The Love of Dragons (HOTD)

The Sea's End

The next morning my mother informed us that we would be returning to Dragonstone. I was upset, but I wouldn't let it show. I was upset with Aegon and didn't even bother to say goodbye. The walk up the steps of Dragonstone was a mission on its own. That night we settled into our chambers. The castle was dark and gloomy compared to that of the Red Keep. I stared out my large window hearing a dragons roar in the distance. Suddenly, my doors were thrown open to a weeping Jace and Luke as they ran to me with Luke embracing me in a hug.

"H-he's dead." Luke sobbed into the black fabric of my dress. My eyes widened wondering who they were possibly talking about. Jace stared at me fighting against his tears. My purple eyes locked on his brown ones. It was then I realized who Luke had been crying over. Harwin. He was dead.

"We overheard mother sobbing in her chambers." Jace mumbled looking away to avoid my gaze. Jace always tried to be the strong one out of us three. He was the eldest, only by a few minutes, but that didn't prevent his need to protect Luke and I. The entirety of that night my two brothers and I held each other and sobbed to one another. Even at such a young age I knew the deadly cost of showing fatherly appreciation for Harwin. If we were seen distraught about his gruesome passing our legitimacy would be challenged as would our mother and Jacerys claim to the thrown. So until we could truly honor our late father we sat grieving with one another in my chambers. I loved my dear brothers, they were my everything. Our mother encouraged the idea that her four children were always together. Bonded in blood, life and death. We would always be connected.

Days later, my parents, siblings, and I flew for Driftmark to attend the funeral of my late aunt who had recently passed due to childbirth complications. The beautiful Laena, sister of Leanor, my father. My mother stood behind me, Luke, and Jace with one hand on Luke's shoulder with our father on her other side. Besides him stood the King, Queen, Prince Aegon, Prince Aemond, and Princess Helaena. Laena's daughters quietly sobbed standing with their grandparents Princess Rhaenys and Lord Corlys my paternal grandparents. Or adopted grandparents. Prince Daemon, the now windower of Laena stood towards his wife's casket at the edge of a cliff looking out towards the ocean.

"We join today at the Seat of the Sea to commit the Lady Laena of House Velaryon to the eternal waters, the dominion of the Merling King where he will guard her for all the days to come. As she sets to sea for her final voyage, the Lady Laena leaves two true-born daughters on the shore. Though their mother will not return from her voyage, they will all remain bound together in blood. Salt courses through Velaryon blood. Ours runs thick. Ours runs true. And ours must never thin." Vaemond of house Velaryon spoke in High Valeryon with a serious yet somber tone. Once he was done with his speech Prince Daemon began to chuckle disrespectfully at the speech. He received displeased looks from nearly everyone.

"My gentle niece. May the winds be as strong as your back, your seas as calm as your spirit, and your nets be as full as your heart. From the sea we came. To the sea we shall return." Vaemond continued as the marble casket was pushed off of the cliff giving deep into the water. I glanced over at Aegon who looked around boredly. His eyes caught me and I quickly glanced away. I could still feel the Prince staring at me. I believed his mother did as well because she roughly nudged him trying to turn his attention back to the funeral.

After the ceremony everyone was offered refreshments as they silently chatted away. Some reminiscing on old memories of Laena. Others laughing about shared experiences. I walked throughout the crowds until I noticed a silver haired girl only a few years older then me playing on the ground. I quietly approached the girl startling her slightly.

"Hello, Helaena." I greeted with a soft smile. She was beautiful in all ways. Her shinny silver hair was wavy with braids her fair skin was etched with soft freckles. She had light blue eyes and seemed extremely feminine. She wore a velvet green dress with a matching green cloak over it.

"Hello, Aemma." She greeted softly. Even her voice sounded so pure and kind. I bent down besides her and tried not to let the disgust show on my features as she held an unusually large spider in the palm of her hand.

"I want to apologize for my mothers newest ideals." Helaena stated with genuine regret regarding the queens idea to marry Helaena to Aegon.

"You have no need to apologize, Helaena. If at all, it is I who should be feeling sympathetic for you. Now you're the one cursed to deal with Aegon's temper." I attempted to joke making the situation lighter. The young girl looked up over her shoulder in the direction of her older brother. I followed her eyesight to see Aegon attempting to flirt with nearby servants. I rolled my eyes in disgust.

"I have delt with my brothers aggressions all my life. I do not have any joy for this union." She murmured more to herself as she fiddled with the spider. It was then that I realized the spider she had been messing with had a red marking in the center of its back. It was poisonous. I scooted away uncomfortably gaining the attention of Helaena. The young princess noticed my fear as she held the spider up in front of her eyes.

"Do not be frightened. She won't harm you. You're not her prey. You know, certain spiders such as this one have an intense reproductive process?" She asked glancing at me for a split second then returning to watch the spider crawl along her arm. I shook my head meaning no.

"Once the pair has finished the mating the female eats her mate as prey. Then once the eggs are lain, the mother dies."She explained stating innocently at the bug.

"Why?" I questioned intrigued with her words.

"No one truly know. Some say it's for pleasure. Others say for food. Some even go as far to say to find another mate in hopes of continuing the cycle. I believe that the widows only priority in life is to deliver offspring. Birth, what a terrible thing. Fascinating aren't they?" She hummed.

"Indeed."