RAINFYRE

1

Rhaenyra Targaryen was missing from her quarters when her three children, accompanied by Ser Harwin Strong, had arrived to present the dragon egg they had chosen.

"Nora, do you think mother is alright?"

Laenora Velaryon, a girl of twelve years, was sitting beside her twin brother and had been lost in her own train of thought. Despite Ser Harwin's reassurances that Rhaenyra was perfectly alright, after hearing the fate of her grandmother, Aemma, Laenora couldn't prevent her mind from fabricating similar scenarios that could have happened to their mother each moment she remained absent.

However, she would never speak such tragedies aloud, let alone to Luke, who was anxiously twisting his sleeve as he peered up at her and Jace.  So Laenora smiled with what she hoped was a convincing expression and reached out to ruffle his hair.

"Of course I do, sweet brother."

Whether he could sense her true thoughts, or had simply taken notice of her stiffened posture, Jacaerys scooted closer to her and locked their hands together. It was a small gesture, but to the twins, it was a reminder of their support to one another, which meant a great deal to both of them in difficult times as now.

After a few moments of watching Luke, who still appeared riddled with nerves, Laenora rose to her feet, pulling Jace along with her. The two shared a purposeful look, and were quick to create a distraction for their younger brother.

Jace struck a dramatic pose, and pretended to unsheathe a sword. "The evil knight only thinks he's won the battle, but its too late!"

He then widened his eyes in fear, pretending to faint as Laenora lunged forward, waving her arms and shouting after him. "He sees a big scary dragon soaring towards him!"

Luke's fits of laughter were pleasing to the twins ears, and they continued prancing around him, coming up with different stories to act out to entertain him.

The three giggled after each of Nora's failed attempts to tackle Jace, until Luke stuck his foot out and tripped both of them, resulting in all three children landing in a heap on the floor.

"No, Jacaerys! NO!"

Laenora's laughter immediately turned to shrieks the moment Jace grabbed a fistful of her neatly braided crown in order to brace his fall. 

Angrily, she reached towards his hair in an attempt of retaliation, but he was quick to duck out of the way and rushed towards their mother and father, who had just entered carrying their baby brother.

"Mother!"

Laenora released a long sigh as she ran her hand over her hair, pulling the rest of the braids loose while Jace hurried over to where the dragon egg was kept. It did not take long for her and Luke to scramble to their feet and join his side, all supposed anger forgotten.

"We let Luke choose an egg for the baby."

Jace removed the iron lid, and after the steam cleared, the dark scaled dragon egg they had brought from the Dragonpit was revealed.

Rhaenyra smiled kindly as she moved to take a seat. "That looks like the perfect one."

Laenora being quite observant, did not miss how her mother was leaning into Ser Harwin as he guided her to the nearest chair, nor did she miss the intimate smile they shared.

She had heard the rumors that seemed to have recently spread like fire amongst the Queens supporters in court about herself, Luke, and Jace, but she couldn't allow herself to dwell on the thought for long, as it always sent her into a spiral of insecurity.