Chapter Text
It was a sad day. For Laena Velaryon had died by the fire of her own dragon. It was not until the sun peaked from the sky did her living offspring awaken, only to be grief stricken.
The youngest child especially. Daenyra was said to be much more child-like than her two older sisters who were very mature for their age. So all Daenyra could do when seeing her mother’s ashes laying in the sand was cry. Though partly comforted by her sisters, they too needed time to mourn just as much as her.
Daenyra needed someone she could relay on. Someone who she could protect—something she couldn’t do with her mother.
as the funeral drew closer Daenyra grew more closed off. Rather than spending her mourning with her family, she kept herself busy with the company of her dragon, Seodreda. He was but inches taller than Daenyra despite still being a hatchling. Which is why he spent most of his days locked up in here. No one really knew of the speedy growth of Daenyra’s dragon. And she’d like to keep it that way.
”Daenyra! Our guests have arrived. Father has asked for all of us to be present.” Which plainly meant that he was asking for Daenyra to be there.
With a heavy sigh, Daenyra got up dusting herself and biding farewell to Seodreda, leaving him in the spot he’d been resting in. Following her sister, Baela to the castle.
Upon reaching the open gates, Daenyra saw the arrival of both her uncle and his wife, following with her cousins behind them. And also the arrival of new faces to Daenyra.
Whenever Baela and Rhaena would go with their father to Kings Landing, Laena would stay back, caring for Daenyra. Which meant she’s never met the other guests that also had a distinct trait of her family, cream white hair.
Despite both Daenyra’s sisters looked like their mother, Daenyra bared the littlest resemblance to her own mother. Which made her targaryen traits stand more prominent on herself. One would find it hard to believe Laena was her mother if they’d not seen her father.
Even through the greetings of the guests Daenyra hadn’t spoken a word. She’d always been like this. Which is why her mother had never brought her out like her sisters. Daenyra didn’t see a need for her words when others wouldn’t care for them.
Forced by her father. Her and her sisters greeted each guest individually. One guest in particular, caught the eye of the grieving girl. His meek appearance peaked her curiosity. Her cousins told her he was weak, and hadn’t even gotten his own dragon. To her understanding they’d definitely bullied the poor boy.
Daenyra, feeling pity, walked up to the boy. She waved her hand at him as if to say hello. As everyone made their way inside was when the boy was finally able to respond.
”Hello, Lady Daenyra.” He spoke softly, with a gentle bow. As if she too, would harm him with painful words just as her cousins have done before. Now, she doesn’t feel pity. But she understands the boys pain. He wasn’t understood by everyone, they didn’t want to understand him. Just as people didn’t want to understand her.
Still without words, Daenyra grasps Aemond’s hand. But as gently as she’d pet Seodreda. It looks like he wants to pull away, scared of what’s to come. Though, doesn’t hurt him as he expects of her. Instead, she holds Aemond’s hand tightly with two of her own, bringing it to her head as another way of offering her greeting.
Daenyra brings Aemond inside, still clasping his hand. She happily runs toward the room where she’d usually reside when staying with her grandsire and grandma. Showing him the abundant toys she was gifted by them.
Aemond didn’t know how to react. So, he just sat as Daenyra showed off her most prized collection of wooden horses. Laughing at the recreations she’d tried to make.
As the evening grew dark, Daenyra’s nanny called upon her.
”M’lady, Prince Daemon has asked for you to gather for the farewell ceremony of Lady Laena.” Daenyra’s face grew dark, not wanting to see the remains of her once alive mother. She was sure they just wanted to see her tears again. The girl hated it, she hated the ceremony. She hated her mother, for leaving her. For an awkward moment, Daenyra just stood in place.
To her surprise, she felt Aemond’s hands gently touch her shoulder. Ushering her out. Contempt with him reaching out to her, she decided it’d be okay if Aemond was going to be there also.
Rushing to be beside him. She once again grabbed his hand, not letting go until they reached the family. A gloomy look was once again put on her face. As she was forced to stand next to her sisters and father. Daenyra couldn’t help but stare at Aemond the whole time. Which was noticed by her second elder sister, Rhaena. Causing her to nudge her younger sister, making Daenyra refocus on her mother’s departing casket.
