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Great Hall, Highgarden…

The green and ivory entrance of the main hall slowly opened.

A gust of unnatural heat immediately flooded the room, causing men to adjust their collars and women to fan themselves.

First, a familiar figure stepped into the hall. One of the Tyrell's high stewards, Garth Tyrell.

The plump steward cleared his throat before he opened his mouth to announce boldly and clearly-

"Introducing King Perseus, Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys of House Targaryen!"

The high stewards announcement rang throughout the entire hall, plunging it into deafening silence.

There was no more music playing. Nor was there chatter.

Every man and woman inside the hall had their eyes pinned on the arrival of the house that many in the Reach still felt were the true monarchs of Westeros.

And just like the three-headed dragon that decorated their family's banner, the long exiled trio of Targaryens all entered the hall.

Hushed whispers and awed looks immediately began as everyone took in the appearances of the three dragons.

Many men in attendance, both wed and unwed, gazed at the young and exceedingly beautiful Daenerys with blatant desire.

It was as if they had been hypnotized by her innocent and delicate features.

This kind of reaction was usually only reserved for the famed beauties of the Seven Kingdoms such as Cersei Lannister, Arianne Martell, Margaery Tyrell, etc.

And although she had yet to fully develop like the previously mentioned beauties, no man would doubt or complain if Daenerys was added to such an esteemed list in the near future.

But while the men fancied the youngest Targaryen, the women coveted the oldest.

Viserys was the epitome of what a Targaryen male should look like. His lengthy silver hair paired with deep lilac eyes, broad shoulders and a smile brimming with confidence would make any maiden give up her chastity in a heartbeat.

And by the looks the prince was receiving from many of the female attendees, there would be a few who would undoubtedly offer to accompany the prince back to his chambers at the end of the night.

But meanwhile, whilst the youngest and oldest Targaryens drew the eyes of the opposite sex, the young lord of the house drew the attention of all.

Even though Perseus was also quite handsome and well built, this was only part of the reason as to why all eyes were inevitably drawn to him like moths to a flame.

Words couldn't truly describe it. But it was as if the hall had been filled by Perseus's being the moment he stepped foot inside the room.

His divine right of kings was so potent that many dared not to utter a word until the pressure was lifted by the appearance of the all too jovial Mace Tyrell.

A wave of relief seemed to resound throughout the hall as the Lord of the Reach happily approached the Targaryens alongside his family, barring his mother.

As the two families began trading greetings, a gesture from Willas Tyrell made it so that the musicians once again began playing their instruments.

Soon after, the hall was filled with music and the noisy chatter of nobles as they heatedly gossiped about the latest arrival of guests.

oOo

With Percy…

A cordial smile graced Percy's face as he and his family greeted the Tyrell's.

While this would unfortunately mark his second time attending a ball (and hopefully the last) Percy could respect the obvious amount of effort the Tyrell's put into making such a large event happen.

"You look especially gorgeous, Princess Daenerys!" Commented Alerie Hightower as she fawned over his aunt's attire.

Daenerys gave the blonde woman a small smile of thanks. "It's all thanks to Margaery. She helped me pick out a dress." She responded.

"No need to be so modest, Princess. Your dress isn't the only reason married men keep eying you." Margaery smiled with amusement.

Much to Percy's displeasure, many men were in fact ogling his aunt like she was a prized hen.

"You look particularly ravishing tonight, Lady Margaery." Viserys boldly grinned at a rose cheeked Margaery as he eyed her extravagant green dress.

"Oh my!" Alerie exclaims good heartedly as she fans herself.

"Oho! My future son-in-law is quite bold. As expected from the house of dragons." Mace guffawed loudly.

Willas placed a calming hand on his father's shoulder as he leaned in. "Please be more discreet, father. We have yet to make the announcement." He quietly reminded the lord who Percy now realized looked a little bit intoxicated.

"Oh, of course! Apologies, the wine must be making me forgetful." Mace scratched his beard with a dazed frown.

"You've had an eventful evening. Perhaps you'd like to go to bed, father?" Willas suggested smoothly before looking to his mother for support.

"Willas is right, darling! How about we retire for the night?" Alerie says to her husband.

"But then who'll…make the announcement?" Mace hiccuped.

"I can make the announcement in your stead, father." Willas suggested to Mace, though Percy had an inkling that it was the heir's plan all along to be the one to make their alliance public.

"I have such a fine heir. The future of my house is in good hands!" Mace proudly patted his eldest son's shoulder before turning to his spouse, "Very well, let's go to bed, my wife! Though we won't be sleeping. I'm feeling quite vigorous tonight."

Mace let out boisterous laughter as he allowed his wife to lead him away with a slight look of exasperation on her face.

At the exit of his lord father, Willas gave a small sigh of relief before turning to Percy. "My apologies, I hoped that my father would have retired before you made your appearance. As you can see, he gets very excited whenever he has an excuse to drink." He said dryly.

"Don't worry. For what it's worth, it was entertaining to see." Percy chuckled.

"Indeed it was." Willas agreed with an amused smile before continuing, "I understand if you may not want to meet every guest present. But there are a few people that I would like for you to meet if that's fine with you, your grace."

"That's fine, but…" Percy trailed off as he looked at his family, more specifically Daenerys.

Willas was quick to catch on. "Margaery, would you please accompany Princess Daenerys for the night?" He asked his sister who nodded.

"Of course. I can even introduce her to a few of my friends." Margaery smiled warmly.

Percy noted the nervous look Daenerys gained after Margaery's offer and gently squeezed her hand in reassurance. "You'll be fine, Dany. Remember who you are. Besides, Jon will stay near you. And Viserys and I won't be too far away." He tells her.

For once, Daenerys didn't lament over the fact that he assigned Jon to watch over her. It went to show just how nervous his aunt was currently feeling.

But thankfully his words of encouragement seemed to work since Daenerys looked much more confident than before.

