Oblivious to the tensions of the crowd around him, the master of revels announced. "Prince Daemon of House Targaryen, Prince of the City, will now choose his first opponent!"
Acting as if he owned the place... Daemon rode out and surveyed the assembled jousters... eventually picking one wearing the Hightower sigil. With mocking intent.
Making Viserys and Otto exchange glances.
Then the announcer shouted. "For his first challenge, Prince Daemon Targaryen chooses Ser Gwayne Hightower of Oldtown, eldest son of the Hand of the King!"
Making Otto shake his head. Knowing that the uncouthly prince was lashing out... against him at that. Even when he only and just recently slighted the man with the City Watch incident.
Corlys, on the other side, looks mildly amused.
Regardless of the implications... the match must ensue... with Prince Daemon and Ser Gwayne preparing to joust.
Prompting Rhaenyra to grab the hand of Alicent, who looked nervous. While coin master, Lyman hands an attendant some money.
"Five dragons on Daemon." He could be heard saying.
Accordingly below... Daemon, smug enough to not shield his face, glanced at the crowd one last time to make eye contact with Otto before charging forward.
While his opponent, Otto's son, charged on as well.
The scuffle ensued… with Gwayne Hightower proving to be the better jouster.
And Prince Daemon is the one hit, resulting in the loss of his lance... but isn't dismounted.
Otto, on the balcony, looked pleased.
Still, the joust ensued...
Both riders got new lances and charged forward again.
But at the last second, Daemon swings his lance in front of the hooves of Gwayne's horse, sending both tumbling over.
An unfair move that should be considered an illegal one... but none is actually complaining... except perhaps the Hightowers who were watching.
Fortunately, even when Ser Gwayne was clearly injured... he still got up, with varying reactions from the crowd and nobles.
And as the "winner"... Daemon rides in front of the balcony... while Rhaenyra and Alicent approach.
"Nicely done, Uncle." The princess said with decorum despite the issues he has.
"Thank you, Princess." Daemon accepted but then turned smilingly to the other girl. "Now, I'm fairly certain I can win these games, Lady Alicent. Having your favor would all but assure it."
Alicent, expertly burying her dissatisfaction, grabs a wreath and shares a glance with her father... before dropping said wreath on Daemon's lance.
"Good luck, my Prince." She harped.
Consequently... a maester whispers something in Otto's ear, who then relays it to King Viserys... as Rhaenyra and Alicent sat back down.
Viserys looked nervous but still stood up to leave... confounding those who noticed his absence from henceforth.
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Then again, the tournament continued.
And after a certain knight was dismounted… the crowd cheers.
Obviously angered, the dismounted knight pulls his opponent off his horse and begins to attack him... to varying reactions from the crowd.
"Kill him!" Was the most heard consensus, making Rhaenys comment. "And the day grows ugly."
And as the angered knights continue fighting, Corlys added. "I wonder if this is how we should celebrate the birth of our future king."
"Hm." His wife hummed while he continued. "With wanton violence."
"It's been 70 years since King Maegor's end." She reminded as someone tackled the attacking knight out of the way.
"These knights are as green as summer grass. None have known real war. Their lords sent them to the tourney field with fists full of steel and balls full of seed, and we expect them to act with honor and grace." Rhaenys observed and bluntly stated. "It's a marvel that war didn't break out at first blood."
With all that said, the attacking knight slams his axe down, killing the other knight.
The onlookers variably gasp or cheer, including Rhaenyra.
While a squire vomits as the dead knight is taken away.
To make way for the other fights that will follow soon after...
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After so many matches and with another dead knight is being dragged away... it was time for the next one.
With the master of revel shouting. "Ser Criston Cole will now tilt against Ser Daemon Targaryen, Prince of the City!"
So... Daemon and Criston prepared to joust... and then away they went.
Horses charging, lances forward… and BAM!
But… neither was dismounted on their first go.
As such, people looked on intensely as the duo grabbed new lances in a hurry and collided once again.
This time around, Prince Daemon lands on the barrier in the center of the joust, just barely failing to get back on his horse before falling off the end.
In a fit of anger, he pushed away a man helping him up... as the dominating Ser Cole dismounts.
"Sword!" Is what Daemon shouted and after a squire gives him Dark Sister... the loud announcer correspondingly shouted. "Prince Daemon Targaryen wishes to continue in a contest of arms!"
And so, Criston approached the approaching Daemon with an odd choice of a weapon... the morningstar.
Lo and behold, they clashed... to everyone's excitement.
One flailed his ball and chains while the other parried with a famed Valyrian sword.
It was quite a match that one couldn't look away from...
But alas, it had to end and one must prevail over the other.
The prevailer happens to be Ser Criston, who hits the prince at an opportune angle... and then pinning one of his arms to the ground with his boot.
"Yield." The dark horse of a knight demanded.
"Yield!" He repeated.
With not much leeway and advantage... Prince Daemon eventually yielded, after many moments of pause… swatting Criston's offered hand away as he got up.
Then turning to leave from the debacle... with even more frustrations than when he dashingly arrived.
This jousting didn't really aid in alleviating anything at all.
It more so just worsened the judging eyes that are directed his way.
Especially as it was made clear that the Daemon Targaryen lost. In a manner that could be considered a shock to many who expected him to win.
The Master of Coins, who lost his wagered coins, included.