the great war | hotd

1.6 - dreams of vhagar

Alysanne couldn't seem to shake her father. Everywhere she went, he followed her like a lost dog in the street. He blindly clung to her, a tight lifeline in his sea of grief. Laenor kept calling Alysanne 'Laena'. She tried to keep herself collected and allow herself and her father grace, just as her mother had told her.

Alysanne was nervous to meet Prince Daemon. Both of her parents had spent her entire life telling her about how dangerous, roguish, and powerful he was. Laenor, who'd fought beside him in real battle, and Rhaenyra, who listened to his stories growing up.

She wasn't nervous to see her grandsire. She missed reading to him at night, or him reading to her, or retelling the stories of the Great Valyria.

The king's party had arrived before she had. Immediately she sought out the king.

"Hello, Grandsire." She said politely, standing beside the king.

"Hello, little duck." He responded. He was dressed in all black, and now he walked with a cane. "Have you said your sorrows and sympathies to your Grandsire Corlys and Grandmother Rhaenys?"

"Yes." She replied. He placed a hand upon her shoulder and squeezed thrice.

They gathered around the tomb, carved into a woman. Her grandmother had refused to allow all of Laena's ashes to be interred in the sea, for she was of the dragon, and she would be spread in the sky.

"Tubī Velario Lentro Ābrāzme Laene iēdrarta mōrqittot, māzīlarē tubirri Elēdrion ziry umīsilza luo dāriot, hannagon Embrurliot gierūlti. Solion tolijor zijosy pradarose, Ābrāzma Laena rāeniot hen eglio ilvot lanto taloti hembis. Pōja muña hen zȳho solio āmāzīlus daor, yn ānogrosa gierī ozletaksi humbilza." (We join today at the Seat of the Sea to commit the Lady Laena of House Velaryon to the eternal waters, the dominion of the Merling King, where He will guard her for all days to come. As she sets to sea for her final voyage, the Lady Laena leaves two true-born daughters on the shore. Though their mother will not return from her voyage, they will all remain bound together in blood.)

Alysanne's head snapped up to meet her mothers gaze, who squeezed her children tightly. Across the crowd, she saw prince Daemon let a laugh loose. After that, Alysanne couldn't hear a thing her uncle Vaemond said. Her eyes scanned the crowd for her father, but kept falling on Daemon.

"Alysanne, come, please." Her mother commanded gently. She smiled weakly at the king and walked to her mother. "Watch your brothers. I am to look for your father." Alysanne nodded. Jace stood silently by their young cousins.

"Baela, and Rhaena." Alysanne whispered to them, "I am sorry about your lady mothers death."

"Thank you, cousin." Baela was the one to speak up. Baela gently reached for Jace's hand to hold as a comfort. Alysanne could see Lucerys speaking to their grandsire, his own snotty tears flowing.

As she hugged and comforted people, her own mind became hazy with grief. Her father had been extra gentle not to touch her, not to rub any emotions off on her, but no one else knew.

"We have nothing in common."

"She's our sister!"

"You marry her, then!"

"I would perform my duty. If mother had only betrothed us."

"If only." Aegon scoffed.

"It would strengthen the family. Keep our Valyrian blood pure."

"She's an idiot."

"She's your future queen."

"We actually do have one thing in common. We both fancy creatures with very long legs. Wench! Another!" Aegon clapped his hands together.