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Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon)/Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Baela Targaryen/Jacaerys Velaryon
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Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Laena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys)Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon)Baela TargaryenJacaerys VelaryonRhaenyra TargaryenDaemon TargaryenCorlys "The Sea Snake" VelaryonRhaenys Targaryen VelaryonAemond "One-Eye" TargaryenAegon II TargaryenAlicent HightowerDaeron Targaryen (Son of Viserys I)Cannibal the Wild Dragon (A Song of Ice and Fire)Valyrian Gods (A Song of Ice and Fire)Helaena Targaryen
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Character Turned Into VampireUndeadNecromancyVideo Game MechanicsThe Dance of the Dragons | Aegon II Targaryen v. Rhaenyra Targaryen EraLaenor Velaryon is Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)'s ParentLaena doesn't let something like being dead stop her from helping her familyDragon RidersPOV MultipleDeath to all GreensPiratesBody HorrorBAMF Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon)Temporary Character DeathReligious Imagery & SymbolismWeird Plot Shitno beta we die like everyoneBook: Fire and Blood (A Song of Ice and Fire)Self-IndulgentChild DeathDismembermentDragonrider Rhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon)Rhaenys and Rhaenyra act more like their bookselves cause their showselves suckCanon-Typical ViolenceCannibalismVampire BitesThe non-sexy kindDark Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Vampire Lucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Angst with a Happy Ending
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Published:2024-06-14Completed:2024-10-31Words:169,619Chapters:35/35Comments:1,151Kudos:2,058Bookmarks:542Hits:94,824
Lucerys Velaryon of the Vampire Coast
SkilledWarriorKiwi
Chapter 9: Rhaena
Summary:
People at Dragonstone: We offer these pieces of gold, jewels, precious items and food/drink to the altar at the Merling Chapel, to bless us in this war 🪙🙂↕️🙏
Vampire Coast member, stuffing as many valuables in their pockets as they can: woohoo free stuff! 🤑
Chapter Text
Rhaena was worried.
A mood that many in Dragonstone shared, with the war growing pace and news of ever increasing battles flooding in. But her worry was not for herself, but rather her family.
Rhaena was to be sent to the Eyrie the following morn upon the Sea Snake, to be kept safe alongside Joffrey and Tyraxes with a clutch of Syrax's eggs. The Vale of Arryn would indeed be a safe place for them but she felt bitter at being sent so far.
Yet she understood; Rhaena had nothing to contribute upon Dragonstone. Baela with Moondancer was another layer of defense for the queen, while all Rhaena had was an egg. Its pale pink scaled surface was hot, and she was becoming ever more confident it would hatch soon. Both her father and grandmother speculated that soon there will be another hatchling in the Vale for her to tend to.
But that would not mean anything for the civil war, for even if her egg hatched it would take over a decade for her to be even able to ride it much less for it to be battle worthy. By then all her family would be dead or have won with who knows how many killed and she wouldn't have been able to help. (She was not counting the green-blooded dragons as family, in her eyes they severed themselves from her the instant they tried to murder Lucerys after usurping the rightful queen.)
And that was another thing, to know that this war was so dire that Laena was roused from the slumber of the dead to reach for Lucerys when he was slain over Shipbreaker Bay. To drag him back to the world of the living and bring him back to them.
Lucerys had changed since then, not that Rhaena blamed him. She did not feel frightened of his eyes and sharp teeth. When he spoke to her and Grandfather upon the shores of Dragonstone, Rhaena had urged him to listen to the sea.
Garth Greenhand, Sharra the Witch Queen, Durran Godsgrief, Symeon Star-Eyes, Daenys the Dreamer. All strange and fascinating people gifted abilities that seemed fiction to them now, but must have been true in their age. Daenys the Dreamer had saved dragons with her vision, and Rhaena felt that Lucerys hearing the sea must be another means to fight their enemies. Corlys agreed and they offered what counsel they could.
Of course later that afternoon when their grandfather had gone back to sea she did not expect Lucerys to summon a great dead dragon from the waves. More creatures had spilled out of the surf, dozens of bats the size of Stormcloud and skull-faced dogs as big as direwolves. Rhaena had been startled, but oddly enough did not feel threatened by the creatures even when the pack of dogs circled her and sniffed at her dress.
