Bethany Bracken

	Bethany, as depicted by Magali Villeneuve in The World of Ice & Fire.
Allegiance	House Bracken
Culture	Rivermen
Born	156 AC or later
Died	178 AC
Father	Lord Bracken
Lover	King Aegon IV Targaryen
Books	The World of Ice & Fire (mentioned); A Storm of Swords (mentioned); A Feast for Crows (mentioned); A Dance with Dragons (mentioned);

Bethany Bracken was a member of House Bracken. She became Aegon the Unworthy's seventh mistress.

History

Barba Bracken was King Aegon IV Targaryen's fifth mistress, and her father, Lord Bracken of Stone Hedge, had been his Hand, but they were sent away in 172 AC and Melissa Blackwood had become Aegon's mistress. Barba and her father groomed her younger sister, Bethany, expressly to win the king's favor and displace Melissa Blackwood as his mistress.^[2]

In 177 AC, Bethany caught Aegon's eye when he visited Stone Hedge to see his and Barba's bastard son, Aegor Rivers. By then, the king was fat and foul-tempered, but Bethany delighted him, and he took her back with him to King's Landing. However, Bethany found Aegon's embraces distressing, and for comfort she turned to a^[3] handsome^[4] knight of the Kingsguard, Ser Terrence Toyne. The pair was discovered abed by Aegon himself in 178 AC.^[2] Even though they proclaimed their love,^[5]^[6] Bethany was forced to watch as Terrence was dismembered piece by piece^[7] and died screaming.^[8] Both Bethany and her father were then executed.^[2]

Quotes

Ser Terrence Toyne was found abed with his king's mistress. 'Twas love, he swore, but it cost his life and hers, and brought about the downfall of his House and the death of the noblest knight who ever lived.^[6]
—Arys Oakheart