Chapter Text
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124 AC -
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LAENOR III
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The day is hot and the sky is clear in the docks of Driftmark, where all kinds of men are working in ships, either reparing and stocking supplies in ships that anchored there or building new ones from scratch.
As the heir of the legenday Sea Snake, Laenor spended a big part of his life with his father on those docks. Observing his work and all the different kinds of ships that came and left into their ancestral island.
However, when he seized to be a amused boy, Laenor had to learn the tough work of the able minds that plan the ships that sail the seas of the world.
At first, all the papers with detailed drawings and extensive calculations were overwhelming, but, in time, he found out that it was just a matter of time for him to understand them.
His father always say that a Velaryon is tied to the sea like a babe is to it's mother. And Laenor understood that.
Right now, the prince consort is standing in the sands of the dock, protected from the sun by a open tent.
Laenor frowns as his fingers move across the plans and drawings for the new ships. His eyes are looking at every inch of information that is there.
Nodding to himself, Laenor looks up and his eyes met his older cousin, Ser Vaemond Velaryon, standing with his arms crossed and wearing a light armor of lether above his greenish blue clothes that bear the white seahorse of House Velaryon in it's chest.
The prince consort never liked Vaemond. He always was blunt and selfish in his eyes. A man that looks to the older branch of his own family with eyes of envy.
Yet, his father wants to have faith ins his kin and Vaemond is skilled enough to be in the high position that he is in Driftmark.
Laenor takes the plans in his hands and looks at Vaemond.
"Everything looks good to me, but do we have enough resources to progress with them? My father was complaining about it last week." The prince consort asks, curious. Vaemond nods, frowning a bit.
"It has been tough to gather wood since the Claw started rising their prices recently. Especially Lord Hardy. We had to buy wood from Bywater and we are thinking about buying wood from Pentos as well. Fortunately, our plans were not delayed." The older Velaryon explains with a grunt by the end. Laenor frowns as he leaves the plans on the table.
"That will certainly delay our works on the long run. I will fly to Cracklaw Point tomorrow. Lord Hardy needs some pressure to understand our situation. We can't make longer travels and negotiations with new suppliers. Especially with Essos. Not when the tensions on the Stepstones are still there." The heir of Driftmark proclaims in a confident tone, fixing his posture and stretching his body slightly. Vaemond smirks.
"Life can be much easier when you ride a flying beast of destruction, right?" The man asks in a jokeful way. Laenor snorts.
"Yes, but it doesn't solve all of our problems, Ser. Out of war, burning castles do no good. King Viserys and the rest of the realm would reject my actions and look at me as a threat. A rising tyrant like Maegor the Cruel. Seasmoke is just a reminder of my place at the top of the hierarchy of the realm. Nothing else." The prince consort explains in a direct manner. Vaemond snorts, but remains in silence.
Laenor takes his sword from the table and puts it into the sheath before looking again at his cousin.
"I am going back to High Tide for a few hours. You can handle things here on your own until then, right?" The prince consort asks. Vaemond frowns at him, doubtful.
"It is still morning. Why are you going back to the castle?" The knight asks. Laenor sighs.
"I just want to see my father. He didn't woke up by the time i left and i am worried. If the worst scenario happens while i am so close and yet so far away, i would not forgive myself." The heir of Driftmark proclaims. Vaemond snorts.
"Don't be so sentimental, boy. Your father is a very old man that lived a long and fulfilling life. Being that much worried about his death is foolish." The older Velaryon proclaims, provocative. Laenor frowns to him and slowly nods.
"You just don't understand how important he is, Vaemond. Regardless, are you up to the task or not?" The consort asks, getting a bit impatient. Vaemond frowns at him with slight irritation at his first phrase, but grunts with his question.
"Of course. I am always the one that has to do the dirty work, after all. Go see your father, my cousin. You never know how long he can last." The knight says with a short smirk at the end before leaving the open tent in another direction.
Laenor sighs. Vaemond is always irritating go argue with. Even when Laenor understands his frustrations, the knight's pride always feed his bitterness to the main branch of their family.
