Visenya kept her lips pressed on Jaenyx's thumbs as she took his hands covered her face with them. She had to let her husband know that he was not alone and that she felt his pain when they had to leave Arata behind to die. She only saw him smile while they were making love or be serious when it came to matters concerning the welfare of his people. However, this was the first time in a while that she saw real sadness from Jaenyx and she had to be by his side when she saw teardrops fall from his eyes.
Visenya didn't know Arata as well as Jaenyx did, the same applying for his father and younger brother. Whatever misgivings she might have had towards Konno Haru for his rather harsh methods, she felt indebted to him because he was there when Jaenyx's parents and older brother died. Kenzou was just like his father when it came seriousness and tenacity, while Arata represented a past before everything went to shit. From what Rhaenys described Arata, he was a pleasant and jovial fellow who loved to smile and jest whenever he trained her. And just like his father, he was an expert warrior, skilled with knives and the bow besides the sword.
It tore at Visenya's heart when she saw Jaenyx and Rhaenys cry over Arata's death, with her sister developing strong fondness for the kinder Haru as he didn't verbally abuse her or utilized harsh methods. Aegon tried to provide as much comfort to Rhaenys and Jaenyx as best as he could, as he also had a high opinion of Arata.
But what really worried Visenya was how Konno took the news of his son's death and Kenzou for his older brother. Whatever tears that both of the Haru men might have shed for their loss must've been drained from their bodies, as they already used whatever tears they had from when they were forced into exile from their homes.
"Konno, I am so sorry about Arata," Visenya spoke to Jaenyx's teacher in nihongo. She was worried that because she didn't shed as much tears as Jaenyx and Rhaenys, her condolences would have been seen as insincere.
Fortunately, Konno took in a deep breath before looking at Visenya with the softest gaze that she had seen from him. "It wasn't your fault," Konno replied in nihongo. "And I know that you would have done everything in your power to get him out of that wretched place. I can take comfort in the knowledge that my son went down fighting like a true warrior."
Visenya was not convinced. "Konno, if there is anything that I can do for you or Kenzou—"
Konno shook his head. "I can handle myself, and so can my son."
"Are you sure?"
Konno became offended at Visenya's implication. "Are you doubting my fortitude, Lady Visenya?"
Visenya put her hands up. "I am sorry. I was only offering any support that I can give while you mourn—"
Konno held up his hand. "I saw my lord's wife and daughters be violated beyond recognition and I lost my wife when we were set upon by Ghiscari pirates on our way to refuge at the Basilisk Isles. I've experienced loss, my lady, and I will get through this like the others, something that you know nothing of."
Visenya calmed herself, shaking off Konno essentially slapping her hand away. "You're right, I know nothing of loss and I consider myself fortunate to not have experienced that yet. However, if there is someone who has a claim to pain as great as yours, it's Jaenyx. I don't have to tell you what he went through and I know his pain may not compare to what it would feel like when your son dies before you do, but one of the things that he did that I know helped heal the wounds from his time in Sothoryos was sharing his inner afflictions. He told me about the scars and what his mother did for him on our wedding night, but I wasn't repulsed. For the past several moons, I was at his side and I was his support just as he was mine. Now, he's a happy man and he's about to be a father, all because he took that chance."
Konno stared hard at Visenya. "That may be the case for Jaenyx, and I am glad that he found a woman who could be by his side. But he lost his family due to circumstances beyond his control. My son… the enemy may be mutilating his corpse as we speak and I haven't been able to bury him. My blood has been spilt, and blood must be repaid with blood."
Visenya blinked. "Wait, so you're not mourning for Arata?"
"I do mourn for my son!" Arata almost roared. "But I know who killed him. Just like with the bastards who dared laid a finger on my liege's family, I will not rest until the corpses of the ones responsible for my son's death are in my hands. I shall paint their castles with two coats of their blood and I will festoon my chambers with their innards. But first, I will kill every Lannister that I get my hands on and strangle each one before Loren's very eyes, make him feel what it is like to lose those you love. And I will tie his head to a tail of my horse and allow the shit to defile him even in death. Only then, will I be satisfied."
