𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍'𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍ㅤㅤㅤ❪ hotd¹ ❫

003. the old, the true, the brave

Prince Daemon landed at Driftmark to make a courtesy call upon his erstwhile partner in conquest, the Sea Snake, and his wife, the Princess Rhaenys. High Tide was one of the few places in the Seven Kingdoms where the King's brother could be confident he would not be turned away. There his eye fell upon Lord Corlys's eldest daughter, Laena, a maid of two-and-twenty, tall, slender, and surpassingly lovely with a great mane of silver-gold ringlets that fell down past her waist and eyes of the deepest of purples.

Laena had been betrothed from the age of fourteen to the eldest son of the Sealord of Braavos, but the father had died before they could be wed, and the son soon proved a wastrel and a fool, squandering his family's wealth and power before turning up on Driftmark. Lacking a graceful means to rid himself of the embarrassment, but unwilling to proceed with the marriage, Lord Corlys had repeatedly postponed the wedding. Prince Daemon fell in love with Laena. Once seen as his brother's heir, he had fallen far down in the line of succession and the court of the Red Keep was not a place for him. But House Velaryon was powerful enoug to defy the crown with impunity.

Weary of the Stepstones, and free at last of his "bronze bitch," Daemon Targaryen asked Lord Corlys for his daughter's hand in marriage. The exiled Braavosi betrothed remained an impediment, but not for long; Daemon mocked him to his face so savagely the boy had no choice but to call him to defend his words with steel. Armed with Dark Sister, the Prince made short work of his rival, and wed Lady Laena Velaryon a fortnight later, abandoning his hardscrabble kingdom on the Stepstones.

Prince Daemon knew that his brother would not be pleased when he heard of his marriage. Prudently, the prince and his new bride took themselves far from Westeros soon after the wedding, crossing the Narrow Sea on their dragons. Some belived they first flew to Valyria, in defiance of the curse that hung over that smoking wasteland, to search out the secrets of the dragonlords of the old Freehold.

Prince Daemon and Lady Laena then flew to Pentos, where they were feted by the City's Prince. The Pentoshi feared the growing power of the Triarchy to the south, and saw Daemon as a valuable ally against the Three Daughters. From there, they crossed the Disputed Lands to Old Volantis, where they enjoyed a similar warm welcome. Then they flew up the Rhoyne, to visit Qohor and Norvos. In those cities, far removed from the woes of Westeros and the power of the Triarchy, their welcome was less rapturous. Everywhere they went, however, huge crowds turned out for a glimpse of Vhagar and Caraxes.

The dragonriders were once again in Pentos when Lady Laena learned she was with child. Eschewing further flight, Prince Daemon and his wife settled in a manse outside the city walls as guests of the Pentoshi Prince, until such time as the babe was born.

Meanwhile, back in Westeros, Queen Naerys bore yet another - and last - son to the King in 112 AC, which she named Daeron. Princess Rhaenyra had given birth to a second son late in the year 113 AC. The child was named Lucerys. Ser Laenor and Ser Harwin were at Rhaenyra's bedside for his birth. Unlike his brother, Jace - who had deep purple eyes and brown hair - Luke had green eyes and a healthy head of lighter brown hair, rather than the silver-gilt hair of Targaryen princelings, but he was a large and lusty lad, and King Viserys was delighted with him when the child was presented at court.

In the same year, in the Free City of Pentos, Lady Laena gave birth to twin daughters. Prince Daemon named the girls Rhaena, after Laena's mother, and Baela, after his father. The babes were small and sickly, alas, but both had fine features, silver-gold hair, and purple and sea green eyes.

When they were half a year old, and stronger, the girls and their mother sailed to Driftmark, whilst Daemon flew ahead with both dragons. From High Tide, he sent a raven to his brother in King's Landing, informing His Grace of the birth of his nieces and begging leave to present the girls at court to receive his royal blessing. Though his Hand and small council argued heatedly against it, Viserys consented, for the King still loved the brother who had been the companion of his youth.