Breakbones and the Dragonrider

Chapter 34

Watching the boys on the beach never failed to make Rhaenyra feel at peace. In the years she and her little family had been splitting their time between Dragonstone and King's Landing, Rhaenyra had found a happy equilibrium. Tensions between she and Alicent had cooled significantly. Just as things would start to feel prickly between them, it was time again for another visit to Dragonstone. Then the whole process started over again.

And now there was Daemon and Laena's visit with their girls Baela and Rhaena that Rhaenyra had been so looking forward to.

It had taken Rhaenyra and Laena some years to get Daemon to agree to it, but now that the girls were old enough to ride on Caraxes and Vhagar with their parents, they were coming. And now, lounging on the beach, Rhaenyra watched as her boys scanned the sky for Caraxes, and the queen of the dragons herself, Vhagar.

"Jacaerys, Lucerys," Rhaenyra called while the boys were still within earshot, "don't wander where Ser Harwin can't see you."

Jacaerys, so grown now at the age of six, nodded. "Yes, mother." He dutifully took Lucerys's hand, directing him further down the beach.

When the boys had wandered to the water, dipping their bare feet in the water, Harwin knelt down beside Rhaenyra.

"You'd think they'd never seen a dragon before," Harwin marveled. Rhaenyra smiled and looked over at Harwin.

"Vermax and Arrax are like housecats compared to Vhagar," Rhaenyra said with a slight chuckle. "I will admit, Vhagar is quite the sight to behold, even for me."

Harwin sighed, and with ease he sat down beside Rhaenyra on her blanket, stretching his feet out to match Rhaenyra's posture.

"I still can't believe you and Laena were able to convince him to come," Harwin said.

Rhaenyra blinked a moment, watching Jace lift Luke out of the way of a larger wave. "It took longer than Laenor would have liked."

Prince Daemon and Lady Laena had not returned to King's Landing since the tourney in Jace's honor. They had stayed in Pentos all these years. And Laenor had yet to meet his nieces Baela and Rhaena. Rhaenyra knew it weighed on him, so she and Rhaena had worked to convince Daemon that the girls were old enough to ride with them.

Harwin would have asked her if she was going to be alright, but their conversation just before the tourney had covered that. Rhaenyra held respect for Daemon in her heart. And love of a sort. But in failing her, Daemon had severed any line of romantic feeling Rhaenyra ever felt.

Now, Rhaenyra's heart swelled at the idea of having her little family grow by four. And as if summoned by magic, little Luke came bounding up to Harwin and Rhaenyra holding something in his hands.

"And what have we there, Prince Lucerys?" Harwin asked, looking to what Luke clutched to his front. Luke carefully pulled his hands away, revealing a shell. Luke clutched a the smooth brown shell with white spots in his left hand, and extended it to Harwin.

"I've brought this for you, Ser Harwin," Luke said.

"Thank you so very much, Luke," Harwin said. Luke plunged his hand into his little pocket and fished out a handful of smaller all-white shells, and he held them out for Rhaenyra.

Just as Rhaenyra helped Luke carefully drop the shells, a shadow passed over them, drawing their attention upwards. The moment Luke realized that Caraxes and Vhagar had flown above them, he dropped the remainder of the shells and ran off towards Jace shouting "it's Vhagar, it's Vhagar!"

Rhaenyra chuckled as the shells tumbled onto her blanket. Harwin turned the shell over in his hand and smiled at it before he tucked it into his own pocket. Harwin stood, knowing their time on the beach was up for now. He held his hand out for Rhaenyra, helping her up. As she began folding her blanket, the two boys came padding up the sand as quick as their little feet could take them.