And upon the black iron saddle on the dead dragon's back had been the Velaryon seahorse and it fascinated Rhaena so much. Still, Lucerys had stopped in mid-explanation about the dragon -about how she had wanted to see the sky again so she came so easily to him -to cock his head to the side like a hunting dog. He then briskly informed her that Grandmother was in danger and he needed to go to Rook's Rest. She had barely nodded before Lucerys took to the skies upon the tattered red wings if the dragon with the bats speeding ahead, and Rhaena had bunched up her skirts and gone running for Dragonstone with the pack of dogs following her.
The Black Queen had been shocked and disbelieving when Rhaena informed her of what had just happened, but it said much to Lucerys's state that even with Rhaenyra not truly understanding Rhaena's report she still listened. Rhaena explained what she had seen and heard to the best of her abilities. The dogs were milling about the war room, barking and snuffling with their skull faces and their blue glowing eyes blazing like torches. But still, she did not feel threatened and neither did any of the Black council despite their curiosity and confusion over the creatures.
Then her grandmother Rhaenys returned upon one if the Velaryon ships, injured and bleeding just like Meleys was. They were quickly seen by the inhabitants of Dragonstone, Meleys having her own specialized tonics brewed by the flora and moss that only grew upon Dragonstone and its volcanoes as the dragonkeepers appeared, while Rhaenys had been taken to the maester with much haste.
Those two had been a constant in her life from as far as she could remember, strong pillars she could always rely upon. So to see them both harmed sent a cold shock down Rhaena's spine when Rhaenys had been lead past. It was thrust in her face, how they could all die.
She feared so badly for her sister in the aftermath of that realization, for everyone else upon Dragonstone. Joffrey, Aegon and Viserys- they were so small, and only two had dragons. None of the Greens would hesitate to kill them, Aemond had fully tried to kill Lucerys and it was only through Laena's grace that he had not succeeded.
Even if Lucerys kept saying he had indeed died that night in the storm, confiding in her after his awakening.
While her and Luke's relationship hadn't shifted to the growing passion of Baela and Jace she knew Lucerys would never mistreat her, and would be a fair and sweet husband when they eventually wed. They had grown closer as time passed, building a strong, easy friendship with one another.
Even when he passed through the veil and returned changed he remained trusting and confessed to her, when she snuck into his room with more of Moondancer's hot blood one night, speaking of how disjointed he felt. How he could now only feel fondness for his family, and regarded everyone else with a distant regard of neutrality that made it obvious he would not truly care if they lived or died. He felt a desire to protect those loyal, but more of obligation than true care.
It made him wary of himself, even as Rhaena did her best to comfort him thought it. If anything his mood reminded her of the sea, for it cared not about them it simply acted in its nature and they must accept it as it was. Lucerys had been claimed by the sea, the Merling Court, and it made sense his nature would now reflect that.
However one boon came from Rhaenys's return and it was her report Aegon and Sunfyre had been injured even more severely at Rook's Rest. Since the Greens had been raised by Alicent, and deliberately sheltered from Dragonstone and their Valyrian heritage they would not have access to the ointments and poultices for Sunfyre's wounds as Meleys would once the small stock at the pit ran out. Hopefully the wounds would fester and the dragon would die but Rhaena knew the fates were more indifferent and hope did not win wars.
Lucerys summoning Calypso from the sea along with the other strange beasts made Rhaena even more determined. Her betrothed was to be sent west through the counsel of Rhaenys, now Hand, and Coryls, to the Black Queen. To go and tame Oldtown and to face Daeron Hightower and his Blue Queen. To cut the knees out of the Hightower cause and destroy their den so there would be no where to hide. Rhaena had faith in Lucerys. He was fire and blood, sea and salt, and she knew he would succeed.
She spent time vigil upon the walls of Dragonstone even after Calypso's red and black form long disappeared to the horizon and later Queen Rhaenyra joined her. Their words were gentle, nothing about the war swelling around them in bloody heaves, and as the air chilled Rhaena leaned against her good-mother's side and Rhaenyra had tucked her in close like Syrax with her clutch.
