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-Day 1 Afternoon, Mid 120 AC -
Urrigon nearly spent his whole day with his siblings but when morning began to end, approaching the afternoon, he was forced to leave them.
He already missed his morning prayers because of Daeron and his grandsire.
Sure, the first day could be excused.
It was after all, Daeron's first time on a ship.
It did not help that his grandsire had important information to share.
Every morning on that rotten ship became more and more occupied with his grandsire "reeducating" him on how to behave like a prince of his station.
Or when he had to convince his brother that no Kraken would eat him up or he that wouldn't fall off the ship, Urrigon could not keep up with his morning prayers.
Let alone his readings!
'It is a good thing mother passed by, she could not stand the mess they made of the room', thought Urrigon , ' It is a shame she blamed Aegon for it , she must have heard of his galvanizing before we arrived'.
So Urrigon walked Driftmark halls , they were not the same standard of the Red Keep and had symbols and sigils of House Velaryon. That did not mean the Driftmark was not up to standard.
Nay, it was the opposite.
Its Lord had spent his wealth well. Painting and statues covered with imagery from lands afar and made of materials from every corner of the known world surrounded him.
Exotic tapestry nearly overwhelming his senses.
Though the castle of High Tide was Lord Corly's official seat, Velaryon funerals were held at their ancestral home Driftmark.
'Mother might have been right about his ambition'.
Urrigon had a servant lead him through them all, passing through them and leading him to the castle's sept.
Once they had arrived, he gave the servant his thanks and opened the door himself.
Despite the eagerness of the servant to serve him longer, Urrigon dismissed the girl.
The sept wasn't as grand as the one back home, rather it had the bare minimum.
That is not to say that the Sea Snake had left it poorly furnished, rather that there was nothing of note.
It was a standard room and all its furnishings were up to par and of good quality.
Four rows of benches on each side of the room, all were facing the statue of the seven.
The room had leaded windows on the side that gave sight to the seas of Blackwater bay and the surrounding ocean.
It smelled of sea-salt and stone.
As Urrigon walked towards the benches on the right, he went towards the closest to the statue of the seven to sit down but stopped.
There in the front were two occupants, Ser Laenor and a girl.
Both had their heads down and seemed to be in deep praying so Urrigon chose not to disturb them and walked to the front bench on the left side.
Placing himself in the middle of it.
He bowed his head and clasped his hands together, beginning his own prayer.
'Holy and righteous Seven, please hear my aid.
To the Father, what other Judgement must I face to protect those I love?
To the Mother, have mercy on my soul and protect me from my dreams.
To the Warrior, I thank you for the strength you have blessed me, for I will have to use it again.
To the Smith, mend my mother and families' wounded hearts so that we may be whole again.
To the Maiden, let my sister Rhaenyra confess her folly and sin and may Helena never need to.
To the Crone, give guidance to my dreams, illuminate your lamp so I may see the truth of them.
And to the Stranger….'
Urrigon stopped and felt his hands begin to shake slightly.
The image of Harwin's headless skull drove his mind to the beast that spoke through him. That used his face but had a voice of evil.
The image of Rhaenyra and his nephews crying faces.
He tightened his hands together, forcing all tremblings to stop.
'Lend me your face for they are many who shall meet my gaze' , his prayers gave him clarity him.
Urrigon went to repeat the prayer but he felt a presence beside him, both sides.
He lifted his head and saw who was next to him.
On the right sat Ser Laenor, his usual combed silver white hair was disheveled, his pale iliac eyes were red from crying and he wore a black cloak, which covered his blue clothing underneath.
His eyes were filled with sorrow.
"Urrigon…I should have known you would come here", said Laenor with a sad smile, "It seems the Mother above has granted me a small mercy".
"Ser Laenor I–", said Urrigon but the mourning man put a hand on his shoulder.
"Please Urig…call me Laenor, what use are titles between family?", he said with a sad smile.
The Velaryon man continued to stare at Urrigon who began to feel like he was missing something, before he felt slight movement from his left.
"Ah Urig, forgive my manners. Do not be shy Rhaena, he will be with you for a long time", said Laenor.
The man stood up and the girl followed.
It would be bad manners for Urrigon not to, so he slowly raised himself as well.
Urrigon head slightly turned to face the girl, his amethyst and emerald eyes seeing her for the first time.
"Urrigon meet my sister's daughter Rhaena, she looks just like her and will grow to match her beauty."
Rhaena had fine features, her her silver white hair was a great mane of ringlets that fell down past her down to her lower back. She had amethyst eyes, which had the same dark shade as her father Daemon.
The same as Urrigon's…
Her eyes were similar to Laenor's, red with grief and she had melancholic expression.
She wore a light blue dress, her eyes refusing to meet his gaze and stared at her feet.
"And Rhaena meet your cousin and my favorite nephew, the red prince Urrigon",said Laenor looking between them both.
Neither spoke, the girl lost in her sadness.
But what boy will let a maiden make the first move?
Greetings, cousin, " Urrigon said gently, "I am pleased to meet you, though the hour be so cruel".
