The True and The Brave

𝔒𝔫𝔢: 𝔖𝔢𝔞𝔣𝔶𝔯𝔢

"Come on, father. Please. I want to see Seafyre. He grows restless every time they try to chain him in the dragon pit. He rather prefers the caves near the sea. I have to train him, just like you trained Seasmoke", the little Aemma of six name days ran through the red keep and into her father's arms. 

Ser Laenor had overlooked her training, her schooling, and her riding abilities, along with his mother and father. King Viserys also took a liking to the Velaryon. If she was not with her father, she was with her grandsire, often asking about old Valyria. Her mother, Rhaenyra loved her dearly, but it was clear that she much rather choose to educate the children she had procreated out of love with her paramour, Ser Harwin Strong. 

It was not a dislike Rhaenyra harbored— it was more of hidden fear. Fear that the girl born from Laenor Velaryon looked so much like him, and neither Jace nor Luke could ever. 

"Little Aemma, let's go to the dragon pit then. I am sure Ser Harrold can take Haelena too. She must be wanting to see Dreamfyre. For the life of me, I don't understand why Alicent is so adamant about her children being dragon riders. We are the old pillars of old Valyria", her father said, taking her hand and leading her to the carriage taking them to the pit. 

To everyone's surprise, Aemma's egg had hatched a moon after her birth. Laenor entered her chambers to pick up the babe, only to find a broken egg and a silver dragon with wisps of aquamarine blue running through the scales of the underbelly and the membrane of the wings. It was one of the most beautiful dragons he had ever seen, but one who was already bonded to little Aemma as it curled at her side, both laying fast asleep. 

They did not expect the egg to hatch— not even to hatch so soon. Rhaenyra ran to the chambers of her daughter, Jace staying in her personal chambers. A courtesy that Aemma was not given despite her being a whole year younger than her brother. Laenor would often stay beside his daughter. He had been in agony since Joffrey's death. Sure he took young squires to his bed, but it was Aemma who he prioritized. Always her. 

"Father, Haelena told me something yesterday. I did not quite understand her. She that there was a twinge of black in my aquamarine. And that I would not choose. Rather forced to choose. Aquamarine laced with green or black. I saw it in my dreams too, father. I was standing in the middle of an altercation...you were not there. I was in the middle of something—"

Laenor faced his daughter. She had enough dragon blood to be terribly riddled with dreams. He believed she inherited that from her mother, but Haelena from his father. He did not know the meaning of the words but knew certainly that his daughter had been born to put a distinctive wedge in Rhaenyra and her affection towards their children. 

"Don't worry, my little seasnake. I am sure Haelena only speaks about the colors of your house. You only wear Velaryon colors, not Targaryen. You are truly a Velaryon, don't forget about that. Come on, we are here. Best for us to ride together". 

And Aemma shook all her worries away when she flew side by side with her father. She laughed as Seasmoke prodded her hand gently, feeling the bond between his rider and his own daughter. However, Seafyre was rather selective. In those six years, she had grown almost to the size of Seasmoke. Her slender body let the she-dragon fly quickly and glide near the sea to acquire even more speed. The dragon would often be seen snaring fish herself. The dragon keepers hadn't seen anything like it. It was as if it the dragon could live in the water and adapt to the waves and currents. But the fire, it was very much there. 

Once they returned from their joyous expedition around the Kingswood and back to the pit, Seafyre was quick to fly to his caves near the shore. 

It was Ser Steffon Darklyn who rushed on horseback nearing the duo. Ser Laenor watched in confusion at the haste.