Perzys Ānogār || Jacaerys Velaryon & Baela Targaryen

Chapter Three

Early 2nd moon of 121 AC

The Velaryon-Targaryen family were only on Dragonstone for five days before a raven arrived carrying the news of the Harrenhal fire that took the lives of Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin Strong.

When the children were informed of the knight's death, they cried. Princess Rhaenyra held her children as they mourned the fallen knight. They all eventually fell asleep in their mother's bed.

Several days later another raven arrived but this one came from Driftmark. Lady Laena Velaryon was dead. Laenys watched as her father screamed and cried while her mother and Ser Qarl tried to comfort him.

Princess Rhaenyra's handmaidens escorted the children to their chambers and packed their bags since there was to be a funeral held for Lady Laena on Driftmark in a sennight.

Rhaenyra had her children wear matching black outfits with the Velaryon sigil for the funeral, similar to their father's. Laenys wore her hair in a simple Valyrian braid. The young girl stands in front of her mother with Jace beside her while Luce stands in front of their father holding his hand as the man struggles to keep his composure. Joff was left with his nursemaid in his nursery.

Vaemond Velaryon gives a speech in High Valyrian that Laenys and Jace struggle to understand as they haven't been taught much of the language. Toward the end of the speech, the man begins staring the Velaryon children down which causes Rhaenyra to pull them closer to her.

Whatever their uncle is saying causes Daemon, Laena's husband, to begin laughing, resulting in everyone looking at him as if he's gone mad. Laenys wishes she could understand what the man was saying so she could figure out what would cause someone to laugh at a time like this.

After Laena's coffin is put into the ocean, everyone moves to the courtyard where there is food and drinks. The young princess stands with her elder brother watching the dragons fly around Driftmark.

"Where's Luce?" Laenys suddenly asks, realizing her younger brother was no longer standing with them.

Jace begins looking around and spots the boy, "He's talking to grandmother by the fire."

Their mother walks outside and makes her way toward her two eldest children, "Have either of you seen your father?" she asks looking around.

"No, he never came outside," Laenys tells her mother to which she nods.

"Your little cousins have lost their mother," Rhaenyra tells them sadly, running her fingers through Jace's hair, "They could use a kind word."

Laenys looks toward her two cousins who are sitting by themselves on the opposite side of the courtyard. She had never met them before, but she could see that the two girls were obviously sad.

"We have an equal claim to sympathy," Jace says snapping his sister out of her thoughts.

"Jace," their mother says, slightly scolding.

"We should be at Harrenhal mourning Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin," the boy says causing Laenys to elbow him in the side.

Her brother had been annoyed that they weren't allowed to openly mourn their true father as had his sister. Laenys understood that openly mourning the man would likely cause issues for their mother.

Rhaenyra quickly looks around making sure nobody heard her son, "It would not be appropriate. The Velaryons are our kin and the Strongs are not."

"Look at me," she says to him, "Do you understand?"

Jace nods his head and walks away leaving Laenys with their mother.

The older woman swipes a loose hair from her daughter's face, "How are you, sweet girl?"