As a child, you would wait and watch from far away
But you always knew that you'd be the one
That work while they all play
In youth, you'd lay awake at night and scheme
Of all the things that you would change
But it was just a dream
Here we are, don...
Raina sat in her seat, while the Maesters sat in front of her, examining her bruised face. "It was a very good hit," one of them remarked, lightly touching the area around her eye. "I think it will heal fine, though," he said, peering into her bloodshot eye.
Raina nodded and stood up, turning her gaze to her grandfather, who gently placed his hand on the back of her head, pulling her closer to him. "We shouldn't have let you," he said softly. Raina shook her head, pulling back and looking up at him.
"Papa, it was my choice to go," Raina replied, offering him a smile. "I'm okay. And I did well," she added confidently.
"You did," he nodded, acknowledging her bravery. Although Raina had lost that particular battle, she had made a significant impact. Not only did she prove her capability to fight in battle, but she also demonstrated her ability to emerge victorious given the right time and support, even though he wasn't sure why she hadn't called for her army yet.
The Battle by the Lakeshore was a victory for Raina. She was just a sword slice away from winning Aemond's head. However, the presence of the little dragon growing inside her belly made her increasingly nervous and affected her fighting abilities.
Regardless, Raina couldn't shake off the feeling of defeat. Losing didn't sit well with her.
"Considering you haven't had proper training for fighting in battle, you've done a remarkable job," Papa said, looking down at her with pride. "With a little more training, Raina, you'll acquire the skills to win every battle you fight," he assured her. Raina nodded, appreciating his belief in her.
"I will personally provide you with that training," he stated firmly. Raina looked up at him, a mix of determination and gratitude in her eyes.
"Papa," Raina began, her voice filled with a mix of intensity and vulnerability. "When I was in battle, I rode on the back of a dragon until the very end. I breathed fire upon anyone and everyone, without caring who they were. But then, when I seen daeron, I just got angry. I jumped on to his dragon and used fire to kill him, and the way he looked at me," Raina recounted, her gaze fixed upon her grandfather, who stood there, listening attentively.
"I knew I had to kill him, or he would have killed me. But the fear in his eyes when the fire hit him.. that look," Raina murmured, her voice trailing off as she looked down. "I had never looked into someone's eyes like that before, and then anger consumed me," she confessed.
"Raina," her grandfather spoke gently, his eyes filled with understanding as he looked at her. "Taking a life is a heavy burden, and it leaves its mark on you," he said compassionately.
"I felt a sense of sadness for killing him, but not remorse," Raina admitted. "I wanted to witness that look, that look of fear, on Aegon's face. I wanted to see the same fear in his face," she confessed, her gaze still lowered.
"And when he fell to the ground, I just watched, I just looking at him," Raina continued, her voice tinged with a mix of detachment and realization. "That's when I realized something. I didn't care. I didn't care that I had taken his life because he had simply gotten in my way," she admitted, her words laced with a hint of coldness.
"War brings out the worst in people, Raina, but for you, it brings out a warrior with great strength," her grandfather responded, his voice carrying a tone of both understanding and encouragement. "You respect the lives of those you take in battle, but you don't mourn them. You've known this war was coming, Raina, and you are the most prepared for it. So fight like i know you can," he urged, his gaze firm. Raina looked up into his eyes, finding a sense of guidance and resolve.
"You can't afford to get distracted. Keep your end goal in mind every time you raise your sword, every time you take a life. Respect them, but move forward," he advised, gently brushing her hair out of her face. "You told me years ago that a strong mind wins, and you have that strong mind. You've been preparing for this war, and now you need that strength of mind to emerge victorious," he concluded, his voice filled with unwavering belief in her abilities.
"You're right," Raina nodded, acknowledging her grandfather's wisdom. "what want of this child?"
"What of it?" her grandfather inquired, his tone now more attentive.
"I'm... I'm with child, and we are in a war" Raina revealed, causing her grandfather to fall silent,
"raina" he said after a moment. "you did good today I don't see daemon being happy that you went in to battle and I'm not either but you took down a dragon and it's rider"
"I did," Raina admitted "and I'm happy I did it" she said
"as you should be" he said "now that you know everything is alright with you and the child you should rest" he said raina nodded
~~~ ↓
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