Maiden's Day Ball
The Maiden's Day Cattle Show was the name given by court fool Mushroom to a ball held on Maiden's Day in 133 AC to find a second wife for King Aegon III Targaryen after the death of Queen Jaehaera.[1]
Background
After the death of Queen Jaehaera, a betrothal was planned between the king and Myrielle Peake by her father, Lord Unwin Peake, who was the king's Hand and regent. Many lords disapproved of Peake trying to forward the match so soon after the suspicious death of the queen. Lord Cregan Stark suggested the north would look on the match with disfavor, Lord Kermit Tully called it presumptuous, and Grand Maester Munkun's support began to waver, acknowledging that the match would be seen as advancing Peake interests rather than being for the good of the realm. Lady Johanna Lannister, Lady Elenda Baratheon, Lady Samantha Hightower and Lady Sharis Footly wrote to the crown, proposing their own relatives as Aegon's bride (or themselves, in Lady Footly's case). Due to pressure from the lords and ladies of the realm, Peake instead announced a ball in King's Landing where the king himself would be able to choose his own bride.[1]
Lord Peake restricted the ball to maidens of nobility under the age of 30 to limit the attendance, but more than one thousand young women from throughout Westeros and even Essos came to King's Landing in hopes of marrying the king. Many women were injured or scandalized before the ball, and lords spoke of the "Maiden's Day curse". Many of these events were likely engineered by Lord Peake, who hoped to have his daughter be queen.[1]
- Cassandra Baratheon was again rumored to have had a part in Queen Jaehaera's death.
- Ysabel Staunton was said to be fond of wine.
- Elinor Massey was rumored to not be a virgin.
- Rosamund Darry was said to have had six nipples, for her mother had supposedly lain with a dog.
- Lyra Hayford was accused of having smothered an infant brother in a fit of jealousy.
- The "three Jeynes," Jeyne Smallwood, Jeyne Mooton, and Jeyne Merryweather were said to like dressing in squire's garb and visit brothels, fondling women as if they were boys.
- Tyshara Lannister was found abed with a groom. She said he climbed through her window, but Munkun found her maidenhead to be broken.
- Lucinda Penrose was set upon by outlaws whilst hawking, and her nose was slit.
- Falena Stokeworth took a tumble down the stairs and broke her leg.
- Lady Buckler and her daughters drowned when their boat sank in the Blackwater.
- Volantene maidens were carried off by corsairs from the Basilisk Isles on their way to King's Landing.
Ladies present at the Cattle Show
- The daughter of the Prince of Pentos
- The sister of the Archon of Tyrosh
- "Daughters of ancient houses" from Myr
- Myrmadora Haen
- Ellyn Baratheon
- Alyssa Royce
- Patricia Redwyne
- Anya Weatherwax
- Barba Bolton
- Moriah Qorgyle
- Myrielle Peake
- Daenaera Velaryon
- Henrietta Woodhull
Outcome
The maidens expected to flirt and dance with King Aegon, but the event was not a true ball. They appeared before the king in the Red Keep's throne room in what Mushroom later nicknamed the "Maiden's Day Cattle Show", with Aegon's herald announcing each one's name and lineage as she curtsied.[1]
The women, their family members, and servants so overflowed the throne room—the second-largest hall in Westeros after Harrenhal—that they could not move. The building became, Archmaester Gyldayn wrote, "suffocatingly hot" despite the winter; people fainted and one lord died. The herald lost his voice and had to be replaced.[1]
The daughter of the Prince of Pentos was the first to appear before Aegon, but Mushroom wrote that the bored king soon forgot each woman, and that cunning fathers likely sent their daughters through the queue again. Aegon's growing disinterest as hours passed benefited Lord Peake, as Myrielle had spent much time with the king before the ball.[1]
When only a few maidens remained, however, Lady Baela Targaryen and Lady Rhaena Targaryen suddenly arrived with their kinswoman Daenaera Velaryon, six years old. The whole galley was said to have rejoiced when she smiled, and the king called her very pretty. The last few maidens were brought forward hurriedly, and the king's desire to end the parade was so palpable that Henrietta Woodhull sobbed as she curtsied. Afterwards, the king summoned his cupbearer, Gaemon Palehair, who announced that the king would marry Lady Daenaera.[1]