The prince consort moves away from the tent, observing all the men carrying wood around and being guided by the commanding voices of their superiors.
He walks to his horse and takes his time to get on top of it. With a quick touch of his boots on the horse, it starts to move in a slow pace to avoid hittinh anything in it's path through the docks.
And then, when they get into a higher point, Laenor pulls the reins to stop his ride and looks at the coast of Driftmark, admiring the sea and it's smooth waves.
Looking at the sea is always comforting to him. After all, he is a Velaryon. The rest of the world might fall into ruins, but the sea will always be here.
Taking a deep breath filled with the familiar smell of the sea, Laenor guides his horse torwards High Tide.
As the animal moves through the path of white stones, Laenor remains in absolute silence. In his mind, however, he is worried about his father.
Time has been cruel for the old Sea Snake. As the years passed, he slowly started to lose his vigor. The legendary man that traveled further than anyone became a sad shadow of what he once was.
Right now, Corlys Velaryon spends a lot of his time in bed to deal with the constant pains in his back and knees caused by his restless life.
Laenor knew that he should expect this sort of situation. It is only nature doing it's thing, after all.
However, it doesn't make the situation easier at all.
The Sea Snake is the greatest Velaryon that ever lived. A legacy that weighs heavily on Laenor's shoulders.
The prince consort did his best to live through the expectations of his father as a capable man, but everything that he achieved until now just aren't enough to compare.
Laenor sighs, looking at the sky as he slowly relaxes his shoulders.
He knows that he will never be his father, but he also knows that his father is not ashamed of the man he became.
In the end, Laenor knows that his worries about his father's expectations are not everything.
Deep inside, he is just a boy scared of losing the father that was the solid pillar of his life since he was born.
The fear of change.
Laenor can only pray that he can take his place and be the new pillar that his family will need.
For his wife. For his children. For his mother.
With his toughts settled, Laenor looks to the white castle of High Tide at the end of the road.
---
After a short travel on horseback and by his own feet, Laenor stands in front of the wooden doors of his father's bedroom, a bit hesitant.
Taking a deep breath, the prince consort knocks on the door.
"Enter." The rispid voice of his father emerges from the insides of the bedroom.
Laenor sighs, relieved that today isn't the day. He opens the door with a short smile and is received by the sunlight that barely passes the curtains of the old room.
Moving his eyes to the bed, Laenor sees his father sitting in the middle of the bed with his back on the wood structure behind it.
However, Laenor's smile fades away when he notices his expression and where he is looking at.
A distant expression of a person drowned in toughts, gazing at the emptiness of the wall on the other side of the bedroom.
The pure expression of a lost person.
Slowly closing the door, Laenor stands in front of his father's bed with a serious posture and a frown.
"Good morning, father. Did you wake up well today?" The prince consort asks in his typical soft tone. The eyes of his father moves to him and he clearly relaxes a bit, blinking as he brings himself back to reality. The old man sighs.
"I feel a bit better, my son. But, i will feel much better once you tell me about what is happening in the docks this morning. I hate to be the last person to learn about things." The Lord of the Tides proclaims, smirking a bit. Laenor holds his laugh and nods.
Laenor seats in the bed and tells his father about the projects of the new ships, the recent hardships and how Vaemond is in charge of things right now.
At the end, Corlys nods with a mixed expression before he frowns to his son.
"Anything important in today's letters?"
"We received a letter from one of our informants saying that Aegon and Helaena were in their way to White Harbor. By now, they certainly arrived already." The prince consort declares. Corlys nods once more, scratching his beard slightly as he frowns.
"We will see the result very soon, then. We can use it in our favor in a way." The Sea Snake proclaims. Laenor frowns to his father, curious.
"What do you mean, father?"
