Ptolemaea
OC/Baelor Targaryen
summary : Baelor Targaryen has been widowed those past years. Women flock to court - including Cassana Celtigar, whose mother sees an opportunity.
tw: dubios parental figures, parental abuse, implied infidelity, death in childbirth/stillbirth mentioned, gold digging. Obvious attempt to marry for money. Like incredibly obvious.
The city smelled like shit.
That was the first thing Cassana Celtigar noticed. The city smelled like shit, the way Claw Isle smelled like dead fishes in summer. Overwhelming and threatening to burn off your nose. Hard to get used to, she thinks.
Her mother still wore the same serene smile, apparently not bothered by the smell of human feces and gods know what else. Her mother - Prudence Celtigar - sat across from her in the carriage, still wearing mourning clothes although her lord father had been dead for the better part of the last year. Cassana wore it too, stuffy necklines. Black silk. Black lace. Her mother thought it important. To show humility. So she wore it.
“You appear pious,“ her mother said, approvingly, looking over Cassana with an almost fond smile. “Dutiful. Not frivolous.“ Cassana flushed, the way her mother had taught her to. Prudence smiled slightly. “It will do.”
Cassana was not stupid, despite her mothers favorite nickname for her being stupid girl. She knew why they travelled here, to Kings Landing. She knew why her mother suddenly was in contact with her own distant cousin Aelinor Penrose. Why her mother has had the idea that Cassana might become a lady-in-waiting to the woman she always called lacklustre and insipid.
Jena Dondarrion, wife of Baelor Breakspear, had died two years prior in childbirth. Together with a too small babe that had been called Valarr. Born blue, deformed and by what court gossip said looking more dragon than babe. A tragedy. But, most of all… an opportunity. The prince's mourning period would be over soon, and he was expected to take another wife. There were talks of Lannister and Tyrell brides. Of Lord Redwyne having already sent his daughter to court - before she was caught up with a stableboy. Of Tyrosh planning to send women. Of even Dorne in the shape of House Uller wishing to send a daughter to court. It would be like the bridal market for Aegon the Third. But her mother intended to overtake their efforts.
Cassana looked outside of the carriage. The city not only smelled like shit but also looked like shit. They had spent the past moon with her mothers family, in Penrose Hall. Which was why they had taken the road, and not the boat which she would have preferred. Well. Her brother was a cunt, has been since he became Lord of Claw Isle, so she supposed it made sense her mother wished to spend as little time with him as needed.
Cassana could hardly believe the carriage was able to move, with the amount of mud on the streets. Mud, shit and someting that looked suspicioulsy like animal cadavers strewn across the streets.
Mayhap it wasn’t a jape that women from kings landing wore platformed shoes, she thinks.
“Do not!” Her mother scolded, voice sharp. Cassana hadn’t noticed it, but her fingers had a mind of their own. Whenever she was nervous, she would rip the skin raw. She stopped, mostly because her mother took her hands in her own. Prudence exhaled. Loudly. Defeated. “You have a goal, my sweet Cass. Do not disappoint me.”
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Her mother’s cousin was plain featured and had large eyes that made her appear like a bug. The most glorious feature of the woman was her hair, long and straight, with a simple wimple covering it. Targaryen Colours. Aelinor Penrose wore finery, that her small frame appeared to drown in, and seemed more like a beaten dog than a princess. The jewels around her neck sparkled. Sapphires. Cassana felt lackluster compared, still wearing mourning clothes and most likely smelling like sweat and the city. She was glad there was no mirror to look into, for she would be deeply disappointed. The look on her mother’s face confirmed those fears, but then her mother focused all on Aelinor. Looking pleased. Cassana remembered her mother’s words clearly; My cousin is no danger when it comes to the affection of the prince.
“I welcome you, cousin.” Aelinor said to Prudence, a small smile on her thin lips. “I am most glad you’ve come here.” Prudence smiled the way she always did. Sweet, showing no teeth and like an image of the Mother herself. “Oh do come here, sweet cousin,” her mother said, embracing Aelinor in a way she had not embraced Cassana in moons. “Look at you! Oh, you are truly a vision.” Hollow words that made Aelinor flush. Lies.
Cassana trailed behind them, after a quick introduction.
Somehow, Cassana felt as though Aelinor was sizing her up. It made no sense, of course. Cassana did not plan to steal her mother’s cousins boorish husband. It was obvious marriage did not treat her well. Even more so when Aelinor spoke of her husband, when they trailed after her on the way to the woman’s chambers “Kind, yes but so very busy with his books! He would have been happier a maester,“ Aelinor said with a loud laugh and twinkling eyes. As though they were sharing a secret. It seemed she had truly no company. Why else would she speak so freely? Mere minutes after meeting someone?
Aelinors chambers made her mistreatment worth it, Cassana thought. Filled with golden ornaments, stucco flowers on the walls and the most beautiful embroidered curtains. Not to mention the overflowing clothing cabinets. Myrish lace and pentoshi brocades. In all possible colors. It was a luxury Cassana had never seen. And that meant something, for House Celtigar might not be important as of now, but they were wealthy. Or at least had been, before her father gambled it all away. All of this finery, Cassana thought, for a woman who married the second son of the king. Not even the heir. The second son. Cassana supposed she would have wed him even if the man was a book, if it meant wearing gowns the colors of freshwater pearls every day.
Aelinor guided them to her solar, where servants had already plated tea as well as pastries. Aelinor certainly looked as though she enjoyed looking at them, but never ate them, Cassana thought bitterly, before she stopped her thought. That was unkind. Something her mother would say.
Aelinor sat down on a chaiselongue with a slight groan, before she faced them with a smile. “Eat,“ she said, gesturing with her skinny arms (not quite hidden by her opulent gown) to the array of pastries and other delicacies. Orange tarts. Lemon cakes. Pomegranate seeds. Dornish food, Cassana realized with something like surprise. Mayhap her husbands influence. He was half dornish, after all. Cassana did not take anything. Neither did her mother, but Aelinor was too polite to say something about their lack of appetite. Besides, it was expected of ladies of the court.
And Aelinor looked at her shyly. “I would love if you would become my maid. You seem kind.” Cassana felt even worse for her thoughts now. Aelinor was as lonely as she was. Five and twenty, Cassana remembered. With a husband more interested in dusty books than her. Not to mention everything else that came with it. Before Cassana could reply, she had rehearsed for that moment, the door opened.
Aelinor turned a terrible, terrible red. Almost as red as the gown she wore. Or a dornish orange, blood oranges, they were called. Her large eyes widened even more. Her mouth opened.
It was Prince Baelor. Tall. Lithe but broad shouldered. Dark haired and utterly Dornish, with dark curls. A nose that looked to be at least broken once. And the most striking feature would be his eyes. One a dark brown, the other a lovely shade of violet. Much like the flowers Cassana had in her room, back home on Claw Isle. On her windowsill. In a lovely vase, that was the shape of a -
Her mother nearly dropped her tea cup. That had not been planned. Cassana meeting the prince, still in her mourning clothes. Sweaty from the journey. Hair in disarray. Without any make up hiding her freckles.
“Oh.” The prince said, his voice pleasant and deep. Not too deep, Cassana noted, and not a feigned deepness to it either. “I was not aware you had visitors, good sister.”
By the casual way he had entered her rooms. Expecting no one there, by the fact he only wore breeches and a tunic… Cassana could see her mothers plans crumble.
She was not stupid. Cassana felt slightly sick. Oh, this was -
“My cousin,” Aelinor said quickly. “The Lady Prudence. And her daughter, who is to be my newest lady in waiting.”