The girl did not respond.
"Rhaena…", said Laenor urging his niece to speak.
Rhaena finally raised her head looked directly at Urrigon and her face went red and her mouth started quivering.
"Pr-Pr-Prince Urrigon, I am plea—", the girl could barely make out a sentence before she began to cry.
Rheana tried to wipe the tears away with her hands but it proved to be futile, only making her cries louder.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry", said the girl in between cries.
Laenor moved to comfort the girl, hugging her.
Urrigon thought the man would soothe her and be a shoulder of comfort.
"Laena…I'm so sorry", said Laenor before he joined his niece's cries.
'What a mess', thought Urrigon, grandsire did not teach him how to deal with events such as this.
But the stories he read did.
Urrigon put a hand into his green robes, grabbing something beneath them.
"Lady Rhaena", he called out, it was soft and filled with youth but both Laenor and the girl heard it.
He walked towards them and Laenor let go of her, wanting to see what he would do.
Once he was in front of the girl, whose tears were still streaming down her face, he pulled out a handkerchief.
" Though I do not know her, I am sure your mother would not like to see her daughter in such a state", he said as he cupped her cheek and wiped her tears with the handkerchief, "She would not have wanted tears to spoil her daughter's beauty."
The girl's sobs faltered and and with her right hand she gentle grabbed Urrigon's, the one of her cheeks.
"T-thank you, cousin", said Rhaena, though tears still clung to her silver white lashes.
The prince retrieved his hand and slightly bowed his head, "Please Lady Rhaena, call me Urrigon".
Now holding the handkerchief, Rhaena nodded her head slowly.
They both stared at each other for a moment before both were suddenly pulled closer.
Laenor had wrapped each of his arms around both of them and pulled them into an embrace.
"Laena, if only you were alive!", cried out Laenor, holding Urrigon and Rhaena tighter as he wailed, "if only!"
Because of the abrupt embrace, both Urrigon and Rhaena face's were inches apart.
The sept being filled with Laenor's wails.
Urrigon knew he had the strength to break free, but he could not do that to a man and maid in mourning and in need of comfort.
So he stayed in the embrace and when he felt Rhaena slim arms wrapped around her uncle's and Urrigon's forms, he knew he could not leave.
The younger girl buried her face into Urrigon's chest and he felt it start to become damp. Laenor rested his chin on top of his head, arms still holding both.
'Just like Aegon I have no words to say..', thought Urrigon as he slowly moved his arms around Rhaena.
'So all I can do for now…'
He engulfed the girl in his arms, fully holding her with a hand behind her head. Rhaena froze for a moment before she too held him tighter.
'Is offer my body just this once…'
Maybe it was the atmosphere of the sept, or the sea-salt air which was tinged with grief.
It would give reason why these two clung to him and he too could offer comfort.
They stayed in that position, Urrigon did not know for how long.
It would have been longer if not for the sept door bursting open.
"Laenor!", said a man dressed in commoner's clothes, "I have been looking for you!"
The man held plain features, not even worth remembering. His face was filled with sweat and he held a desperate frame.
"Ser Qarl", said Laenor, his voice tired and resigned. He let go of both Urrigon and Rhaena and faced the man, "What business do you have here?"
"Laenor, what do you mean? It's me!", said Qarl, his face filled with unease, "I only seek to comfort you as a–"
"I have no need of comfort", said Sea Snake's heir, his voice now grew cold, "So leave if that is all".
Ser Qarl's plain eyes seemed to be filled with anguish, unable to understand. His eyes darted across the room before they landed on Urrigon.
Ser Qarl gave a ugly smile, "So that is it? Replacing me with a new toy", he said with clenched teeth.
Urrigon was about to object, he wanted no part in this before he felt Rhaena quickly grabbing his hand, her hands clammy and tight.
Her hand's shaking.
Laenor must have noticed her fear as well, for he marched to Ser Qarl. He looked ready to pounce on the man, grief turning to anger before Ser Qarl said something, too low for Urrigon to hear.
Laenor stopped and his shoulders sagged, his anger disappearing as soon as it came. He ran a hand through his silver-white hair before turning to Urrigon and Rhaena.
"I apologies Rhaena, I have some affairs to attend to, they seem to need my attention", said Laenor with a sigh, "Urrigon if you may, I would be in your debt if you escort her to her chambers".
Urrigon saw little reason to refuse, "Of course, Laenor".
Laenor gave a tired smile before leaving the sept, Ser Qarl in tow.
Before the man disappeared from his view, he turned to Urrigon, his face eyes filled with such anger and hatred until he was out of sight.
The sept now quite, with only the two children.
Rhaena let go of his hand, "I am sorry cousin", she said as he looked as if she was about to cry once more.
Urrigon snatched hers back, if he were Laenor or even Aegon, he would give the young girl a smile and reassure her.
But he was neither.
"My hand's are cold".
END CHAPTER---
Join my Patreon for extra chapters. Patreon name is Leruo_Kraai
Extra chapters available.
(Read Ahead & support me)