"I am to have a son" is all that came to mind as i held my newborn baby brother, and mourned my mother, it all happened so fast, my father left for his hunt as was tradition in the castle, the queen began her labours, i was at her side clenching my jaw as i listened to the wails come from my poor sweet mother. She had lost so much blood, as I lay over her trying in vain to help "no no no, mother please" "she's so cold, maester why is she so cold" the room stilled for a moment, no one in that room knew what to say..."I'm sorry princess, she's gone "I felt as though the castle floors opened up to swallow me whole. My brother stirred in my arms, i thought about this during my mothers pregnancy if the babe had killed her.. i thought countless times on how much hate i would hold for the infant that took the sweetest, most kind, beautiful woman...my mother. However looking down at the small, bloody sleepy baby, all i wanted to do was protect him, from the world, from harm, from my father.
The princess spent the next three days in her chambers, Athena missed her mother dearly, her father finally got his wish for a son, all he had to do was trade her mother to achieve it. Athena never understood why he desired a son; they were past the days of sole male heirs, as the eldest daughter of queen Helaena and king Darian Athena would rule Myrthos after her father passed, in the meantime she would mourn her sweet mother. In the king's absence Athena had to name her brother and announce the death of queen Helaena. The new prince she had called Rhaegar "a gift from god" was a quiet, sweet baby, his head adorned with their mothers white hair. The princess would let anyone near him, after maester Mellos concluded he was healthy she denied any wet nurses or maids, she would wake in the night to feed him the cows milk from a bottle, she had his crib moved to her chambers. During the night the young princess would look out her window and imagine her mother playing with her hair by the lake once more. Upon her fathers return he entered her chambers , eyes red and glossy he peered over the cot thinking his daughter was asleep "his name is Rhaegar" king Darian stilled "little bird about your moth-", "NO, THIS IS YOUR FAULT ALL M MOTHER WANTED WAS FOR YOU- HER HUSBAND TO AT LEAST LOOK AT HER" "Athe-"" SHE LOVED YOU SO MUCH, SO MUCH IT KILLED HER" "little bir-" :GET OUT, GET OUT,GET AWAY FROM HIM" shocked by his daughters fury he quietly left without another word. Athena had cried for hours after that, after all the pain she felt in her heart was so strong she thought it may yet kill her.
As the sun slowly began to set, I lay my sleeping brother down inside his golden cot, beside him i placed a small dragon egg, mother had picked it out from the dragon pit herself, i lay a small kiss on his tiny nose and leave my chambers ordering the guards outside my door to not let anyone enter. I walked through the cold corridors, my nightgown doing my body no justice at keeping warm. Once I got outside I dismissed the ice cold water at my feet as I walked down the beach, to the dragon pit. I could hear Heras walls of grief at the loss of her rider, I suppose she lost a mother too. As I stood at the edge of the dragon pit, the weight of grief pressed heavy upon my heart. My mother, the queen, had just departed this world in
the throes of childbirth, leaving behind a profound emptiness in the kingdom and in my soul. Tears blurred my vision as I looked down into the swirling mist where Hera, my mother's beloved dragon, awaited. Hera, with her shimmering blue and pearly white scales, seemed to glow in the dim light, a radiant beacon amidst the shadows of my loss.
Descending into the pit felt like descending into the depths of my own sorrow. Each step echoed the ache in my chest, reminding me of all that I had lost in an instant. Memories of my mother flooded my mind—the warmth of her embrace, the wisdom in her voice, and the unconditional love that had always been my anchor. Now, she was gone, and I was left to navigate a world forever altered. As I approached Hera, a mixture of fear and longing gripped me. Would she accept me, her new companion? Would she sense the pain that weighed so heavily upon my shoulders? Tentatively, I reached out, my hand trembling as it brushed against Hera's warm scales. In that moment, something shifted—an unspoken understanding passed between us, a recognition of shared loss and the beginning of a new chapter. Hera lowered her massive head, allowing me to stroke her snout, and I felt a surge of warmth and comfort wash over me. It was as if she knew, as if she too mourned the absence of my mother. Together, we stood in the depths of the dragon pit, united in our grief yet bound by the promise of strength and resilience. With Hera by my side, I knew that I could face the uncertain future ahead, honouring my mother's memory with every step forward. As Hera's powerful wings lift us higher and higher, I feel a surge of both sorrow and strength coursing through me. The cool night air brushes against my face, and I know that from this moment onward, I carry not only the weight of loss but also the courage and legacy of a queen. Together, Hera and I weave through constellations, forging a bond that transcends time and tragedy, embracing the future that awaits our kingdom.
For a few moments the princess forgot about all her sorrows, all her hate and anger, she felt close to her mother atop the beast, noticing just how long she had been gone, away from Rhaegar, she swiftly grounded back on the cold sand of the beach and hurriedly retreated back to her chamber, for on the morrow she lay the queen to eternal rest. My lady's maid Mayrina helped dress me and Rhaegar she was the only one i really let near him now, she's younger than me by a year or so but quite tall and beautiful, i confided in her more than my ladies in waiting, she was a good friend, the dress i had chosen was a beautiful black dress with embroidered dragons at the bottom, the cape i had draped over me was my mothers, iit smelled like her, my hands and neck decorated in her jewellery. Father had decided to lay her by the lake we would frequent. I am glad it wasn't a public ceremony, it was just me, father, Rhaegar, and the castle staff, some of my extended family even made the trip, she was so loved. On the walk through the gardens towards the lake Rhaegar had woken up in my arms, next to me Mayrina lay a comforting hand on my elbow, I felt hot tears threatening to fall, I tried to ground myself by showing Rhaegar all the flowers we passed. not that he could understand of course.
Princess Athena stood at the edge of the tranquil lake, where she and her mother, Queen Helaena, had spent countless serene moments together. The waters mirrored the sombre sky above, reflecting the grief that weighed heavy on Athena's heart. Cradling her newborn brother Rhaegar against her, she began the funeral ceremony with a poignant speech that echoed across the silent waters. Her voice, usually filled with grace and authority, now trembled with sorrow as she spoke of her mother's unwavering love and wisdom. Memories flooded her mind — of Helaena's gentle guidance, her strength in times of turmoil, and the laughter they had shared in sunlit afternoons by this very lake. Athena vowed to carry forward her mother's legacy with the same grace and compassion, promising to protect and nurture young Rhaegar, who now represented both hope and the profound loss they all felt.
As she concluded her speech, tears glistened in Athena's eyes, mingling with the gentle rain that began to fall, a testament to the depth of her love and the enormity of her loss.
YOU ARE READING
A Kingdom Of Dragons And Secrets
FantasyA young princess is heir to myrthos, her mother helaena has just passed before she is crowned queen she must form alliences...what happends when she meets the cold duke of the north.
