Chapter Text
Maekar groaned inwardly when his mother announced that Dyanna of House Dayne would stay in court until they were old enough to be wed. She hoped that they would bond before their marriage. Aelinor Penrose and Alys Arryn will do the same. Those three ladies are meant to be his brother’s new wife, Jena Dondarrion, ladies-in-waiting and companions. Maekar and his brothers are betrothed to these ladies since they were children, but Maekar never fancied Dyanna. They only met twice, but he was sure this woman is going to eat him alive and be his ruin.
The first time they met was in Sunspear when he was just nine-years-old. Maekar and his brothers are meant to visit their mother's side of the family. Their parents turn that event into a chance to introduce them to their betrothed. Baelor was introduced to the red-haired Jena Dondarrion, Aerys to intelligent Aelinor Penrose, Rhaegel to the gentle Alys Arryn, and Maekar to Dyanna Dayne.
Dyanna was the same age as Maekar, but she was blunt, and she was not calm or polite like the other three ladies. She complained to his face about how Maekar never smiled and how he has very little interest other than horses and fighting. When he complained to Baelor about this, Baelor chuckled and said, “Mother really picked the best one for you.” Maekar thought Baelor was just teasing him instead of supporting him, so he sulked and didn’t speak to Baelor on their way back to King’s Landing.
Since they’re back from the first meeting with his betrothed, his mother had forced him to write to her at least once a month. His other brothers didn’t need to be told twice; they already wrote to their betrothed as often as they could. Even Aerys found Lady Penrose's intelligence intriguing. Maekar couldn’t say no to his mother and wrote to Dyanna once a month. Even though their letter was mostly formal and lacked enthusiasm, both wrote in detail about their lives. It is becoming a routine for both of them.
The second time they met was a year ago, at Baelor and Jena Dondarrion’s wedding. They haven’t met in five years, but Maekar noticed Dyanna had grown into a woman. They were now both four and ten years-old. She wore a silk lilac dress that matched her eyes, and her sandy brown hair was styled into an intricate updo. He wondered if she was still the annoying girl he met in Sunspear five years ago. He greeted her formally under his mother's compelling glare and asked her for a walk around the flower garden.
“You still hate smiling, I see,” Dyanna said flatly. Maekar sighs and forces a smile. “How about now, my lady?” Dyanna laugh. Her laugh is still demeaning as he remembered. “Still bad at that, too.” He blushed. “Why do you hate me?” Maekar asked her with annoyed tone. She furrowed her eyebrows, “I don’t hate you. Why would you ask me that?”
“Well, you always laugh at me and always complain that I’m not interesting enough. You don’t even pretend to be enthusiastic in your letter.” Maekar said. They had stopped near the white and purple roses; the scene made Maekar even more pissed. She looked like a flower nymph with her dress matching the roses, and she hates him. Dyanna glared at him. “For starters, I complained because you never smiled at me, but you smiled at everyone. My father, my mother, my brothers, and even you smiled at my pony. Don’t you think you’re the one who hates me?” The wind has blown a lock of her hair, and she shoved it behind her ears angrily. Even in anger, she looked like a fairy. “I woke up one day betrothed to a prince. That’s every girl’s dream, right? Wrong. Because my prince hates me so much. His letter is just full of war and horsing with his pretty silver hair whipping in the wind without ever asking me how I am doing and how I feel.” She snapped at him; her chest heaved with anger.
Maekar was quiet before saying, “Do you think my hair is beautiful?” Dyanna was about to explode right there. “Well, damn you, pretty prince. I’ve had enough of you.” She walked out of the garden quickly with Maekar pursuing her behind. “Please forgive me, my lady. Please, at least let me escort you to the banquet, or my mother will kill me.” Dyanna ignored him, but as they approached the crowd, she stopped, fixing her hair and dress, and put her arm in Maekar’s. She took a deep breath and whispered to Maekar, “I won’t let my father down. You'd better ask me for a dance at least twice, or my father and your mother will never stop pestering us about this foolish union.” She put on such a charming smile and tugged Maekar to walk with her. They spent the rest of the banquet politely greeting their family member and dancing in silence and forced smiles. Maekar knew for sure she had charmed his mother with her innocent smile and sweet gesture to Maekar. She really is a good manipulator. What a scary woman, Maekar thought.
