Chapter Text
Lucerys felt lightheaded. The combination of the massive headdress over his head along with the overtly sweet scent of the jasmine candles made him feel nauseous. The maiden's cloak over his shoulders added to the already present heat. He could feel swea dripping down his spine and cringed at disgust and discomfort.
He looked at the mirror and felt like he was looking at a stranger.
"Are you ready?"
Luke glanced towards the voice and saw Rhaena leaning on the door. She crossed the distance between them and held her hand out. Luke grasped her hands and looked at her.
"Are you okay, Lucy? Just tell me the truth." She moved her hands to tuck an unruly lock behind his ear.
"I'm okay. Just nervous." He tried to put on a sheepish smile. He squeezed her hand but she did not look reassured. She sighed.
"You look beautiful." She looked misty eyed and looking at her now he could feel his throat drying up. Fuck he can't cry now. Instead he tilted his head coyly and smirked, 'Feeling jealous." But before he could add anything else he felt a sharp sting.
"Ouch! What the fuck Rhae!" Luke rubbed his cheek where his sister brutally pinched him.
'Don't get cheeky with me." Luke rolled his eyes as far as he could at the god awful pun.
"It's time, y'know."
Lucerys sobered up quickly at the reminder. He took a deep breath. Okay. Let's fucking go.
"I'm ready. Let's go."
"We are going live in 3! 2! 1!" Static voice boomed in her earpiece. Time to shine.
"Good morning Westeros! This is Jocelyn Ruby Jane with cameraman Mark Russo and we are reporting live from Castle Driftmark."
A short petite woman stood outside the castle with a mic standing before a camera with a smile that streched from ear to ear.
"Good morning Jocelyn. For our viewers at the home, and those who are living under a rock and don't know what's going on, could you please brief us about the occasion."
The newswoman chuckled into her mic, "Of course, David. We are here at Driftmark to witness another historic event in the history of Westerosi royal family. For our international viewers, the Westeros Royalty, which dates to the 8th century's Aegon the Conqueror, technically does not hold any power over the political landscape anymore after the abolition of monarchy in 1945 but you might not understand how much power they still hold. The current head of the Westerosi royal family, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, ascended the throne in 2015 after the death of her father and late king Viserys Targaryen. She mostly fulfills a ceremonial role today but some might not know she is also the head of Targaryen Iron Co., the world's leading steel production chain. Her husband, King Consort Daemon Targaryen is also the CEO of Targaryen Tech., Westeros' leading weapon manufacturing company. The whole family has their fingers in all sort of business pies. Other noble houses are gathered here too, namely the Velaryons, Hightowers, Lannisters, Starks and may more. To summarise, this is a packed event with some big hot shots."
"Okay wow. That was not brief. Haha. So why exactly are we camping outside Driftmark castle again."
Jocelyn laughed nervously, "Oh sorry. Haha. We are here at Driftmark Castle to witness another Targaryen marriage. Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's second born Lucerys Velaryon is set to marry Addam Velaryon today at noon in front of the Holy Sept."
The news reporter continued, "The Targaryen royalty envelopes news headlines every other week with their queer antics and traditions and no one is more involved in controversy than the Realm's Sweet.-" Jocelyn quickly takes a lungful if aur before continuing.
"-Lucerys Velaryon has remained a controversial figure in the media for quite some time. You can check out indepth our report on the Targaryen saga of scandals at our news website, the link shall be visible on your screens below and today we are witnessing another monumental event."
She points the camera to pan upwards," As you can see, the Targaryen dragons have already started their dance. You can spot Syrax and Caraxes together along with a few hatchlings namely Morning and Tyraxes. The prince's own dragon Arrax will perform the dance of the dragon with his to be husband's dragon Seasmoke, who used to the prince's late father, Ser Laenor Velaryon's dragon- though there are still questions regarding the prince's true heritage and parentage, I might add-"
Jocelyn then points towards the iron gates of the castle and says,"Eric is inside the Holy Sept as we speak and will be broadcasting the whole ceremony live from there. And then-"
The news reporter stops and puts a hand to her earpiece, "Okay. Mhm. Eric has notified us that Lucerys Velaryon has arrived within the Sept and has started his walk down the aisle. We will be now switching over to Eric Lamshire. Who will now-"
A loud roar erupts from a distance and the camera pans away from the report and towards the sound.
"Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my fucking god. Do you see that?! That's Vhagar! That's fucking Vhagar. She's NOT on the guestlist."
"You know what this means right?"
"Holy shit. Aemond fucking Targaryen is here."
Lucerys stood infront of the gate of the Holy Sept waiting to enter and walk down that godforsaken long ass aisle. His legs already felt coltish and he feared he would trip and fall on his face while walking down. Not a good look on your wedding day, not that it is a good look any other day. The media would have a field day with his on top of everything. A dull voice interrupted his jittery musings.
"You look like a constipated avocado."
Daemon stood beside in all his silver fox glory in a fine custom cut suit with traditional Targaryen embellishments. Wait. Can you be a silver fox if all your life you've already been a platinum blonde?
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kepa." Luke released an exasperated sigh.
