House of The Dragon:The Rise of the Emperor of the Seven Kingdoms

In the last ray of sunlight, when the moon was already crossing the sky toward its peak.

Jaehaerys arrived accompanied by the entire Kingsguard. He looked at the garden with a calm gaze. There were braziers burning with flames. The Weirwood was decorated with lanterns burning in flames. Looking down, he saw House Targaryen’s coat of arms made of black stone on the ground.

All the guests were already present. Jaehaerys recognized most of them. The Lords Blackwood and Darry, accompanied by their sons and wives. The Princess of Dorne, Mara Martell; Gael’s ladies-in-waiting; Borros Baratheon; Gwayne Hightower; and Harwin Strong.

On the Targaryen side, surprisingly, were Rhaenys, Alysanne, and, surprisingly, someone he had not seen in a long time. Jocelyn Baratheon, the beloved wife of his son, Aemon. Time had not damaged one of the most beautiful women in the Seven Kingdoms; on the contrary, it had made her even more beautiful. Although there was a trace of lingering sadness in the woman’s eyes.

Jaehaerys looked at Rhaenys and somewhat understood his granddaughter’s intention in bringing her mother. Obviously, she wanted to use Jaehaerys’s Good Daughter to soften his temper. Which the king found unnecessary, since he did not want to kill Laenor, only give Rhaenys a warning.

Apart from Jocelyn, all the women of House Targaryen were wearing traditional Valyrian clothing, just as Jaehaerys was wearing at that moment.

A middle-aged, thin man stood beside Alysanne; he was the only living son of Jaehaerys and Alysanne who had refused the Targaryen throne, Archmaester Vaegon.

The king approached Alysanne and his son and stood beside his wife, while Vaegon was on his left side. He did not even look at Rhaenys or Jocelyn. However, he looked at his wife’s clothing and could not help commenting with a sincere look. "You look beautiful in those clothes, my queen."

Alysanne’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. What woman did not like being complimented by her husband?

"I say the same, my king." Alysanne said in a gentle tone while gently smoothing the somewhat wrinkled sleeves of her husband’s clothing.

"However, I was caught by surprise by this occasion." Jaehaerys nodded his head and looked around; he showed a complex look.

"For a few reasons, the wedding had to be rushed." Alysanne whispered to her husband with a happy smile. Obviously, Gael’s pregnancy had been a welcome surprise for her.

Jaehaerys was not someone slow of thought and understood exactly what could make a woman rush her own wedding. The thought of his daughter having been deflowered before the wedding made him show a dangerous look.

If Jaehaerys had known that Gael and Maekar had used the Iron Throne, as well as the Small Council seat, to satisfy their own carnal desires and provoke him, he probably would have wanted to strangle Maekar in fury.

"Humph." Jaehaerys just scoffed, unhappy with the answer, but the thought that House Targaryen was about to gain another member left him satisfied. There were few Targaryens left in the world; the more, the better.

"Father." Vaegon finally greeted his father, who just scoffed again, completely ignoring his son.

Vaegon showed a rare helplessness in his gaze. His refusal of the throne had clearly displeased his father. However, what could he do? He had no interest in the Iron Throne; he just wanted to sink into the sea of knowledge and nothing else.

Alysanne looked at her husband with a reproachful look and squeezed her son’s hand. As a mother, she had accepted the choices of her sons and daughters over the years. She knew better than anyone that Vaegon only had interest in knowledge; he had probably never touched a woman in his entire life.

So, even if Vaegon accepted the throne, there would be no succession, since her son never felt physical attraction to another human being, whether woman or man.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard, and everyone turned to see an old man wearing a heavy yellow robe with the appearance of dragons, towers, and flames on his clothes. He wore a large necklace of bones dyed red.

Behind him were none other than Maekar and Gael. Both walked side by side with their hands intertwined.

Gael wore a light dress in tones of ivory, sand, and pale beige. The garment seemed made of heavy, natural fabric, with the appearance of wool or ancient linen, without excessive shine.

Over her shoulders, there was a pinkish or reddish piece, like a short collar or cape, which created contrast with the light dress. The sleeves had deep red details, especially near the wrists.

The most striking detail was a tall, almost triangular ceremonial crown, made of darkened metal, discs, and circular ornaments. It resembled an archaic piece, more religious than regal.

Thin chains and pendants fell along the sides of her face, giving her the appearance of a Valyrian priestess. Her silver hair was loose in part but also pinned up and braided, keeping the noble and ancestral look.

