𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐒 〚4 / 10〛
╰┈➤ ❝ In 97 [AC], the Good Queen saw Baelon's son, Daemon, take to wife Lady Rhea of House Royce, heir to the ancient castle of Runestone in the Vale. ❞
Born to Lord Yorbert Royce, likely before his tenure as regent of the Vale, Rhea Royce was the sole heir to House Runestone. Though she had a nephew, Gunther, who was described as old by 134 AC, her position as heir and then Lady Regnant suggests he was either born to Rhea's younger sister, or the son of a predeceased brother whose claim was seen as inferior. While in another kingdom or time, he may have been made Lord in spite of his age or secondary lineage, the Vale's female Lady Paramount likely played a role in Rhea's claim having precedent.
In 97 AC, the same year Rhea's father became Lord Protector for Jeyne Arryn, Rhea was married to Prince Daemon, in a match arranged by Queen Alysanne. Considering his brother was already wed to Jeyne's cousin, Aemma Arryn, who herself was the product of the marriage between Daella Targaryen and Jeyne's grandfather, Rodrik Arryn, this may have been to either consolidate the Crown's ties to the Vale, or to potentially mitigate the number of prospective allies for Daemon should he wish to contest his older brother's claim to the Iron Throne.
Rhea and Daemon would prove to be ill-matched, as Daemon mockingly called her 'Bronze Bitch' and continually petitioned his brother for a divorce. With no children, and scant few years spent together, the marriage was a consummate failure. Rhea herself seemed to enjoy hawking and hunting, is depicted in the House of the Dragon as having worn the ancestral Royce bronze armour, and seems to have had a strong character that may well have been all to similar to her husband's in defiance. In 115 AC, Rhea died falling from her horse, despite remaining abed for over a week after.
It was widely speculated at the time that Daemon had killed her (as was depicted in HOTD), despite having been in the Stepstones at the time. Hearing of her death, Daemon flew to Runestone under the pretence of wishing to put his wife to rest; only to then lay claim to her lands and title. Jeyne Arryn swiftly denounced his claim, instead having the Royce lands pass to Rhea's nephew, and banished Daemon from the Vale, with him swiftly courting and marrying Laena Velaryon soon thereafter.
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