As Percy watched Daenerys be guided away by Margaery, the years he had spent helping raise his young aunt almost made him feel like a proud father watching his daughter go off to prom.

Although, annoyance quickly replaced that feeling inside of him when he noticed that many eyes, preferably those of men, followed her as well.

Soon after Daenerys and Margaery's exit, Viserys and Ser Garlan also paired up and sparked up a conversation as they walked off prompting Percy and Willas to also begin accompanying each other around the hall.

"So who exactly do you want me to meet?" Percy asks Willas as they begin walking deeper into the venue.

Many of the guests looked like they wanted to approach Percy but they seemed to understand that only a select few would be able to personally interact with him tonight.

This unsaid rule was something that Percy was already familiar with.

Whenever there was a party on Olympus (which was nearly every night), there was an unspoken but strict rule that the Olympians could only be approached by the most well-known demigods, heroes, minor gods, etc.

Not that Percy was equating himself to being on the level of one of the twelve gods. He simply noted that the current situation was very similar.

"The first person I'd like you to meet is a man of little words, but he is one of my family's most loyal vassals. You may or may not have heard of him but his name is quite known in Westeros. He's considered one of the best generals in all of the Seven Kingdoms. He once led an army that defeated Robert Baratheon in the Battle of Ashford." Willas informed Percy, greatly surprising him.

Even Percy had to begrudgingly admit that, while Robert Baratheon was the epitome of useless during times of peace, the late usurper king was very good at waging war.

But if the man Willas wanted him to meet had managed to defeat Robert Baratheon when he was at his peak then he must be even more extraordinary on the battlefield.

Securing the loyalty of such a man would greatly benefit Percy and his family.

They gradually neared a stern looking man who stood alone and, instead of wearing richly made tunics or doublets like most noblemen in attendance, wore a battle worn suit of armor. He also looked like he wanted to be anywhere but where he currently was.

Once the man noticed that they were approaching him, he met them halfway.

"Lord Tarly, it's good to see you." Willas cordially greeted the old man first before introducing him to Percy, "Your grace, this is the man I was speaking about, Lord Randyll Tarly."

Percy instinctively did not offer the lord a handshake. Not because of poor etiquette, but because he had been taught ruthlessly by the wolf goddess, Lupa, to never show even a hint of subservience to another male.

"It's nice to meet you, Lord Tarly. I've heard that you're quite the general." Percy commented lightly.

"I've also heard about your military successes, King Perseus. In particular, your success against Renly Baratheon. There aren't many men who could lead such an easy victory against twenty thousand men with barely ten thousand of his own." Lord Tarly says with respect in his tone.

"What you've heard was probably from men too far gone into their cups of ale. There was nothing easy about that battle. One wrong move could have meant defeat." Percy told him.

"And yet you still prevailed. It seems my prayers of a strong king sitting on the Iron Throne might finally be answered." Lord Tarly remarked.

"Well then, I hope to see you and your family swear fealty to me when the time comes." Percy expertly responded back.

Lord Tarly gave Percy a proper head bow. "You have my word that House Tarly will be amongst the first to swear allegiance to you, my king." He promised.

After saying their goodbye's, both Percy and Willas continued onward.

The next person they approached was apparently Willas's grand uncle, the lord of House Redwyne, Lord Paxter Redwyne.

"My grand nephew!" Lord Paxter exclaimed, happily holding up a bottle of red wine for Willas to grab ahold.

"Always a pleasure to see you! Oh, and you as well, grand uncle." The two relatives shared a laugh at his joke before Willas brought the lord's attention to Percy.

"Grand uncle, I'd like to introduce you to Perseus Targaryen. The soon-to-be crowned king of Westeros." Lord Paxter straightened himself more upright as he faced Percy before giving him a proper bow.

"It is an honor to meet you, your grace. When I had first heard that you were in talks with my grand nephew about a possible alliance I could barely hold back my joy." Lord Paxter tells him.

"It's nice to meet you as well, Lord Paxter. My uncle told me how much my grandfather used to love your family's wine. I'd love to try it someday." Percy remarks.

"Oh, but of course! I'll have one hundred barrels of my finest concoctions prepared especially for you, your grace. You need only tell me when and where to ship them." Lord Paxter says.

"Then it's settled. Once I'm crowned I'll treat my allies with the best wine in all of Westeros." Percy smiled.

"When that day comes I hope to have the honor of sharing a bottle with you, your majesty." Lord Paxter bowed passionately.

"The next person I wish for you to meet is also a relative of mine. My mother's lord father to be exact. His name is Lord Leyton Hightower." Willas informed him as they continued.

Even though Percy had spent the majority of his life in exile roaming the Free Cities of Essos, the name Hightower immediately rang a bell.

Not many people could say that they hadn't heard of the noble house that resided in Oldtown, one of the oldest and most popular cities in Westeros rivaling even the capital city, King's Landing.

House Hightower was one of the few houses in Westeros that could match the power and influence of the Great Houses.

Gradually, Percy and Willas approached another guest. But unlike most nobles present, the man they were seeking out stood out among everyone around him.

Everything about the tan skinned, broad shouldered lord told Percy that the man was very religious from the glistening Faith pendant that hung boldly around his neck to the holy symbols stitched into his richly made tunic.

"Lord Leyton!" Willas smiled in greeting as the lord laughed with a few other older guests.

"Young lord, I was expecting your father to greet me first. Tell me, did Mace retire for the night?" Lord Leyton asked, though it sounded like he already knew the answer.

"Yes, my lord father wasn't feeling well so I'll be hosting tonight's banquet in his stead." Willas says apologetically.

"Lord Mace retired so early?

"At least he sent his eldest son to greet us."

"If only my own heir was as capable as young lord Willas."

These were among some of the reactions that the nobles around Lord Leyton gave to the news about Mace leaving the ball early.

