Storm Approaching

Chapter 04; A Child

Vaelora's stomach hadn't felt right ever since her revelation. It kept tossing and turning like a baby that couldn't sleep at night. She knew rememdies wouldn't help her. They had no cures for bastards and adultery.

She couldn't understand why. Why did her mother do it? She thought it unfair to ask... her father? Ser Laenor? What did she call him now? What did she call Ser Harwin Strong now? Damn her mother! Why did she make life complicated? Why do something as cruel as adultery? Laenor was a good man! Why?

Vaeloras hands grabbed at the ends of her hair. She looked down at the locks. The brown locks.

In truth, Vaelora always knew something was wrong with her. Was it possible for someone to inherit only one parents skin tone? Of course. But the hair? Brown and not white like both her "parents"? Stubbornness and pride is what kept her from ever believing the whispers.

"Rhaenyra The Whore"
"She's had four bastards! Can you believe it!"
"How sinful!"
"Ser Harwin Strong is the father!"
"Her children will be whores just like their bitch mother!"

It was true. Her mother committed adultery and had four bastards. Not one - which honestly wouldn't have been any better - but four. She was a bastard. Such a nasty word. It was negative. You never called a good person a bastard. Only the bad ones.

But she wasn't bad! Sure, she committed a few acts of murder but that was against rapists. Fuck them. She gave food, clothes, and money to the poor. She gave beverages and fruits to the knights. She treated all her staff with respect. She even cleaned her room so they wouldn't have work to do and asked them how they were doing when she saw them. She made gifts for almost everyone. Everyone at court adored her! The Gentle Gem they called her! She knew she was pretty based on how boys stared and blushed around her. Lady Alicent called upon her frequently. The Queen! The Queen loved her! The King loved her!

She couldn't be bad, right?

Vaelora attempted to find comfort with Helaena and Alicent in Helaenas room. Gods, she hated bugs. They crawled everywhere but apparently were more scared of her than she is of them. Sounded like nonsense. Helaena liked bugs though, and Helaena was her friend, so she sucked it up.

She hadn't really been paying attention to anything Helaena said, which she felt bad about. She just couldn't help it. Her mind was swirling with too many thoughts. It didn't allow her to hear or process anything Helaena was saying. Her attention was only grabbed when Alicent said her name. "Vaelora, my pretty girl?".

She blinked hard, suddenly brought to the present. "Me? Oh yes, I am Vaelora aren't I?". Gods she was dumb. "I apologize. It seems I don't feel very well".

"Would you like to hold my bug?" Helaena asked. Her voice was always so soft and dreamlike. Vaelora had to admit, she was a bit jealous. "They can bring great comfort".

"No thank you Helaena. I appreciate your kindness" Vaelora declined. She almost threw up. One of those things crawling on her?

Alicent continued looking at her with a look of pure motherly concern. No longer did she look at Helaenas bugs and listen to whatever she had been saying before. "Are you alright?" She asked.
Vaelora didn't know how to answer but thankfully the door swung open. Aemond was dragged in, and though Vaelora was confused by all the commotion, she heard his mournful voice loud and clear.

"They gave me a pig!".
A pig? She hadn't understood until Alicent comforted him with a promise of him getting a dragon one day.

"He'll have to close an eye" she heard Helaena say. That wasn't her focus though. She stood to her feet and walked over to him.