Stranger - hotd Cregan Stark

1

As children, both Jacaerys and Valaena Velaryon had been bright eyed and curious. Running across the grounds together with their younger brother Lucerys.

Often, Valaena allowed for Aemond Targaryen, who was only slightly older than her and her older twin Jace, to join them. Much to the distaste of her brother.

As the years passed, nearing the age of 8, Valaena loudly proclaimed she had had enough of Jace and Luke their relentless bullying. (Because she was a lady and she was supposed to go ahead and sew with Helaena) She became good friends with Helaena then, which caused her to grow close to Aemond and Aegon aswell. Much to the distaste of the Queen and Heir.

Valaena found comfort in her friendship with Helaena. The girl's often sat together in silence as they read about their respected interests. Or they would go ahead and visit their dragons in the pit. Dreamfyre, who Helaena wasn't yet allowed to mount, and Sapphire another blue dragon. Valaena's young dragon was quite larger than her twin brother's Vermax, but still Rhaenyra forbade her daughter to ride for another year.

Helaena and Valaena often took Aemond with them to view and pet the dragons, much to Aemond's secret distaste since he was quite bitter about being the only dragonless royal.

It became particularly worse when Jace, Luke and Aegon had presented him with a pig days ago. Causing Aemond to even shun Valaena untill she promised that they would exercise some form of revenge over her brother's.

So on a breezy morning, the summer sun setting low as it was nearing autumn - though the Maester had promised a short Winter and a long coming summer by the looks of it - Valaena had climbed in her grandfather's lap. Watching as her brother's and uncles trained in tje yard.

Ser Harwin Strong, a man who was more family than friend to her, often joined in to teach her brothers, and the young girl was yet to truly notice that despite her unmistakable eerie resemblance she bore to her mother, she couldn't simply not be his daughter, as Jacaerys' curls and round resembled him as eerily as she did their mother.

Valaena was showing her grandfather her drawings, she often liked to practice on portraits of her family, and now she was busy drawing a portrait of the Queen, alongside her four children. Daeron had been sent to ward at White harbour. Much to the distaste of the Queen. Although it was Viserys who encouraged it.

Valaena hoped that she wouldn't forget what he looked like, she had always liked Daeron. He was Lucerys' age and she often tugged him along with her and Aemond when they visited the gardens to read while Helaena chased insects.

"It's almost finished, I'm going to give it to the Queen." Smiled Valaena as she watched her grandfather trace his finger over the fine drawing.

"It's incredible Valaena." Smiled Viserys as he kissed the top of her head, his eyes suddenly snapping towards a loud commotion that came from below the balcony.

Ser Harwin had settled in top of Ser Criston, his face pulled away in anger as he angrily landed blows into the face of the man. Valaena watched in silence before her grandsire suddenly placed his hand over her face and pulled her away. "This is no scene for a Princess, Cease this at once!" Bellowed the King angrily.

Hours later, both the twins, Lucerys and the newborn Joffrey sat in their mother's chambers. Valaena silently cried as Ser Harwin hugged Lucerys. She didn't want him to leave. Her mother telling her that it would be fun to write drowned out in her ears. She didn't want to hear it. She hated it.

"Dry your tears little Princess." Whispered Ser Harwin as she crouched down to level with the girl who covered her face in her long white hairs so that she might hide her sorrows. "Your nameday is soon, how about I visit the tourney mhm?"

Valaena nodded then, softly wrapping her arms around the man's figure, he had always felt like more than a father to her than Ser Laenor had felt, the Prince consort was kind and loving to her and her brothers, but he had often been away, drinking alongside his friends and gambling.

"I'd like that, I'll grant you my favor Ser Harwin." Promised the little Princess as she hugged him tighter.

She didn't want to let him go, and neither would Lucerys and Jace, as the latter ever ran after the man and his mother. His face red with anger as he slammed the door closed leaving Valaena and Lucerys to stare at eachother with sad eyes.

"It will be alright Luke." Promised Valaena as she grabbed her little brother his hand and squeezed it. "I'm going to read in the gardens. I promised Helaena to draw her another spider. Do you want to come with me?"

"No." Lucerys' answer was short, and spoken with annoyance as he turned around and faced the wall. Valaena bit her lip as she watched his shoulder shake slightly. He must be crying.

She walked up to him, wrapping her arms around her little brother before placing a kiss on top of his head.

"I love you Lucerys, do not cry, We'll see him on my and Jace' nameday, and we can write mhm?"  Lucerys didn't answer her, instead he quietly crept crying. "I'll strike you a deal Luke, if you come with me. We'll eat cakes later. Aegon and I are superior at stealing them from the-"

"I don't want to spend time with our uncles and aunt." Spat Lucerys as he pushed his older sister away, she went to reach for him, but found herself unable to as he had ran away from her. Slamming the door shut aswell.

The weather was still nice when Valaena entered fhe gardens. Her mother had left to discuss something with the Queen and small council. Whereas Jace and Luke bitterly stayed behind. Valaena had ran towards the gardens with a scroll of paper and charcoal.

A loud sigh left her aunt's mouth as the younger girl plopped down besides her. "You need to be more gentle Laena," Complained the older Princess as she tried to catch the silvery spider that was trying to get away from her. "You're scaring the bugs." 

"Oh."

"It's alright, come sit with me." Valaena took a seat closer to her aunt as the older girl handed her a glass jar. Inside sat a crawling insect. Valaena watched it with wonder as it's little legs tapped against the glass. Crawling around, probably looking for an escape.

"It's a silverhead, despite it's body being silver. Not it's head, such a silly name no?" Whispered Helaena as she placed the jar in front of her niece.

Before the hour passed, Aemond had joined the two girl's. He's rested his head upon the skirts of his older sister. His feet lazily drapped onto the grass as he read a book on Essosi History. He'd chosen a chapter on the elephants of Volantis.

Valaena was still busy drawing the insect for her aunt, so that she might hang it inside her chambers. Her fingers and skirts had stained with charoal, as had her cheeks as she kept wiping them due to the still scorching autumn sun. A breeze hadn't been picked up today.

"Brother, sister, niece!" Exclaimed a voice suddenly, full of merry as the three children looked up. Aegon awkwardly stumbled inside the garden's causing the insect that Helaena held inside her palm to speed off. Hiding in the tall grass. The Princesses shot Aegon an amnoyed look. Aemond simply groaned.

"I've just heard some very exciting news."

"That is?" Mumbled Aemond uninterested as he turned another page in his book.

"Mother just refused to marry Jace to Hel, she's considered betrothing you to our sweet niece."