✅️ The Last Velaryon - Robb Stark

13 - We Control the Fleets, not People

The harsh sea waters clashed their way up the side of the lead Velaryon ship I was on. Two strands of my hair were barely pulled back, leaving the rest completely free to the windy air. I leaned over the side of the railing on the palms of my hands hearing footsteps approaching me. "Wouldn't you prefer your father teach you how to sail, my little Seahorse."

"Yes. But he's far too busy being Lord of the Tides. Plus I'd much rather learn from you, grandfather." I turned my head in his direction seeing his white hair that reached his shoulder flowing in the breeze.

He sent me a genuine smile standing beside me. "I taught him almost everything he needed to know by the time he was six years old. He was responsible for figuring out the rest like I had when I began leading our house."

"Well what can you teach me about sailing and commanding a fleet?" I asked him, intertwining my hands together with my elbows resting on the railing still.

Grandfather Mondford gestured his head towards the ship's main steering wheel just at the top of the stairs nearby. We walked up together standing in front of the wheel holding it still in his hands. "The first lesson you need to know is that this world in and off the mainland can be unforgiving. You must always be two steps ahead of whatever you must face in front of you."

"Because you hold the responsibility of your crew in your hands. You must look out for those who are serving you." I nodded in understanding knowing that we would always follow the most likely house who would win in a fight.

My grandfather tilted his head telling me to come towards him. "Come stand here, little Seahorse."

"You want me to steer the ship. I don't think I am qualified to do so." I nervously responded standing in front of the wheel but I didn't dare touch it with my fingers.

My grandfather took my hands and moved them up, placing them around the wheel. "The way to learn how is to do so, Haelesa. Now tell me what you feel when you hold the wheel."

"Grandfather- it's fighting me." I gulped feeling the wheel trying to fight me when the wind blew the sails towards the right but I was trying to turn it to the left.

He touched my arm telling me to calm down. "Relax your shoulders and just let the wind take control. It will listen to you soon enough." Closing my eyes it wasn't but a few minutes later that the wheel stopped fighting me and went into the direction I had started turning it.

"How did you know that would work?" Glancing over my shoulder at my grandfather.

He gave me a more serious expression when he delivered me my next lesson that applied on and off the oceans. "Haelesa, you must realize that while we can learn to command the seas the same can't be said of people. People are more unpredictable than the waters below our feet. That is why you must always remember the first lesson I told you a moment ago."

"Be two steps ahead of your appointment." I recited his words from earlier back to him and he parted me gently on the back.

"What are you doing, Haelesa?" My best friend and lady in waiting pushed her way into my tent seeing me shoving some supplies inside a bag I had tucked underneath my cloak. I didn't have as much medical supplies as a Maester would but this would have to do for that is all we had.

Crossing the room removed my Lannister cloak and slipped on a darker cloak with no signal on the back that I had been working on to pass the time. "It's nothing that should concern you."

"If you're thinking of running without me then it certainly is my concern." Chezney moved to stand behind me, trying to figure out what I was doing.