Early 120 AC
Rhaenyra Targaryen truly lived up to the title "The realms delight". Their Uncle, Daemon Targaryen for once seemed to be right in naming her that.
Silver gold hair and the signature violet valyrian eyes and features. For all the claims of valyrian's being more divine then man, her beauty gave that idea merit.
That was the only area she could match him in. Urrigon as sure he would surpass her in that to.
So when Urrigon saw her on her bed, in such a disheveled state. Her eyes still red from crying, her hair unbraided and frizzled, clutching her new bastard to her teat.He felt as if the the crone was showing him the truth of her.
"Urrigon",she said his name with such contempt, "What are you doing?"
What was he doing?
He had come alone to her apartments, without Ser Rickard. Knowing that she would have no guard, alone.
"Rhaenyra", said Urrigon, he stared at the babe at her chest" born from lust, lies, and weakness…"
"You will not speak of my son in that manner!", demanded Rhaenyra, pulling the babe closer to her body. Her and his mother were both protective of their spawn but only one of them loved them all.
"You weep for him?"gazing at her wet cheeks.
She gave him a questioning look for a moment before her face was engulfed with rage.
Harwin Strong
She refused to answer him.
"Why?"
"Are you truly asking me that?", said Rhaenyra.
"Why do you weep for him?", said Urrigon as he slowly came towards her, "Do you mourn that your trail of debauchery has finally ended?"
He lowered himself to the edge of her bed, the boards groaning beneath him,"That It fell to me to wipe the source of the stain you paraded before the Red Keep?"
Urrigon shifted closer to her, "That we will never have to suffer the shame you forced upon us?"
He braced his hands upon the headboard behind her, he leaned his face closer to her.
His amathyst eye met her own, darker then of the other.
Urrigon looked nothing like his brothers, bore no trace of his mother's features or his sister's melancholy gaze. Not even the King's.
He looked of her.
Rhaenyra looked ready to unleash her wrath upon him, she might even attempt to strangle him just like Lyonel had, the fool.
The babe at her chest let out a cry. All the rage quickly left her features.
"Joffrey it okay, kepa is here" she cooed, gentle rubbing the new born back.
He watched her comfort the child in silence, watched as the child's tears became sniffles.
'Had mother ever held me like that?', Urrigon thought, no she never gave those eyes to me, not even Aegon.
Rhaenyra attempted to smile at little Joffrey but when the child's brown eyes met her own she left out a sob.
"I'm sorry Joffrey, my baby boy",Rhaenyra wept, "You will never see your father again".
Yes Joffrey will never see is father, will never receive Harwin's affections like Jacerys and Lucerys did.
All because of him.
"...you dishonoured mother", muttered Urrigon, eyes fixated on the babe. "My family, I…"
Rhaenyra raised up her head and looked at him and Urrigon could not bare her eyes.
He leapt from the bed, putting distance between them.
His back hit her dressing table, her accessories spilling across the table and falling on the floor.
Why had he come here?
He tried to remember.
Why?
Amethyst eye met violet eyes.
Urrigon hands scrambled as he reached for the back of his waist and felt cold steel.
He looked of her.
The door was suddenly opened.
"Rhaenyra!" said a voice, filled with concern
Laenor Velaryon strode into the chamber, clad in the sea silver and cobalt blue of his house. His silver white hair, his nose aquiline, and his eyes apale illiac of old Valyria.
He looked the very picture of their blood.
"I came as soon as I heard", he said breathless, crossing the room in quick strides.
He reached for her, arms outstretched and then stopped.
His gaze followed hers.
And there he saw Urrigon.
Urrigon dropped his hands to the side. He slightly bowed his head to the heir of house Velaryon.
"Ser Velaryon" he greeted.
The sword swallor did not answer him but kept his eyes on Urrigon's form.
"Rhaenyra, is Joffrey...are you both unharmed?"
'Of course the sword swalloerw cares for the babe named after his lover' thought Urrigon.
Though that was not what his chest twist.
One word from Laenor, just one and this whole farce would end. One truth spoken plainly for all to hear and Joffrey might have nor been a orphan, perhaps visiting his father at the wall.
Rather the sword swallower held his tongue as ever.
If he had any type of faith, repentance for his vile ways perhaps pray that the Seven would be merciful.
He instead makes the choice to walk in debauchery and Urrigon's family paying for his debt.
"Husband he is fine", said Rhaenyra but the babe decided this moment was the best time to wail.
Rhaenyra attempted to comfort the child, rocking him gentle, quietly whispering soothing words.
Laenor's once firm face gave away to awkwardness, clearly uncomfortable.
"The boy has a strong set of lungs," Urrigon said, stepping past Laenor toward the door. As he passed, he clapped the prince consort lightly on the back.
"A third son for House Velaryon," he added over his shoulder, "One who looks just like his father."
The door shut and the only sound that came was the wailing of a bastard.
Urrigon continued his steps, making distance though he did not no where to go.
Why had he come?
"Urrigon!", came a shout followed by hurried footsteps, Ser Laenor had ran to catch up to him and stopped a few feet away.