"If we can learn about Aegon and Helaena's interactions with the great houses, we can find the ones that are under our reach for alliances. We just need a good ear on the Red Keep. And that is the tough part. Otto Hightower has the court in his hands..." The Sea Snake proclaims before grunting as he stretches his body a bit. Laenor extends his hands to help his father, but Corlys rises a hand. Laenor frowns to him, deciding to change the matter.
"Do you think that we have good prospects for allies, father?" The prince consort asks. Corlys frowns, toughtful.
"I am not sure yet, but whe the day comes, we will not be alone. We need to be prepared, my son. Both sides will shed blood and tears for their own survival and victory. Unfortunately, any chance of a easier was butchered along with the boy's eye." The Sea Snake says in a distant tone.
Laenor sighs and frowns to himself, looking away from his father.
He will carry that guilty for the rest of his life.
And then, the prince consort feels his father's hand on his shoulder. Laenor looks at the firm eyes of the older Velaryon.
Weakened or not, the Sea Snake can read him like a book.
"We don't have time to waste with the past, my son. We will need everything that we can gather. Every support and every measure of safety." The Lord of the Tides proclaims with a firm tone. Laenor sighs, but nods.
But, the silence emerges. Looking at his father, Laenor frowns at his hesitant gaze.
He never saw his father being hesitant. It can't be a good thing.
"Father?" The heir asks, worried. Corlys sighs and holds Laenor's shoulder more firmly.
"I kept a secret, my son. And in this daring times, i must reveal it to my family. I told your mother first. She deserved the truth more than anyone, but now it is your turn." The Lord of the Tide proclaims in a slow tone. Laenor feels uncomfortable, but holds keeps his eyes on his father, waiting for a answer.
Corlys Velaryons move his hand away from Laenor and rests his head against the wall. He looks at the sea through the large window of his bedroom.
"After you were born, your mother started to get less interested in our intimate life with all her worries as a mother and her resentment with her grandfather. Soon, our bed became just the place where she sleeps and i was left with my own frustrations." The Lord of Driftmark starts to explain. Laenor can see where he is going to.
"So, you started to sleep around in brothels to deal with your urges?" The prince consort asks in a composed tone. Corlys snorts.
"It was not that easy, boy. Your mother is a very proud woman and a very loyal partner. She sacrificed a crown to marry me, so i had to do my best to work things out. I resisted my urges for years. Cherished my few nights of love with her as a rare treasure and tried to sail my boat through the raging sea of luet. But, even the strongest of boats will sink one day." The Sea Snake explains, ending the last phrase with a bitter tone. Laenor slowly nods.
"I can't judge you, father. You know that very well." The heir declares in a sour tone. His intimate life speaks for itself. Corlys grunts, frowning to his son.
"You didn't betray your heart, Laenor. I did." The Sea Snake proclaims in a bitter tone. Laenor is intrigued.
"What do you mean?"
Corlys takes a deep breath, but firms his gaze on his son.
"While visitting Hull, i met a woman named Marilda. A daughter of a shipwright that was pretty, smart, and a lover of the seas like myself. She remembered of Rhaenys when she was younger. Marilda had the same bold attitude and fiery temper. Before i knew it, i was making excuses to visit Hull more frequently, just so i coule expend more of my time with the sweet woman that caught my attention. It didn't take long before she caught much more than just my attention." The Lord of the Tides declares with a rispid voice.
Laenor sighs, swallowing the new informations. And then, he frowns to his father.
"You loved that woman at some point, father?" The consort asks. Corlys frowns to his son.
"Marilda was the solution to my struggle. A similar woman thar would still give me what i wanted, whenever i wanted. I missed that lust. I missed that gaze of desire. However, as much as i cared for her, she wasn't my Rhaenys." The Lord of Driftmark proclaims in a honest tone. Laenor nods, feeling a bit relieved.
"How long did it last?" The prince asks, curious. Corlys frowns, thinking a bit.
"It met her eleven years ago and it lasted for about three years. It came to a end because i had a discussion with Rhaenys and she decided to make more efforts for my own good, even if she wasn't very interested." The Lord of Driftmark says before sighing. "She always was so devouted to our family and i spat on it. So, feeling guilty, i decided to stop visiting Marilda with second intentions." He explains. Laenor frowns at his last sentence, confused.
