The Dragon Queen

CHAPTER 30

The hunt was going well. Everyone was enjoying themselves, the children most of all. Rhaelys liked the peace she felt. No one was plotting or scheming, or sending dirty looks to one another. But peace doesn't last long....

*****

Rhaelys and Vaemon sat in their tent went the maester brought a raven. Vaemon took the letter and thanked the maester. He started reading.

Rhaelys looked at him expectedly. "What's wrong?" Vaemon looks towards her and hands her the letter. She reads it. "Laenor wants you to join him." Vaemon nods his head. "He all but ordered me."

"Can he do that?" Rhaelys asks him. Surely laenor couldn't do that better yet he wouldn't...unless he was forced.

"He is still in a higher position than me." Vaemon points out. Rhaelys rolls her eyes. "You are prince consort he cannot command you to do anything."

Vaemon takes her shoulders gently in his hands. "I want to help him. I am a seasoned warrior."

"I need you here. And we both know he only asked because Rhaenyra said so."

"How do you know it was Rhaenyra? What does she gain from this?"

"Absolutely nothing. Except satisfaction. She hates that I took my place on the council back."

"Is that all you think about? I just told you that I want to help my cousin and you make this about the stupid rivalry you and alicent have with Rhaenyra."

"Stupid rivalry?" Rhaelys pulls herself away from vaemon. She shakes her head. If he wants to go then she would let him. "Fine. You want to help Laenor then by all means you do that." Rhaelys walked out of the tent leaving vaemon alone.

Later that night vaemon left.

*******

A month later Rhaelys was sitting with her boys. The twins were busy with lessons and Maelon was sleeping.

The maester sat by a table with the twins sitting in front of him. "Today we going over the houses and their words."

The twins groaned. "But we know them already. Can't you do a lesson in High Velaryian instead."says Aerion. He only had interest in high Velaryian as of late.

"Apologies my princes but today's lesson is of the houses. Shall we begin." The maester said. The maester pointed to a lion.

"House Lannister."

"Their words are 'hear me roar' "

The maester looked satisfied and kept showing them different ones.

"House Baratheon "

"Ours is the fury."

"House Stark"

"Winter is coming"

"House Targaryen"

"Fire and blood"

"House Velaryon"

"The old the brave the true, that's father's house."

"When is father returning?"Aerion asks his mother. Rhaelys did not know what to tell them for she herself did not know the answer.

The twins look at her waiting for her to answer their violet eyes looking with curiosity.

Rhaelys took a breathe, "Well I do not know if exactly. Why?"

The boys looked dissapointed in the answer that they had gotten. Aerion clenched his fist. "Why did he leave in the first place?"

"He was needed. Your uncle Laenor needed him."

"Well we need him to." Aerion said before looking down at the table.

"Father is brave brother, just think about when he returns all the stories he could tell us."says Aeron. Aerion looks to his brother and mumbles,"I guess you're right."

Rhaelys smiled gently towards her twins and sees the bond that she had always craved that she had with her own sister. She hopes that their bond never breaks.

******

The next week went by in a blur. Rhaelys sat in the garden when suddenly a shadow flew over her. She looked up and saw a dragon and recognized it as seasmoke. Her husband had returned or did he?

She stood up and headed for the dragonpit to welcome Leanor and her husband back from battle. After exiting the carriage she ran to Seasmoke, a small smile on her face, happy that her husband is back.

As Laenor dismounted his dragon, Rhaelys's smile slowly faltered, where's Vaemon, her pace slowed as she neared Laenor, "Where's Vaemon?"

All Laenor could do was shake his head. Realization washed over her. She shook her head not wanting to believe that her was gone. Tears pooled in her eyes as Laenor slowly walked towards her offering her comfort but before he could reach she fell to the ground but before she could reach it Laenor caught her.

Her husband was gone, he was gone and he was never coming back.