Dragon's roar (House of the Dragon)

006

Chapter 6: "Another jewel above the crown" Lost it all, Black Veil Brides.

Six years later.

"Another one, Lan', please" asked Joffrey.

"You know the rules, Joff'. We will start another story on the morrow" answered Alannys with a smile.

"Not fair !" pouted the prince.

The lady was seated on the floor of the nursery. Joffrey was seated with her and Aegon while baby Viserys had made his way on her laps. She slowly caressed his hair as she finished telling her tale. Alannys did not lose the habit of telling tales as she grew older. Luke and especially Jace had less time to listen to them but she still had Joff, baby Aegon and little Viserys even if the two latter were still very young. Even though she had less time to narrate them, she enjoyed it nonetheless.

"Seems like someone is sleepy" stated the young woman as she handed Viserys to a maid.

"And can you tell me the end of the story of 'the last dragon' ?" demanded the older boy of the three.

"The end of this story is a secret. And it is Luke's favourite so we must wait for him."

"Not fair!" pouted the boy once again.

"I know" answered Alannys, kissing his cheek.

They laughed together before the door opened on none other than Daemon Targaryen. The Velaryon girl rose as the maids curtsy. The rogue prince entered and ruffled the hair of Aegon and Joffrey. He was known for being reckless and maybe dangerous or threatening but with his children, he was definitely different.

"There you are , Alannys. What are you doing ?"

"I was telling the boys a tale, Prince Daemon. They are quite fond of it. Did you wish to see me ?" asked the lady.

"Actually I do. I wanted to ask you to come on a ride with Caraxes."

"I would love to. I will take my riding boots."

"I will wait for you at the front of the castle" concluded Daemon.

Alannys hurried out of the room with one last kiss on the boys' cheeks. She always liked to ride on Caraxès. When they returned to Dragonstone, all those years ago, she was still sad about Laenor and surprisingly, Daemon took her under his wing. He treated her just like Baela and Rhaena, as one of his daughters. When she expressed her wish to wield a sword, he did not get angry. Instead, the rogue prince taught her how to do so and even if she was very bad at first, she made progress and eventually became quite good. Daemon also let her spend time with the dragons. He felt like she needed it ; the girl had quite the fascination.

Alannys joined Daemon outside and together, they reached Caraxès. The dragon let out a pleased puff of smoke at their sight. The prince struck the neck of the dragon before climbing on the saddle. Alannys imitated him and settled behind him. 

"After the ride, I will see if Syrax had new eggs for the boys and the baby. Would you like to come along ?"

"I would love to. It would be the first time I would fetch dragon's eggs."

Then, Daemon ordered his dragon to fly. The feeling of the wind against her face was one of the young woman's favourites. She did not know if it was the fresh air or the freedom in itself but she adored it. The girl knew that as a Velaryon she should have loved the sea more but the skies felt different. During these few moments, it was as if she was someone else. When they slowly approached the ground again, she noticed they were closer to the caverns where Syrax might have laid her eggs. When she got off Caraxès, Alannys stayed a moment, petting the dragon.

"What is on your mind ?" wondered the husband of her guardian.

"Nothing"

"Alannys, do not try to lie to me"

"I just...I wish I could...have one of my own. I know I am no Targaryen and this is ridiculous but dragons have always fascinated me. It is just a silly idea" explained the ward.

Daemon took a moment to look at her. She reminded him of a young Cora Lannister. The prince knew the late friend of Rhaenyra as she grew up at the Red Keep. The Lannister lady dreamed of riding a dragon, even if she was no Targaryen. The girl seemed to have inherited her mother's fascination.

"It is not silly. What do I always tell you about power ?"

"You have to take the power, if you want it to be yours" recited Alannys.

"That is alright. A lot of dragonriders have claimed their dragons later on. My late wife and your cousin Laena claimed Vhagar when she was fifteen. There are still unclaimed dragons in this world. You might end up with one too."

"But I am no Targaryen" tried the young woman.

"And again, you have been raised among dragons. You know them and they know you. You have the blood of Old Valyria. You never know what could happen" assured the rogue prince. "Now, let see the eggs"

She followed him inside the cavern, still unsure about this whole 'claiming a dragon' business. They reached the place where Syrax had laid her eggs. Daemon got the eggs and gave each of them to Alannys so she could place them in his bag. Then, they exited the cavern and while the Prince talked with the dragonkeepers, the Velaryon lady looked at the sky in front of her. She yearned to explore them on dragonback. When she focused on him again, Daemon had a message in his hand.

"What is it about ?"

"This is a message from Baela."

"Is there a problem ? Is she well ?" worried Alannys.

When the man took a moment to answer, she knew it was something important. She grew more worried about Baela, however, she waited for the Prince to explain.

"She is alright but we have another problem."

"What problem ? Is it about Driftmark ?"

"It is. You know that the Sea Snake has been fighting at the Stepstones but apparently he was severely wounded. The question of his succession is rising now more than ever" explained Daemon.

"But, he already designed Luke as his heir. It is only evident as he is Laenor's son" wondered Alannys.

She felt confused. Lucerys was Laenor's son and as Jacaerys was already in line to the Iron throne, the younger boy was the legitimate heir to Driftmark. Unless...someone would question, once again, the legitimacy of hir birth. The lady felt her fists tighten.

"Who is it ? Princess Rhaenys would not..."

"It is not Rhaenys. According to Baela, Vaemond Velaryon wants to take over Driftmark and he has the crown's support."

Vaemond Velaryon ; the father she never knew, the father who abandoned her, was now threatening one of the people she loved the most. Alannys realised that someone had to do something about it.

"I don't understand. The King would never disinherit Luke."

"My brother is no longer reigning in Kingslanding, Alannys. I'm sorry but I must inform Rhaenyra" added Daemon before leaving.

So here it was. After all those years they would be back in that viper's dane. But Alannys would do it a hundred times to defend Luke's honour.