As hard as Visenya was, she had to step back as Konno let forth his tirade. She had learned from Jaenyx that the quiet ones usually had the most intense fury and Konno Haru was many times quieter.
Collecting herself, Visenya was about to leave the room and allow Konno to continue mourning in silence, ignoring the fact that his rage and unwillingness to share the sufferings in his heart would do more damage than good. However, she had to know something. "About my brother, Orys. Do you feel any resentment towards him?"
Konno exhaled. "Arata died so that your brother could escape. I shall have words with him and see if he was worth my son's life. I am not going to let him forget of the price my family paid so that he can return to his."
"I don't he will ever forget the one who gave his life, Konno. My brother knows how to be grateful and I am sure that he will let you know of the debt he owes to your family."
"He better, Lady Visenya." As she turned to leave, Konno called out, "Congratulations on the babe growing in your womb. Hopefully, he won't have to die an untimely death like my child did."
Visenya could sense the bitterness in Konno's voice, but she nodded her thanks before exiting the room.
As for Jaenyx, he remained the same way since she flew off on Vhagar to help the Starks and the northmen at Seaguard. It was supposed to be a time of celebration for them, as they finally managed to make a babe after so much lovemaking and after over a year. Their happiness was tempered by Arata's death and the most recent of Jaenyx's many personal losses.
Sitting next to Jaenyx, Visenya put her arms on her shoulders and kissed his cheek.
"I miss him so much already," Jaenyx's voiced cracked while he spoke High Valyrian.
"I know," Visenya nodded.
"He was like a brother to me."
Visenya rested her head against Jaenyx's neck. "I know."
"Why did he have to die?" Jaenyx asked mostly to himself.
Visenya pulled Jaenyx into her arms and held him very tightly, patting her hands along his back. "Let it out, Jae. Let it out."
Jaenyx let forth a stream of tears that both of them didn't know that he still had for Arata. Visenya saw him angry, saw him smile, and saw him committed, but she never saw him so… wrecked. While being by his side might have helped Jaenyx not to plunge deep into the emotional abyss, Visenya didn't want to see him cry tears of sadness, as that could plunge him back into the hole that he was in ever since his family died. No, he has a family now and he's about to be a father.
Knowing no other way for Jaenyx to stop crying in agony, Visenya stared straight into his violet eyes, reddened after the many tears that streamed from his face. She pulled him to a deep kiss, running her hands along his back before they had to pull apart for want of breath.
However, Visenya still saw Jaenyx's eyes filled with tears. Deciding to push the situation, she grabbed his hands and placed them on her bosom, making his fingers knead them while she slowly moaned in pleasure.
Jaenyx's eyes flickered as he also felt pleasure from his hands on Visenya's solid breasts through her blouse, while his hands began to squeeze them with more intention. Satisfied that he was slowly getting out of his gloomy stupor, Visenya pulled closer to him and rested her forehead on his while keeping his hands where they were. Where they belonged.
"I want you to fuck me, Jae," Visenya whispered in his ear in High Valyrian. As his fingers continued to press against her bosom, she began to feel a desire for her husband that burned brighter than before. She didn't know if it was the pregnancy making her like this, but she wasn't going to question a very good thing.
Jaenyx swallowed, but not out of nervousness. "Will our baby get hurt while we do it?"
Visenya placed her left hand on his right cheek, making him look straight into her eyes. "Our baby will be fine," she assured Jaenyx. "I'm pretty sure he or she wouldn't mind if kepa and muna pleasured each other and continued to express our love."
"How do you know?"
Visenya was about to scold him before remembering that Jaenyx wasn't a woman and thus was unfamiliar with how she, like other women, knew for certain when the babe in their womb will be all right. "It's our babe, Jae. If he or she takes after both of us, he or she will be fine. Besides, I have to keep you from falling into the hole that you're about to fall into."
Jaenyx smiled, which was exactly what Visenya was looking for. She kissed him, which again became deeper but sloppier as they started to succumb to their temptations. Anything to get Jae happy again and to celebrate our new babe.
