The Passion of a Thousand Suns | Aemond Targaryen

Fourteen: the sapphire princess & the one-eyed prince

KING'S LANDING

Sat crossed legged, Hira took a silver strand of Helaena's hair, delicately weaving three braids together to form a crown on the top of her cousin's head. She spent the better part of the hour playing with her hair, until Helaena requested to have it braided.

With a hairpin trapped between her teeth, she mumbled, "From all the scriptures I've read of Daenys the Dreamer, it speaks of prophetic dragon dreams. Your ancestor predicted the Doom of Valyria."

"I was taught the same history as you, cousin," Helaena answered.

"Yes, yes. But," she paused to pin her cousin's hair into a neat bun, "what if Daenys isn't the only dreamer in your family?"

"I'm not a dreamer," she instantly argued. Hira imagined her face scrunching into a look of distain.

Hira was not one to be dissuaded. "You see the future, Helaena, through visions and dragon dreams. All the riddles you speak of are telling's of what's to come."

"It was one incident."

"That saved my life." Turning her cousin around by the shoulders, she stared into her eyes. "Leap before you fall, that was what you told me. How could you have known the spikes were there, months before we ever ventured out to the markets? Remember our first picnic? You said those exact words."

Helaena patted her hand almost patronisingly, giving her a demure smile. "I am not a dreamer, Hira. I cease to believe it."

Convincing her cousin she was Daenys reborn was a difficult task, but Hira saw the truth of it. Every mumbling of hers foretold the future, yet the woman wouldn't believe it, no matter how hard Hira pressed. She knew it to be true, deep in her soul. Helaena was a dreamer like Daenys who predicted the Doom.

An ability like that, it was something to be feared and respected.

"But if you were, it would explain everything."

"If I am a dreamer like you say, then I had a part in Jin's demise. Had I said something more credible, then perhaps he would still be here." Helaena snapped, chest rising with quiet frustration. Her voice cracked slightly as the weight of her words hung in the air.

Her face softened the moment she saw the downfallen look on Hira's face, the glint of guilt reflected back at her. "Let it rest, cousin," she added, quieter this time, the anger ebbing into sorrow.

"Jin's death was unfair and cruel," Hira replied softly, her gaze steady, despite the hollowness she felt. "But know this, sweet cousin, you saved my life when you spoke those fated words. I wouldn't be here if not for you. For that, a great debt is owed. The blood of Han owes you, ask me for anything and it's yours."

Helaena let out a soft giggle, the sound light but carrying an edge of shyness. She waved her hand dismissively. "You're too serious this morning, cousin. Enough of this talk of gloom and dreams."

Just then, the sharp clanging of metal echoed from outside the chambers. Both girls turned, their attention drawn to the sound. The door had been left ajar to let in the morning breeze, but it now brought a faint hum of tension, breaking the bubble of their shared moment.

Helaena instinctively reached for Hira's arm, a flicker of unease crossing her face, as a Kingsguard appeared at the doorway. His armour gleamed under the soft light filtering through the room, his expression impassive yet urgent.

"Lady Hira," the knight's voice was firm, "you are summoned to Maegor's Holdfast, by order of the King."

Hira's eyes flickered to Helaena, catching the uncertainty in her cousin's gaze. She offered a reassuring smile, her hand lightly squeezing Helaena's before she pulled away. "I'll return, Helaena. Don't worry."