"You're welcome." Daemon stated with a straight face. And Luke couldn't help but relax at his step father's attempts at humor to elevate the amounting stress.
"Y'know, I always thought it would be twins I'll be walking the aisle first. But then they grew up and I didn't think I would ever get the opportunity to do this." Daemon looks at Luke with a kind of softness that others think him incapable of.
The taller man continued,"Laenor and Harwin might haunt me for this though."
"Oh please, you'll have to watch out for Grandpa first." Luke replied back.
Sometimes Luke too wished for Father and Harwin to be at his side. Father with his gentle hands sweeping his hair back and Harwin always behind him but never out of sight, always ready to help. He misses them, he truly does. But having Daemon by his side is another kind of reassurance. He knows Daemon will protect him just like he was his own. Daemon had considered him his own the moment he married his mother or maybe even before that, who knows. Daemon has always been a man of mystery, holding his cards always close to his chest just like someone else he knows but quickly banishes any unwanted thoughts. Now is not the time for that. He's gonna get married. He's going to walk down that aisle and marry Addam. He can't afford distractions. Not now ,not anymore.
Daemon fixes his bow tie once more and offers his arm, "I'm ready when you are."
Luke took his arm in hand and steeled himself and looks ahead,"Let's get this show on the road."
The booming voice of the High Septon echoed in the great hall of the Holy Sept. Statue of the The Maiden at it's centre looking over everyone.
"Today we are all gathered here at the Holy Sept to celebrate the union of Lucerys Velaryon and Addam Velaryon."
Lucerys stood infront of his fiancé and soon to be husband trying to look as happy as he could trying to drone our whatever the old priest was saying. His eyes roamed around searching for familiar faces and found them at the first row.
His parents were sitting together with Grandma Rhaenys. Jace was standing behind him along with Joff and the twins performing his "familial" duty or so he put it. In truth, they are basically there to stand gaurd in case Luke decides to have a fainting spell.
His youngest siblings are strapped to the chairs with what looks like to be duct tape, most likely Baela's work to keep the from wreaking havoc. Egg has already removed his bowtie and Vis looks like he's about to cry and Visenya has unleashed her golden mane from braids in record time it seems. As much as he feels bad for making them having to sit through this, he's also equally amused.
Luke's eyes wander over to the other side of the aisle and spots Vaemond along with Otto Hightower and a few other nobles he doesn't quite recognise. Fucking slimy old cunts. He wishes he could dig holes into someone with glaring alone. Luke doesn't linger onto the form long.
He spots Aunt Helaena looking absolutely cheery with the twins and Maelor sitting together with Alicent beside them with a poker face so good, Luke thinks she should try a hand at gambling. Aegon seems to have died already form alcohol poisoning with the way he's knocked out. Good, atleast someone's at peace. Daeron surprisingly is also present. Lucerys didn't think Daeron would come. His youngest uncle is always away at Oldtown working at his oddjob law firm thingy. Luke's honestly not sure what he does actually.
Lucerys roams his eyes over the remaining guest, stupidly hoping to see another familiar face but it's not here. How would he be here when you've blacklisted him. He scoffs at himself mentally.
He is startled when he hears Jace clear his throat, quite loudly he might add. Which means, it's time.
"We stand before the Seven for their blessings. May the Father, bless you with strength to withstand the storms." Lucerys has to close his eyes briefly as the priest sprinkles water over them. That was some aggresive sprinkling.
"May the Mother bless you with a fruitful union." Baela and Rhaena throw flowers over them along with few septas that are standing beside the high septon. What the fuck? Who throws sunflower? Seriously, what is wrong with his siblings?
The blade of the Valyrian steel touches his shoulder light and then Addam's, "We ask for the blessing of the Smith for prosperity in all your future endeavours."
Then feels the weight of the Holy book of Seven on his head momentarily, " May the Crone guide you and bless you with wisdom."
Well Luke surely needs that.
"Now, Ser Addam Velaryon, remove the Maiden's cloak from Prince Lucerys's shoulder and place the Warrior's cloak in return."
Luke feels the weight of the maiden's cloak leave him and sighs in relief which is short lived since Addam places an even heavier cloak onto him. It is dark blue in contrast to the maiden's white but ten times heavier. Just a few more minutes. Just a little more. He can do this.
"We ask the Maiden and the Warrior to bless this union with love and protection. Now we will tie the bond of matrimony." The High Septon takes out a red shash.
Luke looks ahead at his husband to be, who has his hand streched out for him to hold in his own. He tries to grasp as firmly as possible but his hands are shaking a little and are very sweat. He'll have to apologise for that later.
The high Septon ties their hands together.
"Everyone present here is a witness to the sacred union of House Velaryon. If anyone objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace. Now, you may-"
The loud noise of the gate being slammed open screeches everyone to a halt. The audible gasp from the guests has Luke looking over the commotion.
No fucking way.
There at the entrance, with his windswept hair and manic grin stands Aemond fucking Targaryen.
Aemond's eye zeroes onto Luke's viridian ones and he smiles when he says,-
"I disrespectfully object."