. "We have much to discuss."

"We do." Shireen confirmed, reaching for a bowl of dried tomatoes on the table between them. "And before we get to wedding details, I want to discuss the inheritance of the Hightower." She leaned back. "I wonder what your thoughts were on that?"

"It would go to my uncle, naturally, as the next in line," she said. "After that, it would go to Ser Alixander and his heirs."

Shireen pursed her lips and feigned regret. "It saddens me to think that your natural heirs won't have the Hightower as their seat."

"I cannot renege on arrangements made with Lord Garth," she said.

"No I suppose you can't." Shireen plucked another dried tomato and brought it to her lips. "Yes, it is important that a Hightower hold the Hightower." She nodded and smiled before biting into the morsel in her hand. "Thank the Gods we will not be without Lord Garth's counsel in the capital." As she finished chewing, Lady Shireen spoke again. "Now then, His Grace tells me he wishes to be wed in Oldtown before he is crowned in Kings Landing? Is that what you've discussed?"

"Yes, it is," Joanna agreed.

Shireen clasped her hands together. “Well then, as soon as His Grace can settle his Small Council we can start for Oldtown. Though I don’t beleive we will be able to put off the coronation. The High Septon is very much a traditionalist and I’m sure he’ll insist on performing the rite before we depart for the wedding.”

"Very well," Joanna said. "I have no objection." Absently, however, she wished her ancestors had been able to prevent the Targaryens from moving the High Septon's seat from Oldtown to King's Landing.

“Good, I will let the King know that you are in agreement with myself and the Faith.” Shireen looked pleased with herself. She waved to someone unseen and plucked another dried tomato.

A handful of people fell into line. Their clothing was that of merchants. Each held rather large floral arrangements.

“You’ll need to choose which you prefer.” Shireen popped the morsel into her waiting mouth. “I’ve asked that a mixture of flora from the Reach and the Crownlands be present in each.” She waved toward the merchants to invite Joanna to inspect them.

Joanna looked carefully before selected an understated arrangement. "This one," she said.

Shireen looked on. She smiled at the speed with which her future granddaughter in law made her decision. “Fantastic.” She said, reaching for her silver handled cane and standing. The elder woman crossed to inspect the choice. “Such an exquisite eye. That type of iris only grows on Dragonstone.” She smiled and leaned in to smell the rare flower. “Am I correct in assuming that you have had your blood?” The matron asked candidly.

"Oh, certainly," Joanna said, suppressing the urge to laugh. She hardly looked that young, did she?

Shireen nodded. “I hope you wouldn’t object to an examination to confirm your virtue?” She asked with fluttering eyes.

Joanna frowned and an eyebrow rose sharply. "As you wish. I have nothing to hide."

Shireen smiled. Her acceptance of an examination put Shireen at ease. "My apologies for questioning your virtue at all, but we are talking about the future wife of the King and his heirs. One cannot be too careful." She grasped her cane. "I'm curious how you envision your day? Every woman wants her perfect wedding in the sights of the gods."

"I'd like a largely traditional ceremony," Joanna said, "at the Starry Sept. I think my uncle should fill in for my father. I had considered asking Lord Garth but the maiden's cloak should be in Hightower colors so my uncle better fits the ceremony. Since I am to be examined before the wedding, I don't believe I'll have anything further to prove with the sheets. I would like the King and myself to retire in privacy after the ceremony and the feast."

The elder woman nodded, following along with Joanna's vision until the Bride's last assertion was made."So no bedding?" Shireen was incredulous. "I daresay, the Lords of the Realm will be suspicious at that exclusion."

"You are already...very well," Joanna said reluctantly.

“If you do not wish to have a bedding,” Shireen started, “I think we can arrange it. It’s a progressive choice but I’m sure the High Septon can see the virtue of the choice and reassure the Lords.”

"We don't have to leave out the important parts," Joanna said. "Why give them an excuse to speculate? But if we can make it a less...bawdy affair...They can escort us to bed and then see the sheet."

Shireen nodded. "I'm sure that will appease the court." The King's grandmother was quick to change the subject. "Have you given though to your gown? Many will look to yours as inspiration for their own, after all who doesn't want to look like a queen as they say their holy vows before the Gods?"

"A classic design, I think, much like what my mother wore and her mother," Joanna answered.

"Ah yes, I remember your grandmother's gown quite well." Shireen thought back to the wedding she had attended in the Reach when she was quite young. "May I ask that you wear the Truefyre coronet for the ceremony? It would meant so much to me." Shireen didn't have any daughters, and her daughter in law had elected to wear a Valyrian circlet of rubies that had been in the Celtigar family since before the Doom, much to Shireen's disappointment.

"Of course," Joanna said. "I would be honoured."

"Fantastic." Shireen clasped her hands together, looking genuinely happy for once. The pair continued to discuss the details of the wedding, with numerous merchants joining them at different intervals. The plans needed to be decided now as the wedding was to take place on the other side of the country and many servants would need to be sent ahead to see to the arrangements. Shireen settled into her seat again, the day wearing her energy away. "We will leave the day following the Coronation, by land for the Mander. My son, Ron, is arranging sail along the Mander to the Reach. A small procession of three Galleys will depart from Tumbleton and we'll take the river all the way to Highgarden, and then coach to Oldtown."

"It's...it's exciting!" Joanna grinned genuinely, but then she paused and turned a softer smile on the older woman, who did look tired. "We should probably both get some rest," she said, though she doubted she'd be able to sleep for some time.

"Gods know I'll need it the most." Shireen already looked tired despite the early time. "I think I might sleep a while. Will you join me to pray before you leave my dear?"

"Of course," Joanna agreed.

Shireen pushed herself up and grasped her cane. She reached for Joanna's arm and began her stride. Though Seasmoke hold wasn't a massive manse it did have a small prayer room, with small carved depictions of the Seven in driftwood lining the out walls. It was here that Shireen found solace in prayer.