Betrothed and Embroiled

Posted on Tue Jan 18th, 2022 @ 6:06pm by King Aethan Velaryon & Queen Joanna Velaryon

Mission: The Iron Price
Location: Red Keep
Timeline: 9th Day of the 13th Moon, 404AC

Aethan had requested Joanna's presence before they resumed towards their wedding. It had been some time since the pair had spent any time alone, and the delays caused by the Ironborn had only exacerbated that. He arranged for spice wine and warm meats to be laid out for them, thinking she might need comfort after the time she'd spent with his grandmother, Lady Shireen.

Deep down Aethan felt a twinge of guilt for not being more active in helping to plan the wedding, but he also knew that is was in good hands with Joanna and Shireen. Besides, he had other matters that required his attention before his impending nuptials. Chief among them was the problem of the Ironborn. But today that was far from the king's mind, safe in the capable hands of his councillors and the armies in the west.

He sat at the table set up in the castle gardens and poured himself a goblet of spice wine.

Joanna was eager to see Aethan as well. It had been some time since she'd had any time with him. She embraced him warmly as she came in and pressed her lips affectionately against his cheek. Propriety allowed no more. Propriety barely allowed that, truthfully, but they were in private. "I've missed you, love, although I know we've both been busy."

She took her seat next to him and lowered her head briefly to thank the Seven for their bounty.

Her embrace was warm indeed, and proved to put Aethan more at ease after their long time apart. "I've missed you as well my Lady. I apologize for the distance and for the delay it has caused for our wedding. I know you and my grandmother worked very hard on the arrangements."

"There is nothing to apologize for, my love." She delicately took a bite and a sip of wine. "I worry less about the delay itself and more about what it might portend."

Aethan sighed. "It does seem to be some sort of omen from the Gods." He looked thoughtful. "I cannot help but think the Gods themselves are either testing my right to rule or proclaiming that the Great Council made the wrong decision." He took a long sip from his goblet and then looked into Joanna's blue eyes. "I just want to have a peaceful rule, and do some good for the Realm."

"Is that what you truly believe?" she asked. "About the gods, I mean?" She watches him intently, sliding a hand supportively into his.

He squeezed her delicate hand in his. "I don't know what I believe at the moment." He sighed.

"I believe in you," she reassured him. She reached out and gently took his hand. "Until we are wed, I am still the Lady of the Hightower. Ser Uthor commands my men in the field and they were bound by oath to answer the call of the King and the Lord Paramount of the Reach but I am still their lady. As eager as I am for our special day, you mustn't think my mind is truly on dresses and floral arrangements."

Aethan exhaled, relieved to hear her words. "Thank you for that. Your reassurance settles my mind. " Aethan swallowed quietly. "We must hope that not many men are needed."

"If you wanted a break from those thoughts, we can just spend time together," Joanna offered. "I doubt I have much to say not said in the Small Council already."

"Speaking of the Small Council, I wonder if I haven't misplaced Lord Jonah and Lord Brannis." He took a sip of his spice wine. "Only, that it seems Lord Jonah may have more of a mind for the management of ships and men than Lord Brannis does. " He looked thoughtful.

"How do you think Lord Baratheon would respond to a change?" Joanna asked. "We owe him a great deal. He's not someone we would wish to alienate."

"We do, and I want to be sure the Baratheon's are kept in our camp." He took another sip of his drink. " Besides, I do think for the time I want to try to keep Lord Jonah in what may seem like a menial post, at least until his loyalty is made firm. I wouldn't want to shake things up this soon anyways."

"On the other hand, a gesture of appreciation towards Lord Jonah might help tie them more closely to the throne and heal the tensions left in the land after a hotly debated succession," Joanna suggested. "He has served well and bravely in the last few weeks."

Aethan nodded and looked off, taking a sip of his spicewine. "I'll speak with them both after everything else is settled." He turned to look at Joanna. "Did I tell you I found a crown for you? When the Mereenese jeweller was here?"

"You didn't tell me," she said, grinning. "What is it like?"

Aethan smiled warmly. "He showed me a crown with two seahorses, for my house. They held black pearls and faced a large center stone. It was a sapphire." He turned his body to face her properly. "I spoke with him again just before the coronation and asked that it be modified slightly. The stone will be an emerald now, green always looked better on you."