"You kept visiting her? Why?" The prince consort asks. Corlys sighs once more, but his eyes stay firmly on Laenor's.
"I wasn't visiting because of her. I was visiting the boys." The Lord of the Tides proclaims in a dry tone. Laenor's eyes get wide.
It all makes sense now.
He closes his mouth and sighs before looking at his father with a serious stare.
"How many?"
"Only two boys. One is ten and the other is nine. I visit them from time to time with some gold and tell some of my stories. They are good boys." The Sea Snake says, holding a smile. Laenor slowly nods.
Two brothers. He has two brothers that he never got to meet.
The heir of Driftmark sighs and strokes his forehead with frustration.
"If you truly regret your actions, you should have told us." The prince consort proclaims in a dry tone. Corlys snorts.
"Men are proud creatures." The Sea Snake declares, not elaborating more. Laenor sighs.
"So, what made the Sea Snake swallow his pride to reveal that to his family?"
Staring at his father's eyes, Laenor can see his serious expression. The tough eyes of a old sailor.
"The war that is coming will be cruel, Laenor. Your boys are dragonriders, so they have targets in their backs. I need a emergency plan. So, i want to keep the boys around as Velaryon bastards and ask Rhaenyra to legitimize them in case that something happens to the boys." The Sea Snake explains. Laenor frowns, thinking about the information for a few seconds.
"Now i understand your bad mood." The prince consort says, getting up from the bed and staring at his father. "Mother must be feeling humiliated." The prince consort proclaims with a bitter tone. Corlys sighs.
"You can call me whatever you want, Laenor. I won't run away from the truth." The Sea Snake proclaims in a dry tone. Laenor can't hold the sarcastic smile emerging in the corner of his mouth.
"You never did. I know that. However, i can't be your executioner here. I did much worse to our family." The heir proclaims in a bitter tone. Corlys snorts.
"But you didn't betray the trust of the person you love." The Sea Snake says in a melancholic voice. Laenor frowns.
"What happened to mother?" The prince consort asks, worried. Corlys grunts, stroking his face with a hand.
"She screamed and cried despite my efforts to calm her down. It shattered me and i had no strength or will to stop her from leaving. She is probably in the High Hall right now. Thankfully, i dismissed the servants beforehand or otherwise half of the realm would know about it by now." The Sea Snake proclaims in a low voice. Laenor nods.
"Anything else?"
Corlys is seemly hesitant, but he nods.
"I never revealed to the boys that i am their father. For them, i was just the nice Lord that came to visit. So, i was thinking that it would be more interesting for you to take them as yours. It would help against the... rumors." The Lord offers, stretching the last word. Larnor frowns, however.
"While your reasoning makes some sense, i can't do that to my mother. It would only be worse for her. I did what i did to protect Rhaenyra, but now it is not about protection and you know that. Be honest, and i am sure that mother will forgive you soon." The prince consort proclaims, confident.
His father relaxes in his bed, smiling at Laenor with melancholy.
"You became a great man, Laenor. I am proud to call you my son." The Sea Snake proclaims, his voice filled with honesty.
Laenor smiles a bit, feeling a comforting sensation in his chest.
"I am grateful, father. Now, i need to find mother. I will let you rest." The prince consort declares before turning around and walking to the door.
"Laenor."
The heir stops walking, but don't turn around.
"Take care of your mother. She is the only treasure that matters to me." The Sea Snake proclaims in a rare emotional tone. Laenor smiles a bit with that.
"I will." The prince consort says before leaving the bedroom.
---
Laenor takes a deep breath as he stands in front of the door of the High Hall of High Tide. Alone.
He can only assume that his mother dismissed ther servants here as well. Good.
Passing through the heavy door, Laenor sees the person that he was searching for.
His mother was there, wearing a grey dress. Her tied hair is a bit messy, but she looks composed as she stares to the Driftwood throne.
