Devotion and Desire
Summary: Nymeria finally lands in Kingslanding, but they are in the middle of a political game.
part 1
The trip from Drone was long, too long, Nymeria had gotten her sea legs but was ill the majority of the time. Barely well, Cedra dressed Nymeria up in a golden dress, there was a blood-red jewel in the bodice, and the stitching was red. The colors made her skin smooth and made her look like she was glowing. She wore a headpiece of golden chain wrapped in her hair, bold with a blood-red jewel.
“You look beautiful, my lady,” Cedra said with a smile, looking over the shaking girl. “Don’t be nervous.”
“They won’t accept me.”
“No, they might not.” She said, now fixing the chain in her hair, as she had a slight curl at the end of her hair. “But I feel like they will.”
Cedra gave her lady a warm smile, and her eyes were wise beyond her years, causing Nymeria to relax as she grabbed her hands, clinging to them for dear life. They stood alone in the young Taygaren's room, trying to settle her nerves.
“Sister.” She heard outside her chambers, causing her to inhale deeply before sighing, as Cedra smiled encouraging her.
“Brother.”
“May I come in?” He asked still at the door waiting for her to respond, as the girl shook whatever nerves.
“Yes.”
Her brother Darvos walked in, and he was in a mustard robe, which clung to his body and made his skin like butter. He smiled, walking into the room, walking with more authority than he ever had before. His sword was nestled by his hand, and his dark hair looked inky under the golden sun coming from outside. Darvos looked over at his sister, smiled at her, and then back at Cedra. “You’ve done it again.” He said to Cedra but grabbed Nymeria's hand, clasping it and pulling her towards him.
“Truly beautiful Nymeria, you look like a princess.”
“I- thank you.” Nymeria smiled over at her brother, and he smiled back. He was different, more confident, more a figure in charge than he had been this whole time on the ship. It was worrisome that he was acting this way.
“It’s the Dornish way.” He said when she questioned him.
There was no greeting because they came as a surprise, but she settled up on starfyre and saw the looks from others. She held her head up high as the whispers became increasingly loud. She knows her sliver hair is enough to get people going, and she kept her head up high while she rode starfyre. She could see the many ladies whispering and talking to one another from the corner of her eye. She wanted to crawl into her skin before she was to ignore them; she saw a man, a big board man looking over at her. She tried to look at him dead on, but she was told to not look at anyone yet. She felt his eyes on her, and her skin burned; she wondered what he thought. She glanced just a second and saw a handsome man; he looked strong with a head full of curls. She gave a gentle smile, and as he smiled back, nodding his head, she quickly looked back ahead. She did not want to let anyone know her face yet
But he saw it
And she allowed him to see it.
She wondered if he would wonder if he found her beautiful or graceful; would he wonder about her? Her thoughts scratched the back of her mind as she did of him. She let her mind wander, thinking of him of his strength; she thought of his curls, softening his face. She felt her stomach filled with butterflies and couldn’t contain the burning feeling within her skin.
Before she knew it, she was greeted by the king and the new young queen herself. The Queen's eyes widen, seeing the sliver hair riding on a Dornish house. King Viserys looked interested and amazed as they rode in with their horses and house banner flag high in the sky. Her mouth was dry, and her voice caught in her throat; her tongue pushed against her tongue as she looked at them. She was trying to keep all cool, but her body now burning from anticipation rather than from a smile and warm hazel eyes looking at her.
“Lady Nymeria Targaryen, lady of Dorn, house of Dayne.” She was announced and her breath was gone, and her eyes saw black spots.
“Targaryen?” Queen Alicent whispered to her husband and king, looking over toward Nymeria with many questions.
“Yes, Queen Alicent,” Darvos said now getting down his horse with ease, as he looked up to her with a dashing smile. “You see, my sister is a Targaryen as her birthright.”
“Impossible.” The hand spoke spitting out the words now glaring at the pair, especially at Nymeria as she looked down at him, with her violet hues.
“She is Targaryen as your king, she is a cousin,” Darvos said over to the young queen.
“Her dear mother was a Targaryen and should be treated as such. My sister, of silver hair and violet eyes, is the blood of the dragon,” he continued, looking over at King Viserys. “And it is her birthright to be here, to celebrate with the Princess.”
“Or to take the heir.” Otto sneered as Nymeria looked over at King Viserys with a soft but charming smile. She unmounted her horse, slowly in a theatrical way, to show she was regal, to show that she belonged. She reached the king and queen and bowed deeply, before rising up to look at the pair of them.
“I do not want to sit on the throne, my king.” She said to him. “I wish to be with family; my mother would have wanted that.”
