Shiera III
25AC
After the jousts were complete, and the sun began to set, Shiera Qoherys sat down for dinner with Queen Visenya. Like most of the last few days, she sat alone with her Queen as well. The remaining royals, bar Maegor, were in different chambers because Queen Visenya couldn't stand Lady Alyssa, so here she was. Two years ago she would have thought the idea absurd. Eating with Queen Visenya Targaryen? No way! It was not possible. But here she was, eating with her hero, or at least, her former hero. The last two years had been a sort of wake-up call for Shiera.
"How did you find the jousts today Shiera?" She was broken from her thoughts by her lady.
Queen Visenya Targaryen had taken her on as a lady in waiting. When she was dismissed from Lady Alyssa Velaryon's retinue she thought she was ruined, she did not know what she had done to displease her. She had gotten a little comfortable with them but she did not betray them in any way. She felt bitter and betrayed and she wallowed in despair, not even her new friends could cheer her up, the ones who did not abandon her the moment she was dismissed. It was only once her father had arrived to escort her back to Harrenhal that the Queen stepped in.
She had not realized how much she missed her father. She had been able to ignore it because she was having so much fun but now that she was abandoned she wanted nothing more than to return home. She never thought she could miss the wreck of Harrenhal, she really did not miss the castle but she missed her family. She had not realized it but she missed the safety they brought. Once she was dismissed Shiera did not know what conversation had taken place but her father was quickly dragged into a discrete building and once he had exited he told her to return to the Aegonfort. Then Queen Visenya announced that she had decided to take her on as her first and only lady in waiting.
"It was good, Your Grace. I find jousting less entertaining than ordinary sword fighting but today had great matches."
"Then you are smarter than most of this Kingdom. Jousting is more sport than actual combat."
'There it is again, ' Shiera thought as her lady lambasted the kingdoms she was the Queen of once more. Shiera was originally overjoyed when she heard she was to be taken on as one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. She had long fantasized about Queen Visenya. She was everything the ordinary Westerosi noblewoman was not. She was strong, sharp-tongued, capable, and she rejected the traditional roles of a lady. To Shiera, who spent her whole life being shunned by most of those around her due to her looks. She liked how Queen Visenya spat on the society that hated her for what she could not control.
Then she met Visenya. She quickly realized that Queen Visenya had no real interest in interacting with her, she did not host luncheons or tea parties so Shiera did basically nothing in King's Landing. She was just a tool with which to irritate her former friend Lady Alyssa. This realization coupled with some less than pleasant conversations between the two, along with her other friends like Lady Roslin dropping her and Shiera had lost everything. Shiera was in an alien land, with no family, and basically no friends. She had only one friend after her lady friends abandoned her like a doe abandons her fawns when danger approaches. The child of her lady, Maegor Targaryen.
The first few moons of Shiera's time as Queen Visenya's lady-in-waiting had been some of the worst of her entire life. She was surrounded by strangers and people who hated her for reasons she did not understand. She had done nothing, she had taken no action against Lady Alyssa yet she was dropped like a toy a child got tired of. The Queen paid her no mind and she spent most of her days lost, having nothing to do. Her only salvation at that time was her friendship with Maegor. He comforted her once Queen Visenya's true nature was revealed to her. He included her in the games he was making up with all his other friends. He did so much for her in the last two years. He tried his very best to raise her spirits and Shiera felt bad watching him try so hard and her still wallowing. So she resolved to try again.
Much to Shiera's shock even the Queen began to warm to her. During the first few moons, Shiera was little more than a large doll that would follow The Queen around. The only reason that she did not fall apart during these humiliating parades was the shame and anger it brought upon Lady Alyssa. She considered Lady Alyssa a good friend, she treated her like so for many moons. They had shared dozens of conversations and they even spent some time together outside of the luncheons. Then she dropped her like she was nothing. So she took humiliating her in stride, the veiled anger on her face was glorious to see.
