The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 14

I do not believe that Runestone felt like home to my mother for a long time after her arrival. She had spent all her life in the Red Keep, surrounded by King's Landing, after all. The shift from the greatest city in the country to a castle in the middle of the Vale must have been a jarring one to say the least. Nonetheless, my father, uncle and Lord Kermit were determined to make her feel at home.

I am told that the actions of Lord Kermit may have made things slightly harder in that regard, but the same cannot be said of Lady Alyssa, the daughter of Ser Gerold. Wife of Ser Joffrey Arryn, Lady Alyssa has remained close with my mother since the day they met. Perhaps it is little wonder why she served as my mother's main handmaiden until the war began . . .

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Runestone

Try as they might, Runestone was not exactly a natural transition for Helaena. She knew they were trying of course, but it all seemed a little too much. The only ones who seemed to understand her properly were Daevar and Daeron, though she supposed she couldn't truly blame Kermit Tully for not understanding her; he had never known her. No, Runestone was not King's Landing, and finding her place was going to be difficult.

She knew who she was now of course: Helaena Royce, Lady of Runestone. Yet, it felt somehow foreign to think of herself that way. She had been raised as Helaena Targayren, a Princess of Westeros, and she was married to someone who, while he was a close friend, she couldn;t help but feel nervous around. Perhaps it was something she would learn to get use to with time; she would fulfill her duties to her family and bear sons for Daevar as her mother had told her to. And what happens if he decides to take his pleasure on me?

It was something she knew would happen eventually. On nights when her visions had kept her awake, she would hear servants commanding that her mother was to join her father in his chambers for the night. Nesaena had explained things to her in her own way of course, but Helaena had mostly elected to listen to her mother on things. Perhaps she might find some enjoyment from this, but she wasn;t sure.

Then there was Dreamfyre. Sweet, tender Dreamfyre who had joined her at Runestone and was chained up inside a hollowed-out cave with the growing Tessarion. She'll be old enough for Daeron to ride soon. At least she had her Dreamfyre still, and she supposed she would be able to ride her more often here, open as it was.

"Helaena?" She heard a voice ask.

"Enter." She called, fidgeting with her hands.

The door opened, revealing Daeron. "I just wanted to check on you. Make sure you are settling in."

"It is an adjustment." She said. King's Landing was so much bigger, but . . . everything felt . . . cleaner here. There was no stench coming up from the city below anymore, and the window gazing out over the plains of the Vale proved oddly calming for her. "Has Daevar asked for me to attend him tonight?"

Daeron shook his head. "No. He mostly just wants to make sure you're alright; he'll be by later to ask. Right now he's training with Kermit." He explained. Daeron had gotten familiar to Daevar's routine by now; most of his day involved training with the sword and lance until it came time for Daeron to go through his two hours of training with him. "He also said that Lady Alyssa will be by soon as well; she's to be your handmaiden while you're here."

"I see." Helaena replied. She'd had handmaidens in King's Landing of course, but it had been decided they would stya behind and she would start again in Runestone. "When should she be expected?"

"Right now, as a matter of fact." A woman said from the hallway. "Lady Alyssa Arryn, at your service, my Lady."

Alyssa was a pretty woman, Helaena saw. Her eyes were brown like her father and brother, but her long hair was auburn; she took after her mother in that regard. Her dress was of a simple, but functional design, with silks and velvets having been eschewed for wool. Helaena herself had rarely taken off the wolf pelt that Lord Stark had gifted her at the wedding; the weather did take some getting used to.