The Rogue Princess

Great Council of 101

Harrenhal, the Riverlands

101 AC

Rhaena hated the Great Council, but watched with polite but bored interest.

She watched with amused interest at her bastard cousins, her aunt Saera's sons.

"They truly think they can win this?" Aemma muttered. Rhaenyra and Daeron were getting a ride on the elephant Matarys, Saera's fourteen year old bastard by the wealthiest man in Voltanis, had brought.

"They're not here to win, they're here to make money." the twenty year old princess assessed. "Silks and spice cost a lot here, but are very cheap back in Voltanis. And look at Jaehaerys Junior."

Jaehaerys Junior, a sixteen year old youth who was the mirror image of the Conciliator and Saera's son by a Triarch of Voltanis. Currently, he was sparring with another knight, before winning and then helping the man up.

Saera had a wicked sense of humor.

"He is the brawn and beauty. And then Valarr is the brains behind their entire operation."

Valarr was Saera's oldest bastard at eighteen, and helping run the area where Essosi merchants had set up shop. But he was also playing cyvasse and reciting poetry from far off places.

"They're here to make money, get contacts, and annoy Grandfather." Rhaena summarized. Already, the trio had refused to do anything that would get them kicked out, despite Jaehaerys Senior's attempts, unflappably polite but they laughed the moment the king had his back turned.

"And advertise their mother. Look." Aemma noted. Matarys had moved from the elephants to surrounding himself with his mother's whores (Rhaena had confirmed that Saera had no slaves, all of her courtesans and whores were free, paid women) while telling stories of his mother's youth too gathered nobles.

All the while, the whores would get them nobles more drunk and thus, more loose tongued and willing to spill secrets. Ten nobles had already vanished with the more nubile of the women.

And seven where married lordlings.

"Those boys better have some good moon tea." Aemma murmured, Rhaena humming in agreement.

"Mama, mama! Do you want an elephant ride?" Daeron chirped, running over with Rhaenyra. Shaera was currently napping in the temporary royal nursery.

"I'm fine." Rhaena smiled, picking up her son. "Did you and Rhaenyra have a fun time?"

"We did! Matarys was telling me and Nyra all about Great Aunt Saera!" Daeron chirped.

"Helix the Elephant was very graceful." Rhaenyra added, snuggling with her mother.

Harrenhal, the Riverlands

101 AC

In the end, there were nine contestants.

Viserys, Rhaenys, Laenor, Daemon, Archmaester Vaegon, Jaehaerys Junior, Matarys, and Valarr, a nobleman who was descended Lord Gaemon Targaryen by way of his younger daughter who wed a petty lord, a man at arms, a hedge knight, Rhaena, Aemma, and Daeron.

Rhaenys, Laena, Rhaena, and Aemma were disqualified due to their sex. Daemon was disqualified because he was the second son of the second son.

Jaehaerys Junior, Matarys, and Valarr were all disqualified because they were bastards. Not that the trio cared.

The hedge knight claimed to be Jaehaerys Senior's bastard son, though the king proved this to be a lie and had his tongue cut out.

The man at arms claimed to be Maegor the Cruel's natural son, The assembled nobility did not believe him due to Maegor's apparent sterility, and the noble man was passed over since he was a minor cousin, nine generations removed from the main branch.

In the end, Viserys and Laenor were the main contestants, and Viserys won.

Now, her older brother was the Prince of Dragonstone, Heir to the Iron Throne.

That is today's chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it!