Meanwhile, a proud smile formed on Lord Leyton's face. "Is that so? Well, I'm sure you'll be able to easily handle such an important task, my grandson." He said before turning to Percy.

Lord Leyton keenly eyed Percy. "Ah, you must be Perseus. I've heard a lot of good things about you from Willas. It's an honor to meet the rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms." He bowed cordially.

"It's an honor to meet you as well, Lord Leyton. I heard that House Hightower was among the first houses to give their support to my family during Robert's Rebellion." Percy remarks, receiving a nod in affirmation.

"Everyone knows that my house has always been a firm supporter of House Targaryen." Lord Leyton said firmly.

"Would it be shameless of me to ask for your house's support once again?" Percy asks the lord.

"Of course not. Once the war is over and your family is sitting upon the Iron Throne once more, I'll be among many who will once again swear fealty to you." Lord Leyton swore.

Once again, after trading farewell's with the lord's, Percy and Willas embarked on their quest to socialize.

"You surprise me more and more each day, your grace. Most men wouldn't be able to put their pride aside in order to ask others for help." Willas remarks.

"I learned very early on that sometimes it's necessary to ask others for help." Percy said with indifference.

In the past he would have laughed at the thought of ass kissing a bunch of wealthy old men, but he knew that he was currently not in the position to do such a thing.

In order to gain the Reach's vast amount of resources, Percy would need to put aside his pride and stubbornness by asking others for help.

It was a humbling lesson he learned very early on, but one Percy desperately needed. He wouldn't have been able to survive for as long as he did without it.

All that being said, he was still counting the minutes before he could reunite with Daenerys and Viserys.

Speaking of which, Percy wondered how each of his family members was handling being the main focus of the banquet.

oOo

Elsewhere, with Viserys…

Viserys was loving the attention he was getting.

While it hadn't been too long since he went to his last banquet, this was his first time actually being invited by the host.

His chest was swelled up with pride as almost everyone he walked by looked at him with awe.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself." Ser Garlan noted dryly from his side.

"How could I not be? I've been on my best behavior lately. I at least deserve this kind of treatment." Viserys grinned broadly at a group of young maiden's they were passing by, causing them to blush and gossip amongst themselves.

"It may not be announced yet, but you're still betrothed to my sister. Some modesty would be nice, prince." The bearded knight says gruffly.

Viserys rolled his eyes at the uptight knight. "You're too tense, Ser Garlan. I'm simply being a good guest. Besides, no woman here could ever match your sister's beauty." He stated openly.

After he saw his fiancée in her sparkling green gown, Viserys had barely been able to stop himself from taking her to his room and having his way with her.

Although, he would surely be doing so later.

Before the second son of House Tyrell could comment any further, something ahead of them caught his attention.

"Ah, fuck." Ser Garlan cursed under his breath as he began looking for ways to change their course.

"What's the matter, Ser Garlan? You look like you've seen an old flame." Viserys said in amusement.

Ser Garlan ignored his comment and simply motioned for Viserys to look ahead, which he eventually did.

Approaching them with a lazy stride filled with arrogance was a young man with oily black hair streaked with grey. Two young girls with the same similarities flanked both of his sides.

The young man looked to be no older than Daenerys with a long, elegant face paired with pale blue eyes. He had a pampered look to him that was only further defined due to the slashed velvet doublet and jeweled cloak he sported.

"Ser Garlan, I was looking all over for you!" The young man proclaimed boldly as they reached them.

Ser Garlan's face seemed to have permanently set into an annoyed expression. "What can I do for you, Alekyne?" The man nearly sighs.

"Ah, that would be Lord Alekyne now. I've recently had to take up my house's lordship after my father was murdered." At this grim information, the two girls beside Alekyne glared at Viserys while the young man seemed to purposely look toward him with a fake smile.

"This must be one of tonight's honored guests. My name is Lord Alekyne of the noble house of Florent." Alekyne introduced himself, though he made no motion to bow.

Viserys simply blinked as he waited for the name, Florent, to ring a bell.

"House Florent is among one of my family's many vassals. They have a long history within the Reach." Ser Garlan told Viserys.

"Yes, a history that stretches even longer than your family's, Ser Garlan." Alekyne's comment was obviously more like a slight and by the twitch in his eye the knight knew that as well.

Seeing the opportunity to earn a few points with his future brother-in-law, Viserys suddenly snapped his fingers in recognition.

"Oh, I remember now! Your house was one of the only from the Reach who accompanied Renly when he rode to take back Storm's End, right?" Viserys inquired innocently.

"…indeed, my father took part in the Battle of Storm's End. I was told that he died an honorable death in the midst of the battle." Alekyne said blankly.

Viserys hummed at that. "Though it was more like slaughter than a battle. Nevertheless, it served as a good warmup." He commented nonchalantly, barely withholding a grin at the way the young lord's jaw clenched tightly while the girl's glares intensified.

"I heard that your family is vying for the throne, Prince Viserys. Do you plan on cutting the throats of the Baratheon's while they sleep as well?" Alekyne's inquire also sounded all too innocent.

"Oh no, I'd much rather hear their pleas for mercy before I cut their throats." Viserys said in an easygoing manner.

"Ah yes, I'd forgotten how merciless House Targaryen could be. It saddens me to remember that cruelty was one of the main reasons for your family's downfall." Alekyne said with false sincerity.

"Yes, it seems that most have forgotten how unforgiving we can be. It's quite unfortunate. Perhaps if they hadn't forgotten your lord father would still be here." Viserys casually shot back.

Viserys was sure that the only thing that was stopping the enraged young lord from lunging toward him was the fact that the armed Ser Garlan was at his side.

Although, even if the knight hadn't been present Viserys had participated in his fair share of tavern brawls. Usually while under the influence of booze and breasts.

"I must have said something unsettling for you, Lord Alekyne. As an apology, Ser Garlan and I will take our leave." Viserys gave the fuming Alekyne a wolffish smile before he walked away with Ser Garlan in tow.