“I’m sure she would, King Viserys this is impossible, this is a fake come here to take-“
“I am just a mere woman.” Nymeria cut him off, staring at Otto as if her eyes were sharpening a sword. “up here in your lands, women could not be an heir. I know the Princess is, and she is the rightful heir, in my eyes, raised as a Dornish woman and as the King says, but she is a rarity and not what is familiar. Before standing in this court, I would not dare put my head on the pike. I want to be family.” She said, looking over at Viserys. “that is all.”
Viserys looked over at her, almost examining her to see if she is the blood of a dragon. She allowed him to look her over, as she felt her hands were sweaty, she was nervous and she prayed her voice did not rattle while speaking to the hand.
“And who is your mother or father?” Visery asked, looking over at her as she gave a furlong smile.
“Saera Targaryen, my king.” His eyes widen a bit as he looked over at her, and as she rolled her lips between her lips keeping a steady hand.
“Little Saera?” He asked, gobsmacked as she nodded his head, and he let out a belly laugh. “I know Daemon got it from someone, Targaryen’s always wild a dragon and hot blooded too. Come here little one,” he said to her as Nymeria's hands shook even more, and her legs barely kept her up, she walked to the king feeling Alicent eyes on her.
“You look so much like your mother.” He said now pulling her into a hug, and she smiled over at him. “You are more than welcomed in my home.”
Otto was extremely irate but hid it too late for Darvos, he snarled his lip before walking into the king's home and protecting his sister. If he didn’t, who would?
Visery was very friendly to the newcomers, especially Dorne newcomers, while Otto was dismissive, which caused Darvos to make a remark back. Nymeria would share looks with Visery as they were in this sinking ship together.
“They say Dornish people are free with themselves,” Otto said, now looking over at Nymeria as she furrowed her eyebrows.
“If you mean in a sexual way, then yes, they are,” she remarked back with a shoulder shrug. “It’s very different here than it is in Dorne. Women are treated as equals rather than a shadow to their husbands.”
Otto peered an eyebrow over at her as she smiled over at him.
“It’s truly intriguing to see the different customs.”
“You are a Targaryen as you say then you have plenty.” He almost sneered but Darvos looked over at the king with a small winning smile.
“Indeed.” The golden skin woman did back to him.
“Where is the Princess?” She asked, ignoring Otto.
“No doubt flying her dragon,” Visery said with a smile as her eyes widen. “You’ve never seen a dragon before?”
“No.” She shook her head with a smile, and eyes wide in wonderment. “I like to see one.”
“Yes, they truly are a marvel to look at,” Visery said. “When Rhenayera comes, you can go to the dragon pit.”
“Truly?”
Nymeria excitedly asked as her brother smile over to her even though she could see him being worried.
“Oh, that would be wonderful.”
“Wouldn’t it be Darvos?” Otto smirked into his cup as Nymeria stared at the hand with distempered; she couldn’t believe this man was so cruel, even loud about it in front of the king. Dornes and Dragons usually don’t get along. Nymeria knew that as she could see her brother's unease, but she always wondered about dragons. Her mother always talked about dragons, so it was hard not to follow suit. She wanted to be a dragon rider and bond with her mother, but she never felt the bond as she had no dragon. Even as an outcast in Dorne and now an outcast with the Targaryens, she watched her brother play the game with Otto, alicent doting on the king, and the king talking about history. Nymeria sat there in her thoughts as she listened to him with a soft smile.
That's when she heard the dragon cry out; Nymeria's ear perked up as she turned her head to look out the window, in passing seeing a Sliver of blonde hair flying behind them perched onto a yellow dragon. Nymeria's eyes widen in wonder, and a smile big on her face, causes Visery to watch the girl with a smile of his own. He knew a Targaryen when he saw one, and she was it.
She was waiting for the girl to make herself known, and Nymeria could feel her hands getting sweaty. The dornish girl was excited yet nervous about meeting the Princess, who was her age. She knew it might come across as if she was trying to become the new realm delight, but Nymeria knew she couldn’t become anything close to it. She was half Dornish and half Targaryen. She did not belong to this world or the other and never wished for it. But she wanted to have a friend; she was so lonesome in her world. She was kept away from others; because of the stares and looks. No one figured Nymeria would have anything close to a Targaryen look, and when she was born, her hair was as bright as the summer’s rays. She stood out just like her mother, and she knew she would be outcasted entirely because of her mixed bloodline. Dorne does not like the Targaryen as a whole- they’ve been at war and do not care to see one another, and she is a stark reminder of the war. Maybe…now she will find some companionship, and perhaps she will finally be welcomed. She knew Otto did not accept her, and Alicent, by extension, didn’t either. Darvos didn’t even dare to hide his distaste for the Hightower. It was becoming unsettling and unnerving to be there as Visery acted blind to the whole thing.