Visenya was momentarily worried that she rushed it, but lost control as she felt Jaenyx edge his hand to the bottom of her blouse and pull it over her, allowing her bare chest to be exposed to her husband, who was always mesmerized at how his life looked without garments. She did not protest as he kneaded her breasts some more and took one into his mouth, causing her to moan louder. Her heart skipped a beat as she felt his cock trying its best to get out of his breeches. Every time they made love was perfection, as they learned that they couldn't control their intimate parts from making discharges when they suddenly came. His cock slowly became sticky while she became wet between the legs. Involuntarily, his hands fell to her ass and squeezed her cheeks through her leather trousers, causing more moans. Remembering that he still had his shirt on, she grabbed its hem and pulled it over him, exposing his bare chest and sculpted muscles to her lustful eyes.
Visenya leaned forward to capture his lips again. Her breasts rested against his chest while her hands began to work on the laces of his pants. Jaenyx quickly removed his boots before Visenya yanked his breeches down. He kicked them away and pulled her flush against him with his lips on hers and his cock poking into her stomach.
Always knowing to make every night better than the one before, Jaenyx savored their kiss and slowly eased his way from Visenya's lips, down her neck, and to her breasts. With a hand kneading one and the other in his mouth, she knew that he still marveled at how perfect they were, and she exploited that fact whenever they coupled. When his teeth grazed her already hard nipple, Visenya moaned and ran her nails through his scalp. Releasing the breast with a pop, he switched to the other. Visenya knew that he could just focus on her breasts all night, bringing her more glee, but the night couldn't be spent on one part alone.
As he pulled away from her breasts, he looked to her beautiful folds that glistened under the light. He knows that I am wet for him, and he's the only one that will make me so.
Just as Jaenyx moved to lap up her juices and get a taste of her, Visenya lifted his chin with her tough hands. "Take me to bed," she commanded.
"As you command my lady," Jaenyx responded and placed his hands on her ass to lift her into the air. Visenya's legs were wrapped around his back with her hands on his neck. She could feel her wet cunt against his abdomen. He carried her back inside to gently lay her upon the silk sheets of their bed. While she would prefer that their coupling be rougher, her main priority was to stop Jaenyx from crying and she knew that her body was the best way to stop that. She was going to compromise just this one night if it stopped the tears.
Visenya's legs were already open for him and Jaenyx took the time to kiss her inner thighs before reaching his intended destination. When he was finally upon her cunt, he ran his tongue along the edge of her folds, hoping to tease her. Visenya's legs tightened around his head, but he reacted instantly and spread them wider than they were before. Knowing he needed to move this along, he focused his attention on her nub and circled it with his tongue. "Oh fuck, Jae, Jae. Right there," Visenya moaned in High Valyrian. Ready to become undone, she felt him flick his tongue in rapid succession against her nub.
"Jae!" Visenya screamed, as she continued to vocalize her pleasure in their mother tongue as she came. Feeling her body shudder uncontrollably, she felt Jae lap up her juices and moved his tongue into her folds to get his fill. She knew that he loved the taste and the wonders of his tongue, which never failed to make her insides explode with waves of lust and pleasure .
The hand Visenya had been running through his loose silver hair now pulled him up from her cunt. "Get inside me now!" Visenya ordered him. Not hesitating for a moment, he took his cock and slowly ran it through her folds to coat the tip in her juices before finally moving his hips into her. Slowly, he moved his member until he was fully sheathed in her hot cunt and hit her walls. At a steady rate, he accelerated his pace into the one that Visenya preferred when they were making love, fast and hard. Good, now he's becoming the Jae that I know and love , Visenya thought happily as she wrapped her legs around his waist and urging him to go deeper.
Before they knew it, Jaenyx was pounding into Visenya at a furious pace and their bodies were perfectly in sync. Every time he hit the back of her cunt, Visenya dug her nails into his back and screamed his name. She was pleased that her efforts to make her husband the lover that she was familiar with had paid off. "Faster Jae, faster," Visenya panted as the words nearly failed on her lips. Shit, I am going to spill soon. Then, Jaenyx followed his instincts and took his hand out of her hair, moving it to play with her clit as his other hand kneaded a breast.