As they traveled farther away from the fuming Florent, Ser Garlan couldn't help but let out a series of chuckles.

"That was the angriest I've ever seen that spoiled little shit. I'll admit, you have a way with words, Prince Viserys." Ser Garlan said, looking highly amused and satisfied at what just occurred.

Viserys patted the shoulder of his future in-law. "You haven't seen anything yet, Ser Garlan. And please, just call me Viserys. We'll be family soon." He told the other man.

Ser Garlan seemed to ponder his words but eventually nodded. "Then I insist that you call me Garlan." He replied back.

A smile formed on Viserys's face. "It's a deal. Then, shall we go meet another lucky guest?" He suggested.

"Lead the way." Garlan said simply.

As they continued through the crowds, Viserys looked around to seek out his betrothed who he quickly found chatting with his sister some ways away from them.

Once they met gazes, Margaery smiled happily. It seemed she noticed that Garlan now looked far more comfortable than before.

After giving her a look that screamed, 'I told you so', Viserys set his eyes back ahead.

While he may not have been born with as much natural charisma as Perseus, Viserys was made for occasions like this.

And so he continued forward with a strong stride and a confident smile.

oOo

Meanwhile, with Daenerys…

It didn't take long for Daenerys to realize that she was simply not made for occasions such as this.

After going separate ways with both her brother and nephew, Daenerys felt like she was exposed.

Not in regards to her safety, Jon vigilantly stayed close by her at all times, but more in terms of being subjected to the looks of so many people without the support of either of her family member's.

She was also starting to regret not taking up the offer to learn proper etiquette from the head septa in Highgarden.

"Do I really have to speak with everyone here?" Daenerys nervously murmured to Margaery who walked beside her.

Margaery's lips twitched in amusement at her question. "Of course not everyone, Princess. But it is considered polite to greet at least a few guests." She told her.

"As long as they aren't too…weird." Daenerys awkwardly glanced at a nobleman who had been staring intently at her for quite some time.

Daenerys was by no means clueless. She understood that she was considered to be beautiful, perhaps even more so than most.

But while most ladies would have taken enjoyment from being the center of attention. Daenerys wasn't used to being in the spotlight.

At the moment, she felt like a small child again. Wanting nothing more than to run back and hide by her family's side.

"I understand how you're feeling, princess. I was once a nervous young girl stepping into her first ball just like you." Margaery suddenly spoke, "If you want advice, I'd be happy to give you some."

"You aren't that much older than me." Daenerys grumbled, gaining an amused giggle from the Tyrell woman.

"While that is true, I have much more experience than you when it comes to things like this." Margaery says before shrugging in a seemingly uncaring manner, "But if you don't wish to learn from me it's fine. I'm sure you're a natural at things like this."

Daenerys knew that the woman was goading her into asking her for help. And while she would usually be as stubborn as a newborn fawn in regards to receiving help from anyone, she knew that socializing was something that couldn't be learned through books.

So after a moment of silence, Daenerys sighed in defeat. "Alright. Can you please teach me, Lady Margaery?" She asked.

A jovial smile formed on Margaery's lips. "No problem. I only ask for one thing in return." She says.

Her words put Daenerys on guard. "…what?" She asked with caution.

Margaery simply giggled at her suspicions, not offended in the slightest. "I only wish for you to think of me as your sister-in-law from now on." She told her.

"Is that all?" Daenerys asked, receiving a nod.

"I've always wanted to have a little sister. I'm sure you can understand how tiring it is to be the only girl in a family of men." Margaery says.

Daenerys couldn't help but agree with the older girl.

Though her family (mainly Perseus) tried their best to make sure she was always comfortable, the habits of men were vastly different from ladies.

"Alright then, I'll think of you as my sister-in-law from now on." Daenerys finally agreed.

She still couldn't fully understand why the Tyrell woman seemed so desperate to have a familial connection with her.

After all, a lot of dangers came just from being associated with her family.

Margaery beamed happily at her words. "Then let's start with the first lesson, shall we?" She said before discreetly gesturing ahead.

Some ways ahead, two young men who looked to be the sons of reputable noble houses were confidently approaching them.

"First things first, a man has no right to take a lady's hand until it is offered. He has even less right to retain it. So never let a man take your hand without permission." Margaery told her.

As Margaery spoke, Daenerys intently listened.

"Next, most of the people here are lords, heirs or retainers. Even after you find out which of them is which, treat them all politely and with respect. Many nobles of the same region grew up together so you never know who you might end up offending."

"Why should I care about offending anyone? My family are the rightful rulers of the Seven Kingdoms." Daenerys remarked.

Perseus never cared about whose toes he stepped on, so why should she?

As if expecting her to say that, Margaery replied. "It's unwise to make too many enemies, Princess. Even my grandmother, who's notorious for her tongue, always treated most noble households with respect" She said simply.

Before she could respond, Margaery smiled in greeting at the two men who had been gradually approaching them.

One of the two young men greeted Margaery first. "Lady Margaery, it's always a pleasure to see you." He was a tall, broad shouldered man with plain looks.

His friend was equally plain looking though he was a small bit shorter and much lankier.

"Ser Dickon, it's been awhile. I think the last time I saw you was when your father was leading the Reach's army toward King's Landing." Margaery said with a polite smile on her face.

"Yes, I remember seeing you that day as well. You looked just as beautiful as you do tonight." Ser Dickon said with a confident grin before gesturing toward his companion, "I'm sure you remember, Ser Mathis."

"How could I not? You two were inseparable when we were growing up." Margaery gave a greeting smile at the young noble.

"More like insufferable. Dickon used to never shut up about you whenever we visited Highgarden." Ser Mathis shot a teasing grin at his red faced friend.

"Ahem. I see you're accompanying someone tonight, Lady Margaery. My apologies for my rudeness, Princess. I'm Ser Dickon of House Tarly." It took Daenerys a short moment to realize that Dickon was now speaking to her.