When the ceremony was complete all who was there departed indoors. Rhaena brought Daenyra close to her. Walking arm in arm.
“So, Daenyra. I see you’ve got a strong eye for Prince Aemond, don’t you sister?” Rhaena said playfully. Despite not accompanying her sister for most of their grieving, it didn’t break the closeness they shared with the other.
Daenyra bashfully looks away from her sister, not bringing herself to make eye contact. Scared she’d see the bright color of red on her godforsaken pale skin. If she hadn’t taken after her father so much maybe it would’ve been easier to hide.
All the way to the dinning room. Rhaena endlessly teased Daenyra, which brand Baela to the circle of laughter, now walking on the other side of Daenyra.
Their cheerful laughs may have been an abomination for most. But they were definitely laughing to cope with the sadness they felt.
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As darkness now covered the sky, chattering was minimal. Daenyra could not stop her thoughts from filling with Aemond. She was worried for him.
Some may think it foolish for a girl all but eight to being such a worry. But this was a feeling Daenyra couldn’t just push aside.
Exiting her room, she walks through the halls, noticing the doors to the back of the castle cracked open. Daenyra feels her gut pushing her out the door and into the grassy hills of the beach.
There, she spots Aemond laying among the tall grass. Vhagar was in the distance, resting. It was then that Daenyra caught on. She quickly tackled the boy. Causing him to be quite shaken. Held even punched her on her cheek, making a tear or two slip out of her eyes.
”Daenyra! I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was you.” Aemond shouts in a whispered tone. The girl sniffles but nods her head as if to say it’s fine. But she does give him a questioning look, pointing a finger to the dragon.
Aemond gets what she means and reluctantly states his intention.
”I’m sorry Daenyra, I need Vhagar. She’s my only hope to not be looked down on. Please help.” That day, Daenyra knew she shouldn’t have, but she helped him anyway. The look in his eyes were calling out to her in desperation, how could she not help him.
Quietly and swiftly, the pair approached the dragon with caution. Not wanting to awake her just yet. Daenyra stayed a couple of feet behind a patch of grass. She wanted Aemond to be safe, but didn’t want to mess with his chances of having something he was in a despite need of.
Daenyra watched in an awe as Aemond quickly commanded Vhagar. Following to him at once when he called for her.
“Will my lady grace this prince with the honor of riding with him?” He asked politely, but not hiding his playful intentions. Daenyra giggled gleefully and grasped the hand of her prince.
Daenyra was quite used to the rushing air when riding Vhagar, but it seemed that Aemond was inexperienced. So she held tightly onto his waist. Reassuring him with the taps of her fingers. With the calm demeanor of the rider, the dragon was now much more steady.
After the ride Aemond was gentle when helping Daenyra off of Vhagar, despite knowing she wouldn’t need it. He found a comfort in her which he’d never found in another.
Making their way inside, the two spotted both Daenyra’s cousins and her sisters.
Daenyra grew scared, why’d they been mad. There wasn’t such a thing as stealing one’s dragon. They weren’t objects to be claimed. The scared girl grew small in the shouting of both parties. Had she not said she would protect Aemond. How would that be possible when it was her own family that was the opposing side.
Not long after a fight broke out. A lot of pushing, shoving, and punching was involved. And as Daenyra tried to break it up, the harder she was pushed down.
Daenyra’s heart broke when he called her cousins bastards. And as he held a stone in his hand to Jacaerys everything seemed to move in slow motion. The poor girl quickly attempted to block him from attacking but only ended up in the crossfire. Not able to block to blow to Aemond as she heard his hurdling scream as she witnessed him fall to the ground and agony.
“Aemond!” This left a lot of people shocked as the bleeding boy laid in the ground, the voice of the one they thought to be mute suddenly appeared.
Worried voices started to surround her. A sorrowful apology leaving the mouth of Lucerys as she saw the bloody knife in his hands. But she couldn’t feel a thing. Her body felt numb as she tried to calm Aemond down, tears falling down her face.
But she soon started to panic as she felt her heart slowing down and pumping loudly in her ears. Daenyra couldn’t make out a word her cousins or her sisters were saying. Her vision growing dark.
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