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-Day 2,Morning,Mid 120 AC-
– Chapter start –
The calm waves brushed the slabs of jutted stone they all stood upon. Velaryon's of long past had shaved the jutting rocks's which stabbed towards the sea.
The black stone fangs rose above the waves. They had chosen this place, for salt and sea were in their blood. The sea stacks being the last sail.
The skies were grey as Velaryons knights dragged Laena's Velaryon's casket towards the edge.
Beautifully carved with a pale colouring, Corly Vlaryon had spared no expenses for his daughter, even in death.
The Sea Horse sigil flag raised high in the air as they all watched.
Urirgon stood amongst those that mourned, his family surrounding him. Close to them was Rhaenyra and her children alongside the King. The Velaryons stood closest to the casket, far ahead of them.
Daemon stood alone far from the rest.
"We join today at the Seat of the Sea", said Vaemond Velaryon his voice loud enough for all to hear, he was her uncle.
He spoke in High valyrian, the tongue of their people. Both Targaryen and Velaryon.
"To commit the Lady Laena of House Velaryon to the eternal waters, the dominion of the Merling Kin."
Rhaeny's Targaryen let out a quiet sob as she heard her daughter's last writes. Corlys wrapped an arm around his wife.
"Where He will guard her for all the days to come"
Laenor held both his niece's as they cried in his arms. Their cries mixing with the sound of the waves.
"As she sets to sea for her final voyage, the Lady Laena leaves two true-born daughters on the shore", said Vaemond, his eyes looking at Rhaenyra's children, Jacerys, Lucerys and the babe in her arm's Joffrey.
All brown of hair.
Rhaenyra shifted awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with Vaemond's stare.
"Though their mother will not return from her voyage, they will all remain bound together in blood"
Now the King raised his head, giving a queasy smile before dropping it. The entire party became aware of what Vaemond was truly saying.
"Salt courses through Velaryon blood",Vaemond held all the features of his family and all that carried their blood, silver white hair and purple eyes.
"Ours run thick"
The same features Laena.
"Ours run true"
The same features Corlys had.
"And ours must never thin"
The same features Rhaenyra's children lacked.
Daemon Targaren let out a loud chuckle.
As if he was amused at his own wife's funeral.
He continued to laugh and they all turned to him, the Velaryon's stared at his uncle as if he was mad.
Vaemond continued, "My gentle niece", his eyes were now teary but his voice remained firm.
"May the winds be as strong as your back,your seas as calm as your spirit"
Urrigon watched as Rhaenyra tried to comfort his nephews, rubbing their shoulders.
Right next to him was his brother Aegon, who was blowing air, sighing with boredom.
"-and your nets be as full as your heart"
But Urrigon's eyes focused, he had little care for the bastard's shame nor his brother's display. Amethyst and emerald eyes were fixated on the girl in Laenor's arms.
"From the sea we came–"
He remembered her soft hands on his, her desperate touch, her tears on his shoulder.
For what hero would leave a maiden in her misery?
"To the sea we shall return."
The Velaryon knights dragged the casket to the edge, and its weight made it fall as the sea embraced Laena Velaryon for the final time.
"LAEEEENAAA", whailed Laenor letting go of his nieces and grabbing his face, falling to his knees.
None could blame the man.
Urrigon knew he would as distraught if he lost any of his siblings.
A roar echoed far in the distance, but this time they all knew where it came from.
Vhagar
The great green beast mourned her lost rider, Its roar like thunder for all to hear. Calling for her.
It reminded Urrigon of the one that stalks his dreams.
That one did not have the weight of sorrow.
It called for hunger.
–
Driftmark courtyard looked over the waves beneath the island, far higher the sea stacks and attached to the castle. They all gathered here after Laena's submergence. The entire court.
"Hand turns loom, spool of green, spool of black, dragons of flesh weaving dragons of thread", muttered Helena under her voice, his little sister's hands fiddling with a spider.
"Hand turns loom, spool of green–", she continued her mutterings, while Urrigon watched their surroundings. Even now they wore their faction's colour's, each of his siblings was dressed in green and they in black.
"We have nothing in common", said Aegon looking at the spider in Helena's hand with disgust.
"She's our sister", said Aemond, his eyes staring at Helena.
"Yes our sister only, Aemond", said Urrigon, eyes still elsewhere, searching.
"You marry her then", spat Aegon, he rejected the valyrian's habits of laying with siblings.
