The True and The Brave

𝔗𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢: ℑ 𝔞𝔪 𝔞 𝔣𝔞𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯

Laenor Velaryon may act like a fool, may jest, drink and whore himself out with squires and nameless knights. He found no satisfaction in his marriage. No satisfaction for laying with a woman at least. He now had a daughter, one that he would cherish and protect. He never would imagine himself to be a proper father, but to her, his own flesh and blood, he would always be. 

He was not daft, he knew Jace, Luke, and Joff were not sired by him. But he knew that if he treated them any differently, innocent kids would be at risk. His own daughter. His own little Aemma. He showered her with gifts to compensate for her mother's lack of warmth. His own mother and father took her in, writing endless letters and sending the best of gifts. 

Corlys would leave her as Lady of the tides, gods damn the very words of the king. She had his blood and name. Names are written down in history, but hers would be written in the very stars. 

Laenor brought Aemma into the library, leaving her to her own devices, and then stormed back to Rhaenyra's chamber. Gods damn Ser Harwin Strong. He knew the implications of his actions, but he cared more about his daughter almost being hit by two grown men. 

He found ser Qarl near his door. Even he had cared for Aemma more than his own mother. He would find Ser Qarl giting her sapphires from the sacking of the pirates he had captured. It seemed everyone loved little Aemma, all except her own mother. 

Laenor bursted inside, his anger still very much present. but he knew better than to anger Rhaenyra. He was afraid that his anger would have repercussions on his daughter, and he had vowed to protect her. 

"War...is afoot again in the Stepstones, Rhaenyra. The triarchy takes new life from its alliances with Dorne, They're waylaying ships and cargo. Qarl's been fighting there. He brought my little Aemma...", he jested with a hint of seriousness on his voice,. 

"He had her done a sapphire necklace. He showed me a sack of sapphires big as walnuts he took from the pirate he slew. Ahh... after all this time, this is just what we need, a little adventure. Of course, after leaving Aemma with my mother where she belongs in Driftmark to be raised as a proper Velaryon. A good, honest ballte to enliven my blood again, and for my daughter to see his father as a fearsome warrior. Qarl says there is a Tyroshi general there, a giant, they say, who dyes his beard purple and wear women's frocks. Aemma would be delighted with my tales"

He watched at Rhaenyra's reaction carefully. Her eyes widened when he mentioned Aemma, how he was going to take only her to be raised as he was, to her ancestral seat, to the land that was her birthright as a second child. 

"A few months, maybe... Hm. To be back at the sea, to raise my daughter as I as raised. Seafyre will love it too, I am sure", he clicked his tongue, his small jab getting Rhaenyra's reaction. 

Rhaenyra could not hide her anger, could not hide the fact that her husband preferred the company of Aemma, the child that endangered the rest of her sons by only living. She was a challenge to Lucerys claim, and a child that was not fruit of love, like she was from her father and mother. 

"Are you mad? Do you know what's happened...while you've been guzzling all the ale in Flea Bottom and showing clear bias for Aemma? Gods know what besides? Dark rumors are hunting us, Laenor", she started, pacing towards him. 

Laenor finally sat down, his gaze significantly darkened. It was obvious he will choose Aemma. He loved all his kids, but they were not truly his. Only his Aemma was. 

"They nip at out heels. Questions... about our sons' parentage. Vile, disgusting insinutations. And our daughter, looking like you is not helping and she does not even realize it", she scoffed. 

"Insinutations are they? Aemma is innocent in this. She is a child, your daughter, Rhaenyra do not forget that", his voice darkened. 

"They are our sons! Yours and mine. Aemma is all yours, and she does not need protecting. Our sons' need us, Laener. It is them who need us. And their true father will not abandon them now to go carousing through the Narrow Sea, waggling his sword and winking at his sailors. And much less, take the only daughter back to her place, leaving them here. Your sons, Laenor", Rhaenyra exclaimed, her anger very much apparent.