Jaenyx agreed upon the wedding with Lady Visenya to take place by the week's end and that the ceremony will take place within the Targaryen's castle in the presence of their vassals. While they settled upon most of the intricate details of the ceremony including the choice of wine (Arbor gold), Jaenyx had issues with two customs that the Targaryens and other Westerosi lords practiced.
"You want my ceremony to be conducted by some fat fool dressed in rich robes who preaches about some imaginary deities? Surely you jest, Lord Targaryen." Although he had little knowledge of Westeros' belief system called the Faith of the Seven, he could sense the man-made nature of it and would not tolerate having to stoop so low as to allow one of its preachers, a "septon" as they were called, oversee his wedding vows.
"I will be honest with you, Lord Belaerys. I don't really profess strong belief in the Faith, as I see the septons and septas just as greedy and hot-tempered like the lords they say they're different from. But if our family continued to express devotion to Valyria's gods from the time Aenar Targaryen came to Dragonstone, our position would have been more precarious as the Blackwater Bay is full of houses devoted to the Faith. One of our vassals, the Sunglasses as you may be aware, is one of those houses and I cannot ignore the three hundred fighting men they command."
Jaenyx could not argue with Lord Targaryen's pragmatism, which was important for Valyria's remnants in the face of a world that had tried to erase their presence from existence after the Doom. At the same time, he could not understand why the Targaryens could countenance people that saw Valyrian customs and magic as abominations, and they had dragons named after three of Valyria's gods! It was as if the Targaryens became superficial in their preservation of their Valyrian roots and adopted a way of life inimical to that of the Valyrians. As much as Jaenyx liked Rhaenys and could see both of them being friends over their appreciation of music, she and her brothers were too Westerosi for his taste and acclimatized to the ways of a society rooted in an institution that he was sure was created to squeeze more coin from regular folk. Seeing them speak the common tongue as their first tongue was disconcerting to him, as that was further proof of how they truly saw themselves.
"Furthermore, if I don't have a septon oversee your vows at the wedding, that might be a slight to the guests from the Blackwater Bay that I will invite."
Jaenyx shook his head. "I don't need a large ceremony and certainly don't need the people who will be attending to be of those who don't hold Valyrian blood in their veins."
Lord Targaryen became exasperated. "This is the one of the concerns that come with being a lord. Not only do I have people under me that I am responsible for, I have external concerns that require diplomatic approaches. I am not naive to believe that the dragons will get everything I need from the rest of the Blackwater Bay, as I cannot expect to get the additional grain and livestock that cannot be grown on Dragonstone without meeting halfway with those I deal with. My wife's family, the Velaryons, and our other Valyrian vassals in the Celtigars would tolerate a ceremony devoted to Valyria's gods, but the others who come most surely won't. Also, having many guests at the ceremony will communicate to the other lords that my daughter is taken and the proposals for her hand will stop."
Again, Jaenyx could not dispute his reasonings. At the same time, he could not believe how much the Targaryens compromised with their Valyrian roots to appease those inhabiting a backwater. He also caught how Lord Targaryen talked about being a lord, implying that he still saw him a green boy. I'm nine and ten. Of course he'll think that.
Jaenyx decided to apply his reasonings back to his face. "You're absolutely right. Even those with dragonblood have to exhibit tact with those he or she chooses to negotiate with. With that said, I have responsibilities to myself and my people. We never had much interaction with the rest of the world, getting what we needed such as livestock and timber from the shores of Sothoryos since nobody of importance inhabited that continent. Our ease in getting supplies from the Sothoryosi wilderness, made much easier with Cloudwynd, allowed us to remain rooted in the ways of Valyria and you of all people, Lord Targaryen, should know how proud Valyrians can be."
Lord Targaryen continued to listen, but kept a neutral face.
Jaenyx continued. "What do you think will happen if I allowed this septon to oversee my wedding vows? I will certainly lose the respect and affection that I have had to gain through blood and sweat from those that trusted me enough to cross the narrow sea to this island. The only reason why my people tolerate your family is because they've seen your children ride the dragons, which only those with dragonblood could do. However, having this septon at my wedding would be one step too far since they wouldn't dare stand for the beliefs of Westerosi mongrels. You'll be facing unrest from your new residents before the year is out."