Maekar, on the other hand, wore light clothes similar to hers, also in tones of beige, ivory, and sand. The base of the garment was a long, simple tunic of heavy fabric with a straight and solemn cut. Over it, he wore a reddish piece on his shoulders and chest, like a short cape or ceremonial stole in a burnt red tone. This red appeared discreetly but was strong enough to recall fire, blood, and Targaryen lineage.

Maekar’s clothing was less ornamented than Gael’s. He wore no crown or armor; his presence came more from his upright posture, his silver hair, and the ritualistic red of his garment.

His attire looked like that of a warrior prince taking part in an ancient rite, while Gael’s looked more sacred and ceremonial.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Maekar and Gael.

Osirys stood before the Weirwood and turned, facing the empty space before him, his figure finally completing the circle of people around them. Gael and Maekar stood before Osirys, facing each other.

Alysanne looked at the scene and felt her eyes well up; she had never had the chance to see some of her daughters marry since they died in accidents or after childbirth. So, finally seeing one of her two still living daughters get married was very special to her.

Even Jaehaerys looked at the scene with a softened gaze. He could see the intense love with which Gael looked at Maekar, as if he were the center of the world for her. What surprised him was that Maekar looked at Gael in a similar way, but less intense, though warmer and gentler.

Osirys waved to the two maids who held, respectively, a black metal chalice on a black cushion and, the other, a black glass dagger on a red cushion.

The two maids approached, knelt before Osirys, and both raised the cushions.

Osirys placed the chalice below Maekar and Gael, between the couple, and then took the obsidian dagger and gently handed it to Maekar.

Looking at everyone present with a smile, with the flames burning around the Weirwood, the braziers, and the torches, he spoke the first word.

"Hen lantoti ānogar/Blood of two."

Those who did not understand High Valyrian did not understand, but those who did listened attentively.

Maekar took the obsidian dagger, looked at Gael gently, and held her face with his hand. Seeing the trust in her gaze, he brought the dagger close and delicately slid it across Gael’s lip; the red blood ran from the surgically made wound.

Gael took the dagger from Maekar and looked at the man who was about to accompany her for his whole life and smiled. She placed her hand on Maekar’s face and, just as he had done, gently cut his lip; the crimson blood stained his lips.

"Va sȳndroti vāedrom/Joined as one."

"Mēro perzot gīhoti/Ghostly flame."

"Elēdroma iārza sīr/And song of shadows."

"Izulī ampā perzī/Two hearts as embers."

Maekar slid his thumb over Gael’s lips and, with it stained with blood, drew a Valyrian glyph on Gael’s forehead. That glyph meant, "FIRE."

Gael also slid her finger over Maekar’s lips and drew a Valyrian glyph on Maekar’s forehead. That glyph meant, "BLOOD."

"Prūmī lanti sēteksi/Forged in fourteen fires."

"Hen jenȳ māzīlarion/A future promised in glass."

Maekar took the obsidian dagger and cut his palm in a relatively deep wound; the crimson blood stained his pale skin.

Gael took the dagger and also cut her palm in a relatively deep wound; the red blood stained her pale skin.

With their hands soaked in blood, Maekar and Gael held hands, the blood running down their wrists and falling onto the black metal chalice. When Osirys felt there was enough blood, he took a red and black cloth and covered Maekar’s and Gael’s hands.

Then, he spoke again:

"Qēlossa ozūndesi/The stars stand witness."

Osirys crouched down, took the black metal chalice, and handed it to Maekar.

Maekar took the chalice and did not hesitate to drink the crimson liquid. The iron taste filled his mouth, but he did not find the taste bad; it even seemed a little sweet.

He then handed the chalice to Gael, who also did not hesitate to drink her blood mixed with Maekar’s.

Osirys took the chalice and turned it, letting the blood gently spill onto the ground, where the darkness was dispelled by the flickering flames and then returned to reign for a few moments.

"Sȳndroro ōñō jēdo/The vow spoken through time."

"Rȳ kīvia mazvestraksi/Of darkness and light."

Osirys showed a satisfied look and spoke in the common tongue.

"Let the couple kiss, ending the ritual of this union of blood, soul, and body."

Maekar held Gael’s face and did not hesitate to claim her blood-stained lips. Gael kissed her husband with the same intensity.

Seeing Gael and Maekar kissing, Jaehaerys displayed a rare gentle smile. At this moment, he regretted trying to separate this couple, but that regret lasted only a moment before disappearing completely.

In the end, these were choices, and there was no going back.

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Note: Jesus Christ, this Chapter was difficult to write.

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/GOTSW

Read my other books:

House of The Dragon:The Rise of the Emperor of the Seven Kingdoms

Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos

Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.

Game Of Thrones: The King’s Court Wizard