Then, once she got more ingratiated with Maegor the Queen began to warm to her. She was still cold, distant, and largely uninterested in her but she began to speak with her more. Conversations like this, dinners in her private solar, most of the time with and sometimes without Maegor. They would speak of all manner of things. The Queen would speak about Shiera's grandfather and she would speak about her family and what she did with Maegor all day. For some reason Queen Visenya was very interested in her family for a few days before she suddenly dropped the topic in an instant. Either way, Queen Visenya began to warm up with her a little bit after they began speaking more. In the last few moons, Queen Visenya even began teaching Shiera. It was not the normal education a lady would ordinarily receive from her time with other ladies but Shiera was not going to complain. Visenya taught her all manner of strange topics. She was tutored in speaking in High Valyrian, she was taught Valyrian history she could have only dreamed of, and she was even tutored in how to manage a castle. Shiera's life had taken many twists and turns in the last three years and now she thought it was finally on the upswing for the foreseeable future.
"So when will Prince Maegor be back, Your Grace?" the question had been dancing on her tongue for the last few days of the tourney. There were archery competitions and a grand melee but Maegor had spent the entire time on Dragonstone. He made a habit of going there at least once a moon, most often times more. He had a dragon so he could go to and from the island with ease. Maegor would just say "I miss my home" and go to the island and stay there for a time, most often with Queen Visenya. ' He is just running from court, ' Shiera thought with a little bitterness. Maegor was her best friend and things in court got markedly less fun when he was not here. Even with her other new friends. She also returned to boredom once Queen Visenya left the city with Maegor.
"He will return soon, I just got a letter from him relaying the health of the hatchlings."
"Alright, Your Grace."
"You need not fear Shiera, he will return soon but you should focus more on your education and less on my son." Queen Visenya switched to High Valyrian and Shiera scrambled to follow suit.
"Uhm, yes, Your Grace. "
Shiera was a little embarrassed with her High Valyrian but Visenya smiled a small smile. She was picking up the language quickly but she was certainly a better reader than a speaker. Getting to read all the different valyrian books that had eluded her for so long was a great motivator. So much of the knowledge she wished to know was locked behind this language and she was finally gaining the ability. Maegor was also helping her, he was teaching all their little group to speak High Valyrian. His lessons in speaking were far better than the ones given by Visenya, though she was better at teaching reading and writing. Queen Visenya also barely spoke any Andal with her. It was certainly speeding up her understanding of the language. It was effectively sink or swim for Shiera. Learn the language or languish in the dark.
Maegor's friend group was also taught High Valyrian by him. Aeron could already speak High Valyrian due to his family so he and Maegor would speak it when they did not wish to be heard. Maegor decided to try and clue everyone else in. He rationalized it by saying "Some things should not be whispered about." It added another thing for all of them to do.
Shiera preferred the card games they played but they did plenty of other things around the court. She watched them spar but she joined them in many of their other activities. From riding their horses around the Kingswood to learning High Valyrian, playing the games Maegor had invented. Her life had gotten much busier after Lady Alyssa abandoned her.
"Do not say uhm, you need to practice more."
"Of course, Your Gace. I apologize."
"Do not apologize, this language is very different from Andalic and unfortunately your mother has failed you in your education. You will merely need to work harder to compensate."
Shiera wanted to counter, to defend her mother but she could not. She was the product of two Valyrian houses yet she could not speak her own ancestor's tongue. Apparently, her grandfather could speak it and so could his first wife but he never really taught it to her father Daeron. Her father said his reasoning was to further integrate with their local Riverlords when she asked. ' Not that it worked, ' she thought with spite. From what she could glean House Celtigar was also much more integrated with Westeros when compared to the Velaryons. Her mother hailed from that house and she never put much emphasis on teaching the language, Shiera guessed she could barely speak it. She wished she had though, it would have made her life here easier. Queen Visenya was a very strict teacher and every time she messed up she would have more stacked onto her plate, though having things to do was not so bad.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"I will be turning in for the night, finish your food and get to bed. Tomorrow will be a big day."
"As you say, Your Grace," Shiera said the words and then turned to her food. She had been so distracted during the meal that much of it had lost its delicious heat. The roasted pork with seasoned greens and fresh fruit had gone lukewarm so she decided to finish her meal before it went cold.