She wondered if she'd ever get used to being called by her given title.

Somewhat startled, Daenerys glanced at Margaery before her previous teaching's kicked in.

"I'm Daenerys Targaryen." Daenerys tried her best to speak with confidence.

After her simple reply, Ser Dickon's gaze briefly flickered down to her hand. But it came back up once he came to the conclusion that she wouldn't be offering him her hand anytime soon.

"I must say, Princess Daenerys. You're even more beautiful than the rumors say you are." Ser Dickon remarked with a smile that was probably charming to most maidens.

"Thank you." She replied casually.

Her reply made Ser Dickon blink stupidly while Ser Mathis looked highly amused at the blunt response to his friend's compliment.

After a brief moment, Sed Dickon somewhat regained his senses. "So, how are you liking the Reach so far, Princess? Many people around the Known World dream of visiting our lands." He asked, obviously trying to strike up a conversation.

"It's beautiful. There are definitely a lot more flowers here than there are in Essos." Daenerys remarks jokingly, earning a laugh from the two men.

"Well that's to be expected, Princess. The Reach has the most fertile lands in the Known World." Ser Dickon boasted.

"How's your brother been, Ser Dickon? I haven't heard of him in a while." Margaery cut in.

Ser Dickon's expression became morose. "Unfortunately some time ago my brother, Samwell, was sent to join the Night's Watch." He told her.

For the first time since the convention began Daenerys's interest had been piqued. "Isn't that the order that guards the Wall? I thought that place was only meant for criminals and bastards." She says curiously.

Her words seemed to make Ser Dickon's mood even more somber.

"The situation was very-erm complicated." Ser Mathis spoke for his now silent friend, "My apologies, but I believe we should go now. It's been a rather long night."

After Ser Mathis led his friend away, Daenerys spoke. "Did I do something wrong?" She asked Margaery who shook her head.

"I'm not sure about the reason, but Dickon's older brother was expelled from his house by their father, Lord Randyll Tarly. And ever since Dickon became the heir of his house, he became more reserved when speaking about his brother. I wouldn't have asked if I had known that nothing had changed." Margaery said regretfully.

Daenerys simply hummed at that information as she watched the somber knight disappear into the crowd.

She had hoped to learn more about the Night's Watch but it couldn't be helped.

And not long after, they were approached by yet another pair of young men, so Daenerys put the thoughts of the Tarly's and the Night's Watch behind her as she began greeting the newcomers with a cordial smile.

oOo

Sometime later, with Percy…

The banquet had been ongoing for some time now.

Throughout the night, Percy traded words with countless noblemen. Most of whom he had to struggle to remember the names of.

He had never thought that a social gathering could be so mentally tiring.

There were many times when he almost thought to toss aside proper etiquette and start blatantly ignoring most of the less reputable nobles that approached him in droves.

Only the fact that he needed the support of as many of the noblemen of the Reach stopped him from doing so.

At least Viserys seemed to be enjoying himself. Though that was most likely due to the fact that he was mostly approached by women.

For a man apparently in love, his uncle sure looked like he was enjoying flirting with unwed ladies.

And while he was on the topic of flirting, Percy had lost count of how many times he had happened to see Daenerys being approached by young heirs looking to woo her.

A part of him knew that he had no right to be angry at the attention his aunt was getting. Daenerys's heart was not his after all.

But another part of him wished he could publicly humiliate those who tried desperately to gain his aunt's favor.

Alas, Percy was forced to clinch his teeth in annoyance as Daenerys continued to draw the unrivaled attention of the young men present.

"The last dance of the night should be starting soon." Willas suddenly spoke from where he sat at his side who had thankfully decided that a break was needed in order to reinforce his sanity.

So now he and Willas were currently sitting at the head table, where no one (except for the Tyrell's and Percy's own family) could casually approach them.

"I'm guessing you need me to be part of it." Percy remarked dryly, gaining an apologetic smile Willas.

Percy knew that this time would eventually come when he first heard that there would be a banquet.

After taking a long sip from his goblet Percy asked, "So who should I take as a partner?"

"It would be beneficial for our future plans if you were seen having comfortable ties with my family." Willas tells him.

"Margaery it is." Percy sighs before rising from his seat along with Willas.

"Don't worry, I'll have food brought out by the end of your dance so you won't be pressured to choose another partner." Willas reassured him before leaving to make the proper preparations.

As to avoid anyone looking to approach him, Percy swiftly traversed the hall in the direction that he had last seen Margaret and his aunt.

It didn't take long for him to find them as they were nearly surrounded by droves of young men practically fumbling over each other just to trade a few words with either of the two beauties.

Like the mice they were, the moment Percy made his presence known, the group of young suitors quickly dispersed. Leaving Daenerys and Margaery to realize who it was that was approaching them.

"You two looked like you were having fun." Percy joked as he reached them.

Daenerys rolled her eyes with a warm smile on her lips that hadn't been present a moment before. "I'd rather go through your training than talk to those pigs any longer." She said with exasperation.

"You did good though, Princess. Far better than I did when I started attending gatherings." Margaery said proudly.

Daenerys simply hummed from where she stood now practically glued to Percy.

Percy addressed the reason for his appearance. "Your brother wanted me to share a dance with you before he makes the announcement." He told Margaery.

Margaery nodded in understanding. "I'm ready whenever you are, your grace." She said simply.

Percy looked to Daenerys. "Go find Viserys. He should be done flirting with the other guests by now." He tells her, while also noting the eye roll that appeared on Margaery's face at his words.

Though she looked like she wanted to stay, Daenerys left to do as he suggested, followed closely by Jon.

Once she was out of view, Percy turned back to Margaery. "Would you like to dance, milady?" He said whilst holding out his hand.

"Of course, my king." Margaery accepted his hand and the two of them began making their way to the center of the hall.