Visenya bunched the sheets in both her fists and she felt her body shudder with her legs shaking and pulling him in closer. Her walls squeezed his cock and Jaenyx tried to thrust into her even faster if it was possible. "Visenya, oh gods, you are so—" but he couldn't finish as his cock responded to her warm cunt and spilled ropes of his seed onto her walls. As he came, he briefly lost control of his thrusts, but recovered to keep pounding into her until he was sure he was spent for the moment.
Moments after giving her his seed, Jaenyx fell into Visenya's embrace with his face in her breasts and her hand moving through his hair. Like him, Visenya was thoroughly exhausted and both were drenched in sweat from their lovemaking. However, she expected that Jaenyx was not done, as he gathered his strength and moved his weight off of her. Soon enough, Jaenyx had flipped them both over so Visenya was on top. Her face hovered above his and she found herself lost in his dark, beautiful eyes. The same ones that I fell in love with.
As Visenya ran her hand through his smooth silver hair, she captured his swollen lips into hers as she felt Jaenyx run his other hand down her back to her ass. "Do you want to take me from behind?" Visenya offered, knowing that he would say yes.
Not answering, Jaenyx moved Visenya off of him and maneuvered behind her, while she got on her hands and knees. She allowed her husband to take a moment to stare at her ass, but she did not expect him to lick his hand and spread some of the water from his mouth onto her opening. He never done that before, but she felt more pleasure flow through her as she moaned again. She then felt Jaenyx move down to kiss each cheek before slapping both with affection. Right after, he slammed his hips into her ass and sheathed his length into her cunt.
Jaenyx was moving into her as fast as he could with his hands moving back and forth from her hips and ass. Moments into his thrusting, he moved a hand into her silver hair as her back arched to give him greater access while her face screamed into the pillows. She reached her peak again and lost concentration as she felt his hands fondle her dangling breasts and his chest against her back from leaning down to her. But to her delight, she knew that Jaenyx also lost his. His cock prematurely exited her entrance, which caused Visenya to whine in frustration from losing its warmth, but she suddenly felt it again as it slammed into her with a force that she had not felt in some time. She bit onto the pillow as she muffled her scream, which caused some worry from Jaenyx.
"Vis, you okay?" Jaenyx asked with concern.
As much as she appreciated it, Visenya was not inclined to cease their coupling until it was done completely. "No, don't stop, keep going. I like it," she panted as she was nearly out of breath. Frustrated that he was hesitating, she reached back to grab his cock and guided it to her rosebud. He was slow to enter her there, but they were both about to tumble over the edge. As soon as he entered her, he set a far slower pace and did not last long. Her ass was tight and he quickly spilled into her. The sight and feel of his cock in her ass with her sobbing with pleasure broke his will to last.
When Jaenyx finished, Visenya fell onto her side and her head rested on her arm as she watched Jaenyx reach for the water basin near the bed to quickly wash off the stench of sweat that was. Visenya got up from under the sheets and wrapped her arms around Jaenyx's core while placing a kiss on his shoulders.
"Did you enjoy it, my love?" Visenya rhetorically asked.
"Do you need to ask that?" she felt Jaenyx smile as he continued to wipe himself with the wet cloth.
"Well, you seemed pretty gloomy just moments ago when we still wore all of our garments," Visenya nibbled against his neck.
"You know the way into my heart, Vis," Jaenyx answered back
"Allow me," Visenya took the cloth from his hand. She slowly washed his thighs and around his core while placing soft kisses on his hip and muscled abdominals. "I thank the gods everyday for them making you my husband."
Jaenyx rested his hand on Visenya's head. "And I thank the gods for making you my wife. And soon, the mother of our children."
Visenya looked up at him, struggling to maintain her gaze on his eyes while not staring on his cock. "Children?"
Jaenyx looked confused. "I thought you wanted several children, which you said back before we moved on Haystack Hall."
Visenya quickly remembered before smiling. "Oh, yes. And I do want to have many children by you."
"How many are you thinking to have?"