After she finished her food she moved towards her room. ' I wish he was here to watch the games with me, ' Shiera thought as she tucked herself into her bed. Shiera had watched the games in silence the previous days. She looked around the stadium and saw people whispering with each other and she grew envious. Maegor had been more awkward around her since she decided to take her gamble and she was annoyed by it. ' If he was displeased then he would have let me know, yet now we talk less and less and he is hiding on Dragonstone, ' She thought with a bitter tone. She owed Maegor so much and she was embarrassed to say it but she thinks she fell in love. Many young ladies thought so as well but they were deterred by his betrothal to Lady Ceryse. Maybe she would have been too but Maegor had already told her and the rest of their little group of his desire to not marry her. Plus she had no choice but to confront her feelings, she say him several times every day. ' Maegor will never one to lie down and just take a beating. He will find a way out of his betrothal and when he does I will be there to support him, ' She thought idly as she drifted off to sleep in her comfortable bed.
…
The final day of the tournament was full of pomp and circumstance with Velaryon and Targaryen heraldry abound and the excitement in the crowd was palpable. Shiera found herself seated with The Queen once more. Her seating was on the side of The Queen not facing Lady Alyssa. 'The Queen and the king have made up but the feud between Lady Alyssa Velaryon and Queen Visenya Targaryen remains strong' Shiera thought as the two finalists entered the field.
Ser Corlys Velaryon was a striking figure in his white enameled armor. His white horse was similarly outfitted with the white of the Kingsguard with the exception of the sea green present on his saddle. He was a Velaryon and he made it clear.
Next was the Knight of Cinders, he almost looked like the opposite of Ser Corlys. Dark gray, almost black, armor with sharp pauldrons and riding a great black destrier. He had no sigil, as was common among mystery knights so his shield was the same ash-gray his name had stemmed from. Both men made their way to the edge of the lists.
"Good luck Uncle!" The snake said with a smile and Shiera wanted to sneer. Lady Alyssa had given Ser Corlys her favor the first day and now it looked like her favor would carry the day. Ser Corlys did not respond but he did raise his lance towards her direction. Shiera noticed Lady Alyssa's ringlet of sea green flowers ot the tip of his lance.
The Knight of Ash made no attempt to get a favor from any noble lady. It was part of the reason the crowd liked him so much, there were countless nobles in attendance and they were all betting on Ser Corlys. He was favored to win with his experience and strength. The smallfolk meanwhile placed their hopes in the Knight of Ash. He wore no favor and he had no heraldry. By all accounts he may have been a commoner and as the underdog he had won the hearts of the crowd.
Ser Corlys returned to his position and then King Aegon rose to speak. "Great knights! You have shown your valor in the previous days and now it is time to decide a victor! Begin!" He roared and both horses took off at a full gallop.
Ser Corlys's lance struck true and the mystery knight was slammed against the back of his horse as the Lord Commander's lance exploded upon his chest. The mystery knight meanwhile hit less hard and his lance was deftly deflected off the shield of the Kingsguard.
The mystery knighted managed to right himself just in time to grab another lance and raced towards his opponent. They thundered toward each other and then suddenly BOOM the mystery knight's lance exploded with a deafening sound that rocked her ears. This time it was Ser Corlys who was launched back into his saddle and his head hit his horse's rear end. The mystery knight used the same technique he used on Ser Richard. He used his strength advantage to hit as hard as he could with his lance.
Ser Corlys struggled to right himself in his saddle but after a little bit of effort he was righted and the match was ready to be continued. They raced once more and this time both shattered their lances. This time both of their backs reached their respective saddles but it would be the end of the mystery knight keeping pace with the Lord Commander
'He is going to lose' Shiera thought with a little sadness after the sixth tilt. She was a little embarrassed to admit it but she was hoping for the Lord Commander to lose. He had not personally wronged her but because of the favor he carried she regarded him as no better than her former friend. The mystery knight's battle had begun going downhill after the third tilt. It seemed that Ser Corlys had gotten a read on his opponent and was now dismantling The Knight of Cinders. He deftly predicted the movements of the knight's lance and he had not been truly damaged since the third tilt.
Sheira was proven correct when the eighth tilt came around and the mystery knight received a bad hit. He was sent sideways and slid across the entire length of the barrier separating the two tracks. After the track ended he was thrown to the floor and rolled in the mud.
