Prince Daemon had sent the scroll containing news of his lady wife's death days before it had delivered.

He and their daughters, Baela and Rhaena, were on a ship back to Driftmark. They were to arrive the next day for Lady Laena's funeral, which would take place four days after.

Elaena sat in her bedchamber, her fingers intertwined as she shook slightly. It had been hours since the news had been brought to Driftmark about her cousin's death, and Rhaenys's cries had not stopped.

If it weren't for Vaemond snatching Elaena from Rhaenys, the girl would still be right next to her. But there she sat, listening on as the woman's faraway screams mixed with the loud tides crashing outside of Elaena's window. Meleys could also be heard, roaring and whining above the castle.

A shiver went down Elaena's spine, knowing the tragedy that befell her cousin from the birthing bed. It had been heartbreaking to know Laena's fate had been sealed, that her babe had not delivered. It had come as a whole other shock that she'd commanded her dragon, Vhagar, to burn her alive.

How defeated could a woman feel to desire such a death? To leave behind two girls, not much younger than Elaena, a husband, and a family waiting for her return in Driftmark?

And how could Laena demand Vhagar, a dragon that had endured wars beyond measure at the behest of her previous riders, to commit an act that went against the very bond she was bred to protect?

Surely, there could have been hope. There could have been a way to save Laena.

Elaena looked up to acknowledge the painted woman above her fireplace. Ophelia's soft stoic gaze spoke volumes, and the girl choked on a sob. Perhaps there was no hope... Not for women like them...

Elaena could not understand it, so she decided not to try. Instead, she looked away from her mother's portrait and fixed her mind on Rhaenys. Her tears leaked down her face as she listened to the woman's distant wails. How could this happen?

Suddenly, her chamber door opened and her gaze shot up to meet Vaemond's. His violet eyes looked at her dully as he entered the room. Behind him stood Maester Morgrym and Septa Hyacinth. Elaena's heart dropped.

"Tala," Vaemond started, taking Elaena's attention away from the icy glares of her tutors, "Emi ra naejot ȳdragon nūmāzma. Bēvilagon ra."
(Daughter, we have things to discuss. Important things.)

Elaena blinked, swallowing the lump in her throat while her glassy eyes widened at her father.

"Your aunt and uncle have suffered a great loss... One I am all too familiar with." He said, and Elaena felt more tears brew in her eyes.

As if her outwardly appearance wasn't enough to prove she was wrong, her existence served as Vaemond's tragic reminder that he had lost his first sons.

"So," Vaemond continued, breaking Elaena out of her pitiful thoughts, "I have decided the duty to host your cousin's funeral will fall to us."

Elaena looked at him in confusion.

"Your little cousins have lost their mother and are strangers to Driftmark. You would do best to make them feel at home. You will also act as the welcome party to the highborn lords and ladies of Westeros, all coming to pay their respects." Vaemond said, his words delivering as orders Elaena could barely keep up with.

"This will also include the family of King Viserys."

Her heart raced and her hands began to shake under the weight of his stare. Oh, Gods... Oh, Gods—No, no, no...

Elaena felt as though she would melt into a puddle on the floor. She wanted to run, she wanted to hide, anything to get her out of the momentous role she was being tasked with.

It was interesting how she was so desperate to leave Driftmark, to venture out. Yet the thought of interacting with anyone outside of the home she'd always known... She was not ready for this, this was happening far too quickly—

"... as a guide and aid to anyone who shows need for one," Vaemond continued, and Elaena hadn't noticed his voice behind the fog of her ears, "And you shall work to ensure their stay in Driftmark is an easy one."

"Indeed," Morgrym chimed in, "It is time to put our expert tutelage to good use."

Elaena looked on with glassy eyes and a pounding heart. How could she do this? To host such a heartbreaking event, to aid the noble families of Westeros, including the family...

"Your silence is not befitting the responsibility we are entrusting you with, girl," Hyacinth breathed. Elaena met her gaze, knowing the woman was holding back her iconic sneer because she was in the presence of Vaemond, "This is your chance to prove yourself worthy of stepping out. You should be on your knees thanking your Gods for such an opportunity."