Their actions quickly drew the attention of most present. And many who previously looked to not be interested in dancing immediately began grabbing their partners and made their way onto the dance floor.

As the two of them took the center of the floor, the musicians began playing a new song.

Making sure not to stand too close to the woman, Percy placed a hand on the back of Margaery and took a hold of the other before he began leading her through a slow routine.

They simply danced for a short while before Percy became the only one content with dancing in silence.

"Viserys often boasted about his dancing skills, but I'm surprised that you know how to dance too, your grace." Margaery suddenly spoke as she continued to expertly followed after his movements.

Percy simply hummed in response, his attention held elsewhere.

And by elsewhere he meant he was looking at the head table where Daenerys, Viserys, Willas and Ser Garlan sat.

Viserys looked to be teasing a red faced Daenerys about something. Most likely the fact that she didn't know how to dance.

Percy made a mental note to teach his aunt how to dance in the future.

Meanwhile, Margaery seemed adamant on making small talk with him. "Did you know that my parents danced to this song when they were newly betrothed? My grandmother said that my father had drunk too much wine so he could barely keep up with my mother and made himself look like a fool in front of my grandfather." She giggled.

With a sigh, Percy finally spoke to the woman. "I don't trust you, Lady Margaery." He simply stated.

His statement made Margaery blink in surprise.

"Have I done something to gain your distrust, your grace?" Margaery asks with confusion.

"No. Not yet at least. But that doesn't mean I should trust you." Percy says.

"We'll be family soon, we should have some degree of trust between each other." Margaery questioned with a giggle.

Percy's brow crinkled in incredulity at her words. "Listen very carefully, Lady Margaery." For the first time since their dance he stepped close to Margaery, before speaking in a hard tone.

"You may share the same bed as my uncle. And in the future perhaps even birth a few Targaryens. But you'll never be my family. The only people I truly trust are Viserys and Daenerys. It always has and it always will be. And I don't know what kind of hidden 'talents' you displayed to quickly earn the trust of my uncle, but I will tell you this-" Percy's voice grew softer but it became more menacing, "-if you ever betray Viserys's trust, whether that be through words or actions. I will make it my sole responsibility to burn this castle down to cinders and you along with it."

His words seemed to have finally made an effect on Margaery's bubbly attitude thus far. He could feel her slightly tremble in his grasp, whether it be from fear or anger, he didn't know. And he honestly did not care.

Sure, Percy knew that he may have been acting a bit too harsh, but he wanted to make sure that Margaery knew exactly what would happen should any ambitions get the better of her.

"…I will keep that in mind, your grace." Margaery quietly responded.

After that, the dance continued in stone cold silence.

oOo

Sometime later, with Willas Tyrell…

Everything was going smoothly so far.

Willas elegantly sipped wine from his goblet as he observed the other guests from the superior view that the head table granted.

Perseus and the other Targaryens shared the head table with his own family as one would expect from the honored guests.

But while their attention was split amongst each other, Willas was calculating when he would make the big announcement.

While some of his most trusted vassal's already knew the reason for the Targaryens appearance. Most of the nobles present had yet to know the reason.

He watched as they whispered among themselves about the possible reasons behind the house of dragon's presence.

And while it was somewhat amusing to watch them speculate, Willas knew that now was the time to make the announcement before unwanted rumors began to spread.

Purposely, without the use of his cane, Willas stood from his seat. It didn't take long for everyone to realize that he wished to speak.

After the chatter lowered to an acceptable level, Willas cleared his throat before speaking loudly and clearly.

"Firstly, on behalf of my family, I wish to thank everyone for coming. Tonight marks the end of our annual ball and soon the end of another fruitful year. But by now I'm sure you all are wondering about our esteemed guests."

At this point, everyone was listening to Willas speak with rapt attention.

As his hawkish gaze shifted through the different tables and crowds, Willas was made keenly aware that his grandmother, Olenna, had entered the hall sometime ago and was now standing near the doors.

If she knew that he had noticed her then she didn't let it show on her face. She simply continued to stare intently at him. As if daring him to continue.

But Willas was not his father. He had long since gotten tired of his grandmother's delusional sense of power and wished to remind her where the true power in Highgarden was.

So he continued, "As I'm sure you all know by now, the Seven Kingdoms are at war. Not with another continent, but with each other! The current ruler-"

"Usurper!" Viserys snarled from his seat though Willas continued on without missing a beat.

"-is nothing more than a weak, cruel boy who cares nothing about the people of Westeros, let alone the Reach."

Willas could already start to see the effect his words were causing as some of the nobles grew angry scowls on their faces at the mention of the infamous boy king.

"That is why me, and my lord father, decided that the Reach will no longer remain under the oppression of the Lannister's. We wished for the voices of all southerner's to be heard. And the best way to do so at the time was by aiding Renly Baratheon."

"We crafted him a crown fit for a king! We gave him the largest army led by the best general! We married him to one of the most beautiful women in all of Westeros! And yet Renly Baratheon was still not able to become king!" Willas's heated words were truly starting to rouse the guest.

All around, noblemen slowly began rising to their feet one by one.

"I humbly admit that it was short sighted of me to think that Renly was ever capable of becoming king. I should've trusted my judgement in the kind of man that Renly was. I shouldn't have put my faith in a man who couldn't even muster up the desire to bed his beautiful wife." Gasps resounded throughout the hall at that startling revelation.

Countless inquiring gazes flickered to Margaery. And like the great actress she was, she bowed her head with a somber look on her face.

Though she confirmed nothing through words, her actions were more than enough to cause acts of outrage.

His sister had always been proudly promoted by the common folk and noblemen as the most beautiful woman in the Reach.

So Renly having denied her affection was like a slap to the face of every southerner.

Willas knew this popular sentiment which is why he knowingly revealed this sensitive information for numerous purposes.

One reason was to all but confirm the rumors that Renly preferred the opposite sex. Further diminishing the late Baratheon's status and claims. Which would in turn let Perseus be seen in a much better light.