The disappointment of the crowd was deafening. There was almost absolute silence among the smallfolk crowd and cheering among the nobility. It was symbolic of the favor each knight had garnered. The smallfolk loved the mystery knight while the nobles favored the lord commander.
All the cheering ended when a great shout resounded from the fallen knight.
"SWORD!" The crowd roared in delight at their champion.
"It looks like The Knight of Cinders wishes to continue in a contest of arms! What say you, King Aegon?"
The entire crowd silenced immediately and awaited the response from the king. He was the one who had the ultimate say in this matter. If he said no then the mystery knight could do naught but pound sand.
King Aegon then rose to speak. "The two will fight in a duel, until one yields or can no longer continue the match!" His speech sent the crowd into even more jubilation. 'He is certainly charismatic' Shiera thought to herself. King Aegon was much beloved in the realm but Shiera had not seen much of him. Stories that her father relayed to her from her grandfather painted Aegon as almost a god. Able to sway men to his side with his words alone, and if his words did not work then his dragon certainly provided more incentive. She had not seen such a king in Harrenhal or in her time at King's Landing. He was normally stoic and focused on getting work done, similarly to Visenya but less strung up. Now she could understand the stories from her grandfather, King Aegon could command a crowd with ease.
The mystery knight's sword was quickly delivered by a servant and the sword was eerily similar to his armor. The same featureless dark gray, almost black steel typical of Dragonstone forges. Whispers abound about the origin of this knight. Dragonstone steel was not cheap and how this mystery knight got so much of it was a story Shiera wanted to hear.
Then the Lord Commander's squire appeared, Edwell Celtigar, her cousin on her Celtigar side. Edwell delivered Ser Corlys's famed sword. Ser Corlys Velaryon wielded their family's ancestral Valyrian Steel sword, Seascale. It was a hand-and-half sword with a hilt of gilded steel with a pommel made of turquoise and the blade covered in the beautiful ripples typical for the magical metal. 'A Valyrian Steel sword will give him an advantage' Shiera thought with some hesitation.
It was hard to tell who would win. The mystery knight was more physical, he was as tall as the older knight and likely more youthful due to how he fought previously. On the other hand, the Lord Commander also held distinct advantages. He was almost certainly more experienced, "there is no knight alive more experienced than Ser Corlys" was a saying she had heard more than once while in King's Landing. He also had a valyrian steel sword, Queen Visenya once told her that "If two warriors are equal in everything else, a Valyrian Steel sword will decide the fight." She had not gotten to see valyrian steel in action until now, but given Queen Visenya's reputation she was inclined to believe her. All that added experience coupled with a better sword. She did not have high hopes for the mystery knight
Their battleground was the muddy ground their horses had just torn up. It had rained the night before so not only would they have to contend with the other opponent but also the treacherous ground.
The two knights faced each other but waited for the King to give the signal to begin. ' A display of authority, ' Shiera thought. King Aegon took the time to look at both opponents before he shouted "Begin!"
With the signal the mystery knight immediately took off. He was clearly strong, the mud seemingly not slowing him down in the slightest. He held his longsword in one hand and a shield in his other hand. ' I wonder how it will fare against Valyrian Steel, ' Shiera thought with resignation. She had already come to terms that the mystery knight was going to lose. The jousting had told her that the Lord Commander was more skilled.
CLANG the sound of the black sword in the hand of the mystery knight hitting Seascale resounded across the yard and a shower of sparks rained down on the field and on Ser Corlys who lifted his sword to block the downward strike.
Shiera was interested in seeing how Dragonstone Steel faired against Seascale. She had heard much about Valyrian Steel and loathed that she could never see it in action until now. It was described as indestructible and always having an edge sharp as a razor. She thought that the mystery knight's sword may just split in two on Seascale but it did not, it held its strength and so this fight was not decided in one swing.
High then low, one side and then the next. The mystery knight tried several angles of attack but the seasoned knight deftly blocked it all. He was playing defensively this entire time, whether it was due to the terrain the fight was held on or because of his older body Sheira did not know.
After the mystery knight had expended all options, Ser Corlys then opted for his counterattack. With one swing of his sword, he sheared the top of the gray shield straight off. Thankfully the knight dodged out of the way before the blade could get close to his helm but it definitely sent a message. The shield would do the knight no good in this fight.