"Green like Queen Allicent," Joanna said, grinning. "The last Hightower queen. I have rarely spoken to you of the Dance of Dragons. I imagine I learned the history a little differently than you did. But perhaps we shouldn't shy from it. It emphasizes peace and unity going forward and reminds people of when both our Houses were at their most influential...until now." She kissed him.

Aethan blushed. "I also asked that he make a circlet for you, with links of different metals to resemble a Maester's chain. I thought it would be nice for you to have to remind people of your connections to the Citadel and Oldtown." Aethan sounded sincere in his words. "Of course, grandmother wants you to have her Truefyre coronet, as the house has no remaining member for it to pass to, not for years before my birth."

"That's beautiful, Aethan. Most men would have used the tower itself but you know me very well. You remember the little girl so frustrated she wasn't allowed to be a Maester like her uncle,." She kissed him again. She was clearly very pleased with his gifts.

Her affection warmed Aethan and he smiled again. Given all that was going on there was comfort in knowing he'd done something right. His mind returned to her comment about the Dance of Dragons. "Would you really like to discuss the Dance?" he asked. It was true, they were sure to have learned very different versions of events.

"I don't want to argue about the rights and wrongs of centuries old grievances," Joanna said, "but I think it might be worth noting that our union could be seen as healing an old wound. Or perhaps it would be in poor taste with the current conflict. I'm not sure."

Aethan shrugged slightly. "I think its rather poetic." He took a sip of his wine. "We should have word from the armies soon. Hopefully this incident will be laid to rest sooner rather than later."

"I think it's poetic too," she said and then she frowned. "Military victory doesn't end it. If you take the Iron Islands, you shall still have to decide what to do with them."

"I suppose it's too late to name someone else Protector of the Realm." He whispered. "Do you think we have any loyal houses on the Iron Islands? Or should they be gifted to the Riverlands?"

"I don't think Lord Tully would thank you for gifting them to the Riverlands," Joanna answered, "at least not for generations. The Ironborn will never give true service to any but another Ironborn. But I am not sure what alternatives there are. If some other House of substance were to declare for the Crown, they might rule. Harlaw, Goodbrother, no one much smaller or they'd be too obviously dependent on the Crown. Such support...." She sighed. "The first loyalty of most lords is to their family or immediate liege. In the Battles at Summerhall, the Fells, Caferen's, and Grandison's fought for the King Aerys against their liege lord, Robert Baratheon. The Boltons broke their oaths to the Starks to serve Joffrey. The Costaynes broke their oaths to the Hightower to keep their oaths to the man they believed to be their king in the Dance of the Dragons. So it is not unknown, but neither is it common. Have we heard anything of the Harlaws? They remember when they were kings."

Aethan shook his head. "No word yet from any house in the Iron Islands." He bottled up a sigh. "House Harlaw , Goodbrother or Drumm would be ideal candidates though. Should they declare for us."

"Then I am not sure," Joanna admitted. "I would hate to simply let the Greeyjoys kneel again when it is all over. Too often have we given them generous terms and too often have they risen again. Yet I think the Iron Islands would be hard for any other to hold."

It was all Aethan could do not to scream. His reign was barely started and he had rebellion to put down, and power transfers to consider. "I have sent word through our Ambassador from the Kingdom of the North, just to keep King Alaric apprised." He exhaled slowly. "I hope we can count on his support should we need it."

"I hope so," Joanna agreed. "The Iron Islands have as much bloody history with the North as with us."

Aethan knew this, and wondered whether the North would aid in putting down the Iron Born rebellion.

As Joanna spoke the sound of footfalls approached them. It was a Maester Aethan did not recognize. "Your Grace," He said as he approached the couple. "My Lady." he gave a curt nod towards Lady Hightower. "We have received a raven from the West, Lord Jonah had departed the Iron Islands to defend the Riverlands, taking with him the troops of his Bannerman."

Aethan pursed his lips. "Thank you Maester." The King stood from his seat. "My love, I must go." He took Joanna's hand and brought it to his lips.

"Of course," Joanna said with a faint frown.