Laenor walks torwards her. His steps echoes through the large room, but his Rhaenys remains in place.
"Mother?" The prince asks in a soft tone.
Slowly, his mother turn around with her body shaking a bit.
Laenor saw his mother crying for the first time when Laena died.
Now, it is the second time.
Her face is covered by dry tears and the lilac in her eyes is almost mixed with the red of the rest of her eye.
What bothers him, however, is the sarcastic and sad smirk that she sends to him.
"Of course that your father would send you here. That coward can't deal with his own mistakes anymore!" The Queen Who Never Was says, screaming the last phrase as more tears roll down her face. Laenor sighs.
"I didn't come here for him, muna. I came here for you." The prince consort says with a affectionate tone.
The stare of Rhaenys get a bit softer as her lips trembles, but then she frowns and turn around.
"If you cam here to make me accept it with a smile, you are wasting your time, Laenor." The eldest Targaryen alive proclaims, seating in the Driftwood throne as she looks at her son with a resentful gaze. However, Laenor still steps forward.
"I am not here to convince you of anything. I just want to hear your frustrations so i can help." The son declares, getting closer.
Rhaenys frowns as Laenor stands a few feet alway from her. She sighs. Her expression goes from anger to sadness.
"When i first met him, i knew that he was different. A man that stood out from the others just by the sheer confidence in his posture. He was good with words as well. I could listen to his voice for hours. We met more times and soon i understood that the Sea Snake stole my heart. And since then, i have never questioned the decision that i took that day. Until today." The princess declares with a bitter tone by the end as she wipes the tears from her face. Laenor remains in silence, listening carefully.
"We had our first night together after the wedding. It was a bad experience for me, no matter how he tried. At the time, he said that i would get used to it soon and i believed. Yet, it never happened." The princess declares with a dry voice, frowning to the ground to avoid looking at her son now.
Laenor is surprised. Very surprised.
"I saw you and father kissing a lot of times in the past. I would never imagine a situation like that." The prince consort says, being honest. Rhaenys sighs.
"I always had affection for Corlys. It only becomes a problem when things went down. Yet, i had my duties and i accomplished them. Your birth was the moment i gave him the son he wanted. It was the end of my duty. I was relieved that i could be true to myself once more." The Targaryen woman says frowning once more as she moves her lilac eyes torwards her son.
Laenor says nothing.
"Yet, your father was never satisfied. He wanted more nights with me. He wanted more children. His desires and ambitions always had no end, but i just couldn't handle it for long. Bit by bit, our nights ended and he stopped asking. I tought that things were solved, but now i find out that the man i love found a substitute to me when i couldn't give what he wanted. Do you understand, Laenor? He treated me like a toy!" The mother proclaims, getting up from the throne and looking down at Laenor as the only thing between them is a few steps of pale stairs.
Laenor slowly nods, keeping his calm expression as he steps into the stairs.
"He comitted a mistake, but you are not a toy to him, muna. You know that." The prince consort says in a gentle manner. Rhaenys grunts.
"A mistake?! That bastard snake eloped with a common whore in Hull because he couldn't get a wet cunt around his cock! After all the sacrifices that i made for him and all the unpleasant nights together, that is what i get!" The Queen Who Never Was screams before seating once again, gazing at her son with a sad stare. Laenor takes a deep breath and takes another step.
"You say that i am not a toy for him, but i am not so sure anymore. Maybe i was just a failed attempt to get his blood on the throne." The Lady of Driftmark says, tears running down her face as she looks at her hands, firmly holding her dress to deal with her frustrations.
Laenor takes another step, but says nothing as his mother stares at him once more.
"What hurts me the most is not him sleeping around or making bastards. What hurts me the most is the way he talked about her and her children. The affection. The longing in his eyes. The smile that he had when talking about the boys. The boys that he will bring to our family. Living reminders of the woman that stole my place." The mother declares with a bitter tone before she covers her face as she cries, refusing to let Laenor see her in such a state.