The mystery knight then lifted himself from the mud, he had fallen on all fours to dodge the attack and Ser Corlys had let him get up. ' ...He is very chivalrous… ' Shiera was struggling to hate the man, he really was a phenomenal knight. She and probably everyone else in the yard were shocked when the mystery knight dropped his shield into the mud. 'It may not be useful as its intended purpose but it must have some use?'
She had spent much of the previous two years watching Maegor spar in the yard with all the different lordlings that were attracted to his talent. She had seen all sorts of unique ways of combat. Maegor was known to use unorthodox ways of fighting, just a few moons ago he had punched poor Jasper's shield into his chest and sent the boy flying. ' Maegor would never abandon equipment that could still be useful, ' She thought with interest. Was this knight just stupid or did he have a plan? She just had to know.
The mystery knight lunged from his crouched position and once more went for an overhand swing. Another shower of sparks and a resounding clang from their clash and this time the knights did not retreat but were locked together, both pushing against each other trying to gain a better footing and push the other down. They pushed for a time before the mystery knight backed off and then shocked the entire crowd. The mystery knight readied his sword to a defensive position and it was safe to say everyone viewing the field was shocked. He spent the entire duel on the offensive, the switch was very unexpected. 'It seems Ser Corlys is shocked too' Shiera thought as she saw the man hesitate for an instant and then reluctantly pull his arm back for a swing.
His reluctance would prove his undoing as the mystery knight dropped his sword and lunged forward and grappled with the famed knight. The mystery knight grasped both of the kingsguard's wrists and then squeezed until Seascale, the beautiful, priceless Valyrian Steel sword fell point first into the mud.
Then the strength of the mystery knight came into play as he pulled Ser Corlys to him and then pushed with all his might. The mud became the older knight's undoing as his feet were caught in it. Shiera noticed that his defensive posture allowed him to sink ankle-deep into the mud. Meanwhile, the mystery knight was constantly on the move and had remained mobile. Coupled with his superior strength the Kingsguard was helpless without his weapon. After the push, the great white knight fell back first into the ensaring mud.
The entire field was dead silent as nobody could believe their eyes. Ser Corlys had tried to get up but a boot was placed on his chest and the mystery knight lifting Seascale from the mud revealed the truth of his situation. He soon gave up and laid back down in the mud. This mystery knight had just bested the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. The Kingsguard were supposed to be the finest knights in the realm, yet their lord commander lost to a mystery knight. After a few moments of silence, the mystery knight then turned towards the King, awaiting his declaration.
"The Knight of Cinders wins!" He roared and there were both cheers of joy and wails of torment from the crowd. Shiera later learned that there was an enormous betting pool surrounding the two and the mystery knight's victory had been a major upset.
The mystery knight then lifted Ser Corlys from the mud, he was unable to lift himself up, the mud was sticky and thick so escaping it when submerged like Ser Corlys was likely impossible. After helping the Lord Commander off the field and then moving to remount his horse he pulled up to the royal box and the King silenced the crowd.
"Might you remove your helmet? Oh, mystery knight?" King Aegon asked the question she had been practically begging to know for the last two days. The knight set his lance with the crown of flowers on his horse's saddle and moved to remove his helmet. What was revealed was not the grizzled warrior most were expecting. But a young face under the helm. With dark violet eyes and short-cut silver-gold hair atop his head. The entire field gasped in shock when Prince Maegor Targaryen was revealed to be the mystery knight.
The only one who did not gasp with the revelation was Queen Visenya. ' She must have been in on it, ' Shiera thought but she was more interested in Maegor. He had officially been known to be on Dragonstone, having just sent his mother a letter about the hatchlings a day or two ago. ' How deep was this plan? ' She could only ponder how they got this scheme to work out.
Maegor then urged his horse forward and then raised his lance. He then placed the crown of flowers into the lap of his mother, Queen Visenya Targaryen. After following the ringlet of flowers to its final destination she then turned to look at her friend. A small, evil thought in her head grew a little jealous of Queen Visenya but she shook it away. She would have to ask Maegor plenty about this whole operation later but as she looked at him she noticed something. He winked at her. ' Oh, ' was all Shiera could think as she returned his smile with an involuntary smirk of her own