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His mother had made him change into a purple tunic that matched his violet eyes and told him to smile. He pouts after his mother leaves. Dyanna will arrive this afternoon, and he is expected to welcome her. The other two ladies had arrived a few days before, since Parchments and Vale are closer to King’s Landing than Starfall. Maekar was internally debating what he would say to her when she arrived. They haven’t written to each other after their dispute last year. He startled when he saw Baelor leaning on his doorframe. “How could you get in without making any sound?” Maekar asked him annoyedly. Baelor grinned at him, “Maybe because my baby brother was too busy thinking about his beautiful fiancée on the way, so he didn’t notice anything else.” Maekar felt the heat of his cheeks. “I did not think about her.” Baelor didn’t say anything. He sat at the table and watched Maekar change his clothes. After he was fully clothed, Baelor said, “Brush your hair. She had a long way to come here; you have to at least look presentable and put in some effort.” Maekar sighed. “Mother sent you here, didn’t she?” Baelor smiled. “Perhaps, or perhaps not.” Maekar just grumbled quietly while brushing his hair. “Be nice to her, brother.” Baelor said, “She is a woman. She doesn’t have much of a choice in this life. You are a great man; she is lucky to have you as a husband one day.”
“I don’t think she feels the same way,” Maekar muttered under his breath, but Baelor caught it. “And why is that?” Baelor asked him. Maekar is quiet; he didn’t want Baelor to say anything to their mother. But he can always trust Baelor. “She just didn’t like me.” He finally said. He won’t go into details, but at least he can let it off his chest that his betrothed didn’t like him. Baelor laughed, “You really are blind if you say that.”
Maekar raised one eyebrow, “What do you mean?” Baelor shook his head. He couldn’t believe his brother’s head is this thick. “You two are two sides of the same coin. Both of you are very stubborn. You liked each other. She just hides it better with her charm. You thought she didn’t like you because you made her feel like you didn’t like her.”
Maekar was at a loss for words. His brother thought she liked him? She really manipulates everyone. Baelor sighed, “She didn’t manipulate me, Maekar. You are the only one who thought that.” Maekar was surprised; it’s like Baelor reading his mind. Baelor walked closer to him. He put his hand on his little brother’s shoulder, “Stop being a headache to mother and be honest with each other.” He pinched Maekar’s cheek like when they were children, laughed, and left as Maekar swatted him and protested.
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A very pregnant Jena, Aelinor, Alys, Baelor, Myriah, and Maekar welcomed Dyanna into the Red Keep. Baelor and his mother gave him a look, and he forced his most chivalrous smile and greeted her charmingly. Dyanna returned the gesture in the most polite and no less alluring than her gesture last year. Maekar even offered to walk her to her bedchamber. Dyanna is about to politely decline, but she accidentally glances at Myriah. She put on her most enthusiastic smile and said, “Thank you, your grace. I will be so happy,” Maekar can see his mother smile, and he can hear the ladies’ muffled squeal before walking with Dyanna. Their walk to her bedchamber is filled with uncomfortable silence. Dyanna walks with her head held high and a stoic expression. Maekar couldn’t hold out any longer. “Are you still mad at me?” He said quietly, not wanting the servants behind them to hear anything. “Oh, of course not, your grace. I am perfectly content with your lack of letters and apology.” She said flatly. Maekar sighed, “You didn’t write to me either. I thought you wanted me to leave you alone.”
“Still no apology, I see. You know what, your grace, maybe I am too lowborn for you to at least receive your humble amends.” She said. She tried to keep her voice low, but there was anger in her tone. Maekar flinched. She really is angry. “I’m sor-” before he continued, the guards in front of them had stopped in front of a chamber. Dyanna straighten up and said in a loud voice, “Oh, look, I guess we’re here. Thank you, your grace. I had a long journey. I can’t wait to clean myself and have my rest now.” She bowed to him and immediately walked into the chamber before Maekar could say anything else.
He steps aside as servants bring her things into the chamber. He had never felt so foolish before. Damn this woman. He turned around and walked back to his chamber.