Laenor walks to his mother on the throne and gently moves her hand away to look at her tearful eyes once again as he holds her hand with care.
"She didn't steal your place and never will. My father said one thing to me before i left his room. He told me to take care of you, because you are the only treasure that matters to him." The prince consort declares with a confident low voice. Rhaenys smirks as she sniffs, moving her eyes from him.
"He always says that..." The Queen Who Never Was proclaims in a distant tone. Laenor smiles.
"He saw you on that woman. He wanted to live a good memory of you. A illusion that he left once he realised that there is only one of you." The prince consort says in a devoted tone. Rhaenys look at him with a skeptic gaze.
And then, she laughs. A bitter laugh with no trace of happiness. A smile that disappeared soon after as she gets up and frowns to Laenor.
"We will see about that." She says in a unsure tone, clearly filled with mixed emotions. Laenor nods, smiling a bit.
"That is all is ask for." The prince consort says before opening his arms.
Rhaenys smirks.
"You and your hugs. Not everything can be solved with one, you know?" The Queen Who Never Was asks in a ironic way. Laenor smiles more brightly.
"Is that a no?" The heir of Driftmark asks. Rhaenys snorts and hugs him.
Her arms are slender, but her grip is tight. Almost desperate. She lays her head on his shoulder in a short silence while Laenor slowly caresses her back.
"Laenor..."
Her whisper is smooth, but still dad.
"What, muna?"
"Promise me that i won't be here for your funeral."
Her voice is serious, but filled with a trembling of desperation.
Laenor holds his mother tightly, moving his lips to her ear.
"You won't. I promise."
His mother remains in silence, but Laenor feels her tension vanishing a bit.
That is all that matters.
---
Letting out a tired sigh, Laenor enters his bedroom and finds a interesting view.
Rhaenyra seating in the bed, reading letters. And when he enters and closes the door, she turns to him with a smile. He smiles back.
"Reading letters, Rhae? That is not something that i ever saw you doing during the afternoon." The heir of Driftmark proclaims, looking at the open window where the sun shines through. Rhaenhyra laughs a bit.
"I was getting tired tonight after putting Aegon to sleep, so i still had work to do today. I tought that i could use a change of schedule and i actually like it that way. It is way more fascinating to read under the sunlight, with singing birds flying by the window and eyes that are still working well." She explains with a sarcastic tone by the end. Laenor laughs and seats by her side in the bed.
"Lovely. So, anything interesting to share?" The prince consort asks, curious. Rhaenyra frowns, moving some of the letters in her lap.
"Let me see... oh! Lord Tully sent a letter of congratulations for Aegon's nameday, but apologises that he can't visit Dragonstone right now because of his recent decline in health. But, Ser Elmo will be here." The princess explains. Laenor nods.
"That is not bad. Lord Tully is quite old, so getting close to his heir is already good enough for us. The twins will certainly be happy to see their father again." The heir of Driftmark wander. Rhaenyra nods and then moves all the letters to a nearby table on her reach
After yawning and stretching her body, Rhaenyra rests her head on Laenor shoulders, holding his arm in a affectionate way.
Laenor smiles, holding her soft hand as he rests his head on top of hers.
Peaceful moments like this is what makes everything worth it.
"Aegon is growing fast. Too fast, i have to say. It seems that soon another little bird is going to take flight and leave the nest of his mother." The Princess of Dragonstone declares in a melancholic tone. Laenor slowly nods, moving his arm from her hand to lay it around her shoulders, hugging her.
"That day will not come soon, Rhae. Joffrey didn't even fly with Tyraxes yet, much less Aegon. You still have several years to enjoy their innocent years." The husband declares in a reassuring way. Rhaenyra smiles a bit.
"You are probably right. I am just too scared with the idea, i guess." The princess says. Laenor smirks to her.
"Don't worry. After they grew up, you might have grandchildren to spoil not soon after." The prince consort declare. Rhaenyra sighs.
"Now i am scared of aging. Thanks, dear."
They both laugh and remain in their embrace until Rhaenyra takes the bold move.
