Game of Thrones/ASOIAF: The Prince of Scrolls

"The king's younger brother. A prince of the Seven Kingdoms. Jaehaerys Targaryen," the herald announced. The man entered the hall. Dozens of lords stared at him as he passed. He smiled modestly as he looked at them.

The House of the Dragon shared a single table. The king sat with his two wives, Elia and Lyanna. Viserys was seated with his fiancée, Margaery Tyrell. The young heir, Aegon, sat with his wife, Myrcella of House Lannister—the eldest daughter of Jaime Lannister and Lysa Tully.

Tywin Lannister's reward for his services was, "A Lannister will be queen." 

Rhaenys remained unmarried, though rumors in the city said her destiny lay in Dorne. The princess greeted him with a cheerful smile. They had not spoken since his arrival in King's Landing.

Another unbetrothed princess is Visenya, who just turned nine. She is the youngest daughter of Rhaegar and Lyanna. She is a young girl with dark hair streaked with silver and purple eyes. If the rumors were true, she was wild and constantly repressed.

Daenerys looked like a porcelain doll; her beauty was enormous, almost unreal. "The purest Valyrian woman in generations," an Essosi merchant said when he looked at her. She was the same age as Sansa.

Queen Rhaella was seated behind Daenerys. The prince was expected to take a seat between his fiancée and the queen mother.

"Begin the banquet," the king said, not acknowledging him with so much as a nod. As always, he seemed more focused on his duty than his family.

Jaehaerys took his seat as servants began serving the most exquisite dishes available at that time.

"Mother, you look beautiful today. Princess Daenerys, may the gods bless me to be at your side," he said, flattering both women. Both smiled at his words, but the princess seemed on the verge of tears.

The princess opened her mouth, but no words came out. Music and murmurs filled the room as Daenerys drank a whole glass of wine to wash down the bitter pill.

'Shit,' he thought. He knew that ignoring his fiancée was the best way to maintain his family's image.

That image would be shattered the moment Daemon interrupted by shouting, "I'm going to kill you." Jaehaerys looked at the door as he waited, glancing behind the table at the entire royal guard except Dayne. 'He must be with Daemon,' he thought. 'Sir Barristan will lend me his sword if I ask him, won't he?', he wasn't a swordsman, he prefers other weapons.

"Princess, would you grant me this dance?" A bold man approached the royal family's table, ignoring all decorum, and asked a woman to dance right in front of her fiancé.

Darkstar, the dangerous men in Dorne, or that so whispered the KingsLanding voices. He was a tall, handsome man who appeared to be physically fit. Jaehaerys wondered if he was as good as the rumors said.

"Of course," the princess murmured as she ran to take the Dornishman's hand. He smiled as he looked at Jaehaerys. Jaehaerys looked at his mother in disbelief. She wasn't even looking at him; her eyes were digging holes in Viserys's head.

'A little fish from High Hermit wouldn't act like that unless he had backing,' he thought, annoyed.

"I wish to dance with my betrothed," he said, standing up. He took Daenerys's hand, which was trembling. 'She just wanted to escape from me,' he thought sadly.

But if she ran into the arms of another man to start the dance, it would damage his image.

He didn't know how to calm the young woman down. She looked like a fawn caught by a hunting party.

"She doesn't seem comfortable with the idea," Dayne said, frowning. "It is my duty as a knight to protect maidens."

"Does that mean my son intends to harm his betrothed?" the queen mother interjected.

The Dornishman searched for a polite way to respond to the queen mother. His gaze faltered as he bowed his head in defeat. He looked for Viserys, but he seemed to ignore him in favor of his betrothed: Margaery.

"I apologize for my words, Your Majesty."

"It is my son whom you accused of those vile actions," she said, not relenting.

He clenched his teeth as he replied. "My prince, I apologize for my comments," he said, turning on his heel and leaving the hall. He could feel everyone's eyes on him.

"Come, princess. We must start the dance." Many lords continued eating, but the situation warranted an exit. "In a world of appearances, we are not allowed to cry in front of others," he whispered as they walked. She simply clenched her teeth and nodded. She was a dragon, not just any lady.