Rhaenyra had never hesitated in giving her and Baela affection as a good-mother. Perhaps Rhaena should be bitter that her father wed so quickly after Laena died, but at the same time Rhaenyra never once tried to erase Laena's memory. If the twins ever asked, then Rhaenyra would happily tell them stories of their shared youth and how close she and Laena had been. When Laena had gone into labour with them, Rhaenyra had instantly flown to her side to be with her. Before that, both Rhaenyra and Laena would go on races upon dragonback as teenagers even if the Rhaenyra claimed they were unfair due to how slovenly Vhagar was against Syrax.
She heard the stories of the two- Laena had claimed Vhagar at eleven, Rhaenyra was currently the youngest dragonrider recorded after taking to the sky at age seven. Both brave and bold and it left Rhaena wanting and quiet.
"Tis a grave insult they give to Laena, taking Vhagar," Rhaenyra sighed, chin brushing Rhaena's brow. "If she were here the Greens knew they could never match her rage. She would have flown Vhagar right to King's Landing and had her swallow Sunfyre alive. And even now her rage enough she saved Lucerys, as Handmaiden to the Merling King."
There was that lingering guilt for Rhaena, over failing to tame Vhagar despite her father, sister and grandmother all reassuring her of Aemond's classless act. She could have understood, if she had tried to claim Vhagar and been rejected and then Aemond had tried, but he hadn't. Instead he had disgraced Laena's funeral and Vhagar's own grief, then threatened to kill them with Vhagar's flames and Rhaena never forgave him. Baela fully agreed and when in a particularly foul mood would lament that Lucerys had not sliced open Aemond's throat.
After hearing of the attack at Storm's End, Rhaena now fully agreed with her sister and between her tears had sworn and cursed Aemond and his green-blooded kin as Baela held her close.
And the gods had answered, her mother had answered and now Lucerys was the Undying, sent to Oldtown to rip out the Hightowers root first. Blessed by the Merling Court so that even Rhaenyra had to release her son from her loving, ridged grip.
And now they were left waiting and wondering, Rhaenyra's presence calm and warm next to her.
"Even when we could not meet in the flesh Laena sent so many letters about her adventures in Essos from Volantis, up the great Rhoyne and all the way to Qohor and Norvos before she learned of you both. She spoke so oft of you girls, how excited she was to meet you both, and I miss her so," The queen said and Rhaena felt her breath hitch.
Rhaena had certainly heard the rumours, that the queen and Laena had been fond and then 'more than fond' of one another as the years grew. It was part of the reason why Rhaena had let her bitterness sluice from her so quickly after the marriage of Rhaenyra and Daemon, even if she knew her grandmother never did.
She heard the whispers and she had a strong feeling that if it had been Rhaenyra and Daemon wed first then Rhaenyra passed, then Laena would have come forth to take the Rogue Prince as her husband and there would have been no lingering bad spirits upon it.
Rhaena wondered that if they had been born back before the Conquest, that Rhaenyra and Laena would've happily shared Daemon as husband and wives.
Luke's non-death just validated that belief to Rhaena. Her mother had always doted upon Rhaenyra's sons whenever they would return to Westeros and vice versa, and Laena dragging Lucerys from the Stranger's grasp to return him home just proved there was nothing nefarious between the women.
It also made her ever more determined to protect them, to be ready to defend them even at the risk of her life. Just as Laena was doing for them all even from the afterlife.
It was why Rhaena could not sleep that night when she retired to her chambers, brooding upon her sister and brothers, her cousins. Her grandfather and all the Velaryons blockading the Gullet, her father soon to be sent back to the Riverlands. Her grandmother, already injured same as Meleys but both still ready to head back into battle the moment they were able.
Rhaena thought of her little sister Visenya, who had already been taken. Her dear Lucerys, killed as an envoy and pushed back to them by Laena who had been rider to the dragon who had killed him.
Vhagar, who had once belonged to a Targaryen Queen who ruled upon equal footing to the Conqueror himself but now was bound to a man who thought women were unfit to rule.
