The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 5

The news of my father's betrothal to Princess Helaena changed the dynamics of my grand-uncle's court considerably. A Princess of the Blood was to marry the Lord of Runestone. Such marriages weren't unheard of, of course. Viserra Targaryen had been betrothed to Torrhen Manderly and to hear my father say it, Ser Harwin Strong was one of the potential suitors for Rhaenyra.

I don't know much of what happened after the return. What I do know is that my aunt Nesaena had attempted to talk with my mother about it. According to mother, she was a much different person in her youth.

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The trip back to King's Landing was not what would be described as an overly pleasant one, given the news that had been revealed. Daevar was to marry Helaena. It was a good match, he had to admit that, solving multiple problems with one stroke. It would tie the Vale to the crown, placate the Vale lords still angry at his father, and he suspected that his uncle was counting on the marriage to heal the divisions in his court.

Daevar had no intention of playing that game though. If he was going to marry her, it would be for the benefits to their houses, not for anyone else's. He saw Helaena leaning against the side of the deck, staring out at the ocean as he approached her. "Helaena, I-... hello." He said lamely. It was less smooth than his regular approach with girls, he had to admit.

"Hello, Daevar." Helaena replied, gazing out over the horizon. She liked the sea. It had always been calming to her to see it whenever she was in her chambers in the Red Keep. Seeing the ships go in and out of the harbour had been one of the few things that she had been able to enjoy. Apart from her bugs. Sixty rings, two hundred and forty legs. One abdomen and fangs, eight legs and harmful. She turned to him. "It appears we are to be married."

"So it would seem, yes." Daevar replied. "Helaena, I swear on my mother's grave, as long as we are betrothed or married, I will do what I can to keep you safe." He knew it might not mean much right at this second, but it was for the best. He didn't want her running away from him on their wedding night.

"Your mother, what kind of woman was she?" Helaena asked. Daevar resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. He had not known his cousin to speak much of his mother.

"She was... an amazing woman. A strong Lady of Runestone. People loved her. Apart from her uncle Gunthor, that is. As skilled an archer and horse-breaker as you'd find in the Vale." He sighed, standing beside Helaena and leaning over the railing. His memories of his mother weren't the best in the world; he had only been four when she had died, after all. "And she was a close friend of Lady Jeyne. My grandfather Yorbert was Lady Jeyne's regent in her youth." The Royces had a reach that extended across most of the Vale; there was a reason that Queen Alysanne had arranged for his mother and father to marry, after all.

"I would've liked to meet her." Helaena said. She would've liked to have met a lot of people who were no longer with them. Especially several people around Daevar. Still, maybe she would have the chance to know Lady Jeyne better, especially since she was to be a Lady of the Vale in a few years.

"I would have preferred she stayed with us longer." Daevar sighed. No conclusive evidence proving his father's guilt had ever been found, but her death was simply too convenient for it to be anyone else. And as Ser Gerold had always said, the only way his mother's head could have been caved in like that would be with a rock.

He found his mind wandering back to that fateful day. It was early in the afternoon when his mother decided to go hunting. He tearfully begged her not to go, but she simply smiled and kissed him on the forehead, promising to return. And she did... on the back of Gerold's horse the next day with a sheet covering her body. He hoped never to see that again.