#alyafae

it had been agreed that viserra would hold her suitors at high tide, with her grandparents to supervise. well, mainly rhaenys. finally the large doors to the hall shut, and viserra let out a breath before sinking into the seat typically occupied by her grandsire.

Farah felt a blush start to rise to her cheeks at the compliment, but forced it down with sheer willpower. "Thank you," she managed to somehow say with the utmost composure, only betraying herself by unconsciously tucking a loose honey-colored lock behind one ear.

This was not her first alumni banquet. She had often attended at Rosalind's side, a quiet, supporting figure at the Headmistress' side. Then, she had not paid as much attention to her appearance. A nice, but simple dress; her hair pulled back into her signature ponytail. Perfect for blending in among the other alumni.

But tonight, for the first time, Farah, not Rosalind, would be the center of attention. Well, as much as anyone could be the center of attention with Queen Luna in the room. Moreover, this would be the night of the vote for the new headmistress.

After Rosalind had been secretly arrested and imprisoned, Farah, at Luna's insistence, had stepped into the vacuum as the interim. Yet even having the Queen's support was not a guarantee that the position was officially hers. Each alumnus had the option of putting forth their own candidate, after all, and thus Farah would have to promote herself in every way possible.

That included how she looked.

For the evening, she had rented a floor-length gown of black silk that hugged her slender shape to just the right degree. The neckline was modest and the sheer sleeves were capped. Paired with dangling diamond earrings and a matching bracelet that Luna had leant her for the occasion in a rare act of kindness, and with her hair swept up into an elegant coiffure, Farah cut a stunning figure. Yet she was still self-conscious.

glorious, war-filled father. of course he would die in a battle, vanquishing the largest dragon rider of this generation.

never one to sit still, is he ?

rheowyck does not acknowledge the full burn of what father's death means. he only meets the lord's eyes, and the former prince's stance is calm. ever-pleasant. ❛ i assume you are here for your granddaughters. ❜ the twins, who have unceremoniously been thrown into his care when daemon's death had rung through the red keep and lord cregan stark had needed a minder. a privilege, is it not ?

she hated not being able to move, stuck in the bed all day. and when daemon had tried to help the princess move into a chair they both faced her mothers scolding. now it seemed viserra needed a babysitter, one other than daemon and it was corlys who filled that spot. it worked well enough, viserra was still angry with him for his comments days earlier.

A tiny smirk played on Rhaenys' lips as she shifted in her chair with a groan, one hand resting on her very swollen belly. "I am glad you think so, husband," she replied dryly, "for I feel as large and ungainly as a whale. Sometimes I wonder if it is to be twins."

This was not her first pregnancy, and she felt as if she had gained even more weight than she had with Laena. The maester said it was a sign that she was carrying a large, strapping son, but all for that Rhaenys hoped they were right, she knew that such words could easily be wishful thinking.

When Rhaenys had stirred, Corlys was already absent from their bed. She frowned slightly at first before the sleep-induced fog started to lift from her brain and she remembered that it was the seventh day of the seventh moon. Her nameday. No doubt her husband was up having breakfast prepared, or some other such surprise.

So the princess lazed about in bed, one hand coming to rest under her silver head, and waited for Corlys to return. He did soon enough, coming over to her with a box in hand that she immediately knew was her gift. Her husband had taken to showering her with all sorts of expensive presents over the years, and yet pale violet eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the ring.