Rhaena jerked out of her shallow doze, blood flushed and angry. Out through her windows the sky was black as pitch with only a sickle of moon within the star-speckled darkness. The pink egg was ever at her bedside, and Rhaena ran a hand over the scaled surface; hot and restless beneath her fingers.
Changing from her sleeping shift to a plain aquamarine robe and white slippers, she grabbed a leather pouch and strapped it to her hip. By now she was well used to the egg's hefty weight. At the other side she strapped a dagger.
It had been a gift from Lucerys before he had left to Oldtown, for his betrothed. A blade cut from kraken tusk, the small dagger holding a brilliant black sheen akin to dragon bone while feeling as as cold as the ocean is deep when Rhaena unsheathed it. It made her ever more determined, that even now with Lucerys leaving to the other side of Westeros he wished to protect her.
Reaching into one if the jewelry chests of her room, Rhaena found the hidden compartment at the back and removed a shimmering necklace. Then she left her rooms.
Her restless pacing through the hallways of Dragonstone was not out of the ordinary in their warring times, and the guards let her be as she made her way to the Merling chapel upon silent steps.
There was a notable increase in offerings since Luke's return and awakening, the candles within always burned blue.
There was also a member of the Court within the chapel, the smell of salt and seaweed growing deeper as Rhaena lingered at the archway. The person looked up and Rhaena did not flinch at the rotted features that peered over at her, a lipless mouth with torn skin, an eye patch covering one greyed socket and the other housing a glowing crimson eye, barnacle encrusted clothing and tricorn hat with sodden feathers of red and black. A strange weapon was strapped to his back, the one Lucerys had called a 'rifle', but currently the dead man was shoving fistfuls of gold coins and gemstones into the pouches at his belt. He had paused at Rhaena's approach but then obviously did not consider her a threat and went back to grabbing things off the altar after a moment of mutual staring.
The missing offerings had been a subject of debate with the priest and his daughter acolytes, Rhaena knew, but she didn't realize it was because a member of the Court was actively taking them. Usually a ceremony would be held at dusk and dawn, to be gifted to the sea or used to fund their war effort and the upkeep of the chapels as the ones at Driftmark and Spicetown were being expanded. Actually seeing a member of the Merling Court taking them was fascinating and humbling.
Even if she was imagining something more elegant, than the rather blunt and hasty way the man was just stuffing things into the pouches like an opportunistic looter. Before she could think to politely approach the man and mayhaps introduce herself, he grabbed a bottle of wine from an altar shaped like a crab carapace, along with one of the large fresh trout. Stuffing the fish into his mouth he then walked over to the nearest window and jumped out, falling down the cliff side of Dragonstone to the sea below.
Rhaena then made her way into the chapel, the scent of salt and seaweed near overpowering but the cold night breeze was slowly drawing it away. The lingering presence of the Merling Court member left a feeling of anticipation within her breast.
She went to the great carved clam shell before the marble form of the Merling King with his flowing beard and fish-tail. She knelt, aquamarine satin billowing around her. Taking a deep breath of the salty air she slowly, gently, laid a pearl necklace within the clam. The gold, silver and bronze coins already offered clinked softly against the necklace.
The necklace was a gift to her upon the moment of her birth, from her grandfather the Sea Snake. There were twenty pearls, running in a rainbow shimmer of colour- traditional white, gold, and twin yellows, dusky purple and pink, deep dark blue and green, a rich deep brown like polished oak and two black pearls as dark as night. The black pearls bracketed a dragon's breath fire opal. The gemstone was a large oval, as large as a chicken's egg, purple and pinks with blue shimmers.
The necklaces were from Yi Yi and the opals remnants of Old Valyria, and even by Corlys's standards they were lavish, rich. If Rhaena sold the necklace, she could retire a wealthy woman for the rest of her days. Baela had a similar gift bestowed upon her.
The necklaces were so expensive they were only for special occasions, much like the Mother Pearl. Rhaena had not thought to wear it until Queen Rhaenyra's coronation at King's Landing and then at her wedding, and Baela's.