"I..." Elaena started, but her throat closed up and her tears threatened to pour over.

The image didn't seem to affect the adults before her. They looked on at her crumbling form in strict stoicism. Elaena looked at Vaemond again.

"Why me?"

The question was small, fragile. Vaemond scoffed.

"Clearly, there is no one better suited to be at my side than my only daughter," He said mockingly, "From what you told me earlier, you have acquired a certain knowledge, regardless of your quivering nature... You will simply have to do, and you will simply have to be better."

He turned to leave, but Morgrym and Hyacinth stayed put. As Vaemond reached the chamber door, he stopped.

"And do make a point of not mottling this up," He said, his back still turned to his daughter, "Fail adhering to this responsibility and see whether or not I will let you out of these halls again."

With that, he opened the door and left her with her tutors.

• • •

Elaena awoke the next day in a numbed state.

By the time Morgrym and Hyacinth had left her room, the moon's light had danced across High Tide's shores.

As Elaena had practiced her social graces, they'd taken turns criticizing her. She was to act as the welcome to every noble family coming to Driftmark, and promenade about the reception to maintain guest satisfaction.

Had the girl spoken out of turn or allowed her meek nature to bubble to the surface, Morgrym had snapped at her. Had she stumbled or slumped sulkily, Hyacinth's palm had smacked against her backside.

"A lady's posture and countenance are her most prized possessions," The woman had hissed at the crying girl.

"No one will wish to speak to a sullen, sniveling girl during a funeral for such a beloved lady." Morgrym had agreed, a snide smirk etched under his bulbous nose.

It had become clear to her that she had no choice but to be perfect, just as her father had demanded. And she understood she had already failed.

The thought of engaging with so many new faces, some of who would undoubtedly judge her upon introduction, nauseated the girl. To know her ability to flee the home that kept her prisoner hinged on the success of this entry to society... Elaena could hardly bear it.

She could not even seek the solace of Rhaenys, knowing the woman had all but closed into herself. She only saw her godmother in passing, and the woman could barely nod to her. The look in her eyes... Elaena could have broken down at the sight.

Rhaenys was miserable. And she still had obligations to fulfill.

The small sight of her gave Elaena some strength of will. Her anxiety would not help anyone, not herself and even less her godmother.

Thus, she gritted her teeth and clasped her hands together before rushing to prepare for the order of the day.

She was to help welcome her little cousins home.

High Tide was buzzing with preparations. One side was readying the stay of Prince Daemon and his daughters. Their rooms had to be cleaned out and renovated, food had to be prepared fresh for their welcome, and space had to be made for the new dragons in route.

The other side of High Tide prepared for Lady Laena's funeral. Elaena shivered at the juxtaposing tones of the castle. Joyous for the return of Corlys and Rhaenys's granddaughters, depressed for the return of Lady Laena. Or rather, her corpse.

Elaena felt it all as she stood at the docks, the sharp winds of Driftmark nipping at her cheeks. Her hair swayed inside its netting, fighting against the harsh air. Normally, the tides would calm her obnoxious heart, but on that day they only mirrored her unrest.

Corlys and Rhaenys stood at the end of the dock, their numbed dispositions evident even with their backs turned to Elaena. They stood too still and barely acknowledged one another.

Vaemond stood at Elaena's side, keeping space to not touch his daughter but staying close enough to play his part. Elaena couldn't read her father's attitude. She didn't know him well enough, aside from his harsh indifference to her, so she could not tell how he felt about the death of his niece.

She also could not tell how he felt about the return of Prince Daemon. She was old enough to understand the tension between the two men, and she only guessed Vaemond was not pleased to see the prince again.

After all, it was by Daemon's orders that Vaemond's first sons were lost in the war of the Stepstones. Elaena had heard the story more times than she could count.

Dock workers stood behind the dreary four, ready to disembowel the incoming Pentos ship. Maesters, septons, septas, knights, and maidens stood on land, prepared to further welcome the newcomers. Their vessel had peaked over the horizon, and was making way to the island faster than Elaena anticipated.