Lord Targaryen absorbed his words, him not thinking through the situation from Jaenyx's eyes evident. He could see that Lord Targaryen did not like this predicament, the self accustomed with the ways of Westerosi nobility clashing against the self that longed for closeness with the Targaryens' Valyrian origins. Besides Visenya, Jaenyx could see that Lord Targaryen was the most affinitive with Valyria's history and traditions, his switching between the common tongue and High Valyrian more comfortable than with Aegon and Rhaenys. He didn't know what to think of their half-brother Orys Baratheon, as he obviously could comprehend High Valyrian but was a complete Westerosi.
"If not by a septon, who would oversee the wedding vows?"
Jaenyx relaxed, pleased that Lord Targaryen let his Valyrian self freeing him from his Westerosi ways of thinking. "The head of the Leniars is my cousin, his father being my mother's brother. Besides being well-versed in blood magic, he presided over dozens of weddings in the Valyrian tradition, with the essence of Valyrian gods present along with fire."
Lord Targaryen's eyes widened, knowing full well what he was referring to. "Are you referring to the ways of the Lord of Light, R'hillor?"
Jaenyx shook his head. "I've heard of them. While those red priests adopted the flame aspect of Valyria's gods, they removed them from their beliefs. Worshipping flames is worthless without dragons or their essence, a perversion that has apparently spread to much of Essos. My cousin will preside over the wedding, with either Cloudwynd or Vhagar being there to represent the gods, and your daughter and I will marry in a fashion befitting that of true dragonlords. That is non-negotiable, Lord Targaryen, and I will not stoop to the ways of Westerosi half-breeds!"
Jaenyx felt his dragon temper revealing itself just for a moment at that last word. Usually in control of his emotions, no one could deny he had dragonblood when he finally allowed it into the open.
Lord Targareyen also saw this, which Jaenyx saw made him more careful in his deliberation. From what he gathered, worshiping the Lord of Light was frowned upon in Westeros. Then again, anything related to the wonders of Valyria was frowned upon. No wonder this fucking continent is a breeding ground of close-minded simpletons.
Lord Targaryen took a few moments before nodding. "Very well. I will allow your cousin to preside over the wedding, but I will have to limit the attendees to those of my vassals and your people to prevent as much slight from being felt as possible." Jaenyx gave him a look that communicated his indifference. "Also, since the wedding will not incorporate Westerosi traditions, I'm guessing you don't want a bedding ceremony to occur?"
From what he gathered about a bedding, Jaenyx was unsure if his opinion for Westerosi customs couldn't sink any lower. "I have no illusions as to how this betrothal came about, so I have no need for drunks saying otherwise. But I'll be damned if I let scoundrels and bitches touch my wife and I and tear at our clothes. As she will be my wife, I intend to make your daughter mine and mine alone, and I am sure that Lady Visenya feels the same. The most I will allow is for her brothers and Lady Rhaenys to accompany us to our chambers after the feast, so they are her family and soon, my family also. There, Lady Visenya and I will consummate our marriage in private."
Lord Targaryen knew that there was no budging him on that and decided to accept it. "I'll probably won't hear the end of it from my vassals after the wedding is done. But I accept these arrangements."
Jaenyx slapped his hand lightly on the table, satisfied that his conditions were met. "Well, I'm glad that this productive discussion led to our mutual satisfaction. I shall make the necessary preparations for the wedding and look forward to my time with your daughter from here on." Dipping his head, he left the solar and decided to talk a walk around the castle.
Lord Targaryen is a very intelligent man, understanding that there are consequences behind every action, and certainly responsible. I can see him trying to grasp his Valyrian roots and sense the longing for him to be what his family was, but he's too set in the ways of Westeros, a land where the magic of dragons cannot hope to survive. What made him like this? Jaenyx pondered as he rode towards the portions of Dragonstone that were granted to his people. He would have to look into it more closely, as he got the impression that Lord Targaryen would not be so considerate about the thoughts of Westerosi lords unless there was an underlying reason to it.
Jaenyx had affinity for Valyria's gods and sought to be married in true Valyrian customs. Yet, despite his insistence on how the ceremony was conducted, he personally saw belief as an indulgence. The gods were appropriately nonexistent when the Red Death swept through the Basilisk Isles and made nine out of ten people die slowly, with blood coming out of their orifices and their skin shredding like parchment. He saw his own father, Auryon Belaerys, slowly decay over a month and he could still remember when he lost his voice after screaming so much. He was three and ten at the time and had already seen his older brother, Gaerys or "Gary" as he called him, die when Ghiscari pirates invaded the Isles and put an arrow through his throat before being repelled by the Tarareons and others who took up arms. Gary choking on his blood and Jaenyx trying to pull the arrow out before seeing the light leave his eyes filled his dreams in some nights.