"Did you talk to your mother about the situation of your father?" The princess asks, getting into a serious tone. Laenor frowns and then nods.
"I did. She will try to work things out, but it hurts her trust in my father." The Velaryon explains. Rhaenyra nods.
"I see. Well, i understand why Corlys wants to do that, but i find his lack of faith in our sons disturbing. It is like he is seeing them as expendable weaponry and nothing else. That disgusts me." The princess declares, bothered. Laenor frowns.
"I think that he is just being paranoid. Well, i think that we will have to wait and see how they behave. They have the same age as Jace and Luke, so i think that they might become friends if everything goes well." The prince consort declares. Rhaenyra sighs.
"We can only hope for the best. The Tully twins went well. Despite the chilidsh rivalry of Jace and Kermit, of course." The princess says. Laenor laughs.
"It is not childish. Adults do the same thing. They just get more refined at doing that." The prince consort mocks. Rhaenyra holds a laugh.
"Maybe you are right." The wife declares before her husband take the word.
"Anything about Aegon and Helaena?"
Rhaenyra frowns.
"Nothing. Anything happened?" The princess asks, curious. Laenor sighs and denies with his head.
"No. That is the problem. We lack reliable information about how their travels are going." The son of the Sea Snake explains. Rhaenyra frowns as she thinks.
"What about Lord Lyman Beesbury? He is part of the small council since the time of the Old King and he always was very respectful and humble to me. The last time i talked to him, he was even suspecting of the suddenly mild interactiond of the Hand and my uncle. I think that he will be more than happy to share some information about what is being discussed there. We just need to be discreet about it. Maybe we could visit King's Landing before Aegon and Helaena arrives." The princess offers. Laenor smiles.
"I am impressed. You improved a lot in diplomacy." The prince consort says, half impressed and half joking. Rhaenyra frowns, crossing her arms.
"Laenor Velaryon, are you trying to say that i was bad at diplomacy before?" The princess asks in a dry tone. Laenor laughs.
"I am just joking, Rhae. But i like how you keep improving. I am proud of you." The prince consort declares, taking her hand on his own. She smiles to him.
"Thank you, dear." the princess says in a gentle voice and a bright smile.
However, Laenor's eyes moves through the most beautiful face and the most gorgeous body in Westeros. A sad smile emerges in his face.
"I wish i could be the husband that you deserve, Rhae. Life would be much easier for all of us in every way." The prince consort declares in a low voice. Rhaenyra frowns to him.
"Don't say that, Laenor. You have your flaws and i have mine, but i have nothing to complain. You are exceptional husband and father and i am more than happy to have you by my side until the bitter end." The princess says in a serious tone that becomes a smile as she hugs him tightly. Laenor smirks, feeling the warmth in his chest as he stares in her affectionate eyes.
"Until the bitter end... you certainly like those words." The prince consort declares. Rhaenyra smiles with melancholy.
"I believe that all deaths are a bitter end. However, i choose to live the sweetest live that i can achieve, even if the gods don't want to give me one. So, are you going to go through the sweetness and bitterness of life with me or not?" The princess asks in a soft voice, her smile returning to normal as she gets her head closer to his head.
Returning to what it should be.
A sign of happiness.
"Always." Laenor says with all his soul.
They laugh together as their foreheads touch and their hands are tied to each other.
Laenor could spend the rest of the day looking at Rhaenyra's eyes.
And then, three words come out of her mouth as a sweet whisper.
"I love you."
Love is difficult to understand. Some people can't distinguish love from desire or they can't imagine love without desire.
But, Laenor learned the truth.
Love is not desire.
Love is much more than that.
Looking at the lovely eyes of his wife, the truth is undeniable.
He would die for that woman.
And she would die for him.
Four words that bear such a powerful meaning, but that escapes from his mouth in a whisper with no effort.
"I love you too."
Rhaenyra smiles to him and the two of them remain there in a sweet embrace, enjoying the peace that they still have.
Until the bitter end.
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