The Heir of the Dragon: A Rhaenyra Targaryen Quest

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You realized there was only one thing you wanted to talk about with Laena right now. "So, I have to ask, what was your first flight with Vhagar like?"

Your father's tales of his time with the Black Dread where few and grim. He had claimed a dying beast that could barely fly anymore. Laenor's tales were similar to your own. He had claimed a young dragon and raised it until it was large enough to fly, though Seasmoke was slower growing and Laenor didn't fly until he was a few years older than you were during your first flight. Daemon's tale of his first flight of the Blood Wyrm were fine when you were young, but looking back it was so full of ego and self-importance. And it had been so long since Rhaenys told you of how she claimed her dragon you could barely remember it.

It had been so long since you last heard a new tale of one's first flight and you were deeply curious what it was like to fly a dragon as big as Vhagar.

"Terrifying," Laena said with a gleaming smile. "I was half exhausted from hours of searching when I finally found her, and it's not like she was gonna spare me from having to climb all the way up into her saddle. And while she let me get on without issue, before I could even get the chains on she took off, flying almost straight up. I wrapped the reins around my hands just to avoid being thrown off. I think she was testing me to see if I was worthy."

"Wow," you said with open amazement. "Don't think I've heard of any dragon doing that."

Bonding with a dragon tended to be a very distinct thing. Either the dragon accepted you and let you fly with them, or they reject you. In that case, the would be rider needed to start running very fast. You'd never heard of a dragon testing a rider after they had already climbed onto their back.

"Vhagar's an old dragon," Laena said with a half shrug. "One who knows exactly what she wants. And thankfully, what she wanted was me."

Laena's smile made it clear how pleased she was with herself. It would strike you as arrogance on anyone else, but just by claiming Visenya's dragon, Laena had more than earned the right to be a bit smug.

The friendly banter between the two of you seemed to calm down your dragons as both stopped their posturing and decided to lie down. Though you noticed Syrax made very sure to lay down close enough to you that her head was within arms reach.

"Speaking of our dragons, I've been meaning to ask," Laena went on. "Did you encounter any bandits during your tour? Wet Syrax's claws on any mountain clansmen?"

"No, nothing like that," your replied clearly disappointing Laena. "We had safe travels the entire time. The only violence I saw were in the Eyrie and on the tourney grounds."

"That caused quite the stir on Driftmark," Laena said playfully. "So many merchants were just utterly scandalized that the princess would dare do such things. Personally, I think it was amazing."

"Thank you," you nodded.

"Shame your dragon didn't get a chance to share in the fun." There was an undeniable air of disappointment in her voice as she looked at Syrax. "I'm in a similar situation. I have not gotten a chance to show Vhagar's strength against anything more threatening then a cow."

"It is a bit of a disappointment," you agreed as you stroked your dragon's head. "Syrax has grown a lot stronger recently, but our race is probably the first time we've gotten a chance to show off. Admittedly, I had no interest in going to fight in the Stepstones, not that anyone would have allowed me."

"I offered," Laena said dejectedly. "I told them Vhagar could lay waste to an entire island by herself. Mother insisted it would be a waste of time and a needless danger."

The Velayron girl shook her head in frustration.

"It's so unfair," she complained. "My mother was burning pirates alongside her father when she was not much older than you. And Vhagar is a lot bigger than Meleys. No pirate could so much as scratch her."

"My father would have probably screamed bloody murder had I even suggested joining my uncle's war," you noted. "He was furious enough as it was when he heard of my duel against the traitor. Even the tourney was too much danger in his opinion."

"And yet, you did it anyway," Laena pointed out with a broad smile. "You knew what you wanted and you claimed it for yourself, saving any apologies for what came after. And that's how you did something everyone thought was impossible and became a knight."

You couldn't help but grin at the praise.

Laena loving ran a gloved hand along one of Vhagar's massive wings.

"Everyone told me claiming Vhagar was a mistake. She was too old and too stubborn for a girl my age. Even the dragon keepers tried to discourage me," Laena explained. "But I knew what I wanted and I wasn't going to be deterred."

"And it paid off for you," you replied, nodding at massive dragon.

"We have much in common, cousin," Laena noted. "I may not have your strength, but we both know what we want and we don't hesitate to claim it, no matter what anyone says."

You definitely saw where she was coming from. Even after you'd proven yourself, your father tried to talk you out of the knighthood, saying it would be more trouble than it was worth. But you didn't care about that. It was what you desired. It was what completed you. And you weren't going to let what others thought stop you from getting it.

The two of you talked for a while longer, mainly about dragons. Everything from the joys of flying to simple stuff like what foods Vhagar and Syrax liked best. Apparently, the older dragon had taken up a habit of going after whales whenever she had the chance. One of these days you wanted the chance to see that for yourself.

The more you talked, the more you realized you liked talking with Laena. She was bold, she was brash, and the two of you could easily talk about dragons for hours. You could go on about Valyrian history all day with your father, but when it came to dragons, it always came with warnings about how dangerous they could be and how it was an illusion that the family had any real control over them. As much as you were very aware of all that, having it repeated over and over got a bit drool.

