✶|𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺|✶ 𝘈𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘐𝘐 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘦𝘯

✶𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 15✶

――✴✯✴――

Mad Plan

――✴✯✴――

Year 129

Westeros

Starfall, Dorne

Serena returned to her room in silence, her thoughts racing as she climbed into her bed. The warmth of the evening felt stifling, yet the faint silver glow of the moonlight streaming through her window brought a small sense of calm. She lay on her back, staring at the shadows that danced on her ceiling.

Her mind wandered to the news her father had shared. The Dance had begun, a storm brewing just across the borders of her home, a storm that had nothing to do with her, yet everything to do with everyone she had met a year ago.

"I'm just a child..." Serena whispered into the quiet room, her voice wavering with a frustration that was almost too much to bear. She gripped the blanket tightly, her gaze fixed on the soft moonlight filtering through her window. "How could I possibly do anything that matters?..."

The moon's glow seemed brighter tonight, casting a silvery light over her small room and filling it with a calm that contradicted her turbulent thoughts.

She found herself thinking about Rhaenyra, strong, proud, and so much older than her. Even with her clear claim, it was as if fate itself was conspiring against the princess.

"She's going to lose so much..." Serena murmured, her voice little more than a breath. "Her family... her friends... and all for something that should have been hers without a fight."

The enormity of it weighed heavily on her, far more than it should. They were just people she'd met briefly, nobles from a distant land who had lives so different from hers. 

And yet, the thought of Jacaerys, Lucerys, even Aegon facing a future torn apart by war made her chest tighten with a deep ache.

With a soft sigh, she rolled onto her side, curling in on herself as her mind continued to race. 

"I hate this feeling..." She whispered, unsure if it was the powerlessness she despised, or the tragic, inescapable future she saw unfolding.

The silver light from the moon kept her company as her breathing steadied, though her thoughts remained heavy. It was going to be a long night...

――✴✯✴――

The breakfast table the next morning was unusually quiet. Elyas and Sylara exchanged confused glances, unable to make sense of the heavy silence.

Serena sat with tired eyes, as though she hadn't slept at all (which was partly true). Lord Dayne was focused on his food, acting as if everything was normal, yet he remained unusually quiet. Lady Kyria sat staring at her slice of toast with raspberry jam, lost in thought, her expression weary.