As they danced, many lords and ladies commented on how Jaehaerys and Daenerys seemed to have been born for each other. They communicated in a secret language with their eyes. However, others pitied the princess, who had to endure the touch of a man she did not love

-----

Daenerys looked at her fiancé's face.

Like everyone in the Targaryen family, he was handsome and charming. He had purple eyes and white hair, a rare color even in the dragon's family. Viserys and Rhaegar were handsome, yes, but not masculine. They could easily pass for princesses in a dress. It wasn't the same with Jaehaerys, though. His face was masculine, like a warrior's. However, according to the lords, he was far from being one.

Daenerys thought of Daemon, her love. The night before, they had argued. He had asked her to spend her first night with him so he could talk to her father. She refused. It wasn't because she didn't want to; it was out of respect for Jaehaerys and herself. She was a princess, not a prostitute like the ones Viserys frequented.

She did not want to marry Jaehaerys. However, she also did not want to dishonor herself or her fiancé by doing so. She knew of Daemon's plans: a duel. She was against it, of course. She tried to persuade him not to cancel the fight.

At the very least, she wanted to spare his brother's life. She didn't want to make her mother sad, nor did she want her brother to die, even if he was a stranger. In the end, Daemon promised to spare his life. Under certain conditions.

"The Free Cities are beautiful," she said. Her voice, though nervous, was as soft as the whisper of silk against skin.

"Do you want to go there? After the wedding?" her brother asked, his voice thick. She was captivated for a moment. "Baratheon still alive there. It's not safe", she frowned. But according to Daemon, the Dothraki didn't enter cities.

"Daemon will spare your life. As long as you agree to live there," she replied. Her feet continued to slide across the stone floor of the hall.

"Daemon can't beat me," he said confidently. she blinked at his blind confidence.

"He's the best—"

"Is he?" he interrupted. "You're shaking like a leaf," he said. "Is my presence so unpleasant, princess?"

"Ladies swoon in front of you," she said, flattering him. She tried to shake off her earlier nervousness.

"A few moments ago, you looked like you were about to throw up just from touching my hand," he continued.

"I don't want to marry you," she said. With more firmness than she had expected. He almost smiled.

"Neither do I want to marry you," he said. "There's a girl in the north I'd rather be with," he said, half lie, half truth.

Daenerys frowned.

Maybe it was a bit cruel, but she hadn't expected him not to want her. It was just a game of egos. Someone who had been called beautiful since birth had a certain pride in his appearance. She might be shy, but she knows she's beautiful.

"Is she more beautiful than me?" she asked without meaning to. Jaehaerys had gotten into her head.

"They're different kinds of beautiful," he replied, not meaning anything by it. His hand brushed her waist. "Be that as it may, neither of us will be with the one we desire," he continued. "I don't expect you to share my bed. I would never force you to do such a thing."

"Will you live in celibacy? Or will you bring women to our bed?" Her eyebrow movements were charming to Jaehaerys.

"I am capable of living without carnal pleasures," he said. Not so sure. He had enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh since he was young. It was a great way to relieve stress. "You seem to accept our future union."

"I don't," she replied, blushing. "You'll live a good life in the East."

"If I ever visit the other continent, it will be by your side." He heard her snort in an unrefined manner. "Daemon will live in the north. It'll be good for him. Maybe they'll treat him better than they treat me. After all, he's a Stark."

"The North?" she said worriedly.

"Yes," Jaehaerys replied. "You don't expect me to just accept you warming his bed during the King's Landing."

She stopped dancing. The look on her face showed genuine anger.

"I'm not a whore. If you think it's that easy to sleep with me, you're going to be disappointed."

"I didn't mean to," he said, a little embarrassed. He saw his mother's character in Daennerys at times. He was bothered by the fact that they wanted to send him to Essos, considering the threat across the Narrow Sea.

"Prince Daemon Targaryen, of the houses Stark and Targaryen," announced the herald. Jaehaerys felt Daenerys try to pull away from him.

He stopped her.

"Can you avoid looking like a maiden in love with another man?" he whispered in her ear.

"Are you afraid of what the world will see? Do you care about anything other than appearances?" she asked him.

"I care about our legacy. You may not understand, but our family's position is not as stable as it seems. If the sharks smell blood, even from a small wound, they will pounce on us."