So It Goes... // Corlys Velaryon // Rhaenys Targaryen

88. The Greater Man

So it goes

Nya took Nymaera and Rhaena fishing when she got to pentos. They didnt like the feel of the fish in their hands. Nya made them all dinner and didnt tell the girls that the fish they caught and promptly named were now what they were eating soo happily. 

"I missed you cooking." Laena remarked. 

"This is good." Nymaera agreed. 

"You can have my cooking all the time," Nya reminded her. Daemon huffed a breath. "I noticed you reading Daemon. I didnt know you knew how to read." 

"Mama be nice." Laena whispered. 

"You know Nymeria likes to throw insults around. Thinks it wounds a greater man." Daemon offered. 

"I dont see a greater man." Nya corrected. 

"I read, I read all the best ways to kill an enemy." Daemon agreed.

"Daemon." Laena hissed. "Be nice. Be civil. Both of you."  

"Interesting that you need to reach such things." Nya mused as she scooped a forkful of rice up. "I already know the best ways. The bloodiest, the cleanest, the most discreet and the boldest... but do keep reading, I'm sure it helps to read such things instead of train." Daemon slammed a hand down on the table. "Lenot." Nya added, be civil in high valyrian. "Lenot." She repeated annunciating the T. She wiped at her mouth before rising up. "Speaking of books and stories, I think we need another story tonight!" Nya remarked and the girls jumped up. "Get ready for bed. I will be right in." 

"Get rid of her." Daemon seethed to Laena. 

"I love when shes here, can't you two get along?" Laena countered. 

"Well I dont want her here. Dont you want me happy? You dont want me mad." Daemon warned. 

"Laena, come on honey, join us for a story. I think Daemon can manage with the dishes." Nya offered reaching out for Laena. 

Nymaera and Rhaena were settled into bed, Laena loved that Nya tucked them in, did the same routine that Nya had down with Laena all those years ago. It made her miss home even more. 

~

'So ya hear anything about the black pearl?' kat asked a few sailors. She thought that was a good place to start.

'Black pearl?' the men questioned.

'yeah, pirate ship...' kat said looking between them. 'captain jack sparrow? You ever heard of him?'

'black pearl is a legend little lady. Its not real.'

'it certainly is real.' She told them.

'fuck off,' the man snapped turning back to his sorry excuse for a boat. Kat stomped down the docks. She asked every sailor she saw.

'So ya hear anything about the black pearl?' kat asked

'Black pearl?' the men questioned over and over again.

'yeah, pirate ship...' kat broke a little more every time they didn't know. 'captain jack sparrow? You ever heard of him?'

'You know anything about the black pearl?' kat asked her heart broken all over again.

'Black pearl?' the men questioned.' That's not real little lady.'

'yeah, pirate ship... its real... I know its real...' kat said looking between them. 'captain jack sparrow? You ever heard of him?' tears in her eyes.

'never heard of him because the black pearl is a legend, a myth, a story to tell kids.'

'black sails with a skull and cross bones... the deepest black... the highest... the highest peaks... the best damn captain there ever was or is or is to come...' she wiped at her eyes and looked for shelter for the night. These people were brain washed, on another land and forgetting about what was important. Brain washed into thinking that nothing existed outside of the seven fucking kingdoms. But there was a big world. A huge world, just waiting to be explored. She wouldnt be brain washed into thinking that just because something was her life right now meant that she was always destined to live this life. This life of torment and torture, not when she had people she actually loved and that actually wanted her out there.

Trouble asked everyone she came across if they had heard anything about pirates, about black sails about jack sparrow but she got the same answer every damn time.

'never heard of him.'

'that's a legend.'

'your looking for ghost stories.'

But she wasn't. it was real. It was real. Her life with them was real. She considered booking passage on a ship but where would she go? What would she do? She wanted to be with her family, she needed to be with her family. She was isolated and alone. Trapped. 

~

Laena stared back at her and couldnt help but feel like there was a double meaning to her story but there usually was with Nya. 

"Did she find Jack?" Nymaera questioned. 

"She did... but the real question was if she was smart enough to follow her heart and stay with her family, the people she loved and not the thrill... the... captivity she had grown used to." Nya remarked and Laena sighed looked to her feet. "But of course Trouble was smart and if Trouble were to have children they would be smart and brave and beautiful." Nya reached out grabbing Laena's hand. "Strong children that stood up for themselves... for what they wanted, never let anyone silence them, doubt themselves." 

Nya followed Laena out as she wiped at her eyes. 

"Mama why do you do this to me?" 

"Tell the kids stories?" Nya offered innocently. 

"I'm... I'm..."

"Happy? You going to lie to me right now? I see you Laena. You are my girl and I see you. I see you getting pushed aside, bending over backwards to please that awful man. You are so much more than his wife. You deserve more. You deserve the world Laena. He can't give it to you and you know it." 

"I wanted someone to look at me like father looks at you." Laena rasped. 

"And Daemon? You think he does? Because I see how he looks at you and its not how Corlys sees me." Nya assured her. 

"But maybe one day he will." Laena whimpered. 

"Maybe? Honey, he's a fuck boy. He does what he wants, he does whats best for him. He wont put you first, come home. Have the chance for real love, true love, a man that treats you right."

"What if he doesnt exist?" 

"He's out there." Nya corrected. "He is." 

"What if he's not and I'm meant to be alone."

"Did Daemon put these self deprecating thoughts in your head because Laena you are not meant to be alone. You were 15 when he stole you away and promised the world. You were a child, you will always be my baby girl. No matter how old you are. You are my baby. You and Laenor, mine. I want the damn world for you both. You are so strong, you claimed a dragon, you gave birth to two beautiful, wonderful, perfect little girls. You are loved and valued and needed. I need you. Those girls need you. Your father and mother need you. Laenor needs you. Laena... you have to put yourself first, put yourself above Daemon's needs and ask yourself what you want." Nya held Laena's face in her hands as she rested her forehead against Laena's.  "What do you want baby? Whatever you want I want to give it to. I want to help you, I want you home." Nya whimpered tears running down her face. "What do I have to do to get you home with me and Laenor again?"