Strangely there was no one in the corridor f the royal apartments, no servants, no courtiers.
"Ser Velaryon, you should be with your wife and…child"
The heir of Driftmark grabbed the boys arm, "Why did you come!?", his voice harsh but layered in confusion.
"When I heard of what had happened I could scarcely believe it but then I come find Rhaenyra, your sister, in disarray and weeping and you there with her!"
"That is none of your business, Velaryon", he yanked his arm away.
"None of my business!?This is my Family you talk of!" it was clear that Laenor had some speck of the Baratheon blood from his mother's side.
"Family", scoffed Urrigon, "Well Brother-In-Law, why don't you attend to your sons, who's brown hair and pug noses are evident of your unfitness as a husband?"
They stared at each other, Urrigon would not look away from one he see's below him and garnered no respect.
And Laenor… he did not look away either. Not yet.
But the hurt in his eyes betrayed him. He looked away.
"Urrig…why did you come? Why do you treat us with such disdain when we all so close as kin could be?"
Urrigon's jaw clenched, his lips twitching toward a scowl before he mastered himself. His green eye narrowed, the amethyst eye glinting beneath the corridor's dim light.
"Ser Velaryon I–"
"Laenor," the heir of Driftmark cut in swiftly, stepping forward, his tone almost desperate. "My name is Laenor… not Velaryon. Have we fallen so far that you must speak to me like a stranger?"
The Velaryon's hand went to grip the sides of his shoulders, hands uncalloused and smooth almost lady-like but his grip was firm and his face pleading.
"You were always with us, Urrig," Laenor pressed on, his voice soft as a whisper. "You followed Rhaenyra and me every where, no place in the Red Keep would deny you of us"
"You were among the first to hold Jacerys, you! Barely grown, yet strong enough to hold him. I remember the way you beamed with joy, like a knight returning from victory," he let out a shaky laugh which bounced of the walls around them
It was joyless hollow thing.
"What happened to that boy?"
"Why did that change? When news first reached me about Harwin, where Jacaerys and Lucerys claimed that you murdered him I could scarcely believe ,that it can not be true, not the Urrigon I knew, that sweet boy!"
The heat within Urrigon did not cool to Laenor's plea but instead it grew, roiling in his chest, coiling around his heart.
Venom gathered at the back of his throat, sharp and acidic.
His hand fell to his waist, fingers curling instinctively, knuckles brushing the leather binding, the steel hidden beneath.
He bowed his head as he did so, his reddish brown hair concealing his eyes.
And as he touched it… he remembered.
Why he had came.
Their laughter while his brother Aegon stood alone.
How they celebrated for sons born of lies when the eggs in their cradle hatched while Aemond he was left wanting.
The King acted as if he had only one daughter and Helena was forgotten.
While his own mother's belly bore nothing but scorn for him. He remembered the court's sneers, the servants' mutterings, the sting of duty twisted into ridicule.
No matter how soft Laenor's voice became, there could be no return.
The Seven will it.
Urrigon's grip tightened on the steel at his side.
And for the first time in years, he smiled at the man.
"Laenor," he said, his voice turning warm, gentle, almost fond. "Nay… dear brother-in-law."
His hand slid away from his waist, while his other reached up to clasp Laenor's wrist in a show of kinship, fingers curling just tight enough to remind the heir of Driftmark that though a boy of 12 name days ,his strength acceded the others,not for the other being weak just that he was not as blessed as he.
"I beg your pardon," Urrigon said smoothly. "If I have given cause for offense, I regret it. You are of the blood of Old Valyria, of Driftmark and Dragonstone both… you deserve no less than truth from me." His head dipped slightly. "Kin must be honest with kin, the Mother above proclaims it so."
He pressed something into Laenor's palm.
Something cold, something light, something that was aimed to bring him harm.
Valyrian steel.
Laenor's brow dropped in confusion, pale iliac eyes looking at as his fingers curled around the hilt instinctively.
He pushed the steel into Laenor hand, valyrian steel, "My nephew had dropped it earlier and i had come to return it, the smith curses those who steels others works"
"My nephew," Urrigon went on, his smile thin," your son dropped this earlier, emotional boy that he is".
"I meant only to see it returned to its rightful owner. The Smith curses those who steal honest works… and the Seven frown on such… dishonour."
His eyes were staring at the Velaryon closely, roaming his features, the way the jaw twitched the uncertainty in his eyes.
"I would not see myself or my brothers accused of something such as thievery," Urrigon added softly.
He patted Laenor's shoulder once, firm and almost brotherly. Then stepped back. His smile still in place as if frozen.
"Keep it close, brother… for your family's sake."
And with that, Urrigon turned on his heel and strode away, his steps light.
Laenor stood frozen, watching the younger prince's form vanish down the long stone corridor of the royal apartments.
Old Memories filled the prince's ind as he walked.
Of summer nights and winter days.
Where he read stories of the Age of Hero's and Valyrain empires.
Playing as those same Knights with a friend he once knew.
Who wore a snakes clothes.