Daemon had a passion for dragons as well, but he had been away for years, and he was Daemon. Not exactly your favorite uncle to talk to.

You wanted to invite her to stay longer, but if she refused, things would get awkward. And if she accepted her father might have tried to use her to push his way back into power.

Relationship with Laena Velayron Improved

What Do You Say?

[] Ask Laena to Stay in King's Landing a while longer

[] Say Your Goodbyes and Return to King's Landing

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When you rapped on the door of Qoren's rooms later that day, a few parchments in you hand, his guard Obara opened. You had not seen her since your duel and had wondered how she would treat you after your hard won victory, but the usually stern woman had a slight smile on her features when she saw you.

"A good day to you, princess," she said before looking over your shoulder to Ser Tarly. The smile vanished instantly, though she at least didn't glare quite as badly as the last time. "The prince wished to be undisturbed today to rest, but you are of course welcome."

She ushered you in and you found Qoren Martell sitting on one of the couches surrounding a low table. You noticed a goblet of wine and a book were on it while he was rising to greet you with a warm smile. "The lady of all my hopes and sorrows of the past few months. It is lovely to see you, Rhaenyra."

"Sorrows?" you asked playfully. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"Not at all," he responded while motioning for you to sit. "Though arguing day and night with the king, the Lord Hand, Lord Strong, my own vassals and a gaggle of courtiers is taxing to say the least. A day of rest was overdue again."

Given how tired you recalled your father and the Small Council members looking lately, you were not surprised to hear that. "Unfortunately," you began, "I do not have my harp with me, just more things to argue over."

His good mood didn't seem to fade despite that. "Of course. I was surprised that you had no objections so far about what we haggled out."

"The terms were fine, all things considered." You had worried a while about the date of the wedding and that Dorne would not join the realm until your coronation, but in the end, you could see the argument to do it that way. "However, there some requests I would like to make about the latest matters you decided on."

You picked through the parchments you had with you, fishing out the draft your father had given you. "The terms call for me to regularly travel to Sunspear and you to come to King's Landing after the coronation in turn."

"Yes," he nodded briefly and his mien grew serious. "Your father was fairly insistent on this clause. I believe he had some fears that we would otherwise not have the opportunity for certain marital duties."

He spoke it so matter of factly that it caught you a bit by surprise. That was a thing you would have to do. For House Targaryen and the future of the realm. It was a matter of duty, not romance. At least Qoren seemed aware that this was a bit of a touchy subject still.

"I think the phrasing could be adjusted a bit," you rallied yourself, pressing on past that topic. "Even after my coronation, I would certainly wish to visit Dorne now and then. And before it, I had hoped we could travel to other places in the Seven Kingdoms together. It would help to make the lords of the realm more comfortable with our match."

Qoren nodded along as you spoke. "I concur with that," he said after a moment. "So, you suggest?"

"Softer language in the contract would serve us better, I believe." You had mulled this over a few times, though had not come up with a good phrasing that made you happy so far. "I would prefer if simply pledge to visit each others realms and travel together regularly. I'm sure we can work out the details of these things later on."

You were briefly reminded of your uncle Daemon's marriage to Rhea Royce. They had not seen each other for years and both of them were quite glad about that. Perhaps that was were your fathers worries stemmed from. Though you doubted that forcing the two of them to spend time together could have fixed their marriage.

But you would not share their fate. Even if your marriage was for the sake of politics, not love, you felt certain that Qoren and your relationship would deteriorate to the thinly veiled disdain that Daemon and Rhea felt for each other.

The prince looked thoughtful for a while, tapping his fingers idly. "I think I can convince your father of softening the terms somewhat. There is going to be a few lords who will like the idea of me travelling to King's Landing occasionally instead of their princess disappearing in the Dornish viper nest all the time."

You laughed briefly, imagining the Small Council waging their tongues like gossiping maids. "Loathe I am to deprive them of something to complain about. We will have to do something scandalous whenever you are here then, lest they grow bored."

"Another thing," you began while unfolding the largest parchment you had brought with you, revealing a map of the Dornish Marches. "I've took the time to review the border changes proposed and there is a small matter that I think is objectionable."

Qoren looked fairly surprised by this change of topic, but also intrigued. He rose from the lazy lounging position he had been in and peered down at the map. "Do go on, princess. I'm eager to hear what proposition you consider problematic."

"It is House Peake." You paused, letting the words linger while a small smile crept onto your lips. "Recognizing their claims to lands rightfully held by your house in this agreement is an ill choice, given circumstances. Surely, there are other options."

The prince seemed bewildered for a moment before nodding briefly to himself. "I could not help but notice that your father and even Lord Hightower were not fond of the Peakes. Not a single word of praise, while they had plenty good things to say to justify the grants to all the other Reacher lords." The question hung unspoken as he looked up to you, a mischievous smile on his face.

