God's Game | House Of The Dragon

ChapterFour ~| Her Little Flower |~

The news had spread from Pentos all through the Seven Kingdoms of the death of Lady Laena Velaryon, the wife of the Kings brother, Prince Daemon.

She had died a true dragon riders death after struggling for hours in childbirth by the fires of her dragon, Vhagar, the oldest and largest dragon living.

Now all the familys are gathered together on Driftmark. You had the Velaryons, along with Daemon and Laenas children.

Then there was the Targaryens, Viserys, Daemon, and all of Rhaenyras side of the Targaryen family and finally the Hightower side of the Targaryen family.

After the whole pig scenario, Rhaenyra had moved herself and her family to Dragonstone and after the death of the previous hand, Otto Hightower was brought back to serve the King.

As they stood at the docks watching on as Vaemond Velaryon spoke, Laenas Uncle, there was a clear divide in the House of the Dragon.

Everyone surrounding them was wearing black whilst the Hightower side of the family wore a very dark toned down green, not noticeable in the sun, it appearing black almost.

Looks we're being sent all around the place from different elders of the families, all passing looks on to one another, this being the first time they'd all been gathered together since Rhaenyras wedding to Ser Laenor.

"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 Merling King where he will guard her for all the days to come."

Vaemond spoke in Valyrian, all the Targaryens understanding his words, everyone but Aemma, she had never really understood the language.

It was said the Valyrian always came natural to Targaryens because it coursed through their blood, which is why that all the others around her understood it so well even at their young age.

It always made Aemma think that she wasn't a true Targaryen because of her looks, no dragon or the fact that she had trouble speaking their native language.

It seemed the only people who couldn't understand were the others who weren't Targaryens.

The ones in the family were the Hightowers, Otto and Alicent, but it seemed that Rhaenyras children also were seaming to have that same difficulty as her, surprising her though it made her feel better that she was not the only one.

"As she sets to sea for her final voyage, the Lady Laena leaves two true born daughters on the shore. Though their mother will not return from her voyage, they will all remain bound together in blood. Salt courses through Velaryon blood. Ours runs thick. Ours runs true and ours must never thin."

All the adults at the funeral got the message that Vaemond was trying to send as he stared toward Rhaenyra and her children, poking at their legitimacy.

Daemon catching eveyone off guard when he began to giggle uncontrollably at the end of Vaemonds words, this being his wife and mother of his children's funeral.

"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. From the sea we came. To the sea we shall return."

At this last bit of Vaemonds speech, the knights surrounding the tomb shaped in the image of Lady Laena to then pull at the ropes that were wrapped on the sides of it.

Causing it to begin to pull the tomb out to sea, it getting to the edge of the cliff and falling down into the ocean surrounding Driftmark.

Getting sent into the depths where her final resting place would be with the rest of her ancestors.

_________________________
•|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|~*~|•

"Would you not like to go play with your siblings, my Flower?", Alicent asked her youngest girl as she looked from Aemma to where the other three were.

Aemma had decided she'd rather stand in between her mother, grandfather and Ser Criston rather than with her siblings.

"I'd rather stay with you, Helaenas with her insects", Aemma reasoned.

"What about Aemond?", Alicent then asked her, not wanting her to miss out on anything.

"I'll go over to him once Aegon leaves him", Aemma smiled to her mother who smiled back, fixing her child's hair.

As it got later, Aemond had come over to them instead of Aemma going to him as they were both too tired to play.

The sun began to go down more as the moon came up, others starting to retreat for bed.

Aemond had gone with Otto to show him where he'd last seen Aegon, who had poured his worth into cups and drank them, now laying passed out on the stairs.

Helaena had already retired to bed, bringing her newfound insect with her so she could study it some more.

Aemma stood holding her mothers hand as she leaned herself into Cristons body, nearly falling asleep in their comforting presence.

Viserys himself had stood up and began to limp his way out of the outside court area they'd been in, his cane clinking on the ground, coming to a stop beside Alicent as he looked to her.

"I am going to bed, Aemma", he gruffly told her, Alicent withdrawing back as he said that, looking through him as he said that.

"Shall I see after Queen Alicent, Your Grace?", Ser Harrold Westerling, the Commander of the Kindsguard, corrected his King.

"No, Ser Harrold", Viserys blanched, beginning to walk with his cane again away as Alicent watched him with pain in her eyes.

"Why was he telling me that?", Aemma innocently voiced in confusion, looking to her mother and Ser Criston.

"He's sick, Flower", Criston spoke carefully, not wanting to ruin her young innocence because of her father. "Let me take you to your chambers."

Criston then held his hand out, already expecting the small hand to latch onto his. Aemma always liked to have physical touch with someone no matter what.

Then leading her to where she would be staying tonight, Alicent giving Criston a nod of thanks for coming up with a quick little lie for her daughter and then taking her out of the situation.

Ser Criston giving one back in respect and affirmation that he'd always be there to protect her and her children, but especially her little flower.