Her heart raced as she watched it, feeling almost lightheaded. She breathed in and out lowly, trying desperately not to alert her father of her erratic nerves.

When she saw two dragons—one adult and one hatchling—fly into view from the clouds above, her heart finally slowed. The adult was red with dark undertones seeping from its hide. Its neck was wildly accentuated, and Elaena gawked at how it soared through the air like a serpent.

It was the Blood Wyrm, Caraxes.

The hatchling was not as visible. In fact, Elaena could have mistook it for a large bird, if not for its vibrant color, rough exterior, and close proximity to Caraxes. No bird would ever fly so close to a dragon.

The hatchling was a light green color, with hints of pearl in its horns, wings, and hide. Elaena knew the dragon belonged to one of her little cousins... But why was there only one?

The thought lingered in her mind as the gold-accented Pentos ship neared the dock. Elaena swallowed, feeling a lump build in her throat as the ship anchored. A horn sounded, and a wave of pressure settled on her heart. Her ears clouded and she watched as multiple men made their way about the deck.

Her eyes fell on her godmother's back, and suddenly she was desperate to see Rhaenys's face. She needed to be next to her. She needed any assurance from the woman that she could get before it was too late.

Before her cousins made it off of that ship.

What if she said the wrong thing? What if she couldn't speak at all? What if the girls did not like her?

Without thinking, she took a harsh step forward, and Vaemond grabbed her by the arm. She stiffened from his grip, and his words ripped the cloudiness from her ears.

"Hold your position," He mumbled tightly, "No one gave you permission to move yet."

She swallowed, feeling her eyes prick up as her lip quivered. Rhaenys was so close, but so far. And Elaena didn't understand why she felt so afraid... Afraid that when her cousins got off that ship, Rhaenys would move even farther away.

But she did not attempt to move again. Vaemond's words held her in place, and she let her gaze drop to the dock boards.

She forced herself to think of a distraction, and she began tracing the rough boards of the dock with her gaze, imagining designs in them that did not exist.

A butterfly. A face. A window. A shield. A sword. A bow and arrows... Gods, she desperately wished to go shooting. She had just learned how to shoot while riding a horse. Rhaenys had said she would take her further down the island to have a broader playing field—

"Prince Daemon."

Her father's voice forced her gaze up from the dock. Corlys was facing her now, standing much closer to her and Vaemond. Beside him stood a man Elaena did not know. His skin was pale, paler than Rhaenys's. His eyes were that typical Valyrian violet, and his silver hair stopped bluntly at his shoulders.

His jaw was set tightly under a nonchalant gaze. Elaena couldn't understand how, but she saw in his eyes that he felt defeated.

It was Prince Daemon, the younger brother of King Viserys Targaryen. And he looked like he'd lost everything.

"It's a pleasure to have you back, my prince." Vaemond nodded, and Elaena looked up to see a strange quirk to her father's welcoming smile. Why did he seem so smug? How could he, with such a tragic expression playing on Daemon's face?

Elaena tensed, worried about how the prince would react to her father's clear distain.

But Daemon's only response was a low humph, and he shifted his weight to another foot as his gaze lowered to meet Elaena's. Her heart skipped when she noticed his beady eyes soften on her. Try as she might, she couldn't look away from him.

The corner of his mouth curled softly as he turned to Corlys.

"Now, this could not possibly be the babe I remember last." His voice was light as a feather, eloquent with a hint of cynicism. Elaena wanted to hide, not knowing how to discern the prince's tone. Was he mocking her, or was he genuinely curious? Corlys chuckled half heartedly.

"Just the one." Her uncle confirmed, smiling softly down to her. His expression eased Elaena's worry, and she lowered her gaze slightly while gnawing at the inside of her lip, "Elaena, darling, this is Prince Daemon. You've known him since you were a babe."

"Have I?" The question slipped out before she could think to stop it. The shock on her face caused Daemon to chuckle. She kept her eyes on him, feeling Vaemond's gaze bore into her head.