Out of thirty thousand people who inhabited the Basilisk Isles, two thousand were killed by the Ghiscari while the Red Death took most of the rest. Jaenyx nearly died himself of the Red Death, the pain of his shredding skin and the sight of his blood oozing out of his pores still clear as day to him. However, his mother was unwilling to see her last child die and performed a blood ritual accompanied with fire. He immediately became cured of his terrible affliction, but his mother stepped into the flames and was erased from existence. "Only death can pay for life" were her final words before giving him a last smile, a smile he longed to see and burned into his memory.
The prospect of taking his own life called at his door, with Jaenyx asking why he was still alive making suicide all the more tempting. However, his teacher, Master Konno Haru, told him something that was common among warriors in Nihon, one of the three major lands of Yi-Ti: fumeiyo yori shi, which meant "death before dishonor." Although he did not understand at first, Master Haru said to Jaenyx that a mother had a duty to her children and he said that his mother would have rather died than to see her last child perish before her. A hard lesson to accept, he ended thoughts about taking his life and rose up from ruin. If it was his time to die, Jaenyx would accept it. But he would not dishonor his mother's sacrifice by giving up.
As his father and brother always liked to say: "Skoros morghot vestri? Tubī daor." So before death took him, he would prove himself worthy of his mother's sacrifice.
"Lord Belaerys!" Jaenyx heard someone call out to him. To his surprise, he found Lady Visenya walking towards him, seeing more sway in her hips than usual. She also had a grin that became more obvious as she got closer, as if happy to see him. What does she want from me?
"I trust that your discussion with my father went well?" Lady Visenya was now speaking in High Valyrian instead of the common tongue, which caught Jaenyx off-guard. She also held out her right hand, expecting him to kiss it. Men even from the Basilisk Isles greeted women that way, especially those of noble blood. And yet, Jaenyx became more uneasy at how… lady-like she was in approaching him now, as he knew that she cared very little about proper etiquette.
Jaenyx took her hand and kissed it. "Lady Visenya. I have had a productive conversation with your father. We agreed on the date of the wedding and other matters."
"Is that so?" She expressed interest. "When are we to marry?"
"By the week's end, in this castle." Jaenyx saw no point in not telling, as she would be aware of it anyways.
"I am pleased to hear that, as that's only four days from now. Waiting a long time for a simple ceremony to be completed can increase one's anxiousness, so it's best if we just marry as soon as possible." She wore a bright smile on her face, which didn't help make the conversation easier for Jaenyx. "Where are you headed right now, Lord Belaerys?"
"Nowhere in particular. I am just walking around the castle," Jaenyx admitted.
"How about we walk to the training yard? I heard from my dear sister that you were interested in me after she told you that I am good at swordplay. I would like to show you some skills I have."
Jaenyx was surprised at how direct she was in asking him that. Well, that's one thing we have in common. We cut to the chase.
As they walked together to the training yard, Jaenyx saw that Visenya was more loose in walking posture and she grinned. This was not like the hard woman he first saw at the clearing, who looked ready to disembowel him while remaining calm about it. Granted, she was not grabbing at him and squeezing the life out of him like some smitten girl, but she was being too eager when she had him accompany her to the training yard.
Jaenyx saw Aegon and Orys sparring with who he assumed was the castle's master-at-arms. A large man who wore riding leathers, he took on Aegon and Orys one at a time. Jaenyx observed how the both of them fought, which was quite similar and the only difference being in strength. Aegon tried to overcome his opponent with thrusts and parries, using his strength to hammer down on his opponent's sword and push against him with his upper body. The one thing that Jaenyx saw that Aegon was doing correctly was his footwork, as he was firmly placed on the ground and would not budge easily against the other's attacks.
As for Orys, Jaenyx saw a man whose strength only came from being tall. He reckoned him being at least six feet and five inches, easily towering Aegon and himself. His gray tunic and leather vest just barely covered his massive chest and abdomen, which wasn't purely muscle. Instead of a sword, he saw Orys fighting the master-at-arms with a wooden war hammer, an apt tool for ones seeking to use brute strength. Jaenyx only saw strike after strike with Orys. He's strong, but he's not imaginative. He started to doubt how this man came from dragonblood, since Lord Targaryen was at least intelligent and he did not see that with Orys.