Now that they were discussing it, Visenya frankly didn't think that far. However, she was not planning on stopping after a certain number, as she wanted many that took after her and the man she married and grew to love. Like with Rhaenys, she wanted the child growing in her womb to be the first of several.
"As many as we can," Visenya finally answered while standing up and wiping the sweat off of Jaenyx's chest.
Jaenyx grinned. "What about names?"
"What are you thinking of?" Visenya moved the cloth to wipe his neck.
"It depends on whether our child is a boy or a girl, but I would like to have a daughter first."
Visenya blinked, but blissfully surprised. "Why do you want a girl first?"
Jaenyx placed a hand on her cheek while Visenya wiped his sides. "I know any daughters we have will be like you, Vis, so I want to see more of you making small men cower in fear of your strength."
Visenya leaned his hand and kissed his palm. "I would like to have a boy first, Jae. I know for sure that any sons we have will be like you, so I want to see more of you with your strength rescuing those in need."
Visenya then wiped his face with the wet cloth while Jaenyx rest his hand on her shoulder. Stepping away from the water basin, she then felt herself be scooped up off of the floor and carried to their bed. They needed their rest after their many exertions and she was flush against his side.
"Oh, Jae," Visenya stared into Jaenyx's eyes. "We already talked about whether we want a boy or a girl first, but what about names? Even though I would prefer a boy, all that matters is whether the child is healthy. Just as important is the child's name."
Jaenyx nodded. "You're right. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Hmm," Visenya pondered. "If it's a girl, how about Maenarys?"
Jaenyx pursed his lips, but Visenya was relieved that her husband had come a long way from mourning his mother. "That's one option. But I was also thinking of naming our first daughter after my ancestor, Jaenara. Seems fitting."
Visenya shrugged. "That could work. But as accomplished as Jaenara Belaerys was, I fear that she's too much of a distant memory from our family's past. I was thinking of naming her after someone much closer to your heart."
Jaenyx kissed her brow, touched by Visenya's thoughts, while flicking her nipple. "In that case, we could name her after Valaena then. You certainly got your fire from her."
Visenya slapped his chest before she lost control from how Jaenyx played with her. "And if it's a boy?"
"Now that'll be something that everyone will expect," Jaenyx chortled. "Although… I can't think of any good names for boys from my family. My father Auryon died a painful death and my grandfather was not a good man, both of whom have names that I associate with sorrow."
"What about Gaerys?"
Jaenyx's eyes darkened at the mention of his brother's name, prompting Visenya to silently curse herself. "No," he simply replied.
"Didn't you love your brother?" Visenya asked.
"I did, but he died an inglorious death and I don't want to be reminded of how he died."
"Haven't you moved on from that?"
Jaenyx sighed. "I am still working on it, but the afflictions from that time is still in my heart and I would rather not be reminded of that time. I have you," Jaenyx pulled her closer to him. "And I have Egg and Rhae. I don't want to ruin something good with thoughts from the past."
Visenya beamed, but she wasn't sure if they should discard his past as Jaenyx was implying. "However he died, Gaerys was still your brother. We have to make sure some part of him lives somehow."
Jaenyx nodded. "What name do you suggest then?"
That's when it hit Visenya. "How about we combine names? We can keep the first part of Gaerys' name but put it with something else. We could go with Gaerion, using part of kepa's name for our son."
"Gaerion Belaerys…" Jaenyx thought aloud before grinning. "I like it. And if it's a girl?"
"We can go with something that honors the muna I never met and Jaenara Belaerys. Maybe Maenara?"
"Maenara Belaerys," the sound almost rolled off of Jaenyx's tongue. "Another good one."
Visenya kissed his jawline. "And with more children should come more dragons. What do you think we should do so that our children could also become riders?"
"Well, we can't force our dragons to mate, and three of ours are she-dragons, so Balerion will need to put in a lot of effort to please all three."
Visenya laughed at the thought of Aegon's dragon impregnating Meraxes, Vhagar, and Cloudwynd. She wouldn't be surprised with Meraxes, but Vhagar and Cloudwynd… not so much.