"Not that you would remember," Daemon joked and Elaena blushed as he leaned toward her, "Though it's rare for one to forget me, little one."

Elaena couldn't help the smirk that etched on to her face at his jesting nature. It eased the apprehension she had from his cold exterior.

He reached for her small clasped hands. She immediately unbounded them, and he held one before kissing her knuckle.

"You have blossomed wonderfully, darling." Daemon said softly, and Elaena bowed her head shyly. She breathed in, swallowing her uneasiness and thinking of a response hastily.

"Thank you, my prince." She said solidly. Daemon looked taken aback.

"And outrageously polite," He said, a dimple popping out of one of his cheeks as he chuckled at the girl, "Please call me Daemon."

Elaena felt elated at how kindly he responded to her. His voice did not rise above the soft tone he'd used at the start of their introduction. His gaze was just as soft, and his hand was warm on hers. She looked at Corlys, as though she needed further confirmation that his countenance was not a farce. Her uncle simply smiled proudly at her.

A sharp roar snatched the girl's attention away from the men in front of her. Her gaze shifted to the Blood Wyrm weaving over High Tide. Meleys, who had been perched on one of the shore rocks, looked up to the newcomer. She whined up at Caraxes, and he chirped back to her.

"Gevie..." Elaena mumbled thoughtlessly as Caraxes soared past the castle and back again.
(Beautiful...)

"Oh, you think so?" Daemon replied, gaining Elaena's attention once more, "Most believe him to be deformed."

Though Daemon's tone was snidely humorous, Elaena grimaced at the statement.

"Not at all," She replied quickly, easily, "He is quite remarkable." And she believed it. Caraxes's long neck was unique to her, but it made his movements all the more graceful as he whipped through the air.

She felt Vaemond grip her shoulder and pull her away from the prince. Her hand slipped from his, and she stiffened as she was brought flush into her father's side. Elaena was unused to being so close to him, and she glanced up to get a feel for his attitude. Vaemond halfway glared at Daemon, but the prince's lighthearted mood remained.

"Well, you are most thoughtful, little one," The prince said, and Elaena looked back at him, "Much like my own girls, I should introduce you."

He turned back to the end of the dock, and Elaena noticed how the glint in his eye dulled as he looked to the view in front of him. Elaena's gaze shifted to see Rhaenys behind him holding two new girls. And then her heart stopped.

The first thing Elaena registered was their hair. Bright, silver, flamboyant. Their hair was styled in Velaryon locs, stopping lightly at their shoulders. The weight of Elaena's hair netting seemed to double at the sight.

She looked at their skin. They were darker and warmer than she was, though not as deeply toned as her father or Corlys...

A part of her questioned if they were truly Daemon's daughters. They looked like pure Velaryon girls.

Elaena could not decide what she felt the moment she first saw her cousins, but she knew her wandering eyes were obnoxious. So she looked at her godmother, and she wished she had not.

Rhaenys's numbed expression was replaced with lively sorrow. She cried while pulling away from the girls to look at them. It was almost desperate. She cupped their cheeks and muttered words Elaena could not hear.

One of the girls cried just as sadly as Rhaenys did. It caused the princess to lean in and kiss her cheek while stroking her silver locs lovingly.

The other girl cried, but in a much more bitter way than her sister. She looked angry, resentful even. Elaena felt a pain in her heart at the thought of the girl feeling this way towards Rhaenys. But when the girl embraced Rhaenys again, burying her face in the princess's shoulder, Elaena felt both relief and pain.

A grimace formed on her face as Rhaenys held the girls firmly. Elaena had half a mind to push away from her father and join the three of them... But her feet would not move.

There was something about the way the girls' silver locs shined brighter than Rhaenys's silver strands... Something about how their glassy violet eyes matched Rhaenys's perfectly... Something about how Rhaenys breathed in what seemed to be resolve as she held them to her...

Elaena... could not fit herself into the image in front of her.