And another reason was so that his house could save face and present his sister to the Targaryens as an unsoiled woman.

After a short moment, Willas continued.

"Renly Baratheon was not a man worthy of our aid. And that is why I invited the man who revealed to the entire Seven Kingdoms what a fool Renly was." He gestured to his side where Perseus was quietly sitting.

"While only having half the men, Perseus Targaryen used Renly's arrogance against him and effortlessly crushed his army. He has shown the leadership and ability to rekindle his house's right to once again sit upon the Iron Throne."

Willas made sure to connect gazes with his grandmother as he very confidently spoke. "That is why it is my pleasure to announce the betrothal between Perseus's uncle, Prince Viserys Targaryen, and my sister, Margaery Tyrell! Through this marriage pact, House Tyrell will once again join hands with House Targaryen."

As further confirmation, Viserys very openly, and with a shit eating grin on his face, took Margaery's hand into his own to which she simply smiled.

After this, there were various reactions from the nobles. Some were still surprised while others looked dejected at the news. But most seemed to very enthusiastically support the decision.

Rounds of thunderous applause and cheers began to resound throughout the hall as Viserys and Margaery both stood to their feet, hand in hand.

Meanwhile, the smile on Willas's face never disappeared even when his fuming grandmother stormed out of the hall.

oOo

Nighttime, in the rose gardens of Highgarden with Daenerys…

A breath of tranquility escaped Daenerys's lips as she wandered away from the great hall with Ser Connington respectfully trailing a few paces behind her.

Though the ball was nearly over by the time she left, Daenerys had started to feel so exhausted due to the nonstop congratulations and conversations her brother and Margaery were drawing.

So until everything died down, Daenerys decided to get some fresh air and think about some of the things that had occurred that night.

The main thing being Perseus's exceptional social performance.

While she could understand how her brother may be used to attending parties and the like, Daenerys had no clue how Perseus was able to go around casually conversing with the most powerful lords in the Reach.

Everyone seemed to be in a trance whenever they spoke with him and no one seemed to walk away from a conversation with him without a look of satisfaction or respect on their face.

This was especially the case for many of the female attendees.

It was odd, and also annoying, to see so many young maidens arguing with one another in order to simply share a dance with Perseus.

Daenerys huffed as she sat down on a stone bench. Her mood had turned sour at the reminder of how many women she saw openly flirting with her nephew throughout the night.

She knew that she didn't have a claim on Perseus to validate having such a fit but her feelings toward her nephew were becoming more and more complicated.

On one hand, she still saw Perseus as her loving nephew. But on the other hand she couldn't help but notice how often she had begun to gaze at him whenever his attention was away from her.

And even though she had yet to find out the true reason for her newly found interest in him, she instinctively knew that her nephew's looks wasn't the entirety of the reason she was starting to see him differently.

"I was looking all over for you."

Daenerys quickly gained focus when the reason for her dilemma suddenly arrived.

Perseus slowly entered the secluded portion of the garden she had been traversing thus far.

A warm smile that immediately made her gain one of her own graced his lips.

After acknowledging Jon, who vigilantly stood guard at the entrance to the opening, Perseus made his way over to where she was sitting before taking a seat beside her.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starting to get sick of roses." He grumbled as he glanced at the flower bushes around them.

"I wonder how your friend, Willas, would feel if he heard you say that." Daenerys giggled.

"Friend is a strong word. He just has ideals that happen to align with me becoming king." Perseus says.

Daenerys raised an eyebrow at that. "Ideals?" She said curiously, prompting a quick explanation.

"After I reclaim the throne, Willas wants me to unite the Seven Kingdoms into one." Perseus tells her, greatly surprising her.

"Is that even possible?" Daenerys asks as she wracked her brain trying to find an answer to her own question.

It was no secret that the Seven Kingdoms, while under one monarchy, were split from each other economically and culturally.

Uniting Westeros would essentially be combining seven feuding kingdom's with very long and proud histories into one.

Such an outcome seemed almost impossible to even think of since not even their legendary ancestor, Aegon I Targaryen, had been able to do such a thing.

And he had three fully grown dragons.

She had no clue how Perseus would even go about accomplishing such a task. Surely he came to understand that his problem wasn't exactly one that could be solved by just swinging his sword.

Meanwhile, Perseus shrugged indifferently. "I'll just swing my sword until it becomes possible." He said in a simple manner.

Those brainless words made Daenerys blink dumbly. Her reaction caught a look of inquiry from her nephew which she couldn't help but laugh at, confusing him even further.

She couldn't even say that her nephew's simplistic mindset was surprising to her anymore.

"What?" Perseus quizzically asked her.

Daenerys dismissively shook her head with an adoring smile. "It's nothing." Her nephew could be such a flame brain sometimes.

Perseus looked at her oddly for a moment before going on to ask, "So, how was your first ball?" He says.

"Other than having to deal with decrepit old men who couldn't control their own eyes, it was great!" Daenerys said with a fake happy smile.

"Well, that's to be expected. You looked gorgeous tonight." Perseus hummed.

Daenerys fidgeted with her dress, her cheeks reddening at the compliment toward her beauty.

"It's still uncomfortable." She murmured.

"Should I have them burned alive then?" Perseus asked with a teasing smile.

Daenerys gave an exaggerated pause as she hummed thoughtfully. "Let's try not to make any pyre's until after you reclaim the throne." She tells him.

They laughed together until a silence arose that was followed by more conversation.

"I thought you were joking when you said you could dance. How did you learn? You never snuck into feasts when we were in Lys like Viserys." Daenerys says.

"Would you believe me if I said that I learned how to dance in a past life?" Perseus grinned.

"Yes, and I'd also believe that you were the son of the Drowned God in your past life too." Daenerys said dryly.

Perseus hummed at that. "Yeah, you're spot on actually." He nodded, causing Daenerys to punch his shoulder in amusement.

