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SERENADE OF SEA AND FLAME
Chapter Five, Driftmark Funeral

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Visella was happy to finally see her grandparents again, Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. Her grandmother was also known as "The Queen Who Never Was." Long ago, the Great Council at Harrenhal was held to determine the next heir of King Jaehaerys Targaryen. All of the great houses of Westeros voted between his two grandchildren, Viserys and Rhaenys. Due to being a woman, Rhaenys lost to Viserys, gaining her known title.

Even though Jace wasn't a true Velaryon, Corlys accepted him as a legitimate grandson, making him the heir to the Driftmark throne. Corlys' brother, Ser Vaemond, wanted the throne himself, believing it's his birthright.

Visella stood with her family, dressed in all black, as she listened to her uncle Vaemond give his speech in Valyrian. The greens were there as well, but Visella never had the chance to speak to any of them, not even Aemond.

"We join today at the Seat of the Sea to commit the Lady Laena of House Velaryon to the eternal waters, the dominion of the Merling King, where He will guard her for all the days to come. As she sets to sea for her final voyage,  the Lady Laena leaves two true-born daughters on the shore." Ser Vaemond glanced over at Daemon as he said the last sentence. Visella found it strange that he wasn't the one with his arms around his daughters to give them comfort, but instead, it was Rhaenys.

"Though their mother will not return from her voyage, they will all remain bound together in blood. Salt courses through Velaryon blood," he continued, this time glancing at Rhaenrya and her sons. "Ours runs true and ours must never thin."

Suddenly, Daemon lets out a little chuckle, causing everyone to stare at him in disbelief and confusion. But everyone quickly drew focus back to the funeral.

"My gentle niece. May the winds be as strong as your back, yours seas as calm as your spirit, and your nets be as full as your heart. From the sea we come. To the sea we shall return."

Tears fell from Ella's eyes as the casket was dropped into the sea. It was Velaryon tradition to do so. One day, she'd also be buried in the sea. The thought of her own death sent chills down her spine.

After the burial, everyone socialized outside. Prince Aegon, dressed in fine green clothes, eyed Visella as she spoke with her grandparents. "I can't believe mother refused half-sister's offer in betrothing me and her," Aegon told his younger brother before taking another sip of wine. "Now I have to marry her." He sighed, pointing at his younger sister, Helaena. "We have nothing in common."

"May be true," Aemond agreed. "But she is our sister."

"You marry her then."

"If I was presented the opportunity, I would." Aemond wouldn't mind marrying his sister, although she wouldn't be the first pick if he had a choice in marriage.

Aegon was surprised. "She's an idiot!" He said, pointing his cup to her as she continued to mutter to herself.

"You know nothing of being a man of duty and respect," Aemond said, rolling his eyes. "And you don't deserve Helaena or Visella." He walked away from his brother, not wanting to hear another word from him. As he walked past Helaena, he heard her whisper, "the salt waters of the sea mingle with flames of dragon, bloodlines intertwining, a union of foes."

Visella sat alone on a bench after offering her words of comfort with her cousins, Baela and Rhaena. She watched as the King excuse himself to his bedchamber. Ella couldn't help but feel sorry for him anytime she saw him. His body had been deteriorating over the past years due to disease. Viserys' arm and a couple of fingers were decapitated due to rotting.

She noticed Jace standing at a fire pit, looking down at the flames with Aemond standing on the opposite side of it. Aemond tried to express his sympathies with an awkward grin, but Jace glared at him and walked away. Aemond sighed and drew his eyes to Visella. For a moment, he hesitated, looking back at his mother. She looked back at him with a certain look. She doesn't want him to talk with me, Visella thought.

Aemond shook his head and made his way over anyway. "Hey," he said. "Iksan vaoreznuni nūmāzma aōha sodjisto (I'm sorry about your aunt)." He sat down next to her on the bench.

"Kirimvose, Aemond." Visella sighed, glancing at Jace. "Forgive my brother, he gets cranky when mourning." She bumped his shoulder with hers. "How has it been, you know, without us?"

"Quite frankly, I'd say boring," Aemond answered. He fumbled with his hands shyly. "In truth, I am glad to see you again. I've had no friends to talk to, lately."

Visella smiled, holding his hand. "I've missed you too." As they continued to talk, Alicent and Rhaenrya glanced over at their children. They knew one day their feud will split the children apart.

Aemond looked up to the sky at the dragons. "You didn't bring your dragons?"

She shook her head. "No, just Syrax and Seasmoke." She stared at the largest dragon of them all, Vhagar. "I can't believe my aunt Laena claimed Vhagar at such a young age."

"I admire her for it," Aemond admitted. "It takes courage to do so." He sighed, staring off into the distance.

"You know," she said. "You aren't the only one without a dragon after all."

He lifted his eyebrow, "really?"

"My cousin, Rhaena." She pointed over at her. "She has an egg of her own, but it never hatched. Maybe you both can become friends?"

"I don't know," he said shyly. "I am not familiar with her."

"I can't be your only friend for the rest of your life, Aemond."

He moved his head side to side. "Having you as my friend is enough for me." They both softly grinned at each other.

After the funeral, Visella found her father standing in the sea. "Father?" She called out. He lightly jumped, not expecting anyone to be there. "Oh, Visella!" he said, wiping his tears. "Did you need something?"

"I just wanted to check on you," she told him. She slipped off her shoes and lifted her skirts to step into the water. "It's okay to cry in front of me, father." Visella leaned in closer, whispering, "I won't tell anyone."

Laenor chuckled. "Thank you, my sweet." He wrapped his arm around her.

"Why are we standing in the sea?"

"Because it brings comfort," he said. "It makes me feel connected to her, as if she were never gone . . . do you remember what uncle Vaemond said during the burial?"

"From the sea we come. To the sea we shall return," Visella repeated in Valyrian. Saying it out loud gave her chills again.

"The sea is our ancestors' final resting place. It is where our House's strength comes from, a part of us." His voice gentle with care. "And one day I will be buried in this sea, along with my sister. So will you and your brothers too."

"It is quite peaceful standing here," she agreed. "I just wish," she sighed, "I wish I could have met her."

His eyes began to tear up again. "You would have loved her." Laenor kissed her forehead. "Now if I am not mistaken, you should be in bed."

"But—"

"Aht, aht." He turned her around and walked out of the water. "You should listen to your mother, off to bed with you, sleep well."