She felt a strange sensation erupt in her body, like flames licking at her skin and ice coating her heart. She didn't even notice the silent tears slipping down her face. And she waited and waited for Rhaenys's gaze to meet her own. She waited for Rhaenys to notice she was missing... But her godmother kept her eyes closed. She was blissful in her embrace with her granddaughters. Only her granddaughters.

Elaena swallowed the dry lump in her throat, feeling her chest stutter as she breathed in and dropped her gaze. Her teeth dug into her bottom lip, almost drawing blood as Daemon approached Rhaenys and the girls.

"Come, sweetlings," He whispered to them, kissing the back of the bitter girl's head and stroking the back of the sad girl's, "There's others for you to meet."

They pulled back from Rhaenys curiously, and Elaena felt the fire dancing on her skin heat up. Daemon turned to look at Vaemond and Elaena, and the girls followed his gaze.

Elaena locked eyes with the bitter girl first. Her face was heart shaped with thick brows darker than her silver hair. Her violet eyes were set closely above a sweet button nose. She pouted naturally at Elaena, and then looked at her sister. Elaena's gaze followed, locking eyes with the sad girl.

It was then Elaena realized the twins were not identical. The sad girl had a more slender face than the bitter girl, and her violet eyes were not set so deeply in her face. Her brows were darker than her silver locs as well, but they were more slender than her sister's. Her face was overall sweeter.

Rhaenys finally looked up to see Elaena's teary eyes, and a tight smile etched on to her thin lips. She stood, ushering her granddaughters forward. The sad girl held Rhaenys's hand while the bitter girl held Daemon's. Elaena's heart stopped as they stood before her.

"Darlings," Rhaenys started, and Elaena felt a stab in her chest at the name normally given to her, "This is your great uncle, Ser Vaemond, and your older cousin, Elaena."

Her tone was soft, warm. Elaena sniffled and swallowed the sour taste in her mouth. She looked at her cousins again. The sad girl looked at her with soft curiosity. The bitter girl's eyes traced up and down her form.

Elaena's heart skipped, and she suddenly felt extremely self conscious about the teal colored dress and cloak chosen for her to wear.

"Welcome to Driftmark, my little ladies," Vaemond spoke, and Elaena felt another stab to her heart as she felt him knead at her shoulder, "I have been most excited to meet you, my daughter even more so."

Elaena clenched her teeth. She met eyes with the bitter girl again, and the girl furrowed her eyebrows at her.

Elaena flinched slightly when she felt Vaemond pinch her. She forced her lips to quirk in a smile, though her hands shook against one another as they fiddled.

"Elaena," Rhaenys began again, and Elaena locked eyes with her, "These are your cousins, Baela," She placed a hand on the bitter girl's head, "And Rhaena." She placed a hand on the sad girl's head.

Elaena looked back at her cousins, bowing her head as her anxiety erupted.

"Hello." Her voice was but a whisper, shaky and frail.

Baela and Rhaena simply stared at the quivering girl. Vaemond's jaw clenched and his fingertips dug into her skin. Corlys and Daemon looked at the girl in soft confusion.

Rhaenys smiled softly at Elaena, "Darling, I would be most appreciative if you aided your cousins with their move in."

Elaena looked up at Rhaenys, feeling her nerves ease slightly at her gentle tone. She nodded, looking down at the dock boards as she flushed. She could feel eyes on her, all of them violet and charged.

"Let's get on with it then." Daemon finally sighed, nodding to his daughters to follow him. His shoulder brushed past Vaemond's nonchalantly, and Elaena's father bit into his tongue. He looked at Corlys, who pursed his lips at Vaemond.

Rhaenys ushered Elaena's cousins further down the dock to High Tide's welcome party. The girls walked hand in hand, still gazing at Elaena as they moved past her.

Elaena looked up just in time to see Baela whisper to Rhaena.

"She's so Dornish."

• • •

"These should be perfectly fine," Rhaenys said, walking beside Elaena with a pile of sheets in her arms. Elaena carried a smaller pile of assorted pillow cases, "They're quite used to Pentos's heat, I wouldn't want them to catch a cold down here."