"Unless," Jaenyx continued. "We somehow tame the two wild dragons at the Dragonmont."
"How do you suggest we do that?"
"Taygor knows some rituals and I can use my horn to get their attention," Jaenyx explained.
"But who would ride them? In case you've noticed, we're two riders short."
Jaenyx shrugged. "Well, obviously one of those riders has to be Lord Aerion. He might be old, but he's still potent. It is the right of every one who carries the blood of the dragon to experience the thrill of riding fast through the air."
Visenya smiled at the thought of their father, not able to tame a dragon, finally learning how to ride one. There were many things that she could teach him when it came to dragonriding, although Rhaenys might have more to say on the matter.
"Okay, I can see kepa riding one of them. That leaves one more."
Jaenyx pondered. "Lady Valaena is a Targaryen through her mother, right?"
Visenya nodded. "Yes. Kepa and muna were cousins, but they both carry the blood of the dragon. Wait a moment, you're not thinking…"
"Why not?" Jaenyx asked. "We might have the Northern kingdom on our side, but we would more assets to win this war and adding two dragons certainly count."
"I'm not so sure of our mother being used as an asset," Visenya lightly protested.
"Think of it. Your mother has the blood of the dragon and we would six dragons flying through the air. We'll cover more ground that way and greatly increasing our chances of winning. But don't you worry, Vis. We shan't actively put them in harm's way."
Visenya raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, we, Aegon, and Rhaenys are the four experienced dragonriders. It wouldn't make sense if Lord Aerion and Lady Valaena actively participated in combat after just taming their dragons. During battle, we should keep them behind the lines and only call on them if our situation turns dire. Plus, our family would be even more feared once six dragons fly in the sky instead of four."
Now that they were talking about it, Visenya couldn't deny that logic. More dragons and more riders we have, the better.
"And besides practical considerations?" Visenya inquired.
"I'm betting one of the wild dragons is a he, so the burden on Balerion to breed dragon eggs might be lessened from his wings no matter how big and powerful they are."
Visenya laughed while Jaenyx ran his hand along her back. "In that case, do you mind being burdened some more?"
Jaenyx's eyes widened as Visenya climbed onto him and straddled his waist while bringing his hands to squeeze her breasts once more. He gulped, the temptation to make love to his wife again being too much.
"Even though we have a babe on the way, let's work on having some more afterwards," Visenya moaned as Jaenyx's fingers kneaded her breasts.
"Don't need to tell me twice, Vis," Jaenyx reached up and kissed her before readjusting his length and pushing upward into her velvet entrance.
"Do I have to do this, Vis?" Jaenyx asked.
Visenya slapped his shoulder. "It's been six moons since that little spat you two had. You rescued him and now it's time to patch things up between the both of you."
Jaenyx sighed before nodding. "All right. As you wish."
Visenya leaned up to whisper in his ear. "You do it right, I might have some more surprises waiting in our chambers."
Jaenyx snickered. "When did you become so eager? I know you like it when we make love, but I would've thought that what we just did moments ago was pleasing enough for you."
"It was, but you should know that I am feeling many things because of you, especially since your seed created the babe that is now in my womb." Indeed, Visenya being pregnant made her more desiring of her husband's embrace and of his attention in bed.
"Well, I best say it right then. Looking forward to what else you are feeling for me afterwards," Jaenyx quipped.
Visenya pecked his lips. "We shall see."
Approaching Orys' chambers, Visenya and Jaenyx saw Orys awake in his bed. His hair and beard were trimmed and he was dressed in tan gowns while he lay there under the sheets. But what tore at Visenya's heart was his bandaged left hand, or what was left of it. His ring and pinky fingers were missing, the digits used by Loren Lannister in order to make their family do something rash and get an explosive reaction from them all. They still kept the digits around the citadel somewhere at their father's insistence, even if it still gave off a rotting smell. The only comfort that Visenya could take was that Orys still had his right hand, his good hand, perfectly healthy. Loren Lannister will pay for harming our brother.
Orys noticed the two enter his chambers. "Oh, hi there," he attempted to get up before Visenya moved to stop him.
