Dragon's roar (House of the Dragon)

003

Chapter 3: "Some legends are told" Centuries, Fall out boy.

"Suddenly, the mighty warrior saw a dragon on top of the hill. His scales were golden like embers glowing in the sun while his eyes were as orange as fire. As he approached the hill, the warrior saw a shadow near the dragon" narrated Alannys.

"And what is the shadow ?" asked Lucerys with excitement.

The young lady was seated on the floor of the nursery of Dragonstone. A maid was holding baby Joffrey whereas Jace and Luke were previously playing but now listening to the tale Alannys was creating for them.

"The shadow was the one of a woman. That woman was actually the dragon's rider. She was dressed in a black cloak and her blond hair were dancing in the wind. Slowly, the warrior approached but as soon as she saw him, the woman mounted her dragon and flew high in the sky."

"And what happens after ?" asked Jacaerys.

"I can't tell you yet. You will have to wait until tomorrow to know."

"That is not fair. You always do that" complained the other prince.

"And you always love the story in the end. It would not be fun to know the ending so quickly. It also teaches you to be patient."

The boys loved Alannys' stories. Since they were very young, the lady enjoyed telling them teles she created just for them. She always managed to delay the ending to the morrow, to teach the princes how to wait. Sometimes, back at the Red Keep, Helaena would join them. Even Aemond, when he was very young, once seated through one of her tales. It was a gift ; her ability to transform reality and imagine such marvellous stories. The Velaryon girl dusted her blue dress as she rose from the floor. At the same time, Rhaenyra entered the room and went to take Joffrey.

"What are you all doing here ?" asked the princess while kissing the baby's head.

"Alannys is teaching us to wait" answered the oldest boy.

"Is that so ?"

"Yes. I am not telling them the end of my tale before the morrow."

"That seems like a good exercise to me" agreed the older woman. "And what is this tale about ?"

"It is about a strong warrior who is searching for the last dragon. He fights villains and when he finds the dragon, he finds a girl with him. She is the dragon rider ! But Alannys refuses to tell us what happens next" explained Luke.

"I told you, you have to wait !" answered the girl.

"Alannys is right, Luke. We should wait" agreed Jacaerys.

The prince always tried to appear wise, as the oldest Velaryon boy. He would be king someday so he shall act with patience. Plus, it would make Alannys on his side for once. Jace felt as if she always took Luke's side, always protected him. It was normal as Lucerys was the youngest but at the same time, Jace also wanted the girl to consider him as her younger brother.

"Thank you, Jace" concluded the girl.

"Now, Alannys you have a history lesson and boys you have some sword training" announced Rhaenyra. "Off you go."

The three children left the nursery to go around the castle. Alannys wandered the halls, a bit jealous that the boys could sword train and she could not. The Velaryon lady hurried to join Laenor who would give her her history lessons. He decided to do so because he wanted to spend more time with his cousin and he felt like she could use some paternal figure. The young lady thought that the castle as well as the weather was gloomier than in Kingslanding. But the girl found the castle of Dragonstone to have some beauty ; a dark and fireborn beauty. She reached the study where she would have her other lessons. There she found her cousin.

"Alannys. There you are."

"Good afternoon, Ser Laenor. I am ready for my lesson."

"Well. Today, we are going to work on the great houses of Westeros and tomorrow we will focus on Old Valyria."

The lesson began with Laenor reading parts of the book he asked the maester for. Then, Alannys had to recite the great houses of the seven kingdoms and their mottos and seats. She was quite good at that kind of thing. The young lady had a very good memory for names and the great houses were no exception ; she liked that kind of exercise. 

"House Stark ?" asked the man.

"Words: Winter is coming. Seat : Winterfell."

"Correct. House Greyjoy ?"

"This one is tricky. Words : We do not sow. Seats : The Iron Islands."

"Good. Now add the colours. House Hightower ?"

"Words : We light the way. Seat : Oldtown. Colours : Green."

"You could also add white. Last and most simple. Our house, the Velaryon ?"

"It is easy. Words : The Old, the true, the brave. Seat : Driftmark. Colours : Blue."

Alannys' eyes went down at the mention of her House. Usually, she did not mind. She was happy to share it with Laenor and even Jace, Luke and Joffrey but at that moment, she caught herself thinking about her father. Sometimes, the young lady thought about him, when she was alone. She wondered what her life would have been had she stayed with him at Driftmark. She did know that he did not want to keep her. Alannys could not help but wonder why he never tried to take her back or even send her a letter. It was as if Vaemond Velaryon had forgotten he had a daughter.

"How is he like ?" asked the young girl, raising her eyes to meet her cousin's.

"Who ?"

"My...father, Vaemond Velaryon. I know you have met him, cousin, and even if he never saw me in twelve years, I am curious about him."

Laenor looked at her with a smile he wanted to be reassuring. Even if she was his wife's ward, he had seen her grown too and raised her alongside Rhaenyra. He helped her with some of her lessons and he taught her many things. The young lady has heard the rumours about him but just like with the princess, it did not make her consider him as less. Alannys avoided judging people on rumours, she would rather judge their actions. After all, Laenor or Rhaenyra's presumed sins were not so bad compared to a father abandoning his child. The Velaryon knight realised he needed to comfort his younger cousin.

"My uncle is not always an easy man. He is a bit stubborn and maybe bitter since...since your mother. But, I have to admit he is a great warrior. Without him we would have probably lost the war at the Stepstones. I also believe him to be very loyal to his brother. I feel like he would always take my father's side."

Alannys only nodded at that. It was the first time she was willing to voice her questions about her father and she did not know what she expected to find. Vaemond Velaryon was just a man, like many others but he chose to abandon her. Some parts of Alannys wanted to picture him as one of the monsters from her tales, but he was just a man. At only twelve years of age, she was still not processing everything about her resentment toward him. At that moment, Rhaenyra entered the room in a hurry.

"What is it ?" asked Laenor.

"It is about Laena."