Elaena simply hummed as they approached Baela and Rhaena's grand chambers. They had belonged to Laena when she'd lived in Driftmark. Upon entering them, Elaena wondered how so much space could have belonged to one girl.

Though she was adept at finding her way through High Tide, she had not spent much time on the side where Rhaenys, Corlys, and Vaemond resided. A small part of her hoped that with the arrival of her cousins, she could be moved from the opposite side of the castle to stay around them...

But that also depended on how well they took to her.

Naturally, their meeting was estranged, dry—especially considering Baela and Rhaena's reasons for being in Driftmark. But Elaena had hoped for some semblance of warmth, a kindred spirit to link her to her cousins without them even putting in an effort.

All that seemed possible was effort. And it seemed it would come solely from Elaena's end.

She and Rhaenys arrived to her cousins' quarters with two maids flanking them. They entered with the sheets and made for the girls' bedchamber. Rhaenys maneuvered her sheets to one arm to knock on their door. A soft voice bid them entry, and Rhaenys smiled sadly before turning the knob.

Elaena's heart skipped at how large their room was. Even with the two beds situated in it, the girls would have more than enough space. It was nearly three times the size of Elaena's bedchamber.

Rhaenys made room for Elaena to walk past her, and the girl's gaze wandered around blankly.

Baela was standing on her toes to look outside their window. Rhaena was sat on one of the beds, watching her grandmother and cousin enter.

"Alright, little ladies, these should keep you snug." Rhaenys said, a jesting smile etched on her face. Rhaena smiled back at her while Baela continued to look outside.

"What are you ogling over there?" Rhaenys asked, placing her sheets on the desolate bed and approaching Baela. Rhaena looked at Elaena, standing silently in the middle of the room with her pillowcases.

"Moondancer," Baela replied as Rhaenys rested her hands on the girl's shoulders, "She's sulking."

Rhaenys sighed, looking out the window to see the green hatchling sitting quietly on a shore rock. Eventually, the she-dragon lowered her head on to the surface in fatigue. Rhaenys looked down at her granddaughter.

"I wonder why." She said softly, pursing her lips and running a hand over Baela's locs, "She won't find joy unless you do, my love."

Baela scoffed, shaking her head before moving to sit on the bed across from Rhaena. Her gaze met Elaena's quiet form before looking down at the folded sheets, disinterested.

"You girls have suffered a great loss," Rhaenys started, going to sit next to Baela, "And no one expects you to simply get over it... You never truly will, but your mother would want you to lead lives of happiness."

"We have all suffered a great loss, Grandma." Rhaena chirped softly, and Rhaenys looked at her in gratitude. She swallowed down a building emotion before replying.

"Indeed, sweet girl." Rhaenys smiled with watering eyes. Baela looked away dully.

Elaena felt a similar feeling to the one she'd felt at the dock. Looking at the three of them speaking on their grief, she tried to fit herself into the image. Again, she failed. So she stood there, gnawing at her lip, not knowing what to do with the pillowcases in her arms.

"Elaena." She heard Rhaenys call her. She looked up, seeing the three of them looking at her softly. Rhaenys nodded to the spot next to Rhaena, and Elaena's heart skipped. She swallowed her oncoming nervousness and moved to stand at Rhaena's bed.

She placed the pillowcases down, and looked at Rhaena. The girl looked at her with small smile, and Elaena sighed before sitting next to her. Rhaena kept her gaze on Elaena, smiling more and softer as she shifted in position.

"I had told Elaena how I dreamed of this day," Rhaenys said, "The day when I had all of my treasures in one place."

She continued to stroke the back of Baela's head, and the bitter girl finally looked up from the folded sheets.

"You will never know how deeply I wish for your mothers to walk through that door..." Rhaenys said, and Elaena's breath hitched. She'd said mothers, plural. Baela and Rhaena noticed it too, looking at one another and then to Elaena, who looked at Rhaenys with glassy wide eyes.

