Chapter Text
“Vaelora”
A voice called from the forest around Summerhall, amid the chirping of birds, the rustling of green spring leaves, and the scorching sun breaking through the leaves.
“Daeron, there's no need to shout, I'm here.”
I said, remaining seated under the tree not far from the lake where he and Aerion were fishing.
“You shouldn't go far, you might get hurt.”
“I hadn't gone far, and I can take care of myself, Daeron.”
“Uncle Baelor will cut off my head if anything happens to you.”
“My father wouldn't do anything to you.”
“You say that, dear cousin. I thought he was going to kill me on the spot when you weren't looking.”
“As you say.”
“Come on, Aerion, he thinks he'll have the biggest dinner, we need a judge.”
“Don't you have eyes?”
“You're impartial, Vaelora, come on.”
“Okay, let's go.”
A hand materialized in front of me, and I took it. Daeron's hands were warm but firm as they gently turned me up, still holding my hand, and he led me to the lake where Aerion was cheerfully urging one of the fish to take his line.
Daeron moved me close to him and his line, left unattended between two rocks.
He gracefully adjusted the blanket we'd brought just behind them and ushered me in before finally releasing my hand.
“Now neither of us will cheat, Aerion. Lora will be impartial in judging the winner.”
“Val, wait and see when I beat Dae.”
“I can't wait, Aerion.”
I sat there enjoying the sun, picking the colorful flowers around me to make wreaths. I watched the boys try to catch a fish from the pond, leaving splashes of water as soon as something bit the hook. They managed to catch a few small fish with great difficulty. But they bragged to each other about how many they had in the buckets next to them.
The flowers stood out, from where they were placed, on my lilac dress with tiny flower embroidery on the hem of the skirt. It was a gift from my Aunt Dyanna when my father and I arrived here. Mom had stayed behind because she couldn't hear very well.
I had almost finished the second flower crown, which I would use to decorate the hats Daeron and Aerion had forgotten to wear in this sun.
I started making the third when a scream caught my attention.
“Look, look, Dae, it's a huge fish, I'll catch it!”
“First, be careful not to let it run away, you haven't even gotten close to it yet.”
Amidst screams and a huge splash of water, Aerion managed to capture his catch, which he proudly placed in the bucket now that it had calmed down, half dead.
“One nil, apparently. Daeron, you should make a move if you want to win.”
I snorted, causing him to show some dismay. He turned to me, indignant, and stuck out his tongue. I let it go and concentrated on finishing the last crown.
I picked up the hats after dusting myself of the flowers on my dress, and placed the flower crowns on top of it, embellishing the thin straw hat. I did the same with the second straw hat. I placed the third flower crown on my head and approached the edge of the lake where the boys were sitting, but attentive. I placed the first of the hats on Aerion's head. He looked at me in alarm, but quickly calmed down when his fishing line caught his attention again.
I turned to Daeron, who was watching me with his purple eyes. He lowered his head slightly, and I placed the hat on him, even though he'd noticed the flower crowns on the hats.
"Thank you, my dear cousin, although it suits you better."
"Well, you can't say they don't suit you; purple is your color."
"If you say so."
I sat back down, noticing a fish about to approach Daeron's hook, to avoid being splashed. I pulled my book out of the basket; it was about the war of succession between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother, Aegon II the Usurper.
My prediction came true, because after a while Daeron became alarmed and began tugging furiously on the line, attracting the prey. And after a bit of a struggle, he managed to land the largest catch.
"Just in time, Daeron, sunset is approaching, we must go."
"I told you I'd have the largest dinner."
"Isn't that right, Dae? Mine is the largest, isn't it, Val?"
“I think you both did a good job, and I'm very happy to eat fish tonight.”
“Now, don't avoid picking the winner.”
“I'm not doing anything, my dear cousin. I'm just saying I'm hungry and we need to get back to the castle.”
“Val, take a good look at it, isn't it the biggest fish?”
Aerion ran over, balancing the bucket with the fish sticking out, almost splashing me with water.
“Right, Aerion, grab your fishing rod, we need to get going, you too, Daeron.”
As soon as I said that, Aerion nodded and ran to grab the fishing rod, balancing it under his arm while holding the bucket with both hands. Daeron approached me, also holding the bucket and fishing rod.
“You do that every time, Lora. You say what you think. You never please everyone.”
“Then you should learn to read my mind. Maybe you won't complain anymore.”
“Maybe I should do that. At least we could always talk without people hearing you and making you stop talking.”
“It's pure courtesy. You know we have to seem kind and polite.”
“Easy for you to say, cousin. You're prettier and kinder. I'm supposed to be my father's heir, and you know I'm not exactly the best heir around.”
“Dae, you'll be a good heir. Just don't skip all your classes like you usually do. Trust me.”
“Lora—”
“Listen to me. I'll give you a hand while I'm here, and then we'll exchange letters about our progress. In those letters, you can complain to me about anything you want.”
“Are you trying to bribe me? You, sweet and innocent Vaelora?”
