Chapter Text
Laenyll
Laenyll slides down Mercy's wing, landing gently on the sand. She turns to see her Mother descending just to the north of her. Laenyll caught onto her Mothers not so hidden ways of getting Laenyll out of her room. It didn't take long for her Mother learn of the recent events that happened between Laenor and herself and of course her Father. She also thankfully didn't bring up or shown that she knew of Laenyll being in bed with Rhaenyra.
Her boots leave deep footprints in the sand as she makes her way to her Mother. She pushes a few twist of hair out of her face with her a quick hand.
"Will you be coming to supper tonight?" Her mothers voice joins the chorus of wind and waves.
Laenyll's gaze shifts from the ocean to her Mother, "If Father and Laenor will be there than...no."
Over and over again, her Father's words just sit at the base of her conscious. He didn't stray far from it either, in fact, he barely said all but one word to her since then. The look in his eyes whenever she would finally leave her room to join him for council meetings was sketched in her mind every time she blinks. Disappointment. The slip of anger that shifted through the dark of his eyes. It was as he wasn't looking at his daughter but a simple stranger.
And Laenor of course mirrored their Father.
Laenyll looks behind her at Mercy, "Stepstones...do you think Father will let me go with him when the time comes?"
Laenyll just as she was taught, wasn't deaf to the discussions of what was going on in the Stepstones. She knows they recently just lost another ship to the Crabfeeder and she also knows the council wishes not to do anything about it. Compensation, they said as if compensation will stopped the attacks from happening on their shipping lanes.
"You are too young to go to the Stepstones, Laenyll"
Laenyll feels a bitter laugh ripples out of her throat, "And Laena isn't too young to be married off to the King? What? Do you think because I stayed in driftmark I didn't hear about Fathers plans to marry off Laena to King Viserys."
Laenyll catches a flash of emotion cloud her Mothers eyes. And for a moment, her bitterness was washed out to sea. Her Mother steps forward and grabs both of her hands. Their matching riding cloaks ripple in the wind as they stand together.
"I did not want it this way." She places both palms on Laenyll's face, "But it is the order of things here, Laenyll. And you and I will face it the hardest whether we like the outcome or not."
Laenyll tips her head forward, "Of course, the order that made those men put their cocks in their hand and made your cousin King rather than you, Mother. What was it you always said, Men would rather put the torch to the realm then see a woman ascend the Iron Throne."
"And Father will do the same." she whispers, bringing one of her Mothers hands into her own before walking off the beach.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
"It occurred in the blackness of night, my lords, during the Hour of the Bat. The thief eluded our pursuit."
A hand brushes against Laenyll's, drawing her to tense as she stands off to the side of the room. The sweet scent that fills her nose makes her bite down on the flesh of her lip. Laenyll releases a shaky breath as she becomes reminded of how much her body has been aching since the night she gave in to Rhaenyra. It probably will never stop and that alone is dangerous. Her hair sways with the motion as she turns her head to the Targaryen Princess.
Laenyll bites back a groan as she could remember the feeling of Rhaenyra's lips on hers the moment they come into view.
"You've been avoiding me." Rhaenyra whispers faintly, her arm brushing against Laenyll's.
Her tongue darts out over her lips, "Not by choice."
Laenyll can see the confusion shifting across her face and it only makes her feel even more resentful towards her Father. She wanted to explain that her absence wasn't due to the regret of their choices but a sharp look from her Father, makes her think against it.
"How is it possible that a dragon's egg was stolen out from beneath more than fifty Dragonkeepers?" King Viserys questions.
"It was Prince Daemon who was the culprit, Your Grace..."
The sound of Daemon's name makes Laenyll turn her attention to the Dragonkeeper. Daemon did what? She wanted to be shocked that Daemon is the culprit but she couldn't find the feeling inside of her. Daemon would do something this treacherous, of course he would.
"The Prince left a missive, which I believe might explain." the aggravating voice of Otto Hightower fills her ears.
"It is the pleasure of Daemon Targaryen, the Prince of Dragonstone and rightful heir to the Iron Throne, to announce that he is to take a second wife in the tradition of Old Valyria. She is to assume the title of Lady Mysaria of Dragonstone. Her Grace is with child and is to have a dragon's egg placed in the babe's cradle in the custom of House Targaryen."
Laenyll goes completely still as the Lords words repeat in her mind. The buzzing feeling of anxiety starts to spread. She brushes a hand over her stomach, suddenly feeling nauseous. The necklace around her neck couldn't even serve as a big enough distraction.
"The Prince has invited you to his wedding, your Grace. It is in two days."
"Who is Lady Mysaria?" Her Fathers asks the other Lords.
Before the Lord could speak, Otto cuts them off, "Daemon's Whore."
Laenyll wasn't naive-far from it, she knows it would be years before she can even begin to imagine becoming his wife but that didn't mean she couldn't be upset right now about the idea of someone else. She wanted to know everything about the mysterious Lady.
"Which egg did Daemon take?" Rhaenyra suddenly speaks up.
Laenyll's brows furrow at the question but then it dawns on her. There was only one egg that was the product of recent discussions. The egg meant for the Prince.
"The egg was Dreamfyre's, Princess. The same that you chose for Prince Baelon's cradle."
Her shoulders drop in disbelief. The King calls for Otto to form a detachment but the Hightower Lord offers himself to go instead. Laenyll suddenly turns to Rhaenyra.
"I know what you're thinking and I will go in your place, you will not risk upsetting your Father when he's just made you heir." she lowers her voice to a whisper.
Rhaenyra begins to quietly protest but she cuts her off.
"I am not asking, Rhaenyra- I am telling you."
Rhaenyra's eyes shift between hers before she nods reluctantly.
Laenyll tilts her head, a slight curve to her lips, "The egg will be returned before night fall."