"No, Orys. Rest, you need it," Visenya set him back on the pillow. "How you holding up?"
"Good, considering that my ordeal would've been worse," Orys glanced at the remains of his left hand.
"Don't worry, Orys. We'll get the bastard who did this to you. We'll see how a lion can withstand a dragon," Visenya assured him.
"I dread for Loren Lannister then," Orys smiled before looking at Jaenyx. "Jaenyx."
"Orys," Jaenyx said in the common tongue.
"I don't know how to thank you for saving me. I know Vis would, but I didn't expect, considering what happened six moons ago."
"As I said, I would not be honoring the agreement I made when I first came to love and respect the family I was marrying into if I didn't save you from that lion bastard," Jaenyx answered.
Orys grinned. "Well, I'm grateful that you did. I blacked out while there and I don't know if I could last longer in their chains."
Jaenyx nodded his head before Visenya elbowed him hard in the ribs, jolting him. "Jae, don't you have something to say to Orys?"
"Say what?" Orys was curious.
Jaenyx bobbed his head. "Right. What happened six moons ago was… petty. I've had preconceived notions on whom you were and I let them affect my better judgment. I was so… stuck on the established behaviors of Valyrians that I forgot that you were also mostly Valyrian despite you not having the traits. The stress of battle was no excuse for me to imply that you didn't belong in the family and I didn't give you the respect that you were due. You proved me wrong, Orys, and if it's worth anything, I am sorry for the words I've said outside of Bronzegate."
Visenya nodded approvingly before turning to Orys. He sighed before nodding his head. "And I'm sorry too, about what I said about your family. But now that I think about it, with the Faith trying to wipe us out, maybe bringing back some part of Valyria may not be such a bad idea. We're Valyrians after all, so we should embrace it."
Jaenyx grinned widely. "Well said, Orys. Be proud of where you come from and never let anyone tell you different. Anyone who ever called you a bastard will suffer our wrath, including my own. That, I can guarantee you."
Visenya stuck herself against Jaenyx's side, happy that he was willing to go to such lengths for Orys now.
"Jaenyx," Orys swallowed before continuing. "I'm so sorry about Arata. I know that he was like a brother to you and he shouldn't have to die there."
Visenya hitched her breath, nervous at how Jaenyx would react at the mention of Arata's name. To her relief, Jaenyx offered Orys a small smile. "He died like a warrior, just like his father and he would have wanted. What should be done now is avenging his death and raining fire on those that dared to cut him."
Orys bobbed his head with resolution. "Of course. And listen, Jaenyx, if there is anything that I can do for Konno or his brother Kenzou—"
Jaenyx held up his hand. "No, no. Whatever you have to say next, you should discuss with them personally. I can't speak for them."
Orys exhaled before nodding. "Fair enough."
They then heard the doors to the chambers open. Turning around, Visenya was surprised to see Argella holding a tray with various healing herbs and potions along with a plate of bacon and peas.
"Lady Argella," Visenya addressed her with astonishment. "This is… unexpected."
Argella shrugged. "I figured that my lord husband would need a more… personal touch to his recuperation from this point on."
"Did you cook the bacon and peas?" Visenya asked.
"No," Argella admitted. "And these herbs and healing potions I got from one of Lord Jaenyx's healers, Taygor if I remember correctly."
"He's not a healer. He's my cousin," Jaenyx corrected with slight annoyance.
"Forgive me, my lord," Argella apologized.
"And you're here to look after my brother from here on out?" Visenya looked at Orys, who was just as surprised as she was but also looked happy to his wife in this trying time.
"If you'll allow me," Argella answered courteously.
Visenya nodded before urging Jaenyx out of the chambers. "Let's go, Jae." But before they exited, she stopped to stare at Argella's blue eyes straight. "My brother was tortured and his left hand mutilated. Help him as a good wife should, or you'll hear it from me," she warned.
Argella stared back before bobbing her head. "I'd expect nothing less."
Satisfied, Visenya took Jaenyx out of the chambers, leaving Orys and Argella to have their own private time before they returned to their own, trying to take full advantage of the lull they had before they had to resume the march on their enemies.