On their wedding, a sizable dowry is secreted into the coffers of House Hightower. Daemon barely thinks about it. Since the king is credited with the wedding's grander successes, he-- or rather, his people-- handle the transaction.
A new bed is bought and assembled in the prince's wing, to much tittering and gossip from the servants. The thing is massive: a new fashion from across the sea, Daemon says, but really, he wants it to be so noticeable in its placement and construction that Otto Hightower cannot miss it. If it is also very comfortable, very spacious, to sleep and fuck in, all the better.
The rumors, as they currently stand, include no whispers of the girl's maidenhead being taken the night of the engagement fete. Coincidentally, Rondra the laundress is promoted to Alicent's personal laundress, overseeing only the cleaning and mending of one lady's clothes, instead of half the castles. Daemon enjoys tests, and Rondra passed hers.
Much thought is put into what to give a bride. He wants to accomplish several things at once-- to give an image of devotion to his wife, to give her the proper respect her position demands in this moment, and to amuse himself. He consults his own little council of advisors on this matter-- a maid in his employ, a jeweler, and Mysaria.
Since the agreement was made, to set aside his mistress, he has only had her once in parting. They no longer see each other face to face. But Alicent never said he could never speak to the woman again, and her mind is an invaluable asset. Mysaria writes encoded missives detailing rumors and reports, but also fashions and fancies ladies are known to have. She also gives advice for how best to treat a woman on her wedding night, which Daemon finds quite comical; the woman has never had a wedding, and likely never will. Out of affection, or maybe respect, he does not chide her.
On the morning of her wedding, Alicent is presented with finely tailored kidskin gloves that fit perfectly to her hand. They reach up to the elbow in a fashion that is somewhat outmoded, but Daemon suspects wearing them smartly, with the right outfit, may bring the fashion back again. She has also given a heavy necklace made from polished green dragonglass, the pieces interlocking together in the shape of dragons, one head eating the next. A small dagger is also presented to her, made with the same dragonglass, gleaming in emerald. It is small enough to be hidden beneath petticoats and whittled sharply down to a fine and subtle point. A wax seal is presented, in the shape of the Hightower crest, except the tower is a dragon's head, mouth open, fire spitting out. Last, two keys are presented in a small paper box, clearly well-worn things that have seen real use.
No note is included. Alicent will know who the gifts are from. If not all of their meanings are obvious, she will gather them in time.
The ceremony is lavish. It is also very long. Daemon is deadly bored through most of it. But it is a Targaryen wedding, so it is outdoors, so Caraxes may attend. He sits lazily behind the officiant, an aged septon drones on about faith and love and duty and reconciliation. Daemon's major amusement, through the ceremony, is to grin at the bride's brothers, who stand by, waiting for their father to appear and give the girl away.
He does. In the end, Ser Otto Hightower walks down the line of spectators, and takes the Hightower cloak off Alicent's back. Daemon replaces it with a Targaryen one, finely embroidered in blood-red thread. He does not break eye contact with Otto as he does it.
But then his attentions are on Alicent. The Septon speaks a little more, but this is a Targaryen wedding, and those are special affairs. The King takes over, and pronounces them wed, their houses joined, under blood and fire.
A pin is used to prick a bit of blood from the lips of both participants, and Daemon, bloody-mouthed, whispers dracarys. He kisses is bride with flame just feet above their heads, blood on his tongue.
tldrrrrrr.
A new bed is bought and assembled in the prince's wing, to much tittering and gossip from the servants. The thing is massive: a new fashion from across the sea, Daemon says, but really, he wants it to be so noticeable in its placement and construction that Otto Hightower cannot miss it. If it is also very comfortable, very spacious, to sleep and fuck in, all the better.
The rumors, as they currently stand, include no whispers of the girl's maidenhead being taken the night of the engagement fete. Coincidentally, Rondra the laundress is promoted to Alicent's personal laundress, overseeing only the cleaning and mending of one lady's clothes, instead of half the castles. Daemon enjoys tests, and Rondra passed hers.
Much thought is put into what to give a bride. He wants to accomplish several things at once-- to give an image of devotion to his wife, to give her the proper respect her position demands in this moment, and to amuse himself. He consults his own little council of advisors on this matter-- a maid in his employ, a jeweler, and Mysaria.
Since the agreement was made, to set aside his mistress, he has only had her once in parting. They no longer see each other face to face. But Alicent never said he could never speak to the woman again, and her mind is an invaluable asset. Mysaria writes encoded missives detailing rumors and reports, but also fashions and fancies ladies are known to have. She also gives advice for how best to treat a woman on her wedding night, which Daemon finds quite comical; the woman has never had a wedding, and likely never will. Out of affection, or maybe respect, he does not chide her.
On the morning of her wedding, Alicent is presented with finely tailored kidskin gloves that fit perfectly to her hand. They reach up to the elbow in a fashion that is somewhat outmoded, but Daemon suspects wearing them smartly, with the right outfit, may bring the fashion back again. She has also given a heavy necklace made from polished green dragonglass, the pieces interlocking together in the shape of dragons, one head eating the next. A small dagger is also presented to her, made with the same dragonglass, gleaming in emerald. It is small enough to be hidden beneath petticoats and whittled sharply down to a fine and subtle point. A wax seal is presented, in the shape of the Hightower crest, except the tower is a dragon's head, mouth open, fire spitting out. Last, two keys are presented in a small paper box, clearly well-worn things that have seen real use.
No note is included. Alicent will know who the gifts are from. If not all of their meanings are obvious, she will gather them in time.
The ceremony is lavish. It is also very long. Daemon is deadly bored through most of it. But it is a Targaryen wedding, so it is outdoors, so Caraxes may attend. He sits lazily behind the officiant, an aged septon drones on about faith and love and duty and reconciliation. Daemon's major amusement, through the ceremony, is to grin at the bride's brothers, who stand by, waiting for their father to appear and give the girl away.
He does. In the end, Ser Otto Hightower walks down the line of spectators, and takes the Hightower cloak off Alicent's back. Daemon replaces it with a Targaryen one, finely embroidered in blood-red thread. He does not break eye contact with Otto as he does it.
But then his attentions are on Alicent. The Septon speaks a little more, but this is a Targaryen wedding, and those are special affairs. The King takes over, and pronounces them wed, their houses joined, under blood and fire.
A pin is used to prick a bit of blood from the lips of both participants, and Daemon, bloody-mouthed, whispers dracarys. He kisses is bride with flame just feet above their heads, blood on his tongue.