Aegon and Orys strived to be knights, which made them limited in how they fought. They believed strength was the deciding factor in any battle and that the mark of a great warrior was beating their opponent using the skills they also knew. More seriously, they took these spars too lightly, with Orys grabbing the wooden sword of the master-at-arms and Aegon simply shrugging off the blows to his body. These two will get crushed if they ever fought Master Haru.
Jaenyx learned how to wield a sword from Master Konno Haru, who was a warrior back in Nihon. He stressed how a sword was to be treated as an extension of one's soul, something that personified the self. Whether in training or in battle, Master Haru taught Jaenyx to swing the sword as he would against death. That was one of the reasons why he had gifted him his katana and wakizashi on his twelfth nameday, because he now tools of his own and thus more reason to treat them like a part of himself. The seriousness that Master Haru stressed was absent in Aegon and Orys.
"What are you thinking about, Lord Belaerys?" Visenya brought him out of his stupor. "I'd like to show you some of my skills."
Jaenyx saw Visenya walk up to Aegon and Orys, her practice sword securely gripped as she took a combat stance. Smiling at their sister joining them, Aegon and Orys took her on one at a time. That was when he saw how her style and theirs were fundamentally different.
While Aegon and Orys would attempt to strike her with sheer strength, Visenya was quick with her feet and exhibited agility when avoiding their strikes. While both of her brothers would scream, she remained calm. While both would attempt to strike at her chest, she was not above using her practice sword to hit Aegon right in the leg and send him falling hard to the ground while kicking Orys in the balls and struck him in the face with the hilt. With both of her brothers on the ground and writhing in pain, Jaenyx was surprised that they did not try to tear her head off. Maybe the only reason they did not try to was because she was family and this was probably not the first time she did this. Their collective painful laughs confirmed that for him.
"Same old, same old, big sister," Aegon remarked as he stood back up with Visenya helping both of them. "The trappings of knighthood would be wasted on you."
"Don't count on it," Visenya retorted lightly. "Hey, Egg, Orys, I'm going to spar with Lord Belaerys for a bit. Can you give us some space?"
Wait, spar? Is that what she meant by showing her skills? Jaenyx thought before he mentally sighed. If there was anything he should learn quickly about his betrothed, it was that she could not resist any opportunity to learn. And he was next on her list.
Aegon handed him a practice sword. Resembling a longsword, it felt clumsy compared to the bokkens he used when practicing with Master Haru. The hilt was definitely an issue, as that limited his range of motion with the sword. However, Jaenyx saw his betrothed already at the ready, her smirk clear as day. There was no getting out of this. She wanted to know how good he was with a sword and would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.
Pondering on this other similarity he shared with her, Jaenyx got into the stance drilled into him by Master Haru: knees bent while leaning on his back leg and turning to right side. Taking a low guard, he breathed slowly and felt his thoughts empty his mind. He entered a state that Haru said was called mushin, or 'no mind' in his best interpretation. He gave Visenya a gaze of pure, implacable focus, with his breathing slowing everything down in his mind. Instinct and reflexes would influence his actions, as both began to reveal glimpses of what his betrothed would do. Swordplay in Nihon would not last more than four to six strokes, which was how long he intended for his spar to last. Visenya caught his dead calm stare, causing her to blink before going back in her stance.
Jaenyx struck first with a horizontal swing at Visenya, which she blocked. She attempted a downward slice, which Jaenyx avoided by moving to the right and allowing her sword to slide off his. Jaenyx also tried a downward slice, which Visenya blocked with blade perpendicular to his. Getting closer to each other, their swords touched before they both turned around at the same time. They slid some distance from each other before Visenya charged forward and attempted an upward slice. Moving slightly to the right, Jaenyx swung downward with all of the momentum he could muster and struck her sword, her one-handed grip giving way and the sword falling to the ground. He then brought his sword up to Visenya's throat, the result obvious to the crowd who gathered around.
Jaenyx lowered his sword before returning it to Aegon. Both Aegon and Orys were stunned at how he fought, not expecting to see their sister's calm and speed surpassed by their soon-to-be good-brother. They also flinched at the ice stare he carried even after the swordplay ended, not surprising due to their obliviousness of the deeper connection between sword and man.
Jaenyx exchanged glances with Visenya before turning to leave the courtyard, not noticing her eyes following him and her smile growing bigger. What he did see was Rhaenys watching from the balcony, absolutely beaming at the sight. She's probably going to say "I told you so" to myself and her sister and brothers until after the wedding. Will it ever end?