Blood of Dragons

King Aegon gave a farewell feast in the throne room for the Hightower and Tully parties before their departure from King’s Landing, with Lord Kennoth Bracken beside the Iron Throne and the great lords of Oldtown and Riverrun at the places of honor. The wine passed freely, as did river fish, roast meats, bread, and pastries, while the first toasts concerned safe roads and the recent marriage of Ser Jon Hightower and Lady Lysa Tully. Ser Garmund Hightower let it be known that the newlyweds would travel first to Riverrun with Lord Kermit Tully, before making their way to Oldtown. The cups also rose for Ser Clyve Bracken, who announced the safe birth of his second son.

Lord Kermit and Lady Tinessa Tully then offered a more lasting parting gift. In memory of the late Princess Daena, Riverrun and Oldtown have commissioned a statue befitting her rank, its placement left to His Grace. King Aegon accepted the gift and said that a plinth would be raised in one of the city’s squares, so the people of King’s Landing might look upon the princess they had loved. The king drank to Daena, and the hall followed him. After this, Lord Lyonel Hightower thanked His Grace for the hospitality shown his party and praised Lady Lysa as a new daughter of Oldtown, which drew hearty wishes for health, sons, and a fruitful union. Across the hall sat Ser Aidan Dayne, the Knight of the Twilight, his lady wife, and the youth he calls his nephew, Lyonel Dayne. More than a few eyes noted that the young man and Lady Aelinor Hightower, daughter of Ser Garmund and the late Lady Rhaena Targaryen, had spent part of the feast looking toward one another when they thought her father would not see.

This old matter had not been forgotten by the court. Two young Reach lords raised a mocking toast to Lady Aelinor’s marital prospects, making pointed mention of drifters, bards, and the hospitality of the Hightower. Ser Garmund was rising to answer them when King Aegon called for another toast. His Grace first wished Riverrun and Oldtown safe journeys, then commanded the hall to be quiet once more. And then king congratulated Lord Hightower and Lady Aelinor upon her betrothal to Lyonel Dayne, whom His Grace named before the court as the rightful heir and future Lord of Starfall. Those already well into their cups took up the toast, while others joined more slowly as they looked toward the Hightower table. No cheer came from that quarter: ord Lyonel looked stricken, Ser Garmund was plainly furious, and Lady Samantha Hightower told the king that some servant had misled him, for there was no betrothal. His Grace answered that he found such a prospect displeasing and did not withdraw a word of the announcement.

Lord Kermit rose before the dispute could go farther, thanked the king for his hospitality and declared that the hall would drink to whatever blessing His Grace wished to bestow. While the king’s attention was turned, Ser Garmund took Lady Aelinor by the arm and left the throne room in a fury. Lady Samantha followed, attempting to speak to her good-brother about the matter, and Ser Aidan went after them soon afterward. Lord Bracken, who had watched the several parties closely, spoke aloud of another match to strengthen the realm’s peace with Dorne and invoked the memory of King Baelor, and some wondered if there was some heir or heiress he hoped to betroth one of his children to.,

Music was called for, and Lord Kermit urged the court to its feet; the dancing began, the feast continued, and Lord Lyonel Hightower remained near the king. By the end, no more had been said about the matter for the ears of those beyond the high table… but never the less, King Aegon had taken up this youth of dubious parentage and decided to champion him as heir to one of Dorne’s most storied and powerful seats, despite his claim having been abandoned in Sunspear.

The following day, the Tullys departed King’s Landing for Riverrun with Ser Jon and Lady Lysa. Lady Samantha Hightower went with them under a guard of honor led by Ser Ryam Greyjoy, being curious to see Riverrun for herself. Lord Lyonel Hightower, his heir Ser Bradwell Hightower, Ser Garmund, and much of the remaining Hightower wedding train took ship instead, beginning the long southern passage back to Oldtown. Not with them, however, was Aelinor Hightower. What further conversations took place late into the night is unclear, but when the feast was done at dawn, the maid was told she would be a lady-in-waiting to the Princess Mariah of Dorne.