
"They've been together for many years and she's been with child twice already." Daenerys' voice was very scared. "I suppose she loves him but I don't know about him." Not what her young goodsister needed to hear. Try as he might, Myriah could see only one reason for a highborn lady to become an official paramour, greatly reducing her chances for a husband of rank. How did one answer such a question? Especially when they didn't know the answer themselves? How were they supposed to ease Daenerys' fears when they didn't know what the situation was? Maron's paramour was not a bastard or a woman without means as was often the case with paramours. Once again, Myriah and Alaena shared a look. "I heard that he's been with her since he was… younger than I am now," the girl said. She was smart enough to make the difference. Her father had dismissed his mistresses in just a few years each.

Daenerys did it for her, despite not using the word. But of course, that was not the moment to say it. "Many great lords have mistresses before they wed," Alaena said guardedly. "I heard some things about Prince Maron," she said.
ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE SKIN
To both of the older women's surprise, her fair skin blushed scarlet. "What troubles you?"ĭaenerys looked down. "What about you, child?" Alaena asked before Myriah could do so. And Lyselle's troubles could not do any lasting damage if she was surrounded by efficient people. Breaking the betrothal would be a huge offense.

People expected that the two branches would be united. What if that was the queen she was going to make? But there was no going back now. But then, invariably, some deeply seated fear took hold of the girl, making her shrink into herself, unable to take part into a conversation, let alone lead one, and fear crawled along Myriah's spine. Sometimes, she's so charming and witty that all the ambassadors and lords attending are taken with her. She's going to learn, Myriah told herself.
ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE HOW TO
The girl still felt overwhelmed, exhausting so much energy and focus on how to behave according to the occasions and socialize that once the feasts and celebrations were over, she needed days of recovery, not doing anything that would strain her. "She was feeling unwell," she said, repeating the pretext she had given the Queen, although both Myriah and Daenaerys knew that the most likely reason for Lyselle's absence was the last weeks of court events following one after another. "Why isn't Lyselle with us?" Daenerys asked as soon as the three women were alone.Īlaena lifted a shoulder. Finally, Myriah took pity of the girl's mind and feelings and dismissed the women – all save for Alaena. Playing the lute did not help and she was so absent-minded that she pricked her finger four times in the space of less than an hour.
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The first look at Daenerys' face told Myriah that the girl was nervous, although their ladies-in-waiting might not think so – Daenerys was becoming very good at guarding her face and emotions.