“Ah, Princess Rhaenyra-“ Alicent said, getting up, distracting everyone in the room; Nymeria turned in her chair to see the Princess walking windswept and beautiful. She gave the group a relatively small revered smile; she was guarded, cautious, and moving in slow strides. She was striking and dangerous; Nymeria's heart fluttered as she watched the princess with wide eyes. Darvos was up first, and Nymeria followed suit as Otto got up. Darvos glanced over to Nymeria, watching her enthrall with the princess, and he smirked, looking back over to the realm's delight. He quickly got up, meeting the princess, grabbed her hand, and brought it to his lips.
“Princess, your reputation truly does you justice; you are as beautiful as the golden day sun.” He smiled over at her as she now smiled back, but her eyes were determining if he was a lying man or if he was spilling out truths. These things usually are men being disgusting, but Darvos was being honest with a bit of arse kissing.
“A lovely thing to say from a man I barely know.”
“And I am utterly stunned by your beauty.” He said with a smile. “I am Lord Darvos Dayne, we come from Dorne.”
“Dorne? Came to kings landing?” She asked with an amused smile, now looking over Nymeria with piqued interest. “And you are?”
“I am Nymeria from the house of Dayne, I am your aunt,” Nymeria said as she stood up to let the princess look over her.
“So it seems.” She said, now looking over the girl from Dorne. “Do you claim the Targarygen name?”She was asking from the house, she was a protector, and she wanted to see what the Dornish girl would say or act. The golden skin girl looked at the princess with a smile as she knew the game they were playing.
“I am; I am Nymeria Targaryen my mother is Saera Targaryen. I am not a dragon rider, but I can and will speak Vaylerian.”
“Well, not all Targaryens ride a dragon.” She smiled over to Nymeria as the girl smiled back. “And we can always find you one.” She teased as Darvos let out a nervous laugh.
“I would like that.” Nymeria looked at the Princess with wonderment but slight attraction.
Rhaenyra was beautiful, a true Targaryen with long blonde hair, taller than most women, and stunning eyes, and she looked at you as if she was trying to figure you out. The look, the eyes, piqued Nymeria as she stared back with her own look. Nymeria was always known in Dorne as having flirty eyes; one look at you and most people would get flushed. When she was around people, most men did want her and tried for her hand, and for them to be between her legs, but she always dismissed them, pulled them long enough for them to desperately want her and she would always find a way to distract herself out of it. Nymeria hasn’t lost her maiden as much as Otto wants to make it seem. She was very to herself, teaching her history and being groomed by her family to be a Targaryen even her father would bound her time learning many things about Dorne. She was well-versed in politics, and she knew a lot of history on both sides. She also knew the North very well; her father always cried about her not being a man because in the Westro she would go farther as a man than when she was born. So now, with her as the heir of the kingdom, she wondered why her father stressed about men and how they would treat her.
“You’re from Dorne; what’s it like?” Rhaenyra asked, now sitting next to her, ignoring Otto, Alicent, and even Nymeria’s brother; she lifted her cup to her lips but kept her eyes on the golden skin Targaryen.
“Different than here, warmer, more welcoming, and the food is different more spices.”
“Really? She asked with a smile. “I wonder what it is like to eat there? And how much warmer?”
“Very. I’m quite cold here.” She said over to the Princess as her skin was covered in goosebumps, the Rhaenyra looked down at her arms, pursing her lips over at the girl. And a bright idea came to her.
“Want to go to my room? I have some firewood, and we can keep warm. Possibly drink spice wine, and you can tell me everything about Dorne.”
Nymeria didn’t know what Rhaenyra saw in her, maybe a friend, a companion, possibly even a better family female figure in her life, but she was happy about it. She dreamt of the day of she and Nyra were close; she wouldn’t figure they would be friends so quickly but she could see the loneliness in the young Princess's eyes, and Nymeria knew her eyes reflected the same.
“I would love that,” Nymeria said as Rhaenyra got up quickly, grabbing the girl's hands and intertwining their fingers together, causing Nymeria to smile and feel her chest burn up. She looked over the group, and Alicent had looked hurt, and dismayed over their hands as her eyes were locked on it. Visery smiled brightly over to them, as did Darvos almost a little smirk to his lips, before covering it up in a cup. Otto looked like he was murderous but he hid it rather quickly as if it was a fleeting emotion once he noticed both girls looking at him.
“Good night father.” Rhaenyra said with a small smile spinning on her heel pulling the girl with her.
“Oh, good night!” Nymeria said quickly as she was pulled out of the room with all the eyes on them.
She wasn’t sure if she was happy or nervous over the poor manners but she was with the Princess…nothing could go wrong….or she believed.
Part 3
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