The Gardens

Taena smiled around the group. "I would never say anything horrid to Dany about you, Visenya. I have only good things to say of you both. I regret I don't know the princess very well."

She lowered her eyes a little, not being comfortable around Daenya due to their vastly different status, even though they were more closely related than the others.

Dany nudged Taena with her elbow. "Don't worry, we're all friends here," she said and looked to Visenya as she spoke. "Yes, we won," she replied, wondering how the news of this hadn't reached the capital yet. "They are both alive, but lost their dragons, I'm afraid. Your sister had some mild injuries, however I do not know about your brother. Prince Aegon's dragon ate Ser Hector in the end."

The smile that bloomed across Visenya's face then was only in a small part due to hearing that her sister lived. The prince lived, and that's what truly mattered. "Will they be coming back soon? You are here already..." It hit her then. They no longer had dragons. Nenyan and Vermax were gone. "Oh. I suppose they are coming back with the baggage, with the rest of the army?" Her smile fell as she imagined losing Silverwing. She more than disliked Rhaegar, but no one deserved to lose their dragon like that.  "Both of their dragons gone. How terrible."

"And Prince Valarr," she bowed her head. "But you must have fought very bravely, cousin, to escape the Dragonbane with only a broken arm." She managed a smile for the girl, despite all the emotions coursing through her body.

"That must have been terrifying for you! You should be proud that you lived to tell the tale!"

"As for me, well, its been rather boring and quiet with the court so empty. Luckily there is a contingent of Westermen here in the retinue of Lord Reyne to occupy my idle hours. I went on a hunt. Not nearly as dangerous or excting as going into battle, but I did get blood on my face." Here, she realized she was rambling, and wisely shut up.

"Apparently its a sort of tradition to be smeared with the blood of the kill on ones first hunt. I would be pleased to introduce you to them, cousin. They are quite gallant, on the whole."

"I would love to come," Daenya told her cousin with a cheerful smile. She had something to make up for, after all.

Visenya's eyes widened imperceptibly in annoyance. Handing out food at orphanages? She could think of ten more painful and embarassing things that she would rather do than charity. Shaving her eyebrows, for one. "Sure, I'm not doing anything else today."

Taena glanced at Dany. "I can come. I was born in the city, though I was very lucky not to be left in an orphanage else Grandmother would never have found me. I feel quite sorry for all the poor children, truly. And it is always a good thing for a lady to give out alms to the poor. Not that I'm a lady, unlike the rest of you." She grinned.

Taena shrugged. "I've no title, though. So I am free to act a lady's role only when it suits me. Everyone has such low expectations of a bastard."

"Well then, shall we go, friends?" Daenya asked, offering an arm of friendship to Visenya. "We will have so much fun!"

/////
Sitting among the multicolored flowers, she waited for her mother. Arenya never had much conversation with the woman throughout her life since it was clear that she was not the one chosen to be Queen.

Tossing the petals of the flowers on the ground as she picked them. Waiting, waiting....

"That I have mother", she looked at her with a smile. She touched her hair"it was for a good reason. One that I am sure when you hear it may not please you."

"..... I have decided to join the Kingsguard...." Arenya looked directly in her mother's eyes,"I have already been by the Lord Commander. We have not told Maegor as of yet."