"Ah..." you said simply while smacking your lips and weighing how to phrase this. "I have mentioned to my father that I heard from a certain falcon that Unwin Peake made some disparaging comments about myself and my dearest handmaiden during the tourney in Whiteharbor."

"Ah..." he echoed, now grinning widely. "Which has nothing to do with all of this, of course."

"Not at all," you confirmed happily.

"Come to think off," Qoren began while tapping his finger on a the offending strip of land on the map. "Lord Manwoody has been a stout supporter of my house for many years. I would be a poor liege lord if I rewarded that with granting him the claim to some poor farmsteads and hills he considers barely even worth feuding over with House Dondarion. I'm sure the Peakes can stomach the loss of a few villages, even though there is also a fine vineyard there."

"That must be a fine vintage indeed if it is known even in Sunspear," you said.

"I must admit some bias for a good Dornish red from the shores of the Greenblood," he said while raising his goblet, "but I will make sure to note to Lord Manwoody that the princess has taken an interest in what his vineyard can provide."

Qoren took a sip while you leaned back on your couch. "What else do you wish to discuss?"

You blinked owlishly, as if he had just startled you awake. There was nothing else. You had come only for those two little things. Was that really everything? It felt as if there should be something else, but try as you might, you had no other topic. Sure, there were many other details you had considered at some point to bring up, though in the end, you decided against doing so.

"That was all," you said more to yourself than Qoren.

The mood was becoming heavy all of the sudden and for once even the otherwise so eloquent and chatty prince seemed unsure what to say. Your eyes drifted over to the corner near the door where Ser Tarly and Obara were still silently seated opposite of each other, locked in their contest to see who could look fiercer while guarding their charge or something.

Your eyes turned back to Qoren, who was drinking from his goblet again to stall. "This all happened much faster than I had expected," you said without being entirely sure what you even referred to. The negotiations. The betrothal. Even thinking about marriage had brought up a mix of anger, fear and revulsion a mere year ago. And now? Now it was right before you.

The prince nodded in turn, idly weighing the goblet in his hand. "It is the same for me. I would have believed the negotiations to take half a year at least. But even though the king and the Lord Hand were driving a hard bargain, I could not say that we had all that many difficulties. The matter of the Stepstones aside, that is."

"Not even the border matters were a problem?" you asked curiously, still slightly annoyed that you could not be part of the full negotiations.

"There will likely be some when the affected lords are told what we decided, though only the Stormlanders have any sensible reason to complain. Lord Dayne lost perhaps the most of all, and even he was content to support the proposal in return for a few concessions," he mused half lost in thought.

You still weren't sure what to do. Part of you wished to get up and storm out of the room at once, just to push back the moment it became official. At the same time though, was this not what you wanted?

Even if Qoren still felt like a stranger given how briefly you knew each other, he had been nothing but courteous in every of you interactions. Instead of seeing your martial pursuits as something revolting or belittling your prowess, he had praised it. Where others would have called you an abomination for what you had with Alicent, he had accepted it without a second thought.

And all that was before you even considered the prestige that would come from having finally unified all of Westeros under the dragon banner.

What else could you want?

Time. A few more years. Maybe your father would have accepted if you had argued to wait until summer with this. But even that complaint felt hollow somehow. You doubted that you would have felt any less overwhelmed by all of this, no matter how many years you waited.

"If there is nothing else that needs to be addressed," you said out loud, perhaps a bit louder than you had intended. "I believe we can tell my father that we are both in agreement with the betrothal."

Immediately, the wind left you again and your heart grew heavy. There was no terror, no feeling of wrongness when you said the words, but you still would have preferred to be anywhere else than this room right that second.

Qoren for his part seemed relieved to hear you say that. "Then we should do so. I promise you, princess, that I wills strive to be a good husband to you, and at the very least a good friend to your handmaiden."

"I should tell her too," you noted quietly, the tension ever so slightly lessening when thinking of Alicent.

He nodded briefly and put his goblet aside, gathering the parchments you had brought with you. "Then I will make the amendments we talked about to the draft and bring them to your father. I'm sure he will be quite pleased to hear that you agreed to the betrothal."

You stood up, briefly wondering how to take your leave. Even if it was not official until the ink was dry under the final contract, you were betrothed now. Should you perhaps show some affection to Qoren now as you would with Alicent?

Perhaps. But for now, you simply said your farewell.

One step after another.

Rhaenyra Targaryen and Qoren Martell are now Betrothed

New Relationship Status: Hesistant Ally

The Realm Will Have Strong Opinions on This

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QM's Note: Special Thanks to Azel for writing the Qoren section, he writes him well. Yeah so I wasn't gonna put it to another vote because the dice rolled very well for Rhaenyra's requests, Nat20 on the matter of House Peake, so Qoren agreed completely. Rhaenyra now has a husband to be. I must admit I always thought this route was a very long shot but I am quite pleased to be surprised.