“Me? Never, it must be a coincidence.”
“And here's my Lora.”
“Come on, Dae, Aerion is getting impatient, I can see it from here.”
“Come on, my princess, as you command.”
We began to walk, with Daeron singing a song in Valyrian that told of the dream of Daenys “the Dreamer,” who saved our dynasty and the dragons that were still alive then.
Hearing about dragons, Aerion began to play, acting like a dragon, and with his bucket and fishing rod still in hand, he began to run unsteadily around Daeron and me.
With a knowing look, Daeron gave me a small smile before exclaiming dramatically.
“Come, princess, I'll protect you from the fearsome dragon.”
“Oh, my brave knight, save me from the fearsome and ferocious dragon.”
Aerion let out a dramatic roar as he ran around the two of us, who had begun to jog slowly as we acted out the knight and princess fleeing.
“This way, princess, my castle is this way.”
“Come on, the dragon is getting closer.”
We started running, keeping an eye on Aerion. We reached the castle gates, and the guards let us in as soon as they saw us. Our fathers were waiting for us at the entrance.
My father was happily talking to Uncle Maekar, who was getting annoyed about something.
“Dad!”
Aerion shouted, rushing past us with the bucket in his hand, barely carrying it.
“My sweet girl! Daeron! How did it go?”
My father said as soon as he saw us, after looking away from Aerion, who was running to grab Uncle Maekar's legs to show him his prizes.
He picked me up and ruffled Daeron's hair after removing his hat with my flower crown still on it.
“We had fun, Uncle, we caught dinner like we promised.”
“I see, I must say you made me hungry just thinking about it, and you didn't disappoint. There's enough for everyone at dinner. And you, Princess, I see you fooled your little cousins with your wonderful crowns.”
“Fooled is excessive, Father. They needed a hat to protect them from the sun. The fact that they had flowers on their hats was pure coincidence.”
“Of course, my sweet girl, come on, let's go say hello to your uncle. Daeron, let's go see your father. He was anxious while we were waiting for us.”
Daeron left immediately after his uncle yelled, leaving me and my father a little further behind.
“So, darling, did you have fun with your cousins?”
"Enough."
"I know, honey, you weren't happy to come here, and you miss your mother, but she wasn't well, and besides, we're here together, having fun with family."
"Daeron is sweet, I like talking to him. Aerion is very nervous, but all in all, I like it here."
"I'm glad to hear that, honey. Let's go, your uncle is waiting for us."
We approach my uncle, who had chased Aerion and Daremo away, probably to wash up and leave the fruits of our picnic at the lake with the servants, with my father still waiting for me.
“I see they were having fun with their catch.”
“Yes, Uncle, they were competing.”
“I guess that explains why we had so many fish, but I see you were having fun too. I must admit, the flowers were a nice touch to the straw hats against the sun,” my father replied.
“I appreciate you making them wear hats to shield them from the sun, nephew. I owe you for bringing them back in one piece.”
“I told you, Maekar, my little princess has a calming aura even on the liveliest dog.”
“As you say, Baelor.”
“Let's go in, someone needs to change.”
“I'll go get the fish cooked tonight, we won't see the end of it. We'll be eating fish for a couple of nights.”
And so my father led me to the room assigned to me, while my uncle went the other way.
My father paced the corridor as the sun was finally beginning to set, giving way to night. When the guards opened the doors to my room, my father finally set me down and went out to call a maid to bring me a bath.
He gently stroked my hair as he sat on the chair next to the desk in the corner. I approached him, and he picked me up again and sat me on his lap while I waited for the bath.
He ran his hand through my hair, especially my silver lock, softly singing to himself a Valyrian lullaby he'd sung to me since I was a child.
The tub arrived, and soon they filled it. My father let me wash.
I changed into a pale pink dress with puffed sleeves, a bodice embossed with our family crest, with gold embroidery and beads.
He went out, and my father was waiting outside, looking at me with a softening expression. He took my hand, and together we walked toward the dining room.
Stepping through the door revealed an empty table with two seats next to my uncle's head. For my father and me.
To her left was Aunt Dyanna, followed by Daeron and Aerion, who looked proud. Little Aegon was gurgling softly and animatedly on his mother's lap.
Little Daella was in her father's arms playing with the brooch attached to his doublet.
On the table were Aerion's pride, the fish they had worked so hard to catch.
We ate dinner with gusto and then retired to our rooms, happily serene. Daeron was waiting for me just before the corridor to my room. His violet eyes lit up as soon as they saw me.
“Lora!”
“Daeron, shouldn't you be in your rooms now?”
“I wanted to tell you something first.”
“What?”
"The crown, even if it's made of flowers, suits you, my beautiful princess."
"T-thank you Dae."
With that, he walked away, blushing, after leaving me to blush in the empty corridor.
Walking with my head down, I returned to my rooms, the blush fading slightly. The maids helped me remove the dress they had put on me, and wearing my nightgown, I slipped into bed, leaving me alone with my thoughts, and with Daeron's strange personality.