"Why do you ask though?" Perseus inquired before gasping dramatically, "Could it be that the all-knowing, Daenerys Stormborn, wants me to teach her how to dance?"

This time, Daenerys's face reddened from pure embarrassment.

While it was true that she couldn't dance, that didn't stop her from feeling left out when both of her family members had taken the dance floor without her.

"Would you like me to teach you?" Perseus asked her.

"Do you really think I can learn?" Daenerys asked, hesitant.

Perseus stood up and offered her his hand. "I guess we'll find out. Would this princess care for a dance?" He offered with an inviting smile.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Daenerys reached out and accepted his hand.

(OST Start)

As Perseus slowly led her to the middle of the open space they were using, she could feel her heart began to beat faster with anxiety.

Once they reached the center, Perseus surprised her by closely pulling her in.

They were so close together that the only thing she could smell was the rosemary perfume Perseus was currently using.

Lord Mace had gifted it to him earlier, along with a mountain of other high quality presents that she was still sorting through.

A part of her wanted to let him know that she preferred his natural smoky scent.

She stiffened like a board when she felt Perseus position a hand on the small of her back before using his other hand to clasp her right hand.

Due to being a head shorter than her nephew, she had to look up in order to meet his gaze.

"We're going to take it nice and slow, just follow my feet." Perseus told her gently before he began moving.

Daenerys clinged onto her nephew in an effort to keep up with him.

Rose bushes rustled softly in the wind as the pale moonlight shone brightly over them.

Dancing has suddenly become more pleasant than she had ever imagined.

As their dance progressed, her movements became more confident and Daenerys did little to hinder the bright smile that formed on her face.

"You're a natural." Perseus compliments her.

"It's not as hard as I thought it would be." Daenerys says in an easygoing manner, though it was mainly her hubris speaking.

Her nephew raised an eyebrow. "Then let's pick things up, shall we?" He said with a mischievous grin that she knew all too well.

"Wait, Perseus! I was only jok-" Perseus willfully ignored her objections before his pace suddenly quickened.

Not bothering to try and keep up with him, Daenerys squealed happily when Perseus's strong hands picked her up by her waist and began effortlessly spinning her around the garden.

The wind seemed to pick up in pace with them. Countless petals began swimming beautifully in the air.

Nearby lantern's burned brighter than ever before. The lively, orange flames within the glass seemed to dance as jovially as they did.

At that moment, she felt like the happiest girl in all of Westeros.

Eventually, their dance went back down to a much slower pace and Daenerys leaned into Perseus's chest prompting him to embrace her.

(OST End)

The tingling sensation she was currently feeling was not entirely new to Daenerys. She had always felt this way whenever Perseus held her in his arms.

"Dany." She looked up to see Perseus gazing up at the starry sky with a frown on his face.

"What's wrong?" Daenerys asked, worried.

She wondered what thoughts could make her easygoing nephew look so troubled.

After a hesitant moment where it seemed like he was about to make either the worst or best decision in his life, Perseus looked down to meet her gaze.

But there were no words. He simply stared into her eyes with a strange look.

"Is it about those suitors? Don't worry, I won't be inviting any of them into my bed anytime soon. You take up most of the space anyway." Daenerys jokingly says to him in order to draw out some sort of positive reaction which came in the form of a snort.

"I'm not worried about them." Perseus assured her.

"Then tell me what's wrong. You don't have to deal with everything alone." She said earnestly.

Her adolescence in Lys had only been well spent due to her nephew shouldering the majority of the heavy burden it took to care for a family of exiles.

It was a sacrifice that Daenerys acknowledged but had yet to begin to pay back.

Guilt weighed down her heart everyday as the amount of pressure that was weighing on Perseus's shoulders continued to grow.

Especially now that they were actively warring against the Seven Kingdoms.

"You've always looked out for me and Viserys. So why won't you just let me look after you for once?" Daenerys murmured sadly.

Perseus blinked in shock at her words. Then, a snicker escaped his lips before he started laughing so hard that his head fell back.

"Why are you laughing, Perseus? It's not funny!" Daenerys pouted angrily.

Eventually her nephew's bellows died down.

"Sorry, it just surprised me to see how much you've grown." Perseus brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear before he began caressing her cheek.

"You shouldn't worry so much about me. As long as you and Viserys are safe, I'll be fine." He spoke in a soft tone that he only ever spoke to her with.

"You always say that." Daenerys remarks.

"Because I mean it." She felt Perseus's arm wrap more firmly around her waist causing her to look deeper into his gaze, "You have no idea how much you two help me just by being alive."

They were practically conjoined at the torso. Close enough to make her wonder if he could feel her quickening heartbeat.

The only other person she had ever been this close to was Tristan and that was to have her first kiss.

If she were being honest, for a man who fancied himself a womanizer, the experience had been rather underwhelming and brief.

But now in her current situation, Daenerys couldn't help but wonder if Perseus was better at kissing than the bastard sellsword.

Struggling to keep her eyes from straying down to his lips, Daenerys finally responded. "…I thought I only made things harder for you." She murmured quietly.

"While it's true that you can be handful sometimes…most times-" She sent him a half-hearted glare for his witty tone which granted her a chuckle, "-whenever I start to lose track of our goal, whenever I begin to doubt my purpose, you are there to remind me of what I'm fighting for. It may not seem like it, but I need you a lot more than you need me."

His words greatly stunned Daenerys to the point that all she could do for a moment was gaze in the lilac-green eyes that shined with utmost sincerity.

Daenerys had never thought it possible that someone, let alone Perseus, would come to rely on her so heavily.

It was a revelation that made her heart clench and her cheeks grow warm.

She quickly leaned into her nephew's chest in order to hide her reddening face.

They stayed in each other's warm embrace under the starry sky until it became time to retire for the night.

But words couldn't describe how she felt at that moment.

All she could think of as she went to sleep that night was how dreamy Perseus had looked.