𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 | 𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗲𝗻

Chapter 15: funerals

119 d. C

Driftmark

When everybody arrived at Driftmark following the news of Laena's death they didn't have time for greetings. People from the most important houses of the realm had also arrived at the funeral to pay their respects.
But only the royal family and their blood relatives stood around Laena's stone coffin.
The king stood at the center, with his wife and hand at his sides. The Velaryons and Laena's daughters were at the king's right. Daemon at the far right alongside Vaemond who was the one officiating the funeral.
Shiera stood by her parents, brothers and uncles at the king's left.  Aemond was at her side, holding her hand.

They all could hear Vaemond officiating in High Valyrian but only a few of them really understood him. "We join today at the Seat of the Sea to commit the Lady Laena of House Velaryon to the eternal waters, the dominion of the Merlín King where He will guard her for all the days to come."

The sniffs of her daughters and the sorrow from Corlys and Rhaenys Velaryon could be felt by everyone. Without having to see anything, Shiera knew that the news of their daughter's death had affected her grandparents greatly.

"As she sets to the sea for her final voyage, the Lady Laena leaves two true-born daughters on the shore," Vaemond said as he looked at Rhaena and Baela in their grandmother's arms. The ones who understood him knew exactly what he was trying to say. But it didn't deter him from continuing. "Though their mother will not return from her voyage, they will all remain bound together in blood."

Then as if trying to make sure everyone understood who he was talking about he looked at Rhaenyra and her children when he said the following.

"Salt courses through Velaryon blood." His gaze was firm and accusing. "Ours run thick. Ours runs true."

Feeling the eyes of everyone Rhaenyra hugged her children tighter and Aemond squeezed Shiera's hand trying to comfort her.

As if he couldn't contain himself Vaemond made a last comment.

"And ours must never thin."

Then, as if called by the gods, Daemond's giggles seemed to take the eyes from Rhaenyra and her children to make himself the center of attention.
Rhaenyra knew he had made it to help her, the look on her face something that he couldn't bear.

Obviously everyone looked at Daemon with different emotions. Rhaenyra looked at him with appreciation; the looks from his in-laws were of bewilderment while the queen looked at him with resentment and anger. The king, as his brother and someone who understood the feelings of his brother for her daughter looked at him with gratefulness.

Vaemon at his interruption only took a second before carrying on with his speech.

"My gentle niece. May the winds be as strong as your back, your seas as calm as your spirit, and your nets be as full as your heart." The nets attached to the coffin were loosened and the coffin made its way towards the sea while he spoke. "From the sea we came. To the sea we shall return."

Then, as if having been waiting for him to end, the coffin fell to the sea. Reuniting with the ones belonging to the Velaryons' past generations.

When the funeral ended they all made their way to one of the balconies where the banquet had been arranged.

From what Rhaenyra could see when she arrived at the balcony her sons were with Rhaena and Baela consoling them. Looking around she saw Aegon and Daeron were under a sunshade as they watched their sister play with a spider. Having not yet seen his daughter and her faithful companion, he located them next to one of the walls that faced the beach. There some of the dragons could be seen, while others, much smaller, seemed to be keeping their riders company. 
Aemond, who stood by her daughter with a hand in the small of her back, guided hand so that she softly caressed Meraxes' back.

Now having the children located she made her way to Lord Rickon Stark. He stood near a table looking as much as a northerner with his dark colors and brooding face.
Usually northerner lords didn't go south as their ways were much different but the death of a lady of a great house seemed to be a valid reason for him to get away from his home up north.

Rickon Stark saw her and immediately bowed his head in greetings. He wasn't the biggest fan of the Targaryens and their customs but he was loyal, and he had made a bow to Rhaenyra as the heir of the Iron Throne.

Once she made it to his side she started a civil conversation, seeing as she was in a hostile environment with Vaemon roaming Driftmark.

And as she was going to pay her respect to Lord Stark for the passing of his wife and offer wardship for his son in Dragonstone, she met Daemon's eyes.

He smiled at her. He seemed to be in a tense discussion with her father. The king looked like he was trying to offer his brother some solace but Daemon seemed uninterested in it. And suddenly, after hearing what the king had to say, he left the balcony.
Seeing this, Rhaenyra apologized to the guardian of the north and went after him.

She finally found him on the shore of the beach at the foot of the castle. Without needed any greetings they proceeded to take a stroll along the shore.

Rhaenyra was the first to break the silence. "Laenor has been restless for years, but now, he will be useless." She didn't really liked to talk about her husband like this. Even if their marriage was not of love they had found companionship in their union. But all the same she also knew that things were starting to change. "Or worse."

Daemon hadn't said anything but he also hadn't looked as if he was uninterested in what she was saying so she continued. "I know better than anyone that our marriage is a farce. But I at least make the effort to maintain appearances."

"You have more to lose." Daemon then said. He wasn't wrong but he also had something to lose if things with Laenor carried on as they were.

"Yes, well, that has been my lot since my father named me heir." There was a silence then and she then decided she had to tell him about everything that happened since he left. Since he left her.

"We did try... to conceive a child after Shiera was born." The mention of his daughter made Daemon think about her birth and childhood and his absence in all of it. It made him even more determined to establish a relationship with his daughter. The fruit of his love with Rhaenyra. "We performed our duty as best we could. But to no avail."

She looked at him and said the only thing he desired, he hoped to hear. "There was no joy in it."

And as fast as the joy had come, a sense of jealousy made its way to his heart at her next words.

"I found it elsewhere. It felt good to be desired." At that he stopped and faced Rhaenyra.

"You should have told me. About her." Now it was Rhaenyra the one that looked irked at his comment. "If I had known, I would have made sure that no obstacle, no order from the king, would have prevented me from marrying you and taking you wherever you wanted."

"You had already left when I found out." She was angry for the years alone at King's Landing, she was angry at him for leaving her and marrying Laena. " And not only that, I don't know how the queen knew and she urged my father for my wedding to take place as soon as possible."

"I don't care for the queen or for your marriage. I only wanted you and our child." When Rhaenyra looked then at his eyes she could see the pain and sadness. "I know I'm late but now that I'm here again I would like to be part of her life. I know I'm not the best man or person in the world. But I love her. Even when all I have seen of her are the few minutes that the funeral lasted."

Love that wasn't forgotten and a turmoil of other emotions that Rhaenyra couldn't express made her do something she would never regret. She threw herself into Daemon's arms and kissed him like she had wanted for so long.

Daemon kissed her back and he lost himself in the feeling of having her in his arms again. Between kisses Rhaenyra separated their faces so she could look him in the eyes. "Of course you can be a part of her life. You are her father."

After another kiss she separated their faces again. "And she has been asking about you so you would make her really happy."

As if incapable of containing his own excitement he kissed her hungrily and backed her until they were under the protection of the remains of a boat. There they explored each others bodys as they had done some years ago.

But neither of them knew that while they were making amends a kid had reached a sleeping dragon.