✶|𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺|✶ 𝘈𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘐𝘐 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘦𝘯

✶Chapter 7✶

――✴✯✴――

The Danger of Night

――✴✯✴――

Year 128

Westeros

Starfall , Dorne

Serena was packing some clothes for the trip that awaited her with Elyara's help. 

The trip to Sunspear would take around twenty days by land. Serena had tried to convince her father to let the family travel by sea instead, arguing that House Dayne had a small naval fleet and the trip would be much quicker.

However, Aerion had firmly refused his daughter's pleas, explaining that the Sea of Dorne was known for its unpredictable currents. He felt far more comfortable knowing the family would travel by land, accompanied by their guards for safety.

Serena already had a feeling this trip would be a disaster. Being cooped up in a carriage for days with her mother and sister while her brother likely rode ahead with their father sounded like a far more challenging adventure than waiting in Sunspear. 

It wasn't that she disliked their company, quite the opposite, but the idea of having little to no personal space for nearly an entire moon was daunting.

She couldn't quite decide if she was more nervous about leaving her home for the first time or about the fact that their journey had something to do with Princess Rhaenyra.

In this moment, Serena felt an uneasy sense of uncertainty about the future. She had no knowledge of the future Black Queen ever visiting Dorne before the Dance of the Dragons. 

One wrong move could throw everything into unfamiliar territory, a future she couldn't predict.

The question that lingered in her mind was, "Why would Rhaenyra come to Dorne before the war has even begun?... Is it truly just a visit, or is there something more behind it?..." Deep down, she knew the second possibility was more likely, though she still clung to the hope that it was simply a casual visit.

"My lady, would you prefer to take the blue dress or the violet one? Or perhaps both?" Elyara asks, holding up the two gowns.

Serena considers for a moment. "I'll take both. Just in case one gets dirty or something."

Elyara smiles and nods, carefully folding both dresses and placing them in the travel trunk. Once Serena finishes packing her own things, she joins her handmaiden to help secure the trunk lid.

The door suddenly swung open, and Sylara burst in, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ready for the best trip of our lives, little sis?"

Serena rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I still don't get why you think this is the best trip ever. It's going to be a long, boring journey until we finally reach Sunspear."

Sylara stepped closer, taking Serena's hands in her own. "Oh, come on, Rena! Don't be such a killjoy!! The trip might be long, but Sunspear is the most beautiful, lively place in all of Dorne! We'll get to meet so many new people, maybe even make some friends!"

Shaking her head, Serena gently pulled her hands free. "Half the people we meet will be way older than us, and the girls our age... most of them are going to be spoiled." She picked up a few books from her desk, preparing to pack them for the journey. "Besides, I already have a real friend waiting for me there. That's more than enough."