"For all of us to be together, laughing and talking." Rhaenys finished, smiling tearfully at Elaena. The girl swallowed the lump in her throat, looking at Rhaena's soft gaze before they both looked away gently.

"I..." Elaena started, gaining everyone's attention. She breathed in, feeling a wave of guilt rush over her. She had entertained such selfish thoughts, such jealous thoughts. But these girls... they had indeed suffered a great loss... Just as she had.

"I am sorry," She whispered, her tears threatening to let loose. Rhaena's hand hesitantly rested on the back of Elaena's, and the girls looked at one another again. Elaena saw the genuine welcome in Rhaena's eyes, and it encouraged her to continue, "I wish I could have known you and your mother sooner... I'm sure she was a most lovely woman."

"She was." Rhaenys said softly, nodding as she smiled proudly at Elaena. Elaena smiled back, looking to Baela. She still had a dulled expression on her face, though her eyes were brimming with tears as well. Elaena's gaze lowered again.

"I do... have some understanding of what you are going through," She said, nodding to herself, "I too... lost my mother to the birthing bed..."

She struggled to steady her tears, but she managed it. Rhaena looked at her in gentle surprise, not expecting Elaena to be so transparent. Rhaenys cried silently, painfully looking at Elaena.

"But it was your birthing bed."

Elaena's heart stuttered, and she looked up to see Baela looking at her with running eyes.

It was quiet for a moment... Shock settled on Elaena by her cousin's words. Rhaenys and Rhaena looked at Baela, equally as shocked.

"Baela..." Rhaenys whispered, her expression confused as she looked at her granddaughter. Baela looked back at Rhaenys, flushed as a wave of embarrassment settled on her shoulders. She had basically just told Elaena that their experiences did not match... because Elaena's mother died before she'd ever got to know her.

Elaena looked on at her as her heart grew heavy. Not with the kindred emotion she was starting to share with the women around her, but with the bitter regret for opening up as she had. She scowled and let out a breathy scoff, lowering her gaze as she slid her hand from under Rhaena's.

"Indeed it was." Elaena said, her tone much more solid than she believed her crumbling heart could muster. Rhaena looked at her with glassy, worried eyes. She nearly reached for Elaena when the girl stood from the bed and smoothed out her skirts.

"Kessa ao jorrāelagon dombo hen ñuha dohaeragon, Jaesmuña?" Elaena said, not bothering to speak in the Common Tongue.
(Will you need anymore of my help, Godmother?)

She wanted to leave as quickly as possible, and she did not want to think twice about it. Rhaenys froze, shocked by Elaena's bluntness.

"I... I-No, but—" Before Rhaenys could finish her sentence, Elaena made for the chamber door, "Elaena."

She did not turn back. And she did not hear Rhaenys come after her.

———

Aight, here me out. I can see where Baela is coming from ✋🏼😀🤚🏼. If I was living lavish with my mom, dad, and sister in Pentos, and then my mama died and I had to move to dreary ass Driftmark... I'd be pissed too. Now should she take it out on Elaena? No, but she is a kid, and she is learning.

Rhaena is canonically the sweeter bean, and it makes sense because she is used to disappointment and/or being a disappointment (looking at you papa dragon 🤨.) So naturally she will try to make the best of her situation and play nice. Baela isn't built like that. And rightfully so. Just keep that in mind when you go at her in the comments, cuz I know y'all will 🤣

And I'm absolutely not saying this because Baela is such a damn baddie and I already love her in the show even though she hasn't had much screen time... 😗

Anywho, what are your thoughts? Ngl I was scared to write Daemon, because he is so eloquently and snidely written, and I'm like Elaena in that I have smolbean mentality and I didn't want to mess with his sass. But he and Elaena will have an interesting relationship down the line so I had to start it off eventually (AND NO THEY WILL NOT FUCK, GET OUTTA HERE 😀🔪).

Also, Corlys really had me soft this chapter, like he and Elaena don't interact as much as she and Rhaenys do, but he's so father 😩 Calling her darling and shit 🤧better than Vaemond's crusty ass 😒 LIKE WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM??

Aight, see ya next chapter 😁