Now however she gave the necklace to the great clam, fingers digging into the shell's carved surface as her eyes shut in prayer.
For Rhaena knew the egg lashed to her hip would not help her, help her family. It would take years to grow, even if she felt certain it would soon hatch.
But a baby dragon would be no help in their war, not against the likes of Vhagar. Meleys was injured, no longer able to guard the blockage as she healed from Rook's Rest just as Rhaenys was recovering. Syrax, Vermax and Moondancer had never seen battle. Stormcloud had not been ridden still yet so small and she, Joffrey and Tyraxes were to be sent to the Eyrie, away from their family. Just as Aegon and Viserys were soon to be sent to Pentos. All Rhaena could do was worry and fret.
But she didn't want that. She didn't want to do nothing. She wanted to help.
So now Rhaena prayed, one hand resting upon the lip of the shell while the other rested upon the heated scaled surface of the egg. She prayed for strength, for willpower, for determination. Her eyes squeezed shut as she prayed, thinking of how Rhaenys, Daemon, Rhaenyra, Laena- none of them had hatched an egg. Instead they had bonded to grown dragons, ones that had not laid in the crib with them. Had gone and bound themselves to fully grown beasts regardless of the potential consequences.
She prayed to her mother, to give her strength. To fill her veins with salt and fire, so she may do what she must. She prayed to the sea, to all those who were watching this dire war. She prayed to the Moon-Pale Maiden to give her wisdom and fortitude. She prayed to the Merling King, to look upon her with favour and grant her the ability to fight at the side of her betrothed.
She prayed to the Old Valyrian god Arrax, whose namesake had been killed at Storm's End. He who encouraged change, revolution, who represented energy, and ambition. Wild and ferocious, faithful would pray to him during earthquakes and floods. She prayed for him to look upon her, to guide her forth so she may aid her family in avenging the dragon named for him. In repaying the insult of Arrax's death with fire and blood, to sear her bones thick with his rage and revolt against the Hightower usurpers.
Rhaena was the daughter of Daemon Targaryen, Prince Consort to the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and Rogue Prince who rode Caraxes the Blood Wyrm. Rhaena was the daughter of Lady Laena, Handmaiden of the Merling Court and had been bonded to Vhagar, Queen Visenya's mount. Granddaughter of the Queen Who Never Was who rode Meleys the Red Queen and the Sea Snake, Lord of the Tides. Rhaena was the future Lady of Driftmark, the future wife of Prince Lucerys Velaryon, the Undying.
She had no desire to cower and hide within the Vale while her family would fight and die. She knew Baela and Daemon would die rather than ever accept Aegon as king, they would never surrender and she knew the Greens would kill them all in an instant. They would kill Rhaenyra, kill Jacaerys, Joffrey, Rhaenys, would kill her little brothers- the Greens would cut all their throats and laugh, they sent assassins to murder their queen in her sleep so Rhaena knew there was nothing above them. She prayed to any and all who were listening. She would prove herself worthy of her place at the Undying's side and she prayed for any who was listening to guide her down her path.
Rhaena found herself choking, swallowing down a mouthful of seawater as her eyes snapped open. Her back ached, her skin was cold, the sky outside holding the barest suggestion of dawn- how long had she been in prayer?
Then she looked down and froze, for the pearl laden necklace with its dragon's breath gemstone was gone. As were all the other offerings within the room, leaving the altars bare while the egg beneath her fingertips now felt cold as ice.
And for a brief instant Rhaena felt the gentle press of hands upon her shoulders, the brush of salt-encrusted lips against her ear as the spicy citrus scent of perfume filled her nose. She thought she saw a long whip-like tail, finned like a great fish and all the colours of a rainbow as if carved from polished ammolite briefly curl about her. Then just as quickly the sensations and vision vanished, leaving Rhaena alone with her limbs feeling as if they were burning while a tear trickled down her cheek.
Brushing it aside, Rhaena got to her feet even as she heard a distant, unmistakable roar out beyond the window despite the lonely hour.
And so without hesitation Rhaena turned and left the chapel, heading out beyond the castle to go and claim her dragon.
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