#ch21

[shysheeperz]

[i-might-be-a-simp]

Something about cale just casually kicking choi han's foot

[everyfrankenstein]

[phrear]

don't even email me if your fave pair not freaky like that

[osaragis-buzzsaw]

Yet another guy who's probably not relevant to the story at all.

[duck-era-lexi]

woah

[iamfina5]

The Kinslayer Couple

Summary: The ground falls out from beneath Valaena Velaryon’s feet within the span of a week. The week begins with the death of her grandsire, making her mother queen and her Princess of Dragonstone. It ends with the death of her brother Lucerys at the hands of her husband, Aemond Targaryen. From there, Valaena embarks on a perilous journey to win a war against her own kin, forced to discern who are friends and who are foes on both sides of the conflict.

Chapter Twenty-One: Hope

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135 A.C.

A ship arrives for Jacaerys and Aegon, just as Rhaenyra promised. There is space enough on it for Baela, as well, just as Rhaenyra promised, but despite her brothers’ fevered protests, she does not wish to take it.

Oddly enough, despite Jacaerys’s departure, Baela wishes to remain on Dragonstone. She likes it here, quite simply; she always has. It is close to Driftmark, where her grandmother, she very recently learned, has made her return. She looks forward to visiting Rhaenys, which would be unfeasible was she residing in King’s Landing, where, it is worth noting, she has never before lived.

Beyond her desire for comfort and familiarity, there is the rift between her and Jacaerys to consider. He denies its existence, but she is not so blind. When the war started and he returned from his trip north, she had not been able to bear the thought of parting from him. The longer the war has dragged on, however, she finds she needs time to herself, especially so long as she remains just herself. Before he boards the ship bound for the capital, she asks him again to wed her now on Dragonstone. Again, he refuses her, so she bid him leave without her.

She thinks also of her recently widowed sister, who she is loath to abandon now. As they stand in Dragonstone’s front hall, bidding farewell to Daemon, who intends to follow the boys’ path atop Caraxes, Valaena stares steadfastly at the floor. Her form is buried underneath a capacious, black dress. Her hair is held up by a bejeweled net. Her face is covered by an impassive mask, mottled with bruises that have turned from purple to yellow to green over the past week.

Baela’s eyes are forced away from Valaena as her father steps up to her. He brings her closer with a hand on her shoulder. It is his way of silently requesting a hug from one of his daughters, so she indulges him with a kiss to his cheek and a warm embrace. One last time, he asks her if she is certain she wishes to remain here, offering to fly her to King’s Landing on Caraxes if she likes. She stays firm in her decision, shaking her head.

Valaena’s jaw clenches as Daemon moves over to her. She resists his touch when it falls onto her shoulder, muttering a quiet but resolute valediction.

Evidently, this is insufficient. Keeping his grip on her, Daemon ducks in close. She stiffens. Even when so near, it is difficult for Baela to hear that which he whispers to Valaena. She catches some whisper of a regret, but the rest of what he says is too soft for her ears.

Despite his efforts, Valaena does not warm to him. Knowing when the battle is lost, he relents and leaves them both with one last word of parting. After he has gone, Caraxes’s sinuous body winding around the castle and Sheepstealer shoving off from the ground, Baela turns to Valaena. She thinks to suggest some activity that will cheer her, mayhaps a card game. However, Valaena strides from the hall already, marching in the direction of Sea Dragon Tower.

She does not see Valaena again until supper. The atmosphere is dismal and quiet as Valaena sullenly pushes food around her plate and occasionally takes a bite of bread. They had gone through the routine pleasantries at the start of the meal but fell silent after that.

Though it does not usually fall to her, Baela strives to liven the mood. “The roast chicken is excellent.”

Her eyes not moving from her plate, Valaena agrees, “Yes.” The affirmation is as good as a lie. She has not touched the fowl.

Unsatisfied, she tries again. “How did you spend the day?”

Valaena is silent for a long moment. Baela wonders if she has forgotten that they are in the midst of a conversation before she sighs loudly and answers, somewhat inopportunely, “The ledgers are in order, at last, and the villagers have all been accorded their share of grain for the coming winter.”

“This is most welcome news. They must be terribly pleased.” From Aemond’s brief reign over the isle, Baela recalls many a disgruntled commoner being led past her rooms to beg for bread and for trade to be restored. She recalls, too, all of them being led away disappointed.

Valaena sighs again. “Yes.” Listless, she takes another bite from her bap.

Baela refrains from sighing herself. Hoping to stir Valaena, she opts for a more exciting topic. “So, I’ve had a thought.” Valaena makes no response, but, fairly certain that she is still listening, Baela continues, “I intend to try for Vhagar.”

As expected, this rouses Valaena. Her head pops up, her gaze riveted to Baela. “What?”

Keep Reading

[en-qq]

tomari is just as much of a bastard as everyone else, i love her so much lmfao

[pardon-my-scifi]

Betten and Furuhashi are shameless.

[shysheeperz]

[arglebergle]

God will forgive many things for an act of mercy

-the betrothed, ch 21

[everyfrankenstein]

[cinamun]

Did something happen? | Next

[mighty-mepoe]

And get up again? What are you going to do? Get back to bed inmediatelly.

[osaragis-buzzsaw]

How could they possibly say no when they look so cool in the photo?

[syndrossi]

"It would not shock Otto to learn that the man counted every breathless sigh as he passed through the crowd." Oh my God, that line. Otto's POV chapter really was pure gold.

/randomly re-reading things and nobody can stop me

Otto's POV chapter probably remains the most fun that I've written. It's "I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids!" meets HOTD. He's so on edge! And misinterpreting half of what he sees, which is what makes it such a good time.

(And, I mean, I'm sure Daemon was taking a slight victory lap there, which we can excuse him for given the utter hell of the past two weeks. But he was still at least 50% fury and worry about the threats to his sons. I estimate he had only 10% capacity for counting those breathless sighs!)

Otto: Curse his stupidly handsome face! And his stupidly pretty sons who aren't daughters! And his inexplicable influence with Viserys that I have to wear down anew every time he returns!