"I would perform my duty if mother had only betrothed us…", said Aemond.
"Mother doesn't hate Helena", said Daeron, holding Urrigon's hand, "and she's our sister, gross!"
Aemond turns to Daeron glaring, " It would strengthen the family. Keep our Valyrian blood pure, you twat!"
Daeron hid behind Urrigon but stuck out his tongue.
"The only twat here is the one that want's to sleep with his sister", said Urrigon, eyebrows furrowed.
'Where is she?', he thought
"Hundred of women and you want our sister Aem", said Aegon gesturing towards Helena, "She's a idiot!"
"She's your future queen", said Aemond.
"Helena is'nt a idiot!", said Daeron, he pointed a finger towards Aegon while hiding behind Urrigon, "You're the idiot, meanie!"
"I rather be a meanie than sleep with our sister", said Aegon, eyes trailing a passing servant, "though we both fancy long legs.."
"Gross!", said Daeron.
"Aemond is gross…", said Urrigon distracted.
"I can not be the only one who wants to keep the valyrian tradition!", said Aemond, looking at all of them aghast.
"You are", said Helena suddenly before returning to the spider,she was feeding it a fly.
"Rejected!", said Aegon and Daeron both laughing and pointing at Aemond.
"The blood must stay pure", said Aemond stomping his feet, his face a beating red.
"I'll be back", said Urrgon, letting go of Daeron's hand and walking into the crowd of courtiers and Velaryons, "Leave Aem alone, the seven forgive his sinful thoughts"
"Sinful! It is our du–", screamed Aemond at him, drawing attention.
"Big brother, where are you–", he heard Daeron's voice begin to fade in the murmurs of the people he passed.
He saw her.
At the other end of the courtyard was Rhaena Targaryen.
She was surrounded by what looked like Velaryon women, perhaps they were her aunt's, friend's of Laena or even cousin's like him.
Amongst the sea of silver white hair was a dark black.
Rhaenys Targaryen held the hands of Rhaena and her twin Baela, comforting both.
They all did, the cousins and aunts were all speaking to each other, offering futile words of comfort.
They did not immediately notice him approaching, not until he was right in front of them.
"Lady Rhaenys", greeted Urrigon,bowing his head.
To give greetings to the lady of the castle first was proper manners after all.
The dark haired women raised her head and stared at him, pale iliac eyes red, "And you may be?", she said.
Urrigon felt a throb of annoyance at not only the lack of greeting but not recognizing a royal prince. Especially since she must have noticed him at the docks.
"Prince Urrigon, son of King Visery's and Queen Alicent", his voice did not show it.
"Ah" ,said Rhaenys her eye's slightly widening, "the murderer".
The Velaryon women surrounding went silent and the girls beside Rhaenys stared at him.
'So that's how you will play?'
"I am not sure of what you mean", said Urrigon putting on a smile, "I had only come to give my condolence's"
"What will words do? It shall not bring back my daughter", spat Rhaenys as she scowled.
"But it may comfort your hers", Urrigon reached from beneath his robes and stepping towards the twins.
"Lady Rhaena, dear cousin. I was told of your mother, how she always read you tales of ages long past", said Urrigon as he bowed his head, pulling out the book in his hand.
"The tale of the Age of Hero's, I hope with these stories you will give you some comfort", his auburn hair covered his face as he bowed his head fully, so he could not see them.
There was a pause before he felt a hand brush against his and take the book, he raised his head.
"Thank you cousin Urrigon", said Rhaena's eyes stared at the floor, unable to meet his.
Urrigon nodded and turned his eyes towards Baela.
"To you, Lady Baela I must admit I know little of you, but know I will always be in your corner whenever you have need of me."
Baela did not respond but unlike her sister's her stare was fully on him.
Thinking of it he had felt such a stare since he was at the dock's yesterday…
Was she upset that he bore no gifts? He did not have time to pack when they had left for the funeral, he could only grab that book from his collection.
"And what of me 'murderer', you only bring gifts to my grandaughter Rhaena and words of comfort to Baela"said Rhaenys, "Could you not even offer a basket of fruit?"
The Velaryon's around them snickered. Urrigon forgave her first slight, she had just lost a daughter.
"I will forgive your lack of tact Lady Rhaenys, the older a fruit grows, the more bitter it taste's after all", said Urrigon.
