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Post by Gandalf on Oct 1, 2022 3:27:48 GMT -5
An airy apartment in Maegor’s Holdfast where the young princess and her dragon live, infuriating servants and Kingsguard alike.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 2, 2022 7:02:42 GMT -5
Lord Corlys, old Lord of Driftmark, comes to visit his granddaughter.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 2, 2022 7:25:12 GMT -5
”Grandfather!”
Rhaena exclaimed with relief, the young Targaryen princess throwing her arms around the older man’s wiry frame as he entered the messy chambers. Morning echoed her delight with a high pitched screech, the dragonling that was scarce larger than a dog clearly responsible for the tattered clothes and charred parchment that littered the room’s floor. Rhaena was lean and angular with hair of straight and burnished silver, her appearance a faint reminder for those that could recall the Queen that Never Was in her youthful days. Like her sister, she spurned dresses for a tunic and trousers, and but for her long hair she might have been mistaken for a boy.
”You are thin, grandfather.” She chided as she pulled back, violet eyes widened with evident concern. ”Shall I have the servants fetch you something?”
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Post by oznerol on Oct 2, 2022 14:35:41 GMT -5
”Grandfather!”Rhaena exclaimed with relief, the young Targaryen princess throwing her arms around the older man’s wiry frame as he entered the messy chambers. Morning echoed her delight with a high pitched screech, the dragonling that was scarce larger than a dog clearly responsible for the tattered clothes and charred parchment that littered the room’s floor. Rhaena was lean and angular with hair of straight and burnished silver, her appearance a faint reminder for those that could recall the Queen that Never Was in her youthful days. Like her sister, she spurned dresses for a tunic and trousers, and but for her long hair she might have been mistaken for a boy. ”You are thin, grandfather.” She chided as she pulled back, violet eyes widened with evident concern. ”Shall I have the servants fetch you something?” Velaryon took a seat, flexing his stiff knees; they cracked a little. He glanced the dragon: a little thing, all that remained. Long where the days when Vhagar, Meleys, Syrax, Caraxes and Seasmoke all perched and nested in the crags aroud Hightide; a place that no longer had a roof anymore, burnt and cracked. "I have no thirst for wine today"The elderly man looked weary.
"I'm more concerned about you and your sister both"Said Corlys.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 2, 2022 16:13:22 GMT -5
Rhaena snapped her fingers and, after a few brief moments, a serving girl not far from the Princess’ own age appeared with some refreshment for the older man.
”I am fine, grandfather. Munkun brings me enough books to keep me occupied.” She reassured him with a weak smile, as she pulled over a chair and gently urged him to sit. It was no lie; a pile of mostly unburned books sat in an untidy pile on one of the tables next to a porcelain cyvasse set, mostly being texts based on knowledge that many in the Citadel would consider unorthodox at best or outright fabrication at worst. But whilst the Princess was an avid reader, it was whispered that her true hobbies lay in the city that her chambers overlooked from on high, far below the confines of the holdfast.
