LAENYS VELARYON, Lady of the Tides, princess of Dragonstone, youngest daughter of Corlys Velaryon-Lord of the Tides-and Rhaenys Targaryen-the Queen Who Never Was.
No one in all the realms believed that Rhaenys was with child when she announced it pu...
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The hall designated for the bannermen of Dragonstone was alive with the sounds of revelry. The Winter Wolves, 2,000 strong, filled the space with their boisterous laughter, hearty singing, and the clinking of tankards. Long tables groaned under the weight of roasted meats, hearty stews, and freshly baked bread. Torches on the stone walls cast flickering shadows, giving the room a warm, golden glow.
At one of the central tables, Cregan Stark sat with Baron Karstark, a long-time friend. Whose family had been side by side with the Starks for ages. Baron, with his thick brown beard and twinkling eyes, raised his goblet high.
"To the Winter Wolves!" he bellowed, eliciting a raucous cheer from the men around them. Cregan nodded, lifting his own cup in response.
In the background, the sounds of men singing old Northern songs mixed with the giggles of brothel women who had been generously cared for by Princess Laenys. Some men had women on their laps, while others were deep in conversation or in boisterous drinking games.
Baron leaned in towards Cregan, a mischievous grin on his face. "You know, Cregan, I think it's high time you found yourself a woman that fits your tastes," he joked, nodding towards a group of women at the far end of the hall. "Maybe one of those fine ladies over there?"
Cregan glanced over briefly before returning his attention to his drink, clearly uninterested. "I'm not here for that, Baron," he replied, his tone flat.
Baron chuckled heartily, clapping Cregan on the back. "Always been the honorable one, aren't you? Even when we were young lads. I should have known better. Besides, there's already a woman who holds your heart, isn't there?" His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Princess Laenys Velaryon. You know, Aemond wasted away the most beautiful woman in all the Seven Kingdoms for his cunt of a brother. And for what?"
Cregan's expression darkened slightly at the mention of Aemond. "For power, like all men who seek the throne," he muttered. His mind wandered briefly to Laenys, her fierce spirit, and the bond they shared.
Baron leaned back, his expression turning more serious. "Aye, and look where it's gotten him. The realm in chaos and a beautiful woman caught in the middle of it all. It's a damned shame."
Cregan took a long drink from his tankard, the ale doing little to wash away the bitterness he felt. "It's a damned shame," he echoed, his gaze distant. "But this war won't last forever. We fight to end it, to bring peace back to the realm."
Baron nodded, his eyes flickering with the torchlight. "Aye, and when it does end, what then? What do you see for yourself, Cregan? Back to Winterfell, I suppose?"
