✶|𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺|✶ 𝘈𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘐𝘐 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘦𝘯

✶𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 28✶

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Thread of The Past

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Year 133 A.C

Westeros

Starfall, Dorne

"You do realize there's still time to send a letter to Prince Qoren, telling him you've changed your mind and are rejecting his offer, just like you did the first thirty times before you finally gave in?" Sylara huffed, arms crossed as she shot a pointed look at their father.

Serena sat on the couch in her parents chamber, next to her older brother, while Sylara grumbled with her arms crossed, glaring at their father. He stood before them, his clothing being carefully adjusted by their mother.

"Sissi, you know it doesn't work like that." Her father looks at Sylara with an understanding look. "Besides... I made the Prince swear it would only be for a year, just until the trade routes between our kingdoms are stable."

Lady Kyria stepped back, smoothing the fabric of her husband's cloak with careful hands. She forced a small smile, but the sorrow in her eyes was unmistakable.

"One year... That is, if you don't end up as another victim of that wretched plague spreading through their lands." Serena sighed, rubbing her temples as she watched her brother dive into the argument as well.

Their mother turned sharply toward Elyas, giving him a stern look. 

"Elyas! Honestly..."

Lord Dayne noticed his daughter rubbing her temples and turned to her with a knowing look.

"And what about you, Rena? Do you have any complaints like your siblings?"

Serena met her father's gaze, unsure of what to say. She despised this entire situation as much as her siblings did, but by now, she understood there was no changing it.

"No, Father..."

It had been two years since the death of King Aegon II. Two years in which Serena had convinced herself that she was finally free of anything concerning the Targaryens.

But once again, she had been wrong.

Just when it seemed the storm had settled after the Dance, when there was a new king and queen, when those who deserved punishment had received it, a new disaster had begun to spread. 

From the frozen North down into the warmer lands of the South, the illness known as the Winter Fever was making its deadly march.

With that, the trade routes that had just begun to recover from the war fell into chaos once more, bringing financial strain to Dorne. 

This forced Prince Qoren to seek a representative to negotiate Dornish interests at the neighboring kingdom's court.

And, of course, the unlucky soul to whom the prince sent his request, persisting until the person finally gave in, was none other than... 

Lord Aerion Dayne.

"Well, if no one has any more negative comments about my decision, let's head to my carriage. Unfortunately, I have a long journey ahead." Their father said in his usual serious yet calm tone, taking his wife's hand and leading her toward the door.