One of the older Velaryon women let out a gasp but his eyes remained on the old crone.
"You should noy listen to the mutterings of our lesser Lady Rhaenys, such rumor's wane on an old heart".
Instead of outrage Rhaenys face softened and she gave a small smile.
"Laena had the same fire…"
Urrigon suppressed his confusion and let her continue.
"Laenor spoke of you, calling you fearless and brave"
"He praises me to much Lady Rhaenys", said Urrigon.
Rhaenys let out a small chuckle, "You disrespect me in my own castle and now you have manners", she let go of her granddaughters hand's and walked towards him.
Urrigon raised his head to look up at her and she brushed his auburn hair to the side, "Bravery or a lacking of wit, you are as bold as your grandfather Baelon. Laenor may have been right…"
Before Urrigon could swat her hand away he saw another figure approach from the corner of his eye.
"L–Lady Rhaenys,c–cousins", said Jacaerys, shuffling uncomfortably "I hope I am not disturbing anything".
If all the Velaryon women around them stared at him with eyes of skepticism, when they looked at Jacaerys their was barely concealed disgust in their faces.
Rhaenys continued to hold Urrigon's face in her hand as she turned to speak to the boy, "Hello Jacaerys, have you come to give your…condolences as well?"
The boy nodded slowly, "Yes grandmother"
Urrigon could feel Rhaenys hand tremble on his face when Jacaerys said that word.
Grandmother
Rhaenys did not respond but simple nodded her head and Jacaerys walked to Baela and Rhaena.
"I do not like you boy", whispered Rhaenys in high valyrain, "People as beautiful as you care for nothing but themselves, Saera was proof of that!"
"I am no whore, Lady Rhaenys", whispered Urrigon harshly back in High valyrian,"Do not curse me such"
The tale of Saera, his great aunt brought much shame on his dynasty, she still lived far away in Essos, continuing her life of debauchery.
"Nay boy, you are murder !", scowled Lady Velaryon, "I have seen boys like you grow into monsters, monsters who would do my family harm!"
"Why do you insist on such lies?"
Rhaenys attempted to pull him close by the hair but he grabbed her hand squeezing it.
"Lyonel had many friends boy, my son and grandaughter shall not have their daggers pointed at them as well", spat Rhaenys.
"If I am so monstrous as you claim, I cut down those who try!"snarled Urrigon as he bared his teeth up at the women.
She stared down at him, veins on her forehead pulsing with rage, her face was close to his, their nose nearly touching.
"So eager for blood boy, the truth of you grows clear!", she said with a thin smile.
"What use is a knight with no blade?"
"A Knight?", scoffed Rhaenys ,"You are but a boy, not even a squire, where is your oath?"
People started to notice their dispute, Jacaerys and the twins alongside the rest of the Velaryon women gaze's slowly reached them. Those from the crowd lowered their voices to hear.
"You asks of oaths? what of the vows broken?", whispered Urrigon, he let go of her hand and moved to quickly hug her, "You accuse me of being like the old King's daughter, though your son is married to a whore like her!"
"What are you doing?", said Rhaenys confused, he wrapped his arms around her arms.
She started to resist before he spoke loudly.
"I am sorry for your loss Lady Rhaenys! I promise you as kin and with the Seven above as my witness I will always be there for House Velaryon. For Laenor and Laena's daughters both!"
'Play along you withered crone', thought Urrigon, 'Grandsire will have my hide if I continue this folly'
Rhaenys seemingly read his mind and relaxed herself and embraced him back. She even kissed the top of his head.
"Thank you for your kind words, your oath. Rhaenyra was right about you"
The Velaryon women around them gave approving nods. From the crowd he heard clapping.
Urrigon found the source of the applause, Daemon Targaryen's claps echoed in the courtyard.
He swaggered through the crowd and reached them both.
"Best you prove your word's prince", he said while smiling nodding his head to the side" For they may be broken soon…"
Urrigon released Rhaenys and looked at where his uncle had nodded at.
Rhaenys and her granddaughter's followed.
"NOOO!",screamed Rhaenys, grabbing the edge of the courtyard leggings.
Bellow them, by the sea stack rocks stood Laenor, a small blade in his hands.
Urrigon moved and sprinted back towards where the funeral was held.
He had seen those eyes before.
Eyes that spoke of Laenor's current desire.
To plunge himself into the sea's depths.
To see his sister one last time.
END CHAPTER---
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