”And Baela needs nobody to worry about her.” Rhaena laughed, eager to divert the conversation from herself. ”I pity the man chosen to marry her.” The Princess poured herself and her grandfather out a cup of whatever the servant had brought. Despite the famine, the royal cellars were still well stocked.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 3, 2022 6:43:26 GMT -5
Rhaena snapped her fingers and, after a few brief moments, a serving girl not far from the Princess’ own age appeared with some refreshment for the older man. ”I am fine, grandfather. Munkun brings me enough books to keep me occupied.” She reassured him with a weak smile, as she pulled over a chair and gently urged him to sit. It was no lie; a pile of mostly unburned books sat in an untidy pile on one of the tables next to a porcelain cyvasse set, mostly being texts based on knowledge that many in the Citadel would consider unorthodox at best or outright fabrication at worst. But whilst the Princess was an avid reader, it was whispered that her true hobbies lay in the city that her chambers overlooked from on high, far below the confines of the holdfast. ”And Baela needs nobody to worry about her.” Rhaena laughed, eager to divert the conversation from herself. ”I pity the man chosen to marry her.” The Princess poured herself and her grandfather out a cup of whatever the servant had brought. Despite the famine, the royal cellars were still well stocked. Said Corlys, sipping. "But, you might learn more from other sources. I assure you half I read about Essos was outright false"He placed the cup over a book nearby. "I read much when I was little. My maester, old Gawen, brought me miles upon miles of parchment"The old man clasped hands on his lap. They were sinewy and hard, like chiseled on stone. The black skin had liver spots and was aged. Still, those hands were strong once. "Yet... when I sailed on Yi Ti... large artificial rivers, wide as seas, full to the brim with ships of any size and nationality. They were like immense roads, pouring riches in and out the land. Rice fields covered the sight, alongside odd-shaped mountains, bamboo forests and cities. Cities larger than any in Westeros: Oldtown and King's Landing are dwarves at their side. And Yin? The seat of their divine emperor... The palace was built on terraces, like an artificial mountain, pillars and walls covered in beaten gold, painted red... that was a sight I will never forget. I was even welcomed by a minister of theirs, more out of curiousity than anything, he gave me many gifts: silk, pelts, spice and porcelain. And a jade dragon, man-sized, that fortunately survived the sack of Hightide, as it was too heavy and to hard to either loot or destroy. You surely remember that... You surely remember the silvery spires and the tiles that covered my castle"
Velaryon looked melancholic. "Yes... yes, much to tell. But a certain Mathis wrote my accounts... I have seen the book. I owned a richly-illustrated copy, but Jace took it once and now I do not know where it is"He looked to his grandaughter. "You might find this funny, but my words were not believed for a time, but I dared the archmaesters to say otherwise to my face, a time that Viserys made a royal progress through the Reach. Ever since they have been said to be the truth, I believe the presence at the time of two Velaryon dragonriders did much to change their minds"He smiled slightly. "Only thing they would not believe is that I saw Sun Chaser in Asshai..."Corlys would forever swear he saw it, but that would mean Farman had gone from West to East, in a full circle. Velaryon would no longer be able to dare that travel, neither did he when he was younger, and a father of two, boy and girl. "Anyway... forgive my musings, I'm an old man. I'm afraid that you will be toyed with, Rhaena. You're Egg's only kin and I'm yours. But my time is running short, and I don't want to fail you as I did with Laenor's sons. You and Alyn are what remains. Nothing else"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 3, 2022 11:42:47 GMT -5
Rhaena listened to her grandfather attentively, wide eyed with wonder even though she had heard these stories at least a dozen times before. A part of her ached to follow in the old man’s footsteps and see the wonders of the Far East for herself, albeit on dragonback rather than the prow of a ship. A chance to be free of the suffocation of her lineage and the weight that it brought onto her shoulders, to forget the death that fire and blood had wrought. A mother she had barely known had been ripped cruelly from her, and she had thought that enough pain for one lifetime, only for the rest of her kin to follow into the arms of the Stranger. Even her father had fallen, that mighty prince that knew the world was but his for the taking.
But the dragon does not flee. She could not do that to Baela, to Egg, nor to her grandfather, even as she knew in her heart of hearts that he was not long for this world just by looking at his mottled hands and weathered face. A shadow of the man he was even a few years past, when all the world thought he might live past a hundred. In another lifetime perhaps.
”You have not failed anyone, grandfather.” Rhaena smiled as she blinked back tears. ”They will find us not so easily toyed with. The Dragon may be wounded, but it still stands. I will make them remember.” She turned defiant, now, and gripped his aged hand in her own smaller, paler fingers.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 3, 2022 13:59:09 GMT -5
Rhaena listened to her grandfather attentively, wide eyed with wonder even though she had heard these stories at least a dozen times before. A part of her ached to follow in the old man’s footsteps and see the wonders of the Far East for herself, albeit on dragonback rather than the prow of a ship. A chance to be free of the suffocation of her lineage and the weight that it brought onto her shoulders, to forget the death that fire and blood had wrought. A mother she had barely known had been ripped cruelly from her, and she had thought that enough pain for one lifetime, only for the rest of her kin to follow into the arms of the Stranger. Even her father had fallen, that mighty prince that knew the world was but his for the taking. But the dragon does not flee. She could not do that to Baela, to Egg, nor to her grandfather, even as she knew in her heart of hearts that he was not long for this world just by looking at his mottled hands and weathered face. A shadow of the man he was even a few years past, when all the world thought he might live past a hundred. In another lifetime perhaps. ”You have not failed anyone, grandfather.” Rhaena smiled as she blinked back tears. ”They will find us not so easily toyed with. The Dragon may be wounded, but it still stands. I will make them remember.” She turned defiant, now, and gripped his aged hand in her own smaller, paler fingers.
Said Corlys, grabbing her hand. He wore the large signet ring with the seahorse emblazoned on it.
"Alas, you stand alone now. You have to defend you and your sister both. If wolves try to prey on you, don't abandon her, you're Laena's legacy. Fly away, if you may.... Rhaenys warned me about the price of my ambition, quite a few times. I never listened, but she was right, it's never worth it to be remembered in verse and song. I will be, probably matter of bards and poets for a long time, but yet I find myself surrounded by bones and cinders in my old age and my children paid the price"
He added, bitterly. Velaryon grabs her chin, raising it. "Hightide will always be your mother's home, don't forget that either. Among waves you might find shelter, and under the vaults and towers of my castle you could seek refuge to thrive and grow. Family is all we have"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 4, 2022 5:41:14 GMT -5
”Let them try.” Morning echoed her would-be rider’s defiance with a low screech and a quick belch of flame. Rhaena coo’ed as the scaly beast approached, a scratch behind the ear prompting a purr of satisfaction.
”I will have to go to Dragonstone when Morning grows too big for the Keep. I will call upon High Tide then. I miss it..”
Dragons were not welcome in King’s Landing. But on Dragonstone, there was now room enough for her little wyrm to grow and thrive beneath the mountain. All the rest had gone; even the Cannibal had not been seen in some months. Then she would have time to roam the halls of her ancestors… or what was left of them. The home she so fondly remembered was not much but a smoking ruin now, and her eyes hardened at the thought of yet another memory lost to dragon flame.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 10, 2022 6:50:49 GMT -5
”Let them try.” Morning echoed her would-be rider’s defiance with a low screech and a quick belch of flame. Rhaena coo’ed as the scaly beast approached, a scratch behind the ear prompting a purr of satisfaction. ”I will have to go to Dragonstone when Morning grows too big for the Keep. I will call upon High Tide then. I miss it..” Dragons were not welcome in King’s Landing. But on Dragonstone, there was now room enough for her little wyrm to grow and thrive beneath the mountain. All the rest had gone; even the Cannibal had not been seen in some months. Then she would have time to roam the halls of her ancestors… or what was left of them. The home she so fondly remembered was not much but a smoking ruin now, and her eyes hardened at the thought of yet another memory lost to dragon flame. Corlys agreed. "Dragons wither within the red walls of King's Landing, it needs to fly and be flown, and eat as much prey as it wishes"
He added. Velaryon looked at the young dragon, a far cry from the old and great beasts that crossed the skies and seas but two years prior.
"Your sister still grieves having lost her ride to the Usurper. Let's pray she finds another drake to tame and ride, or an egg graces her and hatches: you managed as much"
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Post by Royal Joker on Oct 11, 2022 13:15:21 GMT -5
One night, Rhaena discreetly sends one of her servants (a friend, not one of the council’s creatures) on an innocuous mission to fetch her sister to keep her company, as she cannot sleep. Though the older Dragon Twin is annoyed to be disturbed during sleeping hours, there is little that would stop her from seeing her sister. Baela puts on the bare minimum over her sleeping garments before sneaking out into the hall before skipping across to Rhaena's room. "Rhaena? Are you awake?" Baela spoke with as loud a whisper as she dared, hoping none of the guards would hear her. She stalked further into her sister's chambers before jumping into the bed next to Rhaena. "Did you have a nightmare?"
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