The dragon to be // House of dragons

9

Raina stood by the shore, her gaze lost in the vast expanse of the sea. It had been three years since her father's death, a silence that felt odd to her. She had not heard a whisper from him, not a sign, contrary to what she had hoped for.

"Raina, my sweet," her grandfather interrupted her thoughts, approaching her from behind. She glanced at him briefly before returning her attention to the sea, where she had been hoping to spot her father's dragon. "There's a letter from Dragonstone," he informed her.

"Is it from my brothers?" Raina enquired. He shook his head in denial. "Then I do not care." Her grandfather handed her the letter with a huff, which she accepted reluctantly.

Dear Raina,

We are joyous to announce that we are expecting our first child and hope that you would consider visiting Dragonstone. Your brothers and cousins have been enquiring about you. If not for the news, then come for them.

Your mother.

"She must be out of her mind," Raina commented, handing the letter to her grandfather who read it attentively. "Write back and tell her that I will not be making the trip to Dragonstone. If my brothers and cousins wish to see me, I will send for them," she instructed. He nodded in agreement.

"And the new child?" he asked. She shrugged nonchalantly, kissing his cheek.

"Don't mention it," Raina dismissed, leaving to find her grandmother. "Mama," she greeted, taking a seat next to her.

"The letter from Dragonstone?" the older woman guessed, studying her granddaughter.

"They wanted me to go there," Raina confirmed, noting her grandmother's body tensing up. "But I am not going," she added quickly, watching as her grandmother visibly relaxed.

"Good, good," she nodded, her face clouded with concerns.

"What is wrong?" Raina asked, a note of worry creeping into her voice. Her grandmother shook her head, offering her a small, forced smile. "Mama, what is it?" Raina pressed, her voice soft yet firm.

"I...I don't want you to act out of anger, Raina, because I don't know if it's true or not," her grandmother confessed, causing Raina to sit up straighter in her seat. "I can't help but think both your aunt and your father were married to Rhaenyra and Daemon. They both died so close together and right after Daemon and Rhaenyra got married. I can't help but think...maybe..." she trailed off, looking at Raina.

"Maybe they had him killed," her grandmother whispered. Raina slowly sat back in her seat, her eyebrows furrowing deep in thought. She'd never really considered it that way and her head tried to dismiss it as a tragic accident. But now that someone else had pointed it out, she couldn't help but notice the coincidence.

"Who do you think killed him?" Raina asked, trying to mask her emotions.

"I think it was Daemon," her grandmother admitted, looking down. Raina rose from her seat abruptly, her heart pounding. "Reina," her grandmother tried to calm her.

"How...how long have you suspected this and not said anything?" Raina's voice wavered. All these emotions piled up inside her, but most of all, anger. She was seething with anger.

"I did not know if it was true, and I still do not, Raina. I did not want to put such thoughts in your head if it wasn't true. Please, you need to calm down," her grandmother pleaded, lightly touching her arm. Raina's eyes snapped up to her.

"No," Raina said firmly, stepping back. She turned and quickly walked out of the room. She was not going to let this rest. She was going to find out what had really happened to her father, right now.