Bronze

a celebration of life

The newborn was two months old before she was given a name. Her mother, Lady Rhea, referred to her as 'Pebble,' others at court took to affectionately calling her 'little Lady Royce.' They fondly cooed over her when she was introduced to the small court. But, she didn't have a name.

Prince Daemon Targaryen was not present for the birth of his daughter. He was in the Stepstones, riding Caraxes, slaughtering Triarchy pirates. He cared little for his wife, and thus cared little for her child. Other things required his attention, his daughter could wait. Lady Rhea had sent ravens and messengers to her husband, telling him of her birth, her growth, and how she had not named her yet. Whilst the marriage between the Prince and his Lady wife had never been loving nor respected (by the prince), Lady Rhea had enough decency to allow her husband this one gift. Had it been up to her, her daughter would have been given a strong, traditional name of the Vale. Alyssa, Carellen, Marya, perhaps. But, her daughter had the Blood of the Dragon, and if she had the House name of Royce, she would be given a Targaryen name to make things even.

Lady Rhea valued fairness, something which Daemon did not. On the rare occasion that he visited Runestone and his Lady wife, they would end it with an argument. Every time, without fail. It was a miracle that Daemon had even laid with his wife. Truth be told, Rhea would have been more than happy to never consummate the marriage, but, she certainly wasn't upset when she came to be with child. The only downside was that it was Daemon's. Rhea was fair. She never betrayed her marriage, something that could not be said for Daemon. It was unfair, but now she had a companion in her infant daughter.

Daemon's visits to Runestone did not increase after the birth of his daughter. He visited once, two months after her birth, to see her and name her. Rhea had described her appearance in her letters, but one can only gather so much from a brief description. Daemon wished to lay eyes on the girl, at least.

"Let the Prince hold his daughter," Rhea said to her nursemaid, who held the young Lady in her arms.

Daemon hadn't held a child before, never mind an infant. Why would he? Very few children were of any importance to him. But even this one, the most important child in his life, made him uncomfortable. He held his arms out, avoiding the protective glare of his wife. The nursemaid, just as protective, lowered the babe into his arms. He almost naturally shifted his hold to protect her head and hold her firmly.

It was only then that he took his first proper look at the girl. His daughter had a tuft of brown hair sprouting from her head, a round face, and dark eyebrows. She looked every bit a Royce. It disappointed Daemon immensely. He had never considered that a child of his would not have his Valyrian features. The only shared feature between the two were the purple eyes. A dead giveaway that she had Targaryen blood. Her eyes were even darker than Daemon's, but more vivid. This, at least, Daemon found some comfort in. His wife hadn't slept with another man - there were no other purple-eyed men in the Vale.

"You have the honour of naming her, husband."

"Any father should have the right of naming his child, it is less of an honour and more of a given, wife."

Rhea huffed, glancing up from her seat to the nursemaid, who seemed to share her frustration.

"She will be called Elaena." He determined as he moved to stand, passing off the child to the nursemaid.

Prince Daemon held his daughter for less than a minute. Then, he was gone.

Lady Rhea and her daughter did not see Daemon again until the girl was four. It seemed that now Daemon had a child and the inheritance of Runestone was settled, he had no need to return. No need to see his wife, to play a part in the growth of his daughter. He brushed them off as easily as one would shake off an ant.

It was only when Daemon was exiled from the court of his brother, Viserys, that he returned. Elaena was much too young at the time to make sense of any of it. The blathering of those at court was just that, complete nonsense. She understood none of it, and that was for the best.

The Rogue Prince hadn't even stepped foot within the castle itself before Lady Rhea was knocked from her horse. It was Daemon that broke the news, strutting into the keep with little urgency to inform the guards. Ser Gerold, the cousin of Rhea, had his suspicions from the moment he saw Caraxes fly overhead. Nothing good had ever happened when Daemon was at court. The only exception being the conception of the Little Lady. Even then, he put in little effort.

No one expected the guards to return with a body. Even though the fall was received with the utmost concern, no one thought that it would kill the Lady. She was a skilled rider, she knew what to do if her horse spooked. If she was going to fall, she would do so in a way that would not kill her. So, when the maester told Ser Gerold that she had broken her back and smashed her skull on a rock, he knew that it was no accident.

Throughout the panic at Runestone, Elaena played with her nursemaid in her chambers. Her father had gifted her a wooden dragon for her 2nd nameday, and she had treasured it ever since. It was her favourite toy. Thankfully, she remained unawares to the chaos outside. Her nursemaid did not. She was under the watchful eye of the Prince, who sat in an armchair in the corner, watching his daughter play. Only when Ser Gerold burst in did Daemon move or speak. Gerold rushed for the girl, taking her into his arms.

"Prince Daemon, you should leave. We have a funeral to plan and will not be able to care for you or your dragon for much longer." He stated, keeping Elaena on his far side, away from Daemon.

Daemon cracked his knuckles, "It would be improper of me to not be present for my wife's funeral, would it not? I have a daughter who is now a Lady. It would be advisable for me to stay and act as her regent."

Elaena began to fuss, "Give me my dragon, I want my dragon." The nursemaid picked it up for her, trying to distract her from the growing argument by flying it through the air.

"It is inadvisable for you to remain here. The men are already uncomfortable with your presence. When they hear of the consequences of Rhea's death, they'll revolt knowing that you're still here. Leave, my Prince." Gerold asserted, handing the girl to the nursemaid who quickly fled the room with Elaena and her dragon in her arms.

The Prince stood, looked Ser Gerold up and down, and swaggered out the door. If that had been the last Ser Gerold had seen of Daemon, it wouldn't have been soon enough.